Grunting, you force your fist further down, undoubtedly hurting her really badly, and you shout it out:
"CALM! DOWN!" as she tries to wrong you loose, your arm feeling like it's going to be ripped out of its socket.
You're not sure how it hasn't, as the gigantic werewolf tosses you around, making you cling to her fur with all you've got as you keep choking her... But then you gear Collar again, screaming.
And then the wolf stops moving, all of a sudden. Another high-pitched screech from Collar, and you look up at the wolf you're choking.
Collar has decided to climb that mighty furry mountain, and is now screeching right into the wolf's sensitive ears. Then, you realize she's saying words:

"I AM COLLAR!! YOU ARE TEENSY! YOU ARE DRAGON REYNAULD'S KOBOLT! YOU ARE COLLAR'S BEST FRIEND!"
For a short moment, even through the pain of having a fist rammed down her throat, Teensy seems to realize something. Her eyes bulge, and then...
She seems to notice you. Truly notice you, this time, and her pupils seem to turn to pinpricks when she realizes what she's been doing.

With more intelligence than before, she pushes you away, pulling your fist out of her throat, and then she crouches down, whining and shaking as she looks at you.
Your arm is...
It's mangled. For all you know it's broken, but you know you're bleeding heavily. The deeper you rammed your fist, the more she bit back. It was the best thing you could do on short notice.
You'll have to use your left hand to use your sword, which isn't your main one.

But... Teensy seems to be awake again. Still very wolf-life, guessing from the tail between her legs and the way she's whining, but... Friendly, at least.

You need to find the others. This place is not safe, and that howling she did after transforming... there will be more wolves coming.

>Run out, calling out for the others to hopefully fine them
A good way to draw attention.

>Try to enlist Teensy to help you find them, somehow.
Perhaps you could even ride her... She sure is big enough

>Make an educated guess on which way they went, and head there, quiet as you can.
Teensy, despite being the size of a building, seems like she can be quiet.

>>5293421
>Try to enlist Teensy to help you find them, somehow.
Wolf noses are good for tracking, and our merry band must smell pretty distinctive... Plus, they're carrying torches.

>and head there, quiet as you can.
This is a given, though.

>>5293421
>>5293442
Seconed

>>5293442
>>5293421
Seconding

>>5293442
+1

>>5293421
All things considered, it bad. If we can make it in time Reynauld's girlfriend can patch up his arm. Maybe give it til morning his arm should be more or less fine, albeit entirely dragonoid considering the amount of damage he sustained.

>>5293419
How badly did we scorch Teensey's throat? Remember Reynauld's blood is acidic hot now. Did her feral side just keep biting despite the burns?

>>5293421
>>Try to enlist Teensy to help you find them, somehow.
She should know how others smell like. In her current altered state finding them by smell should be very easy.
We should also hurry. The smell of blood might attract other werewolves.

>>5293421
>Run out, calling out for the others to hopefully fine them

>>5293442
Support

great now our arm is going to be full dragon, we should have drawn our sword. or better yet not sent our people out with three torches to die in a werewolf infested forest. you guys fucked this situation up more than it had to be, learn from this and be better.

>>5293826
Nah, you angry schmucks whinging about the last two votes were the same ones who wanted to draw steel on our friend Teensy. Our arm being scaly is a small price to pay to not hurt our friend who, may I remind you, is only a werewolf now because of OUR fuck-ups earlier.

>>5293843
our arm being ruined means we can't defend the rest of our group once we catch up to them in the WEREWOLF INFESTED WOODS, you anons seem to keep forgetting just how dangerous this place is and don't appreciate just how retarded it was to send our people charging out into with three fucking torches between, them it would have been better to slash a few cuts on to teensy than to have our ability to fight at all gimped. you over-emotional retard.

>>5293862
>calls anon an over-emotional retard
>acts like an over-emotional retard
What did anon mean by this?

>>5293862
If we'd stabbed Teensy, she probably would have stayed berserk rather than calming down. Collar could have been killed. Teensy might have charged into the woods and been lost to us forever. I'm not saying there weren't advantages and disadvantages to each option, mind you. You're the only one sperging out about there being a "right answer" hat was obviously better and would solve everything which, spoiler alert, this quest rarely has.

>>5293875
If point out not drawing our sword was a mistake and that it was a terrible idea to send out people blindly out into the woods full of werewolves is spurging out to you, then you really are retarded.

Tell me anon what exactly are we going to do with our arm shredded, spurting blood and acting as a signal flare for every werewolf for miles around? How are we going to defend ourself, how are we going to defend our group, assuming we can even find them? You can fall back on the "no right answers" argument all you like but there are better options and outcomes and news flash anon, separated in werewolf country with a mangled and bleeding arm to draw them all in, isn't a good one. In fact, it's just about the worst outcome we could have gotten.

>>5293870
bait

but from your view I am guessing the response will be but hey at least Teensy didn't run off into the werewolf woods as a werewolf. News flash for you again anon, our Kobolds know how to track animals, and a giant tyrant teensy wolf would have left quite the fucking trail to follow, which we could have done as an organized group, on our terms. but hey there are "no right answers" only good choices and bad choices, and this entire time you lot have been making bad ones.

>>5293919
We'll figure something out
>identify targets
>PHOOOOM

>>5293909
>If point out not drawing our sword was a mistake and that it was a terrible idea to send out people blindly out into the woods full of werewolves is spurging out to you, then you really are retarded.
*sperging

>How are we going to defend ourself, how are we going to defend our group, assuming we can even find them?
It's a tie between our magical firebreath and our team of trained warriors, I guess.

>it's just about the worst outcome we could have gotten.
Losing Teensy and Collar permanently is worse.

>>5293919
>this entire time you lot have been making bad ones
You've literally voted to support my votes repeatedly, including in this thread.

>>5294019
oh hey look at how the redditer outs himself with his reply style.

I wrote in my own stuff in the last thread and the only reason I am supporting you in this one is there's literally no other option you subhuman retard.

>>5294048
*Redditor

But I actually don't use that site, and I'd wager I've been on 4chan since you were in grade-school. I am a subhuman, though, so good guess there. You done with the ad hominem shitflinging and ready to go back to a nice, civil questing experience, or do you need a bit more tantrum-time? I'm done with you either way, so go ahead and have at her.

>>5294060
oh bravo, you sure did show everyone, you started this argument with a "shmuck" and now that you've lost now you decide to disengage after being called out for what you are and trying to claim the moral high ground as well, very well done anon. I am sure your redditards buddies will love how you spin this. I've said what I have to say and other anons can judge in the coming update how right or wrong I am in my point of view on how pants on head retarded yours and other anons' choices have been in the last 2 updates.

>>5293442
+1

>>5293919
>>5293875
Let's just J-J-JAM IT IN and tell Para-Sara-Celsie that it was a grim necessity given the extreme nature of the situation (just kidding...) (Unless...?)

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>>5294082
>picrel

>>5294110
Teensy is for daughteru, not waiferu, even now that she's a giant wolf-woman.

>>5294218
So much for your "muh high road, I'm done with you" shtick hahaha. By the by you've got the wrong anon redditard. regardless of your mental handicaps I'm not in the mood so keep your bait and accept you are on the wrong side of this.

>>5294221
Just shut up dude
Christ are you even capable of having fun?

>>5294218
>>5294221
I haven't been paying attention to your conversations. No offense, but you're both retarded.
Anyways I think if Teensey can control her Monarch Werewolf form for now, that's a pretty big fucking plus for us, especially if she can use that against the dragon cultists while being sane. Of course, we should only consider this option if the goth doc GF cannot cure our other Daughteru (pretty sure some of our kobolts besides Pink and Dismas are older than Reynauld) with her limited supply.

Keeping your hands raised... or, at least, the one that you can still move properly, you approach Teensy carefully.
"Okay, Teensy... I need your help. We need to find the others again, before the other werewolves smell my blood."
Teensy making a little choking noise, and coughs up some of the aformentioned blood. You suspect the acidic properties made it a very uncomfortable experience as she was biting you, but even a regular werewolf has an almost impossible healing factor. You're willing to bet a tyrant even more so.
"Can you help me find them? Quick and quiet." You say, and Teensy stares at you for a moment, and then starts crawling forward, still on all fours. Even on all fours, her extremely long arms make her stand very tall, and her comparatively short legs make her look as if she's always in a sort of sitting position, at first.
You suppose it's part of why they call them monarchs. They always stand above even the biggest of the regular werewolves. Well, that and the fact they naturally tend to be the pack leaders. Where the tyrant goes, the pack follows.

...The pain in your arm is bad, but... it really doesn't even reach the top ten at this point. Your lungs disintegrating was a whole lot worse. This is just a dull pain, though you realize that you'll have to do something important first. You reach into a pouch on your side, and take out a tourniquet. The strong leather should prevent you from fainting on the way there, and then Paracelsus can help you. Fortunately, as long as the wound doesn't grow infected, you should be able to keep the arm. Considering your very blood is acidic, you'd be surprised if anything could touch that.
You strap it around your arm, after removing the ruined armor, and pull hard. It hurts... But it's better than bleeding out.

You don't need to spend much time searching, unfortunately, as you suddenly hear a gunshot in the darkness!

Snikt.

You start running, but you don't get far before you feel a huge, powerful arm wrap around your chest, and you are pulled into Teensy's grasp as she carries you along.
It's a new feeling. Being carried by a werewolf. And going *this* fast. Collar is screaming into the thick neck fur of Collar to muffle it, but it's clearly far too fast for her. The last time you went this fast, you were in an alchemist's runaway train, and that at least kept you out of the wind.
Another gunshot, and howling. You fear you hear screaming, though you can't tell who is screaming, or if it's a shout of fury or pain.
Then... you arrive.

They didn't get that far, in the end, and you see...
Several dead werewolves. SEVERAL? All decapitated.
Just as you wonder how in the hell your band of kobolts could have possibly killed three werewolves at the same time, you see that there is a new figure amongst them.
You gasp, feeling your face turn pale as the figure turns to you, with a dull smile on her face.

File: A grey knight.png (293 KB, 607x507)

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Her armor is rusted and filthy, and her sword and shield are no better off. The edge carries more chips than blade. Her flesh carries much of the same marks, scars and a pale complexion make her appear as a phantom. Her dull green hair, reminding you of seaweed, only adds to the impression that she is more a banshee than anything human. Considering the blood that covers her blade, you don't doubt she is responsible for keeping your companions safe.
Though they are all keeping their distance, with Chad and Paracelsus standing at the front, guarding them again this ghastly apparition.
The horse standing behind her, a scrawny pale thing not dissimilar to its owner, doesn't help the appearance.
You notice blood on its hooves.

"Ah... I found you." She says. Her voice is a slow croak, and you can feel the exhaustion in her voice. Not uncommon amongst her kind.
"Hello." She adds, in what is barely a whisper, as Teensy drops you and backs away, growling at the new person. Collar pulls on her ears, however, saying:
"NO! She helped the klan!"
Teensy stops growling... but still stares at the newcomer while you try to get upright... on auto-pilot, you use your mangled arm first, but huff in pain and drop to the ground once more, before you use your other hand to stand up..;
And draw your sword.

"Knight of the Grey." You say, feeling more out of breath than you planned.
"This werewolf is under my protection." You say. "By my honor, you shall not kill her easily."
The knight tilts her head, her smile fading.
"...Oh. Than I shan't. I apologize for my appearance. I came here to clear the Wulven scourge, but I heard fighting come this way. Your people are safe, though I fear... your horse has suffered injuries. Nothing too serious, but the claws across his flank will require aid. Your doctor should be quick."
She steps closer to you.
"Your arm... May require more immediate attention. What did this to you? If it was a werewolf bite, you would have transformed by now."
"I'm... A bit full-up on curses right now." You say. The knight raises an eyebrow an infinitesimally small amount... But doesn't press the issue.
Then she speaks again

"Please... come with me. I have cleared out a den of these creatures. The cave walls and the fire will keep them at bay."
You look back over to the creatures she mentions. You can see them transforming back into the people they once were... Two humans, and a dwarf.
The knight then comes closer, but you stand between Teensy and her.
"She will not harm me, ser." She says.
"I'm not worried about your safety."

The woman smiles again. Somehow... The smile is incredibly sad, and you can almost sense a history of pain behind those curled, chapped lips.
"It's a wonderful thing... To overpower the vile instincts of the beast. This creature... The person it once was must love you all a great, great deal."
She looks around for a moment, at your klan, and then back at you.
"I have cleared out a den of these creatures not far from there. It's a cave... With the fire, and the walls, you will be safe there, but your friend..."
She nods towards Teensy.
"I cannot permit to enter as well. The confining walls and the fire will affect her, and make her instincts overpower her love. You needn't worry about her, though... Not many things would stand a chance against a Tyrant, especially in an area affected by the Wulven."
It goes unsaid that she stands more than a chance against her.
You already know as much.

"She may even find companionship."
Collar, however, shouts:
"N-NO! I can't leave her!"
"...You must, little one. Please... she will remain close, but you cannot remain with her. It is dangerous. And by my oath... None will be harmed if I can prevent it."

...

>Trust the Knight of Grey
They're good people. If it wasn't for Teensy, you'd trust her whole-heartedly, but... they're zealous in their fight against evil.

>Don't trust her
You can't go to her tunnel. You need to find a different way. A big fire in this field may be sufficient...

>Go to her cave... But stay awake all night to ensure she does not leave the cave.
You're not sure if you could stop her, but she is willing to listen to people, at least.

>>5294512
>Don't trust her
You can't go to her tunnel. You need to find a different way. A big fire in this field may be sufficient...

But others should be safe to go with her. We won't abandon our friend.

>>5294512
>Don't trust her
We just almost sacrificed an arm to keep Teensy safe. Let's not piss that away immediately.

Also, can we get a knowledge dump on Grey Knights?

>>5294512
>Don't trust her

>>5294526
On a technicality, the wandering knights have their origin in the Grey Knights, which was an old order that is, by now, functionally extinct. They had a similar approach, in that the grey knight is forced to tirelessly fight for what is good, albeit in a somewhat limited moral sense. They were very black and white, and they were also forced to never accept help from anybody, which left most of them emotionally dead wrecks that would, most of the time, simply collapse rather than die to any outside threat.
They were instrumental in saving a lot of people, and after a grey knight saved a prince from a kidnapping, they also enjoyed tax benefits for the order.
Grey knights are still around, but very rare. All the same, you can always assume that they're able to kick your ass.
When it comes to power levels, Reynauld at full strength is about equally matched. In the condition you're in, it would hardly be called a fight at all.

also i stole the grey knights from Hushabye

This lore came from thread 2, by the by, but I'll explain a few things more:

Despite the fact that the grey knights are almost always equipped with gear that is essentially falling apart, they make up for it with their great skill and even greater strength. There is a certain magical aspect in how zealous their faith is, and while most eventually simply collapse from exhaustion, it can still take an incredibly long time. Of note is also that they appear to be resistant to magic, and diseases don't seem to touch them. Despite this, it is not advised to remain close to a Knight of Grey for long, as the filth accumulated on their bodies can still affect others.
Reynauld is also deeply in awe of the grey knights, and assumes he can't beat them out of hand. They're kind of one of those orders that'd be like meeting a superhero.

I'm open for any other questions about them, Reynauld knows quite a bit about them and thus, so do you.

>>5294512
It's just the rest of the night? Teensy and Reynauld can wait outside the cave and everyone else can just chill in the cave

>>5294512
>>Go to her cave... But stay organize a shift watch so someone is awake at all times to ensure she does not leave the cave.

staying in open werewolf country with this much blood on us and around us is only going to end poorly we don't have too trust her, but we do need her.

>>5294512
>Trust the Knight of Grey
Teensy will be fine.
So how soon can we get around to curing her?

>>5294512
>Trust the Knight of Grey
They're good people. If it wasn't for Teensy, you'd trust her whole-heartedly, but... they're zealous in their fight against evil.

>>5294512
>Go to her cave... But stay awake all night to ensure she does not leave the cave.

Seems like we want to at least get the shelter, but not trust her fully.

>>5294512
Ask the grey knight how many werewolf tails she's collected so far. Those fetch a good price on the market. She could probably do something good with it.

Insinuate that she's collecting them, and not make it sound like we're helping her. Could be nice if she can use the funds to get herself new armor. If she has no plans on keeping the tails, I guess we can take em and sell them to any passing merchants in exchange for rations and ammo.

Inform the grey knight lady of our quest.

>>5294512
>Go to her cave... But stay awake all night to ensure she does not leave the cave.

>>5294512
>Don't trust her
You can't go to her tunnel. You need to find a different way. A big fire in this field may be sufficient...

Teensy will help protect us all hopefully, and none of us, other than the kind, are useless in a fight.

>>5294839
>, and none of us, other than the kind, are useless in a fight.

are you forgetting our arm is shredded at the moment? and that aside from the doc we have Kobolds with little training and william.

>>5294850
Our kobolds, especially Snikt, Chad, and the twins, have proven themselves repeatedly in battle. Thanks to the vites that calmed down our new werewolf monarch rather than unnecessarily aggravating her, we also have 450 pounds of regenerating monster-muscle on our side.

To be honest, I would prefer to just keep going through the night - Teensy seems both stable and strong enough to pull the cart herself - but even if it was at all possible to safely load Tom onto the cart, it would get way too cramped in there.

>>5294893
The whole Cart thing is a bit misused anyway. I haven't said anything till now but long story short you don't actually ride in a cart unless you're old or infirm; most of the members of the party would be walking alongside it most of the time. You might have 2 or 3 passengers who are taking a break but it's not like it's a minivan that eats hay.

>>5295027
It may be less a cart, more a carriage.

>>5295029
Maybe, or a cart they're using like a carriage, but 1 horse carrying like 15 passengers day in and day out still seems like a lot to ask, we should probably have Reynauld and most of the healthy bolts walking as a matter of course.

>>5295035
That is, in fact, the case. I just generally describe everybody being in the cart for narrative convenience, so they can talk easy and do their thing.
The main purpose of the cart is more to keep the party's stuff in it, and occasionally allow one to rest their weary legs from time to time.

Also tom-8-O's is a very strong horse.

>>5295037
That's kind of what I figured, which is why I didn't say much until it seemed like people were trying to figure out how to get TomOOOOOOOO in the cart along with everyone else.

>>5295039
It was more figuring that we CAN'T get the horse in the cart along with everyone else. For an overnight ride, it would be prudent to let most of the group sleep in the back, and that would necessarily include Tom - even if he wasn't injured, horses gotta sleep too. We could maybe, MAYBE fit him in there alone, maybe just with Paracelcus tending to him, but that would mean everybody else gets to march alongside the cart through the night, and that isn't acceptable either.

I was spitballing ideas to get through the werewolf country as fast as possible, since, hey, we got a temporary reinforcement, but this obviously isn't it.

>>5295052
A werewolf monarch is a natural leader of such packs, right? Well, we have one who is loyal to us. We're gonna' make it through this.

>>5295052
>For an overnight ride, it would be prudent to let most of the group sleep in the back,
I disagree, if we moved out we would want everyone on overwatch who is effective, and TomOOOOOOOO can probably walk fine if he's just tethered to the back of the cart. It sounds like his injuries are serious but not life threatening.
However, I think we should hunker down until daylight

>>5294512
>Trust the Knight
>But also, Teensy will stay just outside, with us taking rotation to keep her company and talk with her

Your arm begins to sting a bit more than before. More than likely, the adrenaline is wearing off, and you're about to have a rough night. With that in mind, and especially Tomato's condition, you figure it's best to trust the knight...
Partially.
"Lead on... But I'll be watching you. I won't let you harm Teensy."
The grey knight says nothing, and instead calls to her horse:
"Oath. You'll get to sleep tonight, girl." She says, sounding happy. You can't help but notice she doesn't include herself in that.
The horse doesn't seem to react, until it bows its head and lets the grey knight clamber on. The knight puts away her sword, and then removes a lance that was strapped to the side of the horse. The lance is in a better condition than her sword, but not by much. Then, she points forward, and everybody follows. You stand up front, closest to your new guide, while Paracelsus moves closer to start fussing over you.
"Hell's bells, Reynauld! What the hell did you do, feed your arm to her?" She says, waving a hand towards the gigantic form of Teensy. You keep her close, as well, and Collar is doing most of the work in keeping her calm. It seems to be easier now,though... And she even offers an affectionate nudge to Pink when she comes close.
You turn to Paracelsus:
"Pretty much... Didn't want to draw my sword on her, but she attacked me. Did the best thing I could think of and rammed my arm down her throat. It was too big for her to close her maw entirely, and she'd be choking... Though she still had the power to bite down."

Paracelsus seems flabbergasted, and even while walking she performs some of the first bits of medical aid. Mostly, she's adjusting the tourniquet, and making a sling for you.
"It's up to your damned shoulder! How deep did your arm go!?"
"You've seen the size of her, right?" Is your response. Paracelsus turns... and sighs.
"Well. I hope you like having scales on your main hand. This amount of damage is horrific, and it wouldn't surprise me if even your underarm comes along for the ride."
"It can't be that bad." You say, and Paracelsus' tone turns sharp.
"Let's just say that it's a good thing you have a bloody tourniquet. Or we wouldn't be talking at all!"

Oh.

Your arm is put in the sling, and then you decide to test the waters with the grey knight.
"Say... Knight? Do you have a name?"
"No." Is her response. Which is the correct one, they toss out their old name when they take the oath.
"Have you collected many werewolf tails? They could fetch you a good price... Likely allow you to do some good."
"I do not collect anything. I am here to serve others, never myself."
"You could serve others better with proper gear."
"I scavenge. It is enough."

Yep. A Grey Knight through and through. Just like the stories.

Which will make this next part relevant. As you walk to the tunnels, you begin to explain why you came here. Explained your curse, and that of William and Paracelsus. You tell her about Ogg.
And your intent to kill her, to ensure she does not create some new world order, or infest the world with dragons. If the grey knight was interested, she doesn't show it, remaining completely and utterly silent the entire time you tell the story. It wasn't a very long one, considering you only told her the important parts.
You arrive at the cave.
...
There are nearly a dozen corpses strewn around. Men and women... and to your horror, two children. Couldn't be older than ten.

"Twelve hells..." You say.
You can never get used to seeing dead children. As you glance over to the knight, she doesn't seem to care. She slaughtered them to the last, you suppose.
Once they're werewolves, it's hard to see the difference, you suppose. You can tell they're young if you're experienced, but if they're attacking you, it's hard to notice or care. It took some courage-gathering, but people worked together to clear them out. The kobolts weren't quite as disturbed as you, Paracelsus and William about the corpses. To be expected, you suppose...

Once you're in the cave, you're glad to see there is firewood lying at the ready. More than likely, it was gathered by the now dead denizens. Likely preferred cooked food during the day.
The wood is put together, and the torches are used to light it... along with a little help from your breath. Teensy is being kept outside, for now. You were about to head out to join her, but Paracelsus physically stops you:
"You're not going anywhere until I'm done fixing your arm. That you haven't passed out already is a damned miracle!"
She takes out her surgery kit... And you just sit down.
You're in no condition to go against her, right now. Pink and Collar head out to join Teensy... for now.

They keep close to the cave entrance, and the fire.
Just in case.

Then, the grey knight approaches you.
"...I will be hunting down the Wulven, first. Then, I will chase after the wizard you described. I cannot permit her to spread such evil. But... you and your doctor."
She stares at you.
"You still have your wits. But if I see the faintest sign that you would do evil, I will kill you where you stand." She says. It's so matter of factly, too... You've heard people describe the weather with more gravitas.
"Now. You are a wandering knight, correct? If you feel as though your arm is healed, I will not stop you if you wish to aid me in defeating the Wulven in the area. If you need to keep moving, I understand."
You're about to tell her no, but Paracelsus stops you for a moment:
"Reynauld? I know how to make the cure for lycantrophy, but I don't have the ingredients. Wulven territory is lush with everything but Monkshood, which I fortunately do have in my personal supply... If you don't want to deal with Teensy every night, we might have to hang around."

The twins, listening in, do have something to add to that:
"Why not keep Teensy like this? She's really big and strong, now."
"And she lets us pet her!"
"She's so soft."
"I can fit my whole arm in her fur!"

They both giggle at that.
...

Damn it.

>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.
Don't waste time hunting Wulven

>Help clear out the Wulven.
The others can gather the ingredients in the meantime.

>Keep moving.
Teensy might just make for a powerful ally indeed, like this. Perhaps you could even buy the ingredients in the next town over, which will be safer.

>>5295689
>>Help clear out the Wulven.

>>5295689
>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.

>>5295689
>>Help clear out the Wulven.

>>5295689
>Help clear out the Wulven

>>5295689
>>Help clear out the Wulven.

>>5295689
>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.

>>5295689
>>Help clear out the Wulven
We could try curing them instead of killing them if we have the ingredients

>>5295689
>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.
We have a world-ending threat looming over our heads. Now is not a good time to play with the doggies, get everything fixed up and GO.

>>5295689
>>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.

>>5295819
Exactly. In our state we're not likely to speed of the process compared to what the grey Knight can do anyway.

>>5295689
>>Hang around a moment to gather ingredients.
We don't have to use them just yet anyway. We can decide if teensy can be managed in her current form and ask her what she thinks before we decide to give her the cure.

>>5295847
Counterpoint: Even if Teensy is stable right now, we have no guarantee that she will stay that way or that she will not freak out again when she transforms the next night. Past experience should tell you that mind-altering curses are not to be taken lightly and I'd rather not risk losing another limb if it is not strictly necessary.

>>5295689
>Keep moving.
Teensy might just make for a powerful ally indeed, like this. Perhaps you could even buy the ingredients in the next town over, which will be safer.

>>5295689
>Help clear out the Wulven.
Getting a grey knight as an ally would be a great boon. Basically a second reynauld in combat

>>5295689
>Help clear out the Wulven.
As tempting as it would be to have a nine foot tall ally, the risks it brings is too great a chance. She's calm now, but if we're in a situation where we cant calm her later? It would be a disaster.
Make a point to ask someone to please collect the tails though. If we're fortunate enough to pass a trader we can acquire additional food stuffs to circumvent the need to stop and forage.

Wait....does Teensey got big Monarch titties?

>>5295689
Collect werewolf tails! The next archmage we visit probably won't be generous, so we'll need all the money we can get so we don't make make another oopsie and tempt them with immortality.

>>5295689
>Help clear out the Wulven.
If we can convince the grey knight to join us hunting Og, we should have better chances of sucess

"I'll help you clear them out." You say, hissing while Paracelsus stitches up what can be stitched. "We need to stay here to gather ingredients anyhow, and I'm sure you'd appreciate a sword arm."
The grey knight looks at you for a moment... And sighs.
"I will not force you either way. If you wish to help, then follow. I will guard this cave for tonight... Will your arm be healed?"
Paracelsus snorts:
"It'll be blue and shiny, but yeah. I've got some tricks up my sleeve, but believe me, if you weren't enjoying the benefits of your curse, you'd be out of action for a month. Probably more!"

Well.
Good to know.

You sigh at the prospect of having an arm that's entirely dragon'd up... Not to mention, your armor is too busted to keep wearing around that same arm, so you can forget about hiding it, either. It takes about an hour before Paracelsus decides that what she did is "good enough", and your arm is swaddled in bandages that she soaked in something, to prevent infection.
Well, alright.
The rest of the night is spent sleeping in shifts, to ensure the grey knight doesn't start doing anything. You hear... howling outside, and sometimes snarling. However, you never hear anything escalate to the point of a fight, so you suppose that Teensy or the fire is keeping away the other monsters. The grey knight just sleeps against her horse... and it's about halfway through the night that the twins actually come close to poke said horse.... They both flinch when they see the grey knight has opened her eyes, staring at them, and then they rush back towards you...
And say something interesting:
"The horse is dead!"
"It's got no pulse!"

You raise an eyebrow at the grey knight, and she just nods.
"Yes... I'll raise him in the morning. Oath rather prefers being in the afterlife than here, so I let him die when we rest."
...Oh. You lean forward, and ask:
"Is that... allowed?"
The grey knight closes her eyes as she speaks, leaning against her horse once more.
"Necromancy is not inherently evil. So I practice it. Never on anything other than Oath."
"I thought your order was against all magic?"
"If that were true, I would have attempted to kill you all."
Then she goes silent.
Anyway, she sleeps the rest of the night, and yet when morning comes, she doesn't look even a little bit less tired. She places a scroll over her horse, and after injecting said horse with... something, it spring back to life with a wheeze, and stands up.

...Outside, you see Collar and Teensy are sleeping together, hugging eachother tightly. Teensy is completely naked, of course... and you also notice she's considerably bigger than before. Still just a tad smaller than Collar is in height, but... Well, she buffed out. By a lot.
Perhaps she'll keep it, once cured.
You look to the knight, and experimentally flex your injured arm. It feels as strong as ever, again... And after confirming.it with Paracelsus, you also remove the bandages. Well, as Paracelsus said, it's entirely blue and scaly. It's kind of beautiful, in a way, especially as it reflects the light. Your hands are also unambiguously claws, now, though you're glad to note that it won't affect your ability to hold things. Perhaps, in a sense, it will aid your pugilism in multiple ways. The claws are obvious, but the scales are thick and obviously a lot sturdier than your old skin.
No sense crying over spilled milk, you try to keep it positive.

"Alright. So you know where to find the Wulven, yes?"
"Indeed. I'd advise it's just the two of us. The Wulven will leave if we approach with too many. Going alone or in a small group will keep them arrogant. They will see us as prey... And we will be free to turn the tables on them."
She takes the spear from her horse... and pats it a few times.
"Oath's smell will dissuade them as well. We will go on foot. Do you have a spear? Range will help, and I expect to be charged at.
One look at that spear shows to you that it will not survive a charge from anything bigger than a rabbit, let alone a wolf. The wood will snap. Pointing it out to the knight just makes her shrug:
"It will serve its purpose. Do you need to prepare before we leave?"

>Nope, I'm ready to go

>Prepare somehow
Specify what you're doing

>>5297957
>Prepare somehow
Spear are not hard to make.
Cut some straight branches, use the fire remains to harden the wood, we're good to go. Let's make 10 of them, 5 each

>>5297962
+1

>>5297957
We still have our handmade if that helps. Dont forget to loot the tails.

>>5297962
Supporting. Also: Reynauld seems a lot mroe mellow about his mutations now. Are we sure Ogg DESTROYED Dreygaun, and didn't just merge that part of ourselves back into our main personality?

>>5297957
>Prepare spears

>>5297957
>Nope, I'm ready to go

>>5298075
Maybe it is reflecting a lot of Anon's viewpoint of dragon hybrid/dragon is ok without ego death?

>>5298135
I hope he feels that way, but it's probably also, "exactly what I thought would happen to my arm after it got mangled, happened, and there's no point in being upset. Also i have bigger problems to worry about."

>>5298075
>>5298135
Pretty sure that it's also our talk with Paracelsus that helped calm us about it.

>>5297962
support

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145 KB PNG

>>5297962
Solid plan. Support.

>>5298075
>Reynauld seems a lot mroe mellow about his mutations now.
I guess not much is going to rattle you after getting your lungs shot to shit and subsequently growing out a pretty pair of wings.

>>5297957
>Nope, I'm ready to go
The faster we're done, the better.

"We should make some more spears."
"Out of wood? Very well, we'll get to work on that. Can your kobolts help?"
You just need to glance over, and you already see three of them grabbing the woodcutting tools out of the cart.
"They'll help." You confirm, and then you just have to work on those spears. Just to be entirely safe, you had a bunch of them made. None of them will stand up to a boar or werewolf's charge, of course. Not without a proper spearhead. But it will still come in quite handy. With everybody's help, it really only took half an hour...

"There. Now we leave."
You nod, and follow the grey knight... From here, it turns quiet. Your companion is not the chatty sort, that much was to be expected. The area, however, is something worth noting all the same. The plantlife around here is lush indeed, but... wrong. There are a lot of pale white colours, mixed in with the occasional purple. As you keep staring, the Grey Knight has an answer to those.
"Corpseflowers... At least the purple ones. A Wulven-cursed area is a natural hunting ground, and a corpse that was left to rot will often spawn those particular flowers. They are rather toxic if eaten, but otherwise harmless."
"Hm. And the white ones?"
"Wolfsboon. I didn't create the name, before you ask. Essentially, they're a magical plant that are an easy indication of nature spirits, and they're even more common in the presence of the Wulven. They're mostly harmless, useful as a tea for medical purposes, though it tastes like soap.
"Have your tried it before?"
"Soap? Yes. Would not recommend it as food. It may be animal fat, but as nourishment goes it's not worth the nausea."
How in the hells did she reach he conclusion to tell you about eating soap? Though... you have a hunch.
"When did you last eat?"
"Three days ago. Werewolves are inedible, and I just came from the Carnage Fields... Nothing edible there. I've been drinking boiled rainwater."

How she's even moving, you have no idea.
"I have food in my pack."
She sighs, and turns to you for a moment.
"I cannot accept help. It is not right. You are following of your own volition, I assumed it would be hard to dissuade you."
Probably not true, but you can tell when somebody is trying to find holes in their oaths.
"Alright. Then I'm going to force you to eat something. So you can fight to defend me better."

The woman is about to say something, but as soon as you reveal the packed up meal, consisting of a meat pie and cheese...
She gasps, and covers her mouth as her stomach loudly betrays her. She breathes heavy as she stares at the food... and then forcefully looks away.
"...I... a-apologize."
"Please eat something. For my sake?"

She turns around again, and you've unpacked the lunch.
"To defend you better. Yes?"
"Yes. To defend me better."
You both sit down in the grass for a moment, and you hand her the meat pie. She tears into it like a rabid animal, only stopping to breathe. Table manners are out and nutrition is in, it seems.
...You end up giving her some water, along with a little wine mixed in. She takes it as well, and doesn't say a word. All you really notice is that she's almost shaking as she eats, and you've not seen somebody eat so desperately in a long time. Once her pride was put aside, her body's desperation was apparent.
It's a little disturbing, honestly.

At least she's fed, now. She looks deeply shamed after the deed is done, and doesn't say anything.
"...They're in the forest up ahead. I propose we watch eachother's backs and enter carefully. They'll attempt to flank us. Back to back, they can't approach."

Good idea, but...

>What if I just burn their forest down?

>What if I serve as a lure, and you can come in to attack them

>Let's do what the knight is proposing.

>>5299330
>>Let's do what the knight is proposing.
>>inform her of our dragon abilities loathe as you are to use them it would be foolish to not let her know what you can do if the situation demands it.

>>5299334
+1

>>5299330
fire breathing of terrible potency, natural armor to dragon armor, minor regeneration. We can tank more hits as need be.

Make a note to ask some of our friends to collect purple Corpseflowers for Sarah's bombs, and Wolfsboon to sell to merchants, if they haven't collected those already. Anything valuable we find can be put towards buying more rations and important items from traveling merchants.

>>5299330
>>5299334
Supporting

What's the worst that could happen r-right?

>>5299334
Supporting
>>5299346
That too

>>5299334
That makes sense

>>5299334
>>5299346
Supporting these ideas.

>>5299330

>>5299329
>What if I just burn their forest down?

>>5299513
Bad idea the magic that stored in those would probably be dispersed throughout the area, also fire elementals or some shit will be made from it

>>5299513
You know that's a bad idea. Why'd you even brought it up son?

Poisonpus flowers, herbal remedy flowers, discarded werewolf tails. I wonder what othee things we could harvest.

>>5300074
The QM brought it up, in fairness. I'm increasingly convinced Dreygaun yet lives within us.

"Sounds good... I should tell you, though, I've got some things that could offer an edge. I've got a fire breath that's exceedingly potent, some natural armor where I've grown scales... and I believe I also regenerate faster than most. I can take a few more hits, if need be."
"I'll take it into consideration. All the same, I would prefer if you avoid taking damage." The Grey Knight says, and you nod.
"I don't relish using these advantages, but if it proves necessary, so be it." You add, and you're quite serious about that. You're still not exactly pleased about this dragon transformation stuff, but if you get to keep your mind... There's less to be worried about. Just need to find a place to reverse the transformation, with a lot less of a time crunch.

You make sure your shotgun is in easy reach as well, and take out one of the many spears that were created. If anything charges you down, it will be enough. Then, you pass through the treeline, and you make sure to keep an eye on the backline, keeping close to the Grey Knight while she steps forward, her old spear at the ready. It didn't take very long before it ended up being necessary, unfortunately.
The only sign that it was coming was the sudden sound of snapping branches and the sounds of the thicket moving... Then, a boar charged out of the thicket. This isn't some hairy pig, either, this was a full-sized wild boar, putting it at about a meter in height, and more than twice that in length. To say nothing of the creature's fat and musculature, it is very much a force on par with an avalanche...
The Grey Knight merely said:
"Keep watching the back." as she leaned down, and planted the spear against the ground... and held on to it as the boar charged.
You hear the squeal shortly afterwards, along with the dry snap of the spear breaking. Then, the grunt of effort from the knight...
You turn around, for only a moment, and resist the urge to let your jaw drop as you see the knight use the intact half of the spear to lift the 220 pound boar into the air! The creature's hooves swing around at nothing, as the creature's own weight drive the spear deeper and deeper. You'd keep watching this intense feat of strength were it not for the order to keep an eye on the back...
Sure enough, it proved needed.

You saw them, large yellow eyes in the thicket, but with enough distance that you reached for your shotgun instead of your spear. Taking it out, you then see the creature leap out from the thicket!
It was not dissimilar to a werewolf, in a sense. It was leaner, it's fur a pale white, and it is covered in what appears to be rocks, at first glance. It leaps through the air, silently, and were you not paying attention...
This would have been a frighteningly lethal two-sided attack.

You blast your shotgun at the creature. Both Barrels.
All its momentum is suddenly and violently removed, forcing the creature to instead try to land properly. But with the buckshot you planted into its chest, it barely has the power to do anything. It lands on its back, roughly, and horks up spittle as it does so. It's been winded, and you don't waste time. You take your spear, and move to finish the creature off, only for it to suddenly raise it's hand (more like claw) and speak:
"WAIT! I CALL... MERCY! MERCY FOR AONARÁN!!"
...It stays your hand, for a moment, and it continues to speak.
"Dragon! You smell of dragon!! You are not human! You... magic. You are not trespasser!!" It keeps speaking. It constantly sounds as if it is actively holding back the need to snarl and roar. Even now, there is a raspy, rumbly tone to its voice, which sounds more distant than it should.
"Dragon! Upperlord of hunters! Aonarán ask for mercy of you. You and human pet! Take boar! Eat! Is tithe to dragon!" It adds.
Considering said boar just tried to gore the both of you, you doubt it was intended as a gift. The Grey Knight is already pulling her spear free from the pig, which has entered shock. A quick glance shows that she is slitting the creature open, to make it bleed out as soon as possible. With the pig neutralized, she steps next to you.

The creature howls in pain, clutching its chest as a faint greenish blood leaks from the shotgun wound you gave it.
A lesser creature would be dead.
"Kill it. It is but the first of our targets."
The creature tries to crawl away, raising its blood-covered hand in a panic as it yells:
"NO! NO! I BEG! MERCY FOR AONARÁN! REGRET!"

...You're not one to kill a surrendered foe, but this thing is clearly just trying to save its own hide. You would not enjoy any mercy from it.

>Kill it.

>Let the Grey Knight kill it

>Burn it.

>Let it keep talking. Perhaps you can get some information out of it

>Let it go, on the condition that it leaves this land.

>>5301413
>>Kill it.
We have a long night of killing these guys ahead of us, might as well turn back now if we are going to be squeamish about it.
Besides, Renauld is not the type to shirk the necessary task of destroying evil, he put down his own family after all.

>>5301413
>Let it keep talking. Perhaps you can get some information out of it
Pin it to the ground, be it through spears or pur grit. It will do well to stay in place less we shoot again. Perhaps we can cow it into surrendering fully? Like how dogs show submission by rolling onto their backs?

So you're called Aonarán? Why do you continue to live the life of a beast? Where is the rest of your kin? Give me reason to not split your belly in Twain, pup.

>>5301419
We could interrogate it them kill it.

>>5301413
Shame it would take time to haul the boar back. Would make foe good eats.

>>5301413
>Let it keep talking. Perhaps you can get some information out of it

>>5301413
Also, that "burn it" prompt... Again... Dreygaun? Is that you?

>>5301419
support, we can only guess how many it has killed

>>5301413
>>Kill it.

>>5301419
>>5301449
>>5301473
>killing
not interrogating to get better idea of their numbers and threat level, then killing it.
You guys are stupid.

>>5301413
>a bit of a write in
Interrogate and impose your oath on your mind understand that you do not tolerate the killing of humans and other sapients, and that if it can’t Kurt it’s destrictive ways the dragon will come after it and end its detrimental existence.

>>5301413
>Kill it.
>Give it a chance to fight back, to feel less guilty.

>>5301413
>>Let the Grey Knight kill it

Because some of us don't want to kill it but get that it needs to die. So just let HER do it.

>>5301804
I don't think anyone is beings squeamish about slaying the monster. We just want to interrogate it first.

>>5301413
>>Let it keep talking. Perhaps you can get some information out of it
We can always kill it later

>>5301413
>Ask it about others
>Then kill it.
We cannot trust anything it says, especially if it realizes we're asking too many questions.

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"Talk." You say, pointing the spear against the creature's throat.
"What!? Dragon wish new minion? AONARÁN ACCEPT!"
You don't know how he reached that conclusion.
"I want you to talk. I want to know of the other Wulven, where they are, how many there are."
"Aonarán talks, yes!" It says, crawling upright slightly to speak. While hard to tell past the muzzle, the creature seems to be smiling, clearly thinking it just managed to save its own hide.
"There are... As many as there are fingers!"
It raises its hand, showing off all five fingers on its left hand, and then it keeps talking.
"THEY the ones that made this place into hunting ground! I disagreed! Filthy half-wolves... DO NOT BELONG! They turn to pink, weak things come day! Wrong... Vile!"
It makes some gagging noises, though clearly exaggerated. You think that's just how it decides to show disgust, though you really don't care for the sound.
"Aonarán work alone! But Wulven bring prey... Or great dragon, disguised as prey! So I remain. Work with animals, try to ambush. Dragon understand, yes!? Dragon understand!"

You are happy to say that you do not.
"Sure. Which direction do I need to go to find the others?"
"Hhrrrggg..." It snarls, and it seems to wrestle with the question for a moment. When the Grey Knight pokes her blade against the creature's belly, however, it quickly submits. With a quick whine, it lolls its head back before speaking:
"Where the sun sets! Go deep. Find Igg-tree! Deep roots hide my gaol. Aonarán no care. Aonarán greatest of Wulven! NO NEED HALF-WOLF!"
It roars, and you have to admit it's got quite a bit of confidence for something that's lying on its back with lead in it's guts.
The next question:
"Any traps? Things we need to prepare for?"
"Hrrrr... damhán alla hidden around Igg-tree. Eight-legs! Their webs trap feet, then their venom paralyses! Suck little pink things dry.
...Ah.
Giant Wolfspiders. How on-brand. They like to hide in little caves they dig themselves. They're big and armored, but mostly ambush predators. They're not agile enough in a straight-up fight. You still don't like fighting those things.

"How would we see them?"
"Wulven use markers! Easy to miss if you do not know! I dig, I DIG!"
It moves over to a patch of dirt, and then digs a little marker in there. It's simple enough, a circle with three lines through it. Now that you know to look out for it... It'll help.
This was good information, indeed. And the Wulven seems to agree.
"Aonarán join dragon now, yes!? Join with hunts! Aonarán no need gold or other trinkets. Dragon can have, I only wish for hunt with Upperlord!"

...Right.

> Kill it swiftly.
If you want a specific killing method, be sure to mention it

> Tell it to leave and never return

> Ask it another question
Obviously, mention what that question is.

>>5301541
his name means Loner/Hermit, I don't think he's the social type

>>5302385
> Ask it another question
How come this guy doesn't have a human form? What is he exactly?
Why didn't he just eat the boar instead of bothering with hunting humans? Is he stupid?
How many people has he killed?
He should also refrain from disrespecting humans. Point out that our gal here could have made him into a coat within seconds.
>>I only wish for hunt with Upperlord!
He is already getting into the pet mentality. Good.

>>5302385
Tbh I really don't trust it, but killing it outright is a bit out of character considering Reynauld tends to just... Take any and all party members not nailed down. Dudes already belly up, submissive, so he's acknowledged the alpha of the pack

So sure why not, let's take him. He better not get uppity with teensy for being a "half wolf"

Ask him what the hell he is.

>>5302385
>Kill it swiftly.
Once a traitor, always a traitor. Adding a werewolf to our party, when we already have one we're trying to cure AND a Grey Knight breathing down our neck, would be a risky proposition even if he wasn't this worm-tongued.

>>5302404
That's a fair point, I guess. It sounds like he's not really involved with the other wulven around here, at least.
On the other hand, most of our party members are Kobolts who are naturally subservient to dragons and not just bending the knee because they lost. I mean, they are, but they basically exist to polish our coins, even if that isn't really Reynauld's thing.
Previously, we've made a point of curing werewolves before taking them on as followers.

>>5302456
Also idk if this is spine's plan here but i think we've killed at least as many woofs as the loner said there were so we could have cleared the forest and dont know it yet, if his info is more than say, 7 hours old.

>>5302401
Supporting this lecture and line of inquiry.

>>5302385

For a moment, you're uncertain. You think you're fairly certain that this thing is a Wulven. Or... Wulf.
Whatever the singular form of Wulven is. But, all the same:
"Do you have a human form?"
"GGRH!" It snarls. "I AM BEYOND HUMANS! I AM WULVEN! I STAND ABOVE THOSE WHO REJECTED NATURE!!"
It's offended enough to snarl at the person pointing a sword at it's throat. That says enough, you suppose, and it confirms that he IS a Wulven.
Wulven are nature spirits with a particular love towards the hunt, though they aren't native to Rosaria, they recently entered the country and thrived. Most people theorize they came over from Oileano, across the sea, though it's uncertain how that would have happened. Wulven are notoriously against humans, though it's possible it was a ship filled with werewolves, which they have a love for. It's often said Lycantrophy came from the Wulven to start with, hence why it was possible to spread that particular curse. To instil the spirit of the hunt, so to speak.
Some people confuse Wulven and Werewolves, but the distinction is pretty clear. One is a human(oid) that transforms into a large wolf creature (though there have been mentions of were-boars, were-foxes, etc.), while the other is a nature spirit.

Anyway.
"Why did you not just eat the boar, rather than hunting humans?"
"Hhrrrh... Trespassers in the wood. Trespassers in nature! Humans chose their controlled roads! They have no RIGHT to be here!"
You sniff.
"So you killed for the sake of killing, rather than food." You ask. The creature laughs at your question.
"Food was important. Trespassers being gone, more important. Aonarán will protect your hoard! All shiny-hunters humans... Aonarán will kill! Aonarán will EAT!"
It opens up a question.
"How many people have you killed?"

The creature tilts its head... and huffs.
"...None. My gaol demand I leave them alive. Four of my prey brought to them... Turned into half-wolves. So weak during the day! SO VILE! Wanted to kill them... But they are hand, and I am finger!"
He doesn't have kills to his name, but if he could help it, he would have most certainly done just that. This is not good.
"You have very little respect for humans. Even though I defeated you."
"You are disguised as human. But you burn as dragons do! And she... I would have killed her, if not for you."
"She'd have turned you into a coat before you could blink." You say, with a sneer.

Speaking of the Grey Knight...
"We should finish this quickly. Now we know where they are, this should not take us too long. We have only a few hours before a phantom moon will eclipse the sun, then only one hour before the werewolves return."
She knows what she's talking about;
"Arrogant human... Giving dragons orders!? You know not to what you speak!"

...Quite the contrary, really.

Well?

>Kill the Wulven

>Have the Grey Knight kill it.

>Tell it to run, and live with the shame of betraying its kin.
The Grey Knight will disapprove of this.

> Tell it to find your friends in the tunnel... But bind its arms so it can't do anything dangerous.
The Grey Knight will strongly disapprove of this.

>>5302479
>>Kill the Wulven
I don't think we have the capacity to deal with a feral nature spirit on top of the mountain of bullshit we are already dealing with. There's no redemption here, because it's simply acting according to its nature, and that nature is contrary to our goals and responsibilities. It seems to have a human spark, but that's illusory. It's simply not human, even in the broadest sense that Anna and the Bolts could be considered human.
I'm not going to have Reynauld shirk his own responsibility for its death, either. Refusing to kill it himself seems negligent and cowardly.

>>5302479
>>Kill the Wulven

this is a creature of evil, it's core being is evil, it will never change because it does not want to change it has to die

>>5302479
>Kill the Wulven

>>5302512
>>5302514
I dont know dudes. Is Spine inserting some moral dilemmas or something? It's afraid enough of us to do what we ask of it, but it also tried to save it's own hide. Then again it's like a thinking animal that's intelligent enough to talk, mostly ask out of its nature like you said? Probably should kill it anyways.

>>5302518


It's like >>5302406 said "Once a traitor, always a traitor. Adding a werewolf to our party, when we already have one we're trying to cure AND a Grey Knight breathing down our neck, would be a risky proposition even if he wasn't this worm-tongued." He can't be trusted, and that is not even touching on the fact the only reason he "respects" us is because he doesn't see us as human. He would only serve as a corrupting influence when we are already trying to slow Williams curse, Paracelcus curse and our own. No he is a judas, and would only serve to erode and eventually betray us.

>>5302525
Yeeaah. You're probably right.

>>5302479
>Kill the Wulven
Pig-men are acting according to their nature, too, and we kill them all the time. Likewise those feral goblins. Sometimes, a monster just has to die. I see no way to rehabilitate this one, and if we leave ti to its own devices, it will gladly kill and eat humans.

>>5302479
>Kill the Wulven
While executing a surrendered foe leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it's the most pragmatical choice. This one would most likely end up killing someone innocent, even if we would take him with us.
Besides, the Grey Knight would certainly disagree with us and right now we really don't need a conflict inside of our group. And most certainly she is far better person than this Wulven is.

>>5302479
>Kill the Wulven
Once more, there is no good reason to let it live.

>>5302479
>rip and tear this monster apart

>>5302518
It's a moral dilemma but Reynauld is a guy who put his entire family to the sword for worshiping cosmic horrors from outside space and time. I'm sure the Wulven will follow us into our dreams to tell us we're a douche.

>>5302479
>Have the Grey Knight kill it.
This guy is plain retarded, we cannot save him.
It would be more ironic if he was killed by a person he considers human.

>>5302479
SEX!

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>>5302918

>>5302918
No

>>5302918
Now there's some out-of-the box thinking this quest needs!

>>5302385
>> Kill it swiftly.

Fill
Werewolf
Teensey
Holes
Big
Fluffy
Lady

"That's it then. Thank you for your assistance." You say, before you plunge the spear into its throat. It freezes up, giving you a final look of betrayal... and rage.
Then, it flops back, life leaving its eyes... And then, it seems to decompose almost instantly. The flesh seems to melt right off the bone, putrefaction turning into a blackened sludge, and then, the bones follow shortly afterwards... Turning to dust.
Then, wherever the sludge fell, you see beautiful flowers sprout, leaving behind a pattern of the creature's corpse. Many of them are white, but it makes the different purple, orange and red ones all the prettier.
How... cute.

"Good of you to slay it. I admit I was having doubts."
"Not a fan of slaying a surrendering foe... but this thing wasn't going to improve."
"Indeed... If you tried to let it go, I would have killed it myself."
Well, good to know that decision didn't matter as much as you thought it would. Then again, you think it's good that she respects you a little over this. Now...
"Follow the creature's directions, watch for the traps... And we'll find the Igg-tree." You say out loud, and then you turn to the grey knight:
"Do you know what an Igg-tree is?"
"Yes. It's an arch-tree, most likely. One of the original trees of a forest such as these. They are very large, and are easily adjusted by nature spirits to serve as dwellings. They will be cramped tunnels."
"Any ideas?"

There is a pause... and then she nods.
"Do you have dragonfire? The real stuff. The type that burns everything? You could do that, though it would release a huge torrent of magic around the area. We would have time to run... Barely. It would leave this place a blasted wasteland, I admit, but it would be the fastest way to kill them."

...

"A magical explosion? Seriously?"
"It will slay the evils around here." It is worth it.
"It'll kill EVERYTHING around here, and leave the survivors mutated!" You say.
While it's easier, most certainly, it's dangerous for everything around it. Collateral damage is not your favorite thing, to say the least...
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we enter the tree, and slay them with steel. Simple as that."
Simple as that.
Alright...

>Nuke the area to save time

>Head into the tree to slay them safely.
Of course, this is heading into *their* territory. They'll know the tunnels. You won't.

>Think of another way to deal with this problem...

>>5303746
Attempt to open negotiations. These wereolves were forbidding the Wulven to kill humans, right? Maybe they aren't yet too far gone to reason with.

>>5303746
>>Head into the tree to slay them safely.

going full purge and burn while we still need to collect the materials to cure our wolfed out kobold is not a smart move, as loathe I am about going into those tunnels it's still better than going nuclear.

>>5303746
It doesn't even really sound worth it in any respect to light the place up. Steel it is.

>Head into the tree to slay them safely.

Unless anyone has any other ideas. Maybe some way to poison or smoke them out?

>>5303816
They're not being nice, they want to make more werewolves.
>>5303816
>>Head into the tree to slay them safely.
Let's play it safe.

>>5303746
>>Head into the tree to slay them safely.

>>5303746
>Head into the tree to slay them safely.
Keep an eye out for bootie heavy flying ladies for Anna.

>>5303746
Using dragons fire is a bad idea because A if it’s anything like last time we could end up injuring our night friend, B it could burn our human bits and up our draconian features although at this point we don’t care about our changes as long as we are still reynald and not done stupid combination of a dragon name and our name

>>5303746

>Head into the tree to slay them safely.

>>5303746
>>Head into the tree to slay them safely.
These scales were made for stompin'

>>5303888
>They're not being nice, they want to make more werewolves.
Which still means there's ROOM to negotiate. Remember: one of our party-members was grooming a colony of feral goblin-kin to sack a town, and was a werewolf herself, and so is Teensy at present. We talked them both down.

>>5304191
I think we're just going to need to RIP AND TEAR here.
1) Grey Knight isn't going to sit back while we chat with wretched abominations and probably barely tolerates our party to begin with
2) we're kind of on a quest to stop a mad wizard from turning everything into dragons
Yeah it sucks for the woofs but it sucks to suck.

File: The Igg-tree. Almost a sh(...).jpg (429 KB, 1920x1080)

429 KB JPG

Dodging the giant spiders is easy, now that you know where to watch, and the Igg-tree comes into view. It's surrounded by all sorts of supernatural lighting and flora. Plenty of mushrooms, as well, and everything here seems so... quiet. Relaxingly so. The birds are singing, but they're doing so rather quietly. There are bees buzzing around, enjoying all the sweet nectar this place has to offer...
It's the type of place that people dream about in their greatest dreams, the type of place a writer would come to tears trying to describe. It's more than a beautiful palace of forest. It's a feeling.
This disarming feeling isn't enough to allow you to forget about the creatures deep inside that tree, however.

Heading close, finding the entrance took only a small amount of time. It was a simple hole, though there are outcroppings that make it possible to climb up and down if one is skilled enough. Fortunately, both you and the Grey Knight can do just that. So, in short order, you both hop down. You feel a twinge of shame when you feel your wings flapping wildly as you climb. To no particular effect, of course, but it happens. Once you hit the ground, the Grey Knight takes out a lantern, and lights it with her tinderbox before hooking it on her belt... Then she offers you a second one, that she also proceeds to light up for you.
Good thing, too. It's pitchblack in this place. Anyway, you start walking forward, but it obviously doesn't take long before you hear the Wulven speaking. This is their territory.
They probably knew you were coming the second you entered their grove. Their voices seem to come from all around you, and you hear five voices.
"Hrrh.... Humans in our nest?" The first one says. Male and Bassy.
"They stink of the blood." Second one. Female, high-pitched;
"The blood of our Gaol. Aonarán is dead, finally." Another one. A tenor voice;
"But this one."Another female voice. Contralto, if your music teaching isn't failing you.
"He smells of a hunter king." Final one. This one sounds croaky, similar to what you'd expect a stereotypical old man to sound like.

The highpitched female voice speaks:
"Both have come to kill us, I suspect. A foolish notion. We are a great pack, and they are but humans."
And the bassy voice continues:
"The hunter king will not accept our gift. He cannot. But the other."
"The stinky one!" The contralto says, laughing like a hyena, and then she keeps talking. The laugh is still audible:
"She will prove a powerful lycanthrope. The hunt is strong within her."
"Step forward into our temple. Lay on your back... The ritual will take little time."
"And you will have power like none before you!" The tenor adds.

...Then they turn back to you:
"Hunter king. Dragon. Whatever you are. Return from whence you came. Our hunting grounds are too small for a dragon. I request you do not devour it, and move on... This is our request. You will be untouched."

...Hm.
You look over to the Grey Knight.

She just nods, and whispers:
"Then they come to us. I'll lay down, once they appear, we attack."

...Hm.

>Let's not walk directly into their trap.
She might get infected with lycantrophy besides.

>Alright, we'll switch this around on them. They'll be in one place.

>Another plan

>>5305775
>Alright, we'll switch this around on them. They'll be in one place.

The Doc is already making one wereeolf cure, what's another one...

>>5305775
I suppose knowing that we are walking into an ambush is in itself a counter to the ambush, but what if they don't need to show themselves to infect her, then we have to fight her and the ones we can't see. I think going with her plan is a mistake.

>Let's not walk directly into their trap.

>>5305775
>Another plan
Let me frontline and cleanse with dragonfire. you prevent anybody that gets past me to get out. Then we run.

>>5305775
>Alright, we'll switch this around on them. They'll be in one place.

>>5305986
That will nuke the entire place dummy.

>>5305775

>Alright, we'll switch this around on them. They'll be in one place.

>>5305775
That’s a bad idea the ambient mana might actually do what they say let’s reject their choice and instead gear up for a brutal assault.
>let’s not walk into a trap with magic we don’t know shit about

>>5305775
Walking into a trap that you know about is probably the dumbest thing one could do. Can't we verbally muscle in on the wolves, since they see us as a dragon? Channel all the pomp and arrogance that Dreygaun showed us, demand tribute and obedience from these puny lowlifes, act offended that they would even DARE tell a DRAGON to fuck off, just be a general shitbag. I don't even expect them to fall for it, but we might be able to goad them into making a tactical mistake.

File: Guiding Wisp.png (255 KB, 1133x802)

255 KB PNG

"Alright, no. We do NOT walk into a trap just because we know it's a trap. That wouldn't end well..."
"Are you certain? I wouldn't try this if I was alone, of course."
"What would you do if you were alone, then?"
"...walk through these tunnels until I find them, then kill them."

That's going to take too long. So... hmm.
"Here's an idea. I could go in first, they can't curse me. You just block off the place we came from, and if things get dicey, you can enter to help out."
"That sounds like walking into the trap." The Grey Knight says and...
Yeah, it kind of is.
Walking around like this is going to be trouble, however. You don't have a way of marking your path, as these tunnels are mostly made up of living wood. Any carvings are likely to disappear in less than an hour. You think for a time, and...
Can't think of anything.

"Just... I don't know. There has to something that can guide us, yes? Or... Something like tha-"
You stop talking when you suddenly see a bright light appear next to you, which makes the Grey Knight appear on edge as well... Until you see what it is.
It's... the head of a kobolt? It's not only glowing, but it looks as though it's underwater, constantly shimmering and distorting ever so slightly... Upon closer inspection, it's less that it looks as if it's underwater, but more like it IS water.
It seems to just be floating there, and it's looking at you expectantly. You stare back at it, and somehow... you have the distinct feeling that it's both a part of you, and not a part of you.
"...Hello." You say to it, and smiles. The creature's tongue lolls out to the side, and the Grey Knight frowns.
"...A Guiding Wisp. A basic spell... but without a ritual? You did not tell me you were an archmage." The Grey Knight says. Though you can sense the suspicion from here. Well...
You answer truthfully:
"To be entirely honest with you? I didn't know I could do that."
The Grey Knight sighs.
"Hm. Dragons are master wizards, I suppose... If you were ever to lose control, rest assured I will kill you. Let's make use of this."
Alright then.

"So, uh... Wisp?" You say, and it nods at you. "Can you take us to the Wulven directly?"
It nods again, and zooms away, deeper into the tunnels... and stopping at an intersection, waiting for you in one of the ways to go.

...Do you trust the wisp?

>It might be a trap from those wulven, trying to... make you think you have magic. Don't trust it.

>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk

>Yeah, okay, no, head into the trap, it's way preferable to dealing with this.

>>5307550
>>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk

>>5307550
Kobolt Cortana acquired

>>5307602
Koboltana, I choose you!

>>5307550
>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk.
It most likely isn't a trick. It should be safe to trust it.

>>5307550
>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk

>>5307550
>>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk
I guess we have spells.
This tracks with what Lady Ogg was saying about dragons and magic

>>5307550
>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk
Try to give the floating head a head pat. What is even today. Shit is weird.

>>5307550
>>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk


best of a bad situation

>>5307550
>Alright then. You'll deal with the fact you can do this now as you walk
It's cute that Reynauld internalizes his support spells as helpful kobolds.

>>5307846
kobold spirit is my new son. I will name him Dasani. Like the water bottle.

So.
Magic.
You have it available to you, now, but you need some way to learn it. While uncontrolled magic will generally help you along, as it did with the adorable little wisp that you're chasing down seemingly random hallways, if you want something done specifically...
Well, it takes practice. It takes time. And it requires a *process*. You're not an expert on magic by any means, but this much you do know. All mages have some kind of process, something that lets them take the energies and shape them. Ogg was, for all intents and purposes, using sigils, math and her own alphabet to make sense of it all. A popular enough choice, and best you can tell, all wizardry still comes down to the same sort of "code".
It's just the way that you access and change that code that differs. This won't be easy to learn for a man of your mental faculties, and maybe it's better that way.

At any rate, the voices don't come back after their initial offer. Perhaps they have no access to all parts of the tree. Perhaps they're just preparing for a fight. It doesn't matter, either way.
Your kobolt wisp is dutifully guiding you, occasionally giving off little excited wooping noises. It dashes ahead very quickly, but always waits were you can clearly see it. The light it gives off is also invaluable, allowing you to catch on to several traps before they can be sprung. Each of them marked with the same sigil that Wulven you killed earlier showed to you. Finally, though... You catch up to the wisp.
It seems to have stopped in the middle of a hallway, for a purpose you're not entirely sure about, until it puts its head against a particularly smooth bit of tree.
There, glowing, you see it. There's a knothole here, big enough to put a hand into. The little wisp goes inside there as well, revealing it to be entirely smooth.
You give a look at the Grey Knight, and she simply nods, which doesn't actually help you much in what you should do with it. Though, you suppose, there aren't many options.

Using your new arm, you stick it into the hole... And you have to reach up to your shoulder before you find it.
A handle.
You grab it, and pull. The handle gets stuck at first.. but then moves. You hear a rumble from right behind you...
Followed by a savage roar!
You release the handle but your hand is so deep inside the wall that you can't dodge whatever it coming.You brace for the blow...
Which, fortunately, never comes.
You pull your hand free, and look at what happened.
The passageway that was opened was, evidently, hiding one of the Wulven. Fortunately, your companion was at the ready for this, and the grey knight managed to slam a pike into the creature's ribs, just as it tried to leap. With the full momentum ongoing, it was redirection into the wall by the Grey Knight, once more revealing her absurd strength, to force it to ram head-first into the opposite wall.
Mercifully next to you, rather than on top of you.

There are no words spoken as the knight slices open the creature's throat with her rusty old sword, and then she turns to the passage that was opened.

...It seems to lead into an unnaturally dark and large room. Most likely, this is going to be their ritual grounds, and they must have made the area black as pitch. Even your torch will hardly avail you in there, only reaching a small distance around you. They'll be able to flank you, diving out from the shadows... And there are, not to mention, four of them.

This might require some strategy.

>Think of a... spell of some kind. Something that might be able to help you?
You just need a concept. And some luck. Anything too complicted may backfire.

>Walk in, back-to-back, and keep prepared for any assaults.

>Threaten them somehow.

>A better idea

>>5308690
>A better idea
Dragon fire is out of the question, but what we can do is find some lose branches and wood to burn. In addition to our own torches or spares, preferably spares, we can spread them around the ground to improve the level of illumination in the room. If theres any sigils in the ground we should probably try to scratch them out it that can dispel the magical darkness.

>>5308690
>Think of a... spell of some kind. Something that might be able to help you?
Focus on the idea of everpresent light that at the same time isn't blinding.

>>5308821
if we could get a partial ring of fire going, we could even the odds with a choke point

>>5308690
Hmmm this magic might help us fight off the magic that’s effecting our brave squire we just need to understand the code and focus on the kobold inside of him by grappling it’s data and rewriting it

>>5308690
>>Think of a... spell of some kind. Something that might be able to help you?
Ask the wisp if she can make herself bright enough to light up the whole room

>>5308690
>Think of a... spell of some kind. Something that might be able to help you?

Like >>5308828 said... But in the form of a helpful glowing kobold-sprite. Make our little floating head friend into a night-light!

>>5308821
Support

>>5308828
Supporting that

Rolled 100 (1d100)

You... try really hard to think of something that can actually light up something that's magically made dark.
But it doesn't take very long to figure that one out, now does it? To defeat magic, use magic. It's just that simple. So, what's the most useful little thing you can think of...
....
The kobolt head appears again, and you can't help but smile at the thought of your little buddies above ground, likely picking flowers and other ingredients for Teensy. Well, it's as good a representation as any, you figure.
Then you pat it on the head, and every pat makes it shine a little brighter, until you can only barely see the shape of the little glowing sprite from the glare. Then, you send it inside.

It works! The whole room is successfully lit up, and you see several of the Wulven standing there, clearly shocked at your ability to do that. And they were probably a lot more shocked when one of their number was suddenly impaled by a wooden spear! The Grey Knight wasted not time upon spotting them, and tossed one of the wooden spears that were made with intense precision and her usual prodigious strength. While the spear's primitive make prevents it from dealing much damage, it still made the creature bleed, and it forcefully rips the spear out of its chest, as the angle made running on all fours all but impossible.
"COME FACE US, THEN! COWARD! SCALE-ROT TAKE YOU!" The bassy voice calls out, which also seems to belong to the largest of the Wulven, and they continue to wait, clearly hoping to use the large chamber against you. In this chokepoint, you have the upper hand, obviously.
Unfortunately for them, however... You made plenty of spears. You aren't talented with throwing your spears, however, so you leave the tossing up to the Grey Knight, mostly, while you keep her supplied. Now that the Wulven can see it coming, it's a lot harder to hit them... But, as stated?
The Grey Knight is quite skilled, and you simply set up a defensive position for when they WOULD attack.

...It became quite clear, quite fast, that they're going to lose people before you and the knight run out of spears. So, instead, they come together as one...
They're going to charge.
Right then.
"Come on." You say, preparing yourself for a tidal wave of fur and fang. Your little sprite also dashes towards them, making them groan from the light... and causing another one of their number to catch a spear.
Alright.
Time for a fight.

Time for some rolls!
1D100+25
Best of 3
DC: whatever I rolled

>>5310547
Lmao.
With that crit they're gonna take a piece out of you and the Grey Knight regardless, but you still have a decent chance at defeating them despite that.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5310547
Oh shit.
Oh fuck.

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5310547

>>5310554
>>5310555
Normally these would be pretty great...

>>5310547
>>5310554
>>5310557
76+25 is 101, so I think we should be fine.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5310547

>>5310559
Good point. I wonder what kind of blue shinies are going to be growing out of Reynauld after the next update?

>>5310559
>>5310554
>>5310552
Oh fuck 101 over a nat crit. I guess we best them, but we barely survived.
Can we try to heal up, loot the place, then limp out way back to get better medical care by Sarah?

>>5310552
>even when we get a natural 100, it still counts as a crit fail for us
There isn't a reaction image sad and drunk enough for these feels.

holy shit talk about a high bar and passing by the skin of our teeth but by god we made it

Honestly, kinda want Celsie to get into one of these fucked up situations just for the 'see how YOU like it'-ness...and maybe to help accelerate her own dragonification.

>>5310666
Why are sad? Us crit failing andcthe enemy crit succeeding are two entirely different things. That being said, getting our shit pushed un sucks, but it wont be the end of us. So long as we play things smart and carefully. As soon as combat is concluded we're going to need to do some emergency First Aid then limp out way back to our group. Assuming we've just killed all the wolven.

>>5310552
Please tell me there will be loot. Can we just grab fist fulls of the flowers they leave behind, shovel then in a satchel, so we can sell them later? After thus fight we're gonna need to buy some armor or improvise something.

>>5311103
>Why are sad? Us crit failing andcthe enemy crit succeeding are two entirely different things.
It's more so the fact that in most other situations a 100 would be hugely beneficial, and yet here it counts against us anyway by virtue of being the enemy's combat roll. It's a "the ONE TIME you don't want it to happen" kind of situation.
Regardless, the turret crit-fail led to probably the finest piece of writing in this quest, so I can't complain too much.

You are a strong man. It's not a boast. Its a fact.
The simple fact of the matter is that fighting for so many years leaves a man either dead, or strong. And you are very much not dead.
But despite that, and the great skill and might of the Grey Knight next to you, the Wulven came over you like a tidal wave of muscle, fangs, claws and fur. Before you could even swing your blade, you felt one of the Wulven's teeth sink into your scaled arm. You groan, but fortunately, a combination of your rugged scales and your boiling hot blood quickly dissuaded your opponent from biting down harder. It still hurt, but the alternative would have likely seen you with a broken arm or worse.
The Grey Knight, meanwhile, is not so lucky. Her shield was successful at fending off one of the charging beasts, but the sheer size difference is too much, forcing her off-balance and on the ground, where another Wulven stands at the ready.
While one tried to rip her throat out, barely stopped by the shield and blade, the other began to rip at her feet, tearing past the armor and cutting a deep gouge into her leg.
She didn't even groan.

With a roar of effort, you slam your steel fist against the jaw of the other Wulven trying to stalk around you, stopping it for only a moment, but it was enough time for you to stab it in the gut. Sadly, a shallow cut, and you were rewarded for it justly with a swipe across your chest.
Your armor mercifully holds, leaving only claw marks in the steel and leaving your body unharmed. You move in to chop at the now exposed arm, only for another Wulven to slam into you at full force, slamming your back against the wooden wall and leaving you winded...
Then, a howl from your right. The Grey Knight managed to surprise the Wulven laying on top of her with a hidden dagger, slicing it's throat open in one swift and brutal motion... Only for the woman's leg to be pulled by the other Wulven in an act of grieving rage.
She needs help.

...
The distraction proved to be a mistake on your end. Your failure to account for the next hit left a clawed foot slammed into your gut, deforming the armor and making you spit up bile from the force. It took your training to stop you from reflexively clutching your belly...
But you still go by instinct for what happens next:
"STEP AWAY!" You roar out, before you grab the creature's still extended foot, pull it upwards a moment to pull it off balance... and you slam knee-first against the creature, before you plunge your blade into the foul beast's heart.
When you are tackled again, this time from the side, you believe you lost consciousness for a moment. One moment you were pulling your sword free, the next you were on the ground, feeling your arm crushed under your own weight. It was the scaled arm, mercifully, so it remains whole.
For now.

Claws strike across you, digging deeper and deeper into your armor, while the Grey Knight begins to groan in pain, desperately trying to fend off the raging creature mauling her to death. Her sword shattered into the creature's arm, and her shield is all that is stopping those horrid swipes.

Again and again, it hits you. The blunt force trauma from the creature's swipes alone is hurting you, your ribs are burning...
And then it rips your helmet off, standing over you with those glowing, feral eyes.
For a moment, it seemed like the end.

It was not.

As it moved in to savagely tear out your throat, you surprised it by snaking your body to the side, barely causing the mighty jaws to hit your gorget instead of your throat...
And then, you move forward and bite the creature's cheek.
Your sharp, inhuman teeth tear into it, and as it flinches away, you feel it rip off entirely, causing the creature to howl in pain... And loosen its grip for one critical moment.
Pushing off the ground with your dragon arm, you slam your head against the creature's jaw,making more distance as you slide away from under it and grab it by the throat with both hands. Kicking off, you reverse the positions, with you laying over the creature.
"DID YOU WONDER WHAT DEATH TASTES LIKE!?" You scream, hysterically, as you breathe in...
And force the creature's mouth open as you vomit out liquid fire, forcing it down the creature's gullet. For a moment, you were not human.
But you were still Reynauld.

Convulsing in agony, you knew the creature was done for, and you look over to the Grey Knight... Who is on her knees, having clubbed the creature back with her shield. Her leg is too mauled to stand on, but still she fights on. You look over to your blade, left in a small clutter of white flowers as the Wulven disappeared, and you rush down to grab it. Just as the Wulven forced the Grey Knight to the ground once more, you slam it into the creature's side, and kick it away.
It could only whine as it lay there... Giving a final, mournful howl as it died.

...The Grey Knight is bleeding. Badly so. She cannot walk, that much you know for sure. You aren't doing much better yourself, even if you're not bleeding much. The blows have struck hard, and you cough painfully for a moment. Your ribs are likely bruised, your armor only barely saving you from much worse.

Everything seems brighter, at least; The tree feels much more hospitable than before, and the unnatural darkness in the chamber ahead is dispelled... Revealing a passageway into a treasure room.
Of course.
The Wulven kept anything "human" from their werewolves, and likely their prey. As tantalizing as the treasure might be, however, you can't waste time.
The Grey Knight needs medical attention quickly.

You kneel down next to her, and she wastes no time:
"S-splints and bandages, in my pack. Hurry." She says.
She must be in agony, so her stern yet calm voice is impressive. You follow directions, and you manage to staunch the bleeding...
But she will need more help.

>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
Every second counts.

>Head to the treasure room, first. You're unlikely to find it again.
It might hold something useful for her wounds, besides.

>Try to... use healing magic?
You're able to do this now, right? But... You don't know how you'd do it. This is dangerous.

>>5311809
>>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
We have a healer back at the camp, and a damned good one at that. We don't need the shinies, and if we want them later, we can ask our wisp Kobolt to show them to us. There's no reason to linger here given the situation.

>>5311809
>>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
Pretty much what >>5311824 said

>>5311809
>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
Fuck money
Get bitches

...what?

>>5311844
>>5311836
As for option 3, maybe while we're carrying her we should "think happy thoughts" about her healing quickly and see if that carries over in terms of magic. We don't really know how we summoned the wisp but if its charisma based, which is seems to be, then just thinking about her getting better might translate into gains (and worrying too much about her injuries might be bad)

>>5311858
I'm adverse about the healing stuff. Way too easy to mess up and give her mana poisoning

>>5311809
>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.

Look Doc, For once I'm not the most injured member of the party!

>>5311809
>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
If need be, use the torches to cauterize your own wounds. You're a big boy, and bandages take time.

>>5311809
>>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.

>>5311824
>>5311809
If we don't want to rely on our light kobolt too much, what we can do is mark the path to the treasure by using our claw arm to scratch the walls ever 5 or so 10ish meters.
Reynauld needs to mentally reinforce to himself that the loot WILL NOT be used for luxury goods, but only for what's nessassary. A replacement flintlock to the one he gave Snikt, replacement/armor repairs, additional flintlocks and possibly flintlock rifles, blunderbusses, ammo and powder for said blunderbuss, horse gamberson for Tom-8-ooo's for basic horse armor/warmth because we'll be going to the mountains, food, medical supplies.
Also possibly bury or create the human corpses if there are any.
OH! DON'T FORGET TO GRAB YOUR BUCKET HELMET!

>>5311858
I'm with another anon. Playing with magic is a risky game we shouldn't try on the fly without practice. The wisp was an exception fortune circumstance, but RNG is fickle as fuck.

>>5311809
>>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
bros that second option is sus

>>5311809
>>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.
fuck the loot time to leave and save our ally, also brutal we are gonna need a long rest after that

>>5311809
Carry now, loot later. We've killed all the furries so things should be relatively safe?

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>>5311809
Carry her out she is a fellow night and we took an oath

>>5311869
>>5312107
Fair point in the healing magic. We can try it on a bolt later since they don't get magic poisoning.

>>5311809
>Carry her out of here, as soon as possible.

>>5311809
Dont worry loot-san, we will come back for you later.

>>5312107
>OH! DON'T FORGET TO GRAB YOUR BUCKET HELMET!
This is very important, we must retrieve our precious Bucket Helmet!

>>5313015
yus!

>>5311809
Can we come back and loot the flowers the dead Wulven leave behind? Are they worth anything?

>>5313228
Surely it won't hurt to grab a handful on the way out. I wouldn't count on ever being able to come back after this.

>>5313246
Grab Bag list:
>Corpseflowers if useful, if not don't grab. Noted to be harmess but toxic if eatened. Sarah might know more things.
>Wolfsboon. They're mostly harmless, useful as a tea for medical purposes, though it tastes like soap. Generally useful, ask group for more details.
>Local ingredients for Sarah to make medicine, and general trading.
>Werewolf tails from dead werewolves.
>Reynauld's discarded and broken pieces of armor (if any)
>Do not forget the bucket helmet
>Wulven treasure pile of garbage

Another thing to ask.
>Consult Sarah of possibility to make more werewolf flavored healing potions, with a follow potion to remove lycanthrope. Do so if both potions are cheap and easy to make for purpose of quick and easy heals after or during combat.

"Alright. I'll get you out of here."
The Grey knight seems uncertain, and says:
"I... I can make it out on my own, I just need time."
You give her a quick look, focusing on her leg... and don't even say anything as you put your arms under her knees, and one under her back, to support her. She doesn't struggle, fortunately, and you quickly note how light she really is. It's enough to make you wonder where she even finds the strength to do the things she does... Muscle power has to come from somewhere, after all.
With little more than a thought, you use the guiding wisp again, essentially just turning off the bright light it was giving off, and follow it to the nearest exit. Amazingly, the nearest exit was incredibly close, and then... you realize you have to climb out of here using little more than some rocky outcroppings. An easy climb, for certain.
But not when you're carrying somebody.

You sigh, and reach into your pack. Fortunately, as you gathered up a survival package back in town, you do have some rope available.
"I'll tie you to my back, for now." You say, as you kneel down and put her arms over your shoulder. Then, you put the ropes around yourself and the Grey Knight, and she can't even look at you as you work on it. You can tell she's deeply shamed just for accepting the help.
The second you grabbed the first rock, you feel the earth shaking... and when you look behind you, you see the tunnels starting to shrink, almost like a giant throat swallowing up space as the wood seems to twist and engorge.
...
Seem these tunnels required the Wulven to remain as accessible as they were.
Damn.

You keep climbing, occasionally getting some help from the Grey Knight, where possible, but mostly she just clings to you. Once you're out, you hear another rumble... And while this pit remains, the entrance to the tunnels below seems to have shut itself entirely.
Oh well. You've more important things to worry about. You release the Grey Knight from the ropes, and go back to carrying her, keeping up a steady, solid pace. Your wisp is still guiding you, fortunately, so you'll find Paracelsus in very little time, though it won't be difficult once you were out of the forest.
In the meantime, you talk to the Grey Knight.
"You fight like a lion, miss. How do you do it, weighing about as much as a bag of grapes?"
"...Training. Lots of it. There is a certain level of magic in our oaths, as well, allowing our muscles to be more... efficient, so to speak."
Explains how she's so strong while starving.
"Right. But you still need to train your muscles up, yes?"
"Indeed. It's... similar to the joints of a dancer. They've been reshaped. They're... flatter, in a sense. They hurt, if I don't massage my limbs weekly."

On a hunch, you ask her:
"When was the last time you did so?"
"Two weeks. Haven't found the time. Every time I find some level of safety, sleep is more important than mere pain."
Sighing, you snark:
"At this rate, I think Paracelsus is going to put you in a medical coma, so she can make sure you're healthy again."
The Grey Knight's face doesn't change one bit, and she simply asks:
"Do not let her do that. I have an oath... And i'm shamed to burden you as it is."
"You're light as a feather, ma'am." You say, and the girl sighs.
And goes quiet.

Paracelsus seems to be in the midst of creating the cure for Teensy, guessing from her alchemy kit, but as soon as you arrive with the injured knight...
She obviously stops, and sighs when she sees the injuries on the knight.
"Oh, fantastic. Alright, give me twenty seconds, and I can leave this stuff to boil." She says, before she goes back to her potion-making. Sure enough, it didn't take long before she simply turned on a little burner, and left it like that.
"The kobolts did a fine job collecting materials. Teensy will need to take a larger dose, considering her specific condition, but I should have enough." Paracelsus adds, while she begins to remove the armor and clothing of the knight. She frowns when she sees the extent of the injuries.
"Alright, so it was more than just her leg, I can tell. Help me get her armor off, and prepare some clothes for her. That armor isn't going back on, not with those injuries."

The Grey Knight forces herself upright... But she's been growing weaker as you were carrying her. She falls down again, and Paracelsus forces her to the ground.
"This is non-negotiable. I've got my own oath, you're injured. You're staying here until you stop bleeding to death."
"M-my armor- I don't"
I don't care. The armor's rusty, and if you wear it over your injuries, you'll get lockjaw and die. Reynauld, help me with this."

Then, Paracelsus takes out a small bottle with a milky white fluid inside of it.
"Make her drink this, she needs to sleep for most of this. This work is going to involve stitches and a lot of other work."
You take the little bottle... and the Grey Knight just looks up at you. Pleadingly.
"...I'm sorry." She says, and for a short moment, her goes goes from its passive, vaguely sad expression to one of... despair, almost. "Please... Don't make me remember."

...

You apply the potion, all the same, and she doesn't fight you. A little later, she passes out, and you and Paracelsus get to work on her. Mostly, you just do the simple work. Bandages, handing Paracelsus her operating tools, dabbing away the blood, and tearing and cutting the armor of the Grey Knight.
Her physique is positively ghastly. Pale, incredibly thin, yet somehow you can still see clear musculature on her. It seems almost unnatural to see how defined she is, while simultaneously being so severely underweight. The scars spread across her body tell many stories, and you suspect none of them are particularly good ones. Paracelsus even gives a little roar of frustration when she finds arrowheads inside of her.
"She's lucky these are stone. How is she MOVING!?"
It ends up taking a long, long time. The kobolts all gather around to look, as they come back, and they take over your duties after some time.
Then, a little bit later, it's finished. The knight is still sleeping, and the kobolts quickly dress her, using some of Paracelsus' spare clothes. They're quite baggy on the thin woman, but they'll do.

She's still asleep an hour after the operation.
"The medicine should have worn off by now." Paracelsus says. "I'm guessing her body is forcing her to remain asleep. Now, we have the cure for Teensy... but she doesn't want to take it. She was clear about that as I was making it. Either way? We should keep moving. I'd say we take the Knight with us, keep her in the cart. You get to convince Teensy to let us cure her... Good luck."
Paracelsus says, sighing.

...Right.
Lycantrophy is an addictive thing. You suppose it's not a big surprise Teensy likes being a huge, powerful creature... Not to mention the transformation is a huge rush.
This might be difficult

>How are you convincing Teensy, if you're going to try and convince her at all?

>>5315081
First, lets hear out what Teensy has to say, what is her argument for why she wants to keep it. Because it makes her faster, stronger, powerful? All those things she could already achieve through training and the right equipment.
Reynauld and Anna can both speak from experience why lycantrophy is bad. If we or Collar were not there things could had gotten a whole lot bloodier for everyone else, and we won't always be there to watch over her, especially on the next full moon. She could kill people, or worst of all kill Collar on accident.

>>5315112
This makes sense.
We can also point out that once we leave the wulven forest she will only transform once a month.
Also maybe give her a non-specific non-promise that if we can find another, safer transformation, we'll give her first dibs.

>>5315112
support

>>5315112
>>5315263
Support

>>5315081
>Hear her out
>Point out limitations and dangers of the transformation, especially dangers to us and to Collar
>Promise to work together to help her find another option to become big and strong, if that's what she wants

>>5315081
>Spinejuice cucking me out of my loot
You damn cock tease! Well what if we punch a hole through the tree? Cant be too hard.

>>5315369
Don't be a dragon. We don't need those glorious riches.

>>5315430
It's not about being a dragon or glorious riches. It's about funding that can be put towards kicking Ogg's skinny loli ass if we pass by any towns or caravans. What are we gonna do with rosarians, sleep on them? That's stupid- no what we could do is buy some god blessee guns and volley fire into a crowd of her cultists, or better yet make some primitive grenades to lob at them.

>>5315536
I kind of wish we had an autoloot option (just roll 3d100 i guess) so we didn't lose like 3 days of real time buying Gambesons every time we come across a settlement with more than two houses in it. In this case, at least there was something to it but a lot of times it's fairly frustrating and kind of makes the story momentum stall out.

>>5315984
We don't lose time buying gamberson, it doesn't even take more than an hour to get everyone a set! It's just that cheap and easy to acquire.

>>5315081
You cock tease. Can we at least collect the werewolf tails and the various flowers to sell?

>>5316273
>it doesn't even take more than an hour
Anon meant in REAL time. It can take a few updates to settle on a shopping trip.
Personally, I find that to be part of rhis quest's unique charm.

>>5316276
Agreed, plus having to make do with limited resources is an integral point of the story, it's just how Reynauld rolls. Though I do wish we could get more misc updates whenever we're going over shopping lists and other admin tasks to fill the time.

You walk towards Teensy, who has decided to walk next to Tomatoes for now. He seems a little annoyed at having to carry a dead horse and the Grey Knight in the same cart, but he's more than strong enough to handle it. You make sure to pat him as you start talking to Teensy.
"So... I hear you don't want to be cured?"
"No." Teensy says, not looking at you immediately... though she does lower her head like a child who knows they've done something wrong. "I don't wanna."
You remain silent for a bit... and then carefully ask:
"Do you want to tell me why?"
Teensy looks to you, and you can tell she didn't expect you to ask that question. There is a short pause as she tries to find the words.

"I... Well... It was really scary. At first. Turning into a really big wolf. But it also felt really good. Like... Like it was the biggest rush of my life!"
You remember your own short stint with lycantrophy. And, as shameful as it is to admit it, you have your nights where you almost miss it.
"It sure feels like that, doesn't it? I've been there."
Teensy nods... and then continues:
"And... I didn't harm anybody, did I? Collar and you-"
You cough, and show off your new blue arm to her... along with the damage your armor has taken. Teensy stares at it for a while... and then her mouth drops open, and her eyes open wide.
Her pupils are almost pinpricks, and she clutches her heart.
"I... I hurt you!?" She squeaks, and she stops walking, making some distance between you and her until you also stop walking.

They didn't tell her. Sighing, you reach down, and pick her up. You could probably do it with one hand, but you decide to use both to keep her steady. She trembles in your grip, and then you put her on your shoulders. Confused, she grabs on to your helmet.
"You did. Look, it happens, alright? Especially on your first transformation, and you're not just any werewolf, either. You regained control, and that's more than a lot of people can say." You say. Teensy herself sounds confused, and perhaps still a little scared.
"Dragon is not mad?"
"Nooo... Why would I be? You weren't in control."
"B-but I-"
"Don't worry about it. But... you do understand it now, do you? All that power, that... rush of transforming. It comes at a cost. It comes with risks."

You let silence hang in the air for a while, to let her decide.
"So. What do you think?"
"...Can't I... I dunno. Can't I stay in the cart? Make sure I don't get any moonlight on me. I-it could help against Ogg!"
"Are you willing to take that risk?"

Another pause.
It drags on for a very long time, and you notice Anna subtly walking next to you two. Most likely, she's been listening rather closely.
Teensy, eventually, sighs and says:
"I don't know..."
Anna speaks, at that:
"Get it removed. At least in your case... There's a time and place being a werewolf works... But you're protected. You're safe."
She smiles, though it's hard to tell past her mangled face.
"You don't need it."
(cont)

Rolled 27 (1d100)

forgot to roll aaaaaa

Teensy... nods.
"Okay. I'll talk to miss Paracelsus. Can I keep... Can I stay on your shoulders?"
"As long as you'd like."
Teensy giggles, and she clung to your head for about an hour and a half.
-------------------------------

After you leave the Wulven's lands, things become a lot more comfortable. In fact, you get to travel unbothered for quite some time, even stopping in the occasional village to rest. The second village you passed even mentioned Ogg, when you asked about it in the inn. At the very least, you're almost certain it would be her and her congregation.
The innkeeper described them as "odd figures", with many of them wearing cloaks and other ways to hide themselves, though it didn't take long before one of the village's children pulled a robe with enough force to reveal scales and unnatural teeth. Apart from a few scared children, however, most of the people in town didn't mind.
A group like that, lead by an archmage suffering the same affliction? Clearly it was a pilgrimage, either to die away from others, or a desperate attempt at a cure. The "scalefolk", as they were called, didn't bother to correct the villagers.
Some even gave them provisions, as the harvests had been very good, and these afflicted people would need it more. Ogg, in turn, blessed the farmlands to grant greater harvests, or so she claims.
Considering it was only recently harvested to begin with, the villagers will have to see what happens next season.

The innkeeper herself didn't trust it, however. She found them all "a suspicious bunch", and she even suspected them to be more of a cult, especially with how much reverence they carry towards Ogg. The main reason the innkeeper is upset, however, is the fact that they took a family with them. Apparently, they convinced a lone father and his two daughters to follow. The man had long been unhappy in the village, so once the daughters were convinced, he came right along with them.
The village hadn't noticed until long after they left. A note was left on the door, in the man's handwriting.
The man had left his land, house and belongings to his neighbours, and apologized for not saying a proper goodbye. Unhappy as he was, he always had a good relationship with the people.

...So they're recruiting more people. Immortality and becoming a "master race" is undoubtedly attractive.
You need to hurry, but...
There are two things that have come up. Good news and bad news

The good news is that the Grey Knight finally woke up, after almost two days. It happened while you were talking to the innkeeper, in fact.
Paracelsus said it was because her body needed the sleep that she was out for so long. The knight has been quiet since she woke up, remaining in the cart. She's trying to get her bearings, it seems.

The bad news is considerably worse.
The Inkeeper explained that the path up ahead has turned dangerous, as Fetor-blight has overtaken the McLeod farms. Those farms are quite a distance from the village, and long abandoned besides, but they were close to the road. They warn you of nearly two miles of the cursed beings along the road, and that they're still waiting for help to kill the Fetor-nest.
You've fought Fetor-blighted creatures before, especially during the crusade. It was a way to slow down the advance, as the Light declared all signs of it abhorrent.
Considering it twists and bloats both creature and man alike into an eternally eating abomination, you're inclined to agree. The plague turns the plants into something more akin to meat. Grass turns to throbbing veins, trees turn into ground beef, berries to eyes, kidneys and whatever other organs.
It's a mercy that slaying the nest at the centre causes most of it to die off.

You will be able to ride through it, with some difficulty. It mercifully takes several helpings of eating the spoiled bounty of the rotten lands to transform into one of those horrid creatures. Animals don't know any better... Humans would eat it during the early stages, before it would be obvious that it was tainted.

You'll deal with the easy part, first. You head outside of the inn, after thanking the keeper for the information, and enter the cart.
The Grey Knight is staring ahead, still under covers, but you can see the clothes she was wearing are left to the side. The blanket is used for modesty.
"...I cannot accept any more help." She says, and you can tell she's shaking. "I... I've been weak. You've been... I... You took my death from me."

You blink.
You blink again.

Almost angrily, you ask:
"What the hell do you mean I took your death from you!? Did you WANT to die!?"
"Grey Knights don't die of old age, ser. Without your help, I would have perished. But I cannot accept help. It's not... I was bending my oath."
She takes a shuddering breath.
"Things are... Things are complicated again. I'll... For the sake of modesty, I'll leave during the night. I'll move ahead, to Mother Mountain, to attempt to slay Ogg. I'll... equip myself along the way. It will be simplest, that way. I'll revive my horse, to make it go fast."

She really does look healthier than you've ever seen her. But also utterly miserable.
You...
You don't know what to do with this. Grey Knights aren't quite what you thought they were, though you were right in how strong they are.

>Talk to her.
She needs to be treated like a human being for a bit.

>See her off
But insist she wears clothes.

>>5316309
>Talk to her.
Pick her brain. Indeed she could advance further ahead of us, but she would undoubtably die or do any lasting damage to Ogg before we reach her.

>>5316309
Huh. This must be how Sarah felt talking to us after that incident, um... you remember that, right?

>Talk to her.
I don't think there is a way to talk the Grey Knight out of doing something stupid. Reynauld, of all people, should understand the pain of being oathbound. However, we're going to be travelling through blighted lands, and judging by our past luck, it's basically a given that we're going to end up clearing out the Fetor nest, so she might as well join us for that. She can consider it as her helping not only us, but the surrounding villages as well, and if she's lucky, she'll find the death she so desires in there.

Also, can we give this bimbo a nickname? I'm starting to get sick of typing out "the Grey Knight" every single time.

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185 KB JPG

>>5316309
>>Talk to her
Slaying Lady Ogg is also at the top of our to-do list, it's going to probably be really hard, and we would have a better chance of success with Gray around. We may not understand the precise nature of her oath, but given the nature of the quest (saving the world) we both need to do everything we can to make sure the mission is a success. Even if that means fudging things a little bit along the way. If ot helps her pride, next time we feel like she needs help, we'll just do what needs to be done instead of asking her and in doing so, giving her a moral dilemma. A glorious death is only glorious in victory or unavoidable defeat; dying intentionally in an act of atonement is as pointless as it is selfish.
Given what we know of her oath, we have to be a little hard on her or else she won't play along, and make it look like we're not trying to render her assistance or coddle her. Could even say we're bullying her a bit.

>>5316309
>Talk to her.
We were suicidal, right? We had a death wish of a very similar nature. We, of all non-Grey Knights, might understand.

>>5316393
+1

>>5316393
Support

>>5316309
I know Teensy got a little taller and gained muscle mass, but what about her legs? Thighs? Ass? Did she become t h i c c e r?

>>5316308
>She trembles in your grip, and then you put her on your shoulders. Confused, she grabs on to your helmet.
>warm strong kobolt legs squeezing his head
Nice.
Okay I'm done with coomer memeing, for now. How far are we from our destination, and can we have the Grey Knight's horse pull the wagon through the night while Tomatoes sleeps in the wagon? So we can concern more ground without having to stop as frequently? How much rations do we have. We have coins to spare.
Did Teensy's armor get damaged?

>>5316712
>can we have the Grey Knight's horse pull the wagon through the night while Tomatoes sleeps in the wagon?
Pretty sure all the points from when we last had this discussion still stand. You'd have to fit everybody else in the wagon as well, to get some sleep, or else have them march through the night. I guess if you're feeling extra insane, you could put together a rotating schedule where each third of the group gets 8 hours of sleep while the rest walks.

>>5316732
There's at least 20 people in the party or something at this point. We got enough people to pull that off.

>>5316748
17, if Gray is coming with us, and that would mean somehow fitting 6 people into the wagon at a time, along with all of our shit and, lest we not forget, an entire freaking horse. Feel free to think that's a reasonable course of action, I'll just sit over here in a corner, silently judging you.
Though a part of me wants Reynauld to propose this plan to the party, if only to see the more reasonable members call him an idiot.

>>5316732
>>5316763
We could also just hitch them both if the cart can be converted, or have them take turns pulling it, giving us maybe 50% more travel either way.

>>5316309
While we're in the village, and if the village has a blacksmith, and if the blacksmith's shop is still open, can we purchase a Manica (armguard)? They're one of those arm guard armor this you see gladiators wear.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manica_(armguard)
If this theoretical blacksmith has a set of theoretical manica pre-made, it shouldn't take long to have it readjusted to fit Reynauld. Any armor is better than no armor after all.

If there is no blacksmith with no manias, can we get a half cloak to drape off his shoulder to hide his arm?

>>5316871
We could purchase some donkeys or mules to supplement the work load for our two horses to potentially travel longer. Donkeys or mules should be cheaper than horses.

>>5316309
Due to Reynauld's capacity to fly vertically, can he do that in forest dense areas to search for more of those "sheeps on a tree" fruit food things?

"Okay. Let's unpack that." You say, sitting down next to her. She just stares ahead, her healthier face making her expression all the more obviously concerned.
About what, you're not sure.
"Do you want to die?"
"No." She answers back, quickly. When you wait a little bit, she figures out that she should explain herself, at least: "When I... said you took my death, I mean that... I would be dead without your help. And this is... It's... It's shameful. It's against my oath."
You snort:
"Well, you didn't choose to have it happen. You didn't break your oath, you were forcefully kept alive by me. Blame me, and be done with it."
She looks at you... and you swear there was almost a smile in there.
Almost.

"More importantly... I can't stay. Any longer, and I'll remember too much. Grow too attached. Once I care too much for you and others... I don't know what to do anymore. I know war. I know killing. I know survival... I know of helping others."
She looks to you, her dull green eyes strangely haunting.
"I don't know people. War is the only thing holding me together. I don't know what else to do."

...Ah.
Those types.
"You've been to war, have you? Crusade?"
"...Death corps."
The scouts. They're aptly named, and mostly consisted of criminals or people that were genuinely suicidal from the start. Tellingly, signing on for it gave the money to the next of kin. If she's a survivor from that...
Well, small wonder she's such a capable knight.
"I know it's hard to return to life outside of a march and a battle. Some people get stuck. I... might have made it, were it for some particular circumstances."
It's hard to come back from burning your family alive.

"So you became a Grey Knight because you couldn't leave the war, is that it?"
She turns to you, and nods.
"You understand, then. I... When I just wander, when I help the innocent, when I spill both my blood and that of evil. Things are simple. Good. Talking to people..."
She snorts.
"I don't know what is right. It leaves me nervous. Scared, even. So I want to leave."
"Are you certain? We're headed the same way, best I can tell, and-"
"I've burdened you more enough, and I have no way of repaying you. All I have to offer are my sincere thanks, and that is... not enough."

You give a wan smile.
...You're not sure if it's possible to convince her to stay, at this rate.
"We will likely meet when we find Ogg. It takes much preparation to kill a wizard."
That much is true.

Anything else that you think you need to say to her?

>Best of luck, then.
Send her off. She's still going to wear clothes.

>It would still be best if we travelled together
You need to give an argument, or multiple, to get her to agree.

>Something else

------------------------------------------------
This update was weirdly tough to make. Sorry for the delay, people.

>>5320511
>>It would still be best if we travelled together

My idea is to talk about our past our struggle how is many ways she remind us or our self. that their was a time not to long ago when I thought it was better to be a lone. but my friends changed that

please build on this or make something better

>>5320511
>It would still be best if we travelled together
This >>5316393
Together. Strong. It wont help anyone if she dies by Ogg's hand before we reach them. Plus an undead horse to help pull the cart will make things go faster.

>>5320511
>Best of luck, then
Respect her decision. But...
>If you change your mind, we would welcome your aid