>>43769715
Pokemang you butt tickler!!

>>43769715
>Best go alone

>>43769715
>Bring Kara along, she needs a break.
Kara can watch from the sidelines.

>>43769715

>Ask Kara if she wants to come, considering she doesn't like the girl.

>>43769715
>Best go alone

>>43769715
>Ask Kara if she wants to come, considering she doesn't like the girl.

Newer go somewhere alone.

>>43769715
>Best go alone

>>43769715
>Ask Kara if she wants to come, considering she doesn't like the girl.

>>43769715
>Ask Kara if she wants to come, considering she doesn't like the girl.

calling it and writing

I knock on the table next to the currently sleeping girls head.

“Bwu-huh?” She grumbles, squeezing her eyes shut as the morning light blinds her.

“I’m going back into town for another swimming lesson with Alison, wanted to know if you wanted to come with me?” I offer.

She glances towards the staircase, as we hear footsteps moving overhead. “I… sure.” She nods, her ears flapping slightly.

I tell the spook where we’re going and lead the way down to town. We find the redhead sitting on a stump in front of her cottage, carving a long stick into the shape of a cutlass, every so often giving it a swing, with a “Yarr!” Before she notices us. “Ah, morning to you!” She calls with bravado, jumping to her feet. “I assume you two are here for more education in the fine art of aquatic movement.”

Her father caught the end of that, strutting out of the house with a sack of grain over his shoulder. “Who’s been teaching you such fancy words?” He grunts, packing cargo into his barge. “Not any of them choir boys, down in Oendal, eh?”

Alison grins, “Don’t think I’m the type for a choir boy.” She replies with a wiggle of her eyebrows, returning to her work on her cutlass, and nodding at us. “Anyway, you two. In the river, get!” She orders.

Kara shakes her head vehemently, pulling her hood back down. “No- no thanks, I’m just here with Leon.”

Alison rolls her eyes, “Fine, fine. Whatever, you’re insecure.” She snaps her fingers at me now. “You then, off you pop.”

I lead the way back down the river, as Alisos father pushes off downsteam, giving us a wave as he goes, before Alison shoves me off the jetty, still clothed.

I sink for a few moments, before the basics kick in. I hold my breath and frog kick upwards, breaking the surface in a shivering mess, hearing Kara squeaking at the older girl in annoyance.

“Sorry about that mate, but… in my defence, a real spook needs quick reflexes, gotta be fast on your feet to kill a boggart!” She laughs behind a hand as Kara slaps at Alisons’s shoulder for a few moments. “Alright, alright.” She extends a barge poll towards me and I grab onto it, glad to have a sturdy anchor rather than fighting the current.

She hauls me back out of the water and I strip down to my trousers, leaving my clothes to dry in the sun with Kara, as Alison guides me through adding a stroke with my arms to the frog kick I already learned.

“Now we call this one breast stroke.” Alison explains, “Though I’m sure little miss ugly in the hood over there knows all about that.”

I sputter, inhaling water for a few seconds, before coughing it back out, as the redhead snickers to herself again.

After what feels like days in the river, Alison finally pulls me back out again, satisfied that I’ve got the stroke down, she claps me on the back, hard enough to stagger me forwards a few steps. “Good effort kiddo.” She laughs. “Wanna stick around, lunch is on me if you do?” She tells me, jerking a thumb at her cottage.

Kara seems hesitant about it, instead looking towards the village again.

>No thanks, things to do in the village.
>Sure thing.
>Actually, we’ve got to head back home.
>Write in

>>43770155
>>Sure thing.

>>43770155
>No thanks, things to do in the village.
Some last minute purchases for our trip, and Kara probably wants something from the bakery.

>>43770155
>Actually, we’ve got to head back home.

>>43770155
>Sure thing
It'd be rude to turn down the hospitality.

>>43770155
>>No thanks, things to do in the village.

>>43770155
>Sure thing.

>>43770155
>Sure thing.

>>43770155
>Sure thing.

I spare a glance at Kara, before I nod back, “Sure thing. Some grub sounds good after all that.”

The older girl shoves leads the way, kicking the front door open with an unnecessary boot. “Alright kiddos, what ye wanting to eat?” She asks. “We got pork, chicken and beef, all salted, naturally, but still pretty fresh.”

“Just… salad for me.” Kara responds, quietly, “Maybe some bread.”

I ask for beef, before taking a moment to look around. The house is… well it’s not dirty per se, but it could use a spring cleaning. A few windows are grimy, and there’s cobwebs growing in a few hard to reach corners and a vase full of dead flowers sits on a chest, accompanied by a trio of already carved wooden swords and that weird weapon Alison has. For lack of a better word, it seems to be lacking a feminine touch.

Alison busies herself cooking, “Nice to have friends in the house.” She calls cheerily, Kara raising a brow, but staying silent. “Most folks round the village think we’re big city slickers, and city folks down the river think we’re bumpkins.” She rolls her eyes, tossing a roll to Kara. “But I like you two. Well…” She shrugs, a smirk on her lips, “I like the boy at least.” She thumps Kara between the shoulders playfully, causing the smaller girl to choke on her food. “You’re a bit on the quiet side for my tastes.”

Kara manages to cough up her food, muttering something under her breath, before she takes another bite. “Case in point.” Alison laughs, heading back to the kitchen to watch the food.

Kara’s making a point of eating as quickly as possible, glancing at the door as she scarfs her food down.

“Kara, you’ll get sick eating like that.” I point out. “Or… at least humans would.”

“What’s that?” Alison calls.

“Nothing!” Kara reassures her, nervously pulling her hood further down, before looking back at me. “Whatever it is I do to people doesn’t seem to affect girls… but I still don’t want her knowing, half the town would know in the hour with her big mouth.”

She quiets down, as the older girl reappears with two sandwiches, handing one to me. “Now, boyo, I want you back in two days this time, you’re body should be getting used to swimming every day within a week, it’s the only way to really nail it.”

“Oh, actually I can’t.” I mention, “We’re going out of town tomorrow. Spook business.”

The corner or her mouth twitches a little. “Oh.” She says simply, before casting her eyes over at that weapon again. “You…. wouldn’t need any help would you? Dad’s gonna be gone a week, so I’m up for… whatever it is you’re doing?”

>I’ll ask the spook.
>It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring you.
>We’re dealing with a ten foot rabbit creature, don’t think you’re up for it.
>Write in

>>43770660
>It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring you.
Let's wait until we actually know what we're doing before we start asking the Spook if we can bring people along.

>>43770702
I'm with this, though i doubt he'd let us bring people along

>>43770660
>It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring you.
We don't honestly know what all we're dealing with. It be stupid and reckless to put our new friend into danger just to prevent her boredom.

She could keep an eye over the village for happenings, should such things occur while out.

>>43770660
>>We’re dealing with a ten foot rabbit creature, don’t think the Spook would allow it

There. Shovel responsibility.

>>43770660
>>Write in
We are going to a week long orgy with witches, I dunno how they feel about more women joining them. We can ask them, if you really are interested?

>>43770660
>>It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring you.

>>43770660
>I’ll ask the spook.

>>43770770
I give it at most three words into that statement before poor Leon drops his spaghetti.

>>43769715
>the spook

Does this mean that it's a skeleton or that it's a nigger?

>>43771011
more like a ghostbuster/witcher

>>43770660

>>I’ll ask the spook.

>I don't think he'll accept, though.

>>43770702
>>43770747
>>43770792

That's a sure way to make her mad, I think.

>>43771225
>That's a sure way to make her mad, I think
So? It's not like we're being mean about it. Spooks were trained and what not for this. She wouldn't know how to handle the things we are getting into. It might seem mean, but it's for her own safety, if not our own too.

>>43770660
>Write in
"Alison. I've seen the list of apprentices that have died. Most of them don't survive. This isn't an adventure where the worst that happens is a talking to by the town guards. You are going to die."

>>43771292
>Spooks were trained and what not for this
Actually, it's not the training that's important, so much as the innate magical defenses that come from being the sixth son of a sixth son.

We have barely more training than Alison, and she's definitely stronger and better at fighting.
The only "training" we've gotten so far is a basic primer on the most simple of do's and don'ts of dealing with witches and some of the more common magical creatures (none of which covers giant rabbits).

If you're going to argue that she shouldn't come, use the right arguments.

I wince, picking my words carefully, “It… wouldn’t be a good idea to bring you along.” I tell her, “It’s just what we’re going to be doing is incredibly dangerous. Plus I don’t think the spook would allow it, even if it were a good idea.”

She visibly deflates at my words, “Oh… right. Spook stuff. Too dangerous for us normal folks.” She tears a hunk out of her lunch, chewing slowly, as I remember what she said about applying to be a spook a few years ago.

“Well, instead, you could do us a favour. If there’s any signs of bad guys showing up around town…” I cast around, before gesturing at my sandwich. “You guys are river traders right? You must have a tonne of salt lying around. Anything bad shows up, like a witch or something, you can scare it off by throwing salt at it. Hurts any creature of the dark, so I’ve been told. Silver hurts them even worse, and iron drains most things power.”

She stares at her own meal, “Salt and silver huh? Interesting...” She rubs her chin, “Though it can’t be everything, I’ve seen and heard about enough nasties living out in the ocean.” She shuts her eyes for a moment, then shakes her head, “But, we’re not dealing with any ocean baddies up here… Thanks Leon.”

Kara clears her throat, “Thanks for lunch, but we have to get going now. We’ve got to get packing for the road tomorrow.”

Alison nods, shooting me a grin, “Don’t think you’re little girlfriend likes it when you go talking to other girls.” She winks conspiratorially.

Kara just gives a growl of disapproval, as the older girl stoops, then lifts me into a rough hug, “See you two when you get back then!” She laughs, shaking me about like a ragdoll.

I take a few uneasy steps out of the house, blinking slowly, trying to clear my head after that shaking, as Kara stomps back to the road leading home. Girls are weird.

I follow her back up the path, Kara walking a few feet ahead, thumping the ground every hundred metres or so. Trying to get her mind off her little feud with the older girl, I search for a subject to talk about.

>Nervous about the trip?
>What was your family like Kara?
>Have you ever seen the ocean?
>Jealous?
>Write in

>>43771401
>What was your family like Kara?

>>43771401
>Jealous?

Ha! Ha! Time for Bunny Waifu Simulator!

Also, congrats, Chucks.

>>43771401
>What was your family like Kara?
>Write in
"Did you ever hear about other groups of your people outside of your forest?"

Did we ever talk about how we're both speaking the same language, so her forest must be somewhere within the region?

>>43771401
>>What was your family like Kara?

>>43771401
>>Jealous?

>>43771449
It kinda seems like she came from an alternate dimension. Her kind wouldn't be so unknown to us if they were here before now.

>>43771401
>What was your family like Kara?

Is her name Kara because her family likes carrots?

writing

“Say Kara, you never actually told me anything about your home. What’s your family like?”

She shrugs, “Well, I’m the youngest of eight, three brothers and four sisters. They’ve all grown and got crafts now, learning burrow construction and wood shaping…”

“And your parents?” I prod her to continue.

She freezes mid step, “Oh… they’re, you know…” She coughs, mumbling some words out softly.

With my endless charms, I push her, “Sorry? You coughed, didn’t catch that.”

She reaches up under her hood, scratching at her ears. “They’re the heads of the… anti... huma sect.” She finishes weakly, before throwing her hood back, “B-but, I’m not like them! I never went to any of the meetings or anything like that! I always thought that we could… convince the humans… not to fight us.” She grimaces again. “You probably think I’m here to spy on you, don’t you?”

I stare into her eyes, tears welling up in the corners as she shakes her head,

“You didn’t tell me about any of this before?” I ask her, keeping my tone neutral, as I see Marmalde stick her head up out of the grass nearby, her tail coiling as she readies herself to pounce.

Her shoulders slump, “I was going to on the first night… but I thought Mr Johnson wouldn’t trust me… and the longer I kept it secret, the harder it was to tell you..” She wipes at her eyes, brushing tears away.

>I have to tell him
>I can keep a secret
>I can’t trust you, you’ve got to go.
>Did they ever kill any humans?

>>43771819
>>Did they ever kill any humans?

>>43771819
>So... is your name Kara because your family likes carrots?

>>43771819
>Did they ever kill any humans?
>I have to tell him
Though, you know, we can at least stick up for her when we do, since she didn't have to tell us, which does tend to suggest she's trustworthy.

>>43771819
>I can keep a secret

>>43771819
>Did they ever kill any humans?
She has told us before that humans hunted her kind for sport. A group of her kind being anti-human would make sense. The biggest factor though, is if they have gone so far as to take life.

>>43771819
>Did they ever kill any humans?

>>43771819
>>Did they ever kill any humans?

>>43771819
>>I can keep a secret

>But we should tell him that some of your species are hostile to humans. Maybe we'll be fighting one soon, and it's not the same if they're deliberatly trying to kill people

She opens her mouth, pauses, then starts again. “Well…. no. But they said they did. They were to scared to go attack humans themselves, so they… killed forest creatures, and took their organs, pretending they were humans… no one could tell the difference.” She gives a weak laugh. “They were very proud of that. It sounds kind of silly when I say it out loud, but...” She trails off.

I nod, “Okay…” I mull it over in my head, “How’s this… we tell Mr Johnson. Not that you’re parents specifically are against humans, but… just that there are members of your species that are.”

She pouts, “They’re only anti-human, because there are a lot of humans who hunt us AND chop down our forest.” She shakes her head, “Sorry… I don’t mean to yell.” She steps forward again, wrapping her arms tightly around me again, “Leon… I’m sorry.”

I let her hug me for a while, feeling my shirt dampen over my sternum as she wipes her tears on me, avoiding the judgemental stare that Marmalade is currently giving me, presumable for keeping secrets.

Finally the girl pulls off of me, her ears drooping a little. “Thank you.” She finally sniffs. “Heh… if my parent’s knew that I was living with two humans, let alone hugging one.” She makes a show of wringing her own neck.

I have to laugh a little, trying to imagine explaining what- who Kara is to my own family. My father might would probably ask if he could dissect her if she died… he’s funny like that.

She links her arm through mine, pulling me back up the path towards the house, all the while I can feel the cat’s eyes digging into the back of my head. She brushes past my leg, rubbing herself on me, before snooping into the house ahead of us.

Mr Johnson is waiting in the kitchen, bending down to scratch the cat’s ears when we enter, “You’re both packed?” He double checks. We both nod in confirmation. “Good. Then get a good night's sleep. It’s a hard day’s walk tomorrow.”

We have a light dinner, before we turn in for the night. Just as I’m about to lock my door, I hear a knock, expecting the spook with some last piece of advice, I instead find the lapine girl again. “Can you hear them?” She asks, her hands trying to block her ears.

I strain my senses, but… nothing. “No?”

She stares at the wall to the south, “Noises in the garden again, like on the full moon.” She mutters. “It’s quieter in here, but it’s loud enough in my room that I can’t sleep.”

>Just put a pillow over your ears.
>Let’s ask the spook about shutting them up.
>Write in

>>43772364

>We can swap room for tonight, if you want to

>>43772364
>How about switching rooms, then?
>Let's alert the spook in the morning, though...

>>43772364
>Let’s ask the spook about shutting them up.

>>43772391
>>43772396
switching rooms seems like a good idea

>>43772364
Backing >>43772391

I shrug, pointing at my bed, her ears hooking forward a little at the tip before I talk. “We could switch rooms for the night if you’d like?”

Her ears unhook, “Oh. Yes. Yes, that works. Thank you Leon.” I make sure to grab my supplies, making a mental note to tell the spook about it come sunrise… Wait, what does her ears hooking mean? Thoughts for later, I have sleep to get.

I lay down on Kara’s bed, yet it barely feels like my eyes have closed before a knock is pounding on the door. “Rise and shine girl!” The spook calls. “Something I wanted to ask you before we set off.”

There’s really not much else I can do to avoid this looking awkward. Resigned, I answer the door, the spooks face clouding over with anger as he sees me behind the door, but I cut him off before he can reprimand me. “We swapped rooms for the night, it’s not anything like that.”

He makes a point of peering into the room, before he heads to my bedroom and wakes Kara. I explain briefly about the noises in the garden, but the spook shrugs them off. “If she wants to live here, she’ll get used to them.” He sighs. “It’s not any threat, just them trying and failing to break loose. Any serious attempt and the cat puts an end to it. She’s good like that.”

Marmalade purrs under the praise, having taken up residence on a hallway windowsill.

Kara drowsily answers the door, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Morning.”

The spook snaps his fingers in her face, “Wake up. You’re going to need your senses sharp. We need those to keep a look out for this other lapine we’re after. Since you apparently don’t use magic, you’re our best bet of tracking it down.”

Kara nods, “Yes sir.”

We take apples on the road, a short breakfast as the spook sets off at a furious pace down the road, heading first down the road to Galo, where I met Kara, then heading eastwards, angling away from the hamlet and back towards Blacktown.

Kara’s keeping up surprisingly well, the garden work having given her stamina a little jump. Still, there’s not much time for talk, as even with our youth, the spook outpaces us, stitches forming in my side, making my breath come shallow by the time we break for the night in a small copse of trees.

The spook sets me to find suitable wood, and we have a small fire, heat popping and crackling, desire for conversation outweighed by the dead tired feeling in my bones, and I soon drift to sleep.

The next day is much the similar, until, nearing sundown we reach the castle of Reaufort, about two miles north of Blackrock. There’s an obvious oddity to the situation though. two of the five castle walls have collapsed in places, workers hurriedly trying to remortar brick and fill in holes where wall once stood.


“This your handiwork?” The spook asks Kara.

She pouts, “A lapine did that, yes.” She nods, sniffing at the air. “They’re not nearby though.”

The spook nods, “Right. Boy, you watch the girl. Don’t want her going in there with all these workers about, might start a damn riot. I’ll see about getting some information. And maybe even some pay out of dealing with it.”

He heads off without a word, strutting towards the main gate and striking up conversation with a guard.

I lean back against a tree, glad to not be walking just for this moment.

>Kara, want to take a look around for more clues?
>Build a fire, wait for him to come back
>Other

>>43772887
>>Build a fire, wait for him to come back

>>43772887
>Build a fire, wait for him to come back

>>43772887
>>Other
Watch the girl, like master told us.

>>43772887
>Kara, want to take a look around for more clues?

>>43772887
>Build a fire, wait for him to come back

>>43772887
>>Kara, want to take a look around for more clues?

>>43772887
>Build a fire, wait for him to come back
Ask Kara if it's still really cold to her; lapines might be from a warmer climate, something that could be useful to add o the bestiary.

>>43773307
From what I recall, Kara had said Lapine have winter coats and she hoped hers would come in soon. Hard to say if it will with the jarring change in seasons for her body. She went straight from spring to fall afterall

File: ms.gif (7 KB, 170x200)

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Hi I heard people were talking about spooks?

File: stirner.jpg (15 KB, 151x425)

15 KB JPG

>>43773521
But first, let me introduce myself...

>>43773538
I am Max Stirner, Professional Ghostbuster.

File: 1426988202653.jpg (42 KB, 587x599)

42 KB JPG

>>43773544
And as surely as the state is a criminal, I have forgotten my portrait.

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31 KB JPG

>>43773559
How can I help you gentlemen?

I fetch some more wood, striking my flint and steel to have a small campfire going soon, groaning with relief as I finally sit down.

Kara seems to appreciate the heat itself more than the sitting, getting as close to the fire as she can, while still wrapping her cloak around herself.

"Just how warm is it where you come from?" I have to ask.

She shrugs, "The hottest day you've had in the autumn, is a warmer winter day back home." She explains. And that's saying something, we've had some stinking hot weather for autumn.

"So what's your winter coat look like?" I ask, half tempted to get my bestiary back out.

She starts to talk, before she hurriedly pulls her hood back up, as guards approach from up the road. "You kids with the old man?" The shorter one asks.

"If you mean the one with the cloak, then yes." I reply.

"Right, he wants you to meet up with him. And you're supposed to go ahead of us for some reason." Makes sense, keep them as far from Kara as possible.

We're let through the castle's gate, a few guards spitting in the dirt when they see my cloak, but none comment. Kara draws in closer to me, grabbing my arm, as we're pointed through a doorway into a torchlit room.

The spook is leaning over a table with what looks like a map on it, a younger man sits across the table, rugged and finely dressed, chewing absently at a peach. "This your apprentice?" The stranger asks. "Oh, and who's this shy little cutie?" He adds, spying Kara."

The girl shrinks further behind me, as the spook talks. "A consultant. You'll keep your distance if you know what's good for you." He nods to us, then the man, “You two, meet Lord Rondrick’s squire Ashwyn. He’s our… manager for this job.” He says the word reluctantly.

“Meaning, I approve stratagems if you want to get paid.” The man adds, “But please, call me Ash.” Despite his attitude, he carries a sword on his belt that looks extraordinarily expensive, gilt silver wrapped around the pommel and jewels in the scabbard.

The spook hums, studying the plans closer. “Yes. Anyway. He clucks his tongue. “Apparently, there have been reports of women in Blackrock becoming crazed upon seeing a ‘queer’ fellow in town. They hurl themselves at him.” His eyebrows raise, “Doesn’t that sound familiar?” He asks.

Kara let’s out a worried noise, as the spook continues. “The rest we know is, that the house I tested Leon in at Blackrock has since collapsed, along with a bar, two mineshafts, and now two of the castle walls, within the last week. The tunnels are taller than a man and wider than two. What on earth could be making those?” He runs a finger along a line, “I’ll be back in a minute.” He grunts, “Restroom.”

Ashwyn leans forward, “I say, from your tones, it seems like you’re all in on some clue I’m not.” He takes another bite of his peach, “Care to share?”

>Not my place to say
>Kara can explain it best
>Giant rabbit warrior by the looks of it.
>Write in

>>43773665
>Not my place to say
If Mr Johnson isn't telling him, we shouldn't either.

>>43773665
>>Write in
Sexy bunny boy. *slap your own ass*

>>43773665
>>Not my place to say

>>43773665
>Not my place to say
Don't ever forget the list of dead apprentices; that's our fate if we screw up.

>>43773665
>>Not my place to say

I shake my head, “Can’t tell you sorry. Not my place to say.”

He gives me a knowing grin, “Confidential, trade secret, all that nonsense? Yeah, I understand.” He reaches into a sack by him, tossing another peach to Kara, then you. “Well, let it not be said that I let my workers go hungry.” He laughs. “Eat up.”

I set mine down, “Sorry, the spook warned me to fast before big missions, he says it keeps the mind sharp.”

He smirks, nodding behind me, “Well clearly someone doesn’t think the same.” He laughs, as I hear Kara messily tearing into the fruit.

I examine the map the spook had been looking at, partly to get out of responding. They seem to have marked out all the places that have caved in, along with a few lines tracing known tunnels dark crosses marking cave ins. They seems to lead between Blackrock, Reaufort, and partway towards Galo.

I give Kara a look, as the girl busies herself eating, but hold my tongue. Thinking back… she did say she had been racing with a friend when she ended up here… Could also be an entire coincidence. After that though, something twigs in my head, “They all lead to one centre point.” I point out to Ash and Kara.

The come around the table to look, as I point. All the tunnels lead into the woods north of Blackrock, south of Reaufort. Some are cave ins, some aren’t fully mapped, but with a rough guess, they all seem to lead to the area by a lake.

>Tell the spook before anything
>Explain your findings to the others
>Ask Kara about her friend
>Write in

>>43774343
>Tell the spook before anything

>>43774343
>Tell the spook before anything
I don't want to talk about Kara's origins in front of the squire; I feel like he'll put a knife in our back if it's advantageous to him at the first opportunity.

>>43774343
>Tell the spook before anything

>>43774343
>>Tell the spook before anything

>>43774394
We only just met the guy, so that seems like a bit of a harsh assumption.

That said, no harm erring on the side of caution.

I bite my tongue, keeping myself from revealing anything before the spook gets back.

The spook returns, wringing his hands slowly, before I ask to speak to him privately. We step into the night air, as I explain my theory to him. “I think that we could be dealing with someone Kara knew from her home.” I tell him quietly, “On top of that, I think that the tunnels all lead to a central hub around a lake in the woods. If we wait there long enough, we may find them off guard?”

My master strokes his jaw, “Someone she knows, eh?” He scowls, “We’ll see. Until we have them locked up, stay suspicious.” He shakes his head, “Either way, let’s find out how many guards this squire of ours can actually muster up.”

He steps back inside, “We need guards down the tunnels that aren’t caved in, heading towards…” I point it out. “Here. Preferably, bringing nets… and spears, just in case.” He shakes his head, “But I can not stress this enough, I would prefer to take this thing alive.”

Ash nods, “Nets, we can do that.” He replies agreeably, “I’m getting all excited just thinking about it.” He laughs.

The spook stares at him silently, but says nothing, clearly thinking about the payment. “Yes, well, preferably, a young member of the court would keep his distance. Wouldn’t want you getting injured.”

Ash shrugs, “No risk, no glory, that’s what my father said.” He bites into his peach again. “Either way, as long as you bring the creature down, you’ll have your gold. When should we start?”

The spook looks over Kara and I, “Tomorrow, mid day. These two look like they could use a sleep and a cleaning.”

Ash nods, “Beds and baths, now that I can handle.” He stands, opening an inner door, grabbing a passing maid. “I need a bedroom for three, and draw some water.” He glances backwards, “And you know what, send a woman to help with it too.”

He shoots the spook and I a wink at that.

The woman ushers us through the door, up a flight of stairs and into a small room. The beds… could be comfier, but they still feel fine after two days on the road. The spook takes the first bath, just as Ash shows up at the door to our room. “Anyway care to see the castle?” He asks, leaning in the doorway. “Even without two walls, it’s rather the sight at night.” He adds, shooting another wink in Kara’s direction, as she pulls her hood lower.

>I’ll go
>No thanks
>Leave Kara alone
>Write in

>>43774933
>No thanks
>Leave Kara alone

>>43774933
>No thanks
>Write In
"We have a very dangerous day tomorrow, and I'd prefer to not end up like the previous 3 apprentices."

This will also give us a chance to talk with Kara privately about whether this lapine could be someone she knows.

>>43774933
>No thanks
Voting against telling him to leave Kara alone unless he does something more than just winking at her. No sense needlessly antagonizing our employer.

>>43775008
>Voting against telling him to leave Kara alone unless he does something more than just winking at her
Agreed. As suspicious as I am of him, he's still our employer and can still stiff us on payment.

>>43774933

>No thanks

>>43774933
>No thanks

I shake my head as politely as possible. “No thanks. We’ve got dangerous work tomorrow.”

He looks half put off by that, “I mean- we all d-” He abandons that thought, returning to a smile, “Fair enough. He gestures to the bed, “Enjoy the hospitality of Lord Reaumond.” He gives another wry wink, “You’ll want to shutter the window in here though. Cock crows five feet from it every morning. We try chasing him off, but he won’t listen.”

Kara and I are just staring at him with hollow eyes, “Thanks for the advice.” She adds.

Ash shrugs and shuts the door, leaving me to collapse on my mattress, Kara on her own “We’ll have to bolt the door after baths.” She mentions. “If someone comes in and sees my ears…” She gestures at the hallway. “Well, people might start seeing the connection between the tunnels and the weird rabbit girl.”

The spook returns from his bath, clutching himself with a shiver. “Feel free.” He grunts, instantly climbing into bed.

I take the next round, the woman Ash ordered waiting patiently. I feel a lump rise in my throat, as she waits expectantly for me to get in. I have to ask her to turn her back before I can strip, hurrying into the pool and piling bubbles around myself, as she scrubs my back.

“You’re masters not really the talkative type, is he?” She asks, scrubbing roughly up my back.

“When he wants to be.” I reply. “That’s just not very often.”

She grunts, before turning my face to clean with a rag. “You know, it’s almost a shame you’re not a bad looking lad.” She sighs, attacking my face. “A waste really. You don’t hear much of a spook with a wife.” She grins, “Unless that tiny thing you two are lugging around…?” She scoffs, “Ah sorry, just gossip, you know things are for us older girls.”

>I’ll trade you my gossip for any useful gossip?
>What’s Squire Ashwyn’s reputation then?
>Wait for this to end, please let it end.
>Write in

HAH! Just caught up, SPOOKY TIME!

>>43774933
>No thanks with >>43774980

>>43775474
>What’s Squire Ashwyn’s reputation then?

>I’ll trade you my gossip for any useful gossip?

>>43775474
>What’s Squire Ashwyn’s reputation then?

Wait, if there's a servant helping us wash, what's going to happen when Kara needs to bathe?

Won't it be just as suspicious if we ask that Kara bathe alone?

>>43775474
>>I’ll trade you my gossip for any useful gossip?

>>43775563
She doesnt need to bathe that badly

>>43775474
>>I’ll trade you my gossip for any useful gossip?

>>43775474
>I’ll trade you my gossip for any useful gossip?

“I’ll trade you my gossip for something of yours?” I offer, trying to grin at her, as it feels like she’s scraping the hairs off my head, rubbing a thick soap into my hair.

“Oho!” She laughs. “Little bargainer, are we?” She stops, thinking to herself. “Well if that girls what I think she is, keep close to her and keep an eye on that squire.” She laughs, “He professes his love for the lord’s daughter every other week, but damned if his hands don’t stray when he’s near serving girls.” She rolls her eyes dramatically, “He almost offered me a little fun in the ale shed, until the lady of the house started walking down the corridor, changed his tune right quick.”

“So he’s a huge flirt then?” I ask. “Anything else you can tell me?”

She blows her cheeks out, “Not much else about the lad, thinks he’s an adventurer, like his father thinks so they say. Shame that he’s the only real lively person about. The lord just spends all day counting out taxes, and his daughter never leaves her room after her mother died. Doubt a spook’ll get the chance to talk to anyone higher up than Ash though.”

“Probably.” I grunt. “So keep an eye on Ash then?”

“Harmless, mostly, other than the odd pinch on the arse.” She assures me, “Now go on, out with it, who’s the girl in the cloak?”

I glance down at myself, I’ve been clean for a few minutes, the woman just rambling on.

>That will be all, servant.
>She’s a consultant for this job.
>We’re friends, after I saved her life.
>Write in

>>43775901
>We’re friends, after I saved her life.

>>43775901
>Write in
"She's a consultant for this job, but that's just the official story. She's my friend, after I saved her life. She has to keep her face hidden, though. Some kind of magic affliction, and she's staying with us to keep it under control."

I know it's talking a lot, but, giving a reason for why she needs to keep her face hidden and presenting her as a victim of magical shenanigans might keep the other servants from bothering her.

>>43775901
>We’re friends, after I saved her life.
Never lied to the woman who washes your balls. My mother taught me that.

>>43775901
>We’re friends, after I saved her life.

>>43775901
>>We’re friends, after I saved her life.

>Villagers thought she was a witch, I got her out of trouble

>>43776040
She doesn't really hide her face though

>>43776079

She does, most of the time

>>43776079
I thought that Kara using the hood to hide her ears also hides most of her face.
Is that not accurate?

>>43776123

It is. She also wears a mask, sometime

"We're friends, I saved her life a few weeks back. Some people were accusing her of being a witch and were planning on putting her on a pyre." I try not to think about that mental image, "I got her out before they could."

The woman gasps, “Oh my, her very own saviour.” She ruffles a hand through my hair, “How romantic. You know, they say that-” She rambles on for a few more minutes in a similar vein, I’m starting to think she just likes an excuse to talk.

“Yes. Well, thank you for the help.” I tell her. “Y-you can go now. I’m getting dressed, and Kara told me she wanted to wash on her own.”

She tuts loudly. “Oh! And I already had a bunch of questions to annoy her with too!” She sighs, tossing the rag into the tub as she heads out the door.

Kara lets herself in, just as I finish getting dressed, already hanging her cloak off a hook. I purposefully hurry out as she continues undressing, hearing a latch draw behind me.

Yet again, I’m asleep as soon as I hit my mattress. Unfortunately, no one listened to the advice we got, a roosters crow jolting the entire room awake at sunrise. “Five more minuuuuutes!” I hear someone else whine, too tired to tell who it was.

I blindly fumble around, turn over and fall back asleep, before I properly wake, hauling myself out of bed with others, as Ash sends the same washerwoman to fetch us and bring us down to the courtyard.

The squire’s got six pikemen, each carrying a heavy boar net, weights sewn into the edges, lined up, with apparently six more already down the tunnels below the castle. “Alright, hup too folks, we’ve got castle walls to keep up, and maiden’s innocence to save!” The squire calls, slinging his own net over his shoulder, before he mounts a rather placid looking horse.

The guards file out of the courtyard, with our own small group moving on ahead, the spook wanting to inspect the area first.

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The map leads us on a path straight to the lake, about five minutes ahead of the guards Ashwyn is trying to make march in time, time the spook wants to put to good use. “Girl, start trying to sniff him out.” He orders. “Boy, you look for claw marks on trees. The girl put a dent in the walls, he might’ve done the same.”

We keep close together, moving through the woods, looking for clues, until a surprise grabs us by the gut.

“Do you guys hear that?” Kara suddenly calls. “It sounds li-” Her eyes fly open, and she shoves me away from her.

Much like it did in that basement, the ground underneath Kara bursts, then collapses out from under her, this time a long arm reaching up and grabbing the girl out of the air softly, and yanking her back downwards, with a quiet ‘oof’ of surprise.

I get a brief glimpse of what’s got hold of her, as it drops itself back into the dark of it’s tunnels, Kara letting out a high wail as it carries her off. Thick brutish limbs, a dark swishing tail and long floppy ears are all I get.

Then I hear words drift up the tunnel in a deep grunting voice. “I missed you, honey.”

>End of Spook Quest 4

>>43776588
The male ones look a lot less cute, that's for sure.

>>43776588
Kara bad end.

Dammit chuckles.

>>43776588
Thanks for running

>>43776623
not yet anyway

>>43776614
what are you, gay?

>>43776588
Dammit, is that her boyfriend?
He's her boyfriend, isn't he?

>>43776588
>“I missed you, honey.”
Her dad then?

Unless she's got an older boyfriend, I suppose.

Thanks for running

>>43776623

Why would it be bad end?

>>43776669
Btw chuckles, I've been wondering. In this setting, does steel count as iron when it comes to fighting spooky stuff? Or does it have to be pure iron.

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26 KB JPG

>>43776669
Not since I started taking my medication.

Do regular Spook rules apply if the target of a hunt turns out to be a legitimately employed agent of a foreign power and claims diplomatic immunity?

>>43776690

He could be anything from her dad to a creepy stalker, or just someone who know/have seen her in the past.

"Honey" doesn't necessarily means there is any affection. It's like calling someone "babe"

>>43776742
Okay that got me

>>43776765
>>43776714
It could be a butttickler. In that case it is gg Kara

>>43776791

what

>>43776742
Finally, my prayers have been answered!

>>43776722
Steel will do a little, but pure iron will drain a lot more

>>43776858

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8CkSw4hVog

I still like pirate waifu, shame I was too late

>>43777036
She's cool, but she's no bunnywaifu

>>43777036
It's never too late anon.