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You're dragged back to the waking world far earlier than you would've liked by a loud knock on your door followed moments later by the intrusion of a bearded Samjan in the stark white robes of a slave. He bears aloft a tray, which he sets down carefully on your bedside table. It seems your brother saw fit to provide you with a light breakfast. In addition to a few pieces of flatbread heaped with feta cheese and fig preserves he's provided an entire pot of coffee and a plate of boiled eggs in a sauce of pine nuts and honey.

Clearing his throat the old slave speaks. “Sheikh Zaahir has requested your presence in his study after you've eaten. The levies have gathered outside the city's walls and are being equipped to the best of our ability. If all goes well, the army should be ready to march by sunrise.”

Dragging yourself into a seated position you're pleased to find that the pounding behind your eyes and the ache in your head that you've felt since you were so rudely awoken after meditating have finally subsided. You think you've finally fully recovered from stripping your soul bare and reinforcing those aspects of the self most dear to you. At least, that's what you think you were doing. You still don't fully understand what that meditation is doing to you.
>Vys Pool: (58/58)

Reaching over to the bedside table you carefully lift the tray and place it on your lap. Four wooden legs extend from the bottom of the tray, allowing you to prop it on the mattress for stability. You set about pouring yourself a cup of coffee while the slave quickly takes his leave. You find that the saltiness of the feta serves as a pleasant counterbalance to the sweetness of the fig preserve. The eggs on the other hand are practically candied, but serve to take the bitter edge off the coffee.
(1/3)

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With breakfast resolved quite satisfactorily you slide out from underneath the sheets and quickly dress yourself. Emerging from your suite of rooms you find the same servant who previously woke you waiting outside. With a sweeping gesture down the length of the hall, he speaks. “You'll find the Sheikh's study down this hall. Take a left at the first junction and a right at the second. It's the very last door.”

Following the slave's direction you soon arrive at a set of broad double doors fashioned from polished oak. They're flung wide, laying bear the room within. Your brother's study is a large room dominated by a square table at the center, with a desk crammed into one corner stacked high with scrolls and books. A chandelier provides a light source, the sun's rays only just beginning to peak above the horizon.

Your brother, Darzi, Fulvia, and Chryssa are packed around the table. It seems that Profectus and Mortia have yet to arrive. Noticing your presence at the doorway, your brother claps his hands together excitedly. “Wonderful! Mikhael, join us. We were just discussing the battle.”

(2/3)

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A map of the area has been stretched out across the large square table, the bandit's camp marked by a black pillar, a game piece, while the city of Nazir is denoted by a white pillar. As you join your companions standing around the edges of the table, your brother launches into a speech. “Your friend here-” He gestures to Darzi. “-was suggesting that we detach a unit of mounted infantry from our main force and send them around a ridge here-” He gestures to a striated portion of the map, indicating a rise. “-to attack the enemy camp while their main force is engaged.”

>Support the plan, she'll probably be able to take plenty of captives attacking the stragglers at the camp.
>Suggest that the mounted troops would better serve the army in battle, rather than being diverted to mop up an enemy force already too busy shitting themselves to fight.
>Sending a single unit of mounted infantry against the entire camp seems unwise. Suggest placing some spearmen under her command as well.
>Write-in

AYY
IT IS RUNNING

>>42854763
You fuckwad.

Just to point it out, because I know I certainly don't read the OP anymore, here's the Mass Combat pastebin.
http://pastebin.com/1niidZEa

I've been thinking I might add some sort of system of "tokens" to diversify troop composition somewhat. Things like "cavalry" or "archers", that sorta thing. However, my main goal is simplicity since this is a quest, not a tabletop. We'll see how things go.

>>42854832
Am interest.

>>42854763
>Sending a single unit of mounted infantry against the entire camp seems unwise. Suggest placing some spearmen under her command as well.
I was hoping it would be canceled today.

>>42854763
>Support the plan, she'll probably be able to take plenty of captives attacking the stragglers at the camp.

She'll probably be able to rescue those prisoners to, which I imagine is her main goal. We don't really need cavalry anyways, since we have Zahak. We might even reduce the effectiveness of our own cavalry if they do fight with us, due to the presence of a dragon.

Finally a thread. Faget.

>>42854763
>>Support the plan, she'll probably be able to take plenty of captives attacking the stragglers at the camp.

Yeap. I support the "save our people" plan.

>>42854763
>Suggest that the mounted troops would better serve the army in battle, rather than being diverted to mop up an enemy force already too busy shitting themselves to fight.

>>42854763
>Support the plan, she'll probably be able to take plenty of captives attacking the stragglers at the camp.

>>42854923
>>42854858
>>42855013
>Support sending Darzi around to flank the enemy.

>>42854971
>Keep the mounted troops as a force of skirmishers.

>>42854850
>Suggest dedicating more manpower to the flanking force.

Writin'

>>42854832

sounds like the ck2 system

>>42855118
soma where da omakes at ooga booga.

>>42855301
Soma is a confirmed CK2fag.

>>42855328
>Banished Quest 157 - Omakes Never Edition
Never ever, anon.

You lean forward to get a better look at the map, trying to decipher the various marks which signify geographic features. “I think that sounds like a wise plan. It will give her an opportunity to free the slaves held there, regardless of the outcome of the battle, and take captives besides. Many of them were Aghtaki, from what I saw, so we ought to receive a sizable reward if we present them to the Shah for execution.”

Your brother nods. “My thoughts exactly.” He turns his attention to Darzi. “You'll likely wish to leave before the bulk of the army to position yourself advantageously. I believe we have a hundred or so camels in our stables and three companies of guardsmen at our disposal. Tell Gerasimos that you've my blessing and take command of First Company. You'll find him outside the city gates organizing the levies.”

She touches two fingers to her forehead and chest before bowing low to your brother, but before she can march off you remind her of your earlier agreement. “Wake Profectus and bring him with you as well, if things do go poorly I don't want any of our number isolated from the rest.”

She nods in acknowledgment before brushing past you, slipping down the hall. What, you don't get a bow too? How rude. Regardless your attention is soon drawn back to rest of the table. Your brother addresses you, a note of curiosity in his voice. “What of you, Mikhael? The Temple of Pani has agreed to provide Vatis, and we've levied several from the Guild of Laborers as well as from the general populace. If you'd like, I could grant you command of these men.”

>You were actually thinking you and your party could take up a position in the vanguard, in the thick of the fighting.
>Leading the Vatis sounds like a grand idea, you'd be happy to oblige.
>Your talents would be wasted leading a force of skirmishers. Request command of one of the flanks.
>Really, you don't have a mind for leadership. You'd prefer to serve as soldier rather than officer.
>Write-in

>>42855639
>Leading the Vatis sounds like a grand idea, you'd be happy to oblige.

Spec ops wizards GO

>>42855639
>Leading the Vatis sounds like a grand idea, you'd be happy to oblige.
mages 4 too op please nerf.
Also enemy commander is a vatis.

>>42855639
>You were thinking that you'd ride mounted upon your draconic son into battle.

>>42855639
>Leading the Vatis sounds like a grand idea, you'd be happy to oblige.
As long as this interfere with us living up to our Dragon Rider title, let's go.

>>42855639
We need to wear the Crown so we can relay orders to the vatis while commanding an army of golems whilst doing strafing runs with Zahak

Just to clarify something, you could lead the Vatis on dragon back but leading in the vanguard or on the flanks would be unwise. A dragon as young as Zahak would do poorly in melee.

>>42855754
No way

>>42855754
This is a gud idea. Dunno how possible the golems will be, but Crown will help with relaying orders.

>Wanting to continue to expose zahak
No plz

>>42855639
>Leading the Vatis sounds like a grand idea, you'd be happy to oblige.

>>42855844
>>42855721
>>42855694
>>42855669
>Lead the Vatis

>>42855713
>Lead the Dragon Riders, an army of one.

Bring up the fact your adoptive son is a dragon and you could ride him into battle, y/n?
>Propose riding Zahak
>Don't mention Zahak.

>>42855882
>Propose riding Zahak
Gotta come out some time.

>>42855882
>>Propose riding Zahak

I think this really is the best time to do a reveal. In service to the Shah, fighting off a horde of bandits, rescuing hostages, all like a big damn hero.

>>42855882
>Don't mention Zahak.
No

>>42855882
>Propose riding Zahak

>>42855882
>>Propose riding Zahak

>>42855895
>>42855915
>>42855959
>>42855976
>Bee-tee-dubs I ride dragons.

>>42855951
>Don't ask, don't tell.

>>42855882
No mentioning the dragon

>>42856004
Your shit opinion was too late. I laugh at you.

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>>42855993

>>42855993
And
HERE
WE
GO

>>42855882
>>Propose riding Zahak

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>>42855915
Us and Zahak are going to look like badass fucking heroes.
Our son is going to be FAMOUS.

>>42855993
Well this wont cause any problems.

>>42856410
You're right. It won't.

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You debate internally whether you ought to mention Zahak. After fighting that dragon several days ago in full view of a crowd word will spread regardless of how much you attempt to cover up your son's involvement. You might as well put the fact that you ride a dragon to good use. “I would be happy to lead the Vatis, dear brother. However, I feel there's something I ought to address...”

Your brother quirks an eyebrow. “Well don't leave me in suspense, Mikhael. We don't have all day to stand around here guessing.”

Chryssa gently interrupts, her tone and expression perfectly neutral. “Is this going to be about-” She glances briefly in your brother's direction. “-the orphan we found during our travels?”

You nod brusquely before turning back to your brother. “To be more specific, we discovered a dragon egg abandoned at the bottom of a mine and I brought it back with me to the surface. I incubated the egg until it hatched and have since raised the dragon as my adoptive son. He's gotten large enough at this point that I can ride him, and I would propose that I do so in battle. I think, if ever there was a time to have Zahak-”

Your brother cuts in. “Wait, wait a second. You're telling me you've tamed a dragon? An actual dragon? Like the beast flooding from the mountains to terrorize human lands?

You shrug your shoulders. “I wouldn't precisely call it 'taming' a dragon. They're intelligent, they've got their own language and customs. I've no more tamed Zahak than father tamed you or I.”

(1/2)

>>42856410
We talk good. Best to do this now, when the only authority figure is isolated, facing a huge threat, and is alone. Afterwards, he can help us introduce this to others after we smooth things over with him and he gets a first hand look at his nephew.

Zaahir glances between you, Darzi, and Fulvia. “This is no time for jokes, Mikhael. We need to be on the march as soon as possible.”

Shaking your head, you sigh. “I'm not joking, brother. With your permission I'd like to command the Vatis from dragonback. I think the sight of a beast from myth standing in line with the rest of the army will bolster morale while simultaneously weakening the resolve of our enemies.”

He still doesn't quite seem to believe you. “If this is true, Mikhael, a dragon would be an invaluable resource to have on our side. However, I worry that his presence might panic our men just as much as it panics the enemy.”

>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.
>Perhaps it would be best to have Zahak lie in wait, and sweep over the battlefield to torch the enemy at an opportune moment? If they see the dragon attacking their enemies, maybe they'll be more amenable to it afterwards.
>What if you had Zahak talk to them telepathically? Who wouldn't welcome the strange alien mind of a dragon into their thoughts?
>Write-in

>>42856479
>>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.

>>42856479
>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.

>>42856479
One is best option, but if done in a non faggy way

>>42856479
>>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.

>>42856479
>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.
Everybody, meet my son Zahak.

>>42856518
I meant

>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.

>>42856479
>Suggest that you mount up on Zahak and introduce yourself to the assembled army, if they see that Zahak fights for them, they'll probably be more comfortable with the idea.

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>>42856523
>>42856521
>>42856509
>>42856489
>>42856518
>>42856552
>Everybody this is my precious little bundle of joy. He's a little shy so don't bully him.
Writin'

>>42856597
How does it feel to literally be writing pseudo Middle Eastern Eragon

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>>42856685
10/10 it's alright.

>>42856685
We've a healthy relationship with our father, are not oppressed by an evil emperor, are a noble, have more personality than a haybale, and have had many healthy romantic relationships.

>>42856733
>implying kadir isn't the root of all evil and needs to be deposed.
We did it once, we can do it again.

Guys, should we start formulating some sort of speech?

>>42856685
Soma should be so lucky as to make millions off of a book and movie deal and to have true professionals critique his work and have it directly compared to one of the most successful franchises of all time, Star Wars.

>>42856851
I ride a dragon, and am a wizard. We cannot lose. Lets go fuck them up.

>>42856851
>>42856597
>Everybody this is my precious little bundle of joy. He's a little shy so don't bully him.

Seems to cover it all pretty well.

>>42856869
Also the enemy has the runs

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>>42856868

Regardless of how you go about introducing Zahak, there's going to be panic. You're not so naive as to think that your people will just happily accept a dragon into their midst. However, you also know that Zahak could turn the tide of battle in your favor, or at least even further in your favor than it is already. “What if I were to call Zahak out of hiding and mount up on his back, then greet the troops? Get all the panic out of the way now, outside of combat.”

Your brother doesn't seem thrilled by the idea but eventually nods. “Right, fine. I suppose that would be for the best.” He shakes his head incredulously. “What is it about you that seems to attract just... oddness? You're banished, you're unbanished, you're a dragon rider, you're a Vatis, your cloak houses some sort of monster which organizes your things. Next you'll bind your soul to Surya himself or some similarly foolish endeavor. “

You're about to respond, but then a thought occurs. “Actually, that doesn't sound like so bad an idea.” You wonder if you could bind your soul to Surya's Heart? Well, you'd need to figure out how to bind a soul to anything at all first, but what would be the result of such an endeavor? You imagine that either your soul would be destroyed in the process or you'd become akin to a god. Probably the former, based on what you know of divinity.

Zaahir coughs to draw you out of your reverie. “Contemplate becoming a demigod later, Mikhael. All in all we have sixty three Vatis at our disposal, you'll be in charge of them. They're gathering at the Temple of Pani, so after we're finished here you'll need to collect them. I intend on taking an aggressive stance here, all of the advantages are on our side so I see no reason to be defensive. Thus, I'll be expecting your Vatis to act as skirmisher. You might want to consider retrieving some of the camels from the stables or requisitioning a few sand ships.”

(1/2)

You nod, and your brother quickly moves on. He goes into detail regarding his overall battle plans. In general it seems that he intends on charging aggressively across the field to close with the enemy as quickly as possible. He hopes for a quick and decisive victory, and you've little doubt in your mind that's what he'll get. The bulk of his forces will be concentrated in the center, with the flanks left weak by comparison. Your Vatis will serve as a force of skirmishers to get around and flank the enemy as needed.

Once he's finished explaining his strategy he stands up straight, clapping his hands together. “If there's nothing else, you're dismissed. Gather the Vatis from the temple and I'll meet you... and your dragon, I suppose, outside the city gates.”

>Perhaps instead of putting so much emphasis on the center it would be better to keep a few troops in reserve?
>You've no issues, go collect the Vatis and contact Zahak telepathically to explain the situation.
>Write-in

>>42857320
>Next you'll bind your soul to Surya himself or some similarly foolish endeavor
Soma, it takes all the fun out of it if we know your plans beforehand.

>>42857342
>>You've no issues, go collect the Vatis and contact Zahak telepathically to explain the situation.

It's fine. They've got a negative modifier that destroys or negates the bonuses their commanders give them, and their own experience. We've got some guys and a fucking dragon. All the tactical advantage is firmly in our hands.

>>42857342
>Write-in
Ask him if he would like us to conjure up some earth golems to act as the vanguard for the charge.

>>42857342
>You've no issues, go collect the Vatis and contact Zahak telepathically to explain the situation.

Don the heavy warlock armor, max leadership

>>42857342
>You've no issues, go collect the Vatis and contact Zahak telepathically to explain the situation.

>>42857342
We want Earth Golem Pikeman for the center.

>>42857342
>Perhaps instead of putting so much emphasis on the center it would be better to keep a few troops in reserve?

>>42857342
> You've no issues, go collect the Vatis and contact Zahak telepathically to explain the situation.
Let him hit fast and hard
But
> make sure we have a elite group of vatis strikers targeting for the enemy general as soon as the battle starts. That man seemed troublesome.

>>42857469
>>42857418
>>42857416
>>42857372
>Sounds good, bro.

>>42857399
>>42857452
>Ay man you wan sum golems?

>>42857455
>Maybe you should keep some men in reserve?

Writin'

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You touch your fingers to your forehead and chest, but don't bow. As siblings, bowing would be unnecessarily subservient even if he is acting as your superior officer in this instance. He dismisses you with a wave and you depart alongside Chrys and Fulvia. Mortia still hasn't made an appearance yet, so you dispatch Fuvlia to wake her while you wait in the hallway near the stairs.

When she's finally dragged out of her bedroom she's managed to haphazardly assemble that suit of glass armor you bought for her and Is wielding that sword strapped to her hip, but she seems barely aware of her surroundings. You suppose she's not used to functioning on little to no sleep, though she'll have to get used to it. With the entire party save Darzi and Profectus assembled, you descend the stairwell to the dining hall where you first greeted your brother.

The lavish decorations have been replaced by long tables, and a collection of well dressed older men are gathered around several. The officers, you think. Presumably they're here to receive their orders from your brother. You slip out quickly into the foyer and the courtyard beyond, pleased to see that the rest of the estate is devoid of soldiers. Somehow you doubted your brother would be thrilled by the idea of hundreds of unwashed peasants pissing in his garden.

The Temple of Pani is only a few block away from the palace gates, so you make it there in short order. As expected the place is crowded not only by Vatis waiting for your orders, but by men and women throwing themselves wholeheartedly into prayer.
(1/3)

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Rather than immediately enter in search of your troops, you reach out through the connection between yourself and Zahak, pushing your thoughts across the thin barrier between your mind and his. {How close are you to the city? I've some good news, or at least potentially good news.}

His response is swift, his thoughts eager. {I'm hiding in the vegetation on an island in the river. There are a lot of really weird lizards with short longs but really long bodies. They're really tasty, but they don't seem to like me very much and they have sharp teeth so I've been avoiding them. Is this about all the people standing around the city?}

Is he talking about crocodiles? It certainly sounds like he's talking about crocodiles. {Indeed it is, Zahak. Indeed it is. Those people are the bulk of an army that my brother will be leading against the bandits. We'll be freeing those slaves he captured and putting an end to whatever threat the bandit poses to our family's lands. I've told my brother about you, and though he doesn't quite know what to think he's agreed to let me fight with you in battle.}

A wild flurry of emotions assaults your thoughts. Fear, excitement, joy, confusion, all blended together into a barely intelligible mass. {So I'll get to help Papa fight bad guys? Does this mean I don't have to hide so much anymore when we're traveling? I don't really like hiding because it means I have to stay far away and that's not really fun.}

Admittedly it was probably unfair to Zahak to sequester him away for so long, but it's not exactly like you had an option. Better to have him alive and uninjured than comfortable if you can't have both. {Maybe, Zahak. We'll see. The soldiers are going to be scared of you at first but I don't want them to attack you in the heat of battle, so we'll be introducing you to them beforehand. I'll need you to meet me at the city gates when I tell you to, okay?}

Your son is apprehensive but he ultimately assents. {Alright, Papa.}

(2/3)

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That issue resolved, you set about picking your way through crowds of supplicants to reach a man who looks to be the temple's Varistha, judging solely by his dress and manner. As you draw near he spreads his arms wide in welcome. “What can I do for you-” He glances from you, to Mortia and Chrys. “-travelers?”

>Tell him you're the Sheikh's brother and you've been placed in command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace private you can discuss Zahak.
>Meh, screw it. Just tell him to gather up the other Vatis and follow you to the gates. He'll figure things out soon enough.
>Write-in

>>42858297
>Tell him you're the Sheikh and you have command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace private you can discuss Zahak.

>>42858297
>Tell him you're the Sheikh's brother and you've been placed in command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace priva

>>42858297
>>Tell him you're the Sheikh's brother and you've been placed in command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace private you can discuss Zahak.

>>42858297
>Meh, screw it. Just tell him to gather up the other Vatis and follow you to the gates. He'll figure things out soon enough.

Enough talk, rain fire upon our enemies please

>>42858297
>>Tell him you're the Sheikh's brother and you've been placed in command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace private you can discuss Zahak.

>>42858297
>Tell him you're the Sheikh's brother and you've been placed in command of the Vatis. Ask if he has someplace private you can discuss Zahak.

>>42858376
>No time to explain, just follow me!

>>42858322
>>42858345
>>42858371
>>42858394
>>42858400
>Okay, there's a little time to explain.

>>42858459
Are we going to make it to the battle today?

>>42858500
Kek no. If we're lucky we might make it to the preparation.

>>42858500
battle's been cancelled

>>42858459
I feel like we don't include Zahak as part of our family, as much as we call him our son. Shouldn't we be reinforcing an Uncle-Nephew relationship between our son, and our brother? Maybe referencing Zahak as "your nephew" to our brother, or the revers to Zahak?

WEBM unrelated.

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You have no idea how fucking ecstatic I am that we aren't hiding Zahak away for this.

This is going to be so damn fantastic.

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>>42858887
Whoops.

>>42858913
what awful quality

>>42858925
Never tried converting a .gif before.

>>42858959
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Where is the anon that was doing the ebook? I want more done!

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You glance around the room at the innumerable men, women, and children praying for some loved one or for themselves. It strikes you that this would be a very bad place to talk about dragons. “I'm Sheikh Mikhael, Zaahir is my brother and he's appointed me commander of the Vatis.” You turn your attention fully to the Varistha. “I studied under Master Karim in El-Amin, in the Academy of Anthus, and under Varistha Sehzade. You'll find that I'm more than capable of pulling my weight.”

The Varistha bows low, nearly doubling over, touching his fingers to his forehead and chest. When he rights himself again he seems almost reverent. “Did you truly study under Varistha Sehzade before his death? The man was a legend, as a boy I dreamed of one day benefiting from his tutelage.”

You smile amicably. “Indeed, he helped me attain Grandmastery of Water Magic. He was a man wise beyond belief, truly one of the best of our people. I was actually there when he died. Anyway, if you'd like we can discuss that later. Is there some place private we might discuss a personal matter?”

The Varistha is quick to lead you off into a secluded office at one end of the temple, amidst a complex of hallways tucked away behind the massive statue of a six-armed golden Pani. You have your companions wait outside the door, though you have no real reason to do so. It's not like you're going to be revealing anything they don't already know. Once confident in your privacy, you launch into an explanation of your plan.

As you describe the nature of your relationship with Zahak and how you plan to introduce him to the troops, the Varistha's expression turns from admiration, to confusion, to fear, and finally to a sort of hesitant respect toward the end of your much abridged explanation. “Are you positive that introducing a dragon to an army is wise?” He finally ask.
(1/3)

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“Of course I'm positive. What could possibly go wrong?” A hypothetical question of course. The obvious answer is that nothing could go wrong. “Now then, I'll need you to gather up the other Vatis. I'm going to have Zahak meet us at the gates and I'll need your help ensuring that nobody attacks. Though he may be a dragon, he's still young. I'd rather not risk his injury.”

With the cooperation of the Varistha secured, gathering up the other Vatis is a simple task. Most of them had retreated to a garden at the back of the temple to escape the press of the crowd. A quick head count reveals that you have twenty-six Water Vatis, seventeen Fire Vatis, twelve Earth Vatis, and eight Nature Vatis. Not all of them are properly trained, in fact only the Water Vatis and one of the Earth Vatis are, but they all seem competent enough. They've been armed with spears and padded aketons in addition to their magic, and several have swords or daggers strapped to their hips.

With your forces gathered you send twenty men to the royal stables to gather mounts for the Vatis. You don't think you'll have many left, there's probably only a few dozen camels remaining, but you can double up two to a camel. That might not be such a bad idea actually, would allow one to sling spells while the other controls the beast.

With the remaining forty-three men you head for the gates, Chryssa walking with you on one side while Mortia and Fulvia trail along behind. Reaching out telepathically to Zahak, you call for him to join you. {Meet me at the city gates. I've got soldiers with me, but I'll make sure nobody attacks.}

(2/3)

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You pass under the gates just in time to see Zahak leap from the foliage of an island in the middle of the river which runs past Nazir. His wings snap out, buffeting the water as they carry him up and over the tree line. He comes swooping low towards you and the Vatis, who almost immediately begin to panic. A few blast of fire shoot towards your son, but you quickly extinguish them.

He lands with unusual grace just a few feet in front of you, kicking up sand and cracking the cobblestones. His massive head looms towards you, mouth spreading open to reveal his sharp teeth in a menacing grin. Then he butts his head into your chest, his tail lashing about happily behind him. You scratch affectionately at the base of his horns before slipping past and pulling yourself into the saddle strapped to his back.

The gathered Vatis are staring at you as if you've sprouted a second head. You think you might smell the acrid scent of piss lightly in the air. “Everyone!” You call out. There was no real need to, you already had their attention. “This is my son, he'll be joining us on the battlefield. I hope none of you mind. I must caution you that, though he might look quite strange, he's as intelligent as you or I. You would do well to remember that going forward.”

You're greeted by absolute silence. A spear clatters from the ramparts, falling tip-first into the sands at the base of the wall. A glance upwards reveals a guard hanging so far off the edge of the wall that he could fall off at any moment.

>Ignore the awe-struck Vatis and have Zahak take you to the main body of the army, gathering near the east wall.
>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.
>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?
>Write-in

>>42859383
>>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.
>>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

I'm gonna run out real quick to grab some food and coffee. Back momentarily.

>>42859383
>>Ignore the awe-struck Vatis and have Zahak take you to the main body of the army, gathering near the east wall.
fukin vatis being fukin casuals

File: Quest+Novel,+Thread+1-15.(...).pdf (7.36 MB, PDF)

7.36 MB PDF

>>42859067
You fucking do it. By the time you're at page four fucking hundred, and see you're only at thread 20, you'll give up too. BQ is fucking massive. Easly 2000 plus pages at this point. This PDF is just one of a few. I had to compress like a motherfucker just to get it under 8 mb to post.

>>42859383

>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.

>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

>>42859383
>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.

"Are you not entertained?"

>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

>>42859383
>>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.

>>42859383
>>Ignore the awe-struck Vatis and have Zahak take you to the main body of the army, gathering near the east wall.
>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

>>42859428
To be fair, the story post to thread ratio goes down A LOT as you move forward.

>>42859480
Barely. Boss man keeps an average word count per thread that's pretty fucking steady.

>>42859383
>Ignore the awe-struck Vatis and have Zahak take you to the main body of the army, gathering near the east wall.
Internally: >Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.

>>42859494
Really?
I felt like there was a big drop-off around thread 100 or so.

>>42859383
Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.
>Why aren't they cheering? You were expecting cheers.
>Ignore the awe-struck Vatis and have Zahak take you to the main body of the army, gathering near the east wall.

>>42859383
>>42859588
Oh, and be sure to include a graceful aerial maneuver when you depart.

>>42859383
>>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

>>42859612
NONSENSE.

Now is no time to puss out, it's time for some THEATRICS.

>>42859510
Either that or there's a lack of progress in treads that makes it feel that way. Sometimes it seems like soma makes one post of progress in three posts of words

>>42859662
>progress
Lots of words =/= story progression for Somas.

>>42859662
Hey, I like the fluff and interactions.

My only problem is the time between posts.

>>42859383
>Maybe you should have them go ahead of you to warn the others, or something like that?

and then soma vanished

never to be seen nor heard from again
forever lost to the sands of time

>>42859910

only been 30 minutes :^) next update in 1h.

oh my god, I just figured out Soma's inspirations for the world building of Banished quest. It was so simple.
But I'm not telling what it is.

>>42860130
He has stated multiple times that Morrowind and Dune are major inspirations, along with various RL civilizations.

>>42860130
Anon we all know it was largely Dune and Morrowind. He even said so.

Back from getting food and coffee.

>>42859712
>>42859612
>>42859459
>>42859439
>>42859432
>>42859399
>Call the neighbors, you want them to see this.

>>42859419
>>42859459
>>42859502
>>42859588
>Bye, Felicia.

>>42859588
>>42859458
>>42859439
>>42859432
>>42859399
>>42859502
>ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!

Writing for
>You expected cheering
and
>Send them ahead to warn the others.

>>42860238
>Writing for
>Send them ahead to warn the others.
Boooo

You people are no damn fun.

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>>42860280
>fun

>>42860238
Should we be discussing skirmishing tactics with the Vatis we've been given? Positioning/lining sorts of likes.
Or should we assume they know the basics of magic attack types and how to react accordingly to magic attacks? (IE, shit like Manipulate, where its appropriate to raise a boulder and where it isn't.)
Or will that largely be up to us when we're given 'em orders on the field?

>>42860311
Thinking about tactics is always a good idea. A good write-in can earn you bonuses in most situations.
Most non-trained Vatis usually only know their element and maybe an effect or two. While Manipulate is common, it's by no means universal. That said most will know how to defend from elemental attacks, or at least have a basic gist.
They'll follow your orders for the most part but might act independently depending on how things go.

>>42860311
I think "Hit them until they die" should suffice.

>>42860311
Everybody needs to double on the camels, one water or nature vati per camel to heal/be a lookout

I just don't want them to throw magic around uncoordinated willy nillily and wind up breaking unit cohesion with spell crossfire or a defensive measure they make that an ally runs into because they didn't expect a wall to be there. Especially since situational awareness on a battlefield is probably not their forte, so it's good the enemy should be shitting themselves from poison and Zahak.

Skirmishing on camelback, like horseback, would best be done as hit-and-run, with magic in place of arrows. Basic stuff like that I'm not sure these caliber of Vatis know.
And then I wonder where we should skirmish from, like bait small parts of the enemy out further with a fraction of our force, or split our forces and attack&retreat from behind while the regulars march aggressively from the front, etc.
Small things like that.

>>42860311
I think the Earth caste should stay with the main force to throw up barricades to stop javelins and arrows and other assorted shit and then to send those same barricades rolling toowards the enemy or just creating unstable ground for them to operate in

>>42860490
>>42860355
Whoops, meant to link to ya.

>>42860503
That would also be excellent for negating any pursuing forces. If they have any mounted men able but few or no Earth vatis among them then they won't be able to catch up with our Vatis at all.
Same with the sandships too, so long as our earth vatis are quick with their ground spikes.

Commanding mage skirmisher sandships from dragonback could be pretty op.

We're going to get one hell of a moniker after this battle.

>>42860601
We're also getting bird's eye view. so we should be able to know what they're up to provided they don't set up any anti-air

>>42860631
What's dragon rider in Latin?

>>42860601
>could be
You mean extremely.
The best method for defeating light skirmishing forces is to pelt them with arrows or flank them slowly with raised shields or superior riding tactics. In history well-equipped armies with competent leaders would be attempting the primary three methods all at once, because at least of them will work if the skirmishers don't backpedal fast enough.
Zahak makes each of the best methods for fighting against our small force incredibly difficult, so long as we're watching for the right movements.
So yeah this shouldn't be a problem if Mik is paying attention and commanding accurately.

>>42860670
That's the big thing, having the tactical view and commanding the hard hitting fast in and out troops.

Allows for maximum damage while not getting surprised and getting gibbed out of no where.

>>42860691
Google says "Draco Ascensorem."
But Soma will probably correct that into what it actually is if you ask him to.

>>42860691
It would be something like Equitor Draconis. Equitare technically means "To ride a horse", so Equitor would be "A horse rider". Thus, the phrase becomes "A horse rider of dragons", which sounds a little silly. I don't know if there is a word for someone who just rides an animal, without specifying the animal that is being ridden.

>>42860748
Draco Ascensorem wouldn't really work. Ascensorem is accusative meaning it would usually be the direct object and Draco is nominative meaning it's the subject. However, something like Ascensor Draconis would work. Draconis being a genitive of description.

Ascensor Draconis is actually way closer to the intended meaning, so that's probably what would be used.

>>42860733
Gotta watch out for their hero units with artifacts then. I'll bet my two front teeth that once their leader, the mech dude, understands that there's a dragon harrying his forces he'll either come straight to us or send something elite our way. Or both.
While anons are being all cool with their tactic thoughts I don't think he'll let his outer lines crumble without a sufficient response, so distractions from our position of command over our vatis are what we'd need to watch out for the most. Since they're newbies they probably wont beat it at the right moments until we tell them too, and if we don't we'll lose them.

>>42860833
Stop letting these anons distract you from writing Soma!

Back to writing!!!

>>42860833
So what would it be in the Samjan tongue? I ain't gonna post what google gave me this time.

>>42860881
Ok, so let me point out something nobody has said. I don't think it's too far from possible that they have some sort of antidote for the sickening potion we put in their water.

If they have healed themselves, this little battle gets a lot more interesting.

Put that on your plate and chew on it.

>>42860909
Dregana ra'idara according to google translate.
I dunno man I don't speak Marathi. It is kinda funny how a lot of their words sound similar to our own though. Dat Indo-European language group.

>>42860881
since we're on the offensive, we're definitely at a disadvantage in terms of positioning and terrain advantage. they've probably have traps set up, also some of them might have crude artillery/AA in the form of Vatis that specialize in elements that can apply that kind of utility.
>>42860932
It'd suck to find that out.

chryssa a shit

>>42860932
Even if most of the regular bandits are affected still, I think it's a pretty high probability that the elite troops will be either immune or recovered before the regulars. They have access to things/artifacts the lowly regulars don't have.

>>42860932
Or the poison acted too quickly and they figured out not to drink the water. Organized army camps typically do not all drink and eat at the same time unless under specific duress after all, though it's a guess as to whether they do things the "right" way or if they just wing it because their marauders.

>>42860943
Yeah. Y'know I wonder if it would be too much to get another Vatis on Zahak's back, so that there are two Vatis on a dragon throwing hell down onto earth. Just to push our firepower output just that much further. But then again none of them sounded too impressive.

>>42861042
Since it's the night before a long march they better have drunk it or I'll call Soma out for being shifty!

>>42861106
Desert soldiers often don't drink at night because they want to save the water for their marches. It makes the sun bearable. Source: Former guerrilla fighter against Soviet forces.

>>42861201
>>42861106
wait, that means they'll get diarrhea mid battle. oh the pain and suffering and extreme awkwardness.
>gets ready for march
>just about engage in combat with first enemy
>stomach starts hurting
>shits pants before first strike.

>>42861300
Perfection!

>>42861300
From what I've read about most medieval life, that actually sounds like pretty much the norm. Dysentery man.

>>42861300
>That painful buildup of pressure before the initial shit bursts out of the feces hydrant that is their ass.

That is when we strike

>>42861300
>As the front formations try to maintain their advance despite crippling shits the second line advances in, only to be met by a putrid scent that nearly halts their advance. Then the actual advance halts as the center troop officer trips and falls into pooled puddles of mud very different in hue from the earth previous and with corn present. As his second halted and by momentum the rest of the troop, the officer's previous words turned in their minds: "Oh Pani's tit what is that sme-Guuabagahaeeeuuu!"

You stare at the gathering of Vatis before you, confused. Did they not understand you? Maybe if you repeat yourself they'll get the message. “What's the matter? You're fighting alongside a dragon. Victory is almost assured and if nothing else you'll be able to say that you fought with a dragon. You should be cheering! Most soldiers dream of victories this easy.”

Apparently some of the shock has started to wear off because the Varistha steps forward hesitantly, walking up to Zahak's flank and lightly placing his hand on your son's side. He flinches away almost immediately, as if burned. To be fair, dragons tend to run hot. He might have actually been burned. “Gods above, it's real...” He mutters, mostly to himself you think.

You clear your throat, gently correcting the priest. “He's real, not it.”

One of the other men calls out from the back of the collection of soldiers. “I thought those stories of dragons in the mountains were just the ramblings of drunkards”

That wasn't really a question but you answer anyway. “Well I suppose you thought wrong. I found Zahak's egg at the bottom of a mine shaft abandoned and hatched him myself. I've raised him from barely larger than a house cat to larger than all but the most massive of camels.” You peer past the men, through the city gates, to see a handful of civilians gathering in the streets to get a look at you. In the name of expedience you decide it's best to usher your men along. “Why don't the lot of you go ahead to warn the soldiers of my arrival? I don't want any incidents.”
(1/3)

Dam Soma, hurry the fuck up.

They spring into motion. Apparently riding on top of a dragon makes most people eager to do what you say. You can't imagine why. As your men flee the scene and your companions follow along at a far more leisurely pace, with the exception of Fulvia who remains behind, you hear a child's voice calling out from the balcony of a near-by shop. “Momma look! Look! That man's riding a dragon, like in the stories!”

Glancing over your shoulder you see a young boy hopping excitedly up and down on a balcony while his mother peers at you warily from behind a curtain, two more kids peeking out from behind her. Others, mostly old men, women, and children, are starting to filter out to get a look at Zahak. For a moment you're really, truly tempted to command that they bow down. The idea of a bunch of peasants supplicating themselves before you like some sort of god is appealing on several levels.

However before your megalomaniacal tendencies overwhelm your capacity for rational thought, a voice thrums through the back of your head. {Alright, Mikhael. I think we're ready for you.}

You share a glance with Fulvia, who simply nods, before grabbing on tightly to the horn at the front of Zahak's saddle. Urging him upwards and onward he leaps into the air, his wings snapping out to propel you forward. You hear a collection of gasp and more than a few screams of alarm echoing through the desert in your wake.

(2/3)

>>42861499
There's no corn in Not-India anon

Cutting sharply south the bulk of your brother's army spreads out before you. Six hundred men holding aloft spears, swords, shields, and bows. Each of them gleaming in polished armor. If you didn't know any better you'd call them professionals. A thought from you sees Zahak folding his wings to his side and dropping like a stone towards the gathered forces only to spread his wings once more and swoop over the top of the army. You leave a swathe of ducking soldiers and dropped weapons in your wake before having Zahak twist gracefully through the air and bring you in for a landing in front of the gathered soldiers.

Six hundred pairs of eyes are staring back at you, your Vatis and companions forming a barrier between you and the army proper. A few officers are trying very hard to keep their nervous men in line and more or less managing to do so, but you spot at least one officer staring awe struck at you and Zahak. Several of the soldiers under his command have broken and ran for the river, as if they intend to swim for safety. It's fortunate that Darzi's cavalry force is there watering their camels, otherwise they might have actually succeeded in deserting.

>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.
>Maybe some illusions will help lighten the mood a little. Fill the air with colorful explosions and promises of victory in big bold letters.
>Write-in

>>42861564
yeah, it's called maize

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
>Maybe some illusions will help lighten the mood a little. Fill the air with colorful explosions and promises of victory in big bold letters.

Fuck it. Do both.

>>42861573
>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.

Put on the Warlock armor.

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
>Maybe some illusions will help lighten the mood a little. Fill the air with colorful explosions and promises of victory in big bold letters.

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.

>>42861573
>>Maybe some illusions will help lighten the mood a little. Fill the air with colorful explosions and promises of victory in big bold letters.
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.

Warming up the die

>>42861579
Not unless they traded with Not-North America already

Rolled 1, 3, 9 = 13 (3d10)

>>42861640
hahaha

>>42861640
>>42861624
>>42861612
>>42861595
you could also try writing some quotes for a rousing speech.

>>42861573
>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.
Everybody be cool. Just my dragon son. Nothing special.

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
The whole illusions thing sounds corny as fuck

>>42861573
>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.

Rolled 3, 2, 3 = 8 (3d10)

>>42861667
Rolling for predicted effectiveness of anons' write-ins

>>42861573
>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.
Mik would probably just say some unnerving creepy shit in a speech

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
Build the legend.

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
>Maybe some illusions will help lighten the mood a little. Fill the air with colorful explosions and promises of victory in big bold letters.

Double or nothing lads.

>>42861573
>>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
>>Act natural. Dismount and wait with the rest of your men for your brother to arrive.

>>42861684
Seems about right.

>>42861667
"Zahak is on our side and much of our brigand enemies have or will be spending their time shitting and vomiting from poison. If you still think you have a chance of losing then feel free to desert! Because deserters can run away from a dragon on foot. Totally."

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
Speech speech speech speech speech

>>42861747
Just the right amount snark.

>>42861573
>>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.
Time to roll a nat 1 and deliver a speech that single-handedly causes all of the troops to run screaming.

>>42861573
>Try to muster up some sort of inspiring speech to compel the men to victory.

>>42861597
Thoughtwe already had it on?

>>42861772
>>42861753
>>42861729
>>42861720
>>42861719
>>42861676
>>42861640
>>42861624
>>42861612
>>42861595
>>42861786
>Friends! Samjan! Countrymen!

>>42861729
>>42861706
>>42861678
>>42861668
>>42861597
>Be cool bro. Be cool.

>>42861595
>>42861612
>>42861640
>>42861720
>Fire works show.

ROOOOOOOLL 3d10+8 (+6 from Orator, +2 from Senapati) vs DC 15 (Base DC 25, -6 from Dragon Rider, -4 from Reputation)

Rolled 1, 8, 10 + 8 = 27 (3d10 + 8)

>>42861867

Rolled 7, 5, 5 + 8 = 25 (3d10 + 8)

>>42861867

Rolled 8, 3, 5 = 16 (3d10)

>>42861867
LET US ENKINDLE THINE HEARTS

Rolled 1, 7, 9 = 17 (3d10)

>>42861867

Rolled 9, 3, 1 + 8 = 21 (3d10 + 8)

>>42861867

Rolled 9, 4, 9 = 22 (3d10)

>>42861867

>>42861867
>Biggest bonus from Zahak.
As it should be.

>>42861867
Write in. Because why the fuck not.

Men of Nazir, there is never a perfect time to do a great thing. If you wait that perfect time and that perfect moment, that perfect time and place will *not* happen. You know what you have to do? You have to create the perfect time, and the perfect opportunity. What you've done, by coming here and standing in this army is the first step to the most perfect opportunity, and the most perfect time for all of you to become heroes! For us to write a new legend of El-Amin.
The men who stand against us think themselves as veterans! Skilled butchers of men! They think that because of this, they can kill your brothers and uncles and fathers with no rebuke! That they can steal your sisters and your aunts and your daughters to sell like chattel! But just me and five good men have crippled them all! And you, and your brothers, I, my brothers, and my fucking Dragon will kill them all before this day is done!

>>42861876
>>42861883
>>42861885
Nice
Can we spend some Vys to do some impressive fireworks/illusions anyway

>>42861867
can you count suckas!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I9_pZ85zIQ

Dam we are one inspiring motherfucker.

>>42861930
No.

>>42861927
Terrible.

This is fucking glorious and I'm loving every minute of this.

Revealing Zahak was a great idea.

>>42861956
Kadir is gonna be mildly annoyed to say the least.

WHICH IS WHAT I WANTED SO IT'S STILL PERFECT ANYWAYS.

>>42861968
That fucker forgot his modifier. He actually got a 22.

Which is still mediocre.

Earlier we went from dragon slayer to dragon rider in half a second.

>>42861867
I want to know what Zahak thinks of all this, how he's feeling.

I'm sure he's feeling pretty nervous right now and could use some encouraging words as well.

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>>42862011
Misread shit. I am the true faggot.

>>42862011
Nice math, 24

What's your soundtrack for when the battle starts? I'm debating between Shadow of the Colossus and Protomen.

>>42862079
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el93MIxAf-c&feature=youtu.be

>>42862079
We're not actually going to get to it tonight.

Next post is the speech, it'll be posted in like 3 hours, then 2-3 hours after that the final post will be be the lead up right before the battle.

>>42862079
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TM0wt4g1wY

>>42861975

Word is going to spread fast after this, and by the time it word gets back to El-Amin the story is likely going to grown out of proportion. Just imagine the rumors and tall-tales that are going to be told.

>>42862079
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHF_bIjIPAE

>>42862168
They're going to call us the next Thousand Year Emperor.

>>42861876
>>42861883
>>42861885
Spend 1 vys for Great Success

>>42862384
Nigga you dumb.

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>>42862384

>>42862384
That's not how math works, anon

Does this mean we can involve our son in fucking with people now?
We can teach him the Mikhael way.

>>42861867
You okay?

>>42862732
>in fucking with people now?
This meme needs to die.

>>42862759
You need to die.

>>42862749
[23:15] <~Soma_QM> I think the speech is finally done.

Reaching down you pat Zahak affectionately on the neck. He puts up with a lot, and you've got to admit you're proud of how well he's handling all this. You couldn't have asked for a better behaved son, all things considered. {How are you feeling? I'm sure all this attention can be stressful.}

You're struck by a wave of excitement, worry, and confusion. {This is so cool! I've wanted to meet people for a long time because they always seem so busy but I've never been able to because I was worried they'd hurt me but now they're not doing that! I wish I could talk to them but I don't want to scare them so I haven't, but I don't mind!}

Well, at least he seems to be enjoying all the attention. You wonder if that's a trait shared by most dragons or if it's specific to Zahak? Dragons seem mostly solitary creatures, but they also tend towards arrogance. You suppose you'll need to speak with more dragons to get a good idea.

Turning to face the crowd of gathered soldiers you channel magic into your throat, your voice coming out as a thunderous boom when you speak. “When does the Samrajya think to cease their abuse of our patience? How long will they continue to mock us, in their madness? They strut across our lands with all the boldness of a whore! Do our forts placed across the border not have any effect upon them? Do they not see the alarm of our people, and the union of all good men, as proof they've been detected?”

You pause, enjoying the momentary silence that falls across the field. “Shame upon this age and its principles! The Shah is aware of their trespass, the Satraps see them stalking across the border, and yet still they live! They march to the gates of El-Amin and enslave our families! They rape our women! They burn our fields and steal our wealth! What kind of men are we, to let these offenses go unpunished? Do we think ourselves righteous if we avoid their frenzied assaults? They plot the destruction of our very way of life and yet we give them no answer!”

>>42862844
is it time

time for a rousing speech to the men on dragonback

A cry ripples through the crowd, a roar of outrage. It gives you a moment to pause, to collect your thoughts before continuing on. “Did not the Thousand Year Emperor, in all his illustrious glory, not grind the Rhynians into a fine paste for violating the sanctity of Hiacian borders? Did the Emperor Khalil not send our fleets across the sea to rain death and destruction upon the lands of the Rhynians for daring to lay hands upon but one of his servants? Shall we the descendants of those great men, tolerate those same offenses at the hands of the Samrajya, they who seek naught but to submerge the world in fire and death?”

Judging by the shouts of the crowd the answer to that question is a resounding no. “There was once such virtue in these lands that brave men would step forward to defend our people from enemies the rest of the world thought invincible. We are the descendants of a people who made the Rhynians bow! The blood of gods runs through our veins, unmuddled by the influence of Jungle dwelling primitives! Yet how low we have fallen, to surrender ourselves passively to the hands of a foreign enemy...”

Dropping your voice low you adopt an ominous tone, six hundred men hanging on your every word. It's a powerful feeling, to carry this much authority. “I know well that yesterday few of you were soldiers. You were fathers, you were sons, and you were husbands, but today that is not the case. Today you fight to defend the lands of your birth from a savage, godless people. Today, with the blessings of Pani in our hearts and the wrath of Surya wielded as a blade to cut down our vile enemies, today you are soldiers.”

(2/3)

Their cheer seems to shake the very Earth with its intensity, even Zahak lifts his head skyward and shoots a burst of flame into the air. The rush of looking out at hundreds of soldiers, many of them chanting your name as if some sort of battle cry, is indescribable. It's only then that you notice your brother standing against the city walls with a collection of his captains gathered around him that your triumph falters.

For a moment you think he might be irritated that you've stolen his thunder. Then he grins, and draws a sword from a scabbard on his hip. Raising it triumphantly in the air he marches out before his troops and, using the same trick you did, shouts loud enough for all the world to hear him speak. “In the name of our homeland, in the name of the Shah, let us march to destroy these foreign invaders!”

A great clatter of metal against metal raises from the camp as men go about gathering their arms and armor and officers struggle to get their men into formation. With characteristic lethargy, the army lurches into motion.

>EEEEND THREEEAAAD!
>Next time on Banished Quest, we actually get this battle started! I promise!

>>42862885
Thanks for running. When's next time?

Oh, and yeah. Next thread monday.
Writing a speech is fuckin' exhausting. Like, holy crap. I must have revised that shit a dozen times.

>>42862885
>implying we'll get to the battle

>>42862899
CHIN UP SOMA

NOW YOU GET TO WRITE OUT A LARGE SCALE BATTLE

>>42862885
Thanks Soma

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>>42862922
I'm probably going to timeskip through the march.

>>42862927
I'm hype. Might tweak the combat system a little bit.

>>42862899
>monday
See you in November.

>>42862899
Was a very good speech btw, well done Soma.

>>42862885
>Their cheer seems to shake the very Earth with its intensity, even Zahak lifts his head skyward and shoots a burst of flame into the air.
Couldn't ask for a better son, giving us such dramatic flair like that.

>>42862966
We gotta steal more eggs and turn the Samjan people into a people of dragonriders.

>>42862933
Good speech.

What will Kadirs reaction be to hearing about this?

>>42863001
Probably disbelief followed by who knows~

>>42863006
What about Masters?

>>42863006
He's probably going to shit his pants knowing we have a fucking dragon.

>>42863024
Concern, exasperation, and no small amount of pride.

>>42863031
>>42863024
>>42863006
>>42863027
What sort of "beneficial ventures" will our father think of after hearing about our newfound fame?

>>42863049
Draconic petting zoo. Pay a gold and get a portrait drawn of your two year old riding Zahak,

>>42863049
dragun pis
good laxative, medisinal
two thousan shekel a ounce
richer geet richer

>>42863031
mother is going to have a conniption

>>42863065
An excite conniption! She has a new grandchild.

>>42863092
Holy shit, now I NEED to see her doting over Zahak.

So anyone else think that people will assume we're going to try and make a move on the Shah? you know the whole "win the people" thing. That combined with us already being a rapidly rising house.

We could do it too.

speech put me to sleep tbh

>>42863057
So how long until word spreads far enough that we can ride him right into the heart of El Amin?

>>42863057
Guess the archive was a bit premature.

>>42863115
Great, we'll probably be the poster boy the the Masters that are trying a revolution.
The Vatis that saved half the Shahdom.
The Dragon Tamer
The Enchanter
The Vatis that conquered the Pav'ala
The Prince of New Hiacia
Mikhail Abdul-Hakim.

>>42863057
Did you ever plan for it to get like this when you presented us with the abandoned dragon egg all those threads ago?

>>42863233
I had an inkling of an idea that this is where it would end up.

>>42863244
Would... it be possible to get more dragon eggs?

>>42863271
Sure, there are plenty of dragon eggs.
At the bottom of the Mines of Longia.

>>42863279
Sounds like another expedition of cave diving needs to be done.

>>42863279
I wonder how many have hatched? how many have died? we did mess with the Temperature Generator in the Mines if I do recall correctly.

>>42863312
Mikael Abdul-Hakim: Slayer of unborn dragons through hypothermia.

I await Zahak's inevitable reaction to learning and then the understanding of this event.

>>42863333
oh no
no no
please no

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>>42863355

>>42863333
Soma, do Ice dragons exist?

>>42863388
Who~
Knows~

so zahak understands why we couldn't steal more eggs than him
it was dangerous and we told him so
didnt tell him we made most of that danger with the temp interference
and everything that has resulted from that

let us never speak of it to him
that will be for the best I believe truly

>>42863333
Would legitimately break my heart if Zahak ever told us he hated us.

>>42863432
We didn't create the super hot cave, we turned the AC up to 11. We couldn't steal more eggs because Zahak's was the only abandoned one and the others were all guarded my dragon mom. When we tried to approach we nearly got mentally dominated, that's why we had to leave. We were pissed at the dragons so we fucked up the temperature after.

The AC shenanigans had nothing to do with our inability to steal more dragon eggs.

>>42863494
the result is the same
dead baby dragons
dead inside dead eggs
dead dead dead
zahak shall not be told

Saying this here since I'm an European and will miss at least the first 4 hours of the next thread.

When we reach the enemy we must play the oud as our battlecry. Some of our soldiers might panic but the sheer terror of a dragon and the apocalyptic sounds of our oud will cause great damage to the enemy. The few that managed to keep their pants tidy will shit themselves and the rest of them will start fleeing before the fighting even begins.

I hope somebody mentions the oud early in the next thread as I will be unable to do so.

>>42863610
Only if we use our magic to create a barrier over Zahak's ears.

I don't want to subject him to such horror. That and I don't want to fall out of the sky by paralyzing our dragon with pain.

>>42863610
>>42863684
What we really need to do is let Ricky shred on the Oud with his tentacles out in full glory while we shoot jets of flame from our hands all on dragon back.

>>42863724
Ricky is into Death Metal is he?
One of these days, they will learn that our oud playing is more suited to a more METAL instrument

>>42863738
Can't even possibly think of what you may be thinking of, dearest anon.

What would happen if we critfailed an oud roll?

>>42863768
It would be the best thing to ever happen.

>>42863768
Probably the same thing if we crit succeeded an oud roll, but worse.

>>42863768
>>42863774
Well, considering Ricky loves out Oud playing we'd like cause a rip in the fabric of reality that would cause numberless amounts of void creatures to spill out.

>>42863768
We break the oud. It would probably sound pretty bad in the process.

>>42863738
>>42863759
We really need to make ourselves a proper instrument.
https://youtu.be/g8lebbgyopg?t=2m25s

>>42863768
I remember we intentionally critfailed an oud roll just to wake up our sister (the one who aspires to be a dungeon diver). It was funny as hell and it gave her an existential crisis.

>>42863800
>It was funny as hell
It really wasn't.

>>42863800
While I was taking a piss I remembered when around the time we first met Mortia, I think it was, we kept fucking with her with the Oud when she was trying to remove a big ass log or something out of a path.
I couldn't stop laughing.

>>42863815
greatest day of my life

How are you guys doing? Doing anything fun this weekend?

>>42866148
Waiting for next BQ.

>>42869044
Me too, also Rick & Morty

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>>42854706

Fuck you know what we should do guys?

We should, with the help of fucking Ricky pull off that scene from Fantasia with the Demon. Use our illusions to cast a giant fucking Winged Demon off to the side of the battlefield, on the opposite side of Darzi's forces to distract from the flanking maneuver.

We could use the fire Vatis's to help out. Use the Earth Vatis's to create a goddamn rumbling in the ground to announce our presence before the start of the battle.

Then, Dark clouds form and The fucking thing from hell rises out from the depths. Creating screams and roars and intimidating as shit.

He looks on the assembled armies as they inevitably look on in fucking awe. Then When he screams a final time Magic Fookin Mik comes riding out of his exposed mouth while the thing coalesces into him with a menagerie of Fucking Fire Birds slamming into the enemy grounds causing explosions and rumbling of the earth and shit.

The Nature Vatis's can spread fear and confusion into the enemy ranks and do whatever nature vatis's do. Or fuck, start animating the dead corpses of the enemy that have been burned alive in a shambling horde of undead. Water Vatis's can just fucking look on in awe for all i care and heal superficial wounds provide support.

I will not be able to post, but if someone reads it please echo this sentiment in the next thread, as I will be working.

>>42869124

Replying to my own post cause it's fucking metal and needs to get done.

>>42869124
>Mik yelling at the enemy about how resistance is futile with both a dragon and the shah's mother on our side.

>>42869280
>>42869159
>>42869124

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5BrE1Pi5cU

This songs got to play as the lead up. And I've got to go do laundry.

>>42869341
The only way for that to happen is to play it with our oud, which I doubt gives the same effect.

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>>42869124
I'm definitely in agreement with horrifying, morale shattering illusions.

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>told to check out this quest
>157 threads
>mfw

>>42870057
Go read the archives, it's worth it. When I picked up this quest I had to go through ~110, give or take 5.

>>42870057
Buckle your anus, it's quite the ride.

>>42870057
The quest is amazing, the players are terrible.

Bump limit so this thread can finally die.

>>42870057
I've been here since thread 1, all I can tell you is starting with about thread 40 or so, ignore everything that isn't one of Soma's posts, that's when the seeds of shitposting were first sown.

>>42871056
>>42871120
To be fair, this threads session went pretty damn well.

>>42869409
next time we see Skull kid, lets commission him to make a electric guitar that is powered by Vys using the Oud as a basis to work off of.

>300 is no longer the bump limit
What the hell is mootwo doing?

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>>42871227
I LOVE IT

IT COULD EVEN DOUBLE AS A WEAPON

>>42871269
Mikael Abdul-Hakim: Godfather of Death Metal, enthralling and haunting countless listeners with his Mad-Mik music.

>>42869124
Do you even understand that the vatis we're working with are low level?
Also, we don't really need support to create that kind of illusion nor those other effects. Though it would be draining.

>>42871260
Worming his way into my heart.

>>42871362
Just use some illusion magic to make Zahak look absolutely fucking terrifying.
Like something that flew straight out of hell, with us looking like a demonic rider or something.

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>>42871409
pic related for Zahak's illusion.

>>42871120
What happened?

>>42871584
Popularity.

>>42871260
bump limit's still at 300 last I checked.

>>42872137
This thread didn't hit the bump limit until 310 or so.