>>1372160

The sound of the camp roosters crowing, you awake to the a sliver of light peeking through the crack in your tentflap, falling on your face.

Groaning, you turn over on your cot, looking away from the light.

The last few weeks have been calm, with regular training regimens and strategy sessions in the War Tent taking up most of your time. Kathrin has proved to be an adept Lieutenant, organizing everything when you're away. Your men quickly took to her, and those formerly in Berthold's company already were familiar with her, so they respect her.

Cellica, for her part, has taken to the Crusaders quite well, training alongside them and befriending quite a few of them. The knights have, in return, fallen in love with the elf, treating her as either a little sister or unabashedly trying to court her. Almost hilariously, she has not noticed any of it, and the disappointed looks on the knights' faces as they are rejected by her ignoring their advances are quite hilarious.

As for Marcus, it's been great catching up with him. You've spent more time with him now than you ever did before the... transition to this world. The stories that he tells of his service in the Templar Order are quite enjoyable to listen to.

Natalia has been at your side in every strategy meeting, backing you up and adding to your arguments and strategies. It's quite apparent that she wants to join you on your next expedition, if or when you're sent out on one, and she seems like she would be useful to back you up.

Sitting up in your cot, you review all this, as you think about what you want to accomplish today.

>Oversee unit training
>Strategize
>Train by yourself
>Socialize with other knights
>Write-in.

>>1372427
>Oversee unit training
Let's see how our troops have managed thus far.

>>1372427
>Train by yourself
Make sure Celly can't beat our ass again

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Rolling.

1 = Train unit
2 = Training by self.

>>1372427
>>1372445
2nd.

>>1372587
>Oversee unit training

>Writing.

File: Teuton.jpg (508 KB, 780x1170)

508 KB JPG

>>1372427

It's been a while since you've overseen training directly, so you might as well today.

Getting up, you allow Edgar, who was waiting nearby, to dress you, and strap on your sword.

Giving him a nod of thanks, you leave the tent, heading towards the training grounds. Your men won't be there yet, most likely getting breakfast first, but they'll come here anyways, due to their now-daily regimen of training implemented by Kathrin.

Making your way through the tents, Edgar walking silently at your side, you whistle pleasantly. It really is a delightful day today, with clear skies, yet a cool breeze blowing from the north, ruffling your hair, and signifying the end of Autumn.

On your way to the training grounds, you encounter...

(cont.)

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>1372673

File: Marcus.jpg (24 KB, 400x578)

24 KB JPG

>>1372673
>>1372677

... Marcus, your friend, who walks towards you, arms outstretched, that perfect cocky grin on his face, as always, dark blonde hair whipping about in the wind.

"Victor! I see you're training your men personally today. I hoped to see if I could join you, actually! It's been far too long since we last sparred. Might we give the men an example?"

Clasping your arms around him in a bear hug, you smile, and release him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"
>"Maybe later? I'd prefer to do it in private."
>"Not right now, unfortunately, Marcus. I'm really quite busy."
>Write-in.

>>1372734
>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"
M A N M O D E

>>1372734
>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"

>>1372734
>>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"

File: 1479448498701.jpg (92 KB, 628x555)

92 KB JPG

>>1372734
>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"

>>1372734
>"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"

Unanimous consensus is MANMODE wins.
>M A N M O D E

>Writing.

>>1372734

"Of course, my friend! It HAS been too long, let's give it a go!"

Clapping him on the shoulder, you nod your head to the center of the training field.

"Let's give them a show as they walk up, shall we?"

Marcus laughs, grabbing your hand in his vise-like grip.

"Of course, Victor! I expect you to give me a challenge!"

Reaching the center of the training grounds, you stand in front of your friend, loosening up by stretching.

"So, my friend, sheathes, or shall we pull blows?"

You remember that Marcus prefers high-risk, high-reward fights, and fighting styles.

>"Sheathes, of course."
>"Pull blows."
>"Neither. There's this trick that Cellica knows..."
>Write-in.

And how will you approach this fight?

>Aggressive, match him.
>Defensive, tire him out.
>Write-in.

>>1372968
>"Pull blows."
What could go wrong?
>Aggressive, match him.

>>1372968
>"Neither. There's this trick that Cellica knows..."
>Aggressive
I see you "What could go wrong" and I raise one.

>>1372968
>"Neither. There's this trick that Cellica knows..."
>Aggressive, match him.

>>1372968
>"Neither. There's this trick that Cellica knows..."
>Aggressive, match him.

>"Neither. There's this trick that Cellica knows..."
>Aggressive, match him.

>Writing.

>>1373089
Oh, and roll 1d20, Best of 3.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>1373096

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>1373096

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1373096

>15

Gonna be delayed a bit.

>>1372968

"Neither. There's this trick Cellica knows, blunts the blades without dulling them. It was quite useful for sparring."

Looking at Edgar, you wave him off.

"Edgar, if you will, please fetch Cellica, wherever she is."

Bowing slightly, Edgars' bowl cut bobs in the breeze.

"Yes milord, of course."

Nodding, you look back at Marcus, who is staring at you, stupid grin on his face.

"A trick, you say? Sparring? My dear Victor, have you been sparring with our lovely Cellica?"

Flashing him a smile, you wink at him.

"Yes, I have my dearest friend, Marcus, why do you ask? I assure you, I have no intentions to stop you from trying with her, but I doubt you'll get very far."

His grin growing even wider, Marcus quirks an eyebrow.

"Victor, might that be... dare I say it, a challenge?"

Shrugging, you stretch, limbering up for the sparring match.

"It isn't a challenge if I have no intentions to play, dear friend. Although I must admit I have thought of it."

Marcus, drawing his sword, twirls it around lazily while staring off into the blue sky, thinking of something, before snapping back to reality, suddenly staring into your eyes with a mischievous twinkle.

"Well then, if you've thought of it, I don't suppose you'd mind ME challenging you? Winner of this bout gets the first move. But after that, it's fair game."

Rolling your eyes, you clear your throat, and say,

>"Fine, but only to keep you from harassing the poor girl."
>"As if I'd try and stop you. Feel free to go ahead."
>"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."
>Write-in.

>>1373436
>"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."

>>1373436

>"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."

MANLY
A
N
L
Y

>>1373436
>"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."

>>1373436
>"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."

>>1373513
Writing.

File: Kathrin.jpg (51 KB, 564x1105)

51 KB JPG

>>1373436

Shrugging, you crack your knuckles, and roll your shoulders to get the blood moving.

"Sure, a good competition always warms my blood."

Marcus does the same, and takes a deep breath, smiling.

"Excellent."

Finishing up your respective stretches, you, and Marcus, stand around, making small talk as your men, led by Kathrin, who seems nonplussed to see you or Marcus here, walk to the training grounds. After giving them orders for their starting exercises, she comes to you, completely calm. Stepping next to you, she looks up at you, and raises an eyebrow.

"Sir, what might this one be doing at our morning exercises, and why are you preparing to spar him, if I may ask?"

>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."
>"We were already planning on sparring, but then I decided to give the men an example."
>"Marcus challenged me to see makes the first move on Cellica."
>Write-in.

>>1373670
>>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

>>1373670
>>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

>>1373824
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK

>Writing.

>>1373670
>>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

>>1373670
>>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

>>1373670
>"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

File: Celly.jpg (68 KB, 500x707)

68 KB JPG

>>1373670

"Oh, just a friendly bout, nothing too serious."

Raising her eyebrows, Kathrin looks from Marcus' grin, to you, and back again, but doesn't say anything, simply shrugging. You have the feeling she knows, anyways, though.

With a light, almost imperceptible smile on her face, she walks back to the rest of the men, and starts picking at one man for being too slow, another for being too fast, and yet another for being slightly out of position.

Meanwhile, Marcus is looking at you, eyebrows raised.

"THAT is your lieutenant?"

Waving it off, you look for Edgar. "Provisional."

Marcus, however, doesn't seem to want to let this go.

"Victor, you lucky dog, how many women are around you?"

"Just three at the moment."

"JUST three? Lord almighty, Victor. We're going to have a long talk, sometime. But for now," he nods behind you, where Cellica follows Edgar to your location, "it's time to spar."

Approaching the two of you, Cellica bounces up to you, waving.

"Hi, Victor!" Looking at Marcus, who gives her his usual charming smile, she responds in kind, grinning back. "What are the two of you doing? Sparring? I was told you needed me to do the trick I showed you."

Nodding, you hold out your blade for her to blunt, and she does so, drawing blood from her fingertips, which again causes you to cringe, joined by Marcus. Except Marcus, ever the thespian, lets out a short, pained cry, and drops to his knees in front of Cellica, grabbing her hands suddenly, holding them gingerly.

"Celly, my dear, I would never want you to draw blood, even for the purposes of this match. Please, refrain from spilling crimson lifesblood from your lovely fingertips, my dear!"

Cellica, confused, yet somewhat flustered, looks to you for help.

"I, uh, I, what?"

>"Marcus, stop teasing the poor girl and let her help you."
>"Oh, woe befall us if we let you mar your perfect skin- Marcus, let's get on with it."
>(Smirk and roll eyes.)
>Write-in.

>>1374027
>(Smirk and roll eyes.)

>>1374027
>>"Oh, woe befall us if we let you mar your perfect skin- Marcus, let's get on with it."

>>1374027
Actually, changing to
>"Marcus, stop teasing the poor girl and let her help you."

>>1374027
>Marcus, stop teasing the poor girl and let her help you.

>Marcus, stop teasing the poor girl and let her help you.

>Writing.

Okay, more tomorrow, gonna call it a night.

>>1374140
Alrighty

We must remain PURE.

>>1375014
screw that, The Archangel Gabriel himself wants us to tap that elf ass.

>>1375496
this

>>1375496
If a messenger of God wills it so.
Deus Vult

>>1375496
Can't believe it took divine guidance to realise Celllica a cute.

>>1377655
we are one dense crusader

is op dead?

>>1381195
hope not, I was really enjoying this quest

>>1381195
>>1381395
Ain't dead, just a liar with a really chaotic life schedule.

>>1382129
All good yute

>>1382129
Cool m8

>>1374027

Shaking your head, you chuckle.

"Marcus, stop teasing the poor girl and let her help you."

Winking at Cellica, Marcus releases her hands and stands up, handing her the sword, and letting her blunt the blade.

Looking at you, Marcus twirls the sword, and nods.

"Are you ready, my friend?"

You grin.

"Of course."

Dropping into a forward stance, you give him a cocksure grin and edge towards him quickly, preparing to warding off any blows with your sword.

>(Test his reactions, give a few test swipes.)
>(Rush him, get inside his guard.)
>(Swing low, batter his legs.)

>>1382933
>(Swing low, batter his legs.)

>>1382933
>>(Swing low, batter his legs.)

>(Swing low, batter his legs.)

>Writing.

>>1382937
>>1382971
>>1382998
DISHONOR

>>1383024
Marcus started it by flirting with our elf waifu

>>1382933

You've got to reduce his mobility, so you can control this match. Stepping around his swing, to the right, you deliver a solid blow to the thigh, causing him to wince, and skip back.

He laughs, and starts to try and start banter to get you to drop your guard, somewhat, but you don't fall for it, instead lashing out with your foot, kicking him in the shin. Frowning, he nods.

He's taking this seriously, now. Good.

Rushing at you, Marcus does the same, smacking your thigh, and kicking you in the shin, sporting a triumphant grin as he lands the blows. Swiping at him quickly, you catch him in the shoulder before he dances away,

Trading blows, back and forth, it quickly devolves into a slugfest, a test of strength and endurance. Luckily, you are the stronger of the two, although Marcus is quicker.

Catching a strike on your crossguard, you chop down at Marcus' shoulder, and land a hit that, judging by the amount of force, will leave it numb for a bit. Rushing forward, you lean forward, and use your shoulder to ram into Marcus' chest, making him let out a grunt of surprise.

Raising your sword to his throat, you grin, and cheekily ask him, "So, do you surrender?"

Rolling his eyes, Marcus nods.

"Alright, you lucky dog, I do. And I'll honor the challenge, too. But if you don't actually do anything, and just use this as an excuse to keep me from trying...."

Laughing, you lower your sword, and clap him on the back.

>"Sorry, but that's exactly what it is."
>"Nah, I didn't really care about the 'reward,' it was the challenge that interested me. Go for it."
>"Don't worry, I'll think about it."
>Write-in.


Yeaaah, sorry for the short update, but I've gotta slep nao. I'm tired as fuck, and I've classes on the morrow.Open voting until next update.

>>1383115
>>"Don't worry, I'll think about it."

>>1383115
>>"Don't worry, I'll think about it."

>>1383115
>"Don't worry, I'll think about it."

>>1383115
>"Don't worry, I'll think about it."

>>1383115
>"Don't worry, I'll think about it

Walk towards Celica and invite her to take a walk with us

>>1383462
Seconded.

>>1383462
Supporting

>>1383462
This