>>4200007
[Those five of us whose previous limitations have been shattered can push ourselves much further,] Serana slowly signs with her good hand. [Those who have not, cannot. At least, not safely.]

“Agreed,” Laura nods quietly. “Half-awakening may be a useful asset to our faction, but it’s far too dangerous to try deliberately.”

“After all, far more warriors have awakened than half-awakened,” Valentina observes.

“Experience is always the biggest problem for warriors,” you add to that thought. “Given enough time almost any warrior can reach single-digit power. Our own ducklings are evidence of that.”

“You really think we’re there?” Nessa asks skeptically.

You shrug. “A low double digit is reasonable… Sabrina is probably at the level of most previous number Nines.”

“So what should our plan be, I wonder?” Helen muses. “I can’t help but think that Camila and Zoe are the key.”

“So we should wait for them?” Laura muses. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

“May I?” Alexa asks hesitantly, and you gesture for her to continue.

“I believe that it wouldn’t be best to wait,” Alexa continues. “I believe it would be best to focus on how to build a case.”

“Use the time Zoe will be debating in a way that would help to convince her that joining us is the right thing to do,” you realize. “I follow. But how?”

“That I can’t say,” Alexa admits. “I don’t know Zoe as well as many of you surely do.”

“I don’t know if that’s actually true,” Laura shakes her head. “She’s not an easy person to talk to, and she doesn’t ‘get out much’, as it were.”

“Then I think the best option is to continue as we are,” Helen nods curtly. “Not try to make some sort of point.”

So… the business at hand…

>I think we need to position ourselves to support Aurora.
>I think we need to make some discreet inquiries into the Organization’s affairs.
>Politics all around Hazaran have degenerated… we need to know more about the Inquisition and these mercenary bands.
>Other?

>>4200014
>I think we need to position ourselves to support Aurora.

>>4200014
>>Politics all around Hazaran have degenerated… we need to know more about the Inquisition and these mercenary bands.

>>4200014
>I think we need to position ourselves to support Aurora.

>>4200014
>Politics all around Hazaran have degenerated… we need to know more about the Inquisition and these mercenary bands.

>>4200014
>Politics all around Hazaran have degenerated… we need to know more about the Inquisition and these mercenary bands.

>>4200014
>>Politics all around Hazaran have degenerated… we need to know more about the Inquisition and these mercenary bands.

>>4200014
The political problems concern you on two fronts. First, the more disruption among human governments and settlements there is the more the world becomes a feeding ground for the yōma. It becomes easier for them to move around, and the more sick, injured, and poor there are the easier it is to find prey that no one will miss.

Second, unrest rarely stays so localized. The borders cannot be watched all day and night along their entire lengths, especially when resources and manpower are spread too thin. Sooner or later problems to the north and south of Hazaran will spill over into neighboring territories, which concerns you not just as a warrior anticipating a surge in yōma activity but as a queen responsible for your nation.

“The boldness these mercenaries showed in destroying a whole town is concerning,” you admit. “I don’t know what we can do directly, but I want to know more about them. Even as an exiled queen I may be able to arrange to have something done about it.”

“I’ll want you to run anything you decide by me,” Helen insists. “But in principle… I was in Sankt Claire with you, so I can’t help but agree.”

“The real question is how,” Laura mutters, “as always.”

“Best to go in person,” Sabrina insists. “There’s still no substitute.”

“True,” Justina agrees.

“To do it properly we’ll need to send multiple warriors to the region,” Helen muses aloud.

[In pairs I think,] Serana adds.

“I tend to agree,” you nod curtly to your mute friend. “Things are getting out of control, so some precautions are called for.”

“That will get us spread fairly thin fairly quickly,” Laura observes.

“Not if we only send one team,” Nessa observes. “One team to the main city in the region we think these mercenaries are based.”

“There may be other groups active in the North,” Lucia disagrees. “If we’re going to commit to this, doesn’t it make some sense to commit completely?”

>I’ll take one companion to the monasteries of Daria. The Monks may have some answers for us.
>It makes sense to cover ground thoroughly, take multiple teams of two fanning out.
>It makes sense to limit our footprint, send one team to one specific region.
>Other?

>>4200462
>>I’ll take one companion to the monasteries of Daria. The Monks may have some answers for us.

>>4200462
>I’ll take one companion to the monasteries of Daria. The Monks may have some answers for us.

>>4200462
>>It makes sense to cover ground thoroughly, take multiple teams of two fanning out.

>>4200462
>>It makes sense to cover ground thoroughly, take multiple teams of two fanning out.

>>4200462
>>I’ll take one companion to the monasteries of Daria. The Monks may have some answers for us.

>>4200462
“I’ll take one person with me to the monastery at Daria,” you declare. “Old man Vigilus may have some answers for us.”

[I will go,] Serana chimes in silently. [I never got to properly thank him for what he did for me.]

“A better reason than most,” Helen agrees. “Assuming I got all that right?”

“I think you probably did,” you chuckle. “You’re your own worst critic, Helen.”

[Agreed.]

“Good to know,” she sighs. “Alexandra, Lucia, please go with them as well.”

“Ma’am?” Alexa asks, puzzled at the order.

“We’re going to come back with that information,” Lucia guesses, “in case miss Noel and miss Serana have some information they need to follow up on.”

“That’s right,” Helen nods calmly. “Assuming Noel has no issues with the arrangement?”

“I think it’s a good idea,” you admit.

[Shall we?]

“I think we shall,” you agree.

…

The road to Daria is surprisingly boring, with no evidence of the bandit activity that you encountered the first time you took this pass nor any rune stones like the one you found here.

“What is it?” Alexa asks you.

“Hm?”

“Why did we stop here?” she asks.

You glance up the hillside. “This is the spot where I found an old rune stone one time… the giant kind that we see sometimes up in these mountains.”

“A giant runestone?” Alexa muses. “Where’d something like that come from?”

“The old folk stories used to say that they were carved by a race of giants,” you explain. “In reality… it’s kind of a mystery.”

[I never put much stock in stories like that.]

>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.
>… maybe we could take a look around. Indulge me in my curiosity.
>You may be right. They’re just stories.
>Other?

>>4201902
>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.

>>4201902
>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.
>… maybe we could take a look around. Indulge me in my curiosity.

>>4201902
>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.
>… maybe we could take a look around. Indulge me in my curiosity.

>>4201902
>>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.
>>… maybe we could take a look around. Indulge me in my curiosity.
Noel Tiberius di Hazaran, archaeologist.

>>4201902
>>To be fair, I DID find some unusual caverns underneath Tarskavaig.
>>… maybe we could take a look around. Indulge me in my curiosity.

>>4201902
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 2, 10, 4 = 16 (3d10)

>>4202501

Rolled 4, 2, 3 = 9 (3d10)

>>4202501

Rolled 9, 4, 3 = 16 (3d10)

>>4202501

Rolled 7, 8, 1 = 16 (3d10)

>>4202501

>>4202501
“To be fair,” you muse, “I did find some unusual caverns below Tarskavaig that seemed like artificial tunnels.”

“Like a mine?” Alexa asks.

You shake your head. “No. Like the miners had mined into something that was already there… I’m not so sure we know everything we should about our world.”

“Let’s take a quick look around. See if we can’t find anything.”

…

… you don’t find anything.

[I’m not surprised,] Serana shrugs. [Your instincts could still have been right and I wouldn’t be surprised at not finding confirmation.]

“Fair point,” you agree. “The first time was random chance anyway.”

[Sure.]

…

You and your group reach Daria in the evening, heading up the hillside.

“Once we get there, no speaking,” you tell Alexa and Lucia. “That’s the rule.”

“I understand,” Alexa nods curtly. “We’ll let you two do the talking.”

[For the best, I think,] Serana signs back to you with a playful smirk.

[Agreed.]

[Vigilus!] you greet the old monk cheerfully.

The head monk nods curtly. [Welcome back Noel, Serana.]

[A pleasure,] Serana signs back.

[And your friends?]

[Alexandra,] Alexa signs back slowly.

[Lucia,] Lucia adds.

[Well, you’re all welcome to share dinner in our main hall this evening, if you have an appetite. I’ll also assign you temporary quarters.]

Almost as an afterthought, he adds; [We can speak after we eat.]
>1/2

>>4202652
After a meal of spiced vegetables and flatbread, you reconvene in the library.

[Now then,] Vigilus signs to you. [What pressing matter brings you here?]

[The state of the north,] you explain.

Serana joins in. [Evidently Noel encountered the evidence of some mercenaries. They destroyed a mining town.]

Vigilus stares at you in disbelief. [A whole town?]

[Seems like they caused a massive landslide,] you explain.

[Then that is quite the escalation.]

[Anything you can tell us would be helpful,] Serana bows politely.

[There are four major mercenary factions,] Vigilus informs you. [The situation in the north is quite serious.]

[The ones who did it were evidently called Red Dawn,] you add. [From Karluk.]

[They are not one of the four largest,] Vigilus declares, [but they have been trying to gain notoriety. I have no doubt they’d be capable.]

>What are the governments in the north actually trying to do to counter this threat?
>Where is the Red Dawn located within Karluk? And who leads that local region?
>What do you think the Queen of Hazaran might be able to do to fix this problem?
>Other?

>>4202671
>What are the governments in the north actually trying to do to counter this threat?
>What do you think the Queen of Hazaran might be able to do to fix this problem?

>>4202671
>>Where is the Red Dawn located within Karluk? And who leads that local region?
>>What do you think the Queen of Hazaran might be able to do to fix this problem?

>>4202671
>>What are the governments in the north actually trying to do to counter this threat?
>>What do you think the Queen of Hazaran might be able to do to fix this problem?

>>4202671
>>What are the governments in the north actually trying to do to counter this threat?

>>4202671

>What are the governments in the north actually trying to do to counter this threat?
>Where is the Red Dawn located within Karluk? And who leads that local region?

>>4202671
[What are the governments in the north actually doing about it?]

Old Vigilus shakes his head. [Nothing. At least nothing consistent.]

[Inconsistent?] Serana presses silently. [Please clarify.]

[They’re present in Sakia, Karluk, and Kuden,] Vigilus clarifies, [and have no hold in Kagiu. The central government of Kuden is trying to work against them. Daria and Vaila are well-defended, Voi and Acerrae both less so. Tain and Oran are also well-defended… Zedan has become a hotbed of mecenary activity.]

[Do you know where the Red Dawn operates?] you ask.

Vigilus nods calmly. [North of Shukzan, somewhere in the center of Karluk.]

[It’s an empty wasteland, mostly,] Serana tells you.

You nod. [You know the region.]

[It was north of your territory,] you recall. [What can you tell me?]

[There are oases in that region,] Serana informs you with a swift series of hand signs. [For a mercenary organization to survive there they would likely have to use one of those oases as a base of operations.]

>Then tomorrow we head to Karluk.
>We should see what the situation in Zedan is like.
>I’m a little concerned about the border communities of Acerrae and Voi.
>Other?

>>4204578
>then tomorrow to kaluk

>>4204578
Then tomorrow we head to Karluk.

>>4204578
>Then tomorrow we head to Karluk.

>>4204578
>Then tomorrow we head to Karluk.

>>4204578
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4204829

Rolled 3, 6, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>4204829

Rolled 3, 7, 8 = 18 (3d10)

>>4204829

>>4204829
[Then tomorrow we head for Karluk,] you declare. [You two know what to do.]

After a moment spent digesting your signs, Alexa nods back emphatically.

[It was a brief pleasure,] Vigilus smiles silently. [It brings me great joy to see the two of you, seeing how much our order’s teachings have helped young Serana here. Seeing the company you have all kept. That fellowship is in keeping with our highest values.]

…

The next morning you say your farewells to Alexa and Lucia, and head into the eastern end of Karluk. The terrain shifts predictably from chilly foothills to toasted grasslands. The interior of Karluk is a miserable place, with poor soils and scratchy shrubs as far as the eye can see.

“Okay,” you address Serana calmly. “Where do you think we should start?”

She purses her lips, thinking hard before signing back to you. [I think there’s a town near here. Womerra.”

“Then we’ll go there first,” you decide.

>Start asking around the seedier corners of the town.
>Try to discreetly contact whoever is the leader around here.
>Just search the area, rely on your reputation to keep people out of your way.
>Other?

>>4205164
>Just search the area, rely on your reputation to keep people out of your way.

>>4205164
>Just search the area, rely on your reputation to keep people out of your way.

>>4205164
>>Try to discreetly contact whoever is the leader around here.

>>4205164
>Try to discreetly contact whoever is the leader around here.

>>4205164
>>Just search the area, rely on your reputation to keep people out of your way.

>>4205164
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 9, 8, 9 = 26 (3d10)

>>4206530

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

>>4202501

Rolled 6, 2, 4 = 12 (3d10)

>>4206530

Rolled 6, 2, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>4206533
Ignore this, my update was slower than I thought
>>4206530

>>4206530
You decide to search by yourselves, relying on your own fearsome reputations as the ‘Silver-Eyed Witches’ to keep people silent and complacent… after all, no one would know your involvement at Sankt Claire, so no one would doubt that you’re here hunting yōma.

“Perfect cover,” you mutter.

[Excuse me?]

“Let’s keep this discreet,” you suggest, “play to the fear a little. You know how they feel about us.”

Serana smirks quietly. [Of course.]

“So for once let’s have it work for us,” you smirk.

[I’ll follow your lead,] Serana replies with a mischievous grin of her own. [You can do the talking, I’ll stand here and look tough.]

…

Your first choice is a pub, where your reception is gratifyingly tense when you push your way through the doors. All eyes fall on you and Serana as you make your way to the counter, leaning heavily on your elbows until the man behind it works up the nerve to ask you what you want.

“We’re here for information,” you declare calmly in a low voice, meant only for the barkeep’s ears.

“I don’t know anything ‘bout any monsters,” the barkeep insists.

“We’re not here for information about yōma,” you insist in a lower voice, leaning in a bit closer. “If we were here looking for yōma we’d have already found them, killed them, and been on our way.”

“Then… what are you looking for?” he asks.

“Red Dawn.”

The man’s face turns a shade paler. “Well I don’t know anything ‘bout that either.”

“Tell me,” you muse in a more cheerful tone, “do you know anything about how we ‘Claymores’ as you call us are trained?”

Next to you, Serana takes a seat on a stool, watching the barkeep like a predator.

He shakes his head.

“Oh, most of it’s far too brutal for polite company,” you continue. “We have to be prepared, you see, to live out an especially cruel existence. But one of the things that we’re taught, in addition to how to detect and kill yōma, is how to tell when someone is lying to us.”

“… I see.”

“Do you?”
>1/2

>>4206792
“You think I’m lying.”

“I know you’re not telling us the full truth,” you shrug. “Whether it’s a lie or not depends on your intents, now doesn’t it?”

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

“We Claymores are taught to completely dominate any social interactions we find ourselves in,” you tell him. “Patterns of speech relating to regional variation and profession. Physical responses and body language, what you might call ‘tells’… we warriors have the most perfect ‘poker faces’ you’ve ever seen. Completely blank should we so desire, I’m told its quite unnerving. Regional and local histories and politics, philosophy, economics, some basic tradecraft, survival techniques.”

“Fascinating,” he replies flatly. “And all that means you can tell when a man’s lying?”

“All that,” you repeat, “means I can tell when a man’s lying.”

The bartender sighs. “It’s an oasis to the northeast. I hear the Red Dawn recruit there, but I’ve never heard anything about a camp or a base or anything like that.”

>Then that’s where you have to go.
>It could help to do a little more digging. Say that you’re chasing a traitor.
>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.
>Other?

>>4206835
>>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.

>>4206835
>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.

>>4206835
>>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.
>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.

>>4206835
>>Recruitment, but not a camp? It must be an oasis near that one.

>>4206835
“There must be another camp nearby,” you declare. “Their actual base of operations should be somewhere close to the recruitment site. Agree?”

[Agreed.]

“Then let’s go.”

…

The oasis isn’t very far from where you are now, it just takes an hour or two on foot before you can reach it shortly before sundown. The pool is small and not particularly clear, but the water itself is obviously drinkable. Might be a good idea to boil it, but nothing too bad. There are green rushes growing all round the edge of the pool, with weedy trees poking out of the stony soil. It’s actually quite beautiful.

You hear Serana snap loudly in the reddish desert twilight, calling your attention.

[Here. Doesn’t this look recent?]

You glance down at the same thing she’s seeing… the remnants of a campfire.

“Not that recent,” you admit. “No scent of smoke, no warmth. Sand mixed in.”

[Ah. So it would seem.]

“So they haven’t been here for a while,” you sigh. “We’ll begin searching from here, look for any evidence of people moving through the area.”

[Of course, let’s.]

>3d10, best of four

File: 16158627711_1ca2371e04_b.jpg (499 KB, 1024x683)

499 KB JPG

>>4208449

Rolled 9, 3, 4 = 16 (3d10)

>>4208449

Rolled 6, 6, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>4208449

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

>>4208449

Rolled 1, 3, 10 = 14 (3d10)

>>4208449

>>4208449
You eventually identify something the mercenaries left behind… a discarded apple core, and some date pits.

“No apples growing around here,” you observe. “The date pits might have been animals, but not that.”

[I see,] Serana nods contemplatively. [So, perhaps somewhere in this direction?]

“Likely,” you agree. “Do you know this area?”

Serana shakes her head. [Not well. If my memories are right there IS another oasis out that way. Or…]

She pauses, before gesturing in a slightly different direction. [Maybe more that way?]

“We have all night,” you assure her.

…

You eventually locate another oasis… and this one is home to a campsite, with a dozen tents or so. Horses hitched there too, and watchposts lashed into some of the trees. So this is definitely the place.

>Wait for sunrise and observe.
>Sneak into camp and observe.
>Locate the commander’s tent and sneak in.
>Other?

>>4208507
>Sneak into camp and observe.

>>4208507
>Sneak into camp and observe.

>>4208507
>>Sneak into camp and observe.

>>4208507
>>Locate the commander’s tent and sneak in.

>>4208507
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 7, 8, 3 = 18 (3d10)

>>4208850

Rolled 9, 9, 8 = 26 (3d10)

>>4208850

Rolled 8, 1, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>4208850

>>4208850
You decide that in order to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible, the best move would be to sneak into the camp under cover of darkness and have a look around up close. And so you wait together with Serana, waiting through most of the night until a few hours before dawn. That’s when the sentries will be at their least attentive, while still giving you the advantage of moving unseen.

At what you decide to be the right moment, you set out on a wide, circular route around a low rocky outcrop and under one of the watch towers, slinking your way quietly into the settlement.

[We should search a tent or two?] you suggest silently.

[I will find the commander’s tent,] Serana signs back to you. [Don’t worry about that.]

[Then I will examine their supplies and arms,] you declare. [When we are done we should withdraw separately to the same spot where we were observing them.]

[Agreed?]

Serana nods in agreement. [Sounds good.]

You carefully pick your way through the shadows, peeking in under the edges of the various tents until you find one with a few small wooden crates outside that make it look like somewhere that weapons might be stored. Sure enough, slipping in under the edge of the tent reveals that the tent is full of supplies… barrels of gunpowder, flat rectangular crates of rifles based on the one that’s sitting open, similar crates that seem sized for pistols, bars of lead for casting bullets, sharpened munitions-grade backswords. Even a few flatbows sitting in an open barrel, with arrows arranged in quivers nearby.

The crates come stocked with six rifles each, and you count thirteen of these including the one standing open for a total of seventy-eight. What you don’t see is any evidence of cannon or appropriately sized shot for cannon.

…

“They have seventy-eight rifles in that tent,” you tell Serana when you regroup. “Enough to start a small civil war.”

[More than the number of men in this camp,] Serana frowns.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

[The commander was asleep and his tent was guarded,] Serana admits, [but I did see that many of the soldiers were armed already. So these weapons may not even be for the men stationed here.]

>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.
>It seems like they plan to recruit. We should try to put that to an end.
>We can’t let them keep those weapons, don’t you agree?
>Other?

>>4209019
>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.

>>4209019
>We can’t let them keep those weapons, don’t you agree?
Free stuff for forming a milita back at home.

>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.
Or where they are from...

>>4209019
>>We can’t let them keep those weapons, don’t you agree?

>>4209019
>>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.
>>We can’t let them keep those weapons, don’t you agree?

File: (JPEG Image, 333 × 151 pixels).jpg (7 KB, 333x151)

7 KB JPG

>>4209083
>>4209019
In with this guy.

>>4209019
>>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.

>>4209019
>>4209083
this

>>4209019
I like the way >>4209083 thinks

>>4209019
>Then we need evidence of who these weapons are intended for.

>>4209083
>>4209019
agreed

>>4209019
“Tell me,” you muse playfully. “Wouldn’t you agree that it would be deeply irresponsible to leave that many weapons in the hands of such obviously untrustworthy individuals?”

[I would,] she signs back with a shrug.

“And are you at all curious to know where these weapons came from?”

She nods with an expression of amused curiosity. [I am.]

“Then I’m going to go get a cart from town,” you decide. “Stay out of sight somewhere in the area, in case they decide to move the goods. If they do I can track you down by your yōki aura. Agreed?”

She nods with a smug grin. [Agreed. Another nighttime raid?]

“I like the way you think,” you grin back.

>3d10, best of four

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

>>4210618

Rolled 7, 10, 1 = 18 (3d10)

>>4210618

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

>>4210618

Rolled 9, 5, 5 = 19 (3d10)

>>4210618

>>4210618
You return late in the evening, pulling the cart by hand to a point as close to the tent as you can get without it being seen. It’s too risky to take out any of the guards… one hit even slightly too hard and they may have a corpse on hand to try and place blame on the Organization, which would of course be counterproductive.

The crates you carry between the two of you… they’re not heavy per se, at least not to you, but they are extremely bulky and difficult to balance with just two hands. You also take a small case of powder, which should go nicely with the lamp oil you purchased and left in the cart.

You’re just loading the last of the weapons into the cart when you hear a shout.

“The crates from the armory are gone!” you hear a single voice bellow.

The commotion takes a few seconds to grow to what you’d call fever pitch, giving you just enough time to finish loading the cart and take off running through the grasslands with Serana.

“This isn’t going as smoothly as I’d hoped!” you admit over the sound of potshots taken in the dark.

[Plan B?] she signs back with her good hand.

'Plan B'... taking what you can by hand for later identification, while using the oil you bought to set off the powder you stole. Your aim would be to ruin as many of the rifles as possible rather than risking your lives trying to claim them for yourselves.

>We’ll take one case to identify the makers’ markings and blow up the rest. We're far enough away.
>I think I can manage, we just need to choose our path carefully.
>Other?

>>4210658
>>We’ll take one case to identify the makers’ markings and blow up the rest. We're far enough away.

>>4210658
>I think I can manage, we just need to choose our path carefully.

>>4210658
>We’ll take one case to identify the makers’ markings and blow up the rest. We're far enough away.

>>4210689
>>4210713
Why do you give up immediately?

>>4210658
>I think I can manage, we just need to choose our path carefully.
Can't we pippi longstocking this wagon like we did with horse?

>>4210658
>>I think I can manage, we just need to choose our path carefully.

>>4210658
>>I think I can manage, we just need to choose our path carefully.

>>4210658
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 9, 1, 8 = 18 (3d10)

>>4211284

Rolled 9, 10, 9 = 28 (3d10)

>>4211284

Rolled 10, 10, 7 = 27 (3d10)

>>4211284

>>4211291 Nice.

>>4211284
“With a little caution...” you muse for a moment, before abruptly changing your mind. “Oh, to hell with it!”

…

The explosion in one of the deeper ravines is certainly a dramatic sight. It would be easy to assume that whoever had tried to steal from the Red Dawn had met an unfortunate and all too abrupt end. But amid the flaming wreckage by the creek the keen observer might, with the benefit of a little daylight, discern a key discrepancy.

There simply isn’t enough iron to add up to the full compliment of long guns, instead only amounting to about half.

That’s because you and Serana have made off with six of thirteen crates, strung together at one end with rope and thrown over your shoulders just like you did when you loaded them, only this time using your yōki more aggressively.

After running through the badlands until dawn, you and your partner lay low amid a few rocks at the top of a small hill.

[Was that for the best?]

“I think so,” you admit. “Had we lost a wheel in the dark that would’ve spelled trouble.”

[We could have blown them all up,] Serana observes.

“And risk handing them all back if something went wrong,” you counter. “It may be a compromise, but I think it’s safer than one extreme and more efficacious than the other.”

"We don't need all of them anyway. Just a large enough sample to catch any differences in tooling marks."

[If you say so.]

“Now, let’s get these secured a bit better.”

…

It takes you some time, but you mange to wrap up all thirty-six of your captured weapons into bundles of twelve each, wrapped in bits of torn canvass and rope to disguise what they are. One over each of your respective shoulders, at least until you can secure a better alternative.

IF you want to bother.

>Steal another cart from town during the night. Masquerade as travelers.
>Don’t bother. Just head back towards your own territory as quickly as possible.
>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.
>Other?

>>4212480
>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.

>>4212480
>>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.

>>4212480
>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.

>>4212480
>>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.

>>4212480
>>Head back only under cover of darkness, staying off the roads.

>>4212480
>>Don’t bother. Just head back towards your own territory as quickly as possible.

>>4212480
>3d10, best of three

File: three-dices-on-white-back(...).jpg (11 KB, 347x280)

11 KB JPG

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

>>4214477

Rolled 3, 6, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>4214477

Rolled 10, 10, 6 = 26 (3d10)

>>4214477

Rolled 4, 1, 4 = 9 (3d10)

>>4214477

File: areyouawizzard[1].jpg (99 KB, 1252x704)

99 KB JPG

>>4214486

File: The Wizard.jpg (237 KB, 1092x742)

237 KB JPG

>>4214529

>>4214477
You and Serana take it in turns to nap through the following day, laying low and out of sight in the shrubs to better avoid being found by any of the Red Dawn’s men. Since you’re well off the main roads all you hear during your turns remaining awake is the whispering of the wind, the burbling of a little creek somewhere nearby, and the songs of the little birds going about their day.

The next night you make slow progress, returning to the foothills and heading for the border before settling in for the next day. This process you repeat two more times until you finally find yourself walking down into a valley, Acerrae in view.

“What is all this about?” Stanislaus asks as you call at his estate. He ushers you into the gatehouse where Laura used to stay, so that you can unpack your burdens. “Rifles?”

“We liberated these from the Red Dawn mercenaries,” you explain. “After finding evidence that they destroyed a whole town.”

“That’s bad business,” he muses grimly. “Best to distribute these to the local defense forces, if you don’t mind. Just on the off chance you’re tracked here.”

[A sensible precaution,] Serana admits, figuratively leaning on you to agree. [Hazaran doesn’t need them.]

“Serana approves of that idea,” you translate.

“Does she now?” Stanislaus chuckles. “So, why did you steal them rather than destroying them?”

“For this,” you declare as you set to work disassembling one of the weapons. “That’s odd.”

[What?]
“What is it?”

“Here, on the top of the action,” you point out a carved emblem. “This was made in Hazaran.”

“In Hazaran?” Stanislaus repeats. “When, and by whom?”

Serana’s expression darkens. [Was it his doing?]

“It may have been Sigmunt,” you grumble. “But why? The Red Dawn don’t operate along our northern border, so what purpose would supplying them with weapons serve?”

“Is it possible this mark was forged?” Stanislaus asks.

[Again, but why?]

>Anything is POSSIBLE, but I find both those options UNLIKELY. I don’t see a motive there.
>It’s possible that they were brought by Hazari defectors of some sort, loyal to Sigmunt perhaps.
>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.
>Other?

>>4214538
>>It’s possible that they were brought by Hazari defectors of some sort, loyal to Sigmunt perhaps.
>>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.

>>4214538
>It’s possible that they were brought by Hazari defectors of some sort, loyal to Sigmunt perhaps.
>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.

>>4214538
>>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.
didn't we meet a merchant transporting rifles at the start of the quest? maybe he knows something about this

>>4214538
>It’s possible that they were brought by Hazari defectors of some sort, loyal to Sigmunt perhaps.
>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it

>>4214538
>>It’s possible that they were brought by Hazari defectors of some sort, loyal to Sigmunt perhaps.
>>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.
this is good
>>4214551
This is also something we could chase, but it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

>>4214538
>>If they were stolen it would be a good pretense for a war, and my guess is SOMEONE knows it.

>>4214538
“Could’ve been Sigmunt,” you admit, “or defectors loyal to him. They could also have been stolen.”

[If they were stolen, couldn’t that be pretense for a foreign campaign?]

“In my father’s days it might have been,” you acknowledge the possibility of that escalation. “But I could also imagine that someone out there might know that as well as I do.”

Serana nods curtly. [I suppose that’s a very real possibility.]

[How do you intend to deal with this?]

>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.
>We should return to Scaithness. Discuss this with Helen and the others.
>Other?

>>4216561
>>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.

>>4216561
>>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.

>>4216561
>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.

>>4216561
>>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.

>>4216561
>>We should go to the Capital. Speak with Noventus.

>>4216561
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4217707

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

>>4217707

Rolled 10, 8, 4 = 22 (3d10)

>>4217707

>>4217707
You decide to head to the Capital to speak with Noventus about this.

Once you cross the border into Hazaran you can pick up the pace, hitching a ride with a small caravan that’s heading the same way as you and Serana are. When you arrive in the Capital there’s quite a commotion at the ‘queen-in-exile’ returning home again. It takes some effort to battle your way through the teeming crowds to get to the palace gates, where you find yourselves ushered into the first outer hall.

“Welcome!” Noventus greets you proudly, waving you over to the same seat your father used to use whenever addressing an assembly of the landed aristocrats and wealthy merchants who claim to represent all of Hazari society… some of whom are even in attendance. “Apologies, but we weren’t informed you would be here today. Now, what is all this about?”

“You mean the longarms?” you ask, settling in with Serana seated next to you… she doesn’t seem embarrassed, or even necessarily aware, of the fact that you’ve given her your old position.

Noventus nods, a knowing smile on his face. “I mean the longarms, my queen. You’ve been up to something haven’t you?”

“Always,” you reply with a smirk. “Serana, if you don’t mind.”

She tosses one of the weapons to Noventus, who catches it expertly as though he were ready to shoulder it and fire.

“What am I looking for?”

“Markings,” you tell him, leaving him to tell you what he spots on his own.

After a moment, he raises an eyebrow. “Where did you find this?”

“Far from home,” you explain, “in the hands of the Red Dawn mercenary company, along with seventy-seven more like it.”

He seems surprised. “Thirteen cases?”

“That we saw.”

One of the many advisors demands an explanation, to which Noventus offers a grim confirmation. “These weapons are marked as Hazari military issue.”

There’s an immediate commotion before another advisor speaks up over the rest of the voices.

“How can we be sure these are authentic?”

“I couldn’t at a glance,” you admit, “which is part of why I brought them here. Without knowing where they came from it’s harder to say what they were doing there.”
>1/2

>>4217927
“A wise measure,” Noventus nods, still turning the weapon over in his hands. “I shall make every enquiry.”

“And if they are legitimate?” a councilman demands. “What then?”

“There are three possibilities that I can see at the moment,” you explain. “First, that it has something to do with internal dissent against my return and Noventus’ appointment, either by defection or retributive action by or at the behest of Sigmunt.”

“Second, it’s possible that there was a theft of Hazari government property. The theft of so many weapons would be a serious concern.”

“Third, it’s possible that these are all forgeries and that someone wishes us to believe them genuine. The first thing we need to do is determine which of those three most closely resembles the reality of the situation.”

>Noventus, I’ll leave this matter in your capable hands. Please let me know what you find, but keep it quiet.
>This is a serious issue. I’d like to open up the old official channels with our neighboring nations, begin making enquiries.
>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.
>Other?

>>4217939
>>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.
>Check the armory, also.

>>4217939
>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.

second option just seems like proclaiming weakness to the world at large.

>>4217939
>>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.

>>4217939
>This is a serious issue. I’d like to open up the old official channels with our neighboring nations, begin making enquiries.
>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.

>>4217939
>Someone must have handled these weapons, either by stealing them or selling them. Finding them means finding answers.

>>4217939
“Someone must have handled these weapons,” you muse thoughtfully. “As an intermediary. I’d be very interested to speak with that someone.”

[Finding them could mean getting some answers,] Serana is quick to agree.

“Have the armories of every major garrison and every border post checked,” you tell Noventus. “To either confirm or rule out theft. Concentrate first on new positions, or ones that have been recently reactivated, one of them may have missed a shipment.”

“Agreed,” Noventus nods curtly. “The second priority will be postings large enough that a few crates of weapons might not be immediately missed.”

“Good,” you agree. “I also want manifests of all weapons shipments within Hazaran requisitioned from the merchants’ guild. Have the rifles themselves disassembled one at a time, check to make sure that the tooling marks all match then call up the makers who completed each order.”

"Somewhere along the line you're likely to turn out the person we're looking for, someone who arranged a discreet shipment that doesn't show up on the official records, or someone who signed for goods that never arrived. Some irregularity that would give us a place to start. When you find them, I want to speak with them."

“That’s all bound to take some time, Lady Noel,” Noventus observes. “Would you prefer to remain at the palace, or to wait for the results at Blackthorn?”

>I’ll stay here for a little while.
>I’ll be waiting in Scaithness.
>I'll be pursuing the issue on my own.
>Other?

>>4219361
>I'll be waiting in scaith Ness
A queen in exile going in and out is better than her staying in the castle, looks like more trust is placed in the regent

>>4219361
>I’ll be waiting in Scaithness.

>>4219361
>I’ll be waiting in Scaithness.

>>4219361
>3d10, best three of four

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

>>4219557

Rolled 7, 10, 6 = 23 (3d10)

>>4219557

Rolled 38, 58, 19 = 115 (3d100)

>>4219557

Rolled 5, 7, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>4219557

Rolled 2, 9, 8 = 19 (3d10)

>>4219557

>>4219557
You adjourn to the Blackthorn Keep in Scaithness, reporting all of what has happened to your comrades when you arrive.

“That’s disturbing news,” Helen agrees with your assessment. “Nice work though.”

“Any ideas what’s most likely?” Valentina asks curiously.

“Not yet,” you admit.

>We shouldn’t get any more involved than we already are. Focus on our own tasks.
>We have some contacts of our own, we could ask nearby warriors to make inquiries.
>There are civilian authorities we could contact through unofficial channels.
>Other?

>>4219557
Also, to clarify: this roll isn't for something immediate, but with a 23 it may come up in the next few updates.

>>4219643
>We have some contacts of our own, we could ask nearby warriors to make inquiries.
Because the Inquisition's gun supplier could be the same.

>>4219643
>we have some control our own
After that even should focus on our own tasks

>>4219679
that should read 'contacts'
autocorrect is a bitch

>>4219643
>>We have some contacts of our own, we could ask nearby warriors to make inquiries.

>>4219643
>>We have some contacts of our own, we could ask nearby warriors to make inquiries.

>>4219643
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4221268

Rolled 8, 3, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>4221268

Rolled 5, 8, 3 = 16 (3d10)

>>4221268

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

>>4221268

Rolled 10, 7, 7 = 24 (3d10)

>>4221268

File: Valentina_Face.png (98 KB, 267x285)

98 KB PNG

>>4221268
“We have contacts of our own,” you muse thoughtfully. “I think we could do some asking around.”

…

Information trickles in slowly over the next few days, mostly in the form of dead leads, and of news of what people don’t know. At very least you can state with some confidence that the weapons were never handled by the merchants’ guild of Hazaran… it may not sound like much, but even that is progress.

“If it’s not the merchants’ guild then who?” Valentina muses to you over breakfast one morning: an egg, a slice of toast, and a fresh plum each. “Smugglers?”

“Probably,” you nod in agreement with that conclusion. “I can’t say I can see the merchants’ guild doing business with a band of mercenaries… it’d tarnish their reputation.”

“And attract the attention of the ‘legitimate’ governments,” she replies.

“Such as they are,” you grumble. “The northern territories have always struggled to maintain order.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Valentina admits. “I’m a farmgirl at heart.”

“You know...” you muse, suddenly struck by a moment of insight, “maybe I’m too much a princess at heart… maybe I’ve been thinking about this the wrong way.”

“How so?” Valentina chuckles over the last of her egg. “You’re the one with the head for this stuff.”

“Well, see where it’s gotten me?” you reply with a smile. “Can’t you consider that maybe we’re not looking for a political motive, or even necessarily political support?”

Valentina seems to realize what you’re saying. “You think this is the work of… farmers? Blacksmiths? Regular people?”

“Why not?” you reply. “After all what politician do you know who can carve a gunstock, or forge a barrel? If you were the one calling the shots… or rather a farmgirl like you… how would you go about getting a shipment of weapons like these?”

Valentina grins back at you, clearly amused at the question and unused to being called upon like this.

“Well, if you’re asking me...”
>1/2

>>4221346
After three days, you place a small stack of handwritten notes on the table in front of Helen.

She peers up at you, and at a positively beaming Valentina just behind you. “What is this?”

“Our report on the rifles, Helen,” you explain. “See, Valentina and I figured that we might be dealing with some sort of… civilian resistance. So we made some discreet contacts under that assumption.”

“And what did you find?” Helen asks curiously.

“We found the evidence we needed,” Valentina explains cheerfully. “The markings are wrong.”

“How so?”

“Typically,” you explain, “each craftsman places a mark on each part, so that these parts can be traced in case of failure. These are typically placed out of sight, all except for the marking on the action.”

“The crest of Hazaran,” Valentina tells Helen. “Along with one of three armory markings.”

“The Capital, Baiko armory, or the garrison outside Norwick,” you clarify. “Those are the three sites where final assembly and proving occurs. All the weapons we seized were from the Norwick garrison… or so we were led to believe.”

“Remember the markings I mentioned?” Valentina returns to the key issue. “Well, one of those markings is always placed on the stock… the mark of the armory they’re assembled at goes underneath the barrel as well, normally out of sight!”

“These stocks are unmarked,” you continue, “which led me to look a little closer. All stocks for Hazari-produced weapons are made from walnut… lightweight, tight-grained, very solid. It’s the standard specification for a reason. But these are made from maple: cheaper and easier to work, but also slightly heavier, so it’s more common in smaller, local shops.”

“It would take a familiarity with the materials being used and close inspection to tell, but these weapons were built around the chamber and action, with locally-produced stocks and small-batch production runs of barrels.”

“I had no idea you knew so much about woodturning,” Helen muses.

“It’s not me,” you gesture over your shoulder. “Valentina’s the expert.”

“I used to fix my father’s tools,” Valentina admits sheepishly, “when I was a little girl. So I had to know how to turn.”
>2/3

File: Map-Hazaran-Jan-2020.png (425 KB, 584x546)

425 KB PNG

>>4221383
“So where are we supposed to be looking?” Helen muses. “I assume for a place near a garrison where maples can grow but walnuts can’t?”

“Walnut has a reputation for hardiness,” you muse, “but should have good drainage and sunlight. Maples are fairly similar, requiring more sun the colder the conditions.”

“But nuts don’t do well with frost,” Valentina adds, walking to the end of the table and putting her finger on the map. “Ardlui… its maples are famous, it’s neither too far nor too close to the Capital or to Norwick, and it’s at too high an altitude to grow walnuts.”

“The frosts would make walnut basically non-viable,” you agree thoughtfully.

>I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment on this one and go. I’d still be stumped without her.
>Let’s send someone more unassuming in first, perhaps someone in the merchants’ guild?
>Other?

>>4221392
>Let’s send someone more unassuming in first, perhaps someone in the merchants’ guild?
Carefully and deliberately.

>>4221392
>>I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment on this one and go. I’d still be stumped without her.

>>4221392
>>I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment on this one and go. I’d still be stumped without her.

>>4221392
>I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment on this one and go. I’d still be stumped without her.
heh, stumped

>>4221392
>I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment on this one and go. I’d still be stumped without her.

File: FQYSUB~1.jpg (96 KB, 800x533)

96 KB JPG

>>4221392
“I say we trust the farmgirl’s judgment this time,” you suggest. “After all, without her I’d still be stumped.”

“Heh,” Valentina chuckles. “Good one, Lady Noel.”

“What do you mean?”

She looks at you for a moment, slowly growing concerned at an apparent disconnect somewhere along the line. “I mean… nevermind.”

“I always thought I had a broad enough background of interests to draw on,” you muse as you leave the room with her. “I suppose I should branch out a bit more.”

“That one was deliberate.”

“No proof.”

…

Ardlui is a beautiful town perched on a steep slope within view of the high peaks of north-central Hazaran, preserving much of the oldest styles of discernibly ‘Hazari’ architecture. White plastered lower walls, small windows located high up off the ground, second-floor entries accessed by steep wooden stairs, reds and mustard yellows at the top of the second floor, or for the third floor where there is one. The wealthier homes are decorated around the entryways and window frames with brighter colors and whirling geometric patterns.

Sure enough, the maples here are mixed thick with the firs and larches, almost like a natural garden… wildflowers in the spring and summer, colors in the autumn, and snow-coated evergreens in winter.

>Try to find a well-connected merchant.
>Try to find a carpenter.
>Find the town’s mayor.
>Other?

>>4222055
>Try to find a well-connected merchant.

>>4222055
>Try to find a well-connected merchant.

>>4222055
>>Try to find a carpenter.

>>4222055
>>Try to find a carpenter.

>>4222055
>Try to find a carpenter.

>>4222055
“I think we should look for a carpenter,” you suggest, “one with a turning lathe.”

“That’d be the most likely candidate,” Valentina muses. “Give me a second...”

…

“Now this is a surprise!” the carpenter, a broad-shouldered man with a clean-shaven face, greets you. “Two silver-eyed witches come to call… what business are you on?”

“My partner here had a little… malfunction,” you lie. “Valentina?”

Valentina places the wooden portion of her sword’s hilt onto the carpenter’s workdesk. “It split. I… haven’t been taking great care of it, exactly.”

“A yōma was causing trouble,” you expand upon your lie. “One of its claws struck her hilt.”

“You should see the other guy,” Valentina asserts. “Can you replace it?”

The carpenter examines it carefully, before nodding. “It’s going to be a bit tricky to get it the right internal diameter, but yes. The work should take a day or two, though the stain and varnish will take a bit longer to cure.”

“Please be sure to stain it red,” you insist. “It doesn’t need to be a perfect match.”

“I understand!” he insists. “Feel free to stick around if you’d like, I’m sure accommodations are available somewhere in town.”

“We’ll do that,” Valentina agrees.

…

“That was a good idea you had,” you admit. “Having me split your handle for you.”

“I have those occasionally,” Valentina shrugs. “Unfortunately, I’m not too sure what should come next.”

>Let’s head for a meal and a drink, look like we’re settling in for a few days, get the lay of the land.
>We should make ourselves known to the mayor.
>We should secure lodging for the night… not make any big moves on the first day.
>Other?

>>4223612
>Let’s head for a meal and a drink, look like we’re settling in for a few days, get the lay of the land.

>>4223612
>>Let’s head for a meal and a drink, look like we’re settling in for a few days, get the lay of the land.

>>4223612
>Let’s head for a meal and a drink, look like we’re settling in for a few days, get the lay of the land.

>>4223612
>Let’s head for a meal and a drink, look like we’re settling in for a few days, get the lay of the land

>>4223612
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 1, 7, 8 = 16 (3d10)

>>4223950

Rolled 8, 6, 1 = 15 (3d10)

>>4223950

Rolled 8, 4, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>4223950

>>4223950
You head into a nearby tavern, trying to gather some information to work with the best way you know how… by listening to and carefully examining what’s offered.

“This place looks nice,” Valentina muses politely, and she’s not totally incorrect. The interior is clean but not antiseptic, warm but not stuffy, with clean white walls and dark wooden furniture, with red cushions to sit on.

“It does,” you agree honestly. “Don’t get too comfortable though. We’re supposed to be gathering information.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Valentina quickly agrees.

…

Over a pair of little savory pies, and two equally small glasses of red wine, you and Valentina sit, and you listen.

Very little actually comes up, surprisingly. A lot of people come in, go about their business, and leave, all without divulging anything about who they are or what they’re here to do. There’s not even a hint of a northern accent to be heard, which would at least suggest that you’re on the right track.

“That would be too easy,” you grumble after the tavern finally shuts for the night.

“Let’s get a room,” Valentina suggests. “Start fresh in the morning.”

“Agreed,” you nod calmly, “assuming anyplace around here will take us.”

…

As it turns out the same tavern you were eating and drinking it has a single room, and it’s available for two nights. But it only has one bed.

“We’ll have to share,” Valentina shrugs, rolling onto her side to turn her back to you.

“Fine,” you agree, setting aside your own sword. “Sounds like a plan.”

…

The next morning comes with a choice… what to do now?

>Try the mayor instead, see what he might know
>Keep an eye on the carpenter’s shop
>Try someplace different, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
>Other?

>>4224425
>>Try someplace different, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
But who was the big spoon?

>>4224425
>Keep an eye on the carpenter’s shop

>>4224425
>Other?
Look for loggers, sawmills, wood storage yards

>>4224425
>>4224467

>>4224425
>>Try the mayor instead, see what he might know

>>4224425
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 7, 7, 8 = 22 (3d10)

>>4225820

Rolled 3, 7, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>4225820

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

>>4225820

>>4225820
The best plan, you reason the next morning, is to divide your efforts. Valentina is to observe the woodworker’s shop for anything out of the ordinary: foreign visitors or well-dressed buyers in particular. Meanwhile, you’ll be searching the area for lumberyards and sawmills, especially smaller operations that may have gone unnoticed by the officials in charge of keeping their eyes on such assets.

The woods surrounding Ardlui are beautiful enough to earn their reputation, and you do note a large number of maples in the area. There are also clear signs that trees have been removed, especially close to the settlement, with many straight evergreens having been left as stumps. There are fewer signs of maples having been taken for wood, as a lot of them have been tapped for syrup instead.

But after a few hours you do find a small structure in the woods above the town, a wood crib with a roof placed over it, where long logs of maple have been left to dry and season. It’s certainly not definitive, but it does suggest that the capacity exists here to have made a large number of rifle stocks from the sort of maple Valentina identified.

When you return to Ardlui to meet with Valentina, you share your information.

“I found evidence that someone around here is producing a large amount of maple timber,” you explain. “It’s not just taps for syrup.”

“Well I saw some interesting people at the woodworking shop,” Valentina adds with a sly smile. “Some shady looking characters stopped by in the morning and left without buying anything.”

“Shady in what way?” you ask curiously.

“Well, they were looking around the whole time like they expected some assayer to drop down on them from the eaves,” Valentina muses. “Or for a customs agent to pop out of the floorboards.”

“Is that so?” you muse. “Where did they go from there?”

“To a tavern down the road from the one we’re staying at.

“Could you pick them out of a crowd?” you ask.

Valentina nods curtly. “Sure.”

>Then let’s go after them now.
>Then let’s keep an eye on them.
>Keep an eye on them, I’m going to interrogate the mayor.
>Other?

>Keep an eye on them, I’m going to interrogate the mayor.

>>4225902
>>Keep an eye on them, I’m going to interrogate the mayor.

>>4225902
>Keep an eye on them, I’m going to interrogate the mayor.

>>4225902
>>Keep an eye on them, I’m going to interrogate the mayor.

>>4225902
“You keep an eye on them,” you muse. “See what comes up. I’m going to go talk to the mayor, see if I can get any information out of him.”

“Try not to have too much fun.”
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4226179

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

>>4226179

Rolled 2, 4, 7 = 13 (3d10)

>>4226179

>>4226179
You arrive at what looks like the town hall, and walk in basically unnoticed. Everyone here is too busy going about their business, or else deliberately ignores you. Either way the result is the same.

“I need to speak with the mayor,” you insist to one of the people storming about on the entry level, who you assume to be secretaries. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”

“Claymore business,” the man scoffs. “Never any good business, innit?”

“Only if it goes too long without being dealt with,” you counter. “It’s the sort of thing that tends to get worse the longer you put it off, if you follow.”

“I follow,” the man nods curtly. “I’ll see if he’ll be willing to speak with you over his midday meal.”

“Please,” you insist from behind a polite veneer. “By all means, do.”

…

You’re obliged to wait for about two hours before you’re led into a room upstairs, panelled in maple stained red and polished to an almost mirror sheen, with rectangular mirrors set from about waist to head height. The light in the room is actually rather pleasant, with a sense of space.

In this room you meet with an older gentleman, with a white moustache and a woven wool cap.

“Welcome,” he greets you stiffly. “Please, sit.”

Once you sit at the far end of a table that looks fit to seat twelve, a small platter is brought in for you.

“I thought you might be hungry,” the mayor explains as the silver lid is lifted up for you, to reveal a small cut of what looks like venison, with mashed potato, gravy, and steamed green beans.

“I’m not,” you admit, instead taking only a small white roll and buttering it. “Though I would not say no to some nice white wine.”

“Very well,” the mayor replies sternly, waving for an attendant to take the platter away.

“Now, what business brings you to our town, miss witch?”

>Looking for a yōma that was reported here. Any noteworthy new arrivals in town from abroad?
>I’m actually interested in the wood being used to repair my comrade’s hilt. What would it take to secure a supply?
>I’m here as your queen. I have reason to suspect a black market operation being run out of your town.
>Other?

>>4226337
>>Looking for a yōma that was reported here. Any noteworthy new arrivals in town from abroad?

>>4226337
>I’m actually interested in the wood being used to repair my comrade’s hilt. What would it take to secure a supply?

>>4226337
>I’m actually interested in the wood being used to repair my comrade’s hilt. What would it take to secure a supply?

>>4226337
>>I’m actually interested in the wood being used to repair my comrade’s hilt. What would it take to secure a supply?

>>4226337
>>Looking for a yōma that was reported here. Any noteworthy new arrivals in town from abroad?

>>4226337
“Actually, my partner and I stopped here to have her sword repaired,” you explain the details of your lie. “And the quality of the wood here caught our attention. I was curious to know whether we could secure a small supply?”

“To repair your weapons?” the mayor asks shrewdly. “That hardly seems to require a stockpile.”

“We’re quite hard on our tools,” you assure him. “But you’re right, that’s not all we’d be interested in. This is quite a handsome parlor, for example. All local?”

“All local,” he confirms. “It’s not exactly a popular wood for these purposes… this parlor was largely made with old trees that weren’t producing any syrup, or natural die-offs.”

“My father used to tell me something,” you reply, “that there was no substitute for quality.”

“Your father was a wise man,” the mayor smirks. “A wise man indeed. Now, how much of a supply is it you would like to secure?”

“That depends,” you reply coyly. “I didn’t see much in the way of production capability.”

“You wouldn’t have,” the mayor admits. “Taking anything more than comparatively low-quality, non-productive stock is… frowned upon by the laws my father championed. We have to prioritize our more famous exports, after all we’re known for syrup rather than wood.”

“But that’s not to say the capability doesn’t exist,” you observe.

“That isn’t incorrect,” he admits. “It only means that securing a large supply would be somewhat more complicated than you might expect.”

“I suppose you have a point,” you shrug. “But nevertheless, if you could see to it that a somewhat smaller project could be undertaken, say maybe ten sword hilts compatible with our designs, it would make a very convincing sample.”

“I think that can be arranged,” the mayor replies. “Come back tomorrow and we can arrange the details.”

>I look forward to it.
>I will have to clear this, of course. Give me a few days.
>Other?

>>4227563
>I look forward to it.
In the worst case we'll have spare hilts

>>4227563
>I look forward to it.

>>4227563
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4228003

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

>>4228003

>>4228015
oh wow it's like being back in ssq, only that 2's doesn't give me more yoruichi in this quest

>>4228027
>Suddenly an oddly brown claymore punches a yoma in the face

Rolled 5, 10, 4 = 19 (3d10)

>>4228003
for best cat

>>4228029
Yes please

>>4228003
“I look forward to it,” you reply with a carefully-controlled smile.

…

“So what have you learned, Noel?” Valentina greets you when you meet in your room.

“The mayor knows,” you declare. “We’re striking a deal over some maple wood hilt parts tomorrow. He knows damn well that there are illegal logging operations in the region, which explains the log crib I found.”

“That sounds pretty conclusive,” Valentina muses after a low whistle. “I just confirmed what we already knew to be true… the woodworkers here definitely work with some suspicious characters. Men who’d rather not have their work noticed. By my count, it's one group of four men."

“Whether it’s simply illicit trade or something worse isn’t clear yet,” you admit. “Whether it’s just wood panelling for rich men’s parlors or stocks for stolen musket parts.”

“It’d be easy if we could catch them in the act,” Valentina sighs.

“The alternative is catching one of their brokers and convincing them to spill the details,” you offer your own twist on the situation. “Trouble is, I’m starting to wonder if it’s really worth it.”

“How so?”

“I mean we could be here for six months and not catch anyone in the act,” you explain.

Valentina nods calmly. “I can see how that’d be a real problem. Lots of wasted time.”

>I say we take the batch of hilts the mayor is offering us and keep the lead alive, but leave it sit for a while.
>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.
>We may be able to move a little more aggressively, so long as we’re careful about it.
>Other?

>>4228257
>>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.

>>4228257
>"let's have hot, steamy yuri sex"

>>4228257
>>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.

>>4228257
>>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.

>>4228257
>>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.

>>4228257
>I say we tip off Noventus and let him handle the rest of it.
Still take the hilts though

>>4228257
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 9, 2 = 16 (3d10)

>>4229491

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

>>4229491

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

>>4229491

>>4229491
“I say we collect the hilts I requested and leave the rest to Lord Noventus,” you sigh. “We’re not cut out for this sort of thing, since there’s so much else we should be doing.”

“Fair point,” Valentina agrees. “I’ll check in tomorrow with the woodworker, see how long we have to wait.”

…

The next day you meet with the mayor as previously arranged, and agree on the details: half the cost deliverable up-front with the other half to be paid on delivery. The ten hilts will each be carved to fit the same ‘blank’ that the craftsman here has already built based on his examination of Valentina’s sword, and will dye the wood in the appropriate colors. Four will be dyed blue using extracts from woad leaves, three will be dyed green with a combination of woad and greenweed, and three with a mix of sumac and madder to produce red. Combined with Valentina’s red hilt, that matches the number of swords in your cohort.

“Have them delivered to the head of the merchants’ guild in Merced,” you insist to the mayor. “He’ll know where to send them onward, and he knows my credit is good. So he’ll pay you the balance as well.”

“Sounds as though you’re quite well-connected, for a witch,” the man muses, his tone almost one of wariness.

“Just one of the many lives and livelihoods I’ve saved in my line of work,” you shrug dismissively. “But that one has really paid a dividend.”

“Be well, mayor.”

“And you, witch.”

…

The new hilt fits perfectly, of course, and after about a week spent mostly walking to and from Ardlui and waiting around you find yourself within sight of the defenses at Scaithness. But you soon sense something amiss… there’s an extra yōki aura at Blackthorn Keep.

Helen greets you at the gate. “Welcome back. Before we get caught up, there’s someone who wishes to see you.”

“I gathered,” you muse. “Who is it?”
>1/2

File: 62670791_p0.jpg (502 KB, 2000x1240)

502 KB JPG

>>4229565
There, sitting in the ground-floor hall, is a small warrior with a familiar face, framed on one side by short bangs and by scars on the other.

“Aurora!” you greet your comrade warmly. “What brings you here?”

“I have left the Organization,” she tells you calmly. “I was hoping to ask you and Helen whether I could stay here.”

“Of course!” you agree whole-heartedly. “Unless Helen has some reason not to agree?”

“I was simply waiting for you,” Helen shrugs. “So welcome to the fold, Aurora.”

“I’m glad to be welcomed,” she replies.

>Ask her what brought this on.
>Catch her up on recent events.
>Show her the cohort and Blackthorn Keep with Helen.
>Other?

>>4229586
>Ask her what brought this on.
>Catch her up on recent events.
>Show her the cohort and Blackthorn Keep with Helen.
>Ask her about the general mood of the remaining warriors in the Organization

>>4229586
>>Show her the cohort and Blackthorn Keep with Helen.
>>Ask her what brought this on.

>>4229591
>>4229586
supporting this, but lets try to not overwhelm her at the moment

>>4229586
>>4229591
I support this as well

>>4229591
Pump her for info
Gently.

>>4229586
>3d10, best three of five

Rolled 3, 7, 4 = 14 (3d10)

>>4231843

Rolled 9, 8, 4 = 21 (3d10)

>>4231843

Rolled 3, 6, 4 = 13 (3d10)

>>4231843

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

>>4231843

>>4231843
Still need one more as it's best of five.

Wasn't paying attention when I said best three of five.

Rolled 10, 1, 7 = 18 (3d10)

>>4231843

>>4231843
“So, Aurora,” you smile calmly. “What news?”

“You’re right to suspect that I have immediate reasons to have defected now,” Aurora replies, cutting to the chase. “Nigella and Claudia are dead.”

Your smile disappears. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Not as sorry as I am for delaying,” Aurora grumbles mutinously.

“Let me guess,” Helen sighs, “it was an awakened being no one knew was there, or so you were led to believe.”

“That’s exactly right,” Aurora agrees. “I can only hope that Juliana saw the signs and left as well, but I’m not hopeful. The Organization may have sent a hunting party after her already.”

“Did you have any trouble getting here yourself?” Helen presses gently.

Aurora shakes her head. “No. But I kept my yōki suppressed continuously, so it may just be that I was successful in evading any would-be pursuers.”

“I wouldn’t write Juliana off just yet,” you decide, shutting your eyes in thought. “After all, one of our cohort is a former number thirty-two. With the right combination of skill and luck, a lot of things are possible.”

“I hope you’re right,” Aurora muses sadly. “I really do.”

“In any event,” you continue, changing the topic, “welcome to Scaithness. I trust you’ve noticed the defenses?”

“It was hard to miss,” Aurora agrees. “How is it you came to possess such a holding?”

“I ‘possess’ it because it’s mine,” you explain. “The ancestral seat of my father’s clan, now the stronghold of his daughter, the exiled queen of Hazaran.”

“Queen?” Aurora presses skeptically.

“It’s an advisory role only,” you admit. “I selected my regent and stepped back, for the most part. At least that’s the idea… it’s quite a line to walk.”

“I hate the sound of that,” Aurora admits curtly.

“I was raised a princess,” you shrug calmly. “I have two duties, and I’ve balanced them as best I can. So I’d appreciate a chance to earn your trust on this.”

After a moment, Aurora nods in agreement. “Okay. I’ve seen you come back from almost completely awakening, so you’ve more than earned the benefit of the doubt.”

“I’ll be sure not to disappoint,” you incline your head politely.

>Take Helen to meet your cohort.
>Give her the crash course on the situation.
>Get back to work, jump Aurora in.
>Other?

>>4232248
>Take Helen to meet your cohort.
>Give her the crash course on the situation.

>>4232248
>>Give her the crash course on the situation.