File: 002.jpg (494 KB, 980x572)

494 KB JPG

>>44379030
>This takes place during the week before heading to Vitria

Things were quiet here in the rear wing of the keep. Past the great hall, the meeting hall and what you guessed to be open offices for the bureaucrats of centuries past was a long hall that opened up to the rock face along an arch. The room had been full of stone bookcases that rose as high as two storeys and, if you ignored the dust and rubble that had accumulated over the past one hundred and fifty years, would make for a good library. You figured it to be as good a place as any to dump the books you’d long ago read but still carted around with you.

After some period of time the quietness was disturbed by Gnome’s voice, “I had thought you would still be poring over the map, not filling the library. Bags of holding are rare and you’re using it to carry around books?”

“They carried valuable knowledge, particularly when I was younger,” you say. “And it’s difficult to magically store many items – even Maloric only carries his catalysts and travel pack.”

“You could have made an excellent merchant with that bag,” Gnome says, her footsteps light on the stone as she approaches you. “Personally, I’m wondering where somebody as young as you gets one. The knowledge to make these was lost when Markeese was sacked by the Wardens hundreds of years ago.”

>continued

File: 003.jpg (247 KB, 1215x883)

247 KB JPG

>>44379034
“It was a gift. It wasn’t made by mages,” you say truthfully, expecting that to end the matter. As great as the human history of magic was, there were other magic users more than capable of creating something like this, even if you’d only heard of the possibility.

“As I doubt the elves gifted you one, I take it you’re from the Guard then?” Gnome says.

You freeze where you were placing a book on the shelf. Then you shake yourself free and continue – it wasn’t too troublesome, you just hadn’t expected her to make the connection so fast. How had that let her know you were from the Guard? You…

>1. Ask Gnome how and by who she thinks the bag was made.
>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.
>3. Tell Gnome that you are from the Mage Guard territories, for what little it matters.
>4. Custom

Not sure how long this thread will run for. Also, I've added a GDocs link to the opening post - the Lore Information document is not required reading (it's 60 pages) but may be useful to players. Note that red text isn't fully updated from the original quest - blue text is updated.

>>44379045
>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.

>>44379045
>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.

>>44379045
>1. Ask Gnome how and by who she thinks the bag was made.

>>44379045
>>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.

>>44379045
>3. Tell Gnome that you are from the Mage Guard territories, for what little it matters.

>>44379045
>1 or 3, don't care which
Let's not be cold cunts, please, talk to her. She's our familiar for god's sake.

>>44379091
Letting her talk and learning more about her isnt us being cold.

>>44379045
>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.

not in a cold way, but more like a curious silence to see where she goes with this without any prompting

>>44379030
Hey aspie, unrelated but

last time around, the PCs that we didn't pick (Monk, Mage) still ended up farting around doing their own thing in the world. I remember the Monk made a cameo and the Mage would have been the BBEG. Is it a similar case in AEQR too?

I know Talon's already dead despite being one of the choices, (and from a meta perspective this was prob necessary because some people can't let go) and there were a few more options this time, but I get the warm tinglies thinking about the other potential PCs pulling PC-level shenanigans and affecting the world behind the scenes completely outside our control yet still leveling up alongside us, albeit completely independently

Feels like Gil is the only one who might potentially be able to make waves on a larger scale by virtue of his abilities, but I could see Myran as an up-and-coming magister of sorts in the Magi league, or Karrem as an elite monster hunter causing a stir in some other part of Gauron. Or hell, even some other wandering spellblade with a Griffin familiar off empiring and exploring and adventuring.

tl;dr it would be super cool to occasionally hear bits and pieces of rumor and gossip about characters that aren't actually recruitable, if only to be like "damn, son, that could have been us" so we can wonder about what could have been

>>44379105
We're not just "letting her talk" with 2, we're explicitly not answering or saying anything to her, inoring what she said.
Obviously the other options are meant to be MC becoming more engaged in the conversation, while 2 is just being a bit angsty.

>>44379045
>1. Ask Gnome how and by who she thinks the bag was made.

>>44379114
So you mean like stopping what we're doing and looking at her?

>>44379169
not the guy you're arguing with but uhhh

>2. Don’t say anything and let Gnome continue talking while you place the books on the shelves.
>let Gnome continue talking

I suppose it's subject to interpretation but it doesn't really seem like we're ignoring her in a passive aggressive way. The option seems to suggest that she has more to say regardless of our input?

>>44379204
>>44379169
its more like 2 is bringing back memories that Saul obviously suppressed and didn't want dug up. it's just caught him off guard at the moment.

Might be a good idea to add your ask to the OP.

File: 004.jpg (931 KB, 1000x3750)

931 KB JPG

>2.

Remaining silent, you instead continue to pack the shelves. You’d picked up a fair number of books over the years, adding to the already sizeable collection you’d ransacked from the family library years ago. Instead of continuing to talk, Gnome instead steps up to the shelf you’re filling and runs a hand over the tops of the books.

“I’d expected to see a series of books on magic, but these are all history books and travel guides,” she says, her voice amused.

You frown at the amusement and respond despite yourself, “Like I said, they carry valuable knowledge.”

“Yes, because you absolutely need to know about the history of dragons,” she says, pulling ‘The Royalty of Dragons’ from the shelf. “Can you even read this? It’s in elvish.”

“I’ve learnt a few languages,” you say. “And it’s interesting.”

“I could probably tell you more than the book has,” Gnome says, looking at you expectantly.

That’s… entirely true. Gnome was probably the only being you’d met that was older than some of these books. This book on the royalty of dragons was older than Lyria, which was why she’d given it to you when you’d asked her about her race’s history. If there was a question you had for Gnome it was…

>Ask some questions of Gnome, they don’t have to be lore related or anything.

I’ll let this go on for a little bit then resume the scene

>>44379281
Good point. I've added it to the post in my word doc.

>>44379406
>do you know how best to impress a dragon?
I really want a new ability desu.

>>44379406
Ever fight alongside or against a dragon?

Or someone with a dragon familiar? If yes, what sort, how powerful did they become?

>>44379406
Would it be out of character or rude to ask about what the Golden Age was like? Depending on our back ground with the Gaurd it seems like something we would ask. If not then ask about the beginning of the Mage rebellions and how they started.

>>44379406
is all the stuff in the lore doc known to us already?

Undine was aware of what Lynn was last go about, is Gnome aware of what Lynn is? She doesn't seem too annoyed by it if she is

>>44379406
>not a question for Gnome

we figured out what Lynn was last thread or so (what we figured out wasn't clear, but I'm assuming it was the source of her power/her being draconic in nature) when she used it via our senses

can she/does she know about the nature of our powers by doing the same thing? Or are we just some phenomenally talented magic knight who occasionally has super surges in power when needed as far as she's concerned?

File: 016.jpg (454 KB, 1920x1200)

454 KB JPG

>>44379474
You can assume the vast majority of it is - I think I removed most of the stuff Saul wouldn't be aware of.

>>44379615
>can she/does she know about the nature of our powers by doing the same thing?
You haven't used Lyria's power around her yet.

>>44379470
>Ever fight alongside or against a dragon?

“Mostly against and only a few times. The only period of my life where dragons have been relatively common was when they were somewhat busy killing each other,” Gnome says. “Since then there’s been a few times where I’ve fought against a dragon alongside my master. I was unfortunate enough to have to fight Lairos once, the Great Wardragon. Not something I care to repeat.”

You stare wide-eyed at Gnome at those words. From what you’d heard of Lairos, he was a dragon so large and powerful he could probably level Vitria himself. Gnome had fought him.

“I didn’t exactly defeat him,” Gnome says with a laugh, ruffling your hair. “Merely that I fought him. Even at my full power he’s not a foe I am at an advantage over – at best I could hurt him due to his reliance on magical protections.

“Though if you want to talk about fighting alongside a dragon there is a technicality right now…” Gnome says, trailing off with a sideways look at you.

“You mean Ser Lynn?” you say, assuming she’s not aware of what Lyria is.

“Ah, so you already knew,” she says, shrugging. “You probably know more about him than I do – I only know he’s drawing on draconic power in some way.”

>Or someone with a dragon familiar? If yes, what sort, how powerful did they become?

Gnome gives you an odd look. “Dragon familiars aren’t really a thing, at least not to my knowledge. They have too much magical power within them to be bound like that. At best you could form a pact with one, but it would take even a great mage to form such a thing and the consequences of breaching the pact would end a mage.”

Huh.

File: 019.jpg (266 KB, 793x1200)

266 KB JPG

>>44379472
>what the Golden Age was like?

“It’s difficult to compare to the present given I was rather young and brash at the time, relatively speaking,” Gnome says, looking a tad red in the face as she seems to recall some memories she’d rather forget. “It’s the root cause of a lot of problems still present today, however. Particularly your homeland’s role in them.”

“It did sound like things were out of control,” you say, mounting a half-hearted defense the Mage Guard’s role in ending the Golden Age of Magic.

“Perhaps, but magic has always had a role in protecting people. The lives of common people are arguably worse now than they were during the Golden Age and that gets to be worn purely by your draconic mistress,” Gnome says, her voice more amused at the end.

It takes you several seconds to realise who she’s referring to, as you were dead certain she knew nothing of Lyria. Then you realise she means Sylvian, the helldragon in the upper echelons of the Guard.

You scowl. “She’s not my mistress.”

“Touchy.”

You turn away from Gnome, your interest having waned, and return to packing the shelves.

“Perhaps we should talk about something less personal, such as why you spent an hour staring at me the other night,” Gnome says.

You freeze. This was not good. Wait, if she was aware the whole time then maybe she is really doing something untoward of a night?

>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.
>2. Protest your innocence.
>3. Pretend that nothing was said.
>4. Custom

>>44379809
>1

>>44379809
>2. Protest your innocence.

>>44379809
1

>>44379809
>>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.

>>44379809
>4
>I just wanted to look at your pretty face ;^)

Jesus, rereading the loredoc has made me remember what a bugfuck crazy nutjob Sylvian really was.

despite literally being just a tiny step above a nameless rank and file guard, she decided to go full gestapo and police any/all magic because she more or less arbitrarily decided that magic was the cause of her own king losing his marbles and destroying the kingdom

>historical racial tension
>but we're dealing with this in a non-violent way
>NAH FUCK IT KILL EM ALL
>my king lost his shit and almost wiped us all out
>musta been magic
>ok I say nobody can have magic if you disagree I'll kill you

I mean it's like if a world leader went nuts and went full trump KILL ALL THE <insert racial group> OPEN UP THE INTERNMENT CAMPS NOW

and his head bodyguard was like "k I'm the captain now, it was the snickers ALL THE SNICKERS ban them if you don't ban chocolate I'll kill you and your family and your friends and everyone you've ever talked to my word is law now"

>>44379809
>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.
No stuttering pls.

>>44379809
he spent an hour starting at her?
our boy's kinda creepy, man. Not sure there's any way to protest/get out of this one, jesus

>>44379809
>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.

>>44379809
>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.

>>44379809
>>1. Accuse Gnome of doing… something of a night once you’re asleep.

>>44379809
>how is that less personal?

>>44379929
Are we reading the same lore doc? If the one here is correct it states she pushed a peaceful solution. It also states the king went crazy and killed most Feldragons then the Helldragons. If she lives a thousand years and see's tragedy after tragedy with magic at the center, of course she is going to start hating on magic. She stopped hoping things would change and started making change.

File: 1412557311410.jpg (96 KB, 800x713)

96 KB JPG

Siege Archers when?

File: 021.jpg (265 KB, 1024x512)

265 KB JPG

>>44379965
>he spent an hour starting at her?
He was probably doing other things instead of just staring at her, like talking to Lyria.

>1.

“If you were awake, then that means you are pretending to sleep and doing something of a night,” you say.

Gnome just stares at you. “Doing something?”

You scowl, not appreciating the way her tone suggests you’re out of your mind. “You didn’t exactly let me see.”

“You moved around too much for me to think you were sleeping, Saul. Given you sleep like a log then it’s rather obvious when you’re awake or waking up,” she says, looking amused again.

“I’m a light sleeper,” you mutter. “And how do you know how I sleep?”

“Because it’s part of my duty to watch over you of a night and make sure you’re safe. That’s why I go into a restorative trance of a night instead of sleeping,” Gnome says, shaking her head.

Now it’s your turn to stare at Gnome. She was accusing you of being strange by staring at her for an hour when she just admitted to watching you all night, every night? Well, her explanation made some sense but you were still suspicious. Your experience with Lyria told you that she was probably up to something else. You…

>1. Accuse Gnome of being creepy by staring at you all night.
>2. Ask Gnome what she’s so worried about that she feels the need to guard you all night.
>3. Tell Gnome that you’ll be fine of a night and she should probably find a better night hobby.

>>44380207
>3. Tell Gnome that you’ll be fine of a night and she should probably find a better night hobby.

>>44380207
>1. Accuse Gnome of being creepy by staring at you all night.

>>44380207
3

And then assassins

>>44380207

>>44380207
>2. Ask Gnome what she’s so worried about that she feels the need to guard you all night.
legit question

>>44380207
>1. Accuse Gnome of being creepy by staring at you all night.

>>44380204
is it possible to enchant different arrow types? because I'm thinking about siege archers, And I'm thinking we could outfit them with arrows that explode at a set altitude like Flak rounds. Turn them into more heavy anti-air turrets.

>>44380207
>2. Ask Gnome what she’s so worried about that she feels the need to guard you all night.
If you were so worried you would've kept a deathgrip on me in bed.

>>44380204
They were our counter to HMK, why not nightwalker HMK too? Mal! Get to work!

>>44380127
she pushed for the peaceful solution, and that worked

and then the king apparently lost his shit for no reason. They don't even know why, but he did a complete 180 and decided to murder the fuck out of his people for no reason

her link between magic being the cause of the demise of her own kingdom and the fall of Markeese is pretty tenuous.


Markeese was the center of modern magical research and advancement, with some of the greatest achievements known to the human race; basically an example of humanity uplifting itself to potentially stand on par with the other races that were above them with one result apparently being some form of democracy.

and the Wardens took advantage of discontent arising from this shifting of political power to make other countries attack; Markeese was destroyed trying to defend themselves

I mean it's basically Sylvian saying "this one city got destroyed trying to defend itself and then got sacked by people who wanted its artifacts" and "I think my king went nuts but nobody knows why, let's blame magic"

>>44380207
>1. Accuse Gnome of being creepy by staring at you all night.
>3. Tell Gnome that you’ll be fine of a night and she should probably find a better night hobby.

>>44380207
3. Tell Gnome that you’ll be fine of a night and she should probably find a better night hobby.

>>44380366
eh my point was that she was just a guard and not at all qualified in ability or experience to make that sort of (fairly permanent) judgement for the other races

I sorta get why some anons were rabidly against her and infuriated by the rampant waifuing last time

File: Look At Me.jpg (27 KB, 650x366)

27 KB JPG

>>44379929
>and his head bodyguard was like "k I'm the captain now
Fuck, I can't stop imagining this going down like that scene

>>44380366
Except it wasnt just one city. That entire mountain range that splits the continent was created in a magical catastrophy. Do you think that was just one city that was destroyed? What about the wastelands in the south west? I dont agree with her outlook at all. I will agree that magic needs to be restrained to a degree.

>>44380427
Her entire shtick last time was she was big and strong enough that if you didnt listen she would kill you. She didnt need to be a royal dragon or a leader of any other race. In her eyes if you are doing wrong she is going to fuck you up.

>>44380207
>2. Ask Gnome what she’s so worried about that she feels the need to guard you all night.
>3. Tell Gnome that you’ll be fine of a night and she should probably find a better night hobby.

>ask her what she intends to do if (hypothetically) you get a girlfriend

"Well, if you watch me all night every night, then you've watched me for hundreds of hours. Why should you care if I return the favor for one? Perhaps I was curious, or merely pondering you.

And for that matter, what are you going to do should I take a lady back to my bed, hm? I'm no blushing virgin."

>>44380666
Yeah I've had one whole sex

>>44380695
With a lizard

>>44380695
I doubt Gnome would even believe that many

File: 022.jpg (362 KB, 899x950)

362 KB JPG

>1.

“So you admit to staring at me all night?” you ask Gnome. “That’s creepy.”

“No I don’t admit to – creepy? You’re saying I’m creepy?’ Gnome says, sounding indignant.

“You just told me that you don’t sleep so that you can watch me all night. How is that not creepy?” Honestly, she should just be more honest with herself.

“I’m protecting you,” she says shrilly.

“How do I know you’re not doing anything else while watching me?” you ask.

Somehow that line lets Gnome recover. She takes a deep breath before smirking at you. Given the situation, you’re think she’s celebrating prematurely.

“Saul, you’re just a little too young for me. I prefer my men out of puberty,” she says.

Now you’re lost. “I’m twenty-five, Gnome.”

“You don’t need to lie. You’re incredibly accomplished for your age and background but I know youth when I see it.”

“No, I really am twenty-five. If I was a teenager I’d spend all day staring at your chest,” you say, feeling as though your familiar was truly on a different planet. Was this why she kept ruffling your hair?

“Grown men stare at my chest, you’re just repressed,” she says, then pauses as if she realises something. “Well, even if you are twenty-five you’re still adorable enough to pass.”

Pass what? You genuinely worry for Gnome now, and say as much, “Gnome, I think you need a better night hobby. If you don’t need to sleep maybe you could try something else.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.”

“A real adult wouldn’t be worried about me doing that,” she says.

Something about her tone tells you to change the topic.

>1. Ask Gnome about what being your Champion means and how you can help her.
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.
>3. Check whether Gnome has any issues with you having a familiar on top of her.
>4. Custom

>>44380716
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.

>Check whether Gnome has any issues with you having a familiar on top of her.

2lewd4me

>>44380695
Depends on how you want to read that. It could be once or it could be 200 times in a month just with one lizard.

>>44380716
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.

>>44380716
Bitch just called us a child it's now time for
>silent treatment

>>44380716
>1. Ask Gnome about what being your Champion means and how you can help her.
Could we ask how she died?

>>44380755
Seconding

>>44380737
>implying that lazy lizard would have the energy to have sex more than once a decade

>>44380716
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.

Be even more amusing to talk about her using flow manipulation in that case to see what is going on though a wall.

>>44380716
>2 and then >1

>>44380755
But that's what a child would...oh

>>44380716
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.

>>44380774
The sex is likely more restful then her normal sleep.

At least with sex Saul is knocked out with her so he can't wake her up all the time with the mental link.

>>44380716
2, then 1 sounds fine.

>>44380716
>“Saul, you’re just a little too young for me. I prefer my men out of puberty,”
the milf is strong with Gnome.
>2.

>>44380716
I think it would be funny to talk about how that would be the best time to bodyguard. No one knows what could go wrong.

>>44380716
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.


Also mock her:
"You know I was once warned by a teacher of mine about a sect of motherly women who would predate me for my youthful appearance. I never thought a legendary figure like yourself would be a part of them."

>>44380861
That line, I support.

>>44380716
>>44380716
>this damn kid thinks me staring at him is creepy. Me! I've never been so insulted in my--
>wait maybe his development is retarded. Yeah that's it
>wait what he's 25
>no he's lying
>he must be lying
>oh shit he isn't lying
>well he looks like a kid so that just makes it legal
>nice

my fucking sides aspirational

also
>2. Question Gnome about whether she’ll continue watching you if you bring a woman into your room.
>3. Check whether Gnome has any issues with you having a familiar on top of her.
>on top of her
>not literally


This is an entertaining dynamic. I love that gnome thinks she's dealing with a kid and is trying to default to how she was with Taren Hand but Saul is both a grown-ass man, yet also one who isn't interested in her in that way and is capable of fucking with her against her expectations.
She's so off balance it's amazing

>>44380861
This, it might well make her sputter indignantly.

>>44380716
>>44380861
I support this mans addition.

>>44380716
1
3

>be gnome
>yeahhhh boiii gonna get this kid wrapped around my finger cuz I'm the big sis
>I'm thousands of years old
>I served as the familiar of the legendary Taren Hand
>I /made/ him what he was
>ain't no girl got titties like mine
>I'm the best
>chyeahhhh it's working, he's staring at me while he thinks I'm asleep
>that's adorable
>wait fuck is he zoned out he's been staring for an hour
>man what, he isn't even blinking
>did he fall asleep with his eyes open
>I don't know how to deal with this what is going on

>>44380861
>...are you per chance the one who started this sect?

>>44380974
THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS

>>44381015
No

Sure do love me some bullying.

>>44380861
we could ask her if she's into younger men and then make a crack about how given her age everyone's younger than her

then again, given that her last master was a child, jokes about husband...husbandry are also probably on the table

>>44381025
Gotta second this no.
This entire addition is just kind of stupid and unfunny.

File: lewd implications.gif (182 KB, 384x408)

182 KB GIF

>>44381031
cue the fluster.

File: 025.jpg (248 KB, 685x1024)

248 KB JPG

>2.

“So, uh, are you going to keep staring at me all night when I’m with another woman?” you ask her, dreading the answer.

“I’d watch from the outside and pay attention to any magical activity inside the room,” she says, then gives you an odd look. “You really shouldn’t bring some strange woman into your bed just because you’re upset, Saul. You have a precious thing you shouldn’t give away.”

Your answer is to give your Champion a flat stare. Given the way she’s smiling back at you she seems to be enjoying this.

“Also, I would warn you to be careful of having children. Things could become complicated if you find yourself saddled with children,” she says, all too serious.

“They make a brew for that,” you say absentmindedly as you suddenly remember something. Gnome says something in return but you’re a little lost in thought.

The fortnightly brew took a little while to make and then a few days to take effect, so you might want to start on it sooner rather than later. Lyria’s mood was hard to read but if she was inviting you to visit her then she was probably feeling playful, and you knew enough about dragons to know about all the problems that could visit you.

You suddenly feel somebody’s hand on your forehead and find Gnome kneeling in front of you, checking your temperature with a scowl.

“When you ask somebody for advice on women, you should pay attention,” she says as she stands again, looking down at you.

“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to watch me while I’m bed with another woman,” you say. “That seems like a bad hobby for you to have.”

She goes red and mutters a few choice words under her breath. You…

>1. Reach up and pat her head.
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.
>3. Decide to stop teasing her and move onto a serious topic.
>4. Custom

>>44381136
>4. Custom
>>44380861
>"You know I was once warned by a teacher of mine about a sect of motherly women who would predate me for my youthful appearance. I never thought a legendary figure like yourself would be a part of them."

>>44381136
>3. Decide to stop teasing her and move onto a serious topic.

>>44381136
>1. Reach up and pat her head.
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

>>44381136
>>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

>I know you're very wise and ancient and everything, but in this day and age voyeurism isn't actually considered a socially acceptable hobby
>have you considered collecting coins

>>44381136
>1. Reach up and pat her head.
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

>>44381136
>>1. Reach up and pat her head.
Revenge is best served with tiny hands

>>44381136
>1. Reach up and pat her head.

>>44381136
>1. Reach up and pat her head.
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

>>44381160
nnnaaahhh that's kind of awkward at this point

>>44381203
Yeah, better keep it for the next time she decide to play cute with Saul

>>44381136
1
>>44381160
Yeah no thanks

>>44381136
my god, I hope we can go full shonen protagonist unintentional harem, except it's less obliviousness and more "go away you're not Lyria" that we never explicitly vocalize

and that just makes gnome more and more patronizing, thinking we're just finn-tier dense, or spaghetti'ing too hard and she keeps trying to give us useless advice

and then hundreds of threads later it comes out that we've been banging Lyria the whole time and are super devoted to her and that's the reason we don't care about any of the other girls

>>44381136
1
2

>>44381250
Sounds kinda cruel desu senpai. Saul doesn't seem like that big of a dick.

>>44381136
>1. Reach up and pat her head.
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

>>44381136
>2. Apologise for insulting her hobby.

"Don't worry. Most of the people around here have some guilty pleasure or another.

>>44381250
more like Saul is aware of the harem, but Lyria will always be first and best girl.

>>44381260
I don't think Gnome wants the D though?
She just wants to be the big sister giving big sisterly advice on how to get girls to a guy who doesn't want or need it because he already has a waifu

>>44381267
I would say we sould do this, but it just invites pestering about Saul's own, entirely non-existent, guilty pleasures

>>44381250
Instead could we not harem? Just one girl is fine but oblivious with harem kinda leaves them unhappy and unfulfilled.

>>44381299
If they ask just say

"Dragons, Read that as you will."

>>44381293
Kind of hoping Saul just doesn't care and only has eyes for lyria.

>>44381293
>>44381294
>>44381329
Kind of tragic considering that he will never be more than the passing fancy of a bored immortal.

>>44381354
>implying we won't be an immortal half god by the end.

>>44381354
>implying the immortal won't be bored Saul's passing fancy

>>44381329
That is actually a good response, I take back what I said.

In regards to harem, I would prefer one partner, though not necessarily Lyria.
Though harem is not off limits to me as long as it doesnt get as ridiculous as previously as a completely arbitrary number Ill say 3 is the limit with a tiny bit of wiggle room in my eyes

>>44381387
I would agree to a limit of 3 in the harem.
1. Lyria
2. Gnome
3. Sarah.
Unfortunately the harem's already filled with no more additional openings.

>>44381452
>Sarah

How boring.

>>44381452
>Sarah
Why would you waste a slot on a boring shit like her?

>>44381452
Our harem cab grow as big as we want, aspi won't be writing Amit anyway so it hardly matters.

>>44381452
I don't really like sara personally, Lynn would be better, but consensus seems to be to be bros instead. just for the love of god not sarah.

>>44381537
Hitting the sauced EggNog a little hard their friend?

>>44381548
>>44381475
>>44381462
1. she's a placeholder in the list of potentials.
2. It's my own list. Go make your own. I'm fine if she's not in the harem, she's just a placeholder until we find more waifu opportunities.

>>44381565
Just my phones auto-correct fucking up. Who would've thought it wouldn't include a word as common as smut.

File: 026.jpg (220 KB, 669x1024)

220 KB JPG

>1 & 2

Reaching up, you run your hand through Gnome’s hair and try to ruffle it in that awkward way you do when you’re a good seven inches shorter than somebody. You say, “I’m sorry, Gnome. I completely understand that your hobby is important to you and support your need to be a voyeur. You might want to consider limiting who you watch, however.”

The same flat stare you gave Gnome earlier is in full effect, but in the opposite direction. She crosses her arms under her chest and huffs, looking away from you. Continuing to ruffle her hair, you smile a little.

Gnome says, “You never had any intention of bringing any women to your room, did you?”

“Not in the near future, as far as I can tell,” you say.

That catches your Champion’s attention and she turns back to you with a playful smile. “Oh, so you have somebody in mind already? I wonder who it could be…”

Hastily changing the topic before she begins probing you, you remove your hand from her head and step back.

“So I only partially understand this Champion business. I understand you’ve been brought back from the dead but you’re far weaker than I’ve heard,” you say. “How exactly does this all work?”

Gnome becomes thoughtful at that, forgetting (or at putting off until later) her imminent teasing. She leans against one of the stone tables in the centre of the room as she responds, “As I’ve chosen to serve you I’m more or less bound to your will. That doesn’t mean that I have to obey your every whim, but I do need to act in your interests. The Source is the key to that – mages can undertake a complicated ritual to claim it for themselves, but as you don’t have the knowledge to do that you rely on me to do so. If somebody else was to claim the Source then I’d be bound to serve them, and if somebody else was to undertake a Champion summoning with this Source then I could either be summoned to them or else replaced by the new Champion they summon.”

>continued

File: 028.jpg (104 KB, 550x825)

104 KB JPG

>>44381629
You’re not sure you got that in full.

“Basically, don’t lose control of Harrowmont,” she sums up. “As for my power – the Source is only a conduit for magical power, with the true emitters located in Places of Power.”

This was something you understood – Places of Power were locations of massive amounts of magical energy. Mages could bind them and use the power for familiars and the like. So if you understood this correctly…

“I can use Places of Power to strengthen you,” you say.

“Half-right. You can use the Places of Power connected to the Source to strengthen me. We don’t actually have a familiar link so you can’t use your power to assist me,” Gnome explains, crossing her legs as she watches you begin to pack the bookshelves again. “Unfortunately, there’s only seven PoPs connected to this Source and two of them are more or less inaccessible.”

“They’re on the other side of the Barrier of Marie?” you ask, referring to the magical barrier that restricts access to the northern half of Gauron.

“One is, the other is underneath The Last Retreat. Unless you think you can convince Archangel Raphael to hand it over, I’d give up on that one,” Gnome says and you nod quickly, not wishing to draw attention from such a powerful being. “Of the remaining five, one has been in the hands of Grand Magister Darvui of the RSK for decades now. You only need three to bring me to full power, however.”

>continued

File: 031.jpg (488 KB, 1024x498)

488 KB JPG

>>44381648
Wondering where they are, Gnome goes over the map of Gauron with you in the great hall.

The closest was in the labyrinth under Ahm. Despite being close, you would either need to break into the sealed labyrinth – no mean feat given Gnome helped her former master Taren Hand seal it – or else to get permission from the Archmage to enter it.

There’s one in Balkarin, which doesn’t surprise you. You remember the abandoned section of the city, which the Guard kept a close eye on. No doubt they were fully aware of the dangers of letting a mage get a hold of that Place of Power.

There’s one deep under the Sithran Mountains, where the dwarves dwell. This was Gnome’s birthplace and currently overrun by shadow beasts, the monsters that make northern Gauron uninhabitable. You’d need an army to take it, and a good one at that.

The one that Darvui controls is near Guelburg, deep within a dormant volcano there and the birthplace of the pure fire elemental, Salamander. Crossing paths with such a powerful mage could go poorly for you, so it was a last resort.

Finally, there was one in Terrnaine Forest, where the elves dwell. Gnome was personally familiar with it, but seemed to think that claiming it would be hard. The elves would not appreciate you potentially drawing negative attention to them with such an action. Maybe you could ask your elven contact on vampires, Alenier, what she knew of it?

“Don’t worry too much about it in the short-term,” Gnome says. “Especially because once the Source becomes common knowledge, others who know what I know will aim to seize the Places of Power to deny you and I strength.

Well, becoming an emperor was never something you’d thought would be easy.

Next scene…

>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn
>2. Discussing magic with Sarah and Maloric (skips to Vitria)
>3. Talking about the war with Cormann, Lynn and Maloric while Gnome listens
>4. Custom

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
>>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
>>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
2

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
>2. Discussing magic with Sarah and Maloric (skips to Vitria)
I wonder how much different we see magic from Mal and Sarah.

>>44381682
>2. Discussing magic with Sarah and Maloric (skips to Vitria)
tomboy dragon stays as tomboy dragon.

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn
DUEL DUEL DUEL

actually, taking away our ranged capability and combat evocations, are we even that good at 1v1 stuff? Seems like most of our abilities are anti-army, and our blade arts seem mostly geared to killing shit as quickly as possible, which makes them less than ideal for sparring

>>44381919
we could 1v1 Talon when we at the same level

>>44381682
>1. Overseeing the morning’s drills with Ser Lynn

File: 033.jpg (513 KB, 1280x904)

513 KB JPG

Also, the Gauron map is here as I forgot to attach it to the last post (so you could see where the PoPs are for those who don’t recall).

>1.

With the noble ring around the keep still mostly empty, your men had taken to using it for their drills. The Black Dragon Knights had become as good as they were through relentless training as they built up their experience, and so they never missed a day to push themselves. There were a few hundred more knights joining them today, however.

You watched from the sidelines as Ser Lynn split the Darlesians who had joined in today with his more experienced Black Dragon Knights. It was always interesting to watch the small knight direct everybody – he was the smallest of all the BDKs, who tended to tower over yourself even. Still, nobody questioned his orders or ability – mostly because he’d remind them of his position relative to you in a spar if you did. A few Darlesians were still recovering off to the side after taking a shield charge for their insubordination.

The Darlesian were settling in well enough, which was likely helped by the face they’d been involved in recent campaigns to recover some of their own lands. The fact that the Taourans had eased off and focused on Vitria had made that easier on you. They still had a long way to go before they’d be a match for Lynn’s knights, however. Even Malaine’s more talented knights still found themselves eating dirt during most spars.

Oddly enough, Lynn was off on his own today. Normally he’d pick a knight and spar with them but today he was merely directing. You…

>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.
>2. Spar with him. Maybe he just wants a challenge?
>3. Continue to observe. He knows what he’s doing.
>4. Custom

>>44381958
That includes the rage mode, though.
A lot of our 1v1 strength is tied up in that, so any situation where we aren't going to use it means we're at a much lower effective powerlevel.

>>44381988
>>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.

Sup BroLynn?

File: GauronMap.jpg (831 KB, 2298x1998)

831 KB JPG

>>44381988
Right, Gauron Map, take 3.

>>44381988
>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.
Don't really feel like doing the macho bonding through sparring thing.
It just doesn't seem nearly as natural an approach for the more easygoing Saul.

>>44381988
>>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.

>>44381988
>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.

>>44381958
eh I meant not counting our trump card

like the context of the duel we had with Lynn as Talon where we got our ass handed to us but neither of us we serious as Talon didn't use astral and Lynn didn't use draconic abilities

>>44381988
>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.

File: 1438739269720.png (972 KB, 784x720)

972 KB PNG

>>44382049
>he was the smallest of all the BDKs, who tended to tower over yourself even
>who tended to tower over yourself even
>even

>>44381988
>1. Decide to join him and see how he’s doing.
depending on his answer
>2. Spar with him.

File: 035.jpg (267 KB, 720x1100)

267 KB JPG

Two things, first I’m probably not going to run for too much longer. I have a few other things I want to take care of today so I’ll probably finish up after another 2-3 more posts.

Secondly, I’m pretty sure I messed up the timeline by having Saul know what Lynn was – he didn’t realise Lynn was a dragon until Vitria IIRC. So just forget that part happened.

>1.

You’re not really the sort to just barge in and start a fight, so instead you make your way around the mass of sparring knights to speak with Lynn. He’s watching the training silently, but nods to you when he sees you approach.

“Good morning, general,” he says, his helmet enchantment still hiding his true voice. “The Darlesians are improving a lot, even if they’re not as diligent in their training.”

“It’s generally a good idea to have rest days between strenuous exercise to let the muscles recover,” you say.

“This isn’t exercise, it’s training. They’re learning skills rather than improving their physical capabilities,” Lynn says, though his tone is more correcting than admonishing.

Your lips quirk upwards despite yourself. It’s odd for you to say as such, but Lynn has a rather strange view of the world. Despite being aware that most were scarcely a match for him, he seemed to let them all blend together to the extent he compared the capabilities of his knights with the Darlesians.

>continued

File: 036.jpg (182 KB, 1000x682)

182 KB JPG

>>44382283
“Normally that would be so, but I don’t think the Darlesians have ever been pushed to this level by regular sparring,” you say, watching as Lieutenant Nate of Malaine’s crew barely manages to dodge a blow from a Black Dragon. “With that said, any reason you’re not participating today?”

Lynn looks sheepish as he places a hand on the back of his helmet, or at least as sheepish as somebody with a metal visor for a face can look. “I made the mistake of seriously sparring with Gnome earlier this morning when she wandered outside. I can still move reasonably well and keep troublemakers in line, but serious sparring with several damaged ribs isn’t good for my recovery.”

Giving him a surprised glance, you…

>1. Order Lynn to go find a healer.
>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.
>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.
>4. Custom

>>44382297
>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.

>>44382297
>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.

>>44382297
>>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.

>>44382297
>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.

>>44382297
>>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.

>>44382297
>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.
IC we're pretty sure Lynn's a dragon.
I don't see too much reason to behave as if we actually doubt "his" ability to accurately judge his physical limits and think we know better than "he" how much a dragon can take.

>>44382367
>IC we're pretty sure Lynn's a dragon.

Not yet, see Aspie's post right above

>>44382297
>3

>>44382297
>2.

>>44382297
>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.

>>44382297
>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.

>Secondly, I’m pretty sure I messed up the timeline by having Saul know what Lynn was – he didn’t realise Lynn was a dragon until Vitria IIRC. So just forget that part happened.

wait, so forget that he found out in Vitria and pretend he already knew before? Not sure this SoL has him implying he knows any better anyways

Oh shit, Aspiring Emperor Quest is back! I missed this so much! Aspirational, great to see you again! Merry Christmas!

>>44382430
It's a reboot with a different character and a slightly altered setting

I like this better though

>>44382430
talon's dead bro

long live the emperor

>>44382297
>>3. Leave Lynn to his own decision over healing – he’s a big knight, he knows how to take care of himself. Instead ask him how he fared against Gnome.

>>44382297
>2. Ask Lynn why he’s not just letting the training be while he gets healed.

File: 037.jpg (289 KB, 1200x502)

289 KB JPG

Rolled 1 (1d2)

2 and 3 are tied. Rolling to decide.

1 = Option 3
2 = Option 2

>>44382424
No, the SoL comment about Saul knowing Lynn was a dragon didn't take place. Saul probably just didn't respond to Gnome's comment so she let it lie.

The Vitria thing is more canon than the SoL thing.

File: 039.jpg (194 KB, 1280x640)

194 KB JPG

>3.

Well, maybe Lynn had some healing magic. You doubted he was putting his recovery in danger given he knew you were marching shortly. Despite only knowing him a short time the idea of him missing out on combat because he didn’t see to an injury quickly enough seems laughable to you.

“So, how did you do against Gnome otherwise? She’s rather effective with her ability to manipulate the flow of magic,” you say, having done some light sparring with Gnome as part of your training in flow reading.

Lynn gives you a long look, which you can’t quite read without seeing his facial expression. “Manipulating the flow? I did not use any magical abilities in the duel, however.”

You shake your head. “It’s not just that – she can read the flow of magic. That enchanted armour of yours is magical and therefore creates something she can read. The same can be said if you were passively using any magic to strengthen your body. Because of that she can read your moves in advance to a degree. That and she’s also really, really skilled – knowing centuries of martial arts has its uses.”

“That news… makes things better and worse at the same time. If she can understand magic like that…” Lynn seems to go silent for a while and you leave him be until he’s ready to talk. In the meantime you catch Nate flip over her opponent, using the flight enchantment in her armour to control her movement over him and deliver a blow to his rear. They were learning fast.

>continued

File: 041.jpg (456 KB, 900x569)

456 KB JPG

>>44382721
“To answer your question,” Lynn continues after some time, “I didn’t do all that well. I don’t have your nimbleness despite our similar sizes, so I tend to rely on raw strength to supplement my speed. Gnome seemed to see through that and always move in a way that would prevent me some doing as such. It just reminds me that I have a long way to go, even if I can defeat nearly any opponent.

“Speaking of which, when I am well I would look forward to a spar with yourself, General,” Lynn finishes and you feel that you’re being looked straight in the eye by the knight. “I witnessed your power when you fought that daywalker in the outer courtyard and would be honoured to test my own strength against yours.”

Oh dear, you think. Ser Lynn seemed to be a little too focused on your seemingly superior strength.

>How do you respond?

Next post will likely be the last of the thread unless something happens. Sorry it’s so short.

>>44382738
>"Maybe after we take Vitria

>>44382738
Well we can spar but I think you'll be disappointed, the daywalker was dealt with in a manner that's... Really not suitable to sparring. For several reasons.

>>44382738
I kind of lose a bit of control when I get really into it, I don't think it would be wise.

>>44382738
>I wouldn't mind a spar, but that wasn't strictly my own strength and I can't draw on it freely.
Basically, clear up this misunderstanding, because we really don't want to ever give the impression we were tacitly deceiving her, but also don't elaborate at all, because this is kind of private and it's good to be mysterious.

>>44382738
>I don't think it would be a good idea for either of us to go all out in a friendly spar
>suggest relaxed spar and tip exchange because we have complimentary strengths instead

Would be cool to see how we do given that we're faster than Lynn and have learned flow manipulation from Gnome, even without BDR though

although if Lynn thinks her strength with normal empowerment is on par with Saul's 3 min STR 7 BDR that's kinda scary shit

>>44382738
>"I look forward to it, though I won't be able to fight you like I fought the Daywalker"

>>44382738
>No offense, but we aren't similar size.

>>44382738
More or less this: >>44382827

>>44382738
Hey boss,
>>44379138

also, when's next thread?

File: 051.jpg (148 KB, 708x965)

148 KB JPG

>>44379138
Karrem is the only one without a modern analogue, because him being the PC had its own plot. Something similar may appear at some point. Gil and Myran are around - you actually saw Gil's actions in the original AEQ.

>welcome a spar but knock back the idea of using BDR, as it’s not your own strength

“I’m happy to spar but what you saw wasn’t strictly my own strength. I can’t draw on it so freely as to use it in a spar,” you say, choosing your words carefully. You don’t want to lie to Lynn but you also don’t want to use Lyria’s power so easily – for one thing, she might get annoyed if you draw on her just to show off.

Lynn’s quiet for a little while, clearly weighing up his response. “I see. Actually, no, I apologise – I should have known better to ask you to use that sort of fury in a spar. I know well enough myself that there is a time for everything.

“I look forward to our eventual spar, though I suspect it may have to wait until after we banish the vampires from our new lands to the north-east.” Lynn crosses his arm across his chest and gives a very slight bow before turning back to his knights and bellow out orders for the next training session.

Taking that as your opportunity to step away, you consider what just happened. Also, you try not to let Lynn’s confidence get to you – he may consider Vitria to be yours already, but you had to first take the city and then hold it against a vampire general you knew to be far superior to you.

Perhaps Lynn would get to see that power again soon, though you might need his assistance in using it.

>That’s the thread

Next thread on Sunday 27th December at 5:30pm EST. That’s a day later than initially planned and will resume the Vitria conquest.

I’ll be here for questions, but it might be a while before I can answer any.

My Ask is at https://ask.fm/AspirationalQM

>>44383023
thanks for the thread

is our origin story a major plot point / TWEEEEEST a la Talon or just something we're reluctant to explore and share with unfamiliar people? (ie will it take us hundreds of threads to find out or will we get more information as the story goes on organically?)

>>44383023
Thanks for running!

>>44383023
Thanks for running!

>>44383124
If I remember right, part of Talons origin was only a twist because he didn't know/remember it.
Up in the air on it being a major plot point though.

>>44383023
THanks for the thread!

>>44383162
well yeah but we never even had the option of asking or investigating because one of the few people who could answer wouldn't even give us the time of the day til we actually became a more significant world power

and it was pretty solid plot point (from a worldbuilding perspective, maybe it wasn't ever in the air from a meta quest stance) given that one of the most powerful watchdogs on Gauron has had an eye on us from our teens because there was the potential of us becoming a living WMD...I think? I can't remember too much about it anymore

>ctrl + f manlet
>no results
disgraceful

File: 058.jpg (903 KB, 1024x766)

903 KB JPG

>>44383124
Saul's background will come out relatively soon (as in, shortly after Vitria). It's not that big but he doesn't like to dwell on it and worries about how others will think of him because of it. It probably would have taken a little longer to come out but you did a couple of things to draw more attention to yourself - Saul doesn't have Talon's reputation but that doesn't mean he hasn't been noticed over time.

>>44383251
I'm sorry, I misspoke, I should have said Saul's origin

>>44383380
it's no fun without that one anon who gets his panties in a bunch everytime someone calls Saul a manlet

>>44383558
>manlet
you mean shrimpy?

>>44384177
Stop trying to force that.

Why is bullying so best?

When will manlets ever learn?

So I've been doing some thinking. We'll soon be coming up against a foe we don't stand a very good chance of beating in melee combat. How exactly do we beat him?

I came to the conclusion that the best way to beat him is to simply not fight him at all. Now, that's a bit more easily said than done, but hear me out. We can't beat him in melee combat, and we can't let him run around and cut up our dudes. With that said, how do we create a scenario where we can prevent him from running amok in our army?

I'd love to hear your ideas on it, as the best I can manage is "challenge him to single combat and then have Gnome imprison him in an earthen prison".

>>44384452
Double team him with Lynn, add more hero units as needed.

That's all I got desu

>>44384452
Knowns/reasonable assumptions about Volante: Daywalker, knight. Famous and known to Lyria and other known powers, so having a general idea of his abilities and statblock probably isn't too meta, especially given that Lyria has warned us off 1v1ing him repeatedly. Powers are of the Blood daywalker variant, which means insane regen and physical stats out the ass, but no shadow fuckery.

Saul's stats are 3/3/5 in Str/Endurance/Speed, with a 7 STR for 3 minutes if he uses BDR. For a guy as ancient and powerful as Volante a 7/7/7 spread may not be off the mark.

Actually, this is just a really really shit matchup for us overall. Gnome isn't at full power, and she's anti-mage. Mal's anti-mage. Lynn's our only other hero unit, and she's still weaker than Gnome, and none of our abilities really work against a guy like him.

uhhhh dig a hole and hope he falls in?

File: 060.jpg (61 KB, 491x799)

61 KB JPG

>>44384916
>Powers are of the Blood daywalker variant, which means insane regen and physical stats out the ass, but no shadow fuckery.
You've got Alenier feeding you what she knows of vampires, which means you get to learn as much as Talon, so I'll correct this.

Volante is a mix between shadow and blood. He's seemingly sealed himself into his armour with his shadow magic but is known to have strong regeneration - if nothing close to what Dalrec had. He does have shadow magic in battle. He's relatively young - first recorded to have appeared around a century ago, compared to Dalrec, Blackwater and Darian who are more around four to six centuries old, and therefore he's probably more reliant on technique than raw power.

>>44385003
man that's even worse

a martial who relies on technique and is fairly savvy due to being younger and less likely to be caught off guard like Dalrec, AND can use shadow fuckery like shadow blades or invisible swords et al. oh wait, Dalrec was blood. For some reason I thought he was shadow, but I was mixing him and Darian up.

Agree to an honorable duel and then lure him into a trap and gangbeat him with everything we have? Probably go full offense so he never gets the chance to use his regen since that's how we beat him with Talon. Reread that fight, cannot believe we didn't fail a single roll

>>44385259
Or we can just box him in and entomb that mofo with Gnome's Earthbending.

>>44385346
and slowly roast him to death while keeping him entombed. by heating the stone encasement and his armor, slowly broiling him alive.

>>44385346
>>44385366
I like this.

vaguely afraid of weaboo shit where he cuts apart the stone encasing him or gnome can't built it fast enough to contain him but if he frees himself we can always have gnome open up a deep shaft and drop him down that and just rain down fire and acid and magic on him from there. Or just have her drop the displaced earth on top of him to crush him with the weight of it.

>See if your regen can cope with the equivalent of a skyscraper being dropped on you, fucker

>>44385443
all you have to do is make the encasement form-fitting and have it restrict all of his limb movement. Preferably spread eagle. Then you add in the heavy encasement layers of stone and apply the slow-roast/heating process of cooking him alive. who likes Baked vampires the way a ground baked potato is made?

File: 066.jpg (111 KB, 970x547)

111 KB JPG

>>44385259
Yeah, the fight between Talon and Volante made him seem much weaker than he was - you were rolling DCs with 50% win chances and he had regen, after Talon had received significant buffs since the start of the quest.

>>44385346
>>44385366
>>44385443
>>44385510
If you're using Gnome's Earth Control directly on him (and 'around his body' is as close to directly on him as is possible) then he can resist it. Gnome still has to shape the magic, even if she is an elemental, and other magic users can therefore screw with the magic while its being shaped. Not to mention that people can still move while Gnome is summoning/manipulating earth should they detect her using magic. Also, Gnome can't heat things up.

Gnome can be effective in this fight, but 'open hole below him or cover him with rock mid-combat with no preparation' is fully resistable by a powerful magic-using and magic-detecting opponent.

>>44385575
The tactic for boxing him in and keeping him out of the fight (i.e setting up the MMA octagon ring) is still viable as an effective tactic of cutting him away from the army right? Because I was thinking that we use that and then while keeping him busy with a 1v1 in the octagon, we have our armies decimate his, once we complete that we somehow have Saul extract himself via flight and use the Star Wars Trash Compactor tactic to crush him, with the slow roast as a permanent measure.

File: 067.jpg (239 KB, 1020x613)

239 KB JPG

>>44385631
>The tactic for boxing him in and keeping him out of the fight (i.e setting up the MMA octagon ring) is still viable as an effective tactic of cutting him away from the army right?
You'd need to set up the ring in advance but it could keep him busy, though it still involves a head-on fight.

>somehow have Saul extract himself via flight and use the Star Wars Trash Compactor tactic to crush him, with the slow roast as a permanent measure.
Keep in mind that Volante is a lot stronger and fast, and has magic that would be reasonably effective against walls.

The other thing is that if you can't outright beat him, it's not a bad idea to just force him to withdraw. You haven't backed them into enough of a corner or built up enough of a reputation to convince them to 'die honourably in battle' instead of retreating or anything.

>>44385631
could challenge him to honorable combat inside a ring prepared in advance with high walls or a pit

and then just fly the fuck away once we're inside and bombard him from afar

actually a pit would work better since anti-wall measures wouldn't even work. Though I suppose he might have some bullshit shadow powers, or be able to use his shadow limbs to climb out or something

>>44385668
>force him to withdraw.
I am okay with doing this, I don't think we're strong enough yet to take him on

>>44385668
So in other words:
>Either show enough prowess that he'll sees a worthy opponent in Saul and consider wanting a 1v1 at a later date in which we spend the break period between the duel date powerleveling.
OR
>through our tactical genius and battlefield prowess, decimate his army hard enough to force him to consider a retreat since he can't one-man army a victory without his army support.
>>44385693
But I wonder what feat would make Volante retreat/see a worthy opponent in Saul?

>>44385763
(meta: I /think/ he wants to die? But die honorably in combat or something; makes sense given his ridiculous regen/survivability skills)

nah I think 'force him to retreat' is more like make him be like "fuck it, fighting this runt isn't worth it, there's not enough to gain here militarily/it isn't worth the effort'

we don't have enough of a reputation to be to grant him a worthy or notable death if he loses and I think 'backing him into a corner' means taking away all his military options so that the only choice he has is to take us on...which we prob want to avoid at this point

so, um, I guess we have to establish our control over Vitria and entrench ourselves, but also seem harmless enough and not show any interest in Trembin so that he just withdraws?

>>44386002
that could work, but it could also backfire horribly. Entrench ourselves and give our army the appearance of being so prepared that Volante would not have the balls to attempt to conquer it, or it would present Volante a juicy oppotunity target to get himself glory or die in a blaze of glory while dealing major damage to our army.

Use lynn as a meatshield. Fly around drilling him with magic lances. Have Gnome drop in as a surprise. Get more skilled at swordsmanship so BDR will be more effective.

This should work if we get him alone.

Why not get Volante to defect? Surely it wouldn't be so hard to appeal to his sense of honor, and we know Daywalker Knights are fucking tough bastards. If Felix is any indication.

I miss that crazy bastard, I hope he's hanging with Finn rolling 20s like the lunatic he is.

>>44387688
>In a world where Talon died
>Felix gets vamped
>Finn becomes his apprentice
>Together they murder anyone stupid enough to get in their way.

File: 068.jpg (223 KB, 1023x976)

223 KB JPG

>>44387688
>Why not get Volante to defect?
Right now you know nothing about him IC other than the fact he's an insane vampire knight with a penchant for killing generals and elite warriors.

>>44385575
>with no preparation
I see this as the key word here. Let's assume we prepare a sinkhole type thing before the duel, or perhaps while the duel is going on, but not focused on him, and we lead him into it. Would that be feasible?