File: Bri with Kat.png (262 KB, 905x897)

262 KB PNG

>>1189967
"Mother," the cowering younger woman starts to protests; she gets a glare and shuts right the hell up.

"Cowerin' behind an old lady," the grandmother sniffs, before turning her attention back to Kat. She pokes the flattened shadow with her cane again. "What kinda talkin' monster are you? I ain't seen a shadow talk before."

"I'm a shadow," Kat answers.

"I can /see/ that!"

"That's the name! We don't have another one!"

"I guess it'll do. What're you doin' in my town, shadow?"

Kat catches the next jab of the cane and ices it over, pointedly stopping the thick sheath of frost just before it touches the old woman's hand. "Stop hitting me," she says quietly. "It's rude."

The frozen-over cane is inspected, and then its tip is set into the dirt. The grandmother waits for Kat to explain herself with a new expression of respect.

"I came for the festival," Kat says, brushing her body off. The absence-of-darkness face she puts on sketches itself out, looking somewhat irritated. "I was having a good time until I accidentally scared your daughter. I didn't mean to. I was /trying/ to behave and now you've gone and probably attracted the -."

"What's going on here?" comes Captain Marsh's voice.

"Them," Kat finishes, with a sigh.

"Captain, this horrible monster is loose -" the daughter begins, only to get an ice-coated cane whack to the side of the shin.

"Marsh, if I need justice I'll do the same thing I do when I need eggs - send a boy out to get me some," the old woman snaps. "I don't recall anyone askin' for you."

"I -" Marsh straightens up. This /is/ his jurisdiction, damnit. "I received reports of a monster loose in town, and came as quickly as I could. Have you subdued the creature?"

"I have a name," Kat mutters, sullenly.

> Keep letting her handle it
> Now really is the time to step in
> ...Who the fuck /is/ this old lady?
> Write-in?

>>1190091
>> Now really is the time to step in

>I can explain everything, I accidentaly'd a thirdborne

>>1190091
>> ...Who the fuck /is/ this old lady?

> Keep letting her handle it

Clearly, the old lady's got this. We'll step in if it looks like Marsh isn't going to take "Bugger off" for an answer, or the old lady looks like shes going to actually seriously try to hurt Kat.

>>1190137
I will second this, I want to see the reaction. Go in great detail while explaining our daughter wasn't trying to be scary.

>>1190164
Forgot the vote to help along this.
> Now really is the time to step in
though I am curious as to how the hell she knows what Kat is, but we can save THAT line of questioning for when the authorities aren't in the vicinity...or at least hearing distance.

>>1190091
>...Who the fuck /is/ this old lady?

>>1190091
I'm kinda torn between letting Kat take care of this herself (consider this a taste of what she can expect from most of the Firstborn), and supporting this >>1190137

>>1190227
>>1190139
Didn't you read Vox's post? She's this towns resident Ferocious Old Lady. Every town has one.

>>1190137
thirded

>>1190311
Yes, we understand that, but you still have to know what *kind* of Ferocious Old Lady you're dealing with.

>>1190091
> Keep letting her handle it

I think the old lady has it well in hand.

>"Captain, this horrible monster is loose -" the daughter begins, only to get an ice-coated cane whack to the side of the shin.

From the look of things, she knows nonsense when she sees it too.

We're still watching and waiting, and our cane has a sword in it if we get into a cane duel.

Called, writing.

>>1191512
Alright, I'm going to be honest here, it's not happening tonight. I'm going to crawl into bed and update in the morning.

>>1190091
This has gone far enough, at least not without you to back Kat up. You step forward and clear your throat. "She's with me, Captain," you announce. "Kat, this is Captain Marsh."

"Isn't he the guy that -"

"Yes," you and Marsh interrupt at the same time. "But that's all worked out," you add. "And there is absolutely no need to, say, defenestrate him."

"Def -"

"Throw me out a window," Marsh says with a chuckle.

"I sorta remember that," Kat muses. She flinches instinctively when the old woman clears her throat.

"You have interrupted my conversation, Miss..."

"Missus. Missus Brianna la Croix, ma'am, and this is my husband, Nathan. I'd appreciate it if you let Kat off of the wall."

"I'm certain I ain't stoppin' her," the elder says primly. Kat shoots her a look and then glides along the ground to your side, folding her arms in dignified irritation. "It's my pleasure to meet you, la Croix. I have the honor to be Missus Kurt, hereditary mayor of our fine village. And if that ring and rumor is any judge, you're the Duchess's new necromancer."

"I'm my own necromancer, but Her Grace has seen fit to consult with me on deathly matters," you allow. "You throw a wonderful festival. I'm sorry if we disturbed it."

"Ain't nothin', I shouldn't think. What kinda thing is that shadow of yours?"

"She's a shadow, a sort of necromantic construct. And she's got a soul the same as you or I."

Kat nods, defiantly.

"Feisty little thing," Mrs. Kurt muses. "You a marshlander." It's not a question. "She one too?"

You shake your head. "She was born in the Dungeon. Nathan here is -"

"He's the idiot boy from Glen who thought he could hunt a werewolf on his lonesome," Mrs. Kurt interrupts; your husband blushes fiercely. "I'm familiar with Natalia's son. We ain't so far from Glen as all that, and we have to share these woods you know. Well, if your girl there is spoken for, I suppose I'd best stop wasting your time. I do believe my daughter owes her an apology."

"Mother -"

"Girl, if you think you too old for me to whip you here with the Gods and the naked sky as my witness, you'd best have another thought."

The younger woman - Miss Kurt, presumably - approaches you sullenly and flinches back when Kat rises up from the ground in that folded-paper way peculiar to shadows.

There is a long moment of silence as the crowd of people attempting, poorly, to pretend like they aren't watching holds its collective breath.

"I apologize for my rude behavior," Miss Kurt says at last, offering her hand out. "...Welcome to Kurt's Crossing."

Kat looks at her hand, then shakes it, a little delicately; your shadow has not actually done this before, and is taking pains to be gentle. "I appreciate it," she says, honestly. "I, um. I'll try not to spook anyone else."

"We should get Amy's present and get going," you decide. "It's getting late. Kat, did you have fun?"

>>1191943
"I think so," your creation answers. "Um. Goodbye, Missus and Miss Kurt, I'll. Um. Visit sometime?"

"See that you do," the old woman invites, mischief on her face; she collects her daughter and walks off into the crowd.

Amy's present is as beautiful as you could ask for. You entrust the small wooden box that contains it to Nathan and set out in search of the coachman you've borrowed, and soon you are on your way back to Glen.

"Did I do okay?" Kat asks.

> Yes; praise her
> Sure, though you could have been a bit more assertive
> Maybe; why'd you get seen?
> No; you should have retreated instead of staying. What if the soldiers had attacked?

>>1191869
Nah, just some writer's block & Temporary But Persistent IRL stuff.

For some reason I can't seem to upload images, though. Anyone else having this trouble?

>>1191953
Site-wide image embargo. Pretty sure it's the image server getting blitzed or something of the sort.

>>1191952
>> Yes; praise her

>>1191965
>>1191953
Oop, just saw that Jyoti (GraveQM of Death Amongst the Stars) just posted a pic, embargo might be lifted.

>>1191952
> Yes, praise her

>>1191952
>Yes; praise her
She only retaliated after getting poked several times, She could easily inflict some pain and she is well aware of that.

Called, writing.

Testing. PC won't post.

>>1191952
> Maybe; why'd you get seen?

>>1191952
> Yes; praise her
> Sure, though you could have been a bit more assertive
rough start, but it could have gone worse.

>>1192078
>>1192100
I did call the vote here >>1192013

This is also me testing to see IF IT WILL LET ME POST I HAD THIS DONE AT FOUR THIRTY LAST NIGHT GOD DAMN IT

File: The Poet.jpg (143 KB, 500x708)

143 KB JPG

>>1191952
You adjust Kat's hat on her tenebrous head. "You did just fine," you promise. "You were civil, you didn't escalate. You probably could have easily killed her and you didn't so much as /warn/ her until her behavior became unacceptable. You earned her respect today, I think, and the word will get around that you're a good person."

"I think I made her daughter angry," Kat admits.

"You definitely made her daughter angry," Nathan confirms. "My money is on the idea that she's the eldest and meant to inherit the position, but Missus Kurt is considering someone else for it."

"That's a sucker bet," you point out. You lean against your husband and rest your head on his shoulder. "Thank you, for today," you murmur.

"Any time," Nathan promises.

Amy is waiting up for you in the common room of the Unlucky Bastard when you, Nathan, and Kat wander in. Her eyes widen when Nathan shows her the preserved flower, and the two of you are pulled into a tight hug by her wings.

"It's beautiful," Amy murmurs.

You don't know exactly how long you're just enjoying the hug, but a cluck of alarm from Sir Fetch gets your attention. You look at the door to the common room and see it filling with a freezing fog. You and Nathan pull your weapons immediately; Amy goes for hers, which the innkeep pulls out from behind the bar.

Brigette, looking as ever like the ghost of Autumn, steps out of the fog with Victoria's hand in hers, her eyes triumphant. Her lute rides on her back, strapped to a full backpack that bulges with scrolls and books, many of which are likewise secured to its outside.

> Scream externally
> Put your weapons away
> Would you look at the time it's RUM O' CLOCK
> Write-in?

>>1192776
The site was fucked dude, don't blame yourself. Posting just started working around 9 this morning.
>>1192780
Best burb loves the shiny flower. also
> Scream externally
this is a appropriate reaction, so it comes first.
> Would you look at the time it's RUM O' CLOCK
This is a SUPER appropriate reaction second.
>O-kay, I got my booze.....HOW THE HELL ARE YOU HERE, AND WHAT IS WITH THE SPOOKY FROST SHIT?!
Seems like a good ending for this.

>>1192780
>> Scream externally
>> Put your weapons away

>>1192780

> Scream externally

We either need to be very, very concerned with this, or extremely happy that Lora and Brigette have come to an understanding. Hopefully the latter, and then excited, cheerful screaming will ensue. The default will be of horror though. Her eyes are what's giving me the heebie jeebies with this sudden appearance above-ground.

>>1192780
> Put your weapons away.
> Rum, or coffee? Fuck it, we'll do both.

>>1192799
> "What do you think you're doing? Spooky shit is supposed to be /my/ act."

>>1192799
> AND WHAT IS WITH THE SPOOKY FROST SHIT?!

You may recall that both she and Lora have moved in that manner before.

>>1192780
>Put your weapons away
>Write-in?
>"First, we need something to drink, second: I take it your lessons are going well?"

Gonna call and write in 30 after I get some caffeine.

Called, writing.

File: 1486350347088.gif (87 KB, 192x197)

87 KB GIF

>>1192780
You take a deep breath, count backwards from ten in your head, and then yell.

"HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU HERE?" you demand, gesturing with Reunion (note to self: the machete jumps to hand the way Verve does; you'd meant to have your cane).

Victoria laughs, with genuine mirth and joy, and Brigette /blushes/, of all the things you never thought you'd see her do.

Everyone stares at each other while the fog drifts away into vapors, and then dissipates. Amy's wings jangle in surprise and uncertain alarm.

"...Fuck it," you decide at last, sheathing the machete over its mental protests. You look over to the barkeep. "I'm going to need a bottle of rum."

"I'm going to need to know who this person is," the man answers, calmly.

"I'm Brigette, and this is my lover and second-in-command, Victoria Inkwell," Brigette introduces.

"Don't mind the scar," Victoria asks, a little shyly.

Eventually, everyone is around the table with rum, and you're listening to Brigette explain Lora walking her through how to free herself.

"Something has to be going wrong or she wouldn't have risked it," Brigette reasons. "So I came to get you about as fast as I could."

You frown and take a sip of your rum. The logic sounds good...

"I have something to do before we try to delve again," you admit, at last. "I've been putting it off for too long as it is. I need to talk to the Librarian."

Brigette nods and downs the rest of her shot. "I'm going down there with you."

> No, you're not
> Wouldn't have it any other way

AND

> Proceed to peace talks
> One last thing (what?)

>>1193449
> No, you're not.
> Proceed to peace talks.
You JUST got free, lady. go get married and recuperate for a bit.

>>1193449
> Wouldn't have it any other way
> Proceed to peace talks

>>1193449
>> No, you're not.
>> Proceed to peace talks.
>You JUST got free, lady. go get married and recuperate for a bit.

Don't we need someone to counter Dick using the Tongue?

>>1193449
>> Wouldn't have it any other way
> Proceed to peace talks

>>1193895
Sure, that's why Lora was speedrunning the training on Bridgette. But does Brianna know that?

>>1193998
Lora did say she was tired from training two students. And then she was forced to stop talking.

>>1193449
> Wouldn't have it any other way
> Proceed to peace talks

>>1193998
>>1194018
Yeah Bri can guess Dick is having a go at it

>>1193449
>and you're listening to Brigette explain Lora walking her through how to free herself.
Lora had extremely good reasons for keeping Bridgette confined to one floor; I'm suspicious of her flipping on something with such high stakes as this.

>>1193449
>> Wouldn't have it any other way
> Proceed to peace talks


>>1195069
... I hadn't even thought of that. I don't think it's quite the same, but it's a start. Clever anon.

>>1193449
>Wouldn't have it any other way
>Proceed to peace talks
Dick going full asshole again soon fellow skeletons.

>>1193449
>>> No, you're not.
>>> Proceed to peace talks.
>>You JUST got free, lady. go get married and recuperate for a bit.

I'm going to call and write Soon(tm); I need caffeine and breakfast.

Called, tallying, writing.

>>1196934
Okay I lied; real life got me and now I need to get ready for work.

HOWEVER, my shift today is short, so I'm going to LEAVE THE VOTE CALLED and update at around 11 PM or so when I get home so I can do this justice, as it's gonna be a bit of a long one.

Thread is open for Q&A.

Writing the update now.

I'm completely for getting Brigette and Victoria married (if they actually want to) but right now seems like a bad time.

>>1193449
You nod, solemnly, and take Brigette's hand. "Glad to have you," you tell her, and she nods back. "But I need you sober."

"I knew you were going to say that."

"Good, make sure you stick to it," you emphasize. "We need you in fighting trim if we're going to do this thing."

"What thing are we doing, exactly?" Victoria asks, interjecting with a certain amount of hesitation.

You take in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I am going to contact the Librarian and sue for peace. And if that works, we're going after Richard."

Brigette swears under her breath and then nods. Victoria puts an arm around her shoulders and hugs her lover quietly; your spouses instinctively move closer in to you, offering the comfort of their presence.

You pour a double shot and pound it.

"The Librarian is...complicated," Brigette advises. "Above anything else, he cares about his Thirdborn. Make it about /them/, and you should be fine."

"...I'll try," you promise.

* * * *

"It's time?" Lora asks, when she sees the look on your face.

You nod. "Please summon the Librarian to speak to me.

The angel closes her eyes. After a moment she gestures, and the freezing fog that fills her half of the room admits the tallest geargrinder you've ever seen; the Librarian is more like a golem than the lithe, lanky things he's created, and the tick-tick-tick of his gears echoes with hollow sounds against the walls.

His face has been painted, lovingly, with bright colors and a genuine smile, which peels and flakes beneath green-grey eyes that swirl like marbles.

The metal plates bolted to his frame, armoring the geargrinder, are scored, scarred, and burnt.

"Heritor," the clockwork man rumbles. "I know what you are here for. There is no other reason to speak to me now, in this late hour."

"No, there isn't," you confirm warily, your dark eyes fixed on that peeling-paint face. The clockwork man sighs and squats, his body folding with ponderous groans; he rests his arms on his knees.

"The Firstborn make poor gods," he says distantly, his voice rumbling from deep within his chest cavity. "...You want peace."

"I do."

"You need the Wyrm eliminated. My Thirdborn can do this thing for you, for a price."

> Name it
> Why are you agreeing so easily?
> Is that it? Just straight to business?
> Write-in?

>>1198784
>Why are you agreeing so easily? Why not try and bargain for more power or wiggle room for the Thirdborn?

>>1198784
>Write-in?
>"Did you know, that Richard sent men after the children you entrusted to me?"

Not that great a comparison but I want to know if this has any effect on him at all, with the role reversal and all.

And I'm not sure if this is the way to go with the Wyrm either, he's a really stubborn, prideful old fart but one of the more agreeable chain holders we've met.

>>1198784
>> Name it


>>1198790
>Why not try and bargain for more power or wiggle room for the Thirdborn?
We already promised to let them live in peace.
That's his goal. He already won.

>>1198784
>> Why are you agreeing so easily?

> Bolt upright out of bed because I realize I forgot an image on my last update

Just kill me guys. Here's the deal: I'm working all day. Like, I'm not even gonna pretend to try and update right now. I have tomorrow off and then next week I start training for my new position. On the one hand that means I'm gonna be fucked up from shifting gears on my sleep schedule, but on the other hand it'll mean afternoons free for a bit.

Votes remain open. I may update tonight but honestly don't get your hopes up.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>1198974
Take care Vox, good luck with job things.

>>1198790
>>1198803
Seconding these.

>>1198784
Supporting these; >>1198790 >>1198803

As terrible and frightening as I imagine the Wyrm is in combat, he's nothing like the other Chain-Holders we've faced, and he's done nothing to really wrong Lora or us. We owe him some respect, just as he gave respect to us.

Plus, I honestly doubt the Librarian's soldiers could actually kill him properly. They may wound him, sure, but actually putting him down will likely fall to us.

We should also ask him how he came to possess the evidence and information concerning the blighted bastards who killed Brianna's home and family.

>>1198974
I am truly glad to hear about the promotion Vox. While I know nothing about your employment other than it being retail, if you put anywhere near the amount of hard work into it as you have this delicious quest, you deserve it.

Does this mean you won't have to work the corner anymore? The Johns will miss you and your sexy bones.

>>1199199
>We should also ask him how he came to possess the evidence and information concerning the blighted bastards who killed Brianna's home and family.

He told us already, as soon as our name became known he sent out runners to gather information about us.

>>1199208
Wait, really? Never mind then.

We could always ask him about his origins and life story though.

>>1199199
As far as respect and honor... we're suing for peace with the Librarian out of expediency, not any moral reason. The same cold utilitarian logic can apply to the Wyrm, too.

>>1198784
>> Why are you agreeing so easily?

As predicted, do not expect an update tonight. I'll hit this shit tomorrow.

I'm up. Will call and write after breakfast.

Called, writing.

Fuck it. It's clearly not happening today and I honestly could not tell you why. We'll try this again tomorrow.

I am sorry folks.

>>1206533
Shit happens. It's been a weird day for me too.

>>1206533
It's been a weird week all round. I could hardly eat these past few days.

I hope everyone is doing okay.

Rip

I'm alive, just...adjusting. Work schedule's been different because of training and it's thrown my whole god damn life out of whack. I'll try to update tomorrow.

I say as if I haven't been saying that for two weeks.

Just end me.

>>1218075
But we can't kill you, you're already dead.

File: 1460995416878.jpg (57 KB, 473x500)

57 KB JPG

>>1218075
Are you enjoying your new job, at least?

>>1218230
Thus far.

Gonna attempt to write the new thread before work tonight. In the meantime I'll archive this one.

>>1219172
Oh?

>>1221434
I didn't end up updating before work.

I did end up updating now

NEW THREAD
>>1221508
>>1221508
>>1221508
>>1221508