Men-at-arms in gambesons and with spears stood with straight backed knights dressed in fine tabards worn over silken doublets. At their head was Count Pons himself, the older man slowly turning to grey years, armed as if for war. You had met him a few times in the past, but you could not say you knew him. But he was counted a friend to your brother, and a fierce supporter of the queen. It was a very martial greeting.

You had done your best to make Orlando presentable, and despite the night before being spent in drinking games with Roman sailors he looked every bit the proper Levantine knight when he received Count Pons' greeting, taking a knee with clear eyes before the lord of Tripoli. You took a knee as well, so did Sir Hector, as was only right. Count Pons was a powerful man.

"Stand," he had little warmth in his voice. You think he still counted Orlando traitor, and when his eyes lingered on the knight it was with contempt, "I send your master warm greetings." But none for the delegate himself. To you though he bowed, with a gentleman's smile. "Young Hugo, good it is to see you again. I've not seen you since your victory at the tourney of St Peter and Paul. A mighty showing. You did your brother credit."

You resisted the urge to blush, but couldn't keep from smiling.

He took Hector with the most basic of good manners, not being familiar with the man.

"Quarters have been arranged for you and yours," Pons spoke to Orlando, "And tables set in my hall for dinner."

"Our thanks," Orlando said. The two walked towards the sea side keep, a casual amble.

As they did you felt a pinch at your own sleeve and looked behind you. The count's son Raymond had come upon you unawares, wearing a doggish grin. Him you knew better. Indeed you owed Sir Raymond your life. He had rescued you from a back alley death in the heart of Jerusalem.

"Come," he motioned in a different direction, "Let's palaver, the two of us."

> follow Sir Raymond
> follow Count Pons

>>44081365
> follow Sir Raymond

I am 100% sure it will be trouble

>>44081365
> follow Sir Raymond

Ask Hector to keep an eye on Orlando and make sure he doesn't get too drunk

>>44081365
> follow Sir Raymond

>>44081365
> follow Sir Raymond

though do as >>44081426 I'm certain Pon's likes Orlando less than most others

>>44081365
>> follow Sir Raymond

>>44081365
>> follow Count Pons
While Raymond is based assassin Pons is the reason we be here.

Fuck yeah I haven't made a live one of these threads in a while.
>follow sir raymond

You did not see the harm, but you did not wish to see Orlando left unattended. You took Hector by the elbow.

"The lord's son calls me away, could you tend to Orlando in my absence?" you asked.

Hector gave you a look of mild disappointment. You had a duty and he thought you shirking it to run off with a friend. But he relented with a sigh and clapped your hand upon his elbow before sending you off with a slight nod.

He was a good man you though, honest and noble.

For all that Sir Raymond was your senior he seemed a giddy boy as he led you away from his father's congregation. All but skipping in the lightness of his steps, with you a step behind. Surely you had grown in your time, but Raymond still had a longer stride than you, and you had to take a step and a half to keep pace with him.

"Welcome to my home," he said, gesturing to the cobble alleys and tall homes that crowded around them. Most of the people seemed to avoid Raymond when he came down the road, giving him wide berth. Some gave small bows of respect. Whatever they did Raymond did not seem to notice. He took you up the road and towards Tripoli's outer walls, ducking through a busy market and past crowded resting places set for pilgrims.

"Smell it, Hugo," he said, beating his chest as he took in a deep nostril full of his home. It stank a little of seaweed and human filth. Not a lovely perfume, but Raymond seemed to relish it.

Over a wagon logged road he moved with a chuckle, ignoring the exchanged curses of wagoners caught at loggerheads upon the narrow roads. Past washerwomen also, who gathered in little squares to meet and talk as they did their daily duty.

When last you came to the walls of Tripoli he turned. "You've seen it. Give me your opinion. Do you think my beloved Hodierna could love this place as I do?" He looked to you with all earnestness, leaning up the wall. There was a look of fever in his eyes, but you did not think him sickly.

>>44081365
> follow Count Pons

while I like Raymond I don't see Hugo as one to shirk duty easily.

"It is no Jerusalem, but it is a happy place. She could be happy here with me."

You did not know Hodierna very well except that she was immensely lovely to look upon. Of all the Rethel sisters you had met she had struck you as the loveliest by far, and your time around her had left you feeling a very young boy. All attempts at talk had left you feeling rather tongue tied in her presence. Still though you saw the anxious pang in your friend's eyes for his distant betrothed. And recognized a little of that love sickness that plagued.

> I think she will
> mayhap, I can't say
> no, she won't

>>44081674
>> I think she will
Especially when you yourself love it as much as you do.

>>44081674
> mayhap, I can't say

Fuck yeah you are back. Reminder that Solomon is a dirty spy.

>>44081674
>I think she will

Should probably work on it just in case..

Also a reminder that Hod has fucked both Wilhelm AND Solomon

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>>44081674
>> mayhap, I can't say


Reminder that Solomon is the OPM of Crusader quest

HF. You story needs more gay thoughts about Wilhelm.

>>44081792
It was very great how he rekt those irish bastards. And he's even better with the bow than he is with the sword.

>Mehmed ibn Omar still is our prisoner
Will we ever do something with him?

>>44081863
Use him for when we need to negeotiate a truce with Eqypt.

>>44081863
If we bloody get to or finish Ascalon we use him as a negotiating piece for whoever comes to retake ascalon along with whatever prisoners we take during the siege

You turn the question around in your mind, but your only answer is a shrug.

"Couldn't say," you said, "Mayhap she will, mayhap she won't. It seems a nice enough place but I've no deep knowledge of her mind."

The answer did not seem to please Raymond, but sent him leaning back against the wall chewing on his lower lip. At last he gave a grin.

"I shall just have to make her love it," he said, then stood forward and got himself righted. "Let's go have some fun." He cuffed your shoulder, leading you again into the city. This time it was to a little room in a back street. Just a waiting from with benches set. Abandoned save for a sleepy dark Jewess, who fanned herself lazily while a cat purred beneath her long grooming fingers.

The cat eyed you as you entered. It had all the character of a pirate in those large yellow eyes, its coat a ruff patch of alpha posturing on rooftops against all rivals, worn to patches by claw and fang. The woman was a match for it in the cold assessment her eyes gave, but it was soon given over to a smile that spread warmth through her bearing like a slow sun rise.

"Raymond," she spoke familiarly with the count's son. She gathered her long voluminous hair behind her ear, tucked back to show the side of her olive neck.

"Dangerosa," he replied with a little bow.

"You've come for some of the poppy, or for some of something else?" she asked.

"I've come to show my young friend the pleasures of Tripoli," he said, and thumped you on the back. You eyed him warily, as well as the Jewess he spoke with.

"A cute boy," she said, leaning over her bench to view you, displaying the low neckline of her dress as she did so, "Have you an interest in the Oriental delights of our beloved little den? All the tantalizing secrets of the east are locked behind this door." She gestured to the plain wooden door behind her.

You blanched a little at her hungry little smile, and the fire that lit Raymond's face.

> no
> yes

>>44082098
>> no
Id better go watch Orlando.

>>44082098
> yes

I mean. It couldnt hurt just to try once.

>>44082098
> no

Perhaps later in the trip but for right now, I have to get back to Orlando and Count Pons

>>44082098
>doing heathen delights ever
> no

But guys. A cool guy like Raymond does it means it must be okay

The room felt altogether too warm, setting an itch upon the back of your arms as you stood beneath the eyes of the Jewess, and in the shadow of the secrets locked behind that unassuming door. They waited for your answer with looks like stalking dogs eyeing a chicken, and it made your gut churn in disquiet.

"Forgive me Raymond, but I must return to my duty," you say in a rush, heading to the exit.

Raymond gives you a look of irritation and the buxom Jewess pouts. "I'd thought you more sporting for adventure," he said.

"Perhaps another time," you said, ducking a bow as you made your retreat. Raymond let you go with a dismissive wave.

On the streets of Tripoli you walked alone back to the fort, feeling the cobblestones of the street through your well worn shoes. Soon enough you'd need a new pair, the soles were giving out and on tired days it felt as if you walked near barefoot for the feel of the ground beneath you. Stepping over a resting drunkard and past a dead, rotting dog you were back upon the main thoroughfare, loggered with traffic on cart and foot.

You weaved your way up the broad lane to the keep, where a man-at-arms admitted you on recognizing the device upon your tabard.

In the keep you were taken to the quarters set for your master. Orlando rested within, tended by Hector.

"Where were you?" he asked. You gave him no distinct answer. Instead you looked to Orlando who lay upon his bed looking ill.

"If it did not cause my body to fail I'd give up drink," Orlando murmurred in a voice thick and slurred, "Fetch me another Hugo, so I might dispell this ill feeling."

You were not sure that was a wise thing, but saw the weakness in Orlando's arms as he tried to raise himself up off the bed.

"Count Pons is expecting us for dinner," he said, "And I need my strength. Just one cup of wine should do it." The weariness of his voice belonged to a far older man, and he looked to you with gummy red eyes.

> get the wine
> refuse him

>>44082098
>No

>>44082436
>refuse him

"My brother expect better of you Orlando"

>>44082436
>> refuse him
Enough Orlando. Act a knight or be disgraced yet again.

>>44082436
> refuse him

You're already deep in your cup sir, you will need your wits about you for the dinner if you wish to represent my brother well.

-Lets try to get him up and splash some water in his face

>>44082436
> refuse him

If Orlando is unable to show for dinner he will just have to sleep it out and we will have to represent our brother.

One sec.

You take the jug of wine set by the window. And then you poured it out the window slit. Orlando gawped at you from the bed.

"No," he called out, looking like he might launch himself from the bed sheets. Instead though he crumpled back into them with a whimper.

"No more wine, no more beer," you said, "You disgrace my brother and yourself with your constant boozing."

"I need it," he said, retreating into his bed, a sweat upon his brow, "When I do not have it my body trembles, and an itch sets upon my skin. I can scarce see for the lack of it. But the trembling fades and it is as good as a balm for the itching when I have even a little."

You looked upon the red eyes of your friend, his pale face. He looked very brittle, like even the slightest pressure might break him. He licked at dry lips and rang his hands. You did not know what was so wrong with him, but it scared you to see him like that. You looked to Sir Hector, who looked as baffled as you.

"Let's get you ready," he said, taking Orlando by the shoulder. The knight drew away with a sick whimper.

"I can't," he said, "I can scarce walk. A drink, please, and I'll be good enough to go." His sweating had turned to sick shaking, and he pulled the blankets about his body. What nerves were dislodged in his spirit? What thing plagued the corners of his mind? You had never seen such a haunted man.

Perhaps he spoke truly, and his body needed wine as others needed water. You were no trained doctor to speak on such things.

> get him a drink
> go in his steed
> send Hector and tend to Orlando

>>44082756
> go in his steed

Hector can take care of Orlando since we know Pons better than Hector and also we are our lords brother.

>>44082756
> go in his steed

>>44082756
>> go in his steed
We will go in your stead and send a doctor to try and help.

>>44082756
>> go in his steed

>>44082806

Seconding this, seems like something our guy would do

>>44082756
>> go in his steed
"Orlando, the drink is killing you. You must inure yourself to its absence. I will do your duty, but for your sake and my brother's sake, you must persevere. "

>>44082756
>> go in his steed

Alcoholic? We have to ask Hector to keep the wine away from him. No wine. Let him go cold turkey.

Reminder that the siege will fail.

>>44082903
Malik and Sabeen will end up fighting against eachother.

>>44082865
Obviously but addiction is a thing not known to medicine yet

> go in his steed

no drink for him at all tell Hector this and pull rank if necessary

>>44083064

Then a doc probably won't do much good?

Perhaps Hugo should go into Templar mindset.

Virgil.

>>44083081
He should tell him to rest and then go in his steed.

"Rest a while Orlando," you said, "I'll go and speak with Count Pons."

Orlando tried to rise. "'Tis my duty," he said, "And you are but a boy."

"You are sick, and need rest," you said, and gently you guided him back to the bed, "If the count asks I shall say you are ill. Sir Hector will care for you as you convalesce."

He seemed a child as he slumped on the bed, slowly closing his eyes. You turned to Hector. "Water and bread only," you said, "Don't let him get out of these quarters and don't let him touch wine."

"Yes s-," Hector caught himself with a frown, "Of course, as you say." The knight took up a seat beside sweating, tired Orlando as you ducked out of the quarters to change into fresher clothes.

Stripping down and with a basin of water you cleaned as best you could before changing into your best garments, your chest and arms and through your salt tangled hair. Tied your sword around your waist. You felt something close to courtly as you checked your cuffs, and proceeded out of the quarters to the dining hall of Count Pons.

You were met by Tripoli's chamberlain and a pair of knights. They gave you escort into the long hall, and up to the count's table.

Raymond sat with his father looking sulky, and Pons looked down at you with brow raised.

"Your master does not join us?" he asked.

"Sir Orlando is sick, and begs all forgiveness," you said, "He sent me to take his seat."

The look on Pons' face was sour, but he said nothing as you sat with him and his son. With them was a woman of around mid-teen years, of same brown colour of hair and eyes as her father, with her brother's high cheek bones, and hair tied back in two thick brais with silver ribbon.

"My daughter Cecile," he said, and the girl gave you a fair damsel's smile.

Raymond said nothing to you as wine was poured and others began to enter the hall.

The chamberlain came to Pons' shoulder, and murmurred in his ear something that made his frown become a scowl. The only word you caught was 'Poitiers'. Whatever it was he spoke nothing about it, but a little on Saracens in the foothills not far from the county raising trouble.

"Cattle raiding like wild Irishmen," Raymond finally said, swirling the wine in his cup, "Truth, it seems a bit of fun."

"It's woe to the small folk," Cecile chided, "And they do not just steal cattle, but good Christian folk as well. To think on what evils they must be put through. It makes me faint"

"These bandits are little more than a biting gnat," Raymond replied, "Give me some good men on horseback and I'll clear them all out." He looked to you at last. "What say you to a sojourn, Hugo, put these bastards to flight?"

> I would love to
> I have other duties

>>44083155
> I would love to

Protecting good christian folk

>>44083155
> I would love to

>>44083155
>> I would love to but I too have my other duties. If it would not interfere, I would glad lend my sword and shield to defend the smallfolk.

>>44083155
>> I would love to
But
>> I have other duties
After they are seen to? Only the word of Lord Pons would stop me.

>>44083155
> I would love to
BUT
> I have other duties

>>44083275
This

What duties do we have ? Orlando is resting and that is really all we have to worry about

>>44083301

Orlando is down.

We need to help negotiate the trade deals with lord Pons and its not like our previous sidetrip out when Orlando was still able. Now hes down for the count, time to step up.

>>44083301
oh right.
>>44083155
>>44083186
changing to
> I have other duties

>>44083324
I agree, time for us to prove our worth in the field of politics.

>>44083264

Seconding

>>44083301
Orlando is fucked up and we need to negotiate the trade in his stead and then look after him

>>44083364
>[crits intensify]

you fool you've doomed us all

Hope you aint dead HF

>>44083752
RIP HF the Black death got em

>>44083856
Don't worry, he'll be back in three days.

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>>44083877

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Please dont be dead HF.

Can we agree that Solomon was the best two pfennings we ever used?

>>44084040
Speaking of Solomon. He saved Mathildes life. We should probably give him a raise now that he has children.

Also buy something nice for Chiri, like a necklace or a braclet since she more or less saved Ramla.

>>44084055
>We should probably give him a raise now
He should be earning at least twenty times more but he doesn't want to be paid like a mercenary. Anyway if he ever needs anything all he needs to do is ask.

Internet trouble. Sorry.

"If I could ride with you Sir Raymond, I would," you said, "But I've other duties. I am still but a squire, and my knight is ill. Care for him comes before all else."

Pons had a smile and nod for that. "Duty and service," he said, raising up his horn of wine, "We do as we can within the confines of our greater responsibility."

The rest of the table supported his toast. All except one.

Your friend Raymond did not seem so pleased with your talk of duty. He threw back the last of his wine and called for a second cup, giving you an almost sulky look. "You will not ride with me, surely you must at least drink with me," he said, dipping his cup towards you so that the red threatened to spill out. "After dinner."

Meat was brought forward. Boar caught and roasted. Raymond cut you a haunch, which you carved with your own knife further then plucked morsels with your fingers. Conversation turned at the table from bandits to Antioch, and Romans.

"His greatness John Komnenos again seeks to take her vassalage," Raymond said, "They count it theirs by right, and its holding in Latin hands near outright betrayal."

"Romans believe the world belongs to them," Cecile said, "Though can you rightly call them Roman? More they are Greek. Surely they hold no power over Rome itself."

"What they call themselves matters little," Pons said, "They are a powerful force that must be respected. And an ally against the Saracen. If only John could give up this foolish squabbling and accept things as they are, Zengi would not ride so boldly against all Christendom."


Your dealings so far with the eastern Romans had been unpleasant to the point of horrific. Across your mind flashed the face of a weeping woman pressed down on cold stone, spears bristled against you and your brother. Whatever else you might call the Roman that you had met, you would not call him Christian. But to that you kept your mouth shut, and ate.

"Did I hear Gaspode mention something of a Poitiers?" Raymond asked as he dished himself more vegetables.

Pons glowered into his dish. "His ship is spotted in approach, damn Alice for a foolish girl for accepting his proposal."

You looked up from your plate. "Patriarch Domfront plays her like a drum," Raymond spoke with some contempt, "What does she think Poitiers will want when he arrives. A prune, or a fresh grape for plucking?" To punctuate that Raymond bit into a plum, spreading fresh juice down his chin.

> ask what they are talking about
> say nothing

>>44084135
>Your dealings so far with the eastern Romans had been unpleasant to the point of horrific.

understatment of the century

>>44084253
>> ask what they are talking about

>>44084253
>> ask what they are talking about

>>44084253
> ask what they are talking about

[ALT HISTORY INTENSIFIES]

>>44084253
>ask if plums are just bigger grapes, you've never really thought about it before

>>44084291
>Hugo arrives at Antioch
>Alice sees him and how he has grown
>He reminds her of Behoemond and she falls in love
>Hugo become her lover and later marries constances

We gotta spend some time wtih Raymond later.

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>>44084448

"What do you mean?" you asked Raymond. His grin grew sly, and leaned across the table to you as if to draw you physically toward him.

"Princess Alice holds the regency of Antioch in trust to her daughter, Constance," he said. You knew Constance, the bubbly blonde little girl who fell over herself playing with her cousin Baldwin. A kind little child. "Now there are some who think her regency is invalid, or at least that her rulership has been poor. Chief among them the Bishop of Antioch, Ralph of Domfront. He believes that the regency should belong to either himself, or to a man. Now he has sent for a French lord, Raymond of Poitiers, and has told Alice he comes seeking her hand."

"He's a liar," Pons snarled, "Both of them. Domfront and Poitiers."

"Where is the lie?" you asked around your mouthful of boar, lips sticky from the pig fat that gave it such flavour.

"Poitiers does not intend to wed Alice, or that is what we think," Raymond said with a cynical grin.

You chew your meat, trying to decipher his words. Slowly it dawns on you just what he meant.

"Constance," you said, "He means to wed Constance."

Cecile gave a shocked gasp. "But the girl is all of eight years old. She's a child," she said, looking to her brother and father in outrage.

Raymond shrugged. "She wouldn't be the first child fucked in the name of securing power," he said, "And perhaps Poitiers is the kind to prefer veal over venison."

"'Tis legal," Pons said, dark in his cups, "'Tis completely legal, as much as it disgusts me. By rights he should wait until the girl is at least twelve and suitable, but the way he rushes to Antioch I cannot believe he means to do so. Alice does not believe me when I say what I fear. She only calls me paranoid and jealous." He slammed his cup down, spilling wine across his sleeve, and glared into empty space.

Your guts turned at the thought of the innocent little girl taken in the fashion of the Roman bride, and soon your knuckles clenched to white and your lips pulled back into a snarl. This was wrong, damn the law for all it was worth.

Still, what could you say on it? You were just a squire, and Poitiers was a lord far more powerful than most even in Jerusalem.

"You can't let him," you said, looking to Count Pons.

"I'll not aid him," the old lord said, then sighed, "Perhaps that is the most I can do."

Raymond swirled his wine. "You are off to Antioch next, aren't you?" he asked. That was your next destination. "Perhaps I could join you on your journey, so I can speak for Tripoli directly."

> accept
> refuse

>>44084618
> accept

We get to spend some time with Raymond and hopefully get to save Antioch

>>44084618
> accept
I wonder if we can place Constance in the custody of Tripoli?

>>44084618
>accept

>>44084618
>>> accept
Why does shit keep happening? Can't we have a break?

>>44084656
Chances are there get a marriage set up between Hugo and Constance. Think that may be the best possible outcome.

>>44084701
...no? What's wrong with your head? Are you okay?

>>44084701
>Chances are there get a marriage set up between Hugo and Constance.
I'm just going to say 'fat chance' and nip this in the bud here. No one is marrying the Princess of Antioch to a squire with no lands, for any reason. Least of all with the tension between Antioch, Jerusalem and Eastern Rome going on over its vassalage.

>>44084701
nah see as HF said thats not likely

He can just bang her whenever he swings round proving that he's every bit as Koblenz as the Willhelms

>>44084766
Hey, maybe we could get Raymond's permission to fuck his sister this thread

"Would you?" truth, you could use more flavourful companionship, with Orlando in his cups and Hector so dour. Raymond seemed pleased that you respond so eagerly, and turned his eyes to his father.

"Might that be alright with you, father?" he asked.

Pons only considered the content of his cup. When he finished it he looked out to the rest of his hall and said. "It's growing late," and rose from his chair with the assistance of his daughter. She gave you a happy little smile as she supported her half-drank father out of the chair, taking much of his weight on her sturdy shoulders.

As she walked the man away Raymond scooted closer to you and winked. "That's as good as a yes from the old man," he said.

The hall was emptying of guests as servants came to collect dirty plates. Raymond stood up, still sober despite all he'd drunk, and gestured to you.

"Come Hugo, you said you'd visit my friend's shop another time, and another time has come," he said. He seemed keen for your companionship, and eager to show you the secrets of that little place tucked away in the backstreets of Tripoli.

You had agreed that he should come with you to Antioch, and were happy to have him. Still, you were uncertain about that place, though you worried to refuse his offer a second time it might offend him, and an offended companion was not what you wanted out of Sir Raymond.

> go with him
> refuse a second time

>>44084799
>go with him

If he can give us ONE good reason to why. Otherwise.

> refuse a second time

>>44084799
> go with him

>>44084799
> go with him
Refusing three times is something assholes do

>>44084795
>asking for premission

>>44084799
>> go with him

>>44084799
>> refuse a second time
My duty is still not done. I'd follow you for the companionship without thought if not for my duty.

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>>44084831

If we go with him, do we have to drink? Seems a bit hypocritical what with what we did with Orlando.

>>44084894
Difference between enjoying a drink and being a drunkard.

>>44084909
When Hugo drinks, he drinks hard.

>>44084927
Not enough to make him a drunkard.

>>44084799
> go with him

You bow your head, figuring that he would either press you until you relent or were away from Tripoli and he might sulk.

"Very well," you said, "I'll go with you."

His smile might have split his face. "You'll not regret this Hugo. You'll not regret this at all."
-
It was night now, and the streets were dark and mostly quiet. Some sound came from pot houses and common rooms where revelers remained active, but Raymond made no detour for these. He had a target set, and was swift to reach it that you near had to run to keep him.

The same back alley with the unassuming door. You opened it to find Dangerosa still at her station, but had changed into a more colourful costume of red and green silk, neck bound by multicoloured scarves and jewels hanging from her wrist and ears.

"So you've returned," she said. Standing to greet them, she smoothed those bewjelled hands over the curves of her own body. "truly mystery draws all young men, and you're like to see things within that you can see no where else in all the Holy Land."

She took the door and opened it, motioning you through.

Stairs led down into the dark, and as you stood looking down you felt her caress upon the back of your neck. "Just a little step," her breath in your ear, "And all the world will be open to you."

A lump formed in your throat. Your feet seemed some what stuck to the steps, but you forced them to move. Down, down into the dark, Raymond behind you. You walked for some time without light, your hand trailing the wall to keep your sense of space, each step careful. The lower you went the cooler it became, until you felt a slight chill.

"It was built by the Romans," Raymond said as if from another place, voice echoing across the world. "Now it is used by others."

Light slashed into the dark. The bottom of the stairs. You stepped down to stand before that crack of light and heard a sound. Music, drums and flutes and plucked instruments, but playing something you did not know in a style you found alien. Raymond shadowed you, leaned over you, grinned.

Like a boy sharing a secret his eyes gleamed.

"Look," he said, "And see my buried treasure."

You reached against the crack, and looked into a golden world of thrown cushions, gilded carpets. Light came from hung lanterns, putting the large, long room into shades of gold and pearl, and within upon those cushions sat beautiful women the likes of which you'd never seen before.

A girl with eyes like the arrow slits of a castle and skin like porcelain sat upon cushions playing a long next instrument, straight black hair tied back in strange knots. She wore silk robes of green and white, and had at her feet a girl of similar cast but with a richer almost golden skin. The golden young girl looked up at the musician with loving eyes.

The men watched too, and drank clear water you were certain was not water from the way it narrowed their pupils to pin pricks and put a strange heat in their breath.

"Cathay," he said, and turned your eyes to brown women swimming nude in a little pond, "And Hindustan. Persia and other lands far stranger. They know ways to ease a man that go undreamed."

"And herbs to chew upon that will open your eyes to secret knowledge," you looked up and knew Raymond had sampled these secrets himself. "And drink that'll change your vision to see the hidden world behind the mundane reality."

He sounded like a mad man or a heathen. Maybe both.

"Come," he said, leaning on the frame of the portal.

Perfume and giggling of alien girls reached you through the doorway, tried to carry you within.

> back out
> go in

>>44085109
>> go in

>>44085109
> go in

Too late to go back i say.

>>44085109
> back out

Damn these Heathens

>>44085109
> back out

>>44085109
> back out
drugs are for losers

>>Go in
Well we have already gone down the rabbit hole, may as well get this over with, maybe be careful, act drunker than we really end up. Enjoy ourselves but dont over do anything, and NO DAMN DRUGS

>>44085109
>> go in
Act worse than we actually are.

>>44085109
> back out

you know how curiosity killed the cat? Raymonds the cat

>>44085188
Then we shouldnt even had gone here.

>Bail
If he is salty explain we are tryin to get our lord better and showing up again reaking of such sweet delights will earn his wrath. Once our Lord is well may be game, shift the burden to him, make him feel like he is the one almost trying to get us in trouble. He is drunk and we are witty we can do this

>>44085109
>> go in

>>44085109
> back out

nah this smells fishy almost familiar

Damn assassins and Orlando

>>44085232

Fucking hell. Ofcourse it is fishy. Have you forgotten who Raymond is ?

>>44085109
> back out

[Flashback of Orlando intensifies]

>>44085109
>> go in
Montecristo!

>>44085232
Dude, we already know it smells fishy here
>"Smell it, Hugo," he said, beating his chest as he took in a deep nostril full of his home. It stank a little of seaweed and human filth. Not a lovely perfume, but Raymond seemed to relish it.

>>44085232
>implying China and India are muslim

>>44085271
even more of a reason to back out then!

>>44085285
Implying Heathens aren't Heathens
Assasins used this shit as recruiting mechanism

Can we choose not to have any drugs?

>>44085109
>>back out

If we miss out on Raymond teaching us his assassin skills then i will never forgive you cowards.

Seriously, what was the point of coming with him then ? We knew pretty much from the entrance what kind of place this was. Not like it was the goddamn court of France.

>>44085317
I was hoping he'd take us some place different, but then he was an asshole about this place.

Can we just go in for character developments sake, please.

>>44085299
>implying insta Bad End

>>44085317
France has more hookers but less drugs

>>44085329
>"Come Hugo, you said you'd visit my friend's shop another time, and another time has come," he said. He seemed keen for your companionship, and eager to show you the secrets of that little place tucked away in the backstreets of Tripoli.

He literally told us we were going back there.

>>44085333
>not expecting Insta bad end in a HF quest

>>44085340
HF has said that Hugo's in danger of being raped as well.

>>44085340
There is no bad ends. Only consquences. Worst thing that can happen here is that he puts his cock in a chinese chick, which is something Wil will most likely never get to try while being high

>>44085355
>Worst thing that can happen here s that he puts his cock in a chinese chick

AHAHHAHHAHAHHAHA fucking funny anon

>>44085340
I'd call you out but I forgot my crisknife

>>44085366
we can conquer this anon, Fear is the Mind killer, our will is strong

>>44085384
but i don't multivote
don't even have a smartphone

Final destination vote off this post:

Yes, you go in. No, you don't.

> yes
> no

>>44085109
>go in
No reason to offend Raymond further.

>>44085406
> yes

>>44085406
>yes

>>44085406
> no

NOPE last thing we need is SUDDENLY ASSASSINS while suffering something we know little to nothing about

>>44085406
just roll a 1d2

>>44085406
> yes

>>44085406
> yes

>>44085406
> no

>>44085406
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxK_nA2iVXw

>>44085406
> no

>>44085406

> yes

What's the worse that could possibly happen?

>>44085463
you not knowing how to FD

>>44085463
Hugo suffers from Opium withdrawals during Ascalon and Sabeen gets raped and killed while Wilhelm loses everything?

>>44085481
Going to a bit of a extreme there, dont you think ?

>>44085406
>yes
Chase that dragon.

>>44085481
And Mathilde has to go marry the Uncle's kid because we got her fiance killed

>>44085481
And everyone in our family gets excommunicated.

>>44085481
we aint an addict yet. Could be a strong test of will, to try something and then turn away from it takes greater will than to never touch it.

>>44085481
>withdrawals after trying it once
wot

>>44085530
one thing leads to another and Raymonds almost certainly a Habitual user

> yes wins

Give me a bit. Stuff going on in my end.

>>44081359
DEUS VULT!

You stepped into that gold washed world, and all the revelers gaze across to consider you. Not that it stopped their revelry, it was all side-long glances between shared words or over cups of clear liquid, around mirthful laughter. You felt a nervous energy in you as Raymond guided you to the musician playing high atop a small hill of gilded cushions.

The golden woman at her feet came up to bounce into Raymond's arms. They were very short, slight women, but the bronze one moved with a keen energy.

"Welcome back," she said, her accent a strange bird chirp, "And welcome to you."

The musician set aside her instrument and slid down with a rustle of silk, feet curling into the carpeted floor with a scrunch of her toes.

"Rah-Mond," she said, "We missed you."

"Xiansui," he said, "And Chabi." He gestured to the more golden one. "Oriental delights you will not find any place else. This is Hugo, my friend."

"A friend of Rah-mond's must be treated well," Xiansui took you by the shoulder, hands sliding up to your neck. Chabi stood behind you and slipped her hands through your sword belt.

"You will not need these," she said, untying it. Then she took to the laces of your hose. "Or these."

You burned red as she reached through the laces for what lay underneath.

"Drink, eat," Raymond took some of that clear water up from the table, and with it a thick brown clump that he popped into his mouth. "Let us enjoy the night while it lasts." He drank deep and set it aside, his grin growing strange and off jointed as a slender brown otter of a girl slipped out of the water to take him to the cushions.

The Oriental girls set you down as well. Xiansu sat upon your lap, offering you a clump of that strange meal, and Chabi brought you a saucer of that water. They nestled against your body, felt their forms through their clothes as they bunched up against you and each other.

"You drink," Chabi said. The front of her robe fell open to show the collar of her chest, and the pale golden skin beneath.

"And eat," Xiansu offered you the food, her sleeves falling back to show long pale skin smooth as cream.

"And then who knows what else," Chabi reached over at kissed Xiansu light upon the lips.

You saw Raymond was already busy with his Hindu girl,naked upon his lap and nestled against his chest as she kissed his chin, working off his hose with her feet. Such a strange limber creature she was. And she saw you watched with a wicked smile, soft dark lips curling, narrow dark eyes inviting.

For a second she looked like Sabeen and it put a jolt in your heart, and a hard throb through your groin.

The Oriental girls curled fingers through your hair, plucked at your tabard, and pouted over their offered delights.

> eat and drink
> don't

>>44085939
>eat and drink
But only a little bit. We should try it before we condemn it.

>>44085939
> eat and drink

>>44085939
>don't

the girls are enough

>>44085939
> don't

>>44085939
>eat don't drink
no hangover pls

>>44085939
> don't
>Why would I fill up on those when you two are intoxicating enough?

I've got to go out for a bit. An hour break for now. Sorry.

>>44086050
dammit

>>44085939
> don't

why would I when I could taste the Orient?

Why do you guys want to turn Hugo into Wilhelm?

>>44086286
He is a bard like his brother before him. Or at least the potential to be dashing, anyway.

>>44086286
Seriously.

Why can't we have our pious Hugo with a heretical love of delicious brown, not another Wilhelm. Shit's fucking stupid, and the moment anons got to play him they've been trying to change him.

>>44086325
It's for the mission to save Alice Rethel from getting screwed over.

>>44086286
It's the curse of all Koblenz to be Bard as fuck

>>44086325
Because Hugo's still trying to figure out the Pious shit while growing up to be a Sword saint with a heathen/heathen convert waifu

So Wilhelm is sending Mathilde to Jerusalem right? in case shit gets right fucked and he's on the backfoot

>>44086419
Nah, she can take care of Ramla.

>tfw doing it for the side quest and CHA boost

>>44086448
yeah like the last time she took care of Ramla didn't end with a dead Senschal and 2 injured soliders

>not letting her see court life in Jerusalem
>not letting her Meet Iovetta in advance
>Implying she won't despise her right off the bat

>>44086512
>>not letting her Meet Iovetta in advance
She's in Bethany, yo

"I-I-I have eaten well enough my ladies," you said through a lump in your throat, "My dinner was satisfying enough." Still they pouted and put the goods before you. "Surely, the two of you are enough to slake any man's thirst."

That caused them to giggle, and Xiansu wound her free hand through your hair.

"You are a sweet boy," she said, and drank the water herself straight from Chabi's hands in a long, slow slurp.

"To not eat and not drink, it goes against the principles of our house," Chabi seemed very disappointed, "But you are like a skittish horse brought to unfamiliar water. No one can make you drink." And from Xiansu's fingers she plucked the meal with her tongue, swallowing it down her throat in a single gulp.

She reached over and pulled Xiansu into another kiss, this one harder, deeper and with twisting tongue. When they separated their lips shone.

"More fun for us then," Xiansu said, her eyes now gleaming, pupils very small. She put your hand upon her thigh, and coaxed your other up on her small breasts, and drew you into a kiss.

You were no virgin but your kiss was clumsy, and you tasted the strange flavour of the clear drink upon her breath. Still she seemed to know much about coaxing a man out of a boy, and your kiss did not stay clumsy for long, and your hands soon gripped her rather than simply lay upon her skin.

It was hard not to be urged into greater acts as her robes seemed to drip off her in folds until she wore only her jet dark hair, which when you unpinned fell around her shoulders like a black mantle. Nude upon your lap she drew off your own garments until you were bare chest beneath her. Her long, foreign fingers traced the hard line of your muscle, searched the scar that crossed your chest.

"A man should have scars," she said, and traced it with soft kisses while your hands gripped her hips.

"Big scars," added Chabi, pinching your ear between her teeth.

>>44086525
she's almost certainly gone back to Jerusalem since Wilhelm left

Chabi moved behind you, dripping off her clothes as she went. Pressed herself against your back, and you felt her against it, her golden body stripped and soft against your hard muscle, her fingers working your muscles, finding the hidden sore points and easing them out. You'd scarce felt such an expert touch, you wondered how such silken hands might feel on other parts of your body.

You felt as if you were on a dream, caught between these two alien beauties. Too much to touch at once, with an intoxicating smell, and the soft sounds they made when you did touch them.

A golden dream.

> roll 1d100, average of three

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>44086574

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>44086574
oh sweet Jesus an average

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>44086574
Here comes the clap

>>44086586
>>44086588
>Hugo in charge of girls

File: 1448564362395.jpg (53 KB, 317x428)

53 KB JPG

>>44086586
>>44086588
>>44086589
>39.66

oh dear god

>>44086574
>A golden dream.
Watersports?

>>44086613
That's a 40, which is middling territory. It goes
>1-33 - You're fucked
>34-66 - Eh?
>67-99 - Doing fine!
>100 - OH BABY

Could you really be blamed for it? They were both of them down in your lap, your hands filled with either one's hair, their mouths and tongues in unison working your -

When you felt a hot rush, and gave a high grunt, and the girls giggled as they licked one another clean, looking up at you with their slanted eyes all gleaming with amusement and intoxication.

"The Frankish man proves himself a boy," Chabi had a wicked laugh that stung worse than thorns.

"Such a shame, you are cute," Xiansu added with a sad pout, laying belly flat upon a cushion to consider you.

Your guts curled up inside themselves as your thickness threatened to retreat.

"Perhaps if you are brave," Chabi sauntered over to the table for another dish, skin glistening in the lamp light "And drink, you will find new strength." She smirked at you. "Or are you just a skittish little colt?"

She stood hips cocked and cup waiting in bold challenge.

> drink
> refuse

>>44086709
>drink
We can't let this heathen shame our pride.

>>44086702
[Citation needed]

also you kind of need to adjust for stats and whatever formula HF uses

>>44086709
> refuse

>>44086709
> refuse
> laugh at them

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>44086709
>refuse

>>44086709
> drink
wait why we would we roll for sexual stamina. thats fuckin weird

>>44086709
> drink

>>44086744
Would you rather we rolled for it like a DUEL?

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>44086709
>drink

>>44086719
>We can't let this heathen shame our pride.
But you are letting her shame our pride by giving in. Show a little backbone instead of our frontbone, huehueheueheueh

>>44086709
> drink
sleep now, see ya

>>44086709
> refuse

''it takes more courage to refuse a gift than to take one''

>>44086775
Oh sure, leave us with your crap to deal with.

>>44086709
>drink

>>44086772
Yeah Hugo has nothing to prove to the people here. As someone who would do all of the things at that place I say there's nothing wrong with sobriety. Peer pressure is wrong, man.

>>44086709
> refuse
> Hahaha, you don't scare me. You may as well be a flower.

>>44086817
hugo never gets to have any fun.

>>44086709
> refuse
Hugo faces his toughest enemy yet: two giggling girls

straightedge players stop samefagging pls

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Rolling 1d2

1 drinks
2 refuses

>>44086920
hugo continues to be the least fun person ever

>>44086831
Having sex you won't remember the day after is fun?

>>44086939
obviously yes.

>>44086939
Actually, yes it is. As you'd know if you've ever done it.

>>44086938
Some people are set on making him into a stereotypical dead serious lawful good paladin. Sounds boring as fuck to me.

>>44086992
Oh, I wouldn't know.

>>44086998
And some other people want a peer pressured boy.

You pulled yourself up off the cushions. Stretching out the muscles of your body, you crossed over to her heedless to the eyes of others, striding nude under the golden light. She smirks up at you, offering the cup.

You take it, consider its contents. Then consider the shape of the woman looking up at you, the curves of her, the flatness of her belly, the firmness of her body. And you turn the drink over, splashing it down her chest, pouring through the valley of her nest and trinkling over her navel to soak the little black bristle above her mound.

Chabi looks up at you with eyes widened as far as they could go, nostrils flaring out.

You laughed at the furious tiny woman and her fury. It was cute to see something so delicate looking become so bristled. And that rage upon her face was cute, cute enough you felt your strength returning.

"As I said earlier," feeling yourself become firm that her eyes darted downward and her fury drew in with her head, suddenly confident for the first time that night, "I don't need drink when I have women like you."

She touched her chin and her lips were a curtain upon the smile she wore.

You grabbed her around the hips and lifted her up over your shoulder. She kicked and thrashed but it was all in play.

"Barbarian, barbarian!" she laughed as you pressed her down beside Xiansu. "Oh, the barbarian has conquered us!" Chabi said to her.

Xiansu rolled over, hand clasped with her friend's, both of them looking up at you from their bed of velvet cushions.

"Then we must please our new master," Xiansu said, eyes wide in an excited flush, body a quiver in preparation.

Was this how Wilhelm felt? You wondered that as you filled your hands with giggling woman. It was a good feeling. And the giggles soon became soft moaning under your new found strength.
-
Another break. Sorry about this guys. Won't be long.

>>44086998
>dead serious lawful good paladin

try Chaotic good Sword-Saint

>>44087046
>You grabbed her around the hips and lifted her up over your shoulder. She kicked and thrashed but it was all in play.
>"Barbarian, barbarian!" she laughed as you pressed her down beside Xiansu. "Oh, the barbarian has conquered us!" Chabi said to her.
>Xiansu rolled over, hand clasped with her friend's, both of them looking up at you from their bed of velvet cushions.
>"Then we must please our new master," Xiansu said, eyes wide in an excited flush, body a quiver in preparation.
>Was this how Wilhelm felt? You wondered that as you filled your hands with giggling woman. It was a good feeling. And the giggles soon became soft moaning under your new found strength.


>Hugo
>No fun allowed

Check and mate

>>44087051
>Chaotic good
Would have drank.
Also if we want to be historically accurate, he'd indulge a bit, as his social superior & host is. To do otherwise is an insult.

This place scares me.
The people are too loud.
I wish I was back in the roads removing saracens.

>>44087219
You have to be 18 to use this website.

>>44087085
But we are indulging!

Hugo's awesome.

>Hugo already has more war than Wil
Wil needs to git gud

>>44086938
Better that than another Wilhelm.

>>44087319
>Implying

What is Solobro?

>>44087085
He's in a brothel fucking chicks and he has a bit of a murderous temper. What is enough for you?

File: fire_and_honor_by_taurus_(...).jpg (114 KB, 900x783)

114 KB JPG

>Tfw still waiting for a historically accurate Roman Legionnaire quest

Finally caught this one live though, so I can't complain.

>>44087346
Maybe they want Hugo to inject that shit straight into his veins for character development.

>>44087371
Roman Legionnnaires wore plate armor?

>>44087387
They did during the western roman empire period.

>>44087371
HASTATI

You awoke between the sweaty flesh of Xiansu and Chabi, their hair mussed and expressions caught in deep contented slumber. Clear eyed you checked the room, your surroundings. The light had guttered out, the golden hue gone, replaced only with dark shapes of the sleeping revelers. Some shifted in their sleep, rolled over or raised an arm, but none rose.

You saw a light come to life at the end of the hall, and the light gave form to a watching woman, the only person still clothed. Dangerosa. Her eyes were hawkish and expression sober. She saw your head rise and beckoned to you silently.

With care you slipped from between the women. You did not dress except to pick up your sheathed sword and carried it by hand. She led you to a door, not the one you had entered through.

The pitter patter of your bare feet on stone was the only sound, the coldness of it under your feet. Your guiding light the bobbing torch that Dangerosa held. You followed the Jewess down into a deeper dark, sword clutched, clothed only in the dark.

Another corridor, a stone tunnel. You heard the crashing of waves, and the smell of it reached you. The tunnel was dank, the walls covered in a thin film of muck. Still you walked toward the flickering brand.

It opened upon rocks and a grey dawn sky. Dangerosa looked out to sea from the mouth of the tunnel.

"An old Roman passage," she said, and put the torch down upon the rocks. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, tilted her head to consider you. A smile formed as she looked down the length of your naked body. "I had heard your brother was impressive," she said, "I did not think you would be his match, or near enough."

You blushed bright which made her laugh.

"Do you know why I asked Raymond to bring you here?" she asked. You shook your head. She brushed back her hair as she had when you first met. "Your brother has many friends, and we are curious about him as well. We are part of a group, you might say a network, of merchants. Across cultures and kingdoms, we work for a singular aim. Profit."

"Mammon," you said, and felt an itch in your sword hand.

"If you are feeling cruel, I suppose that is not wrong," she said, "We think your brother is much like us. Most are more like us than not. But you, I think you aren't."

"And what do I have to do with this?" you asked.

"Only as a line to your brother," she said, "We would like an introduction from someone he trusts. We hear he wants to make money. You speak with high lords up and down the coast. He should be speaking with us instead."

"And who are you?" you asked, the spray of waves crashing upon rocks flecking across your chest.

"We are the Silk Road," she said, "And we can open it up for him, if he is willing to help us."

"How?" you did not like their talk.

"That, young man, is between me and your brother," she smirked, it was a pretty smirk. And you knew this was just the kind of woman your brother enjoyed. "Will you approach him for us? We will make him fantastically wealthy. You know that's what he wants, wealth enough to build a world upon. Won't you help us help him?"

Your whole body was like a raw, throbbing nerve. Everything about this seemed wrong.

"You think I'm a liar," she said. And then she stripped, part by part, until she was as nude as you were, wearing only that smirk and her glorious thick mane of black hair. You felt your body awaken at the full sight of her, standing in the slowly opening dawn, washed by the sun and spray of the sea. "Let us stand naked together so that we can be honest. We mean your brother no harm, we only seek another partner to help enrich us all."


> I'll talk to him
> stay away from him

>>44087476
>> I'll talk to him

>>44087476
> I'll talk to him

>>44087476
> I'll talk to him
Wilhelm knows better than we do.

Dangerosa is danger close-ah

>>44087476
okay what the hell could go wrong people?

and what do you think Wilhelm is willing to do for AMBITION!

>>44087476
> I'll talk to him

No sense in spurning them when we haven't heard their offer.

>>44087533
I hope it's not "Cheating on Iovetta"

>>44087476
> I'll talk to him

>>44087543
I'm more worried about

slaves and being stabbed in the back

>>44087550
Non, non, non, they're indentured servants, see?

>>44087533
>m-muh ambition!
Wei scum

>>44087579
Go back to Mongolia. This is exactly the sort of connection our brother will want.

>>44087617
Yeah, we had to buddy up with Froggy instead of attending our bastard's birth all the way. Wilhelm craves money.

>>44087626
yeah because you know.... that was kinda the thing for men to do during a birth.

"I'll talk with him," you said, trying to ease the tension in your body and failing. You did not trust the lovely Jewess, and you did not trust your brother's lust if he were confronted by her, but you knew he would want to at the very least hear their offer.

They were right about him and his desires. As ugly as they were you could not deny it to yourself, that your brother was more concerned with chasing power than the love of Christ. But he was your brother, and you would do what you could to advance his cause.

"Thank you Hugo," she said, and she cupped your chin in her fingers and kissed you soft on the lips, "A man of virtue is rare in this day and age. Despite what you might think of me, I hope you retain it." She gathered up her clothes and dressed, then took up the torch, lead you back down the tunnel to the now cold room that had been so bright and warm the night before.

You dressed as the Cathay girls began to rouse, chattering sleepy words in their native tongue. You paid them no more mind as you tied up your sword. Went back up the long steps.

Raymond was waiting, dressed, out in the antechamber of the sinful den. Dangerosa bid you both farewell.

"Fun night," he said, stretching out, "I saw you had some fun yourself. Managing those two is no easy feat. They are well trained in the pleasure arts of Hindustan."

You did not want to talk of the night before, your thoughts growing dark and full of shame. You had acted improper, gave in to sinful nature at the sight of rich temptation. And you felt strangely as if you had committed a betrayal. Not just of yourself, or of god, but another. Maggie had been your lover for some pleasant months, but it was not her that haunted your thoughts.

You did not want to think on who that face belonged to. You did not want to conjure that name, and becoming consumed with thoughts of her body replacing those of the lithe alien women. It was enough you had to stop to master yourself again you felt so wretched.

Were you a dog that just took any bitch in heat? Or were you just weak like everyone else? Was this a grave sin you had committed, and would God forgive you? It had not seemed so wicked a thing with other girls, but last night was different.

"Those girls were slaves, weren't they?" you said.

Raymond grinned. "Pleasure girls, yeah," he said. You thought you might be physically ill. "They really took it out of you. You won't be the first man they've left bow-legged" he said, rubbing your back.

Again you walked without talking, back to the seaside castle, your own thoughts your worst enemy, a slow poison that wracked your spirit.

Sir Hector met you by the gate, taking a long piss. He frowned at you, again he thought you a shirker. It made your guts curl up.

"Get some sleep," Raymond said, waving you off.

You did just that. Staggering to your cot and collapsing upon it.

You slept, and woke around mid-day.

Orlando stood in the window. He looked frail, but not as ill, looking out on Tripoli with the sun a line across his body.

"Up my little squire," he said, "the day waits on no man, and we've business to be done."

Pulling yourself from the bed with a groan, you followed your knight out the door.

The days in Tripoli passed with little commotion. You spent your time:

> training with Hector
> playing Shatranj with Orlando
> reading books in the castle library
> flirting with girls

>>44087698
> training with Hector
> playing Shatranj with Orlando
Either one of these is fine.

>>44087698
> playing Shatranj with Orlando
Trying to make sure he doesn't drink himself to death as well.

>>44087698
> playing Shatranj with Orlando

Dammit Orlando no drinking!

>>44087698
>> playing Shatranj with Orlando

>>44087698
> playing Shatranj with Orlando
If we don't he's likely to relapse.

>>44087698
>> training with Hector
>> playing Shatranj with Orlando

what does this achieve? isn't our war maxed HF?

>>44087732

this

>>44087741
Social Linking with Hector, probably. Also we could lose some WAR if we don't keep at it.

>>44087698
>training with Hector
>> playing Shatranj with Orlando

Most of your free time was spent sitting across from Orlando over a game set. He seemed wane, but not unhealthy. Though some times as he moved a piece there came a tremble in his hands that he tried his best to hid, which was often accompanied by an outbreak of sweat. But if it bothered him he did not say so, nor did he ask after drink except clear, cold water.

It soon became obvious that Orlando was quite good at Shatranj,and he taught you much, coached you through a variety of plays and strategies. You never won a game against him, but you felt a better player for every match. Like a sword edge slowly sharpened, you began to learn how to read the patterns on the board.

In between your bouts you were bothered by visitors. Hector up from the yard, sweating and shirtless for the sword drills he had gone through. His opponents, a rotation of the best men-at-arms in Tripoli. As you felt your mind become more focused you saw that Hector was becoming a more skillful warrior as well.

All this as Orlando recovered.

Cecile, the daughter of Lord Pons, visited a number of times to check on Orlando's health. She was a big boned girl, broad shouldered and wide hipped, with a pleasant big smile to go with her broad face. A quirk or two might have made her ugly, but instead it made her oddly attractive, matched with the charisma in her movement and expression. The girl had an earthy charm as she fussed over your knight, whom she dubbed her patient - playing at nurse.

Orlando did not wish to protest except that his protests seem to encourage her, which he enjoyed, so he played the victim.

"A girl likes to be a little bossy," he told you once, "Let her act the boss of you now and then and she will fall more under your charms."

There must have been some truth to it, for by the last night Cecile came to visit, and did not leave her patient until the very early morning.

>>44087880
Aw, great. Orlando's on Death's door already.

"I think my strength has recovered enough that we can be on," he said that morning, adjusting his hair as the sun broke above the rooftops of Tripoli.

"To Antioch!" he said, striding forth from his chamber with finger raised, a new found strength in his step.

You chased after your refreshed bold knight with a spit of your breakfast.

He had forgotten his hose, and dangled brazenly in the wind.
-
End thread
Hugo +3 int, +3 lead,+1 cha

QnA

>>44087880
see Orlando being a FRIEND to the Koblenz is good for you!

>>44087906
Thanks for running HF

>What could have gone wrong?
>are you at liberty to discuss what Mammon expects from Wilhelm?
>Next thread when?
>Ascalon when?

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>>44087906
>+1 cha

>>44087906
>+3 lead

why?

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>>44087930
>Mammon
That's not the lady's name, y'know

>>44087930
>What could have gone wrong?
Drinking the opiate and eating the pot would have lead to a bad trip. I kind of wanted it to happen because it would have been fun to write, but it would have been a 'bad' move.

>are you at liberty to discuss what Mammon expects from Wilhelm?
Not really

>Next thread when?
Tomorrow hopefully

>Ascalon when?
Soon

>>44087947
Stakes and witches don't exist by the way.

>>44087945
Taking over the delegation and sending Orlando into recovery and not being bossed around by the Chinese girls.

>>44087906
>+1 cha
Dang, and I thought we handled ourselves really well throughout all this. We got a toast at dinner, and managed to power through the cruel teasing of girls while looking cool.

>>44087949
How's Iovetta? Still giving bread to the poor?

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>>44087949
>Tomorrow hopefully


FUCKING ACE!~

>Drinking the opiate and eating the pot would have lead to a bad trip. I kind of wanted it to happen because it would have been fun to write, but it would have been a 'bad' move.

well if it's continued association with Mammon is happening I suppose we can always try it

>>44087949
Let's say I'd want to do a historical quest like yours truly, which era/region would you recommend for an interesting quest, the Holy crusade excluded? I know the writing and the preference of the writer/QM is equally important, but I'd love your opinion.

>>44087966
>Dang, and I thought we handled ourselves really well throughout all this.
You did, but I'm not handing out to many big pluses any more.

>>44087969
Yeah, she never stops caring about the down trodden.

>>44087979
>Opiate+Pot
>Clueless Iovetta
>Final Destination

>>44087982
>Vikings fucking shit up quest
>Varangrian Quest
>Conquistador quest
>Hundred years war quest: German edition
>Silk road quest

>>44087958
Rosalie would have words with you if she wasn't ash and jerky

>>44087982
>>44088003
This. Watch HBO's Vikings and then read up on it some. Raiding and trading.

>>44088003
>>Conquistador quest
>not Bandeirantes quest

>>44087982
Sumerian Quest

>>44087982
Probably the Revolutionary War in America. With the potential of going either Patriot or Loyalist.

I'd go loyalist. Red Coat all the way

But I'd be down for any non-fantasy historical fiction quest.

>>44088003
A Silk Road 'Marco Polo' type Quest would be pretty damn cool.

>>44087992
this is how you get the Iovetta AND chiri end

this is fucked up

>>44087983
>but I'm not handing out to many big pluses any more.

why?

>>44088026
Our stats are bloated.
>>44088003
Conquistador quest would be great

>>44088026
Yeah, it's not clear. Mathilde got like, 10 War in one thread.

>>44088023
>Red coat loyalist
>Silk Road Marco koblenz edition

HF proves to be QM of Impeccable taste as usual

>>44088026
>why?
I guess I just feel like a lot of the early bonuses were lazily given for minimal achievement at times, making the stats bloat out quickly.

Low numbered stats do fill faster than high stats though, that won't change, but they won't fill up as quickly as they used to.

>>44088035
She also managed to beat Hugo at shieldplay in the same thread.

>>44088023
>Revolutionary War in America
Hm, ever watched the show "Turn"? It's about a Spy during the American War of Independence. Would be cool to do a quest about being a Patriot spy or a Loyalist Spy.

>Spying on enemy movements
>Listen in on enemy officer's conversations
>Send coded messages
>Eliminate anyone who discovers your identity and hide his/her body.
>Turn people against each other through manipulation.

>>44088033
kind of hard not to be when HF has essentiall made 50> to be the baseline for decent skills, specifically when we have at least one PC at Historical legend levels of CHA

>>44088035
to be fair she was trained by Solo''break the fucking chart''mon

>>44088023
>Revolutionary War in America
At least I wouldn't be able to metagame on that.

Archived.

>>44088074
Hey cool, you put Hugo's name in the tags! Thanks, HF!

>>44088074
Hope to see you tommorow HF!

Just realized I've been running this quest for over a year now.

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>>44088271
Happy birthday.

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>>44088271

Shit, missed the entire thread

Good to see you are alive and running HF

I get the feeling Hugo is gonna feel guilty about this when he returns back to Ramla and Sabeen.

>>44088033
>Conquistador quest would be great
There'd be a major problem when half the cast have names that are totally unpronounceable.