>>1064715
>>Fight back

>>1064715
>Fight back

Mageblade mass poking

>>1064715
>Fight Back

>writing

You cross your arms and attempt to bear it. Just... don't react, and they'll stop eventually.

...

Screw it.

You push your chair back and pluck the Munchkin off of Stella's lap, then you place her on the ground.

"Oh, were we teasing too much? I'm sorry, I go-" Stella stops talking and squeaks as you lean down and throw her over your shoulder. Once she's up, she giggles and starts squirming. "Hey! Come on, put me down"

Ignoring Stella's pleas, you turn to Cheska.

"H-hey now, let's not do anything too ra-AAAASH" Cheska says, as you do the same to her.

You shift the two of them so no one is uncomfortable, and then look down at the Munchkin, who has been giggling this whole time.

"Honk stwong!" She says.
"That's right, Munchkin. I'm super strong" You say. "But I've also got places to be, so let's get out of here"
"H-hey, you're not gonna drag us around the castle like this... are you?" Stella asks.
"I'll put you down eventually" You say.
"I would just like to say that I do not appreciate this treatment" Cheska says, as she kicks her legs in a vain attempt to escape.
"Your protest has been noted" You say. "Let's go, Munchkin"

You walk out of the dining hall, with the Munchkin in tow. You're pretty sure everyone was going to meet up out at the front entrance, where the carts are. But it's not quite sundown yet, so they might still be in the courtyard...

>Head to the courtyard

>Head to the front entrance

>See if Emi is still in the library

>Other

>>1064761
>>Head to the front entrance

>>1064761
>Head to the front entrance

>>1064761
>>Head to the front entrance

>writing

"Where are we going anyway?" Stella asks.
"Everyone said they'd be meeting up by the front entrance" You say.
"Is it almost time for you to go?" Stella asks.

"Not quite yet, but I'd like to head down there a bit early" You say.
"Booo..." Stella says. "Fine, you can keep me like this. But you owe me a dinner when you come back"
"That's fair" You say.
"And I don't mean dinner at some average place. This is payback, so I expect fancy" She says.
"I can probably handle that" You say.

"Wait, I don't get a free meal?" Cheska asks.
"You started all of this, so no" You say.
"Darn..." You say.

"You upside down, Costella!" Munchkin says.
"Why yes, I am" Stella says. "Very observant!"

>1/2

As you keep walking, something in the corner of your eye catches your attention. You turn your head to see Stella's bushy tail twitching.

"I keep forgetting that you have a tail..." You say.
Stella giggles. "It doesn't really stand out like Cheska's or Ilica's. But I like it, 'cause it never gets in the way" She says. "Plus it's all stubby and cute"

"What are you talking about? This thing never gets in the way" Cheska says. "Don't lump me in with the dogs and cats. My tail is super useful"

To emphasize, Cheska reaches over and starts tickling Stella's back.

"Heh? Y-yuu, what are you doing?" Stella asks.

You hear Cheska stifling her laughter, as her tail comes up, and the two prongs pinch Stella's butt.

Stella lets out a squeak and brings her hands up to cover her butt. "Th-that's very innapropriate!" She says.
"It wasn't me" You say.
"No? Then wh-..." Stella trails off.

Cheska bursts out, no longer able to hold her laughter back.

"Why you..." Stella says.

There's a sudden tussle behind you, causing the girl's combined weight to shift all over the place.

"Guys, you're making it hard to keep my footing he-" You say, as one of them accidentally grabs your leg, causing you to fall forward...

>Roll 1d100

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>1064831

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>1064831

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>1064831

File: tumblr_inline_o26sj8hbp61(...).jpg (38 KB, 366x325)

38 KB JPG

>>1064836
>>1064862

>writing

You manage to free your leg just in time to stop the fall, though you still stumble forward quite a bit.

"Like I said..." You say.
"Sorry" Cheska says.

You sigh, and put the two of them down. Now that you can see their faces, you see that Cheska looks apologetic, while Stella has settled on more of an angry pout.

You look between the two of them. "Would it help if you got to pinch Cheska's butt back?" You ask.
"No..." Stella says.

You search around for something that might cheer her up, your eyes settling on the Munchkin. You pluck the rambunctious rabbit off the ground and offer her to Stella.

"How about a snuggle buddy?" You ask.
Stella accepts your offer, hugging the Munchkin close. "I'm still going to get back at you..." Stella says.
"Alright, alright" Cheska says. "What do i have to do"

Stella gives Cheska a malicious grin. "Whoever said you'd have to do anything?" Stella asks. "Just wait. My revenge will be apparent in time"

Cheska looks genuinely afraid, as Stella gets a satisfied smile and starts walking to the front gate.

"S-scary..." Cheska says.

You chuckle and pat Cheska on the back. "Come on" You say.

>1/2

>>1064924
Stella's dad is the master of the master monster slayers.

Cheska's fear is well placed.

You come out of the front gate, and see that you're definitely not the first ones here.

"You're late" Ilica says.
"The sun isn't down yet" You say.
"Everyone else is here" Ilica says.
"That doesn't make me late..." You say.

Derrick chuckles. "She's kidding. You all set?" He asks.
"Pretty much" You say, peering past him at the two carts waiting out front. "We're taking 2 carts?"
"Well, yeah. Unless you want to cram everyone into one..." Derrick says.

"We've fit a lot of people into ours before" You say.
"Not comfortably, and we still need room for supplies" Derrick says. "So Meyu brought his... Betsy... and he'll be taking the lead, since his cart's a bit more combat oriented than ours"
"Neat" You say. "Is everyone here?"

"I think we're just waiting for the Commander" Derrick says. "Once she gives us the go-ahead, we'll head out"
"Cool" You say, as you look around.

Meyu's crew is over by 'Betsy', doing some sort of cleaning. Ilica and Emi are both here, as is Hella, Lance, Fran, Lily, Daisy, Gabby... the knights are all here as well, along with Dustin and Sophia.

...

Pretty much everyone you expected to see is here, so you-

>Go say goodbye to the devils

>Talk with Ilica and Emi

>Talk with the knights

>Ask Meyu what he's doing

>See what Dustin and Sophia are talking about

>Other

>>1064977
>>Talk with Ilica and Emi

>>1064977
>>Go say goodbye to the devils

>writing

>>1064977
>>>Talk with Ilica and Emi

You stick around with Ilica and Emi, while Derrick heads over to the knights.

"Nervous, Emi?" You ask.
"I'm fine" She says. "It's just a little weird. We came all the way here from Contique, and now we're going back..."

"We were always going back" You say
"I know" Emi says,

Ilica leans forward. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" She asks.
Emi giggles and waves her off. "I'll be alright. I'm always careful" She says.

Ilica seems bothered by something...

"What's up?" You ask.
"Next time..." Ilica says.

You tilt your head.
"Next time you go off on some crazy mission, I'll be there" Ilica says. "I'm gonna train my butt off with Katherine, so I'll be ready"

You smile. "I look forward to that"

You bump fists with Ilica, and she seems to be in a better mood.

>1/2

You talk with Ilica and Emi for a little longer.

Ilica spends most of the time fretting over Emi. It seems like she's really worried.

"It'll be alright, Ilica" You say. "She'll have me there"

Ilica gives you a look that makes you feel genuinely stupid for saying that.

"Everything will be okay, Ilica" Emi says, as she slides down to her level and hugs the anxious Felid.
"Okay..." Ilica asks, as she returns the embrace. "Just don't beat them up too badly. I don't wanna hear that you went and got yourself a war name like 'bloody Emi' or something..."

Emi giggles. "That'll be the day..." She says.

You smile and step back, deciding to let the two of them have their moment and go see-

>The devils

>Dustin and Sophia

>The knights

>Meyu and his crew

>Other

>>1065090
>>The devils
Gotta say goodbye.

>>1065090
>>The devils

>>1065090
>>The devils

>writing

You walk over to where the devils are, and see that Hella, Stella, and Gabby are all there too.

"Yo" You say.

The devils run towards you, and you crouch to receive them.

"We'll miss you!" Lily says.
"I'll miss you too" You say.

"Heading off now, then?" Fran asks.
"As soon as Altea arrives, yeah" You say.

Fran smiles and steps forward to hug you and her kids. "Go show them what you can do" She says.
"That's the plan" You say.

Fran steps away, and Lance punches you in the arm. "You come back with all your limbs intact, you hear?" He asks. "And I mean alive. My girls are too young for me to have to explain death to em"
"Well I wouldn't be coming back if I weren't alive..." You say.

"Go give it to him, Gabby" Stella says.
"U-uuummm" Gabby says, drawing your attention back down.
"What is it?" You ask.
"I-I made you a thing" She says, holding out a small envelope to you.

You tilt your head and crouch back down, releasing the two devils for the moment so you can take her gift.

As soon as it's out of her hands, the little bunny retreats behind her cousin's legs. You chuckle and pop it open, dumping the contents into your palm.

It's a small, smooth red rock with a hole in it...

"What is it?" You ask.
"It's a lucky charm" Gabby says from behind Hella. "My daddy gave me it when I was little"

You look back down at the stone. Looks like the hole is for a chain...

>Thank you

>You keep it

>Other

>>1065181
>I'll give it back when I get back

>>1065181
This>>1065184

>>1065184
Thirding

>>1065184
Fourthing.

>writing

"Tell you what" You say, as you remove the chain that already hangs around your neck. "I'll keep this on me for now, and when I return you can have it back"
"Okay" She says.

You smile and unhook the back of the chain, slipping the red stone onto it. It slides down the chain and comes to rest next to the crest you got from Caiah. Then you clip the chain back together and put it back on your neck.

"There. Nice and secure" You say.

Lance looks at your chain curiously. "Where'd that other thing come from?" He asks.
"This? I got it from Caiah" You say.
"Caiah..." Lance says, like he doesn't recognize the name.

"The girl that saved me when I got stuck under the prison" You say.
"Oh yeah" Lance says. "What is it, though? It looks kinda like a knight's insignia"
"It's not. I've checked" You say.
"Maybe it could be" Lance says. "You're cruisin' towards your own knighthood at this rate"
"Maybe" You say. "But that can wait until after we've won"

Lance nods, and you turn back to Gabby.

"Do I get a hug, or are you going to hide back there all day?" You ask.
Gabby flinches, then runs out from behind her cousins and into your arms.
"There we go" You say.
"G-good luck!" Gabby says.
"How can I not have good luck with a charm as good as this one?" You ask.

Gabby smiles, but your attention is drawn to the gate behind you.

"Alright everyone!" Altea says, as she makes her entrance. "Finish up whatever you're doing and make ready"

>1/2

You finish hugging the children, and Stella, and Hella, and make your way over to where your small force is gathering.

"I assume by now everyone is aware of the plan?" Altea asks.
"We are" Derrick says.
"Excellent" Altea says. "Leaving now, you'll be arriving at Bell's Run well before sunrise, when our main force will be marching..."

Altea lays out the timings for you all. The advance cavalry of her force will be arriving first, early in the afternoon. It's not a large force, and it's one that could never breach Bell's Run's gate.

Your job is to have the gate open by then, and keep it open so they can charge through.

You'll be entering through the secret entrance supplied by Dustin. Your first order of business will be to take his mansion back from the Inquisition. Once that's done, the situation and your own discretion will decide how you move forward.

"Any questions?" Altea asks.
"Will there be bathroom breaks along the way?" You ask, earning you a chuckle from the group, including Altea.
"Glad to see you're in good spirits" She says. "Very well. You have 10 minutes. Finish up with whatever you need, and be ready"

10 minutes, huh?

>How do you spend them?

>>1065316
>>How do you spend them?
Kiss Stella.

>>1065316
Make sure we are not forgetting anything/check our inventory

>>1065316
Double check shit, use the bathroom in case we need to.

>>1065329
Second this

>>1065316
get our self situated in a cart

>>1065316
these >>1065329 >>1065335

>writing

>>1065316
Kiss stella

You take a few moments to double check your things, making sure you have everything. Once you're satisfied, you make your way over to the cart.

You spot Derrick laughing with the knights about something along the way, and while you're trying to figure out what's so funny you feel a tap on your shoulder. Turning to the source, you see Ilica.

"What's up?" You ask.
Ilica holds out her arms for a hug. "Did you think you were leaving without saying goodbye?" She asks.
"Didn't I?" You ask.
"Not to me..." She says.
"Oh, sorry" You say, as you step in and accept her hug. "I guess this is kind of important, because this is the last time I'll have to say goodbye like this"

Ilica giggles. "Definitely" She says. "So be careful. There are still lots of places I wanna go with your guys"
"You can count on me" You say.

Ilica pauses, and then rubs her cheek against yours. Then she switches sides and rubs your other cheek too.

"Now go get 'em" She says, as she releases you and steps away. She has a nice smile on her face, and you can't help but smile back.
"Yeah" You say.

>1/2

>>1065445
>Ilica pauses, and then rubs her cheek against yours. Then she switches sides and rubs your other cheek too.

You'll kill someone with all this diabetes

You sit down in the cart as everyone else goes about their business, eventually getting bored and fiddling with your mageblade.

As you toy around, Emi, Derrick, and Cheska all join you.

Before you can say anything, Altea appears in the back doorway.

"Are you all ready?" She asks.
"Yep" You say.
"Alright" She says. "I'm counting on you guys for this. If we ever want to defeat the legion, then Lubars must be united"
"We can handle it" You say.

Altea smiles. "Good luck" She says. "When Meyu's cart leaves, you'll be following"

She steps out, leaving the 4 of you alone.

>Ask why Ilica would rub her cheeks on you

>Ask what Derrick thinks of Ilica's plan

>Keep to yourself and watch out the back door

>Other

>Ask why Ilica would rub her cheeks on you

>Ask what Derrick thinks of Ilica's plan

>>1065490
>>Ask why Ilica would rub her cheeks on you

>>1065490
>Ask why Ilica would rub her cheeks on you

>Ask what Derrick thinks of Ilica's plan

>writing

"Hey..." You say.
"What's up?" Emi asks.
"Is there a reason why Ilica would rub her cheeks on me?" You ask.

Emi looks surprised, but then she leans in and sniffs you.

"Ohh..." Emi says. "That's interesting"
"What is?" You ask.
"Lemme smell" Cheska says, as she leans in and sniffs you as well.

"Why is everyone smelling me?" You ask.
"Because the kitty cat marked you" Cheska says.
"... marked?" You ask.
"It's like a Felid's way of saying... uhh..." Emi says.
"It's a Felid's way of saying 'this is mine'" Cheska says. "I guess that bunny's got some sharp competition..."

...

"Get it? Sharp? Because she has claws?" Cheska asks, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Ahh, screw you guys. I'm hilarious"

>Why would she say that?

>Competition?

>So I smell weird now?

>Move on to something else

>Other

>Why would she say that?

>>1065588
>>Why would she say that?

>>1065588
>>Why would she say that?
My god.

>>1065588
>Why would she say that?

We should aim for the Felid Master Race

>>1065615
This

>writing

You tilt your head. "Why would she say that?" You ask.

Cheska cracks up and starts to laugh.
You scowl. "What's so funny?" You ask.
At your question, Cheska laughs even harder.

Emi laughs nervously at the scene in front of her. It only ends when Derrick finally pipes up.

"Oh, here we go" He says. "Everyone seated back there?"
"Yes" You say.
"Alright..." Derrick says, as the cart lurches forward. "Man, it feels like it's been forever since I've sat in this thing..."

"Remember how cramped it was when we came from Bell's Run?" Emi asks. "You, me, Yuu, Ilica, Hella, Tian, Ari... all crammed in here"
"Much roomier this time" You say. "But seriously..."
"All right, all right" Cheska says. "It means the kitty cat likes you, and wants anyone with a sharp enough nose to know it"

"Sh-she does?" You ask. "But she always seems so... annoyed"
"That's just how she is" Emi says. "And I've certainly noticed her softening a bit recently..."

"How so?" You ask.
"People get that way when life teaches them not to trust others..." Emi says. "I guess we've gotten through to her a little"
"She definitely seemed happy" You say.
"She did" Emi says.

You look out the front of the cart. There's a long way to go, so for now you'll...

>Hang up front with Derrick

>Practice your mageblade

>Ask what it means to 'like' someone

>Other

>>1065758
>>Practice your mageblade

maybe get some roofchats in with Emi.

>>1065758
>>Practice your mageblade

>>1065758
>Practice your mageblade

>>1065758

>Ask what it means to 'like' someone while you practice with your mageblade

>>1065758
>>Hang up front with Derrick
>Ask what it means to 'like' someone

>>1065758
>Practice your mageblade
Gotta git gud

>writing

>>1065758
>Hang up front with Derrick
While
>Practice your mageblade

Rolled 29 (1d100)

"Well, if you guys don't mind I'd like to get some practice with my Mageblade in so I don't get rusty" You say.
"I don't mind" Cheska says
"Go right ahead. You'll need to be in top form when we arrive" Emi says.

You smile and nod as you pull out your blade.

You've come pretty far with this thing, from barely being able to make something solid, to the sharpened energy stream you have now.

But compared to Tian, you have a long ways to go. And compared to Terry, you're even further behind.
Your mind goes back to when you came face to face with him in Mortifas, and he effortlessly extended his place, splitting it and curving it so many times without even blinking to destroy the controls... compared to that you've barely even started...

But you have time. So you activate your blade, and examine it.

It's sharp enough for anything you'd need it for, so you don't have much to do there. It's also solid enough to take most of the punishment it's been dealt. Plus you couldn't see yourself doing much more with it's shape until you can master your own mental state.

So that's what you decide to work on.

You place the blade in your lap, close your eyes, and focus.

>roll 1d100 with focus

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>1065873

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>1065873

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>1065877
Best roll.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>1065873

>writing

>>1065873
Could we practise turing it on and off quickly in midswing? I feel like one of the advantages of Mageblading is that it doesnt have to be solid all the time...

You block out your surroundings and try your best to think of absolutely nothing. This was something Tian showed you a while back, and it seems to work for her...

"Hey" Cheska says, poking you twice in the arm.
"Stop that, he's trying to concentrate!" Emi says.
"But he just put down the blade" Cheska says. "How's he supposed to practice with the blade if he isn't holding it?"

Emi sighs, as Cheska pokes you a few more times.

You open your eyes and turn to Cheska.

"Eh heh heh... heya" She says.
"Please stop" You say.
"Fiiiine" She says.

"Umm... Yuu?" Emi asks.
"Mmm?"
"Were you trying to meditate?"
"I was" You say. "Why?"
"I could give you some pointers on it, if you'd like" Emi says.

>Maybe later, I'm gonna hang with Derrick

>Maybe later, I'm gonna bully Cheska

>That would help

>Other

>>1065954
Sure, go for it.

>>1065954
>>That would help

>That would help

>>1065954
>>That would help

>>1065954
>That would help

>>1065954
>That would help

>writing

Rolled 69 (1d100)

"That would help" You say. "It will also help if Cheska wasn't poking me"
"Sorry..." Cheska says.

Emi smiles. "Pointer number one would be to relax your face" She says.
"My face was relaxed..." You say.
"No, you had your brow all furrowed like you were concentrating" She says. "So start by closing your eyes and relaxing"

You nod and shut your eyes.

"Good" Emi says. "Now, don't try to think of nothing. Just stop trying to think"
"Those aren't the same?" You ask.
"When you're trying to think of nothing, you're thinking of trying to think of nothing" Emi says. "It's something that you allow to happen, rather than something you force"

...

"I don't think it's working" You say.
"Well obviously not, if you're only going to give it five seconds..." Emi says. "It takes time, and you have to give it time. Try again"

>Roll 1d100 with focus
>+5 to roll, +1 to focus threshold thanks to Emi's advice

Rolled 87 + 6 (1d100 + 6)

Rolled 98 + 6 (1d100 + 6)

>>1066005

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>1066005
Time to git gud

Rolled 86 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>1066005

Rolled 55 + 6 (1d100 + 6)

>>1066005

>>1066007
>>1066008
>>1066009

We gitten gud.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>1066005

>writing

You settle into your chair and do as Emi says.

"Let the feeling come to me... huh?" You mumble.

You smile and relax yourself. It's worth a shot.

...

This is much easier than you thought it'd be. If only everything else could be this easy.

Come to think of it, you could probably apply this same logic to your mageblade as well as your mind. You've been forcing the energy through it for so long, you're kind of curious to see what'll happen if you use it more like this...

You open your eyes, still feeling relaxed, and pick your mageblade up.

Instead of making the energy go into it, you think about what you want to happen, and then let it happen. Your soul naturally flows through your hand into the blade, extending it quickly to its full length.

It seems different this time... somehow more even. Like before your power would go into it in spurts, causing it to flare up occasionally. This seems much more natural, as the blade is recieving a steadier flow of energy.

You smile and look around to see that Emi and Cheska are both taking a nap. Disappointed that no one was awake to witness your accomplishment, you set your mind back to work.

That's all for tonight!

Next thread will either be tomorrow or Friday.

As always I'll be sticking around for question/suggestion time.

Also, since I forgot to put it in the post above, your focus range is now +/-6 instead of 5 like it used to be

>>1066063
Great thread, Smiley!

>>1066063
Thanks for running Smiley

After continuing your practice for a while, you find yourself getting bored. So you put your mageblade away and step up to the front of the cart, taking a seat next to Derrick.

Derrick acknowledges your presence with a nod, keeping most of his focus on the road. It's now well and truly dark out, making it difficult for him to see. Meyu's cart has lights on it, so you're following them.

You stretch out and settle in. "How much further?" You ask.
"I think we're about halfway there" Derrick says. "We're making good time, too. I just wish I could see..."
"Could we put lights on this cart, like the ones they have?" You ask.
"We could. It'd take some fiddling, but it's possible" He says. "On 'Betsy' the lights are just mana devices that are hooked into the engine, with switches to turn each individual set on or off. Not a complicated system, but it'd take time"

"Maybe after we take Bell's Run" You say.
Derrick nods. "Yeah" He says. "So, you learn anything new about your weapon?"
"I found a new way to put the energy into it that's a lot easier and more efficient" You say. "Not a huge change to its effectiveness, but it frees up my focus for stuff like shaping"
"Nice" He says. "Emi's lesson on meditation help then?"
"It did" You say.

"Well that's- oh, hang on" Derrick says. He puts his foot down and the cart comes to a sudden stop. "They've stopped..."

You look ahead at Meyu's cart. You can see movement from the shadows in the back window. Hard to tell what they're doing though...

>Go up and check

>Go up and knock

>Take turns guessing

>Other

>>1072871
>>Go up and check

>Go up and check

>>1072871
>Go up and check

>writing

"Think there's a problem?" You ask.
"Well, it's not a pee-break since nobody's getting out..." Derrick says.

"Hey, what's going on? Why did we stop?" Cheska asks.
"Dunno" You say, as you hop out of your seat. "I'm gonna go find out"
"Tread careful. We don't know what's happening, it could be anything" He says.

"I'm always careful" You say.
"No you're not" Derrick says.

You chuckle and step up to the backdoor of Meyu's cart. "Everything okay in there?" You ask, as you turn the door handle
"Yeah it's just- no no don't open the door!" Meyu shouts.

As soon as the door is open, a brown blur shoots for freedom. It kinda looks like...

No... it couldn't be...

>roll 1d100

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>1072968

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>1072968

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>1072968
ono

>writing

Just now realized that I've been posting without my trip...
Not that they're a necessity here with IDs and all,

The blur dives past you, trying to get out of the cart and away.

It's fast, but you're faster. Your hand darts out and grabs the rambunctious little critter by the scruff, then brings it up in front of your eyes for examination.

"And just how the heck did you get here?" You ask
"Merrerr" Vivi growls as she struggles to get away.

You turn away from her, to the people in the cart. "You guys, same question" You say.
"I have no idea" Meyu says. "One moment we were talking and everything was fine, then we hit a bump and all of a sudden she was out, teeth and claws going for anybody who got close"

Speaking of teeth and claws, this is starting to hurt...

"I think she might have crawled under the seats for a nap when nobody was looking..." Madelaine says.
"How did nobody notice this?" You ask.
"Well, if I'd known I was supposed to be on watch for kittens I probably would've looked for her..." Meyu says.

Vivian sinks her teeth into the hand you're holding her with, hard enough that you almost drop her...

"Alright, that's enough from you" You say as you remove your hat and hand it to Madelaine. "Hold this"

Madelaine takes your hat, and you take off your cloak. Then you wrap it tightly around the angry Felid, allowing you to hold onto her without bleeding.

You hold the now burrito-like kitten out in front of you. "Just what are we supposed to do now?" You ask.

>Ask Derrick for advice

>It's too late to turn back...

>Someone should take her back

>Send Coral to Locke to let them know

>Other

>>1073060
>>Someone should take her back
This. We can't sacrifice the mission, and we CAN'T bring a toddler/infant into this, but we CAN spare a single person to return the child to her parents, who are probably sick with worry.

>Send Coral to Locke to let them know

>>1073060
>>Someone should take her back
>Send Coral to Locke to let them know

Sprite will get them faster so they know it's not a kidnapping.

>>1073086
This

>writing

"I'll send Coral back to Locke with a note for them to let Katherine know where Vivi is. She's probably worried sick" You say.
"Good ca-... hang on. Did you say Katherine?" Meyu asks.
"Yes" You say.
"As in... that Katherine?" Meyu asks.
"I... probably" You say. "Is something wrong?"
"No, it just explains quite a bit" He says. "Makes sense that her child would be every bit the pain in the ass her mother is..."

"What? Vivi's-... okay, nevermind" You say.
"Mrow" Vivi says.
"Well you are being kind of a pain right now" You say. "Hell of a place to take a nap"
"Mew..."

"We can't exactly wait here for a reply" Meyu says. "And I'd rather not bring a baby into a fight..."
"Someone should take her home" You say.

The adults all look at each other, and then at you.

"Glad you volunteered" Meyu says.
"What? Why me?" You ask.
"Because you're the only one who knows how to deal with this creature" Meyu says.
"But if I go, Cheska has to come too" You say.
"We'll be fine" Meyu says. "If you run, you'll make it back well before sunrise"

>Talk this over with Derrick

>Can't someone else go?

>I'm sure there's some way to keep her safe

>Other

>>1073173
>>Talk this over with Derrick
Goddammit.

>Talk this over with Derrick

>>1073173
>Talk this over with Derrick

Uggggghhhhhh..

>writing

>>1073173
>Other
Have Dustin watch her. He's not going to be fighting anyway.

You frown. Coming all this way just to head back seems counterproductive to you...

"Gimme a sec" You say, as you turn and head back to your cart.

"So that's what it was..." Derrick says. "How the hell did she get here?"
"Madelaine thinks that she crawled in and layed down for a nap" You say.
"So what do we do?" Derrick asks.
"They suggested that Cheska and I bring her back" You say. "Then we can march here with the bulk of the main force"

Derrick furrows his brow.

"Could we leave her with Dustin? It's not like he'll be doing any fighting" He says.
"Maybe, if Dustin could actually keep her in one place" You say.

Derrick reaches out and takes the bundle from you, holding it at arm's length. "You picked a hell of a place to take a na-"

Vivian growls and starts to struggle all of a sudden, to the point where she almost drops out of Derrick's hands. You quickly reach over and take her back, and she immediately calms back down.

"What is with you?" You ask.
"Mew"
"I don't know what kind of answer I was expecting..." You say.
"Let me see" Emi says, as she takes the bundled kitten. Like before, Vivian starts to freak out, and Emi hands her back. "I thought so..."
"What?" You ask.
"It's not her. It's you" Emi says.
"What about me?" You ask.
"You smell like a Felid" Emi says.

You reach up and touch your cheek, looking back down at the contented bundle.
"Is there a way to transfer that smell?" You ask.
"Not unless you have the glands for it..." Emi says.

You sigh.

>Ask Dustin if he can handle the crazy cat

>Ask Cheska how she feels about running

>Ask if you could take the cart

>Other

>Ask Cheska how she feels about running

>>1073299
>Ask Dustin if he can handle the crazy cat
Don't split two people off from the party.

>>1073299
>>Ask Dustin if he can handle the crazy cat

>writing

This freakin cat
And those cucks in the other car, trying to make yuu go back

"I could always see if Dustin can handle it..." You say. "I'll be back"

"Mrow" Vivi says.
"Just you shush" You say. "This was a simple operation until you showed up..."
"Mew..."
"Not that I blame you" You say, as you scratch the little Felid's head. "You didn't know where we were going"

Vivi purrs.

"New plan" You say. "Maybe"
"Maybe?" Meyu asks.
"Dustin, come here for a second" You say.
"What is it?" Dustin asks.
"Here" You say, shoving the bundled kitten into his arms.

Dustin takes the bundle with some confidence, showing in the first few seconds that he know more about handling children than Derrick or Emi. Until Vivi starts hissing and struggling.

Dustin seems to be handling himself just fine... until Vivi gets an arm free and starts scratching.

"Holy crap, how angry is this girl?" Dustin asks.
"Try scratching her head" You say.
"If I try that, I'm likely to get scratched" Dustin says.

You frown, and grab the bundle back from them. Like before, Vivi calms down almost instantly.

"Just like Emi said..." You say.
"Well, it's up to you, kid" Meyu says.

>Keep going, I can keep her safe

>I'll take her back

>What if she were asleep...

>other

>>1073429
>We must all make sacrifices, Dustin. Give him the cat.

>>1073429
>>What if she were asleep...

>What if she were asleep...

>>1073429
>What if she were asleep...
She's a cat, use our mageblade as a laser pointer and tire her out.

>>1073429
Locate wild catnip with your super demon vision.
Acquire it.
Bring it back.
Problem solved

>writing

"Let's keep moving" You say. "I'm gonna try and get her to fall asleep, then we can try this again"

Meyu nods, and waves for everyone to get back in the cart. Madelaine trails behind.

"Something wrong?" Meyu asks.
"Is it alright if I ride back there with them?" Madelaine asks.
"I don't see why not" Meyu says. "We should get moving. This unexpected surprise's delayed us too long"

You nod, and head back to your cart with Madelaine.

"What's the plan?" Derrick asks, leaning over the wheel of the cart.
"I'm gonna try and put this one down for a nap, then see if Dustin can handle it" You say.
"What's Madelaine doing here?" Derrick asks.

Madelaine checks behind her to make sure the doors on the forward cart are closed. "There's only so much old man talk that a girl can take" She says. "If I had to hear them talk about the 'good old days' one more time..."
Derrick chuckles. "Well, you're certainly welcome back here" He says. "Hop in. I don't think they'll wait for us to catch up if we fall behind"

>Ride up front with Derrick

>Sit in the back

>Other

>>1073511
>Ride up front with Derrick
We need to be the eyes, after all.

>>1073511
>>Sit in the back

>>1073511
>>Ride up front with Derrick

>>1073511
>Sit in the back.
Use the laser pointer

>Ride up front with Derrick

>writing

>>1073511
>Sit in the back

Madelaine heads into the back, while you take your seat next to Derrick.

As the cart starts to move, you unbundle Vivi from your cloak so you can put it on.

"Now, how do I tucker out this endless fluffball of energy?" You ask.

...

"Mrow"
"I wasn't asking you for suggestions" You say. "Actually, before I try anything, could someone write a note for Coral to bring back?"
"I can" Emi says.
"Thanks" You say. "Now, back to the task at hand..."

You lay Vivian down in your lap, where she squirms and kicks.

Looks like she's got a lot of energy... you may have your work cut out for you here.

>roll 1d100

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>1073591
nat 100

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>1073591
SLEEP

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>1073591

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>1073591

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>1073591

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>1073591

>writing

"I don't suppose any of you have experience with kids..." You say.
"Not really" Derrick says.
"Not even a little" Cheska says.
"Mrrrrow" Vivi says.

You sigh and look down at Vivi, who smiles and puts her foot in her mouth.

"Okay... let's try this for now..." You say, as you lower your hand into her abdomen and start scratching.

This does not have the calming effect you were hoping for, as she latches into your finger and playfully bites it.
That could work...

You start actively playing with the rambunctious kitten, trying to make her expend as much energy as you possibly can...

After a while, you can see that it's not working all that well. The only reaction you get is a growling from Vivi's stomach.

"Mew"
"I don't suppose we brought any baby food along, did we?" You ask.
"No, but she should be fine with soft stuff" Emi says, as she digs into the bag with all your supplies. "In fact, we should all proably eat something"
"I'm down for that" Cheska says, as she peers into the bag alongside Emi. "What do we have in there anyway?"
"Mostly trail stuff, but there's... cake?" Emi asks, as she pulls out a container. "Did someone pack away leftover cake from the party?"

"Who packed this stuff anyway?" Madelaine asks.
"I think Miss Fran helped pack ours... but why would she send cake?"

Vivi starts to chew on your finger.

"Please hurry. I think I might be on the menu..." You say.
"Yes, sorry. Here"

>1/2

After eating a fairly good meal, consisting mostly of various leftovers and cake, you settle back and continue trying to put the mischievous cat to sleep.

Except now it seems like she has even more energy than before...

"Maybe we should've tried starving you out..." You say, earning you a swat to the face. "Ow"

You take a breath, and continue trying to tire the little felid out. If Coral were still here, you could try using her by getting Vivi to chase her around the cabin...

That gives you an idea...

"Somebody switch" You say, picking up the kitten and heading into the back.

Madelaine takes up your seat in the front, while you take the empty bench.

"Have something in mind?" Emi asks.
"I do" You say, as you pull out your mageblade.

You activate it, quickly making sure it's completely blunt before waving it around in front of Vivian.

Her eyes lock on like a predator, and she pounces up. But you quickly pull it away, forcing her to twist in midair so she can land on her feet. Once she's on the ground, she prepares to pounce again...

>roll 1d100

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1073729

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>1073729

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>1073729

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>1073729

>writing

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>1073729
Rolling for what could've been

>>1073786
It could've been great

You smile as you bend the mageblade out of the way, figuring you might as well get some practice out of all this.

You keep playing with the little kitten, whipping your blunted blade all aroud the cabin to make her chase it. Whenever she catches it, you either shut it off, or split it to confuse her.

You start to find that you're enjoying this. Vivi is very genuine. When she catches the blade, she looks like she's on top of the world. When it disappears, her confusion is clear. But all the while it's clear that you're both having fun.

After what feels like a long time, she rolls over into her back. No longer able to muster up as much energy, she can only lazily paw at the glowing red mageblade whenever it's within arm's reach.

"Aww, is somebody tired?" You ask, feeling very pleased with yourself.

You don't get a response, so you lean down and scoop her up, removing your cloak so you can wrap her up again.

"There. All comfy?" You ask.

Your response comes as a constant purr, as the road suddenly becomes bumpy. You rock the kitten to sleep as you turn to the front of the cart.

"What's happening?" You ask.
"I dunno. Feels like we've pulled off the road..." Derrick says.

You step up so you can look around. You're definitely not on the road anymore. Does that mean you've arrived?

Looking down, you see that your goal of putting the kitten to sleep has payed off. It took a while, but it worked...

>Tap on the other cart with your mageblade

>Test to see if someone else can hold Vivi now

>Ask how long it's been since you stopped

>Other

>>1073837
>>Ask how long it's been since you stopped

>Test to see if someone else can hold Vivi now

>>1073837
>>Test to see if someone else can hold Vivi now

I'll be taking a short cooking break. I'll get back to writing when I return

>>1073837
>Test to see if someone else can hold Vivi now

>Ask how long it's been since you stopped

Back, and
>writing

"Alright, now the test" You say, as you pass the sleeping kitten to Emi.
Emi takes the bundle, and it doesn't stir.

"Success" She says.
"You almost seem disappointed" Cheska says.
"Well... I was having fun" You say. "Plus it made good practice"
"Think maybe you'd want a couple kittens of your own some day?" Cheska asks jokingly.

"That wouldn't be so bad..." You say, looking down at Vivi.

Cheska looks surprised. "I was joking" She says. "But... I guess now I can tell that to the cat"
"I wonder what she'd say..." Emi says.
"She'd probably just turn beet red and try to change the subject" Derrick says.

Emi nods. "Yeah, that sounds like her" She says.
"Well thanks for ruining the fun, guys" Cheska says. "Why would I tell hr this now that I know how she'll react"
"She might surprise you" You say. "By the way, how long have we been on the road?"
"Long enough" Derrick says. "That's why I'm pretty sure we're there now..."

You look east, in the direction Bell's Run should be. You can see the walls.

"I can see it" You say.
"You can see it?" Cheska asks.
"Yuu can see things most people can't" Emi says.
"I'll say..." Madelaine says, as she looks east as well.

The cart in front of you stops, so Gerard can get out and head over to you.

"We've arrived" He says. "How's the baby?"

>1/2

>>1074121
We should ask emi what baby serpids are like
I bet they're really cute...

>>1074142
We know bunnies are damn cute as well.

"So you managed to tucker the poor thing out, huh?" Meyu asks.
"It wasn't easy..." You say.

"He had his mageblade going for like 2 hours" Cheska says. "It was entertaining to watch, though"
"Still got the strength to fight?" Meyu asks.
"I'll be fine" You say.

Meyu nods, motioning for Dustin to speak.

"Alright, up ahead is the cave that leads to the entrance. It used to be a part of the gold mines, which is why there's a road leading to it" Dustin says. "It's been abandoned for a while, but some smaller monsters can makes nests inside. So be cautious"

You nod, and the group makes their way up to the cave's entrance.

Looking inside, you immediately catch something shifting within.

"There's something in there" You say.
"Like I said, small monsters-"
"It's not small" You say, as you draw your mageblade.

"Well, it ain't standin' in our way" Meyu says, as he brandishes his own oversized sword.

>Draw it out

>Go attack it

>Try to get a better look

>Other

>>1074175
>Try to get a better look

>>1074175
>>Try to get a better look

>>1074175
>Try to get a better look

>>1074175
>>Try to get a better look
maybe it's not an angry thing....

>>1074175
>Try to get a better look

>writing

Can I just say that, if that Holy Order moron, Storm, is there, I'd love to finally punch him in the face. Either that, or watch Meyu swat him aside with the same hilarious ease as last time.

"I'm gonna go in and try to get a better look" You say. "Try to keep the baby away from the cave"
"We'll try, but if she wakes up..." Emi says.

You head in, straining your eyes to see in the cave. It's not that you can't see, it's just hard to make out the actual shape of the creature.

When you're a lttle ways inside, you finally manage to make something out. It looks kinda like Emi... well, her lower half anyway.

Does that mean it's a snake?

The creature turns its head towards you, and begins approaching in absolute silence. Man, if you couldn't see it, you would be boned right now.

Also, it's definitely a snake.

You get the distinct feeling that turning and running would be a bad idea, so you start backing away.

Which was probably a mistake, as the giant snake rears back and lashes out with lightning speed.

>roll 1d100 with focus

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>1074265

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>1074265

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>1074265
R-r-r-rev up those 1s!

>>1074265
But where's the focus roll

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>1074305
Here. I keep forgetting it

>writing

>>1074314
Nice, looks like we're focused!

At least we hit the focus

Your eyes widen as the way through becomes clear.

In one stroke, you activate your mageblade and strike off one of the creature's long teeth. They look a lot like Emi's fangs, so it's safe to assume there's some venom in there...

The creature reels back in pain as you close the gap, blade poised for a thrust.

The snake recovers more quickly than you expected, trying to strike again with it's remaining fang. But just because you're well out of range for a regular thrust, that doesn't mean you're out of range...

You raise your off hand and fire a soul bolt into the creature's open mouth, staggering it long enough for you to extend your blade forward into its face.

The blade pierces the creature's head right between the eyes, going into where you assumed it's brain is.

...

You hope its brain is there. It would be unfortunate if you expended all of this effort for nothing...

You breathe a sigh of relief as the creature drops dead, straightening up as soon as you hear the others coming up behind you. You notice that at least a few of them are carrying lights, as the cave begins to brighten.

"Nicely done, boy" Meyu says. "Not everybody can take on a death serpent"
"A... death serpent?" You ask.
"Well they call them that because not everyone can take them on, and those that can't, die" Meyu says.

"Makes sense to me" You say.

Meyu looks over the dead serpent's head. "And you didn't pierce its sacs either..." He says.
"Is that good?" You ask.
"Well, under normal circs we'd stop and harvest the venom" Meyu says. "It fetches a pretty price on certain markets, but these aren't normal circs..."

>We've got a bit of time...

>You harvest, we'll go on ahead

>Let's keep moving

>Other

>>1074385
>You harvest, we'll go on ahead

>>1074385
>We've got a bit of time...
Could be useful to have some poison for a backup.

>>1074385
>You harvest, we'll go on ahead

>We've got a bit of time...

>>1074385
>>You harvest, we'll go on ahead

>writing

"How long will it take?" You ask.
"It's fairly big, but with the proper equipment it would take about 5 minutes" He says.
"But you don't have the proper equip-"
"No, I don't have the proper equipment" He says. "Without it we won't get as much, and it'll take about 20 minutes"

"That's fine" You say. "We'll keep going, you can hang here and harvest"
Meyu nods. "Hey Gerard. I need to borrow you for a bit"

You continue up the cave, leaving Gerard and Meyu behind for the time being.

"We'll be passing into range of Bell's Run's barrier soon, so we won't have to deal with anymore monsters" Dustin says.

"You could like... put a door at the entrance to keep these things out?" You ask.
"No, and you'll see why in a moment" He says.

You continue until you reach the end of the cave.

"A dead end?" Derrick asks.
"No" You say. "This is a door, isn't it?"

Dustin looks surprised. "How can you see that?" He asks.
"I have very good eyes" You say with a smile. "And what is that?"

You walk over to an odd looking stone outcropping. It doesn't really stand out, but to you it looks important.

"Maybe I should bump up my security..." Dustin says.
"I wouldn't worry about it" Derrick says. "Yuu's eyes are more than just good"

"Alright... well, if you'll stand aside. Underneath that rock is the device that will let me communicate with my retainer..."

>1/2

Thinking about that snake, wouldn't odds be good that he and Sophia would've had to deal with some monsters on their way out? And they don't strike me as the fighting types. Which begs to question how the two of them made it all the way themselves. Or maybe I'm just overthinking things or forgot something.

"Why is this taking so long?" Cheska asks.
"I'm not sure" Dustin says. "Could be that he's not able to get past the Inquisitors..."

"So this is a bust?" Derrick asks.
"He's never failed me before..." Dustin says.

"How did you guys get out past that snake?" You ask. "It looked kinda like it had been there for a while..."
"Oh, we didn't leave through this exit" He says. "Believe it or not, I'm still the lord of this place. I left through the main gate"
"That makes sense..." You say.

Before you can say anything else, the stone door starts to shift. It slides back into a socket, and then to the side to reveal a plain wooden door.

The wooden door then opens, to reveal a blue devil that looks to be about 20, dressed in a maid's clothes. Her eyes are shut, and she gives a light bow.

"Tania? Where's Desmond?" Dustin asks.
"Desmond could not attend to you, my lord. So he sent me in his stead" 'Tania' says. She finally opens her eyes to take in the group. "If you'd like, I can bring you to him"

>We can take it from here

>Sure

>Other

>>1074591
>>Sure

>>1074591
>Other
>>"Desmond could not attend to you, my lord. So he sent me in his stead" 'Tania' says.

Did something happen? we'd probably better know before we head in.

>Sure
What could go wrong?

>>1074598
Anon "other" means a write in

>>1074591
>>Sure

>>1074591
>Sure
>Play it calmly, but keep an eye out for any traps. We don't know what may have changed since Dustin was here. No need to clue Tania in though on that we are suspicious.

>writing

You can't help but get the feeling that something is off, but you decide to play along for now.

"Sure, take us to him" You say with a smile.

You turn to Derrick, and wink at him with the eye that Tania can't see. Derrick seems to catch your meaning.

"Yeah, it's been a long trip" Derrick says.

Tania bows again, and walks away. You follow after, and the group follows after you.

"We didn't expect you home so soon, my lord" Tania says. "If we'd known you would be returning, we would have prepared"
"It was sort of a last minute decision" Dustin says.

Tania leads you up the stairs from what looks like a cellar. The path leads through a second secret entrance concealed in a large barrel, and then into the mansion proper.

This place is nicer than the castle in Locke. The walls are pure white, and the lights are all in fancy holders. Underneath your feet, the carpet is soft and red. It almost makes you feel bad that your shoes are so dirty...

When you reach a section of hallway with no doors, Tania stops.

"B-before we go any further... I would just like to say-" Tania turns and gives a deep bow. "I am very sorry. But they have my family. I-"

From doors further ahead and behind you, several groups of inquisitors flow in. They form up quickly, blocking off your escape routes.

>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place

>So many hats!

>Let your blade do the talking

>Other

>>1074688
>>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place

>>So many hats!

>>1074688
>>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place
>>So many hats!
MUST COLLECT ALL THE HATS!!!

>>1074609
Uh, yeah. I WROTE IN, to ask about what happened.

>>1074688
>>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place
>>So many hats!

>>1074688
>>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place
>>So many hats!

>>1074688
"Is this ANOTHER surprise birthday party? You guys shouldn't have."

>>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place
>>So many hats!

>>1074688
>Thank Tania for gathering them all in one place

>So many hats!

>writing

>>1074710
Kek

>>1074751
On a serious note, if the inquisition is holding family "ransom", especially a devil's, they're probably already dead.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

You put a hand on Tania's head, and ruffle her hair. "Aww, you brought them all here in one place for us?" You ask. "How thoughtful of you"

You tighten your grip on your blade, but before you can activate it, Derrick tugs you arm. He catches your eye and shakes his head.

"Huh?" You ask.
"We can't take them all. Not with Vivian..." He says.

You look to the bundle currently in Emi's arms and frown. Then you look around at your group. You have Dustin, Zaine, Emi, Derrick, you and Cheska...

"Emi, give Vivi to Dustin. Zaine, can you block off one side?" You ask.
"For a while..." Zaine says.
"A while is long enough" You say, as you turn towards the inquisitors blocking the front.

Behind you, you can hear the wall going up. Emi reinforces it wit ice, and then everyone follows you.

"Hey mister, is it okay if I burn your house a little bit?" Cheska asks.
"I'd really rather you didn't..."
"I'll take that as a yes" Cheska says, as she steps up beside you. The heat coming off of her is immense...

You smile again. Time to bring that heat.

>roll 1d100 with focus

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>1074818

Rolled 92 (1d100)

Time for BAD END!

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>1074818

>>1074825
>>1074829
Wrecked bois. All the hats.

File: 1414882613264.jpg (54 KB, 600x522)

54 KB JPG

>>1074829
Wrekt

File: 1458280189099.jpg (24 KB, 570x574)

24 KB JPG

>>1074829

>>1074825
Time to collect those hats

>writing

You activate your blade and surge forward. The inquisitors have such a tight formation, but you can see that they've given themselves very little room to move.

You take advantage of that by firing a trio of soul waves into the front line, forcing them into the back line.

With no room to maneuver or dodge, it comes as no surprise when your first strike hits true. Your blade, feeling unusually flexible, whips out and extends around a shield, stabbing diagonally down into an inquisitor's neck.

You hop back as the rest of them column is lit up by Cheska. The flames don't seem to take as well as she was hoping, as they're blown off by a rush of wind...

Wind indoors?

You look to the back to see a row of mages further back, giving support to the forward fighters...

Good thing you noticed them now, since it looks like they're all ready.

>Try to fight through them

>Have Emi and Cheska blind everyone with steam

>Back off and defend

>Other

>>1074928
>>Back off and defend
We have a babby

>>1074928
>Have Emi and Cheska blind everyone with steam

>>1074928
>Have Emi and Cheska blind everyone with steam

>>1074928
>Have Emi and Cheska blind everyone with steam

>>1074937
>Point laser pointer at head mage's face.

>writing

You can't just try to fight through. If one stray spell gets through and hits Dustin...

You shake off the thought. When today is over, Bell's Run will be yours, and you'll deliver that little rascal back to her parents yourself.

"Emi! Cheska! I need steam!" You call out.

"Gotcha!" Cheska says.

Without another word, the hallway fills with a sudden burst of steam. It's incredibly warm and sort of relaxing, and it stops anyone from seeing more than 3 feet in front of them

Anyone with normal eyes, that is.

You dash forward, jumoing up and landing with a foot on an Inquisitor's face. Using him as a springboard, you launch yourself straight at their backline.

Doesn't seem like they were expecting you.

One of them manages to fire off a dark spell, launching about a dozen tendrils of shadow at you. You deftly evade them, before spinning around and nailing him in the side of the head with your foot, knocking him out.

Another tries to run, and you bean the back of his head with a soul bolt. He falls down.

A female inquisitor brings her claws to bear on you. No luck. You've just spent the last 4 hours dealing with claws, and you can say with confidence that you're now an expert on the subject.

The last 2 go down even quicker than their comrades, letting you turn your attention on the unguarded backs of the other inquisitors.

>1/2

Within minutes, the ambush has been taken care of. When the steam cleared and the guards could see again, you had already cut down their back line. And when they could see, everyone else could see.

They never stood a chance.

You look over at Dustin, and see that Vivian is still asleep. You must've done a good job tiring her if she slept through all that...

Tania cowers against the wall, clearly afraid that you'll all turn on her for betraying you.

You ignore her for now, and head over to Derrick.

"Nicely done. Good thinking on the wall and the steam" He says.
"The wall is still there?" You ask. "I thought for sure that they'd've torn it down by now"

"It didn't seem like they had many mages in their group" Derrick says.
"None that could bring down my wall, anyway" Zaine says. "Though from the sounds of it, that hasn't stopped them from trying..."

You hear light thuds coming from the other side, which subside after a few seconds.

Then they're replaced by a loud 'boom' that practically shakes the hallway.

"Shit... maybe I spoke too soon" Zaine says.

>Wait and see what comes out

>Bring the wall down so we can face them

>Let's leave

>Other

>>1075095
>>Wait and see what comes out
Have Dustin, Emi, and Cheska leave with the babbeh
>Let's leave

>>1075095
>Wait and see what comes out

>>1075095
Everyone, prepare to combine spells against whatever is on the other side

>>1075095
>Other
make a small hole so you can see what theyre doing. theyre probably aiming at the center so, off to the side.
We should probably clean all these guys up so they cant alert anyone else before the gates open.

>>1075095

>Bring the wall down so we can face them

>>1075095
>Wait and see what comes ou

>>1075095

>>1075109
by way of
>>1075131

Also to Tania: We'll just pretend you knew we'd do that, okay?

>writing

You walk back to the wall. Passing Tania along the way, you put a hand on her shoulder. She flinches at the touch.

"We'll just pretend you knew that would happen, okay?" You ask.

Before she can respond, you keep moving.

"Any idea what it might be?" You ask.
"A few, but there's no way to tell" Zaine says

"Dustin, Tania, Emi, get some distance" You say. "Emi, be ready to shield if things get rough"
Emi nods, and the three of them head back behind the beaten inquisitors.

You stand your ground at a safe distance, as the crashing grows louder.

After another three hits, the wall noticeably cracks. Then the cracks widen, and the wall explodes outward, pelting you and everyone nearby with rocks.

You raise your arms to guard your face from the barrage, lowering them as it ends. You look through the sizeable hole to see-

"Meyu?" You ask.
"I leave you guys for 5 minutes..." He says, as he tosses an inquisitor through the hole. "Here, got you a present"

The inquisitor lands on the ground with a thud, and he quickly tries to scrabble to his feet. Cheska is quick to stop him with a foot planted firmly on his chest.

"J-just what do you people think you're going to accomplish?" The inquisitor asks. "When the King hears of this-"
"The King?" You ask, as you step closer. "This city doesn't belong to him anymore"
"Wh-who are you?" He asks.

You crouch down next to him and smile. "I am Yuu. These are my friends" You say. "And as of right now, Bell's Run is ours"

That's all for tonight!

Next thread might be tomorrow, depending on how certain things go.

As always I'll be sticking around for question/suggestion time!

>>1075271
Thanks for running Smiley

>>1075271
Great thread, Smiley!

The Inquisitor starts to laugh, handily ruining the mood.

"The city is yours?" He asks. "Do you have any idea how many of us there are here?"
"At least 35" You say. "I'm gonna go with 36 or more, since there's at least one more of you if you're laughing like that..."

"Hundreds" He says. "You really think you can take us all?"
"I somehow doubt you could fit a hundred of you in this mansion..." You say.
"I dunno, it's a pretty big mansion" Cheska says.

The inquisitor sneers. "You, your buddy, your mercs, your demon whore. You're all dead" He says.

Cheska's eye twitches, and she turns to you. Her face is a mask of thinly veiled anger, and her question is clear.

>Fine, do it. Just don't wake the baby

>Hold on, let's let him talk some more

>Other

>>1081539
>>Fine, do it. Just don't wake the baby

>>1081539
>>Hold on, let's let him talk some more

>>1081539
>>Fine, do it. Just don't wake the baby

>>1081539
>>Fine, do it. Just don't wake the baby

>writing

You sigh. "Fine" You say.

Cheska smiles, and turns her attention back to the inquisitor. But you stop her before she can do anything.

"Just... don't wake the baby, okay?" You ask.
"I can manage that" Cheska says.

The inquisitor opens his mouth, and Cheska shoots a small bolt into it. For a moment he looks confused.

"What was-"
"Sorry~ gonna have to plug that hole. Baby's here, so we can't have you screaming" She says as she covers his mouth.

Suddenly the inquisitor's chest glows, and he lets out a muffled scream. It only takes a few seconds, and then Cheska releases him. Smoke comes out of his still open mouth...

"Holy fuck, woman" Meyu says. "You couldn't have snapped his neck, or slit his throat?"
"That was his lesson not to call the girl with a foot on your chest a whore" She says.

"Well congratulations, he's dead" Meyu says. "Now what?"

Cheska stands up and stretches out, looking like she feels a bit better now. "Now we find his friends" She says.
"And where do you propose we start looking?" Derrick asks.

"I'll let you guys do the thinking. Call me when you need someone burned" She says.

>Ask Tania if she knows anything

>Ask Dustin if there's anywhere in the mansion they might be

>Ask Meyu about strategic spots in the city

>Other

>>1081597
>>Ask Meyu about strategic spots in the city

>>1081597
>>Ask Meyu about strategic spots in the city

Makes the most sense.