>Try to see if you can wake Aligot up from his book-induced Coma

>>1361898
>Try to see if you can wake Aligot up from his book-induced Coma
>Maybe just prod him a bit. Probably don't tickle him.

>>1361898
>Jump up to the front with Dorje. Walk with him a bit.

>>1361898
>Bother your summoner; wake Anna up.

>>1361898
this:>>1361972

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d4)

>>1361898

Hiya Announcer, how you doing?
Missed update until now since I thought you weren't gonna post the thread for a while...

>Catch up to Cassata, something seems wrong with her.

>>1363735
I'm doing good. I just got home, even!
..And naturally I'm feeling a little sick. I think the universe doesn't want me to quest.
So I am writing! Post soon.

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You're not entirely sure why, but Cassata has been acting strange for the past hour. Her going over and intimidating Aligot has been the only normal thing you've seen her do.
Just to be certain, you try and confront her on the issue.

"Cass."
She jumps a little, and sighs when she sees you.
"Morning, Yuuki!"
"You seem nervous, is something wrong?"

"No, it's just-"
Cassata stares off into the woods.
"-Something just feels wrong, is all. Maybe it's almost 'that time' again."

Geez, thanks for the information, Cass. You really wanted to know that.
"Do you think something is following us?"
"I don't know, okay? I've been having that feeling for the last day, now. It's starting to really get to me."

"I think you just need some rest." You grab one of her ears, and pull it gently.
"I'm not sure I could sleep if I wanted to, right now." Cassata continues gazing off into the forest, "Give me a few minutes, and I'll go to bed."
"Fiine." You grumble. You're sure to grab her other ear for good measure.

You turn away from one source of strange discomfort, and onto another.
Aligot remains motionless; staring at one particular page in his book. You're almost certain that nothing would disturb him. You're not entirely sure what he's writing, but the sweat forming at his brow is starting to make you question what he's reading.

Just to make sure everything is fine; you step across the wagons and tiptoe up behind him.

"What'cha reading?"
No response.

You lean down and do a secret technique that Jack taught you.
You grab his tail.

"EEK!"
Aligot's face turns as red as a tomato, and he slams the book shut!

"H-h-h- Morning Yuuki!" He spins around, and notices you staring right over his shoulder!
"Hey Aligot. Are you okay?"

"Yeah! Just gettin' some early-morning writing done!"
"Huh, Well- okay. But where is your pen?"

"Just, thinking about what I was going to write next! Nothing more!"
"Oh, okay."
You don't quite buy his explanation, but you're not sure what else he could be doing.

"I just wanted to check on you." You pat his shoulder, "You have just been sitting here for two straight days."
"I'm doing fine." His face still twitching, "I was just writing a brief history on the heroes and their accomplishments so far."

"Oh! Could I read it?"
"N-no! No! Not yet!" He coughs, "Some last minute touches need to be made."

"Come on, just a peek?"
"Maybe in a few minutes, I have an.. edit to make. Right!" He adjusts his voice.

Wow, everyone is acting so weird. You just don't get it.

>Want to have breakfast?
>Grab the book and read it!
>Back to Dorje
>Back to Anna.
>A few minutes are up, grab Cassata and force her to sleep.
>Other?

>>1364104
>Ask him if he's noticed anything weird as well.

Something is gonna happen, might as well be ready for it.

>>1364116
>This

>>1364104
>A few minutes are up, grab Cassata and force her to sleep.

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"Aligot, have you noticed anything weird?"

"Well, no. No, not-"
His face turns red again.

"..I may have noticed something, but not anything weird."

Huh, weird reaction.
"-I just ask because, Cassata is acting really on-edge. You're not really acting normal either. Do you two know something I don't?"
"No, I don't think I know anything-"

That blush comes back!
"-Well, nothing you don't already know." Aligot says sheepishly. "I've been busy with this for the past few days."

What is with him?
"..In any case." You try to ignore his awkward behavior, "I think you should maybe keep your eye out of the book and on the road for the time being. If something is going to happen, I would rather everybody be ready for it."
"Yes, got it." He puts the book down.

He then looks away to get something out of his backpack. You think he's looking for his magic wand.
Now's your chance!

You slowly reach over for the book, and gently pry it open. It's not quite at the right angle to read, but you can make out some words.

'Yuuki and Cassata have a nice-'
SLAM!
Aligot, his pupils dilating with a face so red that it has almost shifted to purple, is glaring at you.
Oops?

"What did you see?!" He asks in a hushed tone.
"Nothing, really. Something about a nice-"
"SHH! SHHHH!"

He grabs the book, and holds it close to him.
"I'm sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry-"
"No! No, stop. It's fine. I didn't see anything! Really."

He's trembling. Geez, get a grip.
"I, I think I'm ready." He gently puts the book in his backpack and seals it, tight.

"Right! I'll go tell Dorje."

But first, you have someone else to put to bed.
With a hop, you stand up and bound over toward Cassata. She's still staring blankly into the woods.

"Feeling better?"
"Not.. really, but I'll manage." She murmurs. "It's just, It feels like I'm being watched by someone I don't know."

You don't like that, not one bit. Cassata is skilled enough of a ranger to know when someone is spying on her.

"So, I heard the little commotion with Aligot." Cassata briefly emerges from her funk. "What do you think?"
"Think about what?"

She smiles, "He thinks you have a nice butt."

>"Oh, uh."
>"Cassata... stop. Stop teasing him."
>Feel awkward.
>"I'm a little mad, actually!"
>"That's.. I'm fine with that?"
>Flattered?
>Other?

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Okay, sorry about that but I was really tired.
I can't believe I only have three story posts so far.

Well, I'll be traveling tomorrow morning and will continue tomorrow before noon, hopefully. See you then!

>>1364658
>>"Oh, uh."
>>"So why aren't you reacting to that? He thinks you have one too."

>>1364658
>"Oh, uh."
>"Cassata... stop. Stop teasing him."
>"He thinks the same of you as well."

>>1364658
>"Oh, uh."
>"Cassata... stop. Stop teasing him."
>"...Is it?"

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"Uh."

The weight of that statement hangs in the air.
Did she really just come out and say that? Oh, who are you kidding. It's Cassata.

"So why aren't you reacting to that?" You try to flip it around on her, "He thinks the same of you as well."
"I know, but I want to hear what you think of it, first." She smiles.

"Cassata, stop."
"So, are you flattered? Are you blushing? Is that a blush I see?!" She leans in closer to examine your cheeks.

"Stop teasing him." You grumble. "He's nervous enough as it is, and I'm sure this isn't helping."
"You didn't answer my question!" Cass is really grinning, now. "In fact, you actively avoided it!"

"Why are you doing this?" You gently push her shoulder, "This is badgering that even you usually don't stoop to. You're starting to sound like Marion right now."
"Oh please." She pushes right back, "You know nothing is more fun in this world than boys, and teasing you."

"Is this what it is? Just teasing me?" You lay back on the cart. "I'm going to take a guess and think that you don't dislike the attention, either."
"Of course not, but more than that; I like that you're finally starting to leave your shell and get close to some guys. I want to see you get a boyfriend."

"That's none of your business." You glare at her.
"Of course it is." Cass pokes your side, "When you left Bruschetta for the first time, you were this timid, unconfrontational wallflower of a person. You clung to Anna like she was a stuffed animal, and never raised your voice above a whisper. Not to mention how you refused to talk to anyone alone. I had to invite Anna to dinner just to meet you the first time, remember?"
"..What's your point, Cass?"

"You've changed, Yuuki. It's been almost two months since I last saw you, and you've grown up from being a kid to being a beautiful woman with a great butt."
"..is it?"

"Yes! Yes it is." Cassata grabs your shoulder, and forces you to sit upright. "-And you know it is. You're starting to be talk to people, make lots of friends, and get attention from lots of cute guys. You gotta tell me your secret, Yuuki. I am more than a little jealous."

>I.. sort of had to.
>You see, there's this- group, club? something I'm in.
>..Let's just say I have a good captain.
>I don't know.
>What do you think?
>Other?

>>1365274
>Blame jack.
>...Or maybe it's because you had to act like a big sister to Kayda and Louse

>>1365274
Supporting >>1365276

>>1365274
>Blame jack.
>...Or maybe it's because you had to act like a big sister to Kayda and Louse
>And all this hero business has to do something to you

>>1365274
>Guess you can thank Jack for it.

Sounds more positive

>>1365274
>maybe it's because you had to act like a big sister to Kayda and Louse
>And all this hero business has to do something to you

>>1366124
>this

Back, writing!

>>1366527
Welcome back Announcer.

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Well, there really isn't a secret to it. You started acting this way because you were sort-of forced to. The very act of going out and saving the world also meant you had to go out and meet new people.
Did meeting new people develop those skills for you? You don't think so. It seems to be a skillset that was developed from a more forceful entry into the social life.

"-It's probably because of Jack." You gaze into the forest, "When I first arrived to Biscotti, I did the same thing I did in Bruschetta. I never left Anna's room except when she did, I didn't talk to anyone else in the castle, and when I did; I always did it with Anna."

"So, he gave you the confidence you needed?"
"..Not exactly." You cough, "He just took me by the arm and forced me to explore the world."

"Sounds fun."
"I can see that, but it felt far more stressful." You grumble, "Getting pulled out of my room by someone I barely knew to fight the evils of the world when I had never left my father's estate before then." You feel a sense of discomfort. "I didn't ask for it, but- I'm glad it happened."

"So what you're saying is, you had a charming rogue sweep you off your feet to travel the world with you? That sounds romantic."
"When you put it that way, sure." You try not to encourage her teasing. "I don't think he was really the only reason."

"Oh?"
"You haven't met them, but there are other girl heroes besides just me." You think back on their smiling faces, "Two of them, even. They're young, and lost in this world. Neither of them really wanted to be saddled with the title of 'hero', but have made-do in their own ways. I think helping them along has also helped me grow."

"You adopted them, Yuuki?"
"No, no. They have summoners."
Though, you would do it in a heartbeat if either of them asked.

"They like to think of me as their big sister." You smile.
You think back to them, and worry even now. You haven't seen Kayda since the incident with the curse.

"There's that soft Yuuki." She nudges you. "At the end of the day, you're still as soft as a teddy bear on the inside."

You pat her on the back. It's nice having a conversation like this. It feels like you've been on edge for two days, and somehow Cass knows it.

"I think I'm going to lay down." Cassata stands up. "Can you keep point? Where were you going next?"

>To the front with Dorje.
>Probably to the back with Aligot.
>Maybe to wake up Anna.
>Other?

>>1367134
>>To the front with Dorje.

>>1367134
>Probably to the back with Aligot.
>Check if he is back to being a statue.

>>1367134
>Probably to the back with Aligot.
>Maybe you can bug him enough to do something useful like a ward or something, just in case

>>1367134
>>Probably to the back with Aligot.

Another great night where I come home at nearly midnight.

Writing!

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"I'm going to go check on Aligot again. Have a good rest, Cass."
"Mm."

She stands up and walks to the center of the carriage. She seems less nervous, and holds herself with a calm demeanor.
Good, maybe she'll stop being so antsy.

You decide that you should make good on your word, and return to the back of the carriage with Aligot. He probably shouldn't be staring at that book as much as he is anyway.

You step behind him just as you notice him casting a spell. He stretches his arm outright, and a tiny ball of light extends from his fingertips.
Slowly, it starts to float off behind the cart.

"Where is it going?" You watch the tiny ball drift down the path.
"If something comes down this path, it will see it." Aligot seems focused on his task. He reaches into his pack and pulls out a tiny pearl-like object. It starts to glow and float just as the others do.

"Oh, that's pretty neat. So I guess no one can follow us, now?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean no one can ambush us." His eyes track into the woods. "It just means that they can't come from behind the caravan."

"Still, That's pretty amazing, Aligot!"

Aligot sits in awkward silence, watching the last glowing orb float off into the woods.
"Yuuki, I'm sorry." He loses his composure, "I haven't been acting like myself the last few days, and I think it shows."

"It's fine, Aligot. You had your book to write"
"It's not fine, I'm sorry for the things I wrote in it, too."

"No, it's- Aligot. Stop being so tough on yourself." You give him a push. "I didn't say anything about it earlier because I knew you would be this way."
"So you did notice." He seems even more sad, now!

"Stop that! I'm not mad! You need to learn from Jack on this one, do you think Jack would feel bad about writing that?"
"I'm not Jack, though."

"I'm not, either! But I've learned some great things from him, and maybe you should too."
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not, why would I be?"

You feel the carts suddenly grind to a halt. The jolt nearly knocks you off your feet!

"Looks like it's starting." Aligot grumbles.
"Oh come on-" You felt like you were making a really good point, too.

You bend down and pick up your Naginata.
"Don't forget what we were talking about, because I want to pick up where we left off!"
"Will do." Aligot takes a catalyst from his backpack.

>To the front, see what is holding everything up from Dorje
>Straight for Anna, protect her.
>Stay here a minute, watch what is happening.
>Go wake up Cass.
>Other?

>>1370697
>Stay here a minute, watch what is happening.
See what's going on before jumping in.

>>1370697
>Go wake up Cass.

>>1370697
>To the front, see what is holding everything up from Dorje

>>1370697
>To the front, see what is holding everything up from Dorje
>But approach slowly and cautiously.

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"Hold the line back here, I'm going to go assist Dorje."
"Good luck."

As you're walking away; he pats your leg. He may have been aiming for your butt, but that's a question you can ask later.

You hop to the front and land next to Dorje. He's standing completely still in the middle of the path with his arm raised.
The sound of your feet meeting dirt is enough to make him nearly jump out of his skin!

"Yuuki!" He yelps.
"Sorry! Sorry." You try to right him, but you suspect the damage is already done. "What's going on?"

"There's a group ahead. It's a big one, has about twenty people. They're hiding on two sides of the path."
"Oh, it's an ambush. Well, let's go ahead and clear them out-"

"Not so fast, there's another detachment coming around. About ten people in that one." Dorje seems worried.

"So? Let's just go beat all of them up."

"Yeah, okay 'Jack'." He says, sarcastically, "Let's just go beat up all the bad guys and leave the caravan alone."
"It's not a big deal. Thirty people? We could handle that easily." You smile.

"I'm worried about them trying to bring the fight to the caravan." Dorje pouts. "At least, that's what I think they're trying to do."

"If they're bandits, then they're not that smart; Dorje." You try to ease his concerns, "I defeated nearly every bandit in Bruschetta. Clever people don't become bandits, Dorje."
"Something still feels.. wrong with this one. They're underweight, but they're carrying war supplies with them. They're setting up an ambush, but they brought birds with them to confront us head-on. They're laying in wait, but they knew well enough to send a small team around to slip behind us. That doesn't seem like something bandits would do."

"I think you're just worrying, Dorje." You rub his scalp.
"I don't think I am." He seems concerned, still. "How are we going to stop them?"

>You stay here with the caravan, I'll go ahead and confront them.
>Wait here, see if they move.
>I'll go wake Cass, we'll set up a defensive here and lure them in.
>Let's just blast them with magic already. They probably don't know we're on this caravan, anyway.
>Other?

>>1373481

>I'll go wake Cass, we'll set up a defensive here and lure them in.
>Let's just blast them with magic already. They probably don't know we're on this caravan, anyway.
>Have Aligot do something with magic to take his mind off our butt.

>>1373481
>>I'll go wake Cass, we'll set up a defensive here and lure them in.
>>Let's just blast them with magic already. They probably don't know we're on this caravan, anyway.
>>Have Aligot do something with magic to take his mind off our butt.

>>1373481
>I'll go wake Cass, we'll set up a defensive here and lure them in.
>Let's just blast them with magic already. They probably don't know we're on this caravan, anyway.
>Have Aligot do something with magic to take his mind off our butt.
>Presume the worst, that they're ready and able to take on heroes. Plan for earth/ice barriers as protection and control.

>>1373481
>we can just encase the caravan in ice/stone and go beat them up, no?

File: Dorje_Woods.jpg (489 KB, 744x1052)

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Rolled 23 (1d100)

"I'll go wake Cass, we'll put the caravan into a defensive and then go blast them with magic."
"I don't agree, but okay." Dorje crosses his arms.

You walk over to the caravan and instruct the driver to form a defensive perimeter.
They're not happy about it, but they oblige and start to encompass the caravan into a circle.

--

"Cass, I'm sorry for waking you up."
"I wasn't sleeping." She draws the string on her bow, "Besides, I'm glad Dorje was noticing the same thing that I was."
"I'm not. I just want to go up the road and blast them, but he insists that it isn't safe to leave the caravan alone."

"You really have changed." Cass smiles, "'Go up the road and blast them'? Who taught you to speak like that? What happened to 'I think we should do this really carefully so no one gets hurt'?"
"..It's been a matter of speaking that has gradually worn off on me."

"Well, more power to whoever taught you that." She winks, "Whoever your mentor is, he sounds like a lot of fun."

Yeah, fun, that's a way to describe him.

You leave Cass to prepare, and check up on Aligot.
"How's it going?"
"The pixies I sent out earlier found the small detachment. They're up the road, waiting." Aligot sighs, "Looks like we're boxed in, then."

"Pfft. I'm not worried." You say with confidence, "I was going to go up the road to face the ambush head-on, do you have something you can protect the caravan with?"
"Well, I- Actually. I do have something."

He takes out a stick of chalk, and jumps outside the perimeter made by the wagons.
With a stoop, he bends down and starts slowly tracing it in the dirt. He walks around the caravan and stops back where he started.

"Give me about five minutes, and we'll have a shield encompassing us."
"That's great!" You give him a slight hug; which causes him to jump slightly. "I knew I could count on you to do some magic-y.. stuff."

"U-uh, right, yeah! Glad to help." He stiffens up like a board and slowly makes his way back to his wagon.

You wonder if they make magic to give someone charisma or self-esteem, but you're sure he's already tried that if it exists.

With the defense ready; you head back to the front of the caravan with Dorje.

"Let's go, Dorje."
"What? I thought you were going to 'blast them with magic'."

"I am, but I'm also going to assume that they have something in place to deal with a hero. So I'll take a second hero as a backup plan."

"First Jack ropes me into his dumb plans, and then you do it.." He says, pouting.
"We do it because we think that highly of you." You lightly hug his head.

..Hey, you think he does have a point, though. Have you been acting differently since this trip started?

>It's probably nothing
>Yes, it seems like you have
>No, nothing out of the ordinary.
>You've been acting more confident, and reckless. You're not sure why.
>It's probably because you're feeling better.
>Try not to think about it, focus on the task at hand.
>Other?

Either ways, roll 1d100, best of three.

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>1375610
>You've been acting more confident, and reckless. You're not sure why.

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>1375610
>You've been acting more confident, and reckless. You're not sure why.
>It's probably nothing

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I was going to close this vote and write, but I gotta wake up earlyearlyearlyearlyearly. So I will let it hang until we get that third vote.
See you tomorrow!

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>1375610
>You've been acting more confident, and reckless. You're not sure why.
>It's probably because you're feeling better.

>It's only a problem if you can't back up your hotblooded behavior with results

File: Yuuki_3.jpg (258 KB, 850x850)

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Rolled 70 (1d100)

There's no denying it, you've been acting more confident.
Not just confident; you've been also acting more reckless.

There could be many reasons for that. It could be that the trip has done you more good than you realize. Maybe just getting away from everyone for a few days has re-ignited that passion you once felt for being a hero and defending the weak.
Or, then again, maybe it's just nothing. Maybe you're just riding the high of the cool weather, the excellent rest you've been having, and the calm forest atmosphere.

Either ways, Cass is right. Even if it's just temporary, you have changed just a little.
It's probably nothing.

"Nothing yet." Dorje gently steps across the ground. He maintains each foot flat with the earth.
"How far ahead?"
"About... five hundred feet. We should start to see them in a moment."

"I don't think so." You scowl.
"Why?"

You start to tilt your head up, toward the trees.
Just as you suspected. There's a net up there attached to a pulley.

Oh, it's coming down.

You immediately throw your naginata to the sky, and blast a blue bolt straight at it!

OUCH!
The frozen net hits your head and shatters into a million pieces!

You rub the soft spot where the mass of rope, netting, and water collided!

"Are you okay?!" Dorje jumps on his guard.
"I'm fine, keep watching the woods!" You bark back at him.

Your head turns upward to the trees again.
Five, no, ten guys. It seems they were expecting to be tracked by their footsteps.

With a heave; you send a bolt of blue energy upward. It strikes the branches overhead, and visibly causes several of the bandits to freeze!
It also catches the many, many leaves of the tree! Did they do that on purpose?

The iced leaves detach from overhead and fall straight down! They're like tiny, icy knives!

>Undo the ice magic using the same thing Aligot was trying to teach you.
>Something about the transfer of heat.
>Grab Dorje, proceed further down the path and leave the ones trying to ambush you
>Go crazy with ice, freeze everything EXTRA hard!
>Other?

Either ways, 1d100, best of three.

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>1379709
>Go crazy with ice, freeze everything EXTRA hard!

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>Something about the transfer of heat.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>1379709
>Something about the transfer of heat.

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>1379709
>Something about the transfer of heat.

>>1379709
>>1379792
>>1380152
>>1380456
Well this didn't work out well.

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Rolled 35 (1d100)

The leaves start to fall in slow motion.
You have but precious seconds to respond.

There was something about this. It was something you were talking to Aligot about. Something about...

"Transfer of heat." You whisper to yourself.
Your naginata starts to glow a fiery red! The coldness built in the tip starts to build up in your hands.
With a slice, you send the red-hot wave of air straight at the razor-sharp leaves!

They melt in mid-flight, several of them even catch on fire!

Ha, you thought you were-

"Yuuki! Watch out!"
Dorje PICKS YOU UP with his tiny arms, and then makes a break down the path!

You're so shocked that you barely get to notice what he's running from!

WHAM!

A gigantic tree falls directly behind you! It's shortly followed by another, and then another!

One of the soldiers from earlier drops down from the tree he was standing on just before it falls inches in front of your face. You wave your naginata blindly at him. You don't feel it connect, but he goes down for the count!

Dorje suddenly shifts his weight, and starts to slow down! He screeches to a halt, and pushes you back onto your feet.
You regain composure, and suddenly realize that you're standing in the exact spot that Dorje said was surrounded!

You don't see them, but they're out in the woods somewhere. What remains of the few who tried to drop the trees on you desperately attempt to catch up from down the path.

"Dorje, I get the strangest feeling like they were expecting us."
"Same. What do you want to do?"

>Ice and stone in every direction.
>Surround ourselves with an ice/stone shield. We'll wait them out.
>Remember that trick with the quicksand? Well I need you to do that right now..
>Re-trace our steps, backtrack out of the ambush.
>No! Forward! Attack the ambush!
>Other?

Again, 1d100, best of three.

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>1383180
>Surround ourselves with an ice/stone shield. We'll wait them out.
>Remember that trick with the quicksand? Well I need you to do that right now..

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>1383180
>Ice and stone in every direction.

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>1383180
>Surround ourselves with an ice/stone shield. We'll wait them out.
>Remember that trick with the quicksand? Well I need you to do that right now..

>>1383180
>Surround ourselves with an ice/stone shield. We'll wait them out.
>Remember that trick with the quicksand? Well I need you to do that right now..

>>1383381
Nice roll!

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"Dorje!"
"What?!"
"Put a wall around us, hurry!"
"Will do!"

He drops to one knee, and punches the ground so hard that shards of stone erupt from the dirt path!
"It didn't work!" He shouts!
"What?!"
"It's gravel! It's just gravel! There's no stone, I can't make a wall!"

"That's good enough!"
"What?!"
"Bring up the gravel!"

You start to feel the cold build up on the edge of your naginata.

"Right now! Bring it up!"

Dorje obliges, his other fist hits the dirt, and a wave of tiny black stones erupts from the path!

With a spin, you wave the naginata in all directions around you! The freezing cold swiftly envelops the miniature rocks, and holds them in place!

You catch yourself out of your twirl, and examine your handiwork.

Frozen in the walls of the shell you've erected are several people attempting to make a grab for you. They remained caught in that one moment in time, in which you're certain they regret their decision deeply.

Soon, you start to see shadows dance and flicker outside of the shell.
They seem to orbit the ice enclosure. After a few moments of muffled yelling; you start to hear a rhythmic hammering on the shield.

One of them hits it with enough force to make a miniature crack.

"They're coming in, now what?" Dorje starts to stand up.
"Quicksand."

Dorje blinks, "Oh yeah, that."

He stands up, and then eyes the ground carefully. With his hand, he strikes the ground, and slides it along the dirt.

The muffled conversation takes on a high-pitched whine as the shadows mulling around outside of the shell suddenly fall straight downward!
You feel a confident smirk slowly spread across your lips.

The naginata in your hand twirls once, before being thrust downward. Quickly, a layer of ice spreads from its planted spot in the dirt, and rushes outward with a terrifying crackling noise!

Maybe this is a little cruel.
No! That's not what Jack would say! In fact you're certain Jack would do something ten times WORSE to them!

The icy shell shatters into a million pieces, and you step out onto the now-frozen path. The soldiers trapped in the frozen-over pit hit the top of their transparent closure, but find difficulty even putting a dent in the two-foot thick sheet of ice.

You take a quick survey, and notice that there are still a few bear-eared soldiers peeking out from behind some of the fauna. They don't appear interested in the least on coming out and facing you.

>Throw an ice blade at them.
>Wink and casually walk back to the caravan.
>Rub Dorje's head and congratulate him.
>-and then ask him to deal with them as a cool-down exercise.
>Don't do anything. Just focus on getting back to the caravan.
>Other?

>>1385443
bloody bears

>Throw an ice blade at them.

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>>1385443
>Rub Dorje's head and congratulate him, whisper to him that you are just messing with them now to make the survivors lose time to confusion/panic
>look directly at one of the peeking bears and inform them that they can find their fluffed friends in the Biscotti dungeons, as Prisoners of War they can expect fair treatment if they want to come along!
>pretend that you have taken two of the iced fluffed bears for interrogation
>except don't, you just want to confuse the bears and you don't feel like risking the caravan any further with keeping watch on Prisoners

Commence troll operations.

>>1385558
To further explain, the ones that directly attacked were likely just regular Rank and File, the Officers themselves are probably keeping further back, watching. If they think we have taken Prisoners they might panic and have to attack us themselves, which gives us a better chance of nabbing someone with real information for us to use.

Or they just might freak out and leave the Caravan alone for the rest of the trip. That would be nice, too.

>>1385443
>Rub Dorje's head and congratulate him.
>-and then ask him to deal with them as a cool-down exercise.
>Wink and casually walk back to the caravan.

>>1385581
We could interrogate one enough to find out where their leader is.

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You reach a hand over and ruffle Dorje's hair. He seems to sigh, and tries to pry your hand off of his head.
"That was good teamwork, back there."
"Thanks, you too. Can you please stop making a mess of my hair? I'm still not quite use to how long it is."

You think about his request for a second, and then come to a definitive answer.
"No." Your hand continues to attack his pure white strands.

The soldiers are still visible in the corner of your eye, and they don't seem to be moving. You're not entirely sure what they're thinking, but you know that there are too few of them to make any kind of real difference at this point.

That's when you get an idea!

You turn your head, and address them directly.

"Listen, you guys. I know that I probably seem really scary right now." You give a warm smile, "But I'm not a bad person, really! In fact, most of your comrades tried to do the exact same thing to me quite some time ago."
"Yuuki." Dorje tugs at your dress.

"If you want to come along, you can even see some of the ones that have been captured!"
"Yuuki!" Dorje keeps pulling.

"I'm sure Biscotti is fair to its prisoners. They treat their prisoners better than they treat us, in some ways.
"YUUKI!"

"What?!" You turn to Dorje.
"This is the Konditorei detachment. The same ones we fought earlier. These ARE the prisoners from the dungeons."

"What?"

You try to think about this for a moment.
"Why are they here, then?!"
"I guess someone let them out." Dorje crosses his arms.

Dejected, you ask for the only thing that might make you feel better.

"Dorje, please pound them into balls. They are escaped prisoners, after all."
"Sure thing!"

He immediately dashes toward them.

>cont.

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You return to the caravan, and are greeted with the wagons straight and ready to depart! They look as if nothing had ever happened.
Then you spot her, sitting on the caravan while Aligot runs something green over her shoulder. Her shirt is ripped in several places.

"CASSATA!" You shout, and then immediately leap toward the caravan!
The drivers flinch, and Aligot himself stands to attention. The only one who seems unsurprised by your reaction is Cass.

"Hoo boy, here we go." She whispers to herself.

"What happened?! Why are your clothes torn? What's wrong with your shoulder?!" You immediately start examining every bit of clothing on her body. Even her boots are torn!
"Yuuki, Yuuki stop. I'm fine. I just took a light graze."

"A light graze! You've been stabbed!"
"Slashed, actually." She slowly buttons up the tatters that used to be her blouse. "How about you? I heard a big boom, and was going to run off and find out, but then you just casually walked back like nothing happened."
"Dorje took care of it." You rub the reddened spot on her shoulder, "That's why I'm more worried about you."

"..We should get going." You feel a familiar hand on your shoulder.

You spin around to see Anna, perfectly safe and secure. She gives you a warm smile, and offers you a cup filled with water.
"Cass may be hurt, but she won't get better if we stay out here."

"Oh god Anna I am so happy to see you safe, oh-"
You don't say anything else. Your hands wrap around your bunny-eared princess, and squeeze tight.

Gently. You can feel her pushing against your chest for you to let go.

>Let's head out
>Wait, we should take another path
>There are trees in the way
>Just move the trees and get going before the soldiers re-form.
>Other?

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Folks I'm going to continue this thread until it falls off because I've had a number of delays this week. That's why I've averaged only one post a night!

So with that in mind, I want to get as far as I can with Yuuki's story before flipping back to a familiar face. If I can't get back to it before it falls off (which, this is /qst/, so I might still have a few days), then thank you for playing and I'll see you next time!

>>1388596
>Let's head out

>>1388596
>Let's head out
>Just move the trees and get going before the soldiers re-form.
>Cover Cass with something, if anything's handy.

>>1388596
>Let's head out
>Just move the trees and get going before the soldiers re-form.