First off, the same decision that started the previous generation’s quest. What’s the player character’s gender? Unlike last time, this will have no effect on available classes.

>A. Male
>B. Female

>>43376496
>A. Male

Male

How did the last one end?

>>43376496
>A. Male
I liked Ellen and I got my /u/ fill so I'll go with male this time
>>43376598
Beat the king but lars died.

>>43376627
Emperor, more accurately.

>>43376523
>>43376570
>>43376627
Alright, great, now that that’s been chosen, young man, how’ve you been living your life since… Being born? This will affect your potential classes and how you came to be in this situation.

>A. You’re sort of overlooked in life compared to others you’re associated with, so you left your upbringing in hopes of making a name for yourself, currently acting as a mostly-freelance mercenary. (normal mode: solid classes, improve over time, etc) [Offered classes, in FE Terms: Fighter, Cavalier, Mage, Myrmidon, Bard (Light Magic)]
>B. Who says crime doesn’t pay? You can still make a killing in the timeless pursuit of lawbreaking! Whether you’re considering going straight or not, this has been your life so far. (trying mode: you’ll probably need your wits about you to accomplish much) [Offered classes: Brigand, Hunter, Dark Mage, Mercenary, Dancer/Thief]
>C. You wished to become a knight, but your skill has captured the interest of your liege in another way entirely, allotting you a good deal more legroom in your actions, but also requiring you to abruptly embark on dangerous missions from time to time. (easier mode: not going to be easy by any means, but you’ll have an advantageous start) [Offered classes: Soldier, Wyvern Rider, Archer, Monk, Dancer/Bard+swords]
>D. You’re just an ordinary villager, and you really didn’t want to be swept up in all this, but… You were. This is just your luck, and you’re not exactly a fighter. You don’t think you have “hidden potential” or anything of the sort, and honestly… You wish you didn’t need to be here. (hard mode: this backstory starts with the weakest characters with the most room to grow) [Offered Classes: Recruit, Journeyman, Pupil, FE2 Villager, Dancer/Bard+staves]

Figured that revealing which classes were available with each backstory and not gender-locking a small handful of them would make character creation less of series of shots in the dark.

>>43376758
>B. Who says crime doesn’t pay? You can still make a killing in the timeless pursuit of lawbreaking! Whether you’re considering going straight or not, this has been your life so far. (trying mode: you’ll probably need your wits about you to accomplish much) [Offered classes: Brigand, Hunter, Dark Mage, Mercenary, Dancer/Thief]

>>43376758
B

>>43376758
>B. Who says crime doesn’t pay? You can still make a killing in the timeless pursuit of lawbreaking! Whether you’re considering going straight or not, this has been your life so far. (trying mode: you’ll probably need your wits about you to accomplish much) [Offered classes: Brigand, Hunter, Dark Mage, Mercenary, Dancer/Thief]

>>43376758
B!

File: Myunit.png (109 KB, 360x162)

109 KB PNG

>>43376786
>>43376798
>>43376811
>>43376866
Alright, man, you and the love of your life are a rather unsavory duo trying to live comfortably in the mountains.

The Ice Authority was weakened severely when undead hordes began to randomly pop up in the world, certain settlements under their care destroyed. Yours and hers, in particular, were leveled on what was supposed to be a holiday where your patron Ice Dragon expresses appreciation for the humans they serve. Instead, much of your past lives were barbecued by undead dragons.

Anyway, what have you been using to keep yourselves alive?

>A. Tried-and-true, you’re an axe-wielding marauder of the mountains. You’re lightly-armored, but can swing that axe around with impressive nimbleness. (Brigand class)
>B. You’re pretty handy with a bow, which comes in handy in keeping yourself alive, fed, and should the right people be passing by, decently-off. (Hunter class)
>C. You studied ancient magic for a time, and now you turn around and give it a bad name, using dark arts for dark purposes. (Shaman/Dark Mage class)
>D. You can swing a sword around. Describing your style too heavily beyond that would be redundant. So what if your choice in target is… Undesirable? They have things you need or want. (Mercenary class)
>E. Hey, scum and villainy need entertainers too! It gets bleak at times, just the two of oyu being out there alone among enemies and snow… Of course, you can also hide away all kinds of hidden weapon under your clothes, and certainly know how to hide others’ things in there if you need to… (Dancer class, functional thief)

>>43376986
C

>>43376986
>C.

>>43376986
>E.

>>43376986
>E. Hey, scum and villainy need entertainers too! It gets bleak at times, just the two of oyu being out there alone among enemies and snow… Of course, you can also hide away all kinds of hidden weapon under your clothes, and certainly know how to hide others’ things in there if you need to… (Dancer class, functional thief)

>>43376986
>C. You studied ancient magic for a time, and now you turn around and give it a bad name, using dark arts for dark purposes. (Shaman/Dark Mage class)

>>43377028
>>43377041
>>43377059
And they laughed at you for focusing so much on your studies... Well, Leigh didn't, but she's alive right now to begin with.

Leigh is a swordswoman, probably one of the stronger people in your hometown (naming settlements isn't really how Tordo works. Never asked why). Headstong, had to be convinced that banditry like you've been doing was what was necessary to survive... She's always kept a noble air about her, though.

Such as right now, when she's pestering you to get up. A well-off settlement you'd heard had recently lost its ice dragon is just South of here.

"C'mon, clean up your books, grab... Flux, was it? Anyway, we need to get moving if this place is as good as you heard."

Of course, this might just be an odd dream... Any number of these things might be incorrect.

Last chance for them not to be.

>A. Get up
>B. "Wake up" (return to a specific spot in character creation. Only chance!)

A

>>43377232
A. Get up

>>43377232
Get up you lazy fuck

>>43377232
>A
Nothing needs redoing.

>>43377232
>A. Get up

>>43377247
>>43377306
>>43377330
>>43377331
>>43377343
"Alright... I'm still not the early bird here, Leigh."

"Yeah, but this was your idea, and I think I saw some guy with a staff running towards town."

"Urgh... He taking main paths?"

"Yeah. Figure we could cut him off if we take the shortcut, maybe, uh... Find something out about the town?"

"Some guy... He didn't see us, did he?"

Leigh pauses. "No idea."

Ugh. You've agreed to treat "no idea" as "probably," but... It is a pain to take the shortcut she's thinking of. You're super deep in snow at several points, and there's plants sticking out that tend to whack you in the face.

You had your clothes enchanted with warmth way back before you old settlement was destroyed, but it could be an absolute pain in the ass for cutting off someone who only probably expects you.

>A. Go with Leigh's idea. This could totally mean trouble.
>B. Let's just get closer to town the normal way. How would they know what you're up to?
>C. Write-in

>>43377460
>A. Go with Leigh's idea. This could totally mean trouble.

>>43377460
A
Leigh seems to know what she's doing

>>43377460
>A. Go with Leigh's idea. This could totally mean trouble
Never hurts to be safe

>>43377460
>A. Go with Leigh's idea. This could totally mean trouble.

Will we get to name our character?
Do we get a choice out of a list?
I'm new to this, I missed the last one.

>>43377502
>>43377507
>>43377520
>>43377526
Alright, you agree. You'll follow her lead and cut the guy off.

"Great!" She smiles, picking up her own Iron Sword. You start to root through your own books, looking for the most literally-offensive one, before hearing her call out from behind you. "Think fast!"

You barely turn around in time to avoid being beaned in the torso by Flux.

"Grabbed it before waking you up. It was under a big pile of your robes."

"Then why'd you tell me to grab it?"

"To see how you took it."

After that, you hold onto your last vulnerary. Leigh, significantly stronger and more resilient than you, insisted you be the one to have it handy.

The "shortcut" is non-noteworthily unpleasant, and ultimately you find Leigh plowing through a pile of snow, approaching the person she saw.

He greets her with an unexpected grin. "Are... You the mercenaries I sent for? S-sooner than expected!" He sees you just through the snow and waves. "Sneaking to town, huh? Clever..."

>A. Break his charade quickly
>B. Play along
>C. Let Leigh handle this
>D. Write-in

>>43377746
It took a few posts to name Ellen last time. I'm waiting for a good excuse for it to come up.

>>43377760
>C. Let Leigh handle this

>>43377760
B

>>43377760
>C
>B

>>43377760
>B. Play along

>>43377760
>B

>>43377779
>>43377785
>>43377840
>>43377849
>>43377910
You just quietly enter frame, nodding. Leigh is... More heroic, so you figure she's better for doing the talking with this guy.

Catching your cue, she continues. "Er... Yes, that would be us. Just... Fill us in on how things are here?"

"Well, the... Ymir group here, they've captured Gyo, they're holding our whole town under ransom-bah, I said all this in our letter, remember?"

"Uh... Right, of course. So just... You want just the two of us to give the group what-for?"

He nods. "And preferably do it discreetly, before Gyo can be killed. I've been asked to aid the mercenaries with my staff when they arrived, but," he chuckles, "to think you're so early... Oh, and I haven't even introduced myself! My name's Nicholas."

"Well, my friend here is Leigh," you say, finally speaking up, "and my name is..."

>A. Write-in name!

>>43377996
JOHN CEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENA

>>43377996
Lee

>>43377996
Lloyd

>>43377996
Biron

>>43378012
How long were you holding that one in?

>>43378047
Since I found out our main character would be a boy

>>43378036
Seconding this

>>43378047
I can't type what i want since 4chan is saying it's spam , I wanted to make some overly pomp name.

Von Hidenburg

>>43377996
Oh, can i put in the last name then.

Von Hidenburg.

First name: Fredrick

A,K.A. Freddy.

>>43378107
Why not be just be Jamal?

>>43378135
Sure why not? I just want a overly fancy last name.

>>43378036
>>43378063
"...Lloyd."

Nicholas smiles. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet both of you. Ah, and Lloyd, is that a dark tome I spy?"

"Er, yeah."

"I've never seen it up close! This is wonderful!"

"Er... Could we have just a moment, Nick? Can we call you Nick?"

"Certainly and I don't see why not, Leigh."

"Thanks." With that, Leigh pulls you a bit away, whispering, "now what do we do, Lloyd? Do we stick to the plan, try to meet up with these Ymir guys?"

She sounds reluctant to stick with said plan, but will probably go along with whatever you suggest, but you're both familiar with the Ymir group. They're an upstart in the banditry world, and messing with them is... Probably bad news.

>A. Let's help drive these guys out!
>B. Let's bail. This is heavier than expected
>C. Let's join up with the Ymir
>D. Stick to the plan
>E. Write-in

>>43378188
A

>>43378188
>B. Let's bail. This is heavier than expected
We're small time, bail

>>43378188
>A. Let's help drive these guys out!

>>43378188
>>A. Let's help drive these guys out!

>>43378202
>>43378284
>>43378311

You stare at Leigh pensively for a few moments, before responding with your best attempt at sounding enthusiastic about heroics. "... I say we help drive them out. Even if the townspeople don't reward us, we can still go back to the original plan. Bailing if things get too tough is always an option, too."

She seems to ignore your contigency plan, giddy about the prospect of preforming some heroics for once. Leigh turns back towards Nicholas, beaming and gripping her weapon tightly. "Alright then! Lead the way, Nick."

"... Preferably a road less-travelled." You add, figuring the best way to take out the Ymir would be the stealthiest route.

Nicholas nods towards the two of you, turning around and adjusting his robes before setting off towards the town. "Right this way, I suppose."

While you're walking, you figure this may be a good time to plan, or just generally ask questions about the place you'll be fighting in.

>A. Ask about the specifics of the Ymir stationed at the town
>B. Ask about the ransom and Gyo's situation
>C. Ask about Nicholas' staffwork
>D. Stay silent, actually.

>>43378477
Dropped your trip, Grand ol' buddy.

>>43378477

>A. Ask about the specifics of the Ymir stationed at the town

>>43378477
Can we choose all 3?
If not, A

>>43378513
You can.

>>43378489
Oops, so I did. Been a while.

>>43378513
Yeah, but you're less likely to get extremely specific information for each option the more you pick, since the longer you talk the closer you'll get to your destination.

>>43378477
>A. Ask about the specifics of the Ymir stationed at the town
>B. Ask about the ransom and Gyo's situation
>C. Ask about Nicholas' staffwork

Or just A if we can only ask one question.

>>43378550
>>43378513
"So, uh... How're the Ymir in the town? Like, in terms of... numbers, stations..."

Nicholas responds, "There's... just over two-dozen of them, counting their leader, Cane. She's... A Warrior who came from-"

"Her origin isn't really all that important. So how's things with Lord Gyo?"

"They... Haven't killed Gyo yet, I don't think. They're waiting to contact the Ice Authority to discuss ransom, and they've stolen Gyo's ice stone, but... With how things have been up here lately, I doubt they'll respond before they give up on waiting, and..." He gulps, "after all Gyo's done for our people, we couldn't have that!"

"Right, and your staff. You mentioned..."

"Oh, yes! I'm... Not all that experienced, I admit, but I'm the best this settlement has got!"

A gruff, feminine voice is heard from the town. "Hey, Nicky, what've you been doing out?"

To this, he turns around, fearfully whispering, "I... found you stranded outside and saved your lives, alright?"

Leigh nods, and moments later, two muscular men, one shorter, one rather tall and husky, appear alongside a very warmly-dressed, redheaded woman with a bow and axe strapped to her back. You spy more heavy-hitting-looking sorts behind her a ways.

"And who are these?"

>A. Attack!
>B. Bail!
>C. Let Nick handle this, only speak if addressed directly
>D. Write-in action/dialogue

>>43378762
>C. Let Nick handle this, only speak if addressed directly

>>43378762
C

>>43378762
>C. Let Nick handle this, only speak if addressed directly

>>43378762
C

>>43378795
>>43378798
>>43378839
>>43378864
"W-well, uh... Lady Cane, these two were just... Er, these two were lost out there, so..."

She interrupts him, "save it. You're a worse liar than you are a healer."

"Er... What are you saying?"

"We got your friend to blab about what you had in store. These mercenaries here..." She notes his reaction, "called it, didn't I? They're awful fast travelers, but what's that mean, exactly? Absolutely nothing's what it means."

Cane pulls out her bow (looks like... Steel, right?), and Leigh, in turn, readies her sword.

"We don't care who you are. We promised we'd help this settlement out of your grasp, and now that our cover's blown, there's no real reason to hide that!"

Her and the two guys closest to her approach Nick first.

"Last chance for you two to apologize. I honestly appreciate your guts, going up against us, so... Give up and you can work with us. Think I'll keep this guy alive long enough to see you agree to it."

One of the bandits grabs Nick, pulling him close and holding his axe against him.

"Hrn... We're not about to back down now! D-don't worry, Nick, you'll get out of this! Right, Lloyd?"

>A. Leigh's right. Stick to what you told Nick!
>B. You're kind of shit out of luck. No choice but to give up.
>C. Write-in dialogue

And...

>D. Attack someone! (specify)
>E. Stay your tome
>F. Write-in action

>>43379048
>A. Leigh's right. Stick to what you told Nick!
*sigh* Of course Leigh.
D. Attack the bandit holding Nick

>>43379048
A
D flux the bandit holding Nick

>>43379048
A
D

>>43379048
B
Who needs healers, besides we're sure to get a qt Troubadour healer anyways!

>>43379146
>>43379160
>>43379179
"Of course, Leigh," you tell your girlfriend with palpable resignation before opening your tome and aiming a blast of Flux at the guy holding Nick.

Much to Leigh's horror (though you honestly sort of expected it), Nick has already been struck by the axe that was directly up against him before you can incapacitate his captor, and the snow is red beneath where he and the bandit stood.

Leigh takes a swing at the smaller guy, only to be blindsided by Cane hitting her sword arm with an arrow, doubling over and clutching her arm as the other brigand is slain.

The Ymir-leader glances at both of you as she signals for the guys you saw behind her to approach, restraining Leigh.

"She just made things way easier, I bet." A foul look fills your face as Cane says that, though she gives a semi-sympathetic look. "Hey, guy, I... Know what it's like to lose loved ones, and wouldn't wish it on anybody. I mean... It's sort of unavoidable in my business, but it's clear you're not as into playing hero as your pals here. We're sort of lacking in the magical department, and... Do I even need to say what I'm offering?"

You look at Leigh. She isn't saying a word, but seems to expect you not to take her up on this. You... Hate to disappoint her, really, but is getting her hopes up really worth getting her and possibly-yourself killed?

>A. Agree. You didn't want to do this to begin with.
>B. Agree. You're not them, but... You can buy time until the actual help arrives.
>C. Refuse. Keep fighting!
>D. Come clean about the "actually bandits" thing
>E. Write-in

>>43379421
>A. Agree. You didn't want to do this to begin with.
Was a pretty dumb idea in the first place

>>43379421
>B. Agree. You're not them, but... You can buy time until the actual help arrives.

>>43379421
B
RIP Nick
"You were cool for the like the 20 minutes we knew you"

>>43379491
Why? What do we stand to gain, fuck this, it's too dangerous. Aren't we supposed to be a criminal

>>43379421
B
A vulnery can save Nick, r-right?

>>43379515
>>43379554
This was always the poor guy's endgame. Needed an NPC who could get the help he mentioned sending for, but we'd already filled out our niches for earlygame staff-users. You just happened to be able to meet him in criminal and villager paths.

>>43379550
What go with them until the actual mercenaries arrive? We aren't actually fighting them. We'll probably hightail it in the chaos, depending on the mercenaries.

>>43379589
So they'd just kill him anyway?

>>43379491
>>43379515
>>43379554
You sigh. "Sorry, Leigh. You'd... Probably do the same thing in my place." Leigh is silent, and you give her your vulnerary before she's led off. "Uh... Use this, alright?"

She nods, not looking at you.

A few days pass before more of note happens. You witness some villagers being terrified, watch Cane harass Nick's family, and try to check up on Leigh a few times, but she mostly doesn't speak to you.

You ask Cane about Gyo at one point, to which she responds, "hah. Like I'm letting some turncoat mercenary see our most important prisoner."

>A. You insist
>B. You won't rock the boat
>C. Talk to her about something else?

>>43379643
He was a dead man whatever happened. All that would've gone different if you'd agreed to serve them right away is that he would be there to hear you say it.

>>43379684
C

>yfw Nick returns as the main villain

>>43379684
>B. You won't rock the boat

>>43379684
>C. Talk to her about something else?
>try to bargain for leighs safety if we just leave
We weren't even supposed to be here.

>>43379693
>>43379589
I'm waiting for the cute healer girl to heal the sorrow in our hearts at the loss of Nicholas, he was a guy that we knew for a couple of minutes.

>>43379684
>B. You won't rock the boat

>>43379771
We have nothing to bargain with.

>>43379786
Who could forget his memorable quotes such as
"You guys don't look like mercenaries"
"Yo help"
"Oh god I've just been cut open by an axe"

>>43379758
>>43379694
>>43379771
"Okay, was just... Curious."

Cane shivers. "Gh... I miss the islands. I keep bundling up, but... Keep freezing my ass off, and if I wear too much I won't be able to move at all."

"Well, uh... If there's an enchanter in town, you could make... Any article of clothing sufficiently warm."

"Shit, really? People been holding out on me. Thanks for the heads-up, Lloyd."

"Er... No problem. Say, could you... Let Leigh out at any point? I mean, my girlfriend and I aren't really..."

"Aren't really what?"

"Aren't... Really mercenaries. We're a couple small-time bandits, figured lying to Nick was easier than mugging a guy with that face. We didn't realize that Gyo was captured by Ymir until we were already in too deep."

"So... The mercenaries are still coming, you're saying."

"I... Guess?"

"Dammit... Look, help us take care of them whenever they show up, promise your girlfriend there won't kill us when we let her out, and we won't bother you anymore. Got a deal?"

>A. Deal
>B. No deal
>C. Write-in action/dialogue

Can we trust Leigh to not go all crazy vigilante?

>>43379895
>we gave you a heads up, can we just go? We don't want any trouble.

>>43379938
Good question.

>>43379938
I say option C, ask if we can just go because we warned them.

And then we could return Nick's body to his family because we sort of caused his death.

All the while making sure Leigh doesn't try anyhing stupid.

>>43379998
That second thing's been taken care of already.

>>43380018
Yeah. Definitely talk to Leigh before we do this. She has to be on board

How the hell did Lloyd convince Leigh to join him on a life of crime?

>>43379949
>>43379998
"Look, we... Gave you this heads-up. Could Leigh and I just go now?"

Cane laughs and hoists you up by one hand. "You really don't get how this works, do you? It was already enough of a favor for us to send guys to bring your campsite back here. Whenever the hell they get back, that's all the favors you're getting until these mercenaries are dead in the ground."

"'Whenever they get back...' You mean they're not already?"

She drops you and huffs. "Don't know what's keeping 'em. It's a couple hours there and back, if your directions were correct."

>A. Say something more (specify)
>B. Remain silent

And...

>C. Try to pay a visit to Leigh
>D. Just go about your duties until something happens
>E. Snoop?

>>43380094
They were all they mutually had after their home settlement was destroyed, eventually he convinced her that they needed to live somehow. She reluctantly agreed.

>>43380126
Sounds familiar but I can't place from where, one of the older games.
>>4c

>>43380126
Fair enough
>>43380115
A Ask to visit Leigh
If yes, C go visit Leigh

>>43380202
Wasn't meant to be a reference to anything. Just... Figured it was an appropriate backstory.

>>43380115
C
Let's start working towards that S Support

>>43380237
I know I've seen it, I think it was an archer abd thief though.
Now it's bothering me

>>43380287
Neimi and Colm's backstory was a little different.

>>43380319
That's right, it waany exactly the same but it was similar, with colm looking after her cause she was a klutz right?

>>43380395
I... Honestly don't see the similarity.

>>43380440
Yeah, reading back on it a lot of what I imagined seems to be from my imagination.
Forget I said anything

>>43380209
>>43380241
After a few moments of standing there in total silence, you finally speak up shakily. "Er, miss? May I go to see Leigh?"

Cane stares at you coldly for a few moments, before exhaling and replying with a stern tone of voice. "Yeah, sure. Remember, if you two try anythin' one of my men will lop your heads off with no hesitation."

That terrifying thought fresh in your mind, you head out towards where Leigh usually is, when she has free time. Not that she uses it for anything these days. As you approach her she slowly turns her head to look at you.

Neither of you speak, and she eventually looks away, staring blankly at nothing in particular. It's basically routine at this point.

You could try to say or do something, despite it not having worked for the past few days. There's always a chance.

>A. Apologize, for what is surely the latest in a string of many fruitless attempts
>B. Ask her why she won't talk to you anymore
>C. Take a seat next to her
>D. Say or do something else (Write-in)

>>43380480
>C. Take a seat next to her

>>43380480
C
It seems like the only way to start a conversation without pissing her off.

>>43380480
D
Sit next to her and commence hand holding

>>43380526
>>43380551
>>43380613
You just sort of... Sit around. You offer her your hand, which she doesn't acknowledge.

After several minutes of this, she asks, "what did you want?"

"Well, uh... Those guys who went to bring our things here haven't come back yet, apparently."

"It's... Been like a day, hasn't it?" You nod, and she rubs her chin. "Then that could mean..." Before finishing her thought, she says, "we're done talking. Goodbye."

"But Leigh-"

"Lloyd."

Unable to resist that stare, you turn and leave.

Gods, doesn't she appreciate that you did this? You're not all daredevils who can solve things by killing everyone in their way.

Maybe if the situation was reversed, this wouldn't have had to pan out like this, but that's not how it went down.

"I'm going for a walk," you announce to a couple guys, on orders to follow you whenever you or other conscripted bandits leave town to make sure you don't run off too far.

While out, they chat while you think to yourself. "Look, it just... Ain't the same with Cane in charge. She's fine as a second, but when's the real boss coming back?"

"You know the answer to that, man. Don't talk about this in front of the new guy."

"Right, right... Hate for him to get any ideas from what we're saying."

"Hey, you two hear anything?"

You and the other bandit shrug and listen. Yep, that's... Definitely somethingsteps.

"That's, uh... Who is that?"

You find yourself knocked into the snow by a very big fellow, the guy who just finished talking being cut open by a dark-skinned man dressed in heavy winter clothing. You wonder briefly why nobody bothers telling people from out of the country about warmth enchantments.

"Sh-shit... That's somebody, alright! C'mon, new guy, we're getting out of here!"

>A. Turn on the bandit
>B. Abscond back to town! Quickly!
>C. Sit there and see what happens

>>43380847
>A. Turn on the bandit
Offer the mercy help if they agree to get Leigh out asap

>>43380877
Mercs

>>43380847
>>A. Turn on the bandit
How old are we and Leigh?

A
Focus just on getting Leigh out, don't try any hero bullshit, just get her and run.

>>43380941
I agree with this.

>>43380929
Not sure. Young adultish.

>>43380941
She's going to be out for bandit blood.

>>43381005
Remind her what happened to Nick when we tried to be heroes

>>43381046
Fine by me, I just want to see her safe.

Doubt she'll back off that easy though

>>43380877
>>43380929
>>43380941
>>43380991
You waste no time picking your Flux tome up out of the snow and pointing it at the remaining brigand.

"Look out, sir, he's got a-" Before that voice can finish, you've struck your opponent. "Uh, never mind. He's friendly... I think."

The man stands just in front of you, over you. "So... I take it you're not really with them?" He extends an arm. "Apologies for knocking you over, then. My name is Marrius. We've come at the behest of one Nicholas."

"Yeah, he... Mentioned before he died. See, my girlfriend and I were... Passing through, mistaken for you guys. Captured her, made me fight for them since Dark Magic's a bit of a rarity up here." You pause before adding, "Nick's dead, by the way. Happened right when we got into town."

"That is... Sad. Do not worry, however. We'll be sure to return your friend from their clutches unharmed. That was your camp back there, I take it?"

You nod.

"Alright, then. Return there, we'll know where you are. Lyeim is keeping watch over the place right now in case someone else gets ideas."

>A. Return to camp and await Marrius' group's return
>B. Insist on coming along

>>43381166
B
Knowing Lloyd came for her might make her less pissed.

>>43381166
>B. Insist on coming along
>I'm not leaving my girlfriend
>I'll tell you how many there are and where if you get her free and let us go

>>43381148
Say something like "I don't want to lose you", she seems to rely on her emotions to make decisions.

>>43381207
>>43381219
"Hey, let me come along. Normally, I'll be fine with not tangling with the Ymir if I can help it, but... For Leigh's sake, you know?"

Marrius closes his eyes in thought. The voice from earlier gains a face and a form, more specifically that of a bulky, fair/short-haired woman on a horse in faded green armor, an iron lance ready at her side. Behind her, a somewhat smaller-framed woman with longer, tied-back, red-brown hair and stonelike facial features, looking heavily intimidating for someone carrying around a staff (though there is a sword sheathed on her person), clad in more faded red armor that seems... Just slightly too big for her.

Anyway, the green one says, "sir, if he would like to... Didn't you say it's a four-man job?"

"A four-man job if it got hairy, Yulea. A worst-case scenario. Honestly, I could likely handle it myself, but attempting doing so would be foolhardy."

"Which is why you BROUGHT four people at first," the other girl says. "Not that we can't handle it, of course."

Marrius sighs. "I won't force you to stay or go. Just... It would be helpful if you told us anything you knew about the town."

You do so. At this point, factoring in the five that fell... The Ymir presence in the nearby settlement is 20 people.

>A. Accompany Marrius' group
>B. Return to camp

>>43381465
>A. Accompany Marrius' group

>>43381487
You accompany Marrius' group, quickly striking up conversation with the girls of his group, getting acquainted, introducing yourself.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lloyd! I'm Yulea, and this is Yancy!" The green one indicates in the general direction of the red one, who doesn't seem... At all interested in this conversation.

You could probably tell by the way she says, "we really don't have time for this."

Anyway, to that Yulea says, "yeah, she can be... Like that, but I promise you she really is nice."

"I don't know why you keep telling people this!"

>A. Er... That's nice, you guess
>B. up yours too buddy
>C. Write-in dialogue
>D. Just be quiet until you get back to town

>>43381723
>A. Er... That's nice, you guess
Nice to see you again Yancy

>>43381723
>A. Er... That's nice, you guess

>>43381750
Name's just the same. This Yancy is a woman on a horse.

Not saying it's a coincidence, but the name is just the same.

File: SoldierDS.png (3 KB, 72x73)

3 KB PNG

>>43381750
>>43381782
"That's... Nice?"

"Yeah, she really is!"

Yancy speaks up again, "Pretty sure that's not what he meant, Yulea!"

Your argument is cut short by a surprisingly small welcoming party from the Ymir.

These three guys with lances and a single brigand, to be precise.

"Alright, then, let's cut out the chit-chat!" Fixing her staff on her back, Yancy raises her sword and rides towards the axe-guy.

"Not much to say about this," Yulea adds before raising her lance and approaching a soldier-class.

"Alright... Lloyd, was it? You're a mage, so if you're going to help us fight, stay a bit far away. These lances have a bit of a reach to them," Marius says before taking on the other two.

First order of business?

>A. Help Marius first
>B. Immediately go into town and seek out Leigh
>C. Find Cane
>D. Bail.
>E. Write-in

>>43381970
>A. Help Marius first
Then Leigh

>>43381970
>>E. Write-in
I say we stay out of trouble, and if anybody needs a bit of help, help them out. When we go into town, sneak around the fight to get to Leigh, break her out, and mosey on out.

>>43381970
I just noticed that this entire post has misspelled Marrius' name.

My bad.

>>43382090
Why wouldn't we help out? Do you just want to sit around while they do it all regardless? If we want to save her, then it's in our interest to kill them fast, rather than dick around with our thumb up our ass

>>43381970
> A. Help Marrius first

Once we get into town, we can find Leigh

>>43382029
>>43382090
>>43382157
You take that as a request from Marrius to aid him, and quickly do so, tossing some magic in the direction of the opponent he seems less focused on.

"Gonna go bust Leigh out now. No way she won't be helping too as soon as she's out. Couldn't talk her out of it if I tried."

"Alright, but... Be careful."

You nod and part ways from the rest of the group, hurrying towards the place she's being kept, avoiding confrontation heavily from the confusion of your former allies, not realizing you've turned back against them...

...and finding the building she's in empty.

Behind you, laughter. Cale's voice. "This is rich. You really didn't know?"

"Know what?!" The fear is... Heavy in your voice.

"Wow, you really don't!" She fiddles with the icy-blue object around her neck. That's an ice stone, presumably Gyo's. "No matter, I'm not stupid like the rest of my division here. You're gonna die here."

She's aiming her bow at you. You don't plan on dying until she tells you what the hell happened and where Leigh is, but she doesn't seem concerned with your intentions.

>A. Brace yourself for arrows to the... Body in general
>B. Attack immediately
>C. Try to focus on not being hit
>D. Look for something that might be sufficient cover
>E. Write-in
>F. Say something (specify)

>>43382286
>C. Try to focus on not being hit
>D. Look for something that might be sufficient cover
How far is she?

>>43382286
> C. Try to focus on not being hit
> D. Look for cover

I doubt we could get a spell off before she fires.

>>43382330
>>43382331
Alright, just... Focus on being where she isn't aiming.

The closest thing to cover you can find are a few of those small chairs and a side table, so... You shift around madly within there.

This works enough to not get you shot, but now she's coming at you with her axe.

You're knocked over by the same chair, and quickly find yourself on the ground, axe held up above you, foot planted firmly and painfully on your chest, flux tome kicked away out of reach.

"Not gonna drag this out more than I need to. Hate to see a kill suffer. Anything you wanna get off your chest, Lloyd?"

>A. Write-in dialogue
>B. Nah, you're good
>C. Defiant silence

>>43382452
> "Why are you with these guys? And what's this big thing going on you're laughing about me not knowing?"

Something like that I guess? Keep her talking, and thus less inclined to bring down that axe.

>>43382452
>your shoes are untied

>>43382452
>
>>43382512
this.

>>43382512
>>43382515
>>43382707
"Why're you here with these guys, islander? And what the hell did you do to Leigh?!"

"Hey, hey," she says, pushing her boot in a bit more, "I said last words, not last requests or questions or the like."

"Uh... Your... Your shoes are untied."

"That's... A new one." With that, she raises her Steel Axe, preparing to kill you in a single strike. You close your eyes, and hear an unpleasant sound.

"H-huh..? I'm..." You open your eyes. There's an iron sword pushed straight through Cane's torso, which quickly gets yanked back out. She makes a rather shocked sound before falling to one side. Your savior, it quickly turns out to be, is the person you came to this building to save in the first place!

"Wait... Leigh, how did..."

She picks you up off the ground. "I... Probably could've done that awhile ago, but I waited until we had some sign that those mercenaries were on the way." She pulls you a bit closer. "Still, Lloyd, really... Really sweet of you to come back for me."

"Er... I love you and all, Leigh, but 'in front of the bleeding-out bandit boss' isn't exactly a romantic spot."

You're awash with relief. You're certain that Cane there was deliberately vague about what exactly happened to Leigh just so you would hopefully freak out, but... You kept enough of your cool to stall until this all got sorted out.

Speaking of Cane, she wheezes, crawling over to and resting against a wall.

"No, no, lovebirds, just... Pretend I'm not here. Won't be in a few minutes anyway."

>A. Finish her off
>B. Ignore her and leave
>C. Say something (specify)
>D. Write-in

>>43382800
>B. Ignore her and leave

>>43382800
> Walk over and take the thing from around her neck, the ice stone or whatever it is
> Don't say a word to the bandit.

Alternatively, we can say
> "This looks important"

And THEN >Leave

>>43382800
>Loot her body.

>>43382867
>>43382880
You approach Cane and swipe back the Ice Stone without a word.

You see Yulea standing in the doorway. "Uh, hey... Lloyd, are you ok-" She looks at the dying Cane, looking... Curious for awhile before approaching. "Have... We met?"

Cane shrugs. "Just one of those faces. You one of those mercenary bastards killing my guys?"

"That would be me!"

"Good kid, good kid..." She points at you and Leigh. "Keep an eye on the-these... These two. Guy here told me they're nothin' more than... Small-time bandits who got caught up trying to rob this town dry."

You and Leigh share a worried glance as Yulea reacts to this with a frown. Ultimately, her response is, "I have no reason to believe you!"

"Right, right, and all I've got is the word of a private chat with Lloyd there... Take care of yourself anyway, alright, kid? Oh, and, uh... That lance there? Just, uh... Shove that right..." She points out some specific point in her head. "...there. Should kill me straight away. Bleeding out hurts."

"Alright, sure."

"Good kid... Good kid..."

One quick undoing later, Yulea sighs and looks at you both. "I take it this is the Leigh we've heard about? Lloyd here was really worried about you, insisted on coming with us, even! Don't worry, though, your camp is being kept safe by another of our number."

"Right, right... Let's save introductions for after the battle. C'mon, Lloyd, I found where they're holding Gyo before I got back here."

>A. Say something more (specify)
>B. Just go with them

>>43383161
> Pocket the Ice Stone (assuming Yulea hasn't seen it in our hand)
> "So, uh, how's the mercenary business these days? Pay well?"

It would be nice if we could join up. Apparently banditry hasn't been getting us very far. Gotta step up in the world! In baby steps, of course...

>>43383161
>Ask Leigh if she wants to play with the mercenaries or leave

File: IceManaketeFE1.png (391 B, 60x70)

391 B PNG

>>43383231
>>43383255
You stow away the ice stone, though Leigh noticing dooms any chance of keeping it longer than it takes to locate this Ice Dragon.

"So," you ask Yulea as she heads back outside and gets back onto her ride, "how's... Mercenary business pay out?"

"Depends on who you're asking. Marrius' company's in... Surprisingly high demand, but he prefers smaller operations like this... We were certainly told we'd be compensated nicely for helping the dragon in charge here!"

"Right, right..." You glance Leigh. "I know that look in your eye... You're considering a career and altitude change, aren't you?"

"I mean, if these guys would allow... Gosh, I don't know if I'm good enough for them, though..."

"You'll have to ask Marrius when we're done!"

Yancy and Marrius, speaking of, have cleared out a lot of the bandits, to the point where the others have surrendered by the time the three of you are halfway to where Gyo is being held.

Out of the building with some semi-important-looking humans steps someone with icy blue hair, eyes, and pointed ears, wings folded. They look like a little kid, but as natives of Tordo you know better.

This must be Gyo.

"So, you're the help Nicholas spoke of... Bless his soul. Gods know the rest of the authority wouldn't send help on their own dime. Too many zombies to bother with 'some backwater-among-backwater who's only had the post for 100 years and hasn't killed a single Fire Dragon in 90 of those.'"

"You're certainly scandalous, then," Marrius says somewhat jokingly.

"Yeah, I know... Did I mention that it was in self-defense, too? I'm the worst at being a monster ever."

This dragon's against those hunts for Fire Dragons, by the sound of things.

>A. You see eye-to-eye on this
>B. You don't give a shit, honestly
>C. man fuck the firebreathers
>D. Write-in

>>43383466
> B
Why would we care? Have we ever even SEEN a fire dragon?

Also:
> "I'm sorry we couldn't save Nick. The bandits smelled his lie and... I wasn't fast enough."

Even if we aren't REALLY sorry, we could at least seem like we care about at least that.

>>43383466
>>A. You see eye-to-eye on this

>>43383530
>>43383588
You... Really don't care, honestly. Apparently most of the Fire Dragons ended up migrating the hell away from Tordo in recent years, anyway.

You guess genocide is bad, so... You nod sagely, you guess.

"I'm... Sorry about Nick, by the way. Cane back there smelled his lie when we tried to help him early, and... I wasn't fast enough to save him."

"Don't blame yourself," Gyo says, "Nicholas' actions were his own, and we will remember him dearly for them... Er, you saw Cane, though. Did she have my Ice Stone?"

Before you have a chance to even consider lying about this, Leigh says, "yep! Lloyd here took it off of her."

"Thanks!" Gyo's hand is outstretched, the not-kid expecting a return to... Owning an ice stone.

All eyes on you, and trying to get in good with these guys, you fish it out, hiding your reluctance and handing the Ice Dragon what is rightfully a manakete's.

"Listen, you two... Sorry you got caught up in all this. I appreciate your assistance for Captain Marrius here, though, so... I'll see you compensated for your trouble. Can't spare much more gold than what we'll be paying Marrius for his time, but... I have this white gem that should fetch you a great price someplace richer, and I can get you a whole dozen Silver Wyvern eggs..."

You and Leigh look hungry and pleased at the prospect of so many deliciously rare eggs just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, while Marrius, Yulea, and Yancy look confused, though also respectively appearing neutral, interested, and just angry in general.

"So, travelers," Marrius says to you later as he and the girls escort the two of you back to your campsite later, "Yulea mentioned you were interested in... Doing this more often?"

>A. Yeah
>B. Just in passing
>C. Not really
>D. Be silent
>E. Write-in

>>43383783
>Depends do we get paid?

>>43383783
> If the pay is decent enough.

Then again... we did just get handed a gem and some eggs worth a ton of money. But if we're going to be traveling down the road, we would need to have stronger company.

Leigh and us won't be enough to fend off a bunch of bandits. No offense to Leigh...

Have we fucked Leigh throughout our partnership?

>>43383819
>Leigh and us won't be enough to fend off a bunch of bandits. No offense to Leigh...
We tried to do that and almost got killed.

>>43383819
>>43383851
"We'd be paid, right?"

"Of course. I'm no slavedriver. Every member of our company involved in a mission gets a cut of its reward."

"Lyeim's done all of nothing this whole trip," Yancy gripes, "and he's probably still gonna get an impressive cut."

"Hey, he's come up here, he helped us on the way up, he was the only one to take on the duo in the campsite..."

A young man clad in red, fangs visibly protruding from his mouth, with short brown hair sits and warms himself by a fire at your campsite.

"Hey, guys," he says, standing up and smiling. "All still alive. Great!" He exaggeratedly pauses, "dare I say you've done so well there are more of you than when you left!"

"Yeah, no thanks to you," Yancy snaps.

Before she can say more, Yulea interrupts, "these are Lloyd and Leigh. This is their campsite we saved!"

Neither of you mentions that those bandits were packing it up for your convenience. Odds are several of your things wouldn't have made it back anyway if they did.

"Anyway, hey," he says with a grin, "I'm Lyeim. It's, uh, spelled weird, though... It's apparently a thing with my dad's family." (for the record, it's pronounced "Liam") He extends a hairy hand for Leigh to shake. She does so, and he offers the same hand to you, continuing, "I'm a... Bit new to all this mercenary stuff, but now I'm not THE new guy!"

>A. Say nothing
>B. Pleasure to make your acquaintance
>C. What's with your... Everything
>D. You're not a fan
>E. Write-in

>>43383950
Think that was entirely anon's point.
>>43383880
Realistically, the answer is I haven't exactly considered it, and would feel weird putting too much thought to it before seeing their relationship in action some more.

>>43384005
> E. Greetings.
We can at least say something, but I don't think Lloyd seems like the type to be so openly friendly. Not based on how he's acted so far. Kinda quiet.

>>43384005

>B. Pleasure to make your acquaintance

>>43384047
If that's the case, why not just say they didn't do anything yet?

>>43384005
>B. Pleasure to make your acquaintance

>>43384050
>>43384100
>>43384108
"Nice to meet you. We, uh... Haven't officially joined yet, though."

"We haven't?"

"We'll, er... Formalize it back down the mountains," Marrius says. "We'll be headed to Heim from here, so... Hope you can adjust to the heat."

That... May be a problem, but you're sure you'll manage when the time comes.

"Anyway, we'll just be... Headed back to our camp now. Don't exactly have room for two more right now, so we'll swing by in the morning."

That night, you're laying with Leigh, having started the process of cleaning/packing up your things before mutually deciding you were too tired for that shit.

Laying on you, Leigh answers a question you asked just offscreen, "Marrius' company? Well, we've met... All of four of them, but I think they seem nice, mostly, except that... Yancy girl. Yulea swears she's great, but I don't see it."

A short while later, she asks, "and your take on them?"

>A. They're pretty great, mostly
>B. You don't know them all that well
>C. They're your tickets out of here
>D. Not a fan, honestly
>E. Write-in response

>>43384100
Because I don't know that.

>>43384181
> E: We don't know them all that well, but they seem alright for the most part. Plus they're our ticket out of here, and to a better life.

Once we get to a town that'll buy the white gem and eggs for what they're actually worth, we should be pretty much set, at the very least. But Leigh will probably want to be the heroic kind of mercenary?

>>43384181
>B. You don't know them all that well
>C. They're your tickets out of here

>>43384281
>>43384287
"I mean, we don't know them all that well yet, but... They're our ticket out of being bandits, and they're certainly nice enough."

Leigh nods, nuzzling up against you. "I'm glad we're stopping now."

You nod and pat her, tired arm wrapped over her. "A desert, huh?"

"We're gonna burn to death, aren't we?"

"Well... It's unlikely."

"I know, but..."

Your romantic banter grows increasingly less interesting, not that either of you minds. You're really tired.

>To be continued next thread
Wasn't sure what note to end this on, but I figured I couldn't really squeeze in another plot advancement.

Thanks for joining me on this. Ask.fm and update Twitter are still qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around for a little while to talk about shit in-thread.

Happy Halloween, by the way.

>>43384363
Yay! :D We've survived and lost a lot of would-be companions but we've gained some anyways (I think)! Yay!

>>43384363
Thanks for hosting, Octoling! I look forward to hopefully being able to join the next thread. But work being what it is... we'll see.

>>43384410
Cane was the first boss and Nick was doomed from the start.

I hope we've begun to establish both how this story will be similar and different, though.

>>43384446
I appreciate that you're still following along at all. Here's hoping, though.

Thanks for running. This quest is off to a great start. Looking forward to seeing how different it'll be from Ellen's quest.

Will we seduce all the bitches?

>>43384538
A big part of it's in the player character, and I think Lloyd has already begun to establish his differentness.

>>43384552
Too early to say if it would be in-character, but I want to say no on principle.