And a quick overview of the rules

Rolls
Rolls correspond to one of your character’s stats or skills and are decided by 3 rolls of 1d100. In a high-difficulty roll, the highest roll is taken. In a low-difficulty roll, the lowest roll is taken. Vice versa for a medium roll.
If a roll is lower than your character’s stat, it is successful. If a roll is higher than your character’s stat, it fails. Items are important for situationally increasing the values of these stats. This is not a game for playing naked.

Currently our character’s stats are:

Strength - 15
Agility - 10
Dexterity - 10
Toughness - 25
Intelligence - 10
Perception - 15
Charisma - 20
Willpower - 25

Criticals
A critical is either a 1 or a 100, respectively a critical success and failure. Criticals take precedence over other rolls. They are treated as an auto success/failure.

Fate Points
Fate points are points that can be used to either re-roll or auto-succeed a roll. Spend a fate point to reroll and burn one to auto-succeed. Your character has a number of fate points that regenerate once every chapter. However, burning a fate point gets rid of it permanently.

Critical successes can be saved to regenerate one fate point. However, to earn new fate points, accomplish acts that adhere to your code even in times where that code is tested. But the more fate points you earn, the harder it will be to earn them.

Be warned that fate points cannot be used to accomplish the impossible.

File: Joseph of Saintswood.pdf (72 KB, PDF)

72 KB PDF

Character stats

>>5197686
>>You have more practical questions for your companions. Such as goblin hunting lore.

This is the life, let's live it.

================================================================================

“Do you ever get tired of this? The constant hardship of the march only to find battle at the end?”

As you trudged back towards the campsite, Schni’s question reverberated with you. You had not been able to think of an answer and your conversation had faded into a silence.

Did you have an answer? Did you really want to spend your life marching through the mud from one battlefield to the other, with only the scant promise of loot and plunder at the end? It was a disquieting question. Part of you felt like you had been forced into this life. Another part felt that the life of a sellsword was still much better than anything you could have aspired to out in the frontier.

Thankfully, you arrive at the camp soon enough that you are distracted from such questions.

“Took you long enough.” Farthorn greeted you, “What were you doing? Running back to the Keep to grab some fresh groceries? Almost thought the goblins had gotten you.”

“Goblins? Never!” Hadhan laughs. “You should have seen the ones that faced Joseph. Lad’s getting comfortable swinging his sword.”

Farthorn frowns. “I smell goblin blood on you. Best clean that up when you can, it only ripens with time.”

“I have goblin ears in my rucksack.” You say, “That might be it.”

Farthorn wrinkles his nose. “You’ll have to smoke every piece of fabric in that rucksack. Why didn’t you string them?”

“Didn’t have any.”

“I’m willing to give you some of my fishing line … for a price.”

“Don’t bother.” You mutter, “I’ll just sell them the first chance I get.”

Farthorn rubs his chin. “This country seems to be facing a new goblin infestation. You’ll get a chance soon.”

“RIGHT, PACK IT UP! WE’RE MOVING ON!” Hadhan roars.

On to the next battlefield then …

>Ask some of your comrades how they feel about the life of a sellsword (who?)

>Your feelings on the life of a sellsword are your own to decide. For now you’ll continue putting one foot in front of the other.

>You have more practical questions for your companions. Such as goblin hunting lore.

First thread: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2021/5017055/

Other Threads: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Sellswords%20Code

Oh God I'm sorry I'm so late anons.

>>5197693
Nice to see you back Noir! Don't worry about being a bit late, shit happens.

>Ask some of your comrades how they feel about the life of a sellsword (Each of the men)
>You have more practical questions for your companions. Such as goblin hunting lore.

Goblin Slayer!

>>5197693
>Farthorn wrinkles his nose.
I'm gonna need to read the archives

>Ask some of your comrades how they feel about the life of a sellsword (who? - especially the higher ranking and longer surviving ones)
>You have more practical questions for your companions. Such as goblin hunting lore.

This is good Noir. I pick one foot in front of the other.

>>5197690

Ill just quote myself in case it gets lost

File: Gobbo.png (1.34 MB, 660x879)

1.34 MB PNG

As Hadhan’s band treks down the road in the morning light, you fall beside Farthorn.

“So, you seem to know a lot about fighting goblins.”

“Hunting them.” Farthorn grunts, “I wouldn’t call the culling of beasts such as Goblins the same thing as a battle. In battle, it’s your lack of knowledge about your enemy that shapes it. But in a hunt, you best know your quarry well. To hunt goblins properly, you must spend months observing a den. Note their preferred hunting grounds, their water sources, ideally their next target. Only fools and the ignorant take on Goblins without having prepared.”

“If you already know where their den is, why don’t you kill them all in one fell swoop?” You ask.

Farthorn snorts. “Impossible. Have you seen the size of them? A big one would barely reach your chest. And the tunnels they dig are cramped even for their kind. Crawling on your belly, you’d be easy prey for even the smallest of them.”

“So then how would you hunt them? Wait for them at the entrances of their burrows?”

Farthorn shakes his head. “You’d never find all the entrances. You’d be hamstrung from an ambush from another while watching the entrance to the one you found. And even if you escape, they’d have your scent. Once you leave to sleep, they’d track you down and kill you. No, to kill goblins it is either in swathes or not at all.”

You nod. “I’m at a loss of how to do it then.”

“Poison their watering holes.” Farthorn replies, “Drive away their prey. When they must send raiding parties onto tilled earth for food, slaughter them and leave none alive to remember your scent. Goblins are cowards by nature and on long forays away from their dens, they’ll group together. That is when they are at their weakest. Pick off as many as you can with your arrows before closing in if you must. I’d rather not fight goblins at all, but ten goblins in a field are worth a single goblin in the forest.

“Where did you learn how to hunt them so thoroughly?” You wonder. To you, Farthorn seemed to have a lifetime of experience in the matter of hunting Goblins, and yet he couldn’t have been much more than a handful of years your senior.

Farthorn sighs. “Five years ago, when I was a warden for the King of Rosland, he decided to clear his royal woods of Goblins. It was a grand effort, involving hundreds of his most experienced rangers and thousands of inexperienced huntsmen. Even some knights deigned to join the hunt. I left his majesty’s service for fear of my life six months into the hunt, and swore never to hunt goblins since. There are still goblins in those woods to this day.”

You whistle, “Six months and you learned that much goblin lore?”

“In the northeast, where the Rovelands fade into the steppe of the Great Grass Sea, the people there have a saying. Sometimes a year’s worth of a lifetime happens in ten. An sometimes a ten years worth happen in one. Those woods, they were ten years worth.”

>They didn’t seem that dangerous to me … (Act brave, +1 Strength +1 Willpower)

>You must remember this for later … (Gain Lore: Goblins, gain Fear: Goblins)

>You’d like to know more about Goblins

>You’d like to know more about Farthorn’s past

>>5198815
>They didn’t seem that dangerous to me … (Act brave, +1 Strength +1 Willpower)

>>5198815
>You must remember this for later … (Gain Lore: Goblins, gain Fear: Goblins)

>>5198815
>>They didn’t seem that dangerous to me … (Act brave, +1 Strength +1 Willpower)

>You have gained +1 Strength
>You have gained +1 Willpower

“We’ve fought them both in the forest and in the dark.” You say, “And they didn’t seem that dangerous to me.”

“That was a direct contest of arms.” Farthorn says, “The danger of Goblins is in their low cunning, not any weapon in their hand.”

“Is this moss-stained old man bothering you about Goblins?’ Hadhan japed as he fell in line with the two of you, “I’d never call Farthorn a coward as he’s faced death with me time and again, but something about Goblins turns him as weak-willed as a maid.”

“It’s prudence you mistake for fear.” Farthorn retorted, “And given your lecherous ways, I’d advise any maid you pass by to have a care and some prudence.”

“You’re just as much of a lecher as me. At least I don’t need to resort to coin for it. Besides, I’ve fought Goblins in the past and here I am.” Hadhan points out.

“You only defended farms, you never sought to eradicate them.” Farthorn said.

Hadhan shrugs. “Have it your way. But what do our other companions have to say about such formidable beasts? Ingmyr? Schni?”

“I fear no creature that does not reach my calves in height.” Ingmyr rumbled, “If I did, I would hang my axe on my mantle for shame.”

“I’ve fought many enemies that were more formidable than they were at first glance.” Schni simply says.

“Methinks Farthorn would rather fight demonspawn than a goblin.” Hadhan laughs, “But come, let us not darken the day with talk of our friend’s bitterest foe. We are half a mile from a handsome village and if memory serves, it has an inn well appointed. I can’t wait to lay my eyes on the bar wenches that inhabit every prosperous inn …”

“A keg of ale will help wash the dust from my throat.” Ingmyr rumbled.

“The sun has only risen friend.” Hadhan laughs, “Still, we must make merry when we can.”

“As long as there’s an inn room where I can be left in privacy, I shall be content.” Schni declares.

“I need to restock on thread.” Ingmyr mutters, “And arrows too …”

>You wouldn’t mind laying your eyes on a few tavern wenches yourself.

>Wenches or no, a drink would go a long way after all this

>All you want is a hot meal and some rest

>You have some supplies you’d like to restock on

>>5200679
>>All you want is a hot meal and some rest

>>5200679
>>All you want is a hot meal and some rest

>>5200679
>You wouldn’t mind laying your eyes on a few tavern wenches yourself.

>>5200679
>You wouldn’t mind laying your eyes on a few tavern wenches yourself.
>You have some supplies you’d like to restock on

Gotta get that motherfuckin twine, just to help with the goblin ear.

File: polina-sann-burned-village.jpg (549 KB, 1920x1184)

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“I’m torn.” You admit, “there are some supplies I’d like to restock on, but truth be told it’s tempting to just sleep after the first hot meal I can get.”

“You needn’t worry lad,” Hadhan slaps you on the back, “We’ll most likely be staying in the village for a few days waiting for the next caravan. You’ll have time to rest and forage both. You took quite the beating back there and you’ve earned it.”

“I’d like to avoid such beatings in the future.” You say.

“Ha!” Hadhan laughs, “They’re part of the profession, I hate to confess. You will spend time stretched out on some healer’s bed. But perhaps they’ll lessen as you grow in experience.”

“I certainly hope so.” You say.

“Perhaps I’ll show you my scars someday.” Hadhan continues, “The tavern wenches certainly admire them. Tell me, Joseph. Have you ever been with a Tavern Wench? They’re no courtesans, but no maidens either! And look, we approach the village! It won’t be long …”

Hadhan isn’t lying. Over the next hill, you can see the smoke of multiple hearths rising into the sky. And judging from the number of plumes, it was a fairly large village. More a large town.

But Farthorn squints. “Something’s wrong.”

“What?” Hadhan’s pleasant demeanor immediately sobers, “What do you see, Farthorn?”

“That smoke. It’s too wide and dispersed to be hearth smoke. It’d be a bonfire at least … and there are so many of them …”

“Weapons out!” Hadhan hisses quietly. “Farthorn and Schni, scout ahead. The rest of us, steel yourselves.”

Farthorn and Schni disappear off-road as the rest of you await news. It is scarcely a minute before the two return. Farthorn’s face is ashen. Blackened by smoke.

“Hadhan, you’re going to want to see this …”

…

Cresting over the hill, you quickly see what had happened to the village. Or what remained of it. For the entire village had been burned to the ground.

“Search the village!” Hadhan orders. “I want to know who did this and how long ago they did it.”

The Band quickly sets off to follow Hadhan’s orders while Blotto, seeing the carnage wrought, stumbles in shock before sitting the first chance he gets. It seems he won’t be getting his pony …

>Search for survivors (Follow your Code)

>Search for loot (Loot chance)

>Mutter a prayer. This is a disaster. (+1 Piety)

>Say something cynical (Character progression?)

>>5202055
>Mutter a prayer. This is a disaster. (+1 Piety)
>Search for survivors (Follow your Code)

So much for the tavern wenches. I've already come to terms with the lack of looting that we'll be engaging in. Also really makes me wish we chosen to give Blotto those horses, hot damn.

>>5202071
+1

>>5202071
support

>You have gained 1 Piety

“Saintess preserve their souls.” You mutter a short prayer in shock. The whole village had been slaughtered.

“Goblins.” Farthorn growls, picking a spearhead out of the rubble.

“Then the ones I encountered last night …” Blotto exclaims.

“Strays from this raid, I’d wager.” Hadhan says. “The boldness of these Goblins … I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s disconcerting …” Farthorn says, “Only a relatively developed Goblin den would attempt to raid a village of this scale. But they’d be noticed while they were growing. This region would not be so prosperous if there was a goblin den anywhere near this big.”

“What are you saying? It grew quickly?” Hadhan asks.

“Perhaps.” Farthorn falls into an uncomfortable silence.

>You followed your code and looked for survivors instead of loot. Few other sellswords would have done what you did as it is loot and not good deeds that line their pockets …

“Is anyone alive?” You call out. Your voice was swallowed by the smoke and ashes of the village.

There were bodies littered across the ground. Disturbingly, many of them showed signs of having been feasted on where they lay. Others had been partially butchered, gutted in death or with with pieces of their bodies cleaved off. Had the Goblins simply taken their choicest portions and left the rest of the carcass to rot? Many of the bodies lacked heads. Looking through the carnage, you began to lose hope that any survivors were left.

Many of the houses had collapsed while burning and you doubt that anyone would have survived in them when the roof came down. So you look through the handful of buildings still standing. The first two were empty. But when you step through the threshold to the third, you hear a small squeak of fear.

Hidden under a bed, you find a small girl, shrinking away from you …

>It’s okay. I’m not a threat! (Medium Charisma Roll)

>Offer her some of your food (Easy Charisma Roll)

>Try to scoop her up (Easy Dexterity Roll)

>Call the others

>>5203708
>Offer her some of your food (Easy Charisma Roll)

Yea, even with an Easy roll I'm not really hot on our chances here.

>>5203708
>>Offer her some of your food (Easy Charisma Roll)

>>5203708
>Offer her some of your food (Easy Charisma Roll)

"Hey!" you quietly call out. The girl shies away. As non-threateningly as possible, you reach into your rucksack to retrieve a loaf of bread. You break off a piece, offering it to her. "Are you hungry? You must be ..."

>Roll 3 1d100's for charisma, easy roll

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>5204661

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5204661

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>5204661

File: IMG_3009.jpg (86 KB, 600x741)

86 KB JPG

>>5204915
Holy shit

>>5204921
>pic related

>>5204923
Better roll than I nor anyone else in my own quest had got, fuck.

>>5205154
Oh? Which quest is that?

>>5205196
I have no desire to take away from OP's good work here, but you asked and I will answer.

I write Spymaster Anti Isekai. Which rolls much less often, and has yet to have something as spicy as a 98 followed by a 1

That said, very ready to see how the 1 translates here.

>>5205870
Hey I should check that quest out!

The girl shyly comes up to you. She ignores the bread, touching your arm as if to make sure you are real. As soon as she is sure, she starts crying tears or relief. She couldn’t be more than seven or eight. You try gently hugging her. She does not push you away, which you take as a good sign …

“Joseph?” Schni is the first one to find you. “You found a survivor? I heard crying.”

“I did.”

“Oh, you poor thing!” Schni coos. “Are you hurt?”

It didn’t appear so. The Girl was covered in dust and ash, but otherwise unhurt. Considering what had happened to the rest of her village, it was almost miraculous. Surely the Gods that be were watching over her …
…

“So what are we going to do with this little tyke?” Hadhan asks when he found you and Schni with the girl. After feeding and watering her, you had managed to get some details from her. Her name was Blumais. She was nine. When she had heard the Goblins coming, she had hid under the bed. She had watched as the family she had been staying in had been killed. You guessed that their blood had covered her scent. When asked about her parents, Blumais was silent. As far as you and Schni had been able to telll, she was the only survivor.

“Why not just take her with us?” Schni asks.

“We’re headed to a warzone.” Hadhan says, “I’m not just being callous when I say we’re not taking her with us. Where we’re headed is no place for a child …”

“The Caravans? We were planning on using this village as cover, that won’t work now. This mission is already over.” Schni points out.

Hadhan pauses. For the first time since meeting him, you see uncertainty on his face.

“Surely there are other villages that the caravans would pass through.” Farthorn says.

“None that suit are purposes.” Hadhan shakes his head, “They’re all either too small and tight-knit to blend in or too close to the front lines.”

“There’s Harvesthorpe.” Blotto points out, “I know this land like the back of my hand and Harvesthorpe is a fine and prosperous town. Surely even a small child could find work there.”

Hadhan turns his head to Blotto. “Since when were you here, Halfling?”

Sensing the atmosphere change, Blotto immediately steps back, “Apologies, Master Sellsword, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I’m just quiet I am, as many Halflings are. I didn’t hear nothing, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell a soul. I know how to keep my mouth shut. Mum’s the word!”

Schni’s expression visibly darkens at the mention of Harvesthorpe. Hadhan stares at Blotto, scrutinizing him. “Right … Well we were speaking about the fate of this Child so there isn’t anything we wouldn’t want reaching your ears that we’d say in front of her anyways.”

“Anyways, the girl could come with me.” Blotto offers, “I’m off to a stout castle to the North of here, one which should have a market open soon where I can find a horse at a good bargain from a stablemaster I know. The only thing is, these lands have grown more dangerous than I bargained for so if I’m headed north I’d like to purchase the services of you sellswords for the journey there. Otherwise, I hope you’ll tolerate my company to the next safe haven you decide to go …”

Hadhan scratches his stubble, considering this …

>The mission is dead. The Company could at least make some coin guarding a moderately successful merchant.

>The mission can continue. All you need to do is travel for Harvesthorpe.

>The mission can continue. Surely caravaneers wouldn’t know every face in even a small hamlet.

>Call out other members of the Band for their opinion (who)

>Leave the deciding of such matters to others more experienced than you.

>>5206131
>Call out other members of the Band for their opinion (All)
>Leave the deciding of such matters to others more experienced than you.

Honestly don’t know what would be best, but I’m definitely for picking everyone’s brain over it.

>>5206131
>>Call out other members of the Band for their opinion (all)

>>5206286
Support

“Schni, please show Blotto away so we can talk about our plans in peace.” Hadhan says.

“But Hadhan …” Schni protests.

“You’ve said your piece and I’ll consider it. Would you have the others leave to do this errand before saying theirs?”

Schni relents, before leading the Halfling away.

You notice Farthorn and Ingmyr were keeping silent.

“What do you think, Farthorn?” You ask, trying to prompt him to speak, “What path do you think we should take?”

“We have no hope of observing any caravans here anymore. And if we try to observe them from Harvesthorpe, there would be no way to track all of the caravans going from that town. What’s more, there are more eyes there and we’d stand a risk leading them to our redoubt in Lord Zuflucht. I think we should simply report back to the Old Wolf that our mission failed.” Farthorn says, “But if we’re going to go back to the Old Wolf in failure, might as well make some coin escorting the Halfling along the way.

“And you Ingmyr?”

“This old Reaver does not mind where he drifts as long as there is blood enough to sate his axe.” Ingmyr says, rather unhelpfully.

Many voices, and yet there was no consensus. Perhaps it is time to say your piece.

>We should go towards Harvesthorpe

>We should go towards the next castle

>Wherever Hadhan leads, you will follow

>Propose a vote

>Another option

>>5208104
>Wherever Hadhan leads, you will follow

Well, I was hoping for another opinion, but it seems like we haven't got one yet. I'm fine with whatever.

>>5208104
>Wherever Hadhan leads, you will follow

>>5208104
>Wherever Hadhan leads, you will follow

>>5208104
>Wherever Hadhan leads, you will follow
Dunno if joseph is aware enough to catch on but schni seems to not wana go there so maybe

“Wherever you go, I’ll follow.” You tell Hadhan.

“It seems Farthorn is the only one with strong feelings on where to go then.” Hadhan says, “Farthorn, if I were to lead you into danger, would you follow?”

“It depends.” Farthorn says, “If our foes are Men, then I will face any danger with you. It is only when our foes become beasts that I would not trust you to know how to slay them.”

“Where I lead, our foes will be men, that I can promise.” Hadhan says, “It is settled then. We will go up the road to as large of a hamlet we can find, then we’ll try our luck at spotting a caravan.”

“I’ll miss the coin we could have gotten from the Halfling.” Farthorn gripes, “Perhaps we can still press him into hiring us to guard him to Harvesthorpe then.”

“I don’t like threatening honest men.” Hadhan says, rubbing his stubble in consideration.

“We’re not shaking our weapons at him.” Farthorn says, “Just withholding them.”

“Now, I take no issue from that.” Hadhan muses, “Might be able to drag some coin out of the bastard …”

>You will not tolerate shaking down Blotto for money (Follow your Code)

>Voice your objection, but you doubt the two will listen to you

>Persuading Blotto to hire you might be more productive than blackmailing him

>Blotto’s a merchant, he can probably afford it

>>5211727
>>Voice your objection, but you doubt the two will listen to you

>>5211727
Either
>You will not tolerate shaking down Blotto for money (Follow your Code)
or
>Persuading Blotto to hire you might be more productive than blackmailing him

I don't want to set a precedent of them ignoring our words.

>>5211727
>>You will not tolerate shaking down Blotto for money (Follow your Code)

>>5211727
>You will not tolerate shaking down Blotto for money (Follow your Code)
>Persuading Blotto to hire you might be more productive than blackmailing him

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this, it's approaching exam season.

“We aren’t shaking Blotto down for money.” You insist strongly.

“What, you friends with the Halfling now?” Hadhan laughs.

“Yes. I’d consider him a companion.” You answer evenly. You and Hadhan stare at each other while Farthorn remains inscrutable, grinding his knife against a whetstone. The tension in the air thickens …

>Roll a 1d100 for charisma, medium roll

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5215345

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5215345

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>5215345

File: 5efbfb1155d6a91c4fe7e19e-large.jpg (200 KB, 600x600)

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Hadhan snorts. “You’re telling me what to do now?”

“This Pup is challenging the second-best sword in the Hounds?” Farthorn laughs.

Surprisingly, Ingmyr stays silent, leaning on his axe and watching the scene unfold with steely eyes.

“You don’t know who you’re challenging.” Hadhan laughs, before getting up. “The Halfling isn’t worth this.”

You grab his arm. “I’m staking my honor in this.”

Hadhan snorts. “Lad, you’re a sellsword. You have less honor than a rabid dog.”

“A man’s got to have principles.” You say, your hand drifting to your dagger at your belt.

“Boy, you’re going to get gutted like a fish by a fishmonger.” Farthorn warns.

Hadhan snorts. “I’m not going to kill someone I went to such lengths to save. Granted, it was to piss off that gaoler, but my point remains. No, we’ll settle this another way.”

Hadhan pulls out a metal coin with a skull one one face and a snarling hellhound on the other. “This is a coin of Mithros. Once you get back to our camp, you’ll get one. We in the Black Hounds aren’t the army, we don’t pull rank to force subordinates in line. But when there isn’t the time to settle disputes with a duel, this is how we do things. Now, heads or tails?”

>Heads

>Tails

>You’d rather fight a duel

>Back down

>>5217327
>Heads

>>5217327
>Heads

>>5217327
>Heads

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Flipping coin. 1 for heads, 2 for tails.

“Heads.” You say.

The coin flips through the air before Hadhan catches it and traps it between his palm and fist.

“Damn it.” Hadhan swears. The coin had landed on heads. “Guess we won’t be squeezing any gold out of that little bugger. Well, we’re left with only our honest living to earn our bread with now …”

It seems you had managed to save Blotto’s remaining coin. Truthfully, you think he’s suffered enough. Even if he had coin saved, it would be hard to recover from what had happened to him …

>Examine the village one last time

>Check on Blotto and Schni

>Where had Blumais wandered off to?

>You have some questions for the senior members of the Band

>>5218607
>>>Where had Blumais wandered off to?
Maybe the kid has some idea on where to look for something valuable that wasn't looted in the raid?

>>5218607
>Examine the village one last time
>Where had Blumais wandered off to?

Two birds one stone.

>>5218607
>>Where had Blumais wandered off to?

>>5218607
>Examine the village one last time
>Where had Blumais wandered off to?
Can use the leftovers to help the girl start a new life.

>>5218607
>Examine the village one last time
>Where had Blumais wandered off to?

There was one other person you intended to look out for. Where had that girl Blumais went? It wouldn’t be a hard search, there were scarcely any houses left to hide in.

You stumble across Schni in a secluded part of the village. It looked to have been a public area, where people would have gathered to do chores together. Schni was seated at the edge of a well, drawing a bucket up.

“Where did Blumais go?” You ask.

“Back to her home, I expect.” Schni says, “It might be hard to wrench her away from it.

“Why not let her stay here then?”

“Smell this.” Schni says, presenting you with the bucket of water. It smelled foul, like spoiled meat. “The Goblins dumped corpses into the well. The water’s no good now. A child wouldn’t be able to live here by herself.”

“I see.” You nod. “Where did Blotto go?”

“I’m right here.” Blotto announces. He had been hidden in the shadow of a collapsed building and you had missed him. You guess the adage about Halflings being sneaky was true.Blotto was rooting through the ashes of the building. Was he looking for loot? After defending him from being fleeced by Hadhan and Farthorn, seeing him rooting through the belongings of others left a bad taste in your mouth. But at least these people were dead.

“Horse shit.” Blotto says, wiping his hands on a lace handkerchief, “This was a stable.”

“Looking for a horse?” You ask.

“Five stalls, but I only found three horse carcasses in the village.” Blotto says. “I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility.”

“You seem to be used to digging through burned buildings.” You observe.

“It’s not always possible to feed yourself trading trinkets.” Blotto says. You decide not to press him further.
…

Despite what Schni said, you find Blumais not in the house you had found her in, but in another house. She had a sack in her arms. Had she been looting the houses of her neighbours? Or perhaps she was just scrounging for provisions.

Just the sight of her filled you with a certain pity. Her dress was stained with the ash from the village. But there was a determined look on her face, without a single hint of despair.

“You talked to Schni, right?” You ask the girl.

Blumais nodded. “She said I could come with her.”

“You can come with us until it’s safe.”

“But when will it be safe?” Blumais bitterly asks.

>You’re sure it will be safe the next few leagues over.

>In truth, you’ll only be take her as far as it’s practical

>There is no safety in this world. But she’s survived this long.

>She’ll come with you until it is, you swear it. (Make a promise)

>>5221669
>She’ll come with you until it is, you swear it. (Make a promise)

Oh boy

>>5221669
>>She’ll come with you until it is, you swear it. (Make a promise)

>>5221669
>She’ll come with you until it is, you swear it. (Make a promise)

This will go poorly

Oh God I haven't updated in so long. Been so fucking busy.

>Promise made (Protect Blumais until you can be sure she is safe)
>Fate points spent to fulfill promise will count towards earning new fate points as long as the promise is fulfilled.
>Breaking this promise will burn 2 fate points

“You’ll come with us until it is, I swear it.” You promise her.

“R-really?” She stares up at you, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and hope.

“Yes.” You gently pat her on the head, “I swear to both my gods and yours.”

“T-thank you.” Blumais looks down. You give her head one last good rub. Now, it was time to go …

Perhaps you had made an oath too hastily. But how hard could it be to spirit one little girl away from a warzone? It was such a good deed for so little effort? How could you not promise the girl safety?
…

You had scarcely spent an hour at the village before moving back the way you came. Somehow, seeing the countryside you had so recently passed through pass by again added to the weariness of the road.

At a certain point of the journey, when you are resting, you feel a hand on your shoulder. It was Hadhan.

“Joseph, let me have a few words with you. Away from the others …”

Hadhan draws you away from the rest of the party into a nearby grove.

“Is something wrong?” You ask.

“Something might be.” Hadhan ominously says, “Blotto may have overheard our conversation earlier.”

“Do you think he did?” You ask. That was worrying. If Blotto had overheard something Hadhan wanted to keep secret …

“Usually, I’d kill a man if I thought they overheard something, to be safe.” Hadhan nonchalantly says, “But since you and him seem to have a mutual understanding, I’ll ask you to question him instead …”

“Question? What do you mean by that?”

“Have a nice fireside chat, chop his fingers off, it doesn’t matter to me.” Hadhan says, “Just ask if he overheard anything. Be smart about it, don’t tip him off.”

>You understand. You hope Blotto hasn’t for his sake.

>If Blotto has overheard something, what will happen to him?

>You’ll try to tip Blotto off that it is no longer safe to stay with the Hounds

>You doubt Blotto overheard anything, Hadhan shouldn’t worry about it (Charisma check, hard)

>Trying anything tricky might hurt your chances of fulfilling your promise to Blumais

>>5228276
>spoiler
No worries, shit happens. I'm just glad that you're back Noir.

>You understand. You hope Blotto hasn’t for his sake.
>Trying anything tricky might hurt your chances of fulfilling your promise to Blumais

>>5228277
+1. Exact same post I'd have made.

>>5228277
Support

“For his sake, I hope he hasn’t.” You solemnly say. You’d hate if anything happened to Blotto, but if he really had heard something over there was nothing you could do to help him. You hope that whatever happens won’t spill over to prevent you from getting Blumais somewhere safe. But even if it did, you’re sure Schni would still take care of Blumais.
…

The party moved on. Even with the violence that had happened in the night, daytime travel was still quite uneventful. Here and there, you see farmers tending their fields. You wonder if they knew that a village close to them had been burnt to the ground. Some of them held hunting bows or makeshift weapons. They must have encountered goblins of their own in the night then.

“Look!” Blotto points to a few shapes on the horizon, “Horses!”

You squint. Blotto was right. There were three riderless horses grazing in a fallowing field.

“Those horses would be perfect for my cart.” Blotto sighs.

“We don’t have time to wrangle ‘em.” Farthorn grunts.

“Now, don’t be so hasty.” Hadhan says, to Farthorn’s visible surprise, “We can spare the time to wrangle the Halfling a horse or two. Joseph, you go help him.”

You see. Hadhan was making an opportunity for you and Hadhan to be alone together.

You and Blotto stride out into the field …

>Roll 3 1d100’s for agility, easy roll

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>5230379
Rolling

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5230379
Yolo

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>5230379

>36, target 10: Failure

You try to sneak up on the most docile horse as it took a drink from an irrigation channel. But it heard you coming and galloped away. You tried sneaking up on the next closest one, but it galloped away too. It was simply hard to be sneak up on the horses when the field was so flat and provided so little cover. Blotto was more successful on sneaking up to the horse, even managing to touch one, but once he did, it kicked him in the chest and ran away.

“Are you alright?” You asked Blotto, sprawled out on the ground.

“Can’t seem to catch a break today.” Blotto sighs, “Don’t worry about me, I must be part dwarf for how well I take bumps and bruises.”

You lend Blotto a hand to get up.

“No luck with the horses, eh?” Blotto sighs again, “There goes my livelihood.”

“I’m sorry about that.” You say.

“No, I have some silver stored in the banks at Harvesthorpe, some favors too.” Blotto says, “I’ll scrape by …”

The two of you follow the horses farther from the group, until eventually they disappear from view. You make several more attempts to catch the horses, all unsuccessful.

>Think of a clever plan to catch a horse

>Tip Blotto off that Hadhan is suspicious … and dangerous

>Ask Blotto if he heard anything about you discussing your plans.

>Interrogate Blotto if he heard anything about the Black Hound’s plans

>>5233162
>Think of a clever plan to catch a horse
>Ask Blotto if he heard anything about you discussing your plans.

We’re not getting these horses are we?

>>5233162
>>Think of a clever plan to catch a horse

>>5233167
>>5233169
I should have been clearer on my end, this option is meant to be a write-in.

>>5233162
>>5233169
Perhaps lure them with food like an apple?

>>5233162
>>Ask Blotto if he heard anything about you discussing your plans.

>>5233188
Oh, then let’s tempt the with carrots, surgery cubes (if Blotto has some), and soft sweet calming words with headpats and nose rubs. Bribery also works with animal don’t you know.

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4.01 MB PNG

>Down to two players

Alright guys, I'm sorry about this but the quest is probably dead at this point. I really enjoyed it while I ran though and I hope you all did too.

In the future if I ever run again, I'll try to do it when I'm less busy so I can focus more on good updates and less battles.

Thanks for playing anons!

>>5238492
Actually, would you mind continuing on with just two anons? I know it’s an unusual request, but I do genuinely enjoy this quest, and I do think that if we stick with it though this bit of low activity that we may just see a revival like in Reptilian Infiltrator Quest.

I also just like to mention that you’re not the only one experiencing low-energy voters, Help Wanted! Quest and Beneath a Pale Moon Quest is recently going thought a bit of a low energy phase as well.

Regardless, if you want to take a break to focus on work, I don’t mind, I just would like to continue on if you’re willing Noir.

>>5238931
Damn if you guys were enjoying it that much, then sure! I'd still take a hiatus but be back in a month or two.

>>5239545
I’ll see you then Noir!

>>5239545
My Internet is kill, so I lurk

>>5239545

I quite enjoyed it. But I was also the guy who's been critical in QTG of you getting bogged way down in combat detail. So sorry if I discouraged you.

Ill be here if you ever come back.

I also enjoyed your quest Noir. I think you developed a very sophisticated ruleset, it felt engineered more for tabletop action than the constraint of this text format, so it did become hard to follow and made me wish I was just a player at the table instead. But nonetheless I really like the lore of your world and your characters, you have an unparalleled ability to create that sense of fireside fellowship. If you are busy I think we can all understand, you know that whenever you feel inspired again there is an audience here for you.