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As you head West, closer towards the capital in the heart of Odo, roads are paved more smoothly, you see Order soldiers more frequently, and Zlatan goes on and on about how safe it is to live around here. "You see, yes... We have not been mugged or mauled by bears once since we went further inland! This country is young yet, but she is... Growing up fast, yes. And an alliance with Noba of all places will only advance that, yes!"

You and Leigh notice Irene not particularly paying attention to him talk, however, and you ask her quietly, "hey, something up?"

She nods, taking a moment before starting, "it just... Left a really bad taste in my mouth to leave Cailean and that mage from Dain over at Disler Outpost... Who knows how the order's gonna treat them, as the sole survivors of their respective groups?"

"Well, what were we going to do? Lug them around with us?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right, it's just... I'm a bit worried for their safety. I have no idea what Odo's justice system is like..."

Overhearing, Zlatan absolutely helps the situation by turning back and saying, "wondering how they'll be punished? Well, we cannot be soft on rebels now of all times, yes! I figure the Disler boy will get his just deserts, yes."

"Desserts?" Leigh asks in response to 'deserts.'

"I said that, yes. Dain girl, though... Hard to say. Depends on how we want relations to be with Dain after this war. Currently out of my hands, yes."

You think you see a wyvern and two pegasi's wings flap up in the distance, swooping back down beneath some trees moments later.

>A. Participate in the conversation (write-in dialogue)
>B. Just keep hanging here
>C. Go on ahead
>D. Just point it out to the others
>E. Write-in action

>>45503374
Vote time renewed.

>>45503374
>D. Just point it out to the others

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>>45503654
"Uh... You guys see that?" You ask, pointing out the woods. "The, uh... I saw pegasi and wyverns over there. Swooping around, looked like it could've been a fight."

Une, Sheena, and Calof all nod, indicating that, yes, they totally saw it, Calof asking, "so... Do we investigate?"

"Of course," Irene says, "if there's a fight, it might be between rebels and Order members."

"Right right, yes... It is our duty to help!" Zlatan says. "Get in good by saving someone..."

The lot of you head into the woods from there, the advance led by Yancy and Yulea, with you, Leigh, and Irene shortly behind.

"That's..." Yulea notes, hurriedly riding forward as she and Yancy recognize the people involved.

Riga, aided by a pair of Falcoknights, one of whom's mount's wings is wounded, grounding her, fight a small band of Groznyi members (you'd say about 8, mostly Berserkers, one healer leaning against a tree and examining her nails, one archer of no particular esteem, getting annoyed that her allies or the trees keep messing up her shot).

"Damned outsiders meddling in our affairs! Hurry up and die so we can tell Dain to fuck off, too!" one of them shouts out, swinging his axe at the grounded pegasus before being cut off by a hand axe being swung into his neck, returning to Yulea as all eyes follow the weapon back to her hand. Yancy, nearby, brandishes a sword and tome atop her own horse.

"Urgh... well, this is shit timing." The archer's eyes and aim darts between several targets, and the healer backs away from your groups.

The five remaining axe guys get close together, looking at your lot and Riga's.

Irene and Leigh step forward.

>A. Sit this one out
>B. Attack someone (specify who and if with magic or not)
>C. Write-in action

>>45503926
Renewed again.

>>45503926
>B. Attack someone (Berserker, magic)

>>45504258
You open up a tome and immediately magically drain one of the resistance-challenged axe-wielders. Best to waste a bit of essence rather than reveal your Wampyrism even wider than it needs to be.

A bit of basic Elwind is let loose from one of Irene's many tomes, and Yancy and Yulea hurry and bash heads the old-fashioned way. The healer hurries forward, waving her staff for one of her wounded friends, only for Yulea to grab her in her free hand. "Hrg... L-let me..."

"C'mon, Sal, let's just... Give up. Better than bein' dead, right?"

"If..." The healer closes her eyes and sighs. "Yeah, you're right."

Riga, nearby, notices that archer twirl her arrow and pull it back, ready to squarely strike Yulea, but instead being piked by her and her two pegasus-mounted subordinates. The sight causes the healer to pass out and berserker to cringe, unable to recover as he too is swooped up.

As her subordinates get the surviving pair restrained for ease of transport to the capital (Yancy, nearby, makes quick effort to heal the wounded pegasus up), Riga dismounts from her wyvern and gives you a wave. "What a sight for sore eyes we have here. We probably could've managed without your help, but it's appreciated anyway."

>A. Like hell she could've
>B. Be silent
>C. Ask why she's out here
>D. Write-in response

>>45504457
>C. Ask why she's out here

>>45504579
"So, uh... What brings you all the way out here? I thought you were a bodyguard."

Riga's head tilts to one side as she talks, idly cleaning off her weapons and sitting next to her wyvern. "Yeah, well, Phineas and Demeter aren't gonna be going on explorations for awhile, so I'm back to doing regular military stuff for Duchess Victoria. Me and my girls here were just out on a bit of a patrol when we found these rebels camped out in these woods. Attacked us on sight."

Leigh asks next, "so you're here for the war stuff?"

Riga's arms fold in front of herself as she shuts her eyes and nods. "Pretty obvious. See, rebels and Dain soldiers could be anywhere remotely close to the city now..." She opens one eye. "Nice job with Disler Outpost, by the way." Her fists ball up. "I only wish I coulda been there to cut those kidnapping bastards down myself..."

"Well, I assure you, revenge was... Not remotely satisfying," Irene says, somewhat somberly.

"Yeah, that's what most people tell me." Her head slumps back as she looks at the treetops. "Zlatan's not being too troublesome, is he?"

"No, no, no, yes. They are keeping me quite in line!" He assures her, joining the conversation almost... Abruptly, from the shadows, and giving everyone a little scare.

Anyway, after that, you're talked into calling it an early night, setting up camp in those very woods.

>A. Spend time with someone (specify)
>B. You mostly stood around all night (Skip ahead)
>C. Write-in action

>>45504757
>A. Spend time with someone (Leigh)

>>45504789
Leigh stays up with you as long as she can, both of you just... Taking a few moments to stand around and enjoy nature. You've left all your things behind in your tent, and take a second to take in the scent of nature... It's not particularly pleasant, unlike the aura of a cool snowy evening, and there's damned bugs everywhere, and you'll be pleased to return to civilization.

"Eheh..." Leigh chuckles good-naturedly at your being a bit of a bug magnet, and you're thankful you can barely feel, that you have the reflexes to quite literally pinch anything that comes near you between two fingers. You feel a small bit of essence every time you do this, and wonders if this means you've been eating bugs all night long.

"I mean, it makes sense... Esmer's cat was turned into a Wampyr, you know. Hear he's already become a bit of a mascot back in Phile's castle town."

"Neat," you say, not particularly caring about this piece of trivia.

>A. Discuss something further (specify)
>B. Skip ahead
>C. Write-in response

>>45504969
>B. Skip ahead

>>45504998
Eventually, Leigh heads back to your shared tent, and you spend the remainder of the night half-paying attention to your surroundings.

The next morning, Riga and her subordinates, their own things and prisoners in tow, say, "we'd love to travel with you, but... Yeah, three fliers make better time than a whole mercenary crew. See you back at the capital?"

"Right," Irene responds. "The rest of us still need to finish packing up anyway, Riga."

"Yes yes, packing and going," Zlatan says, "we are slow... Not hyper-trained military people like you."

"Laying it on a bit thick, Zlatan," Riga says. "...keep it up next time, though. I eat up praise."

After her trio+their prisoners leave, you get to helping get everybody and the stuff together.

"Uh... We've got a bit of a problem, Lloyd," Leigh says, still searching all across your tent, opening and shutting bags, etc.

"A... problem?" You don't like the sound of that, fairly obviously.

"It's... Gone. Not here."

>A. What is
>B. (Guess what she means)
>C. Write-in response
>D. Say nothing

>>45505147
>B. (Guess what she means)
Staff of the Wampyr?

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>>45505279
"The Wampyr staff?!"

Still rooting around, she says, "I have no idea where it..." Leigh pauses. "Riga. No wonder she left so soon! I bet she took it while we were waiting around outside!"

"But..." You tap your chin. "How would she know that we had this unless..."

After relaying this tale to the rest of Marrius' Group, your client says, "let's... Not jump the gun with our speculations, yes? Are we right on the money? I don't think there's anyplace else it could be... But still, we must hear it from the wyvern's mouth, yes?"

Irene nods. "I... Don't want to assume that Riga has fallen under Paula's control again either. She said she was headed back to the capital, right? I say we... See what's going on there, ask her about this before pointing fingers."

"Right, yes, right! If we make double time we should get to the capital before tonight, even!" Zlatan says. "So come on, we must pack what was not stolen three times twice as fast, yes!"

As you all do so, Ansi ends up pulling you and Irene aside to ask, "so are we ABSOLUTELY sure it was Riga and her cronies who stole these?"

>A. You didn't see anyone come into the camp...
>B. You don't see how it could be anyone else
>C. It's just a theory
>D. Fairly certain
>E. You want to hear it from her first
>F. Be silent
>G. Write-in response

>>45505453
>A. You didn't see anyone come into the camp...

>>45505500
"Well, it wasn't bandits." You say. "I was paying attention to the area around the camp, and I think you guys would've reacted to anyone suspicious showing up..."

"With the way things are now, it's just the likeliest answer," Irene adds. "It... Doesn't mean I want to believe it."

Ansi is intensely silent for several moments after that. "So that's how it is. Anyway, let's move out."

As Irene agrees and goes to check on something else, you say to Ansi, "I know that tone... You've got an idea."

"A fuckin' crazy idea, but an idea anyway..."

"Care to share it?"

Ansi shakes his head. "I'll save it for when I've got something more to go on... Let's just hurry the fuck on for now."

>A. Demand answers!
>B. Let him be vague and cryptic
>C. Write-in response

>>45505629
>B. Let him be vague and cryptic

>>45505714
"Fine, fine... Not like you to keep your little thoughts to yourself is all."

With that, the conversation comes to a close.

Later, as you're traveling, getting ever closer to your destination, you feel someone suddenly and roughly grab your shoulder. Turning around and barely avoiding draining the hell out of whoever it is, you see that it's Ansi.

"Ansi, the hell is it now?"

"...you're right, I figured out. It'd be fucking stupid if I just kept this suspicion to myself and then got 'disposed of' or some shit."

"Right, so... You're going to tell me your hunch?"

To this, Ansi whispers a single word. "Zlatan."

When the person in question glances towards you, Ansi's demeanor becomes more relaxed and fluid and bombastic. "Yeah, dude, fuckin'... Jolie and I, we're doing great. Her Dad's a scarier motherfucker than I am, so talking about marriage's been tough, but I figure we'll break the news to him soon."

"Er..." You blink, taking a moment to adapt to the sudden conversation change, but getting a strong feeling you should play along.

But what do you say?

How do you word this without it coming off as extremely artificial?

>A. Nod silently
>B. Write-in response
>C. Slip out of the conversation
>D. Say nothing. Do nothing.

>>45505861
>A. Nod silently

>>45505979
You just... Nod awkwardly.

"That non-reaction... Does my love life really mean jack shit to you, dude?!"

"Uh..."

"I mean, I get it, I do." He starts walking backwards in front of you, not missing a beat in his tirade. "Maybe the topic of marriage just ain't your thing because you're too chickenshit to propose to Leigh!"

"Ansi, you know we're preoccupied with-"

"'Preoccupied with?!' Bull shit! You'll always have some shit or another to be 'preoccupied with,' but unless you are literally far as fuck away... Go the-I suggest you go the fuck ahead and try to make it work!" He clears his throat. "Almost, uh... Gave you a really nearsighted command there."

"Yeah, and you caught yourself. Now would you stop embarrassing us?"

"Embarrassing. EMBARRASSING."

"Embarrassing," you repeat in deadpan.

After that, he glares at you awhile before tripping over a small hole in the ground. He clutches his ankle for a moment. "Ah... Fucking shit that smarts..."

"Certainly the swearing one, Ansi is!" Zlatan calls.

"So you noticed!" You shout back.

Ansi gets himself off the ground, rubbing his ankle and sighing. "I'm fine, thanks for helping me up. Fucking tits this is gonna sting awhile..."

Ansi swears to himself a lot as you all travel along. It's... Actually pretty funny.

Right as you reach Odo's capital's gates, Leigh asks him, "why didn't you just summon a mount when you first tripped?" Her amused grin tells you she thought of this hours ago.

>A. Laugh
>B. Be silent
>C. Write-in response
>D. Skip ahead a bit

>>45506107
>A. Laugh

>>45506186
You laugh, more than a little amused. Ansi is... Really not-on-the-ball today, it seems. Your laughter is joined in by the rest of the group and several guards standing by the gates.

"A-anyway... You and your friends're clear to come in, Zlatan," one of the sky blue-clad guards says, the other one signalling to people on the opposite side to open it up.

"By the way," Irene asks the guards on the way in, "the leader of the Noban support in this area... That would be Riga, correct?"

The guard nods. "Yeah, why? Friend of yours?"

"Yes, actually. Could you point me to wherever she's staying?"

"I, uh... I'm not really supposed to, but Zlatan seems to trust you, so what the hell." Irene receives an answer. Apparently the Noban soldiers in Odo are being treated VERY favorably by their hosts, at least in the capital, as they're being put up in a quite historically-significant building close to the House of Odo, the Order's center of operations. It's a large building built as a Noban embassy during the days of the Gerxel Empire (before things ended... Very, very poorly during that nation and that empire's brief time coexisting).

"These days it's mostly used to hold grand events, or put up high-priority guests... Such as theirs truly, obviously. Hasn't been an official embassy since before DAIN existed, though..."

"Thank you for the history lesson," Irene responds.

>A. Explore the town a bit
>B. Head right to the place in question
>C. Stand around by the gate like an ass

>>45506443
>A. Explore the town a bit

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>>45506640
You decide not to just... Intrude on the former embassy, but instead take a little while to look around the city.

You mingle with folks a bit, find a merchant to see the sort of things they have in stock... MAYBE see if any interesting items were moved through here?

"...interesting items?" The vendor, an Anna, in one shop asks. "That's a... pretty bold question to ask a keeper who has her wares all out and in the open." Her eyes shift around. "You're not an investigator, are you?"

You overhear a hushed conversation on the other side of the shop between two men.

"I mean, honestly. Can't even have a damn drink without the law telling me I've bought enough. All part of a spirally process to take all our freedom, man."

"You're just bein' paranoid, mate," the other one replies. "Maybe you should lay off the stuff if cuttin' back makes you think like this. It's really not good for ya."

"Yeah, but... Shit, put a lid on it, it's Gerfried."

One of the sky blue-clad Order soldiers, a dark-haired man of impressive size and build, enters the vendor with a blonde-haired, somewhat mousy-looking Noban archer.

"Anna!" The man shouts out. "Inspection."

"Certainly, sir Gerfried. Check away."

As the knight and the archer walk around the premises, the former-Sir Gerfried, apparently-bumps into you when he isn't looking. "Hey, watch where you're..." His expression hardens, and he forms a rectangle with both of his hands' index fingers and thumbs, looking at you through them as he backs away, arms outstretched. You can't help but notice the tip of his left finger being... Not there. "Wait... Don't think I've seen your face before. You with the Nobans?"

"I can confirm he is not with us, Sir Gerfried!" The archer stands tall and responds quickly.

"Well, Regula, I didn't ask you. I wanted to hear it from Stranger here."

>A. He recognizes EVERYONE in town?
>B. Really not his business
>C. Answer
>D. Lie (specification allowed)
>E. Don't answer
>F. Write-in response

>>45506920
Vote time renewed.

>>45507149
And renewed again.

>>45507367
Vote time, once again, renewed.

>>45507606
...guys?

>>45507833
Eh, I'll give it... Ten more minutes before I start an endpost. You can still post after that time but before the update's posted, naturally, but.

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>>45506920
You don't answer, or... Reply in general, really. Not for several moments again.

Gerfried says it again. "Are you deaf or something?" He blinks. "I mean, uh... Sign it to him, Regula, he might actually be deaf."

"...huh?" You shake your head, finally snapping out of it. "Sorry, I spaced out there a second... I'm Lloyd, part of Marrius' Group. Mercenaries. I swear I'm usually more astute, but... We've been walking all day, and I have a bit of trouble with being out in sunlight."

"Alright, alright," Sir Gerfried says, "we didn't ask for your life's story."

"...wait a moment, sir Gerfried," that woman, Regula, says. "Looking at him now... I've seen this man before. He just had... Glasses, and a beard."

You blink confusedly, and Gerfried says, "ah... Explains why he looks so out of it if he can't see a thing."

You shake your head, eyes widening as you react a bit. "Wait... Me, but with a beard? When did you..."

"You were with those knights from Neir visiting the duchess in Ennas, remember? Ladies Ellen and Zoe? You... said your name was Wes back then."

"Wait, you're with Neir?" Gerfried cocks an eyebrow. "Then why did you say you were a mercenary?!"

"No, no, that was my Outrealm counterpart... He REALLY shouldn't be out and about right now, though..."

"Uh huh, a likely story!" Gerfried isn't about to listen. "Regula, fetch more guards. I don't like it when I'm lied to..."

So... You've been arrested for a frankly stupid reason, but during the act thereof, you figure it's... Best not to resist arrest, let alone when you're already semi-secretly a wampyr.

Seriously, though, what the hell is Shea thinking, having Wes traveling all over Teege? You're gonna need to pay Ennas a visit after you're done here...

Takes all damn day to be done.

>To be continued next thread

Thanks for playing. Update Twitter and ask.fm are qmgrandflocto. Hope you guys enjoy Fates' being released, by the way. Really not my cup of tea, but I won't rain on anyone's parade.