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>>4617480
“That’s hard to believe,” Helen admits with a frown. “Were it just Lunara or Valeria trying to tell me this story I might not have believed them.”

[It’s true,] Serana signs silently with a scowl across her face. [And it was disgusting.]

“It also raises a new problem,” you admit. “The Organization itself was subjected to these hunters. They killed anyone with even a trace of yōki from recent casual contact with a warrior, including the Organization’s own security force.”

“So we have no way of knowing how much of the Organization still exists,” Laura immediately reaches the same troubling conclusion that you did.

You nod. “Exactly.”

“So what are you proposing?” Aurora asks you curiously. “That we break back into the citadel and count the bodies?”

“That might be a place to start,” you shrug. “Let me be clear, I never had a plan for this.”

“But it’s an opportunity,” Sofia muses in her characteristically toneless way.

You nod again. “It could be treated as such.”

“She’s right,” Justina agrees.

“Agreeing on that is one thing,” Sabrina counters. “Agreeing on a way to seize an opportunity is a separate question though.”

“Do you have any ideas?” Jenna crosses her arms and stares at Sabrina, who shakes her head in frank admission.

“No, I can’t say I do.”

“I’m not quite following,” Lucia admits. “I think it would be best if we all were on the same page about what we’re actually trying to achieve here. I mean, we’ve gotten Zoe, right?”

>That’s a fair point, but I do think it’s a good chance to recruit informants like the sergeant-at-arms.
>I think we need to at least know whether the Organization’s leadership survived the events.
>Now would be a good time to investigate the rest of Lavinia, possibly confirm some of our suspicions.
>Other?

>>4617481
>Now would be a good time to investigate the rest of Lavinia, possibly confirm some of our suspicions.

>>4617481
>>That’s a fair point, but I do think it’s a good chance to recruit informants like the sergeant-at-arms.
>>I think we need to at least know whether the Organization’s leadership survived the events.

the guys we just fought along side deserve the offer to join us, or at least catch a breather in hazaran, whatever they decide after.

>>4617481
>Now would be a good time to investigate the rest of Lavinia, possibly confirm some of our suspicions.
>That’s a fair point, but I do think it’s a good chance to recruit informants like the sergeant-at-arms.

>>4617481
Supporting this >>4617487

>>4617481
>>Now would be a good time to investigate the rest of Lavinia, possibly confirm some of our suspicions.

>>4617500
>>4617481
In with this guy

>>4617481
>I think we need to at least know whether the Organization’s leadership survived the events.
>Now would be a good time to investigate the rest of Lavinia, possibly confirm some of our suspicions.

5 horses and a lemon cake says they escaped on a submarine.

I wonder who knows what within the org. I'm guessing that they have as few people as possible that actually know anything of consequence. Since, y'know, they've kept the outside world a secret for hundreds of years. That's impressive secret keeping.

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>>4617481
“… I don’t see us getting another chance like this,” you admit. “I understand that we did what we came here to do, but right now the rest of Lavinia feels like it’s just opened up to us.”

[We ARE all here,] Serana signs with extra emphasis. [For once, we know for a fact that we can outnumber and overpower anything we’re likely to encounter.]

“I think we can’t afford not to take this opportunity,” you reiterate your feelings. “But I won’t make anyone come with me.”

“We have eight trainees and one wounded warrior,” Zoe suggests. “If you have a ship prepared you can leave some of your number behind to hold it, and to ensure that the trainees are kept safe until such time as their training can be completed.”

“Sensible,” Justina nods curtly. “Helen?”

“I agree with Noel on this one,” Helen confesses. “We’ll take Serana, Valentina, and Justina for starters.”

“I’ll remain with the trainees,” Sabrina offers. “I’ll also oversee Zoe’s healing, to the degree that’s within my ability to help.”

“You’re notionally a defense-type,” you recall. “Can you help stimulate her healing through yōki synchronization?”

“I can walk her through the basics of the technique,” Zoe declares, “despite not being able to do it myself I have known plenty of warriors who could.”

“Lunara, you stay here,” Valeria suggests. “We’ll split up. That way it should ease any trust issues.”

“I’ll remain here as well,” Laura offers. “Extra insurance.”

“As will I,” Sofia insists curtly.

“So that leaves Lucia, Alexa, Nessa, Jenna, Aurora, Isabel, Claire, Zara, and Nora to make their minds up,” you muse. “Ladies?”

“The three of us are with you, miss Noel,” Alexa insists, while Nessa and Jenna nod emphatically.

“I’ll stay,” Zara decides. “You need a sensor to remain here. I can be that, if you’re willing to trust a rookie.”

“I think we’ll be fine,” Laura muses.

…

So that makes two teams: the one going out will be yourself, Helen, Valentian, Justina, Serana, Alexa, Nessa, Jenna, Aurora, Isabel, Claire, Nora, Lucia, and Valeria.

The team to be staying with the trainees will include Zara, Laura, Sofia, Zoe, Lunara, and Sabrina, who will defend the trainees until you return and Zoe until her eyes begin to heal.
>1/2

>>4619734
That should be a group capable of keeping subtle and moving quietly, but also there’s enough raw power and experience there to outmatch just about anything short of a whole army with heavy artillery and walls of rifles… and if you see any evidence of that you know better than to give them a chance to turn this into a bloodbath like that.

Which leaves a choice: where to begin?

>Clear the wall somewhere in town… there should be forest to hide yourself in the moment you do.
>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.
>Return to the citadel. That area’s likely to be where you’ll find the most interesting evidence of the Organization’s activities.
>Other?

>>4619739
>>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.

>>4619739
>>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.

>>4619739
>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.

>>4619739
>>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.

>>4619739
>>Head around either end of the massive wall where it meets the sea.

>>4619739
>Return to the citadel. That area’s likely to be where you’ll find the most interesting evidence of the Organization’s activities.

Can we break up into two more teams to cover more ground?

I'd also like to ask what Zoe would do if an awakened being attacked this area.

I recall reading somewhere that even if Sabela attacked this place Zoe or something here stood a decent chance of stopping the attack?

>>4619739
>Return to the citadel. That area’s likely to be where you’ll find the most interesting evidence of the Organization’s activities.

>>4619739
You decide that the best way to proceed would be to find the terminus of the wall at one end, where it meets the sea, and to sneak around the corner. It would certainly be a lot more subtle than either breaching the wall, and much simpler than finding a spot to vault over it. The key part is that there are a few contingencies where you could see returning to the citadel as the worst possibility. And there’s really not much reason to investigate the citadel further anyway – what’s important isn’t the status of the old men, but the infrastructure that has gone into the Organization’s operations since long before you were even born.

…

It takes some scouting, and some careful sensing, but it seems that nobody is covering the very end of the wall where there’s a round tower, atop which are a series of guns. At least, if there is someone watching they’re not doing a particularly attentive job of it.

The base of the water tower is lined with obstacles, meant to rip anyone trying to swim around the base to pieces, so you take the lead and awaken your legs to leap to the top of the wall – the last thing you want is to put your friends in a position where they’ll be vulnerable.

>3d10, best of four

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

>>4620856

Rolled 3, 7, 10 = 20 (3d10)

>>4620856

Rolled 5, 4, 3 = 12 (3d10)

>>4620856

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

>>4620856

>>4620856
You take the time to examine the situation, and you quickly learn that as you had hoped the position here has been abandoned. It’s unsurprising given how the citadel has basically fallen, the Organization’s local defenders are going to be in total disarray. So you signal down to the others.

[Clear, swim around the wall and regroup.]

...

Now wet and slightly salty, your comrades take a few moments to orient themselves. There’s a gap on the far side of the wall where there’s nothing but low green grass, before you see trees and shrubs. It’s an actual forest, just normal forest of the kind you’d have expected had you not known in advance who this land essentially belongs to.

“Well, we’re well and truly in uncharted territory,” you muse.

>Let’s move back towards the citadel, observe the area for a while.
>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.
>Let’s take a course likely to cross any major roads that may be out here.
>Other?

>>4621163
>>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>Let’s follow the coast northward, look for a port the Organization might be using.

>>4621163
>Other?
Ask one of the guards what they would do to evacuate the old men or if they knew what their escape plan was?

>>4621163
You decide to follow the coastline, in the cover of the trees, steadily northward from where you got around the wall. Most of these shores won’t have been too heavily populated, that’s true, and you doubt there will be any roads running along the coast. After all, aside from the wall there’s nothing here – and roads typically don’t run from somewhere to nowhere.

But what you do expect is that there will be a harbor facility somewhere along the shoreline, it’s simply a matter of where. In that harbor, you expect to find the secrets to the Organization’s ability to conduct its operations here, on the far side of the world, in secret.

…

“How many?” you ask Justina, what must be several hours later.

“Seven,” she replies. “Or more.”

Seven soldiers, moving as a small unit, and fairly close by… but crucially, an appreciable distance north of the wall. These must be affiliated with the Organization.

The atmosphere is tense.

>Wait in place, minimize the risk of detection, then move on.
>Move around them, balancing stealth and speed.
>Capture them. You need to know who they are and what they’re doing out here.
>Other?

>>4622232
>>Wait in place, minimize the risk of detection, then move on.

>>4622232
>>Move around them, balancing stealth and speed.

>>4622232

>Move around them, balancing stealth and speed.

>>4622232
>Wait in place, minimize the risk of detection, then move on.

>>4622232
>>Wait in place, minimize the risk of detection, then move on.

>>4622232
>>Move around them, balancing stealth and speed.

>>4622232
>Wait in place, minimize the risk of detection, then move on.

>>4622232
>Capture them. You need to know who they are and what they’re doing out here.
We should make sure to burn the bodies of the hunters before we leave.

>>4622232
You choose to find a spot nearby where you can literally ‘lay low’ – a dell full of low shrubs and trees. It’s a pretty basic premise of your training during the Organization that most people will walk right past even the simplest cover or camouflage without noticing because they’re not actively searching every second of every day... nobody has that kind of focus, not even you. So long as you make no movements or any unnatural sounds, like metal against metal, almost any measures you take to stay hidden will work.

And so you play the waiting game until the patrol has passed you by, and then you head towards where Justina first noticed them. There’s a small road there which, if your guess is correct, heads towards high ground about halfway back to the wall which you saw from the coast. There’s probably some sort of secondary facility there, though it’s much less clear what it could possibly be.

...

You end up crawling slowly to the top of a low ridge with Helen, specifically to join Serana who has hunkered down and waved for you. It’s been about five hours of steady progress since you crossed the wall, and you must be approaching the northern end of Lavinia.

“So you were right,” Helen muses quietly.

[It seems that way,] Serana agrees.

It’s a harborfront, built in and around a small but evidently deep natural bay. At the mouth is a pair of concrete jetties with low light towers to identify the entrance, and on the shore are two heavily-built round towers with a heavy cannon atop each, and several smaller cannon on a lower course below the higher tower. Also present are two long walls, running in either direction away from the gun towers, with what look like massive iron mortars tucked in behind the cover. There are large coal bunkers, and warehouses made of brick with metal rooftops all over the area.

But inside the harbor is the direct evidence of what you’ve long suspected: the ships, all iron-clad with funnels to carry away smoke from coal-burning steam engines. Two of the most impressive have two stacks each, with heavy armored turrets fore and aft and four smaller turrets at the four corners of the superstructure amidships. Between those are casemates, two decks worth, carrying guns of a third smaller size... strange.

“Would those be for smaller ships?” Helen wonders aloud.

You nod in agreement. “It seems these are the ‘ships of the line’... look to the southwest, there are smaller ships anchored there.”

Sure enough, there are also four smaller iron-hulled ships. These carry just four guns of an intermediate type and have one smokestack, complimented by two true masts. But they’re also designed for speed you think, with swept prows and more significant ‘tumblehome’ to their sides for stability despite their narrow beams.

“They must mount some alternative weapon,” you suggest, “maybe a ram design, as archaic as that seems given the rest of their technology.”
>1/2

>>4623546
But also notable are the other vessels tied up at unloading docks, which all seem to be of an older type. These appear to be all-sail, with three or four masts each depending on their size and metal hulls, built for hauling materiel over long distances without needing to store any sort of fuel on-board.

“So the steam ships have a limited range,” you muse. “Which is why so many of the designs seem to also rely partly or entirely on sail.”

“That means those steam ships probably only operate near here,” Helen guesses.

[It seems there is more space for other ships,] Serana points out.

“It’s possible that one of the larger ships is away at the moment,” you suggest. “Possibly with several of the smaller ships as escorts?”

[That would seem a reasonable function for them.]

>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.
>We could probably do some LIGHT sabotage and get away with it.
>I think we need to investigate further on the way back to reunite with the others.
>Other?

>>4623598
>>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.
We know where it is so we can just come back with an 'army' if we need to.

>>4623598
>>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.
best to stop while you are ahead, get back and maybe find something in the main facility

>>4623598
>>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.

>>4623598
>I think we need to investigate further on the way back to reunite with the others.

>>4623598
>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.

>>4623598
>We could probably do some LIGHT sabotage and get away with it.

>>4623790
If we do that the Org will know we were there, and will take measures. We need to either go all in on sabotage or not at all.

>>4623598
>>We could probably do some LIGHT sabotage and get away with it.
We could cut the ropes on the sails, or go for a dive and take out rudders and propellers.

>>4623598
>>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.

>>4623598
>>I think we’ve seen enough here. Taking any more action would be risky, and given the fact that their cargo ships are sail-driven, probably pointless.

>>4623836
This. Light sabotage reveals that someone knows this place exists, and we give up an advantage for practically no benefit.

>>4625038
Didn't we just take out their main training facility for claymores?
What about the surviving guards? Unless they all leave with us, they'll probably tell what happened.

>>4625092
They know we were there, but not that we also were here.

>>4623598
“Anything we could do here would be quickly undone,” you realize, easing yourself away from the ridgeline to pick your way back down through the rocks and shrubs to reunite with the rest of the group.

“Are you sure?” Helen presses calmly. “We may never get a better chance.”

You nod. “I’m sure. They would just bring in more resources from the continent by sail, and we’d have given away that we know where their harbor facilities are.”

[We can still wait to see what the Organization does after this debacle,] Serana suggests.

“I agree with that sentiment,” Aurora admits. “I’m normally all for pushing my luck, but it sure sounds like there’s not a lot to gain here by doing that.”

...

Your return to the other side of the wall is uneventful, and the tower you have to pass is still undefended... they must have withdrawn beyond the wall once the citadel fell and regrouped, so you can expect patrols to reach here around sunrise.

That gives you just enough time to slip back into town unnoticed, and you meet at the ship.

“We’re leaving,” you declare. “Anyone with any pressing business here, I suggest you take care of it quickly.”

To your awareness no one considers themselves especially bound here by any personal business, outstanding or otherwise, and so when the ship is ready to cast off none of your fellow warriors have left. Instead most of them have gone down belowdecks to settle in for the long return journey ahead.

...

The castle at Scaithness is starting to get just a little bit too crowded for comfort, so you’re forced to consider long-term plans to alleviate that problem. There’s really only one solution you can think of off the top of your head, which is rather involved. The lochside faussibrae emplacements are difficult to serve at the moment, so it makes sense to construct a basement level beneath the gun tower in the southeast corner, allowing access to the basement stores connecting the faussibrae in turn to allow movement between these cannon emplacements.

Reinforcing the walls of those emplacements on the loch side will give enough structural support to build a level above them, atop a series of vaults, which will be on the same level as the ground floor of the inner keep. Here you could add a series of rooms for more of your fellow warriors without undoing the logistical improvements gained by revamping the faussibrae, storage vaults, and the gun tower.

You’re just sitting down with an architect when news comes for your personal attention...
>1/2

>>4625223
“So this is the news,” you inform your fellow single-digits. “I received a letter, signed jointly by Lord Annemas of Tarskavaig, Lord Byron of Acerrae, Brother Vigilus representing the monasteries of Daria, a representative from the Merchants Guild centered in Merced, and Lord Robert Cuthbert, governor of western Noroit.”

“Those are some big names,” Aurora muses, leaning back in her chair at the table. “What do they want?”

“To become Hazari territory.”

Aurora falls backwards out of her chair, and she’s not the only one at the table with a similar reaction.

You unfurl a map, and mark it extensively with new border boundaries. “The nation they’re talking about would be comprised of the current total areas of Hazaran and Cuilan, all of western Noroit to form a corridor to the sea in the south, most of inner Tarsus, and a narrow strip of southeastern Sakia.”

“Hazaran and Cuilan stand to gain access to seaports and a major river, as well as two regions with much better growing conditions, while Cuilan presents significant mineral wealth and Hazaran offers the expansion of the most efficient public works apparatus in this part of the world – an inheritance left by my father.”

“So you’re considering this proposal?” Helen presses. “What would the leaders of Sakia, Tarsus, and Noroit say?”

“Noroit is fractured,” you explain, “and their desire for secession is valid. The government of the central and eastern regions did little to combat the spread of the Inquisition. The regions of Sakia under discussion are separated from most of that nation’s population by deserts and prairies, and the major settlements are notionally closer to the governments of Hazaran and Cuilan already.”

>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.
>I’m dubious about this whole arrangement, particularly the situation with inner Tarsus that I don’t entirely trust.
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.
>Other?

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>>4625237
Forgot to add this.

>>4625237
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.

>>4625237
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.

>>4625237
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.

>>4625238
That is a ton of GAINs on the geopolitical front
>River access
>Seaport Access
>More territory gain and resources
>Border security

>>4625237
>>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.

>>4625320
don't forget some cons, the larger/more powerful nation, likely hazaran has to proved the security.
so at least for the time of readjustment, this is might get stressful AND chaotic for everyone involved.

that said
>>4625237
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.

>>4625237
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.

>>4625237
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.

This is relatively big development, but I do see this being relatively doable. Hazaran has to increase military strength, otherwise we might get overextended.

>>4625237
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.

>>4625237
>I think that for the sake of my nation I have to at least consider this, and they want to meet HERE to discuss it.
>I’m a bit concerned that WE, as warriors, have made this inevitable. People want security, and that’s us.
>Other?
I would need to discuss a few things with my regent before all this.

Was Tarsus the kingdom we have hostages from? We may have to hold off on that one.

I also want to mention that no one from surrounding kingdoms seemed to have tried to contact us to remove yoma. This also made me realize, with the Organization effectively crippled and without a roster of warriors bar maybe one, who is there left to taking out the yoma on this continent besides us, and how do the people contact or call for a silver eyed witch to deal with their problems?

Unless they just told Clarice to get busy and run around everywhere taking care of business. We probably will inevitably contribute to both the short term destabilization and long term stability of this continent

>>4625481
To answer these questions with what Noel would know in character no, the hostages are from well to the east. The problem with Tarsus would be that inner Tarsus is a bread basket, although the region under consideration does most of its commerce with Hazaran and with Sakia through the Dari pass that runs through Hazaran.

To the second point the Organization still has at least three dozen active warriors, just relatively fewer at the level of a lower single-digit. The cohort at Scaithness has also done missions in the border regions around Hazaran, which are the regions that are trying to seceed and join the Hazari kingdom. But most of the work has been done within Hazaran, as the Organization's warriors are still dispersed fairly evenly around the surrounding regions.

>>4625506
How often do our cohorts run into Org warriors, or do they both try to avoid each other?

Do people approach us for contracts? I recall we entertained or suggested undercutting the Organization by doing similar services at a more affordable costs.

>>4625531
Not often. For the most part the Organization doesn't send warriors to regions it's trying to "punish", so within Hazaran it's more a matter of "how little can we charge and not just be draining public funds".

>>4625237
“It’s a logical decision to make, for each of these regions,” you admit with a sigh. “We have such a concentration of warriors here now it’s hard to ignore the potential benefits there, but each one has an economic motive on top of it. Cuilan gets access to a seaport for its vast mineral wealth, Hazaran gets better lowland growing regions, inner Tarsus gets internal access to the Dari pass, and southern Sakia and western Noroit tie themselves to an administrative and organizational powerhouse which would then have a thriving and varied economic base.”

“And for Hazaran’s defensive needs?” Aurora wonders.

“It cuts the number of fortified towns and outposts required along the border with Tarsus,” you reckon, tracing the current defensive lines between Applecross in the soutwest and the three-way border with Sakia in the north. “To the north Daria, Voi, and Acerrae are already well-defended, meaning smaller outposts are all that would be necessary, and infrastructure already exists in Noroit. To the east, Shukzan is hardly a threat and the mountains are mostly impassable. A few Z-plan fortified houses would probably be adequate additions.”

“This… could actually be a sound decision,” you eventually admit on a note of cautious optimism. “The representatives wish to meet here in one week’s time.”

“This isn’t really our decision to make,” Helen admits with a frown.

[Though I’m grateful you seem to think it necessary to tell us,] Serana adds.

>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.
>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.
>I don’t intend to promise these Lords anything just yet – this is for me to hear and be heard, not to make a deal.
>Other?

>>4626633
>>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.
>>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
I wonder if no one else learned the sign language during the timeskip. Serana's probably lonely.

>>4626633
>>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.
>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.

Hazaran is a state and we are just a group of warriors. We must think how this benefits or harms the state and its countless citizens.

>>4626633
>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.

>>4626633
>>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
>>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.
>>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
>I’ll be counting on your counsel though. I respect your opinions, and I know I can count on you to give me your honest views.
>I’ll need to speak with Noventus about this moreso than any of you… you may be my most trusted friends, but he’s my regent.

>>4626633
“I trust all of you,” you admit wearily, “but none of you are my regent. So while I want to hear your opinions... ultimately it’s Noventus I really have to discuss this with.”

Helen nods curtly. “I don’t think any of us were going to take that personally, you know.”

“I know,” you admit. “But I wanted to say it anyway.”

“Is it weird that out of everything about you I find that both the most annoying thing and the most reassuring?” Aurora wonders aloud.

“None of us are exactly the best judges of weirdness,” Laura points out.

Helen nods, gesturing to Laura. “Yes, that.”

“Fair enough,” Aurora shrugs.

...

One week passes unusually quickly, and so much happens during that short time that it’s hard to focus on any one thing. Your ‘guests’ are returned safely upon receipt of the cannons and the funds, which is an awkward moment – you’re not sure either of them quite knows what to think of you now that they’ve seen what you’re actually like. You also arrange for the transport of the bronze deck guns you promised in exchange for passage to Lavinia, deliverable out of the armory in the capital.

The plans come together for border defenses as well, to be proposed when the various representatives finally arrive: the general idea is to build a series of small Z-plan fortified houses, with four-meter thick walls on the lower floors and the two semicircular demi-barbettes at either end of the building, while the upper structure across the long axis will have thinner barriers to save money. The defensive walls will be set on an outline of rammed earth cased in stone, while the upper defenses will be mainly fired bricks.

Atop the demi-barbettes, some fifteen to twenty meters high, will be one of your new ‘long’ gun pattern on a traversing pivot mount meant to fire explosive shells or grapeshot, with rifle loupes and small ports for breechloaders below that to keep soldiers on foot or horseback at a distance. These demi-barbettes will also allow for your new fort plans to cover their own entryways at all times, and in some cases they will be placed across a major road with the path of travel running underneath the barracks on the upper floors through an arch.

These defensive areas will be extended by solitary towers of a similar design, albeit lower, using breechloaders alone. When placed as outworks within sight of one of the Z-plan forts they will be located far enough away that their breechloaders won’t be able to reach, while the long guns of the forts will be able to target their own outworks. When placed alongside a road, it will come down to the specific topography of the area and how a tower of such a design must be placed in order to command the most useful arcs of fire.
>1/2

>>4627872
Instead of building a single expensive wall, the idea is to create a strategic buffer zone along the border, focusing on settlements, major roadways, and mountain passes. This would make it impossible to move large numbers of troops and guns without your permission, and with some flexibility in materials local areas can support the effort. Concrete isn’t an ideal building material since it takes longer to repair, but almost any town or city you’re thinking about can make bricks and all of them can ram earth.

…

“I am Queen Noel Tiberius di Hazaran” you eventually greet your guests, taking your seat at the head of the table… it is after all your own keep. “I welcome you, Lords – Lord Annemas of Tarskavaig, Lord Byron of Acerrae, Brother Vigilus of Daria, Lord Cuthbert of western Noroit, and Mr. Trask of the Merchants’ Guild of the city of Merced.”

>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.
>You have no patience for that, have them say what they came here to say.
>You are the Queen here. Say what’s on YOUR mind.
>Other?

>>4627981
>>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.

>>4627981
>start congenially

>>4627981
>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.

>>4627981
>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.

>>4627981
>>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.

>>4627981
>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all.

>>4627981
>Start congenially. Two of these men you have never met yet, after all

>>4627981
“Two of you I’ve not met,” you admit. “Lord Cuthbert, Mr Trask, welcome to Hazaran. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be one to stand on ceremony, however I hope you’ll agree a first meeting such as this one calls for at least some version of hospitality – especially as I was raised with traditional Hazari culture, which more or less demands it.”

Goat’s cheese from Scaithness is served, along with tart wax currants and chutney from Cuilan, with bread made from flour milled in Tarsus, apples and honey from Noroit, and wine from Lord Byron’s own estate.

“There is also tea for Father Vigilus, if you’d prefer,” you offer the old monk, who quickly signs his appreciation.

[Thank you. I appreciate your consideration.]

You sign back to him. [Of course. I wouldn’t be much of a host if I failed to consider you.]

“You can understand him?” Mr Trask muses curiously. “Fascinating. How fluent are you?”

“Fully,” you clarify. “One of our number here can only communicate using a modified form, so all of us learn it to some degree.”

“You can serve as a translator then,” Lord Byron suggests with a smile. “Good. I was hoping for a breakthrough like this ever since I learned about his vows.”

“Can we trust her?” Lord Cuthbert frowns towards his fellow lords.

“If I misrepresent him, you’ll know,” you shrug, dismissing the concern largely out of hand.

“Why?”

“Because he’ll crack me over the head,” you tell him. “That’s something I’d rather avoid.”

[Likewise,] Vigilus admits with a wry grin. [If you were to do it I have no doubt you could strike me dead, which would cause quite the breakdown in communications.]

“Very true,” you agree, before repeating what he said aloud.

...

Once your guests have been given the appropriate treatment, you decide that it’s time to get to business.

>Ask Father Vigilus: how long have they been discussing this topic?
>Ask Mr Trask whether he’s spoken with the government of Tarsus.
>Ask Lord Cuthbert how much he knows about Hazari governance.
>Other?

>>4629356
>Ask Mr Trask whether he’s spoken with the government of Tarsus.

>>4629356
>>Ask Lord Cuthbert how much he knows about Hazari governance.
since we have a rather unusual system currently, full explanation might be necessary

>>4629356
>Ask Lord Cuthbert how much he knows about Hazari governance.

Hold on, what is our intention as far as getting involved in this decision? Are we here in a ministerial or symbolic role? Or is this ship of state about to turn at our sole discretion?

Oh, and pardon the non sequitur, but we still never gave Sabela the quality time we promised her.

>>4629419
Noel's role here is both, she is able to make monumental decisions like this, but also free to stay a symbolic figure to act in matters outside the court by giving the leeway to her regent.

and we did have the quality time, even if it was cut short by the discovery of the spice, that whole adventure started with her wish to learn more about Noel. although due to that i could understand if Sabela would ask for a less eventful version.

>>4629419
we did give that promise, and that possibility of having more quality time has been expanded with the discovery of "Spice" which allows Awakened beings like Sabela to have a diet that doesn't have to involve eating fresh human intestines.

>>4629356
>>Ask Mr Trask whether he’s spoken with the government of Tarsus.

>>4629356
>>Ask Mr Trask whether he’s spoken with the government of Tarsus.

>>4629356
>Ask Lord Cuthbert how much he knows about Hazari governance.

>>4629356
>Ask Lord Cuthbert how much he knows about Hazari governance.

>>4629356
“Lord Cuthbert,” you eventually muse, “and I suppose anyone else who cares to answer – how familiar are you with the Hazari system of governance?”

Lord Cuthbert is an older man, though immaculately preserved in an almost life-like state. His wrinkles seem almost carved, like a portrait of a previous ruler set in marble. “I confess, not as much as I should. My training and experience have been with the federal bureaucracy of Noroit, where comparative governance was not a high priority.”

“I was hoping you could lay it out more clearly,” Lord Annemas adds honestly.

“Hazaran has something of a reputation for complexity,” you admit, already thinking carefully about how best to explain it in simple terms. “But in reality, it is a system designed to funnel as much information as possible from as reliable a set of sources as possible to the officials in charge of making decisions.”

“The highest offices in Hazaran are my own, the office of Regent, and then the Kashag,” you continue. “Then below that you have the main government offices of the Mint, Finance, Roads and Bridges, Prisons, the High Court, the Army, and so forth. Parallel to that you have the Regional Assemblies, made up of local tax officers, legal clerks, and other administrators, typically numbering several dozen per designated region.”

“The Kashag, to answer the obvious question, are three temporal officials and one monastic or religious official, appointed by the Regent and approved by the monarch. They select members of the regional assemblies to serve for four-year appointments to the main government offices, whose subordinate functionaries get their jobs by sitting merit-based examinations.”

“The regional assemblies are raised locally to advise and answer to the Kashag, who in turn answer to the Regent, who serves at my sole discretion. All decisions are advised by the regional assemblies they relate to and by the relevant government offices, and typically finalized by the Kashag and the Regent for uncontroversial matters. My regent, a man by the name of Noventus, typically keeps me more well-apprised of such matters than he technically has to out of respect.”

[Then he was well-chosen,] Vigilus muses silently. [Wise is the leader that chooses subordinates who volunteer the truth.]

“I had my doubts,” you admit. “There are of course still some members of the bureaucracy who were less than pleased that I turned out to be alive. And until I actually saw the results of Noventus’ regency I could only trust that he was the sort of man he presented himself as.”
>1/2

>>4630739
“Those first days must have been tense,” Lord Byron muses. “Tell me though, did you never think to purge the ranks of your bureaucracy of such potentially disruptive elements?”

>Why? Their role isn’t to like or dislike me, just to provide appropriate counsel. If they ever choose not to do that they will be expelled immediately and lose even the modest benefits of their office.
>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate.
>I did briefly consider it, as did Noventus, but the likely disruption would be more trouble than it would be worth and there are plenty of other important issues for our nation to focus on instead.
>Other?

>>4630741
>I did briefly consider it, as did Noventus, but the likely disruption would be more trouble than it would be worth and there are plenty of other important issues for our nation to focus on instead.

>>4630741
>Why? Their role isn’t to like or dislike me, just to provide appropriate counsel. If they ever choose not to do that they will be expelled immediately and lose even the modest benefits of their office.
>>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate.

>>4630741
>Why? Their role isn’t to like or dislike me, just to provide appropriate counsel. If they ever choose not to do that they will be expelled immediately and lose even the modest benefits of their office.
>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate.

>>4630741
>Why? Their role isn’t to like or dislike me, just to provide appropriate counsel. If they ever choose not to do that they will be expelled immediately and lose even the modest benefits of their office.
>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate

>>4630741
>Why? Their role isn’t to like or dislike me, just to provide appropriate counsel. If they ever choose not to do that they will be expelled immediately and lose even the modest benefits of their office. But that being said I did briefly consider it, as did Noventus, but the likely disruption would be more trouble than it would be worth and there are plenty of other important issues for our nation to focus on instead.
>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate

>>4630741
>Is this your way of fishing for information on how I treat my officials? If so don’t bother disguising it, I don’t mind honesty or openness even if it’s unflattering – it’s deceit I cannot tolerate.
>I did briefly consider it, as did Noventus, but the likely disruption would be more trouble than it would be worth and there are plenty of other important issues for our nation to focus on instead.

>>4630741
“If you’re trying to delicately work information out of me don’t bother,” you muse, “I appreciate openness and refuse to tolerate deception.”

“Consider me caught out,” Lord Byron confesses. “I’m curious to know how you view the various nobles and landed gentry in your nation, and what you expect of them. Knowing why you declined a convenient chance to get rid of future problems would be a good case study.”

“Their role is not to like me,” you explain your thoughts, “it is simply to provide appropriate counsel. If they fail in that role, or act in a manner that can be considered seditious, they can be removed from their posts. They will lose the modest benefits of those offices, will be barred from future advancement, and may face other consequences depending on their actions.”

“But so long as they continue to serve their roles faithfully, I have no intention of playing favorites based on who likes me. Does that answer your question to your satisfaction?”

“Very much so,” Lord Byron admits with a curt nod. “In fact it reinforces my thoughts on the matter.”

“Which are?” you press.

“That my region would be best served as a part of Hazaran,” he asserts, “particularly an expanded Hazaran.”

“I assume that you each made that calculus for yourselves,” you muse, “or else are here speaking for those who did do that calculus.”

“I would assume that is correct,” Lord Annemas nods in agreement. “But given what you have told us of Hazari governance, are you the one who should be speaking to us?”

“Yes,” you declare. “Anything which falls outside the intended scope of the regional assemblies becomes the responsibility of the Kashag. Anything which exceeds the scope of the Kashag becomes the responsibility of the Regent. And in some cases, what exceeds the scope of the Regent’s responsibilities becomes my sole jurisdiction.”

“Questions of annexation – and make no mistake, that is what you are asking me to do – fall under that last category.”

>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.
>My decision whether or not to annex is not subject to approval of the Kashag, however the details should be presented to them for debate.
>I’ll talk with Noventus about this, but broadly speaking I get to decide what happens, the Kashag’s role is to make what I decide actually happen.
>Other?

>>4631305
>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>>My decision whether or not to annex is not subject to approval of the Kashag, however the details should be presented to them for debate.

>>4631305
>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>I intend to discuss these matters with you, and take the full information to Noventus and the members of the Kashag for further discussion.

>>4631305
>My decision whether or not to annex is not subject to approval of the Kashag, however the details should be presented to them for debate.
Don't want to give that much power to the Kashag

>>4631305
“As an annexation of this scale has never been done before,” you admit calmly, “and because I find it prudent given my status as a ‘silver eyed witch’ to be more open about the decisionmaking within my government, I plan to discuss matters further with Noventus and the Kashag.”

“So does this mean that you intend to be answerable to the Kashag?” Lord Cuthbert pushes for clarification.

You shake your head. “Not at all. But I am keenly aware of how broadly my decision may end up affecting my nation. Despite the authority resting solely on my shoulders I believe it necessary to reassure the members of the Kashag and the various lower offices that I am in fact considering my every move carefully and thoroughly.”

“At the risk of seeming subservient to the bureaucracy,” Lord Annemas disagrees.

“Hazaran’s situation is quite different from the usual,” you contend. “Having just come out of a second period of what may be politely termed ‘regime change’, there are still detractors with political power here. Driving them further out of the fold by ignoring them rather than seeking to reunite them with the rest of the nation will be harmful in the long run.”

“The key is the Kashag. If the Kashag sing the monarch’s praises to the lower bureaucrats it becomes difficult to argue for sedition.”

“While if the Kashag grumble constantly, sedition finds a more receptive audience,” Lord Byron muses.

[Clear away the fuel and you stop the fire’s spread,] Vigilus adds.

“Perhaps not the most direct analogy,” you reply thoughtfully. “But not entirely inappropriate, comparing negative opinions to fire. Both have a tendency to spread quickly by hopping from one fuel source to the next – in the case of sedition, by aggravating other long-standing grievances.”

“Very prudent,” Lord Annemas agrees.

>So let’s discuss what your responsibilities within the Hazari government would be.
>The first issue to be considered is the location and security of the new borders.
>A basic question: how do the leaders of your current nations feel about your intentions?
>Other?

>>4632491
>>The first issue to be considered is the location and security of the new borders.
>>A basic question: how do the leaders of your current nations feel about your intentions?

>>4632491
>A basic question: how do the leaders of your current nations feel about your intentions?

>>4632491
>>The first issue to be considered is the location and security of the new borders.
>>A basic question: how do the leaders of your current nations feel about your intentions?

>>4632491
>The first issue to be considered is the location and security of the new borders.
>A basic question: how do the leaders of your current nations feel about your intentions?

>>4632491
“Speaking of prudence,” you muse, “I have a fairly basic question – how did your respective governments respond when you informed them of your plans?”

Predictably, there’s some visible discomfort among the representatives… or at least, among some of them.

[Daria is a special administrative zone,] Vigilus informs you succinctly. [The majority of the abbots who have an opinion by far prefer to leave Sakia for Hazaran.]

After quickly translating what Vigilus said, you thank him for his candor and recognize Lord Annemas.

“The other governors see little threat to their own positions,” he admits, “and as the governor of the capital I have already made my decision. They will abide by that decision.”

“I see,” you muse. “So it would certainly seem both those matters are in order.”

“In my case, I’m not exactly well-loved in Sakia,” Lord Byron admits with a shrug, “nor are my town and its surroundings given any high regard… in fact they’re thought of as something of a distant backwater. I withheld a public declaration of my intentions but the other lords all know about them, which is why I was approached from Daria.”

“And that would bring us to the two biggest sticking points,” you muse. “Would it not?”

“It would,” Mr Trask admits rather hesitantly – as he likely feels as though he has been put on the spot. “I have to admit that the government of Tarsus isn’t exactly pleased with the situation.”

“And what is the situation?”

“It’s actually partly your fault,” Mr Trask informs you. “You and those three little ones.”

“The medicine,” you recall.

Mr Trask gives you a curt, confirmatory wag of his finger. “That’s it exactly.”

“The medicine?” Lord Byron repeats. “Care to explain?”

“We were tasked with escorting a shipment of medicine to a town across the border,” you explain, “before I stepped back into the role of Queen. There was a massive coordinated attack by yōma that we had to repel, a larger number than even I had ever seen.”

“The survivors have been very vocal since then about their experiences,” Mr Trask continues. “People know you have become the queen of Hazaran, and so your popularity in inner Tarsus is much greater than the actual government of Tarsus.”

“They see what they take to be green grass,” you muse.

“Something like that,” Mr Trask agrees. “But we have also done the math at the guild, and confirmed that for this particular region paying tax to Hazaran along your normal rates, and paying no tax to move goods along the Dari pass, would be a vast improvement even if tariffs suddenly existed on trade with Tarsus.”
>1/2

>>4634670
“So it does not have the support of the government of Tarsus,” you muse, “but it does have popular support, support of the guild, and I would presume the local governors?”

“That’s right,” Mr Trask confirms.

Then that leaves Lord Cuthbert.

“The capital has failed to govern the west,” he frowns. “For all intents and purposes Hazaran is aleady governing in our region, providing security and helping revitalize the economy, pushing our cities and towns in the direction of self-sufficiency. It would take very little additional effort to simply extend the official borders and incorporate the region into Hazaran.”

>Explain your thoughts on defending the theoretical new borders, tell them what to expect on that topic.
>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.
>Push on Mr Trask a little more. How dedicated to this is the relevant governor and why is he not here?
>Other?

>>4634698
>>Explain your thoughts on defending the theoretical new borders, tell them what to expect on that topic.

>>4634698
>>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.
we will have to be on the same page after this, even if it is unpleasant, this directly likely leads into
>Explain your thoughts on defending the theoretical new borders, tell them what to expect on that topic.

>>4634698
>>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.
>Push on Mr Trask a little more. How dedicated to this is the relevant governor and why is he not here?

>>4634698
>Explain your thoughts on defending the theoretical new borders, tell them what to expect on that topic.
>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.
>Push on Mr Trask a little more. How dedicated to this is the relevant governor and why is he not here?

>>4634698

>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.

>>4634698
>Push for more information from Lord Cuthbert. Noroit will likely take exception to this move as they continue to recover.

>>4634698
>other
Request additional information, but, specifically:

>Who or what is supporting the opposing block? If popular support, economic interests, and local governors don't, then what backing do they still have that makes them relevant? Whose opinion do they still have on their side and want to keep?

Sort that out, and the problem solves itself as people act in productive self-interest.

>>4634698
“I can only imagine that Noroit will take exception to this move as it continues to recover from its experiences with the Inquisition,” you muse. “Lord Cuthbert, care to comment?”

It takes a few seconds before Lord Cuthbert responds, and when he does it begins with an admission.

“Noroit is done for anyway, at least in my estimation,” he informs you. “In fact I suspect that there has already been at least one successful coup to the east.”

“A coup?” Lord Annemas repeats. “Why is this the first I am hearing of this?”

“Because it is not general knowledge,” Cuthbert explains with a frown. “At least not in the western regions.”

“Then how did you come by this suspicion?” you wonder.

“Ever since the Inquisition’s loss at Scaithness there have been factions at court,” Cuthbert clarifies, giving you some insight into recent events within your southern neighbor’s borders. “The three most prominent have been the pro-Inquisitorial faction, the ‘restoration’ faction seeking to return to the days of the old monarchy, and the ‘confederalist’ faction seeking to form a confederation of regional governments bound by a written constitution.”

“Which is winning?” Lord Byron asks.

[And which does the good Lord belong to?] Vigilus signs.

“Which do you belong to?” you ask Cuthbert on his behalf.

“In all honesty, I like to consider myself flexible,” he replies. “So long as it is not the Inquisitorial faction that wins in the end, I will be happy. As for who is presently ‘winning’, that takes some speculation.”

“Then by all means, speculate,” you gesture for him to continue.

“We have heard nothing from the king for the last six weeks,” Cuthbert admits. “Which would not be unusual were it not for the fact that two official decisions were meant to be made and communicated to us within this time. These were the announcement of new taxation rates on trade goods transmitted by river, as well as a spending program intended to revitalize places of worship defaced by the Inquisition.”

“Neither announcement reached the western region.”

“You believe the Inquisitorial faction has either taken the King captive or killed him?” you guess.

He nods curtly. “That’s right.”

>And if your king were to be ‘rescued’ and an alliance formed, would he be more amenable?
>If the confederalists stepped into the vacuum, would they allow the west to do as it wishes?
>So that makes border security even more of a concern for you. Do I understand that right?
>Other?

>>4636213
>>So that makes border security even more of a concern for you. Do I understand that right?

>>4636213

Not a vote, but doesn't:

>And if your king were to be ‘rescued’ and an alliance formed, would he be more amenable?

presuppose that the king is still alive? Wouldn't finding out what happened to him be the first step?

I'd vote for that. Then we could just expose the people responsible.

Main thing is I won't vote for using Warriors to get directly involved in messing with humans who aren't already out to do us harm. Anything past observation and advising is the line.

>>4636213
>And if your king were to be ‘rescued’ and an alliance formed, would he be more amenable?

>>4636213
>So that makes border security even more of a concern for you. Do I understand that right?

>>4636213
>And if your king were to be ‘rescued’ and an alliance formed, would he be more amenable?
>So that makes border security even more of a concern for you. Do I understand that right?
>Other?
Tell us more about these confederalists.

>>4636213
>If the confederalists stepped into the vacuum, would they allow the west to do as it wishes?
I doubt it. At least not for long.

>>4636661
>>4636213

>>4636213
“And if your king were to be rescued, would that leave him more amenable?” you ask.

Lord Cuthbert shakes his head. “No. No, it would not. To him there would be no question, the west is his and his alone… but since the Inquisition once paid him lip service he could continue to insist that was the case.”

“So in that event it is border security that you are considering?”

This time Cuthbert nods in confirmation. “Yes. And I assume that you, as a capable queen, have considered this problem?”

You lay out your plans on the table. “Actually I do.”

“Would you care to explain?” Cuthbert presses you.

“The general idea would not be to build a continuous defense,” you explain. “The idea is to provide a buffer zone that concentrates on defending key mountain passes and roads with near-identical defensive structures, each sited to make use of the local terrain.”

“These come in two types: Z-plan castles with demi-barbettes serving as each arm, and barbette towers. The former would have bronze guns on pivot mounts capable of reaching long ranges as well as rifle loupes and breech-loading guns intended to cover the entrances and the bases of the walls. The barbettes would be lower, with mounts for shorter-ranged bronze guns.”

“There would not need to be many of these to make it impossible for an enemy to conduct a large-scale offensive without plenty of time for Hazaran’s military to launch a counteroffensive.”

[It would also seem that you have allowed for local resources and workers,] Vigilus notes.

“Each new province would be expected to contribute to the expansion of the defensive networks,” you clarify. “The exact amount would need to be decided based on a proportional arrangement with the extant provinces.”

“I see,” Lord Byron nods thoughtfully. “Thus avoiding the appearance of forcing an undue burden onto the newcomers.”

“That’s right, though regions with greater threats and greater assets would need to bear a relatively higher percentage of the cost of extending the defenses.”

“So you’re talking about our region and western Noroit,” Mr Trask summarizes.

“Correct,” you nod curtly. “Those percentages would need to factor in the number of defensive structures to be built as well as the amount of tax revenue expected.”

“That seems somewhat calculated,” Lord Annemas muses. “I suppose that is a prerequisite for a successful monarch, the ability to focus on the significant factors and make the calculations that everyone else involved will be operating with.”
>1/2

>>4637968
“These will not be my own,” you admit. “Though I set the priorities and identified key factors, the financial offices will be working out the exact numbers to be used officially.”

“And with our border?” Cuthbert presses.

“It will run along the river which flows just to the east of the city of Lanerk. There are already defended bridges there, it should take relatively little effort to turn that into a well-defended border. Effort would need only be shifted from roads to rivers.”

“And would you continue to provide assistance with this transition?”

>Of course. There’s no sense making this process more difficult.
>Only at the present level – regional stability being a long-term goal.
>Local borders, local troops would seem the best arrangement.
>Other?

>>4637969
>Of course. There’s no sense making this process more difficult.

>>4637969
>>Of course. There’s no sense making this process more difficult.

>>4637969
>>Of course. There’s no sense making this process more difficult.

>>4637969
>Only at the present level – regional stability being a long-term goal.

>>4637969
IS there any chance we can get the local military forces in the region to defect or join us or are they already willing to defect and waiting word from us?

>>4637969
>Of course. There’s no sense making this process more difficult.

File: Noel_drinking_a_whiskey_m(...).jpg (154 KB, 440x611)

154 KB JPG

>>4637969
“Of course,” you insist calmly, “there’s no sense making this process any more difficult than it has to be.” But then you add the necessary caveat; “though I do suppose that will have to go for all parties concerned.”

“What do you mean to imply?” Cuthbert wonders cautiously.

Lord Byron offers his own thoughts. “You mean that you want assurances that no standing military force decides to take action against you after their incorporation.”

You nod. “Precisely. Our military force uses somewhat archaic structures including ranks not directly compatible with all other militaries – though a rough translation between organizational rank, field specialty, and pay grade should be possible, some individual soldiers will be earning slightly higher pay, others slightly less.”

[To be expected,] Vigilus muses silently. [If one considers the issue.]

“Though the issue is not always considered in practice,” you observe. “So it would be proper to communicate such details in explicit terms, ideally through existing command hierarchies.”

“I can guarantee that the officers in Cuilan will go along with this,” Lord Annemas offers. “Can Mr Trask and Lord Cuthbert say the same?”

“I can’t,” Mr Trask admits. “I’d have to discuss it with the governor.”

“The officers in my region will want to discuss those details,” Lord Cuthbert adds. “But generally I think they will find any fair arrangement to be agreeable. Their pay at the moment isn’t exactly reliable due to the state our nation is in.”

“Understandable,” you admit. “My regent, Noventus, is a military man himself. I have no doubt that he would be willing to speak with the ranking officers in western Noroit to make suitable arrangements.”

Then you turn your attention to Mr Trask. “The same would of course apply to inner Tarsus.”

>I think that I have enough information to take to the Kashag and to Noventus. I recommend a posture of cautious optimism in drawing more detailed plans to propose.
>I think the appropriate next step is for Noventus to speak with representatives of the military in inner Tarsus and western Noroit. Ensure their confidence and their support.
>I think that inner Tarsus and western Noroit are still situations where more information is needed on the stances of their current respective governments.
>Other?

>>4638998
>>I think that I have enough information to take to the Kashag and to Noventus. I recommend a posture of cautious optimism in drawing more detailed plans to propose.

>>4638998
>>I think that I have enough information to take to the Kashag and to Noventus. I recommend a posture of cautious optimism in drawing more detailed plans to propose.

>>4638998
>I think that I have enough information to take to the Kashag and to Noventus. I recommend a posture of cautious optimism in drawing more detailed plans to propose.

>>4638998
>I think that inner Tarsus and western Noroit are still situations where more information is needed on the stances of their current respective governments.

>>4638998
>>I think that I have enough information to take to the Kashag and to Noventus. I recommend a posture of cautious optimism in drawing more detailed plans to propose.

>>4638998
>I think that inner Tarsus and western Noroit are still situations where more information is needed on the stances of their current respective governments.

>>4638998
“I feel like that will be enough information to take to the Kashag and to my regent,” you admit, “and I think I can do so with a sense of cautious optimism. While there are definitely some points that will require further deliberation, we should be able to send specific terms to each prospective region.”

“Will these be on individual terms or all at once?” Lord Byron asks.

That... is actually a fair question.

>We will send notice to each region as soon as terms have been prepared for them.
>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.
>Other?

>>4640875
>>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.

>>4640875
>>We will send notice to each region as soon as terms have been prepared for them, but I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.

Send them the terms, if they need ironing them out we can do it and then finalize everything same time. Maybe throw some nice ceremony or similar same time to celebrate this momentous and historic event.

>>4640875
>>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.
we could make it a holiday of some kind, a celebration every year?

>>4640875
>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.

>>4640875
>>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.

>>4640875
>I think there is some wisdom to finalizing all of the terms at the same time.
New holiday or wait when a holiday is near to combine it!

>>4640875
No update tonight, since things got kind of out of hand this afternoon.

Everything's back in order right now, but I don't have the time or energy to really do this thing justice. So I'll do two updates tomorrow instead.

>>4642757
“There seems to be some wisdom in doing this all at once,” you admit. “So that would be my preference – it leaves less room for potential unrest.”

...

After seeing that your guests continue to receive the proper hospitality for the duration of their stay, you eventually see them off. Mr Trask and Lord Cuthbert are the first to leave, and do so with the usual farewells but neither unusual pomp nor particular haste. Which is good, because had either seemed to flee immediately you might be concerned for their long-term sentiments towards you and yours.

Lord Annemas and Lord Byron leave just after breakfast the next morning, having elected to stay in town for the night and leave early insteand of travelling through the mountains in the dark. That leaves you to eat a small lunch with Serana and Vigilus, who communicate silently with one another.

[I see you have been well.]

[Very, thank you. Your hand signs have gotten better.]

[That happens with practice.]

[And a lack of any alternative, for that matter.]

[That too.]

[How are your newer comrades handling our hand signs? It seems quite lively here.]

[It’s slow,] Serana admits with a frown. [Many of them are also trainees, or novices. So in addition to learning how to understand me they have to finish their practical training.]

[Trainees?] Vigilus muses. [That seems unusual.]

>The Organization may actually never recover from recent events, so we took them in.
>If you’d like to add to their training in any way, now would be the best opportunity.
>They may need to start taking missions too early, if the Organization does collapse.
>Other?

>>4643854
>>The Organization may actually never recover from recent events, so we took them in.
>>If you’d like to add to their training in any way, now would be the best opportunity.

>>4643854
>If you’d like to add to their training in any way, now would be the best opportunity.

>>4643854
>>If you’d like to add to their training in any way, now would be the best opportunity.

>>4643859
>>4643854
Supporting this sentiment, It can't hurt to have more insight

>>4643854
>The Organization may actually never recover from recent events, so we took them in.
>If you’d like to add to their training in any way, now would be the best opportunity.

>>4643854
>>4643859

>>4643854
“The Organization is in no position to complete their training,” you explain aloud. “And without completing that training all the suffering they went through to reach this point will have been wasted. And as much as it pains me to think of throwing them into training missions at such a young age, the last thing I want to do is disrespect or belittle them. Wasting their pain, and the loss of the others in their cohort, is the more unacceptable of the two options.”

[And so you intend to take an active role. You intend to ensure their readiness personally, since you know that you are choosing to keep them on a path to further suffering.]

“We accept the adversity in our lives,” you insist curtly, “because it’s who we have chosen to be. We slay yōma because it is what we have chosen to do. This is their life now, and I choose to do everything in my power to support them because I know that it’s right.”

After a moment, Vigilus nods in serene acceptance. [Good. Then do you mind if I offer my services?]

“You mean in training this new batch?” you ask for clarification.

[That is right.]

“I was about to ask if you wanted to,” you admit. “You did after all seem to take an interest in them.”

Vigilus cracks a smile. [Was I that obvious?]

[Perhaps. Or perhaps I am simply that observant.]

Vigilus silently concedes the point. [What would you like me to teach them?]

>Footwork. Typically our kind only develop more advanced swordplay after gaining lots of experience in the field.
>Swordplay. I want them to really master the basics to a degree they might not have done with the Organization.
>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.
>Other?

>>4644554
>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.

>>4644554
>>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.

>>4644554
>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.

I would hope that this would help with yoki control

>>4644554
>>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.

>>4644554
>>Footwork. Typically our kind only develop more advanced swordplay after gaining lots of experience in the field.

>>4644554
>The internal martial arts: breathing, tension and relaxation, and balance. The rest we can teach competently.

>>4634698
It should be interesting to see Vigilus train your newcomers in ‘internal’ martial arts – a concept important in may traditions, but often not really touched on in any official Organization training exercises. Any warriors who know much about the concept actually learn it independently.

You’re going to want to translate for him, and you note with some satisfaction that Zoe, Sofia, Valeria, Lunara, Claire, Zara, and Nora are all taking the opportunity to watch Vigilus in action. They haven’t had much time to start learning how to use sign language, and finding a teacher during the day can be surprisingly hard because of how busy your cohort have been keeping themselves with training and other work around the region.

“Welcome,” you greet them on Vigilus’s behalf. “We brought you here to learn from father Vigilus about ‘internal martial arts’.”

...

You explain the core concepts first, the importance of breathing being the first concrete example. Vigilus has them take and hold deep breaths, swinging their swords in the typical Organization training sequences with held breath, with empty lungs, while deliberately panting for breath, and so forth. This ties into how the muscles of the body tense and relax, how each warrior carries herself in battle, which is shaped as Vigilus tries to argue by force of habit. A swordsman with good posture will have good posture when wielding their sword. A swordsman with bad balance will be more likely to allow a swing to pull them off their balance, which could be fatal.

Then he has the group split off – Marie, the rather forceful trainee with her straight blonde hair is paired with Ilse, the quiet loner with the white braids. Connie, the girl with short blonde hair that usually sticks close to Marie, is paired with Hanna, the girl with short silver bangs who relies fairly heavily on Renate. Renate herself is paired with black-haired Vera, where the former seems a little annoyed by the arrangement and the latter seems intimidated. Then you have mousy-haired Carlotta working with Gina, the girl with only one silver eye.

>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.
>Connie and Hanna are both close to useful – they just need to learn to deal with people who aren’t their first choices.
>You’re curious to know more about Marie and Ilsa. Warriors don’t tend to act like EITHER of those options for no reason.
>Other?

>>4645906
>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

>>4645906
>>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

>>4645906
>You’re curious to know more about Marie and Ilsa. Warriors don’t tend to act like EITHER of those options for no reason.

>>4645906
>>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

>>4645906
>>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

>>4645906
>>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

>>4645906
>Stick close to the ‘failed hybrids’ – you want to make sure they get as much out of training as possible.

Bad news guys, Queen got range banned in the hotel he stays in.
not sure when/if something comes out tonight.

>>4647203
assuming this is true, what does range banned mean? first i've heard of the term.

>>4647880
Normally what happens is that an ISP (Internet service provider) buys the 'rights' to a continuous block of IP addresses which it can then sells to its customers, normally large businesses (Universities, Schools, Hospitals, Office buildings, Large apartment building) may also buy an onsold block of 'fixed' IP addresses for streamlining their IT departments work and so many places ( another big one is the ability to edit Wikipedia) that don't want to have to potentially deal with a bunch of people easily ban evading and so may block these ranges if they feel like it, you should be able to get a list of these Blocks by either contacting your ISP and asking or using a bunch of commands in a DOS box.

>>4647880
You can check his twitter if you want, he mentioned it, but I don't have it myself.

In other news, it seems like he won't be able to do anything until Sunday, since thanks to a certain disease he is confined to his hotel room before his flight plan

>>4647880
found it, and sharing it here, since it is different from the name he goes here currently.
QMKing of hearts is what you would be looking for.

>>4648224
>>4648923
>>4648953
thank you kindly for the info.

>>4645906
You decide that most of your attention should probably be on the ‘failed hybrids’ – particularly Vera, who has been paired off with Renate. Any one of the three paired off with a warrior whose hybridization surgery was completed would be a problem, because there’s typically going to be a difference in raw ability in those cases. That problem is compounded by the fact that you have no idea how big of a gap there’s going to be, and you’d be willing to guess that neither do Vera or Renate.

That’s a recipe for injury. Hell, ‘full’ warriors have ended up injuring each other in training accidents before after misjudging one another. It happens pretty often, which can actually be helpful for training defense-type warriors.

“Internal martial arts are simultaneously a simple and complicated subject,” you translate for Vigilus. “But once you have mastered the concepts, it will improve your abilities immensely.”

“The first technique to master is proper breath control,” you continue as Vigilus flashes through his hand signs. “It may seem simple, but in reality your body tenses and relaxes as you move, meaning that muscle groups and the locations of your bones change. Depending on your body position, your ability to take deep breaths may be affected.”

Vigilus asks if the trainees are familiar with the concept of the basic attacks, which all your comrades before and now will be. These are slashing attacks in the vertical and horizontal planes, as well as across the two diagonals, and the thrust. Each of these target areas are defended against by specific movements... in your case, no other attacks are necessary due to your ‘Versatility’ and how that combines with your White Strike technique. But for the trainees, the basic strikes and defenses are a key aspect of their sword training.

So what Vigilus has them do is work through the basic forms taught to all warriors from the moment their bodies are successfully sewn back up after the surgery, only while taking slow, regular, deep breaths to familiarize themselves with how their breathing is affected by how they move.

It isn’t long before you see a problem.

“Renate! Vera!” you bark. “What are you doing!?”

“It’s not my fault!” Renate contests. “Vera...”

“... is your partner,” you interrupt. “And as her partner it’s your responsibility to adjust to her. As for you, Vera, you’re over-correcting and it’s throwing your technique off. Didn’t Zoe teach you? Technique always comes first, while speed and power come naturally after that.”

“Sorry, Miss Noel!” Vera pants, having already been pushed hard by Renate’s relentless pace.

“This is why you have to pay more attention,” you turn back to chastise Renate.

“You’re trying to tell me I need to help teach her to pick up the slack?” Renate demands.
>1/2

>>4651254
You shake your head, then draw your sword and initiate the first strike of the first training sequence all initiates are taught. Renate barely has time to raise her sword, let alone actually defend herself. Then you land the second, third, and fourth strikes, each pulled ever so slightly at the last second to prevent yourself from doing any real damage to the trainee’s body that she’ll have to heal later.

To finish the example, you add in a kick to her chest that sends her careening across the ground, forcing all of the other pairs to stop what they’re doing as Renate passes between or near them. Eventually she rolls to a stop.

“See, that’s what you were doing to your partner,” you declare as Renate dusts herself off. “It’s not just ‘not teaching her’, it’s actually making her sloppy in her execution, same way your moves got sloppy when you were trying to keep up with me.”

You sigh, returning your sword to its holster on your back. “Look, I get it – you’re not happy about the situation, both the fact that your training’s been cut short and the fact you’re stuck with three failed hybrids. But here’s what you need to know if you’re going to succeed with us: we help each other here.”

[That’s always a good ethos,] Vigilus muses. [Though normally ‘helping’ would take a gentler form.]

“That’s never been our way,” you confess, before turning back to the trainees. “In any event, our faction already has multiple ‘cohorts’. Yours is just a new one, and all that means is we’re all going to have to get used to each other.”

>Explain your half-awakening, and what it means for the non-awakened warriors who fight at your side.
>Continue with the lesson for now. You did after all offer Vigilus this opportunity to leave his mark.
>Have them repeat this part of the lesson, but this time doing it the way you expect them to do it.
>Other?

>>4651258
Have them repeat this part of the lesson

>>4651258
>Have them repeat this part of the lesson, but this time doing it the way you expect them to do it.

>>4651258
>>Have them repeat this part of the lesson, but this time doing it the way you expect them to do it.

>>4651258
>Explain your half-awakening, and what it means for the non-awakened warriors who fight at your side.

>>4651258
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 10, 9, 10 = 29 (3d10)

>>4651575

Rolled 6, 7, 4 = 17 (3d10)

>>4651575

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

>>4651575

>>4651581
Holy shit

>>4651673
Indeed, best roll i have made in a year.

>>4651575
As Renate shakes off the last hit, she suddenly finds your hand in front of her.

She doesn’t take it at first, and actually stares at it as though she doesn’t understand what you’re doing at first. At a gentle smile from you her eyes widen in realization, and she tentatively takes your hand so that you can pull her up.

“On your feet, Renate,” you insist, before turning to the others. “Let’s have you do this exercise again, but properly this time. Keep aware of your partner, adjust to their abilities, and remember that it’s not a competition.”

...

As the trainees continue working through the exercises, Vigilus calls your attention.

[You care deeply for your own kind, don’t you?]

You choose to reply in the same way that the question was silently asked. [Yes.]

[It reminds me how little credit many others give your kind. The love and dedication you show the others is your most human quality.]

[I take some comfort in it myself. It reminds me that while I may never truly have been human, I can be close enough in all the ways that matter.]

[In many ways a monarch is not human either. At least in the sense that a monarch must make decisions in a very in-human way.]

[You’re not wrong.]

Vigilus offers you a sly smile. [Though it may not make things easier for you, the fact that you are dedicated to kindness, generosity, and fairness make you the sort of monarch that we monastic types can place our faith in. To me at least, whether you are human or not is an irrelevant question.]

You bow politely. [Normally I might tell you off, but you aren’t the type for flattery, are you? So instead I’ll thank you.]

After watching your students conclude their breathing exercises, Vigilus has them all participate in some deep-breathing and meditative exercises. Once they’ve switched their focus appropriately, he signals some more thoughts for you.

[Though in your line of work, aren’t attachments a risk?]

>They are. And you’d be right to say it’s something I should remain aware of.
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.
>I don’t intend to let any more of them die. Full stop.
>Other?

>>4652078
>>I don’t intend to let any more of them die. Full stop.

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
>I don’t intend to let any more of them die. Full stop.

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
>>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652078
[I have lost friends,] you admit, feeling your own expression change. [Emma was killed a long time ago, Olivia just a few years ago. Both would be sad if I couldn’t stay kind at heart.]

[So you repay their kindness even after their deaths by being kind towards others?]

You nod. [Something like that.]
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4652863

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

>>4652863

Rolled 6, 9, 3 = 18 (3d10)

>>4652863

>>4652078
>Emma and Olivia would be sad if I let that risk stop me from caring about others.

>>4652863
By the end of the day, it seems that your new trainees have started to make a little progress. You also have a clearer idea of their capabilities: Marie and Renate are definitely the most capable of all the trainees, with most of the others looking to be on track to become competent but unremarkable. Ilse is the only one you have a difficult time assessing, since she keeps to herself so much. Carlotta, Vera, and Gina remain a problem – Carlotta at very least tries hard, and has enough self-confidence to stick up for herself. She’s also a quick enough learner that she can help the others when they need it.

But Vera and Gina are, by warrior standards, legitimately weak.

Their senses are fine, so at very least they have that, but at the moment their physical abilities are roughly at what you understand to be the human peak. Perhaps enough to face down a regular yōma, but with their yōki auras being as unremarkable as they are they have no real advantages to lean on.

[Something is troubling you.]

You nod quietly to Vigilus while the trainees rest after their last exercise. [Vera and Gina aren’t cut out for this.]

[Based on what they are?]

[Yes,] you admit. [I didn’t want to pass judgment so quickly, and I don’t know that they will never be capable, but they are at a huge disadvantage.]

[Compared to others of your kind?]

[And compared to the monsters we exist to slay. It’s difficult to even consider telling them that what they went through might end up being for nothing.]

[Especially since you know what they’ve been through, having been through it yourself.]

You nod. [That’s right.]

[I can’t pretend to know what that involves.]

[I almost can’t even describe it,] you admit. [And I know my description couldn’t do it justice.]

[But what will serve them best?]

>Give them some more time to develop their abilities. They may still surprise you.
>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.
>Offer to try more focused training, or alternate tactics that may suit them better.
>Other?

>>4653648
>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.

The faster they come to terms with this the better things should end up for them.

>>4653648
>>4653664
the sooner they accept the news the sooner they can find something else to occupy themselves with.
and puting them in danger while knowing it might never work is even worse in the long run

>>4653648
>Offer to try more focused training, or alternate tactics that may suit them better.

Honestly, the best approach is:
>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.
Which leads into:
>Offer to try more focused training, or alternate tactics that may suit them better.
While being open and honest about their chances. Being the bearer of bad news always sucks, but it's a necessary task, and Noel is the one who should do it.

>>4653820
i don't disagree, but maybe link to the story post as well

>>4653648
>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.
>Offer to try more focused training, or alternate tactics that may suit them better.

>>4653648
>>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.

Agreeing with >>4653820

>>4653648
>Offer to try more focused training, or alternate tactics that may suit them better.

>>4653648
>>4653820

>>4653648
>>Be open with them about their prospects – they will likely never work independently.

>>4653648
What will serve them best... that’s what you’re thinking about when you summon the three of them shortly after dinner, to meet you by the loch.

“You did well today,” you admit, “which makes what I have to say all that much harder.”

“You don’t think we’re good enough either,” Carlotta guesses with a sad look in her eyes... sad, but resigned.

After a moment, you shake your head. “Well... yes and no.”

“Please,” Carlotta urges you, “explain.”

“Your yōki and physical parameters are all... less than stellar,” you admit. “Though I feel you still have room to improve, and you can sense yōki as well. So it isn’t that you’re ‘not good enough’, Carlotta.”

“But we are weak,” Vera insists, almost as if trying to insist that it must be true.

You nod. “Yes. But that’s not a sin, Vera... it’s a human quality to fight even when we’re weak. While I don’t think the three of you will ever operate on your own, I think you can still work together as part of a team. And I’ll try to work with you to help you improve as much as you can.”

“And if we can’t improve enough?” Carlotta asks you.

>Then you’ll spend much more time on the sidelines, unfortunately.
>I don’t intend to let your efforts to this point be for nothing.
>Let’s just not worry about that before we have to make a decision.
>Other?

>>4655856
>>Let’s just not worry about that before we have to make a decision.

>>4655856
>I don’t intend to let your efforts to this point be for nothing.

>>4655856
>>Let’s just not worry about that before we have to make a decision.

>>4655856
>Let’s just not worry about that before we have to make a decision.

>>4655856
>Then you’ll spend much more time on the sidelines, unfortunately.
>I don’t intend to let your efforts to this point be for nothing.

>>4655856
>I don’t intend to let your efforts to this point be for nothing.

>>4655856
“We’ll have to make a decision at some point,” you admit. “But not right now. You have some time, and some room for improvement. I’ll help you as much as I can... because we can all understand how much you’ve already sacrificed to come this far.”

There seems not to be any disagreement with that sentiment... for all their pain, physical and emotional, to have been for nothing would just make it that much more difficult to bear. This much you can understand. What you cannot say for certain is how much of a difference you can even hope to make.

But tomorrow, you mean to find out.

>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.
>Their physical training should be the priority. It’s where they’re most deficient.
>If they can learn to push their yōki as far as possible it MAY give them a chance.
>Other?

>>4657259
>>Their physical training should be the priority. It’s where they’re most deficient.

>>4657259
>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.

>>4657259
>>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.

>>4657259
>>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.

>>4657259
>>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.

There is the route of forcing a half awakening like how it was done to us, but I'm rather hesitant to the very idea of suggesting that.

>>4657693
If they don't get bleached hair that normal claymores get? it's lethal for them to try as their bodies are not strong enough to sustain the changes.

>If they can learn to push their yōki as far as possible it MAY give them a chance.

>>4657259
>Focus on training their skills with the sword. Skill is what they’ll have to rely on.

As the cohort who can best pass for normal, it's best to have them learn a particular set of skills, skills acquired over a very long career, skills that are a nightmare for... Well, every army needs an infiltration, espionage and assassination unit.

>>4657936
Yeah, this guy has it right. Maybe not assassination, but we can have our own covert ops.

File: Svenska_palascher_cropped.jpg (23 KB, 800x150)

23 KB JPG

>>4657259
“We’ll need to work on your technique,” you declare the next morning, with Carlotta, Vera, and Gina all in attendance. To each one you hand out a different weapon, a trio of backswords from the castle’s armory. A fourth you keep for yourself. “This is what your survival or your death will hinge upon.”

“You’re taking away our swords?” Carlotta presses you with a frown.

You offer a curt nod. “For two reasons. First is that right now your physical strength isn’t quite enough to use them as effortlessly as the rest of us can. Second is that unlike any of us, you don’t stand out in a crowd.”

“… you think we can blend in better?” Gina wonders hesitantly.

“That’s right,” you assert. “I think we can make three swords like these out of the material from just one of your swords. At that point, with lighter swords in your hands, you may be capable of greater precision and point control than most double-digit warriors wielding full-sized blades. Instead of wandering executioners, you three are most suited as spies and fencers.”

“What sort of swords are these?” Vera asks you curiously, feeling the balance of the blade. “It feels a little heavier than it would appear to be.”

“These are cavalry swords,” you tell her, taking up your own small sword. “Designed to hack through skulls from horseback. Each has been given a slight spear-point grind to improve how it thrusts. In the hands of a regular soldier such a blade would be considered too heavy for any delicate swordsmanship.”

You take an upright stance, slightly bladed to reduce your profile facing the trainees, and extend the blade to offer its point. “This will not be a problem for you. Your movements will be swift and precise, your targets will be the vulnerabilities common among yōma.”

“Watch me, and learn.”

You carefully demonstrate the proper handling of a sabre-type sword, left hand kept conspicuously out of reach for a prospective enemy, showing the movements required to parry and riposte. “The principle of a one-handed sabre such as this is to dominate the midline. Each movement should be made with the idea in mind to push your opponent’s blade to the outside.”

“Now, I want to see you follow these movements.”

…

Over the next few hours you force them to pair off and fence against each other, using the basics you’ve taught them. A few of the others stop in to observe, like Helen, Valentina, and Aurora. Serana watches carefully the whole time in silence, seemingly interested in the “single-handed” style you’re trying to teach here. Renate observes carefully as well.
>1/2

>>4658194
The next thing you do is force the three of them to take turns thrusting their backswords through upright targets, forcing them to pick out a small, specific target to hit while in motion. This is how they’ll have to fight even regular yōma most of the time, aiming to find gaps in their body plates around the throat, joints, and so forth.

“You’ll have to work twice as hard for half the results,” you admit to them. “It’s a harsh reality that you’ll have to face every time you draw your sword from now on. You’ll have to work to earn the respect that should be given among equals.”

“But the only way you can fail is if you give up,” you declare. “Because so long as you keep putting in the effort I’m not going to let you fail.”

>Continue drilling them yourself. You won’t accept the possibility of failure.
>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.
>Leave their instruction for a few days. You need to make a commission with Brutus.
>Other?

>>4658220
>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.

>>4658220
>>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.

>>4658220
>>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.

>>4658220
>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.

>>4658220
>>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.

>>4658220
>Bring in a rotation of other trainers. You won’t let them be ostracized, not here.