>>4028893
>with how long you mustve been eavesdropping im sure you already know the answer to that.

>>4028893
>>Answer for her. Keep her uninvolved.

>>4028893
>Answer for her. Keep her uninvolved.

>>4028893
>Answer for her. Keep her uninvolved.

>>4028893
>keep her uninvolved
they should know the conversation we had, but this way they may think of her as a tool that still has uses, which might keep her alive

>>4028893
>>Answer for her. Keep her uninvolved.

>>4028893
>Give her permission to speak

>>4028893
How did he sneak up on all 3 of us?

What about the other girls?

>>4030945
he doesn't have yoki, so he isn't on the radar for warriors

>>4030949
I know that, but even humans seem to get busted sneaking up or peaking on claymores.

They seem to have some extra bs ability beyond that, and given how close they get to claymores and thus by nature of following them on their work, Yomas, there has to be something more to it.

>>4030963
Handlers are very stealthy when they want to be

>>4030963
i would guess its that even bullshit augmented yoki warriors have a blindspot and i bet that the handlers know exactly how to exploit that
>>4030967
is right, that with extra training to remain hidden and not having yoki makes one wonder why the orga doesn't use them as assassins

>>4031056
But how would Yoma be fooled?

Especially since they are apex predators who hunt humans, and a human alone in the woods even a sneaky one would be found out by Yoma.

>>4031103
i don't think it would work on yoma, i am unsure, but wouldn't be surprised if they could sense and/or smell humans
the assassin part would work for humans, emperors, officials or dissidents in general

>>4031056
How are they going to assassinate Yoma? Even normal ones are too big and tough for humans to kill.

Also I don't think they're especially good at infiltrating.

>>4031134
i refer you to this >>4031128 post i made

>>4031156
I refer you to my final line about infiltration. It's been years since I read the series, but I only remember them sneaking up on solitary claymores, not into any guarded estates. So emperor assassination is out.

>>4031128
>i don't think it would work on yoma, i am unsure, but wouldn't be surprised if they could sense and/or smell humans

Yeah that's what I'm thinking.

>>4028893
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 1, 9, 3 = 13 (3d10)

>>4032022

Rolled 1, 7, 2 = 10 (3d10)

>>4032022

Rolled 9, 7, 10 = 26 (3d10)

>>4032022

File: 1c5p8ueas_1513472501421.png (160 KB, 600x797)

160 KB PNG

>>4032038

File: 62670791_p2.jpg (174 KB, 1024x1210)

174 KB JPG

>>4032022
“You shouldn’t ask questions you already know the answer to,” you quickly intercede. “Or do you mean to say that you snuck up on us without taking the time to listen in first?”

[Hang on,] Serana quickly signs to you. [How?]

“What do you mean?”

[I mean, HOW did he sneak up on us? How do they sneak up on ANY of us?”

“And how do they do it so consistently?” you frown, starting to understand what has Serana so nettled. “For that matter how is it that we all have bits of monster stitched into us and it only changes our hair and eye color, but they’re all supposedly unaugmented but so many of them look like total freaks?”

“We simply receive training for this task,” Dae explains, his frown audible even if it’s not visible. “More thorough even than your own combat training, with a much greater chance to gain practical experience afterwards.”

That may serve as an ‘out’… because it’s believable, and if you did something impulsive now it may be harder to walk back from it.

>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.
>To answer your question no. We haven’t told her about that.
>We IMPLIED that a lot of people died who shouldn’t have.
>Other?

>>4032179
>We IMPLIED that a lot of people died who shouldn’t have.

>>4032179
>>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>We implied a lot of people died who shouldn't have

>>4032179
>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>>Take off your bandages, Dae, or I do it for you.

>>4032179
>We IMPLIED that a lot of people died who shouldn’t have.

>>4032179
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4034549

Rolled 2, 9, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>4034549

Rolled 8, 10, 7 = 25 (3d10)

>>4034549

>>4034554
Be praised, anon!

>>4034549
“Take off your bandages, Dae.”

“What?”
[What?]

“I said,” you repeat yourself in a stern tone, “take off your bandages. Do it, or I do it for you.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Dae does as you order to reveal a severe scar across his face, right at the level of his eye sockets. Pale white flesh, running right across the upper third or so of his nose, new tissue that has fused his eye sockets shut entirely. But you’re willing to bet that there were no eyeballs left in there anyway to be covered over.

“Congratulations,” Dae smirks at you. “You uncovered my dark secret. I hope this satisfies you?”

“How do you walk?” you challenge him.

“My other senses adapted to the loss of my eyesight.”

Serana, having now caught up with your thinking, seems to share your skepticism. [That’s not how it works.]

“That’s a myth,” you frown at Dae. “Sure, you could become more aware of your sense of hearing after losing your sight, but only within what’s possible for a human.”

Nadia seems to draw herself up in bed, almost as if preparing for some burst of explosive movement. Not because of anything you’ve done, but from the sheer sense of tension in the air as you’ve refused to back off your interrogation of her handler.

>Push. Don’t let up until you know what’s going on here.
>Back off for now. You have someplace to start.
>Other?

>>4034607
>>Push. Don’t let up until you know what’s going on here.

>>4034607
>Push. Don’t let up until you know what’s going on here.

>>4034607
>>Push. Don’t let up until you know what’s going on here.

>>4034607
>>Push. Don’t let up until you know what’s going on here.

>>4034607
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 4, 4, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>4034923

Rolled 1, 5, 6 = 12 (3d10)

>>4034923

Rolled 5, 10, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>4034923

>>4034942
The Hero we need

>>4034923
[He can sense us with something other than human sight.]

Serana’s eyes widen slightly. [You can’t mean that.]

You nod grimly. [I think so.]

“Perhaps we should leave things where they are,” you sigh.
[He may have eyes sealed into his skull under the scar.]

Dae seems to agree with the sentiment, and re-bandages his eyes. “I think everyone involved will be better off for it.”
[The eyes of a yōma?]

“I’ll let that threat of yours slide,” you grumble. “After all, you and I both know I can’t punish you for it… at least not in the corporal sense.”
[A failed warrior.]

Serana seems less shocked than she is disgusted. [Waste not want not. Bastards.]

“A good realization to come to,” Dae taunts you. “After all, the Organization is not as unreasonable as you seem to think us to be. There’s room for accommodation, if we stay out of each others’ way.”

“It’s not like any of you had the guts to kill us yourselves,” you reason, taunting Dae back instead of letting him say whatever he wants unchallenged. “You have to have others do your dirty work for you, so I doubt the Organization would find it worthwhile to assign even MORE resources to killing us a second time.”
[I’d be willing to bet each of them has some piece of a dead trainee stitched into them.]

Serana shuts her eyes and lowers her head, the nonverbal equivalent to a sigh. [Muscle grafts in their legs and around their hearts, for stamina?]

[Possibly.]

“That WAS an offer, you know,” Dae insists. “I mean it. If you little survivors want to play at being an independent group you’re welcome to, so long as you stay out of our way.”

>I think you know we can’t do that. Not knowing what we do now.
>I don’t believe that for an instant.
>I’ll relay that to our comrades, but if you come calling don’t expect much hospitality.
>Other?

>>4036551
>I’ll relay that to our comrades, but if you come calling don’t expect much hospitality.
We don't need to speak the truth, do we?

>>4036551
>>I’ll relay that to our comrades, but if you come calling don’t expect much hospitality.

to serana: [I don't believe that for an instant]

>>4036551
>>I think you know we can’t do that. Not knowing what we do now.

>>4036551
>lmao bullshit

>>4036551
>>4036575
This

>>4036551
>>4036575

>>4036551
>>4036575
this

>>4036551
“I’ll relay that,” you shrug, already signing to Serana. “But don’t expect a warm welcome if the Organization comes to call.”
[I don’t believe THAT for a second.]

“And I shall relay that information,” Dae counters. “I will take over the situation here.”

Serana glances at you. [I think that’s the end of that.]

“We’ll be taking our leave,” you nod. “I’m sorry about your team, Nadia, but I’m glad it seems you’ll make a recovery at least.”
[We should withdraw for now.]

[Agreed.]

Nadia bows politely from her bed. “Thank you for saving my life.”

You shake your head, resting your hand on her shoulder as you get ready to leave. “Don’t thank me with words. Thank me by staying alive and fighting as long as you can.”

After a contemplative moment, Nadia agrees. “Of course. To the best of my ability.”

“It’s a shame the Organization cannot have you back,” Dae muses as you leave the room. “You have something our remaining single-digits lack, you know.”

[A lot of things,] Serana flashes a series of gestures at you.

“If you took better care of your warriors maybe they’d take better care of each other,” you challenge him. “Just something to keep in mind.”
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 8, 8, 2 = 18 (3d10)

>>4037014
Watch this nat 30 boys

Rolled 1, 10, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>4037014

Rolled 5, 2, 10 = 17 (3d10)

>>4037014

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

>>4037014

Rolled 7, 1, 6 = 14 (3d10)

>>4037014

>>4037014
When you return to the castle, opinions are sharply divided regarding your recent encounter with the Organization. While no one is willing to say that you shouldn’t have saved Nadia’s life, that’s about everything that can be agreed upon. The exact number and nature of the complains in how you handled the situation after Nadia’s rescue isn’t immediately clear, but the range seems to be between the relatively minor concerns (for example, Valentina) and the outright frustrated (Sabrina and Jenna). Of all the warriors in your little cadre Serana, Laura, and Helen are those whose experience and perspective have led them to conclude that despite any specific concerns they may have there was no “right way” to handle the situations as they arose, and that your only option was to deal with each in a way which made sense at the time.

Nobody is happy that the Organization now has direct evidence of your survival, but as frustrating as it is the consensus is that it was bound to happen sooner or later and that it can’t be considered ‘your fault’.

“This gives things an added sense of urgency,” Helen concludes grimly.

“In what way?” Sabrina demands. “Do we even have a long-term plan to be urgent about?”

“I guess you can’t really consider ‘not dying’ to be a plan,” you admit.

“Likewise with ‘getting stronger’,” Laura agrees quietly. “It’s praiseworthy, but not particularly meaningful in the end.”

“So we just do as we did before,” Valentina insists. “That was the thought, wasn’t it? That was the plan?”

Justina shakes her head. “Impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because the situation has changed too much,” you sigh. “Not only does the Organization know we’re still alive and active, but the remaining warriors will be learning about our existence as well.”

“And that means our mission has changed?” Valentina presses. “What am I missing here?”

“They’re likely to start having opinions,” you observe.

“Even within the Organization there are likely to be disagreements on how to proceed,” Helen adds. “Like with us.”

>Ultimately our objectives haven’t changed as much as our situation.
>I think we need to start being more proactive within Hazaran’s borders.
>We’re going to be pulled back into regional politics sooner or later.
>Other?

>>4038665
>The Organization can't be trusted to hold its word, and by trying to induce awakenings it is also a threat to the civilians and to us. Thus, our end goal should be to take over it.

>>4038665
>>I think we need to start being more proactive within Hazaran’s borders.

>>4038665
>>I think we need to start being more proactive within Hazaran’s borders.

>>4038665
>"I think we need to be more proactive within Hazaran's borders."

>>4038665
>we’ll soon be getting involved in local politics whether we like or not, now that we are technically a freelance mercenary anti-youma company.

>>4038665
>I think we need to start being more proactive within Hazaran’s borders.

>>4038665
>>I think we need to start being more proactive within Hazaran’s borders.

Crazy bitch is gonna come atou d for noel and kill someone else.

>>4038665
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 10, 8, 2 = 20 (3d10)

>>4040249

Rolled 5, 6, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>4040249

Rolled 6, 1, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>4040249

>>4040249
“I think in light of recent changes in our circumstances we should start trying to be more proactive within Hazaran’s borders,” you declare. “Sitting passively is only going to lead to slow erosion of our position.”

“That’s one way handle it,” Sabrina nods curtly. “The other is to stop hiding in Hazaran.”

“This isn’t hiding,” Helen counters. “And if you think it has anything to do with cowardice think again.”

Justina seems to quietly agree. “They weren’t looking.”

“Justina’s right,” Laura nods in agreement. “Of course we’re not going to march straight back to the Organization and tell them we’re all still alive after what happened. If that means they lose track of us for a while that’s their failing.”

“That’s fine,” Sabrina insists. “Really, it is… it’s just that they’re going to come after us here.”

“They could start setting things up for more encounters between ourselves and their own warriors,” Valentina admits. “Still, I’m not sure that means we should go out of our way, you know?”

“I agree with Sabrina,” Jenna shrugs. “If anyone wants to pick a fight with us I’d rather just have it out in the open.”

“Listen,” you insist firmly. “There’s eleven of us. The Organization now has at least twenty-nine warriors in the field, and four of them are ranked higher than any of us were within the Organization… save for Laura, who’s only outranked by Clarice.”

“And we have no idea how sophisticated and widespread the Inquisition has become outside of Hazaran.”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t even fight?” Sabrina challenges you.

“I’m saying we need to remember our position,” you counter. “We have eleven warriors, four walls, and some capital with the Hazari public. Any of that could be lost if we make a mistake.”

>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.
>Isn’t it better to let them make the first move and assume all of the risk?
>Our defensive strength is wasted if we overextend ourselves.
>Other?

>>4040332
>Our defensive strength is wasted if we overextend ourselves.

>>4040332
>>Isn’t it better to let them make the first move and assume all of the risk?
>>Our defensive strength is wasted if we overextend ourselves.

>>4040332
>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.
The Organization's intel collection is plain better than ours. If we let them prepare in peace we'll get wrecked.

>>4040332
>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.

>>4040332
>>Our defensive strength is wasted if we overextend ourselves.

>>4040332
>>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.

>>4040332
>>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.

>>4040332
>>I understand your sentiments, but it’s not like we’ll be sitting on our hands either.

>>4040332
“I understand your sentiments,” you assure Sabrina calmly. “But the Organization’s intelligence-gathering is flat better than ours. And even if we’re staying here in Hazaran it’s not like we’re going to be sitting on our hands.”

“There’s the Inquisition to consider,” Helen offers. “Insofar as we can ‘deal with’ them in any meaningful sense.”

“That and I’m sure that a bunch of silver-eyed witches holed up in one of his castles has Sigmunt absolutely beside himself,” Valentina adds. “So there’s a lot of thorny issues to deal with right here in our own backyard before we turn our attention to the Organization.”

“And what happens then?” Sabrina presses. “We’re going to get to that point eventually. Are we really going to just settle for an equilibrium like this?”

>So far as I’m concerned this is merely laying a solid foundation for when the Organization decides we’re too much trouble.
>Not my decision to make.
>I’ve been keeping my eye on the political situation in Hazaran, and the royal blood’s been giving me insights into things that SHOULD happen.
>Other?

>>4042125
>As I see it this is laying a solid foundation for when the organization decides we're too much trouble.

>>4042125
>>So far as I’m concerned this is merely laying a solid foundation for when the Organization decides we’re too much trouble.

>>4042125
>>So far as I’m concerned this is merely laying a solid foundation for when the Organization decides we’re too much trouble.

>>4042125
>So far as I’m concerned this is merely laying a solid foundation for when the Organization decides we’re too much trouble.

>>4042125
>I’ve been keeping my eye on the political situation in Hazaran, and the royal blood’s been giving me insights into things that SHOULD happen.

>>4042125
“So far as I’m concerned this is merely laying the foundation,” you explain. “The Organization is bound to come after us in force at some point. To be ready for them when they do is a matter of incremental advantage… we strengthen our position slightly, one act at a time, while weakening theirs at every opportunity.”

“Now, we need to discern where the next problem will arise,” Helen declares.

“My bet’s on the Inquisition,” Alexa declares.

[You shouldn’t take Sigmunt lightly.] Serana counters silently.

“Yeah,” Alexa replies, clearly trying to remember the signs. “Well...”

[Correct… maybe… He… Attack… Castle… Same.]

Serana cocks her head in confusion. [You mean to say there’s an equal chance but different degrees of motivation?]

“Maybe,” Laura agrees.

“Hey, wait, what did I say?” Alexa demands.

“I mean, they were words at least,” you shrug. “And she got a meaning out of them. But it’s difficult to say at the moment who has the most motivation or the higher probability of conducting an attack.”

>Maybe we should conduct more active investigations, Helen?
>Helen, Laura, what do you think of contacting both directly?
>Put it to a poll… is now the right time to declare your identity?
>Other?

>>4043937
>Maybe we should conduct more active investigations, Helen?

>>4043937
>>Helen, Laura, what do you think of contacting both directly?

>>4043937
>>Maybe we should conduct more active investigations, Helen?

>>4043937
>Maybe we should conduct more active investigations, Helen?

>>4043937
>Maybe we should conduct more active investigations, Helen?

>>4043937
>update after dinner

>>4044195
“The capital can’t be off-limits anymore,” you realize aloud. “We need to know what both Lord Sigmunt and the Inquisition are planning.”

“We have contacts of course,” Helen muses, “but they’re not active seekers of information. They’re an alarm system for yōma attacks.”

“They wouldn’t be any good for actual espionage,” Laura concludes.

“Who would be?”

Justina’s question is the perfectly valid, logical one to ask at the moment… who would be able to get you the information you need to make long-range strategic plans without compromising your own position?

“The merchants’ guild is reliable,” you offer, “even if it’s typically for very different purposes.”

Valentina shakes her head. “They’re too much about profits.”

“And fighting yōma serves that end,” Nessa nods in agreement. “Fighting religious zealots? Maybe not so much.”

“The only alternative I could suggest is Marshal Noventus.”

“A military officer?” Jenna muses.

“In his area, he’s the military officer,” you correct your precocious duckling. “He’s solidly, traditionally Hazari. That means no love lost between him and either party we’d be asking him to help us spy on.”

“The alternative is that two of us at very least go,” Laura adds.

>I vote Noventus.
>I vote Merchants.
>I vote ourselves.
>Other?

>>4044307
>I vote Noventus and merchants.

>>4044307
>>I vote Noventus.

>>4044307
>>I vote Noventus.
>>I vote Merchants.
both are fine with me

>>4044307
>>4044321
This

>>4044307
>I vote Noventus.
I really like Noventus and he seems personally loyal to us.

>>4044307
>>I vote Noventus.

>>4044307
>I vote Noventus.

>>4044307
>I vote Noventus.
So did we just kill the poor general with this choice, or worse. His son?

>>4044307
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 7, 5, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>4046410

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

>>4046410

Rolled 3, 1, 4 = 8 (3d10)

>>4046410

>>4046410
“I vote Noventus,” you declare.

Helen raises an eyebrow. “Any particular reason?”

“I trust him more than the merchants’ guild,” you explain carefully. “And I’ll admit it’s mostly for personal reasons. Well, almost entirely personal reasons actually.”

“It’s because you know him personally?” Valentina muses.

You nod curtly. “I might not trust any of you as much if I didn’t know you.”

“Any particular reason you don’t trust the guild as much?” Laura presses. “Aside from the fact that it’s an organization and not an individual, who can be trusted?”

“You got it exactly,” you admit.

“Alright then,” Helen agrees. “This is your country, we’ll trust your judgment on this.”

>We’ll send a team of two.
>I’ll go alone.
>I’ll take two warriors with me.
>We’ll call him here.
>Other?

>>4046446
>>We’ll send a team of two.

>>4046446
>>We’ll call him here.

>>4046446
>We’ll send a team of two.
>I’ll go alone.
-
Can she be one of the two?

I don't want him coming here as it makes him look like a supplicant.

>>4046446
>We’ll send a team of two.

>>4046446
“We’ll send a team of two,” you suggest. “Me and one other. Any thoughts?”

“I will go,” Laura declares. “Aside from having fond memories of Baiko, Olivia spoke well of Marshal Noventus. I’d very much like to meet him.”

Olivia… strange how you haven’t missed her lately until just then. The weight of your sword feels somehow greater than a moment ago. You haven’t thought of those names in a long time.

“That would be a fine team,” you decide.

“It’s settled then,” Helen nods. “Go at first light tomorrow.”
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 1, 3, 8 = 12 (3d10)

>>4046797

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>4046797

Rolled 6, 10, 9 = 25 (3d10)

>>4046797

>>4046797
Need one more proper 3d10 roll

Rolled 8, 1, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>4046797

>>4046905
You ride out from the castle the next morning, turning south on the road through and eventually beyond Scaithness that winds down out of the mountains. The vegetation is still mostly brown, and the heathers are past blooming for the year, so there’s not much to look at but the craggy brown peaks of the lowlands which pierce their way through the fields and vales and woods below to the south. Like old bones poking through a dessicated carcass, a land which can sometimes manage to defeat even the best efforts of humanity to harness it.

By late morning, nearing noon, Laura turns to speak to you over her shoulder. “You’ve noticed it?”

You keep Alysheba heading straight along the trail. “I have. When did we pick them up?”

“Outside of Scaithness.”

“That long?”

“Mmm...” Laura muses, considering the riders trailing behind you almost out of sight at all times. “We were being watched even at that point.”

They’re good. Even your sharp eyes have only caught glimpses of the riders that are following you… they’re even too good to be from the Inquisition, at least comparing to the baseline you’ve established for the skills of the Inquisitorial agents. They must be tracking you somehow… certainly not by the hoofprints?

>Suggest to Laura that you pick up the pace, break line of sight.
>Suggest heading off the path next time you pass a stand of trees.
>Suggest waiting for nightfall, then backtracking to where they’re likely to camp.
>Other?

>>4046930
>Suggest to hide and ambush them when we have a chance.

>>4046930
>Suggest to hide and ambush them when we have a chance.

>>4046930
>Suggest to hide and ambush them when we have a chance.

>>4046930
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 6, 6, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>4048923

Rolled 5, 7, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>4048923

Rolled 8, 5, 7 = 20 (3d10)

>>4048923

>>4048923
You gesture to Laura, and the two of you take to the woods the next time the trail passes a stand of trees, taking care to first ride past then double back off the trail to make it appear that you rode that way further than you have.

Then you wait for the men following you to ride closer.

“We’ll move on my signal,” you declare. “Aim for the horses, I’ll aim for the rifles.”

“Good order,” Laura nods. “I see you’ve given these tactics some thought over the last few years.”

“Now we get to put them into action,” you agree.

The group of three riders are definitely Inquisition, based on the fact that they’re all wearing matching gilded medallions that you can see from here even in the fading evening light. That’s when your plan goes into motion, as you and Laura separate for now.

Before they realize what’s going on, the Inquisitorial agents see Alysheba pacing calmly out of the wood. That puts them on guard, and causes them to raise their rifles, and in an instant you flip yourself onto Alysheba’s back from your dropped position at his side. Your sword comes up as you leap from Alysheba’s back towards the first agent, and you let loose a whistle that serves as Alysheba’s signal to come to you.

The first rifle you take out with more of a thrust to the action than a slash, the second you prise out of its wielders hands by lifting it with your blade and snagging it from the air by its forelimb. The third you knock free by savagely breaking its wielder’s arm with the stock of the rifle in your left hand, then slashing it midair as you turn and leap.

Eventually you land back atop Alysheba’s back in a crouch, just in time to watch Laura complete her own maneuver.

From behind them she rides out of the darkness, cutting the legs out from under each horse in turn. That being no way for a fine animal to go, you settle onto Alysheba’s saddle and wheel round.

A rifle shot rings out, then as you thunder past you behead the second and third horses, leaving all three dead.

That leaves you and Laura free to ride into the night.

>You’ll need to move fast. Conduct your business and get back to Scaithness as soon as you can.
>Laura should ride back to the castle, inform the others of what just happened.
>While it may be tempting to ride hard, discretion may also serve you well right now.
>Other?

>>4048998
>>You’ll need to move fast. Conduct your business and get back to Scaithness as soon as you can.

>>4048998
>>You’ll need to move fast. Conduct your business and get back to Scaithness as soon as you can.

>>4048998
>Laura should ride back to the castle, inform the others of what just happened.

>>4048998
>You’ll need to move fast. Conduct your business and get back to Scaithness as soon as you can.

>>4048998
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 10, 5, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>4049285
i just apologize beforehand
really sorry about this

Rolled 5, 1, 9 = 15 (3d10)

>>4049285

Rolled 4, 9, 7 = 20 (3d10)

>>4049285

>>4049285
You need to move quickly now, ride hard to Baiko and take care of your business there. Ideally you can get your message to Marshal Noventus, work out an arrangement, and ride back before the Inquisition finds out that their agents got themselves caught and issue orders in response.

You and Laura ride through the night and reach Baiko around noon the next day. Laura’s horse appears listless and exhausted by the hard ride, being of a flightier eastern sort of breed rather than the stocky, hardy sort more used to being pushed across Hazari terrain.

“We need to speak with Marshal Noventus,” you tell the guard at the gate to the hilltop fort. “As soon as possible.”

“On what business?” the guard demands, watching you somewhat nervously.

“The sensitive kind,” Laura asserts.

“You do know what we are, right?” you press.

“Yes.”

“You know the kind of business we usually attend to?”

Eventually, the guard grumbles and stands aside.

You hitch Alysheba, giving him some feed and water, and have Laura hitch hers someplace where the poor beast can just collapse from exhaustion, and head inside.

“Welcome back,” Noventus muses, hard at work with some kind of paperwork that he doesn’t look up from. “It’s been a while.”

“It has,” you agree, “too long in fact. But you’d be right in assuming we’re here for rather grim purposes.”

“Sigmunt or the Inqusition?” he asks

“Both,” Laura admits. “We just don’t know for certain which will need dealing with first.”

Noventus finally looks up. “For certain?”

“We suspect it may be the Inquisition,” Laura replies. “Based on how closely they’re apparently watching our castle.”

>We need soldiers and builders to reinforce the castle and Scaithness itself.
>We need information, and we’re too obvious ourselves to gather it.
>We need literally all the help we can get.
>Other?

>>4049517
>We need information, and we’re too obvious ourselves to gather it.

>>4049517
>We need literally all the help we can get.

>>4049517
>>We need information, and we’re too obvious ourselves to gather it.

>>4049517
>we need information

>>4049517
>We need information, and we’re too obvious ourselves to gather it.

>>4049517
“What we need right now is information,” you admit quietly. “I have concerns about our security in Scaithness, but I wouldn’t ask you to commit troops to the cause.”

“I guessed as much,” Noventus admits with a heavy sigh. “Though I wish you would.”

“What do you mean?” Laura asks, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“I mean I would commit my entire garrison if it meant fighting the Inquisition,” he replies sternly.

You consider his words carefully. “What happened?”

“The Inquisition has taken up residence in the Capital,” Noventus explains bitterly. “To avoid an open confrontation Sigmunt refuses to commit men during the day, but during the night he sends squads to raid known Inquisitorial strongholds. It was on one such raid that my son was killed. A raid which Sigmunt refuses to acknowledge ever took place… so no burial ceremony, no public notice.”

“The Capital has become host to a war with no heroes, no battles, and no monuments… only casualties.”

“So if I were to ask you for men,” you wonder.

He nods. “You would have as many as you wanted. I know that you can’t fight them yourselves.”

>But you know I’m not going to ask for them.
>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.
>Act on your own conscience and initiative. That’s my advice.
>Other?

>>4051651
>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.

>>4051651
>if you are making an offer ...
That might give us a way to fight them for real, warriors could incapacitate/distract them them and the soldiers can kill them.
It wouldn't be hard to disguise it as an expansion on the raids Sigmund is doing already

>>4051651
>>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.
King denying us husbandos.

>>4051651
>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.

WE WILL AVENGE NOVENTUS'S SON

>>4051651
>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.

>>4051695
>warriors could incapacitate/distract them them and the soldiers can kill them.
I don't think it works like this. Claymores don't kill himans to assure the population they will never be a danger. You can't circumvent this on a tehnicality.

>>4051651
>>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.

>>4051651
>If you’re making an offer, I’m in no position to refuse.
>And I am so sorry about your son, he seemed like a good man when I met him.

>>4051651
>>4051803
This.

>>4051803
>>4051651
this.

>>4051651
>>4051803
Ditto

>>4051651
“I only met your son briefly,” you admit, “and not under the greatest of circumstances. But it struck me that he was a young man with strong principles.”

“That’s kind of you to say, Lady Noel,” Noventus admits with a short sigh.

“If you’re making a genuine and explicit offer of support,” you admit, “then I’m afraid I’m in no position to flatly refuse on behalf of all my comrades.”

Noventus seems to think carefully about whether he wants to make that offer or not. “Consider it an offer.”

“Consider this a gentle reminder that the castle is under surveillance,” Laura interjects. “So it may be more difficult to make a round trip back there to put it to a vote of some sort, then back here to relay the reply.”

“Then I can commit a centuria from our northernmost patrol routes to the cause,” Noventus declares, “under guise of a temporary transfer for logistical purposes.”

That means one hundred soldiers, which in turn means one hundred able bodies capable of repairing or supplementing existing defensive measures. It’s not all that unusual an assignment on the face of it, with soldiers often being called upon for such tasks. Without that capability, the various fortifications the Hazari military uses as logistical nodes for patrolling its own territory would certainly crumble.

The only question will be whether your comrades will ask them to stay to man the defenses they end up implementing or not.

That’s a bit harder to reckon. It’s not immediately clear how most of your fellow half-blooded warriors will view such an escalation, either in terms of plain deterrence value or as a provocation. There’s some merit to the position of sending the human troops on their way after further hardening the defenses around Scaithness and the castle, though the extra bodies would make any assault on your position there a nightmare for the Inquisition should they choose to attack in spite of the increased risks.

You guess it really boils down to whether or not bloodshed can be reasonably expected. If it’s expected, the soldiers would be a huge boon. If it’s not expected, then they’d be more trouble than they’re worth.

>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.
>I’d rather not have them leave for Scaithness before we’ve spoken with the others.
>I think information is more important to us. Forget the soldiers for now.
>Other?

>>4053791
>>I’d rather not have them leave for Scaithness before we’ve spoken with the others.

>>4053791
>>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.

>>4053791
>>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.

>>4053791
>>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.

>>4053791
>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.

>>4053791
>I think it’s a sensible measure to send them shortly after us. We’ll have put it to a vote whether to keep them around by the time they arrive.

>>4053791
“I don’t like the idea of having them on the way before we even put it to a vote,” you admit, “and some of us are likely not to as well. But it’s undeniably more sensible to send them shortly after we leave.”

Especially given the distances and timeframes involved it would be best to get the detached unit of soldiers to work as quickly as possible. And even if the others don’t want to keep the soldiers around long-term the citizens of Scaithness might… and even if NOBODY wants them to stick around long-term it still makes sense to harden the defenses in the area. So you have no doubt that if it comes down to it, the case practically makes itself.

With the arrangements sorted with Marshal Noventus, you can return to the group with the news.

“One hundred soldiers in the command of Marshal Noventus will arrive within three days,” you declare. “They’ll be trained in construction, and will help harden the defenses around Scaithness and the castle.”

“It’s necessary because of the fact that the Inquisition has been watching us for some time now,” Laura adds. “If we want to continue moving freely we’ll have to make some changes around here.”

“They’ll stay for as long as we, or the citizens of Scaithness, want them to,” you explain. “I’ve laid out a few recommendations that should be easy to act on, but whether we want them to stay and man those defenses depends on whether we expect a fight or not.”

“What were your ideas?” Helen asks you as your fellow warriors crowd around a local-scale map table… built around two years ago as you were planning the initial defensive improvements after you took up residence here.
>1/2

>>4055532
You lay it out for them: the first is a short set of timber and earth palisades on either side of the wall guarding the road into Scaithness, essentially upgrading it into a pincer gate. This in effect makes the road ‘sunken’, allowing defensive fire to envelop any attackers who try to come in that way. A more substantial stone-faced embankment would take time, but wouldn’t be out of the question as a long-term improvement.

A few lines of ditches with wooden stakes driven into the scarps wouldn’t be a bad addition, nor would low stackstone walls along the narrow beach to disrupt the positioning of cannon and the movement of horses.

The advanced works further up the road will also be upgraded under this plan: in fact, this will be the site of the main encampment if the hundred men being sent your way are to stay. The small, roughly rectangular castellum will be upgraded with low timber and rammed-earth walls and at least one wooden tower opposite the current stone structure. This will allow focus to be shifted towards the slope if need be, as well as for the soldiers within to take shelter if the defenses are partly breached. So sheltered, it would be possible for the men to continue firing on any attackers who make it through the gate.

Split rails will also add some defense against cannon shot for the advanced works on either end of the road through Scaithness, intended not to stop the incoming projectiles but to reduce their velocity before they meet the stone face.

With a hundred soldiers doing nothing but build, and the warriors of your cohort preparing and transporting the lumber, these defensive improvements can be made in about a week of relentless work. It would certainly take much longer to construct even these short lengths of defensive wall out of stone.
>2/3

>>4055534
“My issue with this is one of how it will appear to the Inquisition,” Helen admits. “I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking along those lines.”

“Enhancing their encampment at the northern gate is something that any unit of Hazari soldiers would do once they arrive in a particular location for the first time,” you explain, waiving it off as essentially common practice. “And the palisade work at the southern gate to Scaithness is much less visible from outside the settlement.”

“But the split rails wouldn’t be so subtle,” Helen counters. “And putting new defenses in on the beach would make it clear as well that we’re girding ourselves for battle.”

>That’s exactly what we’d be doing. I’m assuming that either the Inquisition or forces loyal to Sigmunt will attack this location sooner or later.
>That’s why those elements would come last. Doing it that way will serve as a deterrent throughout the process as well.
>We can’t lay low here any longer. We either have to find a new place to hide or dig ourselves in… those are our two choices.
>Other?

>>4055544
Rammed earth takes a long time to set properly though. Longer than a week.
>That’s why those elements would come last. Doing it that way will serve as a deterrent throughout the process as well.
>We can’t lay low here any longer. We either have to find a new place to hide or dig ourselves in… those are our two choices.

>>4055544
>>That’s why those elements would come last. Doing it that way will serve as a deterrent throughout the process as well.

>>4055544
>That’s why those elements would come last. Doing it that way will serve as a deterrent throughout the process as well.

>>4055544
>>That’s exactly what we’d be doing. I’m assuming that either the Inquisition or forces loyal to Sigmunt will attack this location sooner or later.

>>4055544
>>4055548
I'm good with this.

>>4055544
>>4055548
This. The Organization, the Inquisition and Sigmunt are all likely to move against us soon.

>>4055544
I need to pop out and buy some stuff for a moment, but give me a 3d10 best of three while I'm out.

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

>>4057820

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

>>4057820

Rolled 2, 5, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>4057820

>>4055544
“That’s why those elements come last,” you explain. “Doing it that way allows us to strengthen our defenses in such a way that if the Inquisition picks up on it halfway through, we’re still better off for it. Whatever improvements we get away with before that point become an improved deterrent... which if we stay here any longer, we'll need.”

That’s a very sensible plan in your head, but when put to a vote not everyone agrees. It’s a blind vote of course, with everyone marking on a piece of paper and putting the paper into a literal hat that you borrowed from old man Gaius. Your proposal passes by a margin of seven to four… a difference of three only seems like a wide gulf proportionally speaking, because it still means that four of your ten closest confidantes and companions disagree with the measure.

“Alright then,” you nod. “Now we should vote for whether to ask the soldiers to stay on.”

That vote is even closer: six to five in favor of having the soldiers remain here to man the new defenses, at least for a certain amount of time.

“Ultimately it’s not just up to us,” you admit with a weary sigh. “The locals in Scaithness need to agree as well… it’s their town after all. So if they feel strongly in the opposite direction we’ll need to discuss the issue again later.”

“Fair point,” Helen admits. “It was a concern of mine, that I wished to address regardless of the result of our own vote.”

“Do you mean they could have overruled our vote?” Sabrina wonders. “I mean, going the other way?”

You shake your head. “There’s not much point in even debating it right now. I understand though why this would be contentious.”

“Do you?”

“You have something on your mind… so go ahead.”

Sabrina seems a little surprised at first, but does as you insist. “Are you sure this isn’t the Princess speaking?”

>It is, and this princess knows how to defend her own keep. That’s all there is to it.
>You may have a point, but we need a little of that knowledge sometimes.
>Absolutely not.
>Absolutely, and you should probably get used to it since it’s likely to be relevant more often from now on.
>Other?

>>4057949
>You may have a point, but we need that knowledge

>>4057949
>>You may have a point, but we need a little of that knowledge sometimes.

>We have outside of The abyssal ones' courts, three principle enemies.
>Firstly the Inquisition who would see all of us dead on the principle of religious zealotry. We could slaughter them all easily but that would not help our case, our minds or the people we're ultimately trying to serve.
>Secondly we have Sigmunt, who is mostly an enemy of mine. The issue is he's going to very much ill like us being independent, and after killing me would want to make sure you all are loyal to him or dead. This would either lead to open war with claymores as a new super weapon, or all of us dead. Either way bad.
>Finally we have an organization who has been creating not only claymore but abyssal ones for centuries now. Filled with arcane and eldritch knowledge of youma and our own anatomy, I doubt we're the worst thing they have made. We're going to need support to eventually replace them, or die under their hell.
>Because of this, we HAVE to interact more with the regular humans. Which means politics, which means princess and her knowledge.

>>4057984
>>4057949
In with this.

>>4057949
supporting: >>4057984

>>4057949
>>It is, and this princess knows how to defend her own keep. That’s all there is to it.

>>4057949
Supporting >>4057984

>>4057949
>You may have a point, but we need a little of that knowledge sometimes.

>>4057949
ditto >>4057984 #

>>4057949
“You may have a point,” you admit calmly. “But we don’t just have the three abyssal courts and the lesser yōma to deal with now. The Inquisition would kill us all out of pure religious zeal, and though we could slaughter them overnight that wouldn’t even improve our position. Sigmunt is more an enemy of mine, but if he had his way and killed me he’d either have you killed too or force you all to swear fealty to him… because he’s not the type to let an alternative power structure exist within Hazaran where he’s not on top. Finally we have the Organization, who we’re going to have to deal with as enemies eventually. Otherwise everything we’ve found out and all the work we’ve done will die with the last of us.”

“And so what does that mean?” Valentina asks curiously. “I mean I gather you’re making a point...”

“In all three of these we’re going to have to deal with people,” you assert. “Normal, unaugmented human beings who we can’t kill for a variety of reasons. Our fight right now is as much a political battle of survival as a literal one, and in that endeavor my upbringing as a princess can help us succeed. So that means I have to embrace that, even if it makes me look like a pompous, stuck-up, controlling bitch.”

“Because I don’t wanna die yet.”

Sabrina nods. “I know all that. But we’re not politicians. Not me, not anyone else here, not even you. We gave that up a long time ago. So when this is over, when the half-blood warriors are safe, what happens then?”

You get what she’s driving at… after the dust settles, if you’re still alive, you could easily set yourself up as a queen. A tyrant with power beyond mortal comprehension, as it were. You’re halfway there already.

>We find a place to live freely, away from politics and subservience.
>I guess we all go our separate ways. Live out our lives as best we can.
>We’re still threats to humanity long-term, so we need to keep our eyes out for one another.
>Other?

>>4059427
>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>Let's just say Hazaran will have a new God Empress running things.

>>4059427
>>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>>4059460
This

>>4059427
>>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>>We’re still threats to humanity long-term, so we need to keep our eyes out for one another.
>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.

>>4059427
>Thats not for me alone to decide, everyone of us has to make a decision, but we won't be alone in it. We can make something new or live on as legends.
>Let's just say Hazaran will have a new God Empress running things.

>>4059427
“That’s not for me alone to decide,” you reply placidly, almost as though you practiced the words. “Each of us needs to come to our own conclusions. But if we all decide to stick together I think I’d be happiest, regardless of whether that’s to make something new or simply to… well, fade away into legend, I guess.”

There’s a long, deeply contemplative pause. Perhaps the most outwardly thoughtful is Sabrina, whose almost accusatory tone before has given way to total silence and whose expression has become unreadable, her gaze soft and unfocused.

“That is your answer?” she eventually asks you.

You nod. “Life as a human is strange, you know?”

“As a human...” Valentina repeats.

“Come on,” Helen eventually declares. “There’s a lot of work that needs to get done.”
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 9, 7, 8 = 24 (3d10)

>>4061885

Rolled 2, 2, 6 = 10 (3d10)

>>4061885

>>4061890
well done mate, you might just have saved our asses again
especially since this >>4061897 was the next roll ...

Rolled 6, 8, 2 = 16 (3d10)

>>4061885

>>4061885
The promised troops arrive three days later, in the morning, having camped the night so as to arrive around sunup. The first thing they do is set to work digging themselves into a field camp of ten tents alone the road, just past the edge of Scaithness proper. One squad of ten men breaks off and constructs the tents in-situ while five squads begin digging. The remaining four squads start gathering stones, with two squads heading across the loch by boat to the ruins on the far shore.

You approach a man with a red cloak over his shoulder, clearly the officer in charge, after his subordinates have already started into their assigned tasks.

“I see you don’t waste time, Kentarch,” you greet the officer.

He turns to face you, a grave face with a receding hairline, balanced by chiseled features. This is the face of a man who hasn’t smiled in years.

“Claymore,” he greets you gruffly. “Pink hair...”

“Rephrase that,” you demand in a low tone, hand finding the hilt of your blade.

“Reddish-blonde hair,” the man corrects himself with no outward signs of panic or surprise. “You must be the one I was told about.”

“Probably,” you nod. “So, you’re starting with a temporary camp?”

“Yes,” he confirms. “We’ll have the latrines dug, lined, and covered by the end of the day. Hearths too. Then we’ll start on the fortifications.”

“How are you situated in terms of food?”

“We have rations for three weeks,” he informs you.

“We can find ways to stretch that,” you nod in approval. “Have you spoken with the mayor?”

“Not yet,” the officer admits.

>Then we should do that. Our cohort has decided that the town will have final say on whether to keep you here long-term.
>We should get your supplies squared away first and foremost.
>Walk with me. I want your opinion on the defensive measures I planned.
>Other?

>>4061947
>Then we should do that. Our cohort has decided that the town will have final say on whether to keep you here long-term.

>>4061947
>Walk with me. I want your opinion on the defensive measures I planned.

Also man, you can't have your OC country be horse nomads AND not!Romans at the same time. That's too greedy.

>>4061947
>>Then we should do that. Our cohort has decided that the town will have final say on whether to keep you here long-term.

>>4061947
>>Then we should do that. Our cohort has decided that the town will have final say on whether to keep you here long-term.

>>4061947
>Walk with me. I want your opinion on the defensive measures I planned.

>>4061947
>>Then we should do that. Our cohort has decided that the town will have final say on whether to keep you here long-term.

>>4061966
Cossacks in rome. What's not to love?

>>4061966
The military and administrative aspect of it is imported from the eastern end of the world, where that's the dominant culture.

>>4062049
Cossacks weren't nomads though.

>>4062061
Oh, that's interesting!

>>4064223