>>3695105
You press on for what you imagine is about four hours without so much as slowing your pace, before you arrive in a small crossroads town. It’s little more than a general merchant, a small inn, an even smaller church, and a little meeting hall on the four corners. Small fields and pastures dot the surrounding area with about a half dozen modest homes that you can see… there are probably a few more in the area that you can’t quite see from the road, but not many judging by the size of the church.

Thankfully, there’s someone out in front of the little store who you stop to speak to.

“Hey, excuse me!” you call out as the older woman shuffles a bit quicker towards the front door. “Wait, I have a question I need to ask you. Have you seen anyone who looks like us? Pale hair, silver eyes, big sword?”

The woman completely ignores you.

>Get a little more forceful and block her way, insist that she at least recognize that you exist.
>Maybe the shopowner will be a little more cooperative?
>Move on. Clearly this isn’t a good place to ask for information.
>Other?

>>3695108
>Maybe the shopowner will be a little more cooperative?

>>3695108
>Maybe the shopowner will be a little more cooperative?

>>3695108
>>Maybe the shopowner will be a little more cooperative?
offer to buy something, that might make him more trustfull

>>3695108
You quickly gesture to Serana. IN HERE.

YOU SURE? She asks you back.

Your answer is a simple nod, before you follow the old woman into the shop.

“Hey, boss,” you greet the shopowner cheerfully, picking out a few small bags of dried fruit and meats to use as trail snacks before dropping them on the counter. “While I’m at it, can you answer a question about some similarly sketchy types who may have been through town recently?”

Instead of answering you, the shopowner watches the old lady slowly toddle over to the counter and set some knitting supplies in front of him.

“Will that be all, Miss Feueri?” he asks her, as through you don’t exist.

Serana’s hands slam onto the counter, loud as cannon shots in this enclosed space and sufficient to make both shopowner and customer flinch instinctively.

You hold out your arm, gesturing for Serana to calm down before flashing her a few hand signs. LET ME.

After a moment, Serana withdraws her hands and nods, taking a step back. OKAY.

“You know,” you begin, fishing out a few coins to add up the price of the food you picked off the shelves, “pretending your problems aren’t there isn’t healthy. Nor does it actually solve anything. A problem you don’t talk about today will still be there tomorrow if you don’t do anything about it, if you catch my meaning.”

Within a few seconds, you have your first words. “We don’t serve your kind here.”

Progress.

>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.
>We’re tracking a powerful yōma. Answer a few questions and we’ll leave your town to go kill it.
>Dump a whole load of coins on the counter. See if he changes his tune.
>Leave.

>>3695413
>>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.
It'd be a real shame if we stuck around and his customers didn't want to enter the shop.

>>3695413
>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.

>>3695413
>We’re tracking a powerful yōma. Answer a few questions and we’ll leave your town to go kill it.

>>3695413
>>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.

>>3695413
>>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.

>>3695413
>We’re tracking a powerful yōma. Answer a few questions and we’ll leave your town to go kill it.

>>3695413
>>Hey Serana, you think this place is pretty suspicious? Maybe we should stick around a while.
inquisition?

>>3696008
>inquisition?
Let's begin?

>>3697949
Are you the Inquisitor?

It can't be the inquisition, we're expecting it.

>>3695413
“You know, this is all pretty suspicious to me,” you muse playfully to Serana. “What do you think?”

Serana watches you carefully, before shrugging and signing back her agreement. YES. VERY.

“You know what I think?”

GO ON.

“I think we should hang around here for a little while,” you suggest. “It might cause this store some problems, but I’m sure if that’s what’s necessary the shopkeep won’t complain.”

AFTER ALL HE REFUSES TO SPEAK TO US, Serana points out.

“That’s right,” you nod in agreement. “He really doesn’t talk too much, does he? If only he were a little more talkative it might not be as much of a problem.”

THAT’S FAIR.

“So, where do you think we should take a rest?” you ask. “Maybe sleeping out on the porch of this place should be fine?”

The shopkeeper’s face turns pale as Serana smirks. SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

“Glad you approve,” you smile.

“Let’s not be hasty!” the shopkeeper insists.

“Well, since you’re not in the mood to answer our questions,” you shrug, “it’s not like we’re left many options. I’m sure your shop can recover from the loss of business in a few months or so.”

Serana jerks her thumb in the direction of the door.

“Sure,” you chuckle.

“I said wait!” the shopkeeper protests. “I’ll...”

You pause. “Yes?”

“… fine,” he sighs. “Just ask your questions and go, alright?”
>1/2

>>3698526
“Like we said, we were chasing after one of our own,” you repeat sternly. “Have you seen anyone recently who would fit the description?”

“Two,” the shopkeep admits. “One tried to ask us questions like you’re doing, the other seemed not to really be interested in us.”

“The first carried a sword, the second did not?” you press.

He nods quietly. “Yes, that’s exactly right.”

>Alright, so which way did they go?
>What did the first one ask you?
>Did anything unusual happen around that time?
>Other?

>>3698539
>Alright, so which way did they go?
>What did the first one ask you?
>Did anything unusual happen around that time?

>>3698546
>>3698539
this

>>3698539
>>Did anything unusual happen around that time?

>>3698539
>Alright, so which way did they go?
>What did the first one ask you?
>Did anything unusual happen around that time?
Wall me.

>>3698539
>>3698546
Seconding, we kinda need all of it

>>3698539
>>What did the first one ask you?

>>3698587
Do this.

>>3698587
>>3698539
this

>>3698539
>All the questions

>>3695413
>Serana’s hands slam onto the counter,
>hands plural

I only do this nitpick to show I care.

>>3701464
This is your brain on sleep deprivation.

>>3701464
Nah it's all good she has two hands still, just the one arm though.

>>3701527
Just has a hand poking out of her shoulder.

>>3701528
No no, Its a hand stuck to a peg arm attached to her shoulder.

>>3695413
“Tell me everything!” you snap. “Quickly! What’d the first one try to ask, where’d she go afterwards, and did anything else suspicious happen around the same time?”

“She was asking about a castle...” the shopowner replies awkwardly.

“Which one?” you demand.

“It was… Craiglochery,” he recalls, doing actually rather well for trying to recall a piece of specific information under duress.

“The ruins?” you press.

He nods emphatically. “Yes, yes! The ruins!”

“Did she say she was going there?” you lean back, giving the man a little more space as you realize how you were subconsciously closing in on him.

“I think she must’ve been,” the shopkeep replies.

“And my last question?”

The man shakes his head. “No, nothing else out of the ordinary that I’ve noticed.”

“Thank you,” you reply, setting a few coins on the counter and walking towards the door. “See, that wasn’t so bad was it?”

WHAT WAS SHE DOING?

You reply to Serana’s question with a heavy sigh. “Probably looking for places to establish short-term strongholds that we could rely on when on longer-duration missions.”

MAKES SENSE, Serana nods. TOO INCONVENIENT HAVING TO COME BACK TO SCAITHNESS EACH TIME.

“That’s the logic at least,” you agree. “Only problem is a lot of our security at the castle is the presence of numbers, and round-the-clock monitoring of the site.”

ALSO TRUE.

>We head straight for the ruins at Craiglochery, maximum speed.
>We should track for the ruins, then try and pick up the trail again.
>The real issue is the yōma… if it didn’t head to the ruins too we’d lose it heading straight there.
>Other?

>>3701678
>>We head straight for the ruins at Craiglochery, maximum speed.

>>3701678
>We head straight for the ruins at Craiglochery, maximum speed.

>>3701678
>We head straight for the ruins at Craiglochery, maximum speed.

>>3701678
>>The real issue is the yōma… if it didn’t head to the ruins too we’d lose it heading straight there.

>>3701678
>>The real issue is the yōma… if it didn’t head to the ruins too we’d lose it heading straight there.
give the man a short and friendly thank you to mess with him

>>3701678
>The real issue is the yōma… if it didn’t head to the ruins too we’d lose it heading straight there.

>>3701678
>The real issue is the yōma… if it didn’t head to the ruins too we’d lose it heading straight there.

>>3701678
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 8, 4 = 17 (3d10)

>>3704604

Rolled 5, 1, 10 = 16 (3d10)

>>3704604

Rolled 9, 10, 5 = 24 (3d10)

>>3704604

Rolled 4, 7, 1 = 12 (3d10)

>>3704604

>>3704653
Nice!

>>3704604
“The real issue is the yōma,” you declare. “We’re only assuming it’s after Laura… if we proceeded by that assumption and the yōma slipped away, Laura would yell at us for sure.”

Serana’s only response is a silent nod.

“Then it’s settled,” you declare. “We go after the yōma, at full speed, meaning to overtake it.”

AGREED.

You and Serana spend the next half hour charging in the direction you sense that the trail of weak yōki moved, and are rewarded by a gradual increase in that trail’s strength. Eventually you pick up a second trail… one that is certainly more familiar and which seems less sickening than the typical awakened being.

THIS IS LAURA, Serana realizes, flashing signs with her hand even as you run.

“It seems she became aware of her pursuer outside of town and picked up her pace,” you realize. “We’re getting closer.”

Sure enough Laura’s yōki trail soon leaves the main road, following the narrower path towards Craiglochery. A long lake soon comes into view before you as the path climbs, a steel slope leading down to the water’s edge to your left and the sight of an inland cliff approaching on your right.

UP?

You nod curtly. “Up.”

The path to the castle is even another side-path off the side-path you were already on, which leads up the steep slope to the top of the crags: a long, grassy and wooded slope where the land has risen up away from the loch for geological reasons lost to the depths of the ancient past. Or perhaps the land on the other side is what has crumbled away… you doubt it matters now either way.

What matters is that up ahead you can already sense two powerful yōki auras… one of which is clearly stronger than the other.

“But which?” you mutter to yourself, deep in thought.

>Start drawing yōki now, go in at full power.
>Suppress your yōki, make your arrival a surprise.
>Have Serana charge while you block off any escape.
>Other?

>>3704787
>Suppress your yōki, make your arrival a surprise.

>>3704787
>>Suppress your yōki, make your arrival a surprise.

>>3704787
>Suppress your yōki, make your arrival a surprise.

>>3704787
>>Start drawing yōki now, go in at full power.
we can't bank on them not knowing we are here, especially if we used yoki to get here faster

>>3704787
>Suppress your yōki, make your arrival a surprise.

>>3704787
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 3, 8, 10 = 21 (3d10)

>>3708138

Rolled 2, 6, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>3708138

Rolled 9, 7, 7 = 23 (3d10)

>>3708138

File: fa4d410569814bbabab149f13(...).jpg (82 KB, 800x480)

82 KB JPG

>>3708138
“I’ll suppress my yōki and try to take it as a surprise,” you declare. “Serana, please back Laura up.”

Serana gives you a single nod before you put your plan in motion. You hook around to the right with your yōki suppressed, taking the same measures you were practicing on the road with Lucia before. You spot your entry point in the ruins of the castle, where dust is rising from somewhere within what would once have been a heavily defended wall. Leaping across a deep moat, now full of tall grasses, and scurrying your way up the badly-degraded outer stones of the curtain wall, you quickly reach the top.

Vaulting over the comparatively narrow rampart, you see Serana standing between a visibly tired Laura and a large yōma with vaguely feminine facial features on each of its two heads. Beyond them, the cliff… that’s right, this castle was famous for its unusually heavy focus on frontal defense using the natural terrain to cover one side.

Sensing an opening, you leap from the ramparts to descend on the yōma below. Waiting until the last second, you draw your sword and strike.

“Guh!” you grunt ineloquently as one of the two heads spots you early, and a heavily armored fist collides as the arm it’s attached to distends to whip towards you.

The blow sends you tumbling towards the cliff, though you manage to roll to your feet in plenty of time to dodge over the sweeping move that the awakened being tries to use to smack you off the cliff.

Serana’s blade crashes loudly into the beast’s closed fist, seeking any weak point between the bony fingers. It gives you a moment to fall back the second your toe touches the grass once more, joining Laura across the wide courtyard.

“Alright, so what’s this one’s gimmick?” you ask.

“Two heads,” Laura observes wryly.

“I noticed, believe it or not,” you grumble.

A split second later Serana is forced to fall back as well as one head lashes out with its tongue… if that attack had some sort of range limitation you don’t think there’s anywhere within this castle that’s outside that range.

“It can also extend its tongues as a weapon,” Laura adds.

You shoot her an accusing look. “You’re doing that deliberately.”

“Whatever gave you that impression?”

“Anyway,” you continue as the awakened being reels its tongue in, leering down at the three of you menacingly. “You get cornered here or something like that?”

“Something like that,” Laura nods. “Really, I was looking for a bit of advantageous terrain to work with. Turns out this wasn’t it… tough break.”
>1/2

>>3708611
“Too bad,” you grumble. “That second head turned out to be a real problem.”

“Flanking it is going to prove difficult,” Laura agrees. “Serana had the same idea I did of course, looking for a weak spot.”

>Continue probing the awakened being’s armored hide with your swords, see if you can find a weakness.
>This terrain may not be bad after all… bring down some of the castle on it, see what spots it tries to protect.
>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.
>Other?

>>3708624
>>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.

>>3708624
>>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.

>>3708624
>>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.

>>3708624
>>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.

>>3708624
>>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.

>>3708624
>If flanking it is impossible, then you need to find a way to create a blind spot or cover to attack it from.
Create a cloud of dust with Earthbreaker.

>>3708611
>>3710378
Sounds good, seconded

>>3708624
>go super saiyan twelve and big bang final kamehameha x1000000 in it's face

Question: are we currently in what would be considered part of Sabela's territory? One of the other abyssals? More of a demilitarized zone?

If it is Sabela's, that means that this AB we are dealing with might work for her, for example.

>>3711064
Pretty sure we've gone pretty far south while Sabela's territory is in the north.

>>3708611
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 4, 8, 5 = 17 (3d10)

>>3711421

Rolled 10, 1, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>3711421

Rolled 4, 4, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>3711421

Rolled 9, 10, 4 = 23 (3d10)

>>3711421

>>3711421
“If it has no blind spot, we’ll just have to create one on demand,” you declare, giving your blade a spin to loosen your right elbow a little before taking a high ready stance. “Serana, let’s use that technique to make a few openings, okay?”

Serana gives you a curt nod, and then takes the lead.

“A frontal attack?” the awakened being asks with both its mouths… so it’s just the one, as opposed to a fusion of two former warriors.

“That won’t work...”

Then, abruptly, Serana stops her charge short.

The awakened being’s counterattack misses due to the unexpected distance to her target, and Serana brings her sword down hard on the ground in front of her. Though she can’t shout it’s name, she doesn’t have to.

“The Earthbreaker!?” the awakened being shouts in alarm.

You emerge from the pall of sand and dust thrown up by the blow, landing a heavy strike against the left eye of one of the two heads.

“No matter how strong your armor is,” you muse as your toes touch the ground once more, “there’s no opponent I’ve met whose eyes can stop a sword.”

“Why you...” the yōma scowls at you, turning one head to keep its remaining eye on you.

“Your opponent is here,” you hear Laura’s voice declare.

The dust is blown clear by a powerful swing of her sword, which cuts in an invisible arc across the awakened being’s other face.

“The number two… and...”

Serana continues to run past you, and you hit the ground with your own Earthbreaker to give the two of you cover as you’re forced to dodge claws and a lightning-quick tongue.

>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.
>Trade off creating openings with Serana using the Earthbreaker to produce dust screens.
>Use your Earthbreakers to help Laura land ranged blinding strikes.
>Other?

>>3711554
>>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>Use your Earthbreakers to help Laura land ranged blinding strikes.

>>3711554
>>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.
its easier for us to tank hits as a defensive type

>>3711554
>>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>Continue to stay in close, keep the awakened being’s attention on you.

>>3711554
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 5, 7, 5 = 17 (3d10)

>>3714245

Rolled 8, 9, 10 = 27 (3d10)

>>3714245
If Noel dies to we play as Serana?

Rolled 7, 8, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>3714245

>>3714254
Nice!

>>3714255
ty

Rolled 7, 5, 5 = 17 (3d10)

>>3714245

>>3714245
Serana and Laura have already survived more of a thrashing than they could recover from once, and you’re not keen to have them go through that again if you can prevent it. So as likely as it is that you’ll be the one taking the most hits from here on, that’s your job as a defender.

“Over here, three-eyes!” you insult the awakened being, charging her with your sword raised.

When she fires her tongue at you you decide to use a very different sort of technique than you’re used to. Instead you bring down your Earthbreaker on the tongue, both to parry it and to strike the ground, like a spearman conducting a trapping-parry.

Not your favored fighting style, using the great sword like a polearm, but against an attack like this it’s perfectly sensible.

While its tongue is pinned Serana delivers another powerful blow from out of the dust cloud you created, before slamming her own Earthbreaker into the ground to cover her withdrawal.

“Stoghh...” the awakened being begins, before realizing that you still have its tongue pinned. The other tongue comes lashing out at you, penetrating into your side where you grapple it with your left arm.

“Do it!” you shout.

Free of the possibility of a ranged retaliation, Laura takes center stage.

“Nice work!” she congratulates you. “Now… serial Windscythe technique!”

A rapid series of invisible ‘blades’ of compressed air slam into the awakened being’s heads, taking out two more of the monster’s remaining eyes in seconds before she takes drastic action. To escape this bind, she chooses to bite through her own tongues and leap backwards.

But you’re already following up, using cover produced by Serana to close the gap on her now-blinded head.

“You forgot this!” you shout, looping the awakened being’s own tongue around its wrist and the neck of the head which still has a working eye, then around the hilt of your sword.

“What the hell!?” the monster hisses as you leave it thoroughly tied up. “You cheeky bitch! How dare you!?”

“You brought this on yourself!” you counter, slamming your fist into the back of its other head so hard a fresh surge of blood escapes its ruined eyes.

Laura attacks with a pair of swings at the backs of its legs, before swinging around and impaling her sword through a small gap in its armor under its ribs, slamming it backwards into the ground.

Finally, falling after a powerful leap, Serana lands blade-first on the monster’s remaining head. Her blow is heightened by a downward thrust with the Earthbreaker, which pierces the awakened being’s thick skull.
>1/2

>>3714428
“Three heads are better than two,” you smirk down at the fallen awakened being. “Now, time to take a rest.”

You finish it with a powerful White Fist style punch to the forehead of its remaining head that shatters its skull against the ground.

“You both okay?” you ask, clutching your side tenderly as you catch your breath.

“I could ask the same,” Laura shrugs.

“Nothing I can’t fix,” you explain. “Just… gimme a minute or two, the wound wasn’t exactly clean.”

>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?
>Have Laura and Serana take a look around, see if the site is any good for your needs.
>Laura was fighting this thing for longer, ask if it said anything to her.
>Other?

>>3714443
>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>Laura was fighting this thing for longer, ask if it said anything to her.

>>3714443
>>Have Laura and Serana take a look around, see if the site is any good for your needs.

>>3714443
>>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>Laura was fighting this thing for longer, ask if it said anything to her.

>>3714443
>>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>>So, what was Laura actually doing out here anyway?

>>3714443
>>Laura was fighting this thing for longer, ask if it said anything to her.

Assuming youma work similarly to other living beings in that they need a brain to survive, our white fist is seriously deadly. Because it can penetrate pretty far into things while ignoring armour we can attack the brain directly.

We have the potential to end things in one hit. I doubt it will ever be so easy, but it is fun to think about.

File: 8e42f4072f804732a79002066(...).jpg (75 KB, 876x496)

75 KB JPG

>>3716627

>>3716627
Sabela is the only one that Noel knows for sure could survive after destroying her brain.

>>3714443
“So what were you even doing here in the first place?” you ask as you recover your sword, then stick it into the ground a short distance away on the other side of the courtyard. “I mean, don’t tell me you were just here to check out the scenery.”

“I was curious,” Laura admits.

ABOUT?

You gesture for Laura to continue, which she does after considering her explanation for a second.

“I wanted to see if I could discern any information about where your mother’s territory ends in this direction,” Laura explains, embedding her sword in the ground and leaning wearily on the arms of its crossguard.

“And what did you learn?” you press.

Laura shakes her head. “Not much I fear.”

“Not much?” you repeat.

“I couldn’t discern the identity of the awakened being we just killed,” she admits. “Nor could I get her to disclose who she swore loyalty to. But operating on the assumption that no underling of Sabela’s would attack one of us...”

“That’s quite an assumption,” you sigh. “We’re assuming for one thing that she has any underlings other than the one she had steal some wine for her that one time, which was a male yōma.”

THAT WAS RECKLESS. Serana glares disapprovingly at Laura, and there’s no way that Laura could possibly miss it.

>I agree. Laura, that was totally reckless of you. Like you were TRYING to get in over your head.
>You should have at least told us what you were planning. We could have worked together.
>I understand that you’re used to working solo, but that lone wolf stuff is over for us now.
>Other?

>>3717161
>You should have at least told us what you were planning. We could have worked together.

>>3717161
>>You should have at least told us what you were planning. We could have worked together.

everyone of us has the freedom to choose now that we are away from the organisation, but for all our safety we should at least coordinate

>>3717161
>You should have at least told us what you were planning. We could have worked together.

>>3717161
>>I understand that you’re used to working solo, but that lone wolf stuff is over for us now.

>>3717161
>>You should have at least told us what you were planning. We could have worked together.

>>3717161
“We all have the freedom to make those kinds of decisions for ourselves,” you admit, carefully controlling your tone so as not to come off as scolding your senior. “Leaving the Organization bought us that freedom. But you should have at least told us what you were planning.”

Serana nods emphatically in agreement.

“It’s not like I’m telling you to ask for permission or anything,” you continue, cutting Laura off from making any protest or commentary. “But if you’d gotten yourself killed, or added another permanent wound to your running tally, that’s not something we can just replace with a new trainee. We’re all we’ve got, so even if we’re some of the top half-blooded warriors around we have to rely on each other from here on.”

“So the next time you wanna do something stupid like this tell us, and we’ll come out and be idiots together. Understand?”

After a few moments of stunned silence, Laura starts laughing hysterically.

“What’s so funny!?” you demand.

“I’m getting lectured by a literal child...” Laura eventually wheezes, leaning back to look up at the sky. “What Olivia used to say really is true. We half-bloods only look like we age gracefully… but just like any old woman I’ve grown set in my ways. It’s so disgraceful I have no choice but to laugh at it.”

“Your assessment of the strategic situation is accurate, of course. I was wrong to act on my own.”

Then she pries her sword out of the ground, sheathing it on her back. “I’d very much like to go back now, and continue being an idiot together with you kids for a little while longer.”

YOU’LL BE RIGHT AT HOME, Serana grins before flashing a thumbs-up gesture, OLD FRIEND.

>Yeah, let’s go back. There are some kids who’d benefit a lot from an old woman’s lecturing.
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?
>Actually, there MIGHT be some promising recruits out there after all. Let me tell you about them.
>Other?

>>3720614
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>Actually, there MIGHT be some promising recruits out there after all.
Plot hook

>>3720614
>Actually, there MIGHT be some promising recruits out there after all. Let me tell you about them.

>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

>>3720614
>>Actually, there MIGHT be some promising recruits out there after all. Let me tell you about them.

>>3720614
>Well, while we’re out here let’s at least complete your stupid mission first. What do you say?

+secretly plot to get a comfy rocking chair for 'old' granny Laura.

>>3720614
>Actually, there MIGHT be some promising recruits out there after all. Let me tell you about them.

>>3720614
“Since we’ve come all this way it’d be a shame not to finish your mission,” you shrug, before getting back to your feet and sheathing your sword. “I’m just about done regenerating, so we can leave any time you want.”

“Are you sure?” Laura asks.

ARE WE EVER?

“Serana has a point,” you agree. “Nothing’s ever certain. But if we can come away from this with a bit more awareness of our situation it’ll be a good thing, right?”

Laura nods. “That’s why I came out here.”

“So let’s finish the job,” you reiterate. “And while we’re walking I can tell you about some interesting brats I met.”

While backtracking to the main road, you recount your mission overseeing the three trainees Alexandra, Jenna, and Vanessa during that battle outside Montelena. You particularly stress their teamwork, as well as the fact that they are now much more aware than most warriors their age of the shadier side of the Organization’s internal affairs. That’s particularly true after the sort of night you all had holding off waves of organized yōma footsoldiers.

It was right before Tomas sent you on the mission against Constanzia…

“So that was how I met the ducklings,” you conclude.

Serana shakes her head in amusement, but Laura seems much more concerned. “So these three… they have your approval?”

You nod once. “Yes. They may be weak now, but they have potential.”

“And would they join us if given the chance?” Laura presses sternly. “Even understanding that it would be making an enemy of the Organization?”

“If I explained this situation they would likely volunteer without our asking,” you admit.

SO WHY DID YOU NOT ASK?

>I’m still not sure what is safer for them, to be targets of the Organization or its subjects.
>They aren’t ready yet. They need practical field experience on their own.
>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.
>If I could track them down I would.
>Other?

>>3724017
>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724017
>I’m still not sure what is safer for them, to be targets of the Organization or its subjects.

>>3724017
>I’m still not sure what is safer for them, to be targets of the Organization or its subjects.
>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724017
>>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724245
>I’m still not sure what is safer for them, to be targets of the Organization or its subjects.
>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724017
>>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724017
>>I’m still not sure what is safer for them, to be targets of the Organization or its subjects.
>I don’t want them to make that decision before they have enough perspective to do so.

>>3724017
“Quite apart from whether it’s safer for them to work with or against the Organization,” you sigh, “I want to be sure that they have the sense of perspective required to make such a decision. They’re still young, and have so much more to learn for themselves. Or so I felt.”

“How considerate,” Laura counters, “but I can answer one of those questions for you… they would be safer outside the Organization, alongside those who value their lives as comrades. With the guidance of our experienced warriors they would also gain that perspective you speak of more quickly.”

WOULD THEY? Serana signs quickly, her expression somewhat sullen. OR WOULD THEY SIMPLY LEARN TO ACCEPT OUR PERSPECTIVES AS CORRECT?

“It’s a valid concern,” you admit. “That said I trust Zoe implicitly as well, so those three will be fine until they are officially fielded.”

“That may come sooner than you think,” Laura points out. “Recall what Lucia said about her and her class… along with the losses we know that the Organization took in your fiasco of a battle, consider how long most fighters of Lucia and Emma’s level will last in regular operations, if they’ve been fielded too early.”

“Your ducklings may be kicked from the nest any day now.”

SHE ALSO HAS A POINT, Serana ‘sighs’, making a face to silently convey that certain sense of exasperation at the situation. SO DO YOU INTEND TO MAKE PLANS REGARDING THEM? IT SOUNDS AS IF THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.

>Yes. Were I to eventually intercept one of them they will know the whereabouts of the others. I taught them to look out for each other.
>No. If they encounter a problem they will come looking for me.
>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.
>Other?

>>3726079
>Yes. Were I to eventually intercept one of them they will know the whereabouts of the others. I taught them to look out for each other.

>>3726079
>>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.

>>3726079
>>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.

>>3726079
>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.

>>3726079
>Yes. Were I to eventually intercept one of them they will know the whereabouts of the others. I taught them to look out for each other.
Recruitment GET!

>>3726079
>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.

>>3726079
>Yes. Were I to eventually intercept one of them they will know the whereabouts of the others. I taught them to look out for each other.

>>3726079
>I guess, given how things are now, tracking them down sooner rather than later would be for the best after all.

>>3726079
“You may be right,” you sigh in agreement. “If it’s going to happen it might as well be sooner rather than later… less chance of something going terribly wrong between now and then that way.”

“You know we can handle this,” Laura tells you quietly. “Grab a teammate and go take care of your own thing.”

“Are you…” you begin, before Serana signs at you.

AGREED. YOUR JOB IS DONE HERE.

“It’s not like we can accomplish this task in one outing anyway,” Laura admits, furthering her argument. “It will probably be more a question of carefully marking where we make contact with awakened beings and plotting their territories that way.”

>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.
>I’ll stick with you a little longer. Just to make sure things go smoothly.
>I’ll head East alone. Maintain as low a profile as possible and only risk myself.
>Other?

>>3728091
>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.

>>3728091
>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.

>>3728091
>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.

>>3728091
>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner

>>3728091
>>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.

>>3728091
>>Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be heading back to the castle to grab a partner.

>>3728091
You head back to the castle after saying your goodbyes to Serana and Laura for now, confident that they will be doing the same soon enough. Early the next morning you arrive, to find that in the mean time all of the other warriors in your group have assembled. Which gives you some thinking to do.

There are a few possibilities for who you could take with you. Valentina of course has the benefit of being discrete: you could both leave your swords behind and attract much less attention that way by posing as civilians. That would allow you to locate your ducklings and return without being noticed. There’s also Sabrina or Lucia, both of whom would be… well, they’d be unremarkable, having no characteristics which would suggest them over anyone else.

Justina has decent skills and strength, and as a defensive type like you if you do run into trouble you wouldn’t need to worry about her at all. Finally, there’s Helen whose combat abilities make her without doubt the strongest possible partner for this mission. If you had to fight, there’d be no one in your group that could manhandle another warrior quite the same way she could.

“You’re thinking about something,” Valentina observes. “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

“I want to go and track down some trainees I worked with before our suicide mission,” you explain, making sure to draw Helen into your conversation. “They’ll be sympathetic to our situation, and in Laura’s judgment they’d do better with us than the Organization.”

“Laura said this?” Helen reiterates.

You nod. “And I don’t disagree. Surely you can understand the argument for that position.”

“I do,” Helen admits.

>I’d like you to come with me, Helen. We may end up in a fight against other warriors.
>I’d like Justina to come with me. If we get into a fight defenders can get away with fighting nonlethally.
>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.
>Other?

>>3730105
>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.

>>3730105
>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.

>>3730105
>I’d like you to come with me, Helen. We may end up in a fight against other warriors.

>>3730105
>I’d like you to come with me, Helen. We may end up in a fight against other warriors.

>>3730105
>>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.

>>3730105
>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.

>>3730105
>>I’d like you to come with me, Helen. We may end up in a fight against other warriors.

>>3730105
>I’d like to team up with Valentina. The two of us may even be able to avoid attention.

>>3730105
“I’d like to team up with you, Valentina,” you decide. “The two of us will stand the best chance of going unnoticed… I’d much rather avoid fighting our former comrades altogether rather than simply winning any fights or escaping them without fighting back.”

“Understandable,” Helen immediately agrees. “Valentina, do you feel up for this little crusade?”

Valentina nods emphatically. “Lookin’ forward to it, actually!”

“Good,” you reply. “Then let’s get changed into less obvious outfits, and find you a horse.”

It takes some time to accomplish despite being easy enough in theory, especially to find a horse that will carry Valentina. In fact you fail entirely, so she’ll be riding behind you the whole way.

“Maybe we can find a cart at some point,” you sigh.

“Maybe,” Valentina agrees. “Least we’re not carrying our swords.”

“True.”

>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.
>Head north, asking at any major towns.
>Head south and east, towards Skansen
>Other?

>>3730523
>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.

>>3730523
>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.
There's less chance word gets back to the Organization if we ask people we've spoken to before instead of any town we come across.

>>3730551
Unless Marshal Noventus is a known contact by now and going the 'stealth route' with Valentina is actually disrupted by heading to ask him.

Course that's probably more the 'major towns' route.

>>3730523
>>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.

>>3730523
>>Head south and east, towards Skansen

>>3730523
>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.

>>3730523
>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.

>>3730523
>>Head for Baiko, ask Marshal Noventus if he’s seen any Warriors matching the ducklings’ descriptions.

>>3730523
You decide to head south towards Baiko to begin your search, hoping to connect with a valuable source of information who you can be confident will not sell you out to the Organization or the Inquisition. It doesn’t take long to wind your way there, largely avoiding the most major roadways wherever you can, and finding yourself approaching the familiar outskirts of Baiko.

The hilltop fortification is unchanged since the last time you were here, though that’s not where you go. Instead you find the forge owned by old Brutus, the man who worked on your sword the first time you were here.

“Brutus!?” you call out loudly from the shop floor in front of his forge. “You have a moment?”

A minute later the old blacksmith ambles out, then cocks his head at you. “Aye, you’re that Claymore! Welcome back… can’t help seein’ yer not here with yer sword. Any reason as’d be my fault?”

“Of course not,” you insist with a smile. “Your work has held up magnificently, very much admired among my comrades. We’re just trying to avoid drawing too much attention.”

Brutus lightly taps the tip of his nose with his fingertip. “Ah, I ken what ya mean. So, you need me fer summat else?”

You nod. “Yeah, would you mind contacting Noventus for us? Marching up to the fort itself wouldn’t exactly be low-profile.”

“Sure,” he nods. “So who’s yer pal here?”

“Valentina, sir!” Valentina bows politely. “So you’re the smith who worked on miss Noel’s sword?”

“The same,” Brutus nods. “Speakin’ of which, I have got a cost fer helpin’ you out.”

“And that would be?” you inquire. “I hope it’s not too steep.”

“Shouldn’ be,” Brutus assures you. “I need ya to test summat.”

>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?
>Depends, what do you have in mind?
>I’m trying to keep a low profile at the moment. Can I simply owe you one?
>Other?

>>3732466
>Depends, what do you have in mind?

>>3732466
>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732466
>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732466
>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

I mean, it's Brutus.
If this is a world in which doing anything for him could possibly be negative in any way, i don't want to live in it.

I want to protect his coal-coked smile.

>>3732466
>>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732466
>>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732466
Sounds fun but...
>Depends, what do you have in mind?
If it won't draw too much attention I'm game.

I'd be pretty surprised if it's anything attention drawing, since we just told him we're trying to keep a low profile.

>>3732466
>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732747
>I want ye ta chop me old house in half with this sword.

>>3732466
>I can do that, whatever you need. If we can help each other all the better, right?

>>3732466
>Depends, what do you have in mind?

>>3732466
“Sure,” you reply. “If we can help each other out that’d be a good thing, right?”

Brutus chuckles warmly and leans underneath the counter. “Yeah, I ken what ya mean! But I guess I’d best explain meself...”

“Ere!”

What Brutus produces is two long knives, each double-edged with a small cruciform guard that seems more intended to keep the user’s hand from sliding up onto the blade rather than to parry an incoming attack.

“All I wantcha ta do is stick one a these uns in a yōma fer me,” Brutus explains.

“Why?” Valentina asks curiously. “There something special about these?”

Brutus nods, setting the blades down on the counter and lightly tapping one of the ground planes on one side of the spine. Upon closer inspection you can see that two steels meet along a slightly wavy line where the smith’s fingernail indicated.

“I tried a new way to forge ‘em,” Brutus explains, “usin’ pattern-welded steel folded lengthwise over a softer core.”

“I see,” you muse, eyeing one of the daggers. “Since you couldn’t replicate the steel we use...”

“I tried a weld that’d mimic the properties,” Brutus nods. “Least that’s what I tried for.”

“And you want us to test them on a yōma?” Valentina shakes her head. “I dunno...”

“I expect ya ta break ‘em,” Brutus corrects your partner. “If ya got a dead yōma ta hand, go crazy on it. Figure out what the things can survive, ya ken?”

>Consider it done. Valentina, why don’t you take one too?
>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.
>I may not be back here for a while, you know.
>Other?

>>3735245
>>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.
>>I may not be back here for a while, you know.

>>3735245
>>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.

>>3735245
>Consider it done. Valentina, why don’t you take one too?
>I may not be back here for a while, you know.
>other
Fair warning, they may get stained in yoma stench.

>>3735245
>>Consider it done. Valentina, why don’t you take one too?

>>3735245
>>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.

>>3735253
>>3735245
supportin

>>3735245
>Consider it done. Valentina, why don't you take one too?

>>3735245
>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.
If they can be used on a dead youma, why not?

>>3735245
>I’ll deal with them. Valentina, don’t feel obligated.

>>3735245
“If you’re fine with me maybe not being back for a while,” you shrug. “Then I’d be happy to. Valentina, don’t feel obligated or anything.”

Valentina shakes her head. “No, I’m honestly interested. If it works this could be a good way to stay undercover.”

“Actually...” you frown. “That’s actually great thinking. If it can survive one of us banging it into a yōma it may actually serve the purpose.”

“Then it’s settled!” Valentina claps her hands cheerfully. “Let’s test these things out to the best of our abilities!”

You can’t help but chuckle. “Alright then, one for each of us. I’ll get back to you when we can.”

“Then I’ll go an’ fetch ol’ Noventus fer ye,” Brutus nods curtly. “I’ll make up some shite ‘bout an order or summat, it’ll make enough sense to anyone else.”

You end up waiting about half an hour for Brutus to return, with a very confused-sounding Noventus.

“I still can’t figure how you got an order for fifteen hundred nails in my...” Noventus is in the middle of saying when he catches sight of you.

There’s a noticeable pause as he processes this new information. “Ah. That explains it.”

“Hello again, Marshal,” you greet him.

“Welcome back, Princess,” he replies calmly with a slight bow of his head. “I see you brought a new friend.”

“And a very good one at that,” you nod.

“I also see you’re still wearing the boots I gave you,” he grins. “Though they seem a bit worse for wear.”

“I’m not kind to my clothing,” you shrug. “Listen, I’m here in secret for a reason. I need some information.”

You proceed to describe each of the ducklings in some detail, offering their names and descriptions not just of their particular hair colors and styles, as well as the shapes of their ears, but their facial structures, build and size, their mannerisms, and even the tones of their voices recreated by stretching or compressing your vocal cords.

Marshal Noventus nods along thoughtfully, then clears his throat.
>1/2

>>3737601
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 10, 5, 9 = 24 (3d10)

>>3737617

Rolled 6, 1, 6 = 13 (3d10)

>>3737617

Rolled 6, 7, 5 = 18 (3d10)

>>3737617

>>3737601
“I have actually seen one of these three,” he informs you. “The one you called Alexandra.”

That’s good… she’s definitely the type to know for sure where Jenna and Vanessa might be found, more so than Jenna that’s for sure. Not to say you don’t like Jenna, but that girl isn’t the type that focuses too much on details.

“You have!?” Valentina replies excitedly. “When and where?”

“More importantly did she say where she was going?” you add.

“Apparently she was going from Merced to Talje,” Noventus informs you. “Which sounded like where she was meant to stay. She did a quick job here and left about three days ago.”

Three days?

You exchange a glance with Valentina, then turn back to Noventus. “It was good seeing you and all, and I wish I could spend a little time here, but that’s not in the cards.”

Valentina nods emphatically. “That’s right, we need to find her… and soon!”

“Then we won’t keep you,” Noventus nods, before sweeping his way towards the door. “Good luck, Lady Noel.”

“Thanks, Noventus,” you incline your head towards him. “I owe you one for this.”

>>3737701
Next post when?

>>3737971
Probably tomorrow, it's midnight here and that's a good stopping point.

A good rule of thumb whenever I run is no
>meme arrows
no further posts are incoming.

>>3737978
Canceled for tonight, not enough time left for this thread to live and not enough time to write. Besides, like I said it was a good point to stop.

So expect a new thread some time on Monday, I'll announce on Twitter.