File: death or glory.gif (20 KB, 422x612)

20 KB GIF

Its the same dream again, it comes almost every other night. You have been visited by this dream so often you have begun to recognize it as one, even in your sleep. Siting alone and isolated in an all encompassing darkness you feel like something is watching you. Yet you feel no dread, you don’t feel anything, at this point you just want it all to end. Then you start to feel it again, like you always do. It starts at your ankles and moves up your legs until it reaches your throat. A constricting invisible feeling like you are being squeezed to death by a translucent snake. Its squeezes tighter and tighter until you eventually awake. But its different this time, this time you feel a pinching sensation, it hurts. On your arms, on your face, and on your legs. It stings like tiny hooks entering your skin and pulling until the skin breaks.

File: 151.png (17 KB, 422x700)

17 KB PNG

Eventually you awaken. You open your eyes to the sight of a stately crow perched on your shoulder. He leans in and before he has a chance to peck your eye out, you come to your senses and brush him off. The damn sky rats are all over you and they are attempting to pick you apart! As you jump up and look around for your bow the crows have already fled high into the sky. They have been trailing you for the past two days, and every day their audacity and courage grows as they seem reluctant to wait for you to become a corpse. Eventually, you sit back down and press your back to the lone tree that is the singular structure for miles around. The farmer and his wife were right, there is really nothing out here at all. Its been a while since you left the farmers with the rabbits you had found on their property. You came out all this way in hopes to compose yourself and figure yourself out. But are you better now? Have these strange thoughts and feelings put themselves away? Who can tell? You defiantly feel fine, but the way you feel when alone is not the issue, you are master of that already. The real question is how you will be when reunited with OTHER people? You hope that its safe for you to return, so much has been left undone.

File: 152.png (30 KB, 700x700)

30 KB PNG

Opening your bag you pull out a [Ration] and eat it, the crows voice their displeasure as they caw at you from high up in the sky. Just outside of arrows reach, its almost like they know. Their shouts almost deafen out the sound of hooves. Peeking around the tree you see a rider getting closer, at first you think its Jackson but soon realize its just one of the solders from the fort. They must be out looking for you. A part of you wants to thank the crows, if they had not woken you up he may have found you while you slept. But on the other hand, they are probably what drew this riders attention in the first place. As he approaches the tree his horse slows down to a trot, dismounting he heads towards your hiding spot. He probably hasn’t seen you yet but there is no hiding that you were here, your stuff is still scattered around your camp site and there is nothing but open grass land for miles around.

>What do?

File: I fall in love, to pass t(...).png (14 KB, 422x700)

14 KB PNG

Also:
2 days have passed, today is the dawn of the 5th Day.
You gain +1 HP
You lose 5 [Rations]

>>2764691
>Use our woodsmany stealth skills and hide in the grass until he leaves.

>>2764691
Hide behind the big tree. There's only one of him and the tree looks very wide, so if we just keep on the opposite side of the tree as him while he circles around it, he'll never know we're there. We're also an experienced rogue in light armor, and he's in heavy armor, so we should be quicker and more agile than he is. Even if he tries to feint and reverse directions as we circle around the tree, or if he tries to suddenly poke his head around the other side and catch us, I think we stand a pretty good chance of anticipating and countering his move.

Great art, got any more tasty ones like the first picture OP?

>>2764691
Hide
>>2764810
There's a whole archive full of pictures m8

>>2764691
I kinda want to go back guys, it's been enough and there's only death waiting for us here

do not hide but don't approach, ask him what he wants

>>2764988
This, he knows we've been here and that we most likely will need to gather our stuff so he can play the waiting game.
Just ask him what he wants and be ready skiddadle if he tries anything funny

>>2764691
How about a best of 2 worlds here? Kae should attempt to remain hidden behind the tree & watch the solider. If we can gauge that he's not overtly hostile we "could" talk to him when he has his back turned/returning to their horse. (Let's not talk to him right away considering he's got his sword already out/could be a bandit who nicked some fancy gear )

>691.Love is a Burden – Jamestown Revival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr5j5bsNzQI

>>2764691
Staying stealthy and possibly confronting him so long as he doesn't seem hostile seems like a solid option

>>2764691
Thiw a rock to make noise in a differnt part new you to draw him off

>>2764767
This sounds cool

>>2764988
>>2765041
Let's go with that. It's about time to go back.

File: 153.png (17 KB, 422x700)

17 KB PNG

You decide the best bet is to try and stay hidden for as long as you can and asses the situation. As the man approaches, you try and keep the tree in between the two of you and keep yourself out of sight. [Conceal: Success] Listening to the mans footsteps you keep in step and circle around the tree. You’re confident that he has not seen you but you sure do make an odd sight for his horse, it watches you intently. You have seen horses before but have never touched one or much less ridden one . Its presence is a nuisance, since as long as it lives, it means there is no out running this man if he realizes you are here. Peeking out from the other side of the tree you see the soldier standing over all your stuff, he kneels down and runs his his hands over the patch of dirt where you had slept. [Hunter] You can tell that this man has some knowledge of tracking, it won't be long until he figures things out. You try to asses the danger he poses to you, the facts as you know them: He has his sword drawn and in hand, he could be a bandit, Jackson could have sent them to hunt you, he is well armoured. Silently stepping closer you examine him, you DO want to go back. But you are not sure you want to go back on THIS persons terms. The crows scream at you trying to give away your position but he doesn’t pay them any attention. You watch him for a while as he starts to look through your things. You mull the idea that this person could be used as a fountain of information. Suddenly you see the hairs of his neck start to stand on end. He has reached an epiphany, you can SMELL the fear on him. You know, he knows you are here, but he probably doesn’t know that you know he knows. For maybe another second you have an advantage over him, if you don't use this chance to get the drop on him its anyone’s guess what will happen next. You feel surprisingly calm.

>what do?

>>2764810
Thank you, I do my best. All my art is on my tumber or in the achieves

>>2770508
>"Looking for something?"
>Be ready to dodge if he swings at us

>>2770508
Draw our blade and hold it atop his shoulder by his neck. From there we can question him and see if he's a bandit out for our blood. If we find out that he's no threat, then we can put our weapon away and talk more civilly.

>>2770508
KILL

>>2770508
Knock him out

>>2770628
This. Not that OP seems to be actually counting votes.

>>2770634
I would say knock him out by hiting him on the head with the blunt sode of the sword or thr pommel
Tie him up then start talking with him

File: 1532831056508.png (62 KB, 211x198)

62 KB PNG

>murder
>assault
>threats of violence
shiggy diggy

>>2770710
Yeah, there are some real spastics voting today

>>2770735
I know like y kill him it wont help us any bit
And will only make going back into town harder.
Like just talk to the guy with your bow ready to shoot him

>>2770703
Going straight to violence wouldn't really be my first choice. And besides, going to a blunt hit to the head with a guy wearing a helmet doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

>>2770753
Pacifying him from a distance with a bow and arrow sounds like a decent alternative tho

>>2770628
Supporting
Let's try to get one of our weapons first, the bow being preferable since we're all-around quicker than him on foot.
A bandit wouldn't go alone and his gear is too good for that.
It's either a soldier sent by Jackson or a bounty hunter.

>>2770628
this

>>2770628
This, let's not give in to the beast's desire of violence
>>2770703
I doubt that would work with that helmet, and this setting is pretty gritty, a blow to the side of the head has more chance of killing him or doing permanent damage than knocking him out cold hollywood style

>>2770950
Was just trying to get people aeay from kill the guy

Unless you know what your doing knocking someone out is pretty hard to do you ether dont hit hard enguh or you kill them.
Bow seems to be the safests

>>2770628
This.

>>2770628
This sounds pretty reasonable. What's the worst that can happen?

>>2770508
>>2770628
Eh... good enough.

508. Buying Goods At Palmira Evergrace OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGJbuHUbw8k

>>2764681
This gril is a qt! I’m interested.

>>2772136
Too bad that Kae is gonna die

>>2772207
Oh no. Has she at least lost her virginity yet :^)?

>>2772234
don't be silly anon, she is not married yet :^)

>>2772239
That’s the right answer, anon.

All caught up now. This is a really neat quest, def gonna stay and see how it goes!

>>2772483
if you are staying remember man, DO NOT FEED THE BEAST, not even jokingly, our sadistic QM takes everything we say in account hehehe

>>2772487
Then we do as all teenage girls do! Masturbate and cry our problems away! I mean deal with it like a tough young woman!

>>2770628
We need to be better than the beast.

File: 154.png (12 KB, 422x700)

12 KB PNG

You consider, for a moment, removing his helmet and bashing him over the head with it. But maybe thats the “other you” talking... Instead you breath in and decide to talk this out, you really hope you wont be dodging any sword swings today.
Kae: “looking for something?”
You can see him jump a little, yet he keeps his composure as he slowly turns around and look up at you.
Kae: “Are you hungry? I don’t have much left but I can share. Im not looking for a fight”
He stands up and places his sword back in his scabbard
Soldier: “Are you lady Kae?”
Kae: “You know the proper thing to do when approaching someones campsite is to announce your presence, not creep your way over sword drawn then start asking questions.”
He nods his head and takes off his helmet, beneath is the face of a young man in his early twentys, he seems a bit flustered.
Soldier: “I apologize, the truth is I didn’t know if anyone was actually here. I saw the crows circling over head and thought It best to be prepared. My name is Robert, im a scout in the kings royal army. I have been sent in search for lady Kae and Sir Jackson Stonewalls, I believe that may be you. You match the description.”
After giving him an ocular pat down you decide that he poses you no threat. After all, you are a master judge of character, what could possibly go wrong?
Kae: “I am Kae, but i'm no lady. What can I help you with?”
He pulls out a scroll from his bag and passes it to you, before you get a chance to open it he starts explaining to you its contents
Soldier: “You have been summoned by the lord commander Jeraldo, you are to immediately return to the Kings Gambit Fortress to seek an audience. Failure to do so will brand you an enemy of the army and by extension, the enemy of his Majesty King Illafine Edward Bismar. This summons is not refutable, and is not susceptible to challenge.”
The scroll itself contains a sea of words, its too early in the morning for you to read through the entire thing yourself so you have to trust in the brief summarization given to you. This definitely makes you feel worried, the ol' survival instinct flares up.
Kae: “What are things looking like back there? Are they out for my head? Give it to me strait.”
Soldier: “Im afraid I don’t know what the commander wants, but I have been ordered to extend every courtesy befitting one of your standing... Unless you try to escape the summons. I hope that you will not try to escape.”
Kae: “And if I try to escape?”
The soldier starts to look confused.
Soldier: “I uh, have never had someone dismiss a summons from the commander before. I guess you would be branding yourself 'enemy of the kingdom' and susceptible to everything that comes with that.”

what do?

File: Rember Happy Day2.jpg (9 KB, 300x442)

9 KB JPG

QM NOTE: Im on my last week of school before break. Faster updates with more content coming soon!

>>2775500
...Meh. Just yoink the thing and shoo him off. We'll see what it says when we're actually coherent. We'll be on our way shortly, just let us...y'know. Bloody wake up.

>>2775500
Ask him for his waterskin, take a sip and them splash some water on your face to wake up, then we read this scroll.

>>2775500
Well this sounds bad. The only option here for Kae is to follow the knight and answer Commander Jeraldo's summons
Anything other than that and we become a fugitive. I don't think Kae wants this and besides, she wanted to return didn't she?

>>2775500
Read the letter and return with the soldier.

he mentioned sir Stonewalls, is he missing?

>>2775592
>>2775604
>>2775688
All of this and a bag of Kaes.

>"Lets go look for Jackson then"
>Pack up and walk towards the horse
>>2775592
And lets ask for some water while we are at it

File: pAE6vnz.jpg (307 KB, 1400x1977)

307 KB JPG

>>2775836
>>2775592
>indirectu kissaru part 2

>>2776191
oh fuk don't tell me Kae is gonna fall in love with this knight too.

>>2775500
Well then glade we didnt fuck this guy up sems nice.
It says right away but couod we look for jackboy frist then we go back??
Plases mister give him puppy dog eyes or something.
Im down for splashing our face with his water.
Thoguh this sumons is super dramatic like dose the commander do this with everyone the dicj head.

>>2776270
dafuq

File: 1504801467952.png (28 KB, 1820x80)

28 KB PNG

>>2775500
>he seems a bit flustered
Cute! Is he the same twink who got embarrassed during training?

Go with him, whatever the summons is it's probably not worse than being a wanted criminal.

>>2776191
Where do I get one of those books?

>>2776278
Im haply thatbwe didnt kill him.

Mybe ask thr nice boy if we can look for jackboy and give him puppy dog eyes befor he takes us back, mybe splash ourslfs with water.
Is that better?

yup ask about our love Jack, hope he is alright after what we did

>>2776323
nigga wat

>>2776353
I hope he didn't get Kae's evil berserker aids.

>>2776477
>implying we didn't get it from him

>>2776513
we got from those clothes we got from the devil's house when ignored his warning

>>2776539
I meant he was probably tainted in a similar manner before we even met him

>>2775500
Question him about Jackson before we go, find out exactly if he's missing too and if he knows the reason why. Also, read the fine print on the paper before we return with him to the castle.

Things seem a little dire, but if we return I imagine we can use our friendship with Jeraldo's daughter to avoid getting thrown into a cell or burnt at a stake.

>>2776539
Kae got it when she was originally swallowed by the darkness in the magic user's cave.

>>2776513
>>2777042
Combination of these two I think.

File: 057.gif (395 KB, 422x612)

395 KB GIF

>>2777042
I think this is the case

>>2775500
Go with him ask more about Jackson being gone.
More importantly, don't drink his water. We've got Jackson and kissing other people should be the last thing on our mind after we mouth raped someone.

>>2778445
>
yeah this

File: IMG_2548.jpg (54 KB, 681x1024)

54 KB JPG

>>2778445
Or we could just pour the water into our mouthhole, no rape needed.

>>2778468
don't we have water?

File: 155.png (12 KB, 422x700)

12 KB PNG

Uuugh, its to early for this shit. A bad dream is turning into an uncomfortable reality. Maybe it really is for the best to go back, its what you were planning to do anyway. You try and shoo him away and get yourself some space but he doesn’t give you more then a few steps. You pull out your waterskin and try to take a drink from it , only to find it empty. The last had a chance to refill it was when you met the farmer couple, but that was two days ago. You look over at Robert and he is ready with his own waterskin.
Robert: “Please, help yourself “
You cant help but feel reminded of Jackson, you once shared a similar situation with him. He even reminds you a little bit of Jackson. You take his water skin and slowly start to bring it to your lips. But then reconsider, “t-this is still an indirect kiss” you think. Y-you dont even know this man! What would Jackson think? No, its not right, you’re not “that” kind of girl. You and Jackson are in a very committed relationship, of sorts... It would be wrong to go around sharing indirect kisses with random people, especially not when you just had a big fight. No no no, you would rather be thirsty then betray Jackson's trust! So instead you simply pour the water out into your palm and splash it onto your face to wash the morning away. You talk a little more with Robert but he doesn’t seem to know anything useful. You dont feel like eating him alive and thats a pretty good start.

After, you decide that it may be in your best interest to actually read what the scroll says. Sitting down you try and get comfortable its going to be a long read. Robert, watches you with a noticeable curiosity. He clearly has many questions he wants to ask but holds back, he called you “lady” Kae so he must assume you are a person of some station. He also doesn’t seem to mind being ignored by you and keeping quite. It may be pretty common for him to be treated this way, unfortunately you don’t have the time to worry about his feelings when you yourself are so sleep deprived and ache all over. The scroll itself is very confusing, it somehow manages to say what Robert told you in a few sentences in several paragraphs. [Bushman] along with listing the kings full name and all his predecessors and a long opening paragraph about the divine right of kings, it uses extremely long words that you have never heard before. Normally you would interpret their meaning by the context in which they are used but in the case of this document it strings word after word, that you don’t understand the meaning of, together. In the end you spend about an hour of you life trying to dissect some deeper meaning from the text but you don’t come up with anything. You do notice that this scroll doesn’t just call you to summons, but Jackson as well. Now that you are a little more awake you turn to the soldier and ask...


.

Kae: You said... Youre looking for Jackson? Does that mean he is missing?
Robert: Does that mean you are not travelling with him?
He takes a look around himself and sees only you, obviously.
Robert: I suppose your not travelling with him, that’s not good.
You were simply fretting before but now your full on worried. After all, what ever happened to Jackson may very well be your fault. Careful not to show your emotions, you bluntly tell him
Kae: “Then we must look for him”
Soldier: “I think we should go back first...”
[Attractive:Success]You gently place your hand on the mans shoulder and look him in the eyes.
Kae: “Well I think we should stay and look for Jackson, together”
He seems reluctant but you look at him and nod your head until he too is nodding his head
Robert: “I guess, if i'm with you it should be fine...”
Good, this man may remind you a bit of Jackson but he clearly doesn’t have his steel. You get him to help you collect your things before heading towards his horse. “don’t worry Jack, ill find you, ill make this right.”

>Where do you want to search for Jackson?
>we never really put looking for Jackson to a real vote, if you want to just go back and not look for him I don’t mind retconing a bit. I just felt this conversation was taking a bit too long

>>2781558
Start looking in that place we were told Jackson went to when we were escaping.

>>2781655
yeah, he went to a different direction then us, we will inevitably pass the farmers too, so ask them if they saw another knight(other that the one with us) passing by

>>2781558
Let's go to his last known location(where he went look for his helmet) and start tracking him like the [bushwoman] we are. He is in plate and probably doesn't know how to cover his tracks, we can find him

>>2781558
my vote is for not searching for Jackson, just go back. Not like we know where to look anyway

>>2781558
>Look for Jackson
Ask the knight where he thinks Jackson might be. Who knows, they could be close friends, brothers even

>>2781558
Start looking in that place we were told Jackson went to when we were escaping

>>2781558
Might as well search the last known location & work are way from there. Even though it's considerably doubtful were going to find any remaining evidence considering the self imposed time skip. Kaes hunting skills + open area should help with searching for some tracks (assuming the rain didn't wash it away). I can think of two possible outcomes we can discern IF were able to find tracks/evidence.

>1: Jackson wondered off out of sight in order to not be seen by people. Therefore he is currently freezing/starving/beaten/bruised/bleeding/bled to death in the open plains/forest
>2.J. was captured by bandits (previously alluded to). Therefore he is currently freezing/starving/bruised(us)/beaten(bandits)/bleeding/bled out/robbed/beaten somewhere out of sight. (probably dragged off back into the forest or a form of shelter far enough to be out of sight of the fortress, but close enough to operate from. Assuming he wasn't just shanked & left for dead)
All good outcomes for Team Justice desu.

>558. Elysium (S3RL Remix) – Special D & Scott Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGUvwdUzA4

>>2781551
He clearly didn't travel this way, which means he must have went in another direction entirely.

>>2781669
>>2781706
Basically this. We need to retrace our steps. It's been a few days, but we may still be able to track him down now that we have a horse. If Kae can't find anything outside of the castle/fort, going back and asking around there first will be necessary. Might as well report to the summons at that point.

>>2781558
>Search for jackson

>>2783549
>>2783615
+1

File: Today is gonna be the day.png (7 KB, 448x313)

7 KB PNG

No update today, again. I just realized I accidentally saved my second image over my first image destroying it forever. After spending some time in a deep depression over it, I decided NOT to quit the quest forever and fall of the face of the earth. But I cant go about redrawing it today I dont have it in me.

Sorry friends

>>2787865
Do you have previous versions saved, say in the Properties of the image?

>>2787870
No, im not even sure when the new image saved over the old one. I just came here to post my stuff and saw that the first image was replaced by the skeleton of the second image. At some point the program must have saved over it for some reason. I may have clicked something on accident at some point I dont know how it happened.

>>2787872
shit man, that's rough, we wait no worries

>>2787872
Don't worry man, we'll be patient.

>>2787865
Man that sucks
Il be waiting

>>2787865
Losing progress like that feels terrible. Take as long as you need.

>>2787865
>saved my second image over my first image destroying it forever
I want to shoot myself when this happens. But I keep multiple backups of projects generally.

File: 156.png (19 KB, 422x700)

19 KB PNG

>>2788361
>>2788357
>>2788291
>>2788279
>>2787937
Thanks guys, I know im not churning out gold here but I put lots of effort and love into these doodles.

[~START~]

As you walk towards the horse, it becomes immediately apparent that it doesn’t like you. He jumps, frets, and nays with each step you take in its direction. You cant deny that the feeling is mutual though, you have never trusted large animals. A feeling that was reinforced when one gored your uncle to death. As you get closer the horse stands on its back legs and threatens to stomp you to death, luckily it gave you plenty of time and space to read its gesture before getting too close. Robert runs ahead of you and grabs the horse by the reins in an effort to calm it down. He pets the horse gently on its neck.
Robert: “Relax Franklin, relax, its fine”
The horse seems to indeed relax but not by much, it keeps one nervous eye on you at all times.
Robert: “I don't know whats gotten into him, hes usually very friendly”
Kae: “You gave it a persons name?”
Robert: “I didnt name him myself, but the horsemaster gives all the horses human names. I think the idea is that we will treat a 'Franklin' better then a 'Dusty'”
It takes a while for Robert to calm the horse down enough for you to approach, it takes even longer to get the horse to accept you as a rider. It takes every trick, and carrot, in Roberts arsenal to accomplish the task. When you are finally up on the horse you cant help but feel the horse's animosity through the saddle. Robert does his best to give you a crash course on horse ridding.
Robert: “Let your hips move with the horse, if you stay too rigid it going to end up giving you back pains and the ride will be pretty uncomfortable.”
Eventually he joins you ontop of the horse and the two of you head back in the direction of the fortress.
Robert: “So do you have any idea where he may be?”
You mull it over for a moment.
Kae: “Yeah, I have an idea where to start. Just keep heading towards the fortress for now. ”

Your journey is much faster on horseback, even though Robert keeps the horse at relaxed pace. As you move into the farmland you notice all the long wheat grass has been cut already. You wonder what they do with all of it. The silence is a bit too awkward for you to handle, so you try to make some conversation with your chaperone.
Kae: “Do you have any idea where Jackson could be?”
Robert: “Me? No, I don't. We were all sent in every direction in search for the two of you. Some local farmers here said they saw you heading this way, and the crows gave your position away. It was pretty lucky that I even found you.”
Kae: “Oh, so I guess you probobly don't know Jackson personally. I thought maybe you were his brother or a fellow knight or something.”
[Attractive: Success]Robert: “A knight? I gave you that impression? Well I-haa I mean im not NOT a knight. Its not a title or anything... As swords and horses go, im pretty knightly”
He liked that you mistook him for a knight, he doesn’t like that you no longer see him as one. He wants you to like him, you can smell it all over him. His grip on you tightens as the horse starts to suddenly fidget restlessly.
Robert: “Everyone always says im the brave one, and im also the best swordsmen at the fortress! Really I am! Maybe I can give you some pointers on sword fighting, when all this is sorted out... or something.”
You start to feel a little bit restless yourself..
Kae: “I think we should hurry to our destination, I don’t want to keep Jackson waiting.”
Robert: “Right. Jackson. So where did you say he could be?”

File: 157.png (16 KB, 422x700)

16 KB PNG

As you travel past the farmlands and back into the town you explain your thought process to your companion. The most logical place to start searching would be Jackson's last known location, the forestry area behind the fortress. If you’re lucky the rain wouldn’t have washed away his tracks. Robert seems more receptive to the whole thing then before. Possibly due to the idea of knighthood, and the adventure that goes along with it, being incepted into his mind. He takes the long way around the fortress though, clearly he doesn’t want to be seen “interpreting orders” on your behalf.

Eventually you arrive at your destination at about midday. The horse ride, thought much faster then walking, is not instantaneous travel and “Franklin” was apparently not in the best of moods to swiftly carry the two of you. Jumping off the horses back, you find you legs quit weak and almost collapse. You’re still strained from the past two weeks and have yet to have a single comfortably rested nights sleep [- 1 STR, until you get some long overdue rest]. Just as you think you will be able to stand up right and save yourself the embarrassment the horse headbutts you, sending you into the dirt. Robert is quick to help you up and apologize again, you hope they turn the horse into a stew.
Robert: “Well, what now?”
You sit back on a tree stump and try to rest your legs.
Kae: “Im just going to rest here a moment, why don’t you start by doing some tracking? See what you can find”
He agrees but he seems reluctant to leave you out of his sight, you watch him as he feigns to do some tracking, never moving too far away from you. He probably thinks you wont notice, but it looks like you’re stuck with Robert until you go to the fortress or kill him.

>>2789985
>doodles
these ain't doodles, these are art

After some rest you force yourself back up, it aches all over of course but you are used to it now. The constant pains have become your life. [Hunter] You start your search on the out skirts of the woodland and work your way inwards. There are many tracks and they could belong to anyone, so it takes some time to narrow it all down. Robert follows you with great interest, his own tracking skills pale in comparison to yours. He asks lots of questions and you answer him the best you can, it feels nice teaching someone about the things you know so well. Its only later that you come to suspect that he probably didn’t care about the tracking at all, he simply wanted to talk with you. Unfortunately in the end you don’t come up with much, you almost lose all hope until you spot something glittering in the distance. As the sunlight pierces through the canopy of a tree, it lights up Jackson's helmet like a beacon. Now so clearly in view, you walk over to it and kneel down before picking it up in your hands. I guess he never found it, you caress the helmet in your hands lovingly. Robert looks down over your shoulder
Robert: “well what now? ”
you’re honestly not sure, you found his gear but no signs of Jackson.
Robert: “Maybe we should head back? At least to replace the horse”

>What do?

>>2789994
This is a lead, this has his scent....maybe we can follow it....


but really though, we have to stop being noce to Robert, we don't want that thing to wake up

keep searching the area around the helmet, try to pick up footsteps or pieces of fabric, marks that someone with a heavy armor would leave. If we find nothing until sundown we go back to the castle for the summons

>>2789994
It took us this long just to find a helmet. Finding Jackson himself will probably take days. Head back and see what Jeraldo wants

>>2790164
Backing this

>>2789994
Head back to town

>>2790164
This. We need a horse, and hopefully not eat poor Robert. I mean, Kae should probably warn him or something, about her "erratic" behavior.

>>2791083
Well i think animals know that something is wrong with us and want nathing to do with out.
As his horse has shown

>>2791106
Might be the case. Best to make sure.

>>2791083
holy shit don't mention anything for him, we go to the castle and we won't need to see him never again. just go back to the summons and see what the chief wants


speculation: we should probably think in reasons to flee the castle the same day Jackson did and leaving a note on his daughters room that should have been guarded, man those guards are going to be in deep shit if he knows about the letter

>>2791083
why the hell would we tell Robert anything? What purpose would it serve besides alerting and possibly alienating him away from us? You know how superstitious these people are.
Keep quiet

>>2789994
Go to the audience with Jeraldo. We got his helmet and a starting point, we can look for him after the meeting

File: 158.png (10 KB, 398x613)

10 KB PNG

>>2791302
A peculiar impulse compels you.
Kae: “Yea, sure. Lets go back now, why dont you get the horse ready? Ill be along shortly”
Robert seems pretty happy to hear you relent, and he does as instructed. Turning your attention back to the helmet you stare deep into the visor's opening, maybe if you fixate on it long enough you can get some clue as to where Jackson could have went. That impulse rises again. You turn your head to see if Robert is around; his back is turned. So, you slowly bring the helmet up to your face, and inhale it. It smells of blood and metal, it smells of Jackson. Yet, there is another scent, one you cant quit place. You turn the helmet over and over and take small sniffs, trying to to find the source of this mesmerizing essence. It smells nostalgic, it smells like a memory, it smells of a time and place that you cant remember. You soon find yourself placing the helmet over your entire face trying to inhale the entire lifetime that pours out of this metal symphony of time and space.

[Hunter] everything around you starts to blur and time is elsewhere. One hand is an anchor holding metal tightly while the other moves across sand. There is blood close to here, a trail of blood that you can follow. You slither across the dunes in search of it, and you find it in great abundance. A voice calls out to you, but its just noise.
????: “Kastr akwrmupf skenwyx pff od jdfoigp eeaa sdytfdut”
The trail comes and goes, the prey was searching, searching for its anchor, but it found nothing. The heat is intense, it burns your skin so you bury yourself deep within the sand and rise up again. Over and over you repeat this process as you navigate the endless desert. Your hunger grows great and greater as it compels you forward. The trail comes here, but then it returns back to that castle in the sky from where it first descended to your world. Yet it is no longer there either, you know its not there. You know this because you already know where it has gone.
????: “Kae wehre are ouy ginog? Iewt”
They try to hold you, to restrain you. But you are the great worm, non can stop your hunt. Non can satisfy your great hunger. You can feel them trying to stop you, to hold you, from across the great void they tug and pull but your strength is great. You drag them across the great desert, you are the ceaseless devourer and you crave the greatest banquet of all. Up in the sky, to the north, that blazing thing, the sun, the king, the father. Only its endless radiance can ever hope to fill the bottomless pit inside you. The sun bleeds.
????: “What the hell is this? STOP!”

You slowly turn your head around and see a face, yet you don’t recognize it at first. You slowly and painfully try to get your bearings. You are surrounded by some trees and high above you looms a great fortress. Off in the distance you see a riderless horse in full flight disappearing into the horizon. This man, you know him, your name is Kae and... something else?
Robert: “Kae are you alright? Can you hear me?”
Behind Robert you notice a trail left behind by his boots as if he was dragged several feet. Of course, you remember only bits and pieces. But with great clarity you remember the sun, a blood red sun.
Kae: “R-Robert? Sorry I was just, A trail. I noticed a trail...”
The way Robert seems to look at you has changed, irreversibly. You unnerve him now, he wants to be rid of you.
Robert: “I think we should go to back immediately, you can look far Jackson later”
with some reluctance:
Kae: “...ok”
Now horseless, the two of you walk back to the fortress. Robert doesn’t say anything to you, and keeps his distance. His hand nervously clings to his sword.

>you place Jackson's helmet into your inventory.

File: 159.png (13 KB, 422x700)

13 KB PNG

Arriving back at the fortress is bitter sweet. You don’t feel like you found 'yourself' out in the wilds, but a part of you never wanted to leave in the first place. The harvest festival cant come soon enough, and your desire to speak with Ratko gains agency with every fresh nightmare and vision. Youre stuck sorting out demons on your own until then.

Everything seems the same as when you left it, the only difference now seems to be the large bushels of bound wheat stacked up in the courtyard. Its later in the day and the villagers have started packing up the market place before heading home. As for you, Robert was fast to leave you in the hands of someone else. First you are given to the gate guards, who send you to the gate house captain, who makes you wait, before giving you over to some men to escort to the barracks, where you again have to wait before getting escorted to the main logistics building, where you are told to wait. You feel pretty low priority, and this actually makes you a bit happy. Maybe they will let you on your way soon. You wonder where Nathalie is, you would very much lie kto see her again. Eventually, you are taken to a small corner office, inside is Jeraldo looking over some papers. The guards that accompanied you sit you down in a chair in front of Jeraldo's desk. Of course, Jeraldo doesn’t look up form his papers but lets you sit in silence for several minute. [INT] You have seen this tactic before, you wonder if all of this hasn’t been a show to put you at ease. Maybe you’re just over thinking it though, you’ve always been pretty skittish.

Eventually Jeraldo waves the guards out of the room, they close the door as they leave. The moment the door closes the old man looks up at you, into your eyes, and into your soul.
Jeraldo: “Go ahead and tell me everything. You shouldn’t feel like you need to protect Jackson, because he doesn’t need protecting. I can assure you, I already know everything, so the more you lie and the more you keep to yourself. The worse things will be for you.”

>What do?

>>2792775
He's full of shit, he doesn't know everything or he wouldn't be asking.

But we can tell him that something happened to us when we cleared out the witch fortress, we don't understand why but cant trust ourselves around people until we fix it. Jackson left on his own after we mauled him.

>>2792775
>"If you already know *everything*, there shouldnt be anything to tell you."
>Tell him we dont know where Jackson is. Mention we were even helping to look for him

He probably knows nothing. Going to the length of threatening us is kinda scary though

>>2792775
Whatever happens don't tell these superstitious witch-fearing people that there's something wrong with Kae

>>2792831
Ooly shit don't tell anything about that to him, do you want to get us burned at the stake?

>>2792775
We had a big fight, I was not being myself and I said things I shouldn't to him. He left my room and I was devastated about fighting with him, I decided to go to the woods to try and find myself, maybe all this time in a city made me forget what I am. I left that night and was already heading back when your man found me.

Where is Jackson, why did he leave?

>>2792775
I dont realy know what happened.
Me and jackson had a fight, then i wake up hours latter notknowing what had happened, so walked about sore a very strange man walking about.
Made sure he wasnt up to anything.
Then i left to find jackson.
Is there something wrong?

>>2793024
Also, tell him he shoudn't have worried about us, we an handle ourselves on the wild so we didn't need the help from a knight.


In Kae's head this is all about her disappearing during the night, so we are trying to tell him that it was a fight between us, we are sorry we left so abruptanly but he didn't have to worry. But now we are worried about Jackson since if he is not here he is probably looking for us

>>2792775
holy shit, the snifing coment payd off

now, a couple of things

we know Jackson went North now but this part:
> that blazing thing, the sun, the king, the father. Only its endless radiance can ever hope to fill the bottomless pit inside you. The sun bleeds.
makes me think he is in danger or hurt!

we have to hurry, we may not be able to stay here for the festival guys, Jackson needs us..

as for what to say, we have to clear up things with Jeraldo so we can continue our search for jackson so

this>>2793080

ask him where has jackson gone to

>>2792831
This. What's the worst that can happen?

>>2794857
man, did you read the quest? this option is clearly trolling and insane man. you know this leads to our death, don't be like that

>>2794883
Fucking this, sojourner is just waiting in anticipation to murder Kae in the worst way possible and sometimes it seems like you guys just wanna let him do it.
we can't tell the superstitious, paranoid witch-fearing people that Kae is fucked up by evil magic duuuude
oh and also backing this one>>2793080

>>2794979
+1

>>2794883
I think it will be entertaining. But that's like, just my opinion, man.

>>2795858
entertaining to get her thrown into a dungeon and killed or something? You know the qm won't hold our hand if we do something stupid right? he will straight up murder us like he said he would, and not create some comic misunderstanding scenario
Look I know some of you guys like to see Kae suffer for some reason but we have to at least try to not sabotage her every choice right?

I'm sorry if I came out as an asshole while trying to say this, man, you are entitled to your opinion about what you think it would be fun I just didn't think you realized the full consequences of that option

>>2795862
I get where you're coming from, anon. But I don't think neither you nor I know the full consequences of any option. A while back the most "logical" option lead to Kae almost getting killed by Jackson. It was entertaining though. My suggestions won't be suicidal, I can promise you that. So I don't think spilling the beans will lead to Kae's death (though it might, who knows!).

File: 160.png (16 KB, 422x700)

16 KB PNG

if (dice(6) >= 5){
confess about the dark magic
}
else{
Keep your secret
}

You rolled: 4

Leaving no room for nuance, Jeraldo is strait to the point. “He must be bullshiting”, you think, he doesn’t know anything, why else would he be asking? His plan must be to trick you into confessing more then you should. You wont be taking the bait today.
Kae: “If you already know 'everything', there shouldnt be anything to tell yo-."
Jeraldo replies immediately, his words are sharp. It seems like he didn’t like your smug reply.
Jeraldo: “Its a test. Obviously"
Kae: “A test? What exactly are you testing for?"
Jeraldo: “intelligence”
What an odd response, what does that exactly mean? He is testing your intelligence? Its hard to understand what game Jeraldo is playing here but you don't see any other way out of this predicament other than playing his game.
Jeraldo: “Please, start from after the dinner party”
[Carisma: Failure]
Kae: “ok uhh, lets see."
You scratch your head for a moment, you remember attacking Jackson so vividly that it has obscured your memory of everything else that happened that night.
Kae: “Ok, yes, so me and Jackson left together. But then when we got to our room, Jackson got upset that you put us in a room together. Im not sure why."
You whisper the last part to yourself and Jeraldo seems pleased to hear Jackson was upset.
Kae: “We talked for a bit then... we got into a fight, and I got mad at him. Stupid reason over nothing really."
Jeraldo starts using his hand to support his head, he starts to look pretty bored already. Still, you continue with your rendition of events.
Kae: “Then he left and I decided I need some time to myself so I went to the woods. Uh, I saw a strange man walking around maybe he did something"
Jeraldo: “A strange man was walking around?”
Kae: “Yeah, he looked like a rogue, he was heading towards my room"
Jeraldo: “right, a strange man smashed your bed and hid bloodied sheets in the closet”
Kae: “yes, NO. No I – well, it was a pretty bad fight -haa"
Jeraldo: “I see, please go on”
Kae: “Then thats it, I was about to come back honest. Your man found me right as I was about to return,"
Jeraldo: “Of course”
Kae: “You shouldn’t have worried about me I was fine, I can handle myself in the wilds, yup”

Holy shit you fucked up big time, all this sounded so good in your head but out in the open it sounds like a eulogy. Jeraldo taps his fingers a few times on the dask as he nods his head. He seems to be thinking about some things.
Jeraldo: “Well Kae, I was worried about you. At first I thought Jackson was abusing you. He has a bit of a dark streak in him you see. But as things progressed and now that I have seen you its become pretty apparent that all that blood was actually his”
Four men appear next to you, you never noticed them come in but the door of the office is now open.
Kae: “n-NO, its not like that I didnt want to hurt him, where is he? I have to talk to him!”
Jeraldo: “I dont know where he is, thats the problem.”
The two men place their hands on you shoulder and force you to stay seated as Jeraldo gets up form his chair and moves over to the window. He seems to think deeply about something for a while.
Jeraldo: “No, no, I guess if you’re not going to be forthright with me there is no reason to be forthright with you about my plans. Take Kae back to her room, we wont be using the cell. I mean this could all still be a miss understanding”
One of the guards pulls out a soft velvet rope and starts to tie your arms while another relives you of your weapons and belongings.
Jeraldo: “Not those ones you clod, the iron ones. Sorry Kae but some one has started a rumour that you are Ser Jackson's secret noble wife. He turns back to the guards Make sure to have four guards outside the room. Oh, and some under the window too.”
Jeraldo seems to be taking this whole situation very nonchalantly. Like somehow putting you in chains is the most normal thing in the words. Your heart starts to race and your breathing quickens as the men remove your gloves and place iron cuffs around your wrists.
Kae: “I can help you find Jackson, I think he went north, please.”
Jeraldo: “You ARE going to help me find Jackson, just not in the way you think. Besides im sure hes fine, You have nothing to worry about. Can you imagine if I was indirectly responsible for the death of THREE Stonewalls children?”
The last part sounds as if Jeraldo was telling himself a bad joke. As his men take you away you can hear him continue talking with himself down the hall.
Jeraldo: “One child, possible. Two children, there's an outside chance. But three children? I'd like to see that!”

As Jeraldo's men escort you through the halls you wonder if youre not being carried away to be secretly executed. But luckily for you, nothing so disastrous happens. They simply carry out the task instructed of them and bring you to the room you and Jackson, momentarily, shared. You half expect it to still be in the state you left it in, but, of course, its been refurbished. Oddly enough, the soldiers leave all your belongings, including your weapons, in the room with you. They place it next to Jackson's armour, sword, and belongings. That just raises further questions...
Soldier: “If you need anything, we will be right outside.”
You thank the soldier and ask if he can remove your shackles. Which he, with great regret, informs you must stay on. Finally you are left all alone to ponder, what the hell are you going to do now??????

>what do

File: Rember Happy Day.jpg (16 KB, 300x442)

16 KB JPG

And thats it, thats the thread. Its nice to be back after a hiatus, still having trouble readjusting. But im sure it will pick up in the next thread.

Any meta comments or concerns please feel to address them here.

>>2798072
Ask to see n our friend the noble girl.
Pout and draw things

>>2798071
Welp Kae don't have any prison break expertise does she? There's four guards outside her room and some under her window. Guess all we can do is wait and hope we don't go into some bloodthirst again

>>2798101
yes
I think we have to wait now.

he did say he wants us to help find Jackson.

in the meantime though, let's try to find a way to remove these cuffs, if we do have to run later it would be better if our arms were free

>>2798072
Write a letter for Jackson while we wait

>>2798074
Good bread my dude, im looking forward to next thread

>>2798177
the letter is good, supporting

File: FanArt.jpg (265 KB, 945x1000)

265 KB JPG

>>2798177
>>2798181
Tell me more about this letter, what do you want it to say? What are you going to do with it? How are you planning to deliver it ?

Also, as a side note: the letter you left for Jackson is gone and the dagger you used to stab it into a wall is also missing from the immediate area.

>>2798072
>What do
Prepare for escape #2: Electric booglo. Kae should consider are options & prepare as best she can with the options in-front of her. Are new goal besides escaping should be eliminating Jeraldo. Considering the fact he just admitted to us about killing 2 Stonewalls(he could have some bad blood with the family) in the past, that assassin we saw in the night could've been intended for J. & was trying to chase after him as well. Are best option currently being to rest & regain are strength before we seriouslt setup any plans (besides what's a few days of rest going to do he's already dead/dying).
>Kae asks the soldiers for hot food, cold water & dry clothes
>Kae decides to rest as best she can in these conditions
Perhaps Kae now completely aware that she’s fucked up by something from the witch, attempt again to realize that she’s got a stand/ghost/demon with her?
>>2798752
That Kaes still kind of sore about the whole almost killing him part, but hey we can make it up to him if we write down something quality poetry? Right J. loves poetry. After all who doesn't love POETRY.

>72. Sleep Party People – Im Not Human At All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUzvbkEvRk

>>2798752
an apology about the whole thing that happened, and yeah, poetry or whatever works

>>2799002
>>2798866

agreed on the poetry and everything lese.

I guess we keep the letter for now, it's more a venting on paper, if we have the chance we can give it to him

>>2798072
I don't know how well Kae can do stuff with her hands now that she's in chains, but maybe practice some drawing to pass the time. I don't think escaping a heavily fortified fortress is a good idea for a lv2 rogue.

>>2799007
>>2799578
+1

I feel like this is still part of Jeraldo's test. Why leave us with all the weapons and armor if he didn't expect us to do something with them?