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>>5899427
To make matters worse the Stanger went and ripped off that game, imbuing you with a set of sentient character traits that are constantly giving you advice based on their nature. This is both handy and annoying. You have a greater affinity for certain voices, which makes it easier for you to perform actions when leveraging their aspect. Be careful though; the option with the highest chance of success isn’t always the best.

Your current stats are:
>Monke: 3 (1)
>Hackerman: 5 (3)
>Hero: 1 (-1)
>(Muh)Autism: 2 (0)
>Diplomancer: 3 (1)
>Edge: 6 (4)
>Stonks: 5 (3)

>Thots Being Researched: Is it Cuckoldry if she was never yours? (-2 to everything while research is in progress.)

>cont

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>>5899433
A Quick Recap: The Lands of Falkner were devastated by a host of marauders that came from across the ash wastes. Duke Gerald Falkner, our MC’s father was killed by the leader of the marauders; an armoured brute of uncanny strength and size. During the battle Nero Falkner’s cheat power was activated and he was transformed into the burning avatar of a dead god known as the Dragon. The Dragon’s avatar lays waste to both friend and foe alike, saving the dukedom but leaving it vulnerable in the process.

After inheriting the title of Duke, Nero Falkner tries and fails to re-negotiate the vassal treaties with the neighbouring territories of Kirion and Rythvane. Duke Pallas Rythvane offers to renew ties under the condition that his daughter: Eliza Rythvane be given the position of head mage in Nero’s court. Nero naturally agrees.

Kirion; a wealthy territory that holds powerful economic leverage over Falkner has tried to undermine its sovereignty by charging exorbitant prices for strategic resources and clandestine raids on Falkner farmlands. Fortunately, Nero managed to stave off these problems with efficient garrison deployments and harvesting monster parts from the ash wastes. However, these are only temporary solutions…
>cont

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>>5899434
You are Duke Nero Falkner and you are thoroughly annoyed. The marathon game of Tnewg with Eliza the night before had been a welcome (if humbling distraction), but now it was time to attend to the problems of the realm.

You sat the head of the table within your council chambers, head resting on your fist in exasperation as your advisors argued back and forth over the problems facing the realm. It would be much easier if you could dismiss it as petty squabbling, but each of them had a valid point.

“House Kirion’s merchants are unwilling to do business with us. This is a trade embargo in all but name,” declared Findan; your economic advisor. “We must find another source of metals and stone soon.”

“Bah! We have little time to prioritise economic matters when Duke Kirion pays mercenaries to pose as bandits that attack our food stores,” said General Varkas. “We must show Nigel Kireon we are not to be trifled with, then maybe we can re-negotiate a trade agreement from a position of strength.”

“We must tread carefully, without indisputable proof that Duke Kireon is meddling in our affairs any reprisals could have diplomatic repercussions. Our military still hasn’t recovered from the recent invasion,” cautions your brother Tyrol.

“What diplomatic repercussions? House Rythvane is the only other actor in the region and they wish to keep their hands clean of everything.”

“Lord Varkas I must protest!” Exclaimed Eliza. “Is my presence at his council not proof of my father’s support?”

Varkas was about to give a snide retort but you decide to cut him off.

“Enough! It is true the realm is faced with a conundrum, but this arguing has become unproductive. I will consider each problem and decide on a course of action.”

>Which issue would you like to deal with first? You will eventually consider all of them but decisions made to resolve one issue may effect options available for subsequent ones.

>Consider how to deal with Kireons destabilization operation.

>Explore solutions to the materials shortage.

>Announce a project of your own: a grand expedition across the ash wastes to both search for resources and the source of the recent invasion.

>>5899438
>Explore solutions to the materials shortage.

Nice to see you back OP. Should've linked the archive of the other 2 as well for new guys or anyone who wanted to check it
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=another+bs+isekai
btw I'd suggest you to also ad the quest name as a tag since the only tags it has are generic ones
>>5899438
>Explore solutions to the materials shortage.
Since we managed to defend against the mercs, let's solve our material problems first

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>>5899438
>Explore solutions to the materials shortage.

>>5899438
>>Announce a project of your own: a grand expedition across the ash wastes to both search for resources and the source of the recent invasion.

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>>5899441
>>5899525
>>5899541
>>5899555

Good to see you guys too... all four of you.

Welp, since I'm not popular I'll update my quest.

>Writing...

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You decide to address the materials shortage first, or rather the impending materials shortage. You had staved off an immediate crisis by substituting metal with monster parts and stone with alchemically treated wood. Unfortunately, this was not sustainable; you had all but decimated the local monster population, and alchemically treated wood was not an efficient replacement as it required mages to help craft it.

“Ser Findan, how long can the realm hold together with our current economic strategy?”

“Two, perhaps three years my Duke and that is just maintaining the status quo, the rebuilding of Falkengrad has been delayed and we will not be able to repair or expand our settlements in any meaningful capacity.”

“What are our options?”

Findan let out a heavy breath. “We either find new resource deposits or new trade partners. Both will be hard to do. Kirion blocks the eastern routes to other kingdoms as does Rythvane albeit passively. The mountains surrounding Oxvale and Lake Druth were surveyed several times by previous dukes. If there was anything of value there we would have found it by now.”

“I think it might be worth another look.” Said Eliza. She tried to look neutral but you could sense an aura of smugness starting to radiate from her. “I am skilled in divination arts, I can discover any deposits your prospectors have missed.”

“With respect Lady Rythvane, our prospectors are no fools. While I have no doubt your talents might yet discover something, any vein our prospectors might have missed is likely too deep for us to exploit. I don’t suppose your magic could help with that?”

“Actually, it co-wait… maybe if… hmmm.”

>cont

>>5899893
[(Muh)Autism]: “Hey did we ever check the ash wastes? It nominally would have been too dangerous to exploit but now that we’ve culled the local monster population it might be worth checking out.”

[Diplomancer]: “Speaking of the ash wastes, Althea mentioned there were people out there. Could we also find potential trading partners out in the wastes?”

[Stonks]: “Given that they are likely nomadic tribes I doubt they’d be able to trade metal and stone in the quantities we need. Let’s not forget that there’s a hostile army out there somewhere.”

[Hackerman]: “Reopening trade with Kireon is still an option.”

[Edge]: “Like hell it is, Duke Kireon practically tried to steal our lands from us. You don’t negotiate with people like that; you end them.”

[Hackerman]: “Well you’re not wrong… I was going to suggest blackmailing him but assassinating him and installing someone more sympathetic to our interests is an option.”

[Diplomancer]: “Even if we could somehow remove Nigel Kireon from power, how would we ensure whoever takes his place will do what we want?”

[Monke]: “Just go Game of Thrones on his ass; kill all the male heirs, marry the next woman in line and boom! The next Kireon leader is gonna do whatever we want because it’s us.”

[Hero]: “I dunno guys, this feels kinda wrong. Sure Kirion is a slimy dude, but assassinating him just because he won’t sell shit to us?”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Well he is also trying to trigger a famine in our realm so he can annex us.”

[Hero]: “Even so, this seems kinda disproportionate. It also might upset Mom.”

[Edge]: “Oh for fucks sake Hero, you seriously gonna take it up the ass from our uncle just cus mom might get sad!?”

((Huh, looks like I’m dovetailing into the other issues already.))

>Send Eliza on an expedition to the mountains north of Oxvale. (Risk of not finding anything.)

>Commit an expedition into the Ash wastes to find resource deposits and potential trade partners. (Decide who will go and who will lead. Your choices are yourself, Althea and Eliza)

>Hold off on exploration for now and save all your resources for dealing with Kireon.

>>5899895
>Commit an expedition into the Ash wastes to find resource deposits and potential trade partners. (Althea (L) & Eliza)
If we can send 2, Althea as the leader and Eliza to help us find resources with her divination.

>>5899994
Support

>>5899994
+1

Alright, I was rereading the other 2 threads since it's been 1 year since the last one and I wanted to remember some things we did and wtf were anons on that made them think burning down our uncle's keep was a good idea ? Thank the voices we went another route in the meantime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fub4hV0fCKM

>>5899994
>If we can send 2...
Just want to clarify you can send everyone(including yourself) or no one (i.e. entrust the expedition to nameless scout NPCs. Less chance of success but you free up Althea and Eliza to help with other endeavors.)

For the folks who just joined us I'll recap what you and your girls are good for:

(You)
>Exceptional warrior.
>Skilled hunter and outdoorsman.

Althea:
>Exceptional hunter and outdoorswoman.
>Skilled warrior.
>Charred one (physically stronger and more resilient than the average human.)

Eliza:
>Exceptional Mage
>Unknown combat and outdoor capabilities. Skills likely augmented by magic but you don't have her measure yet.

>>5900556
good, so my vote is good since it's the mage for divining new sources + althea since she knows the place and can find something with the nomads

>>5899994
>>5900099
>>5900259

Guess this one is a no brainer, writing...

>>5900878
Why didn’t you doot last night, my dude ?

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>>5900941
Doot what? My update schedule isn't fixed, but I'll try to do minimum once every 24 hours.

As Eliza ponders the problem in her head you decide to break the silence.

“I am inclined to agree with Ser Findan regarding the mountain survey, but I believe there might be a better place to make use of Eliza’s talents. The ash wastes were never properly surveyed because the heavy presence of monsters made exploitation too dangerous, but with the recent cull I believe we could risk a new mining settlement in the immediate region around Falkner lands.”

“Hmm, given that we still haven’t resettled the population of Middleshire a new settlement could kill two birds with one stone… If and only if new resources were to be found,” mused Findan.

You turn to Eliza. “Lady Rythvane if you would, I ask that you exercise your divination skills in the ash wastes.”

The short mage immediately perked up. “It would be my honour to lead an expedition into-”

“My deepest apologies, but Althea will be the one to lead the expedition. You will accompany her as an advisor.”

Eliza seemed visibly annoyed at this, although you couldn’t deny she was cute like this: cheeks and chest all puffed up like a dust gecko trying to stand up to a larger creature.

“WHAT!?-Err I mean; excuse me!? Ugh that’s not…”

[Diplomancer]:” Wow, no decorum from this one. Magical abilities or not I can see why Pallas Rythvane sent her.”

[Monke]: “Adorable, I wanna pinch her cheeks again.”

Eliza took a deep breath and managed to calm herself. The other members of your council regarded her with disapproval.

“Forgive the-uh… outburst my Duke, I quite forgot myself eheheh. But surely I would be more suitable to lead this expedition? My expertise-”

“Is in the magical arts,” you cut her off again, provoking a look of irritation which you returned with a glare of your own; you were in charge here. “Althea is a skilled survivalist and she is well acquainted with the terrain, naturally you will guide the expedition when selecting survey sites but in all other things I expect you to listen to Althea.” You try to soften the blow a bit. “The ash wastes are a far cry from the forests of Rythholm. I do not want to lose my precious head mage to something as banal as getting lost in the wilderness.”

>cont

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>>5900978
This seemed to placate Eliza somewhat, although you could still sense her smouldering from being put in her place.

[Diplomancer]: “Despite her previously demure attitude our Lady Rythvane seems to have an arrogant streak; gets all haughty if she thinks she knows best.”

[Monke]: “Makes her fun to bully.”

[Hackerman]: “More importantly I’m concerned if she’ll play well with Althea. At the end of the day she still has that sense of entitlement common to all nobility, will she be able to take orders from someone she deems her social inferior?”

[Diplomancer]: “There’s also the fact that we don’t know how well Althea plays with other women. The whole time we’ve known her she’s been isolated or surrounded by men. There’s no telling what she’ll do if Eliza pisses her off.”

[Hero]: “Maybe we should organise some kind of bonding activity before they leave?”

[Monke]: “Like a threesome?”

[Diplomancer]: “No. Monke.”

[Edge]: “What could they possibly do together to build rapport? Althea likes stalking and killing things. Eliza is a fucking nerd that likes to run her mouth about academic shit. Fuck, can Althea even read?”

[(Muh) Autism]: “Uh yeah she can, we taught her when she was learning to speak our language.”

[Monke]: “Oh! Oh! How about communal bathing?”

[Hackerman]: “Monke might actually be on to something; some kind of ‘girls night out’ type activity to get them comfortable with each other… can’t believe I’m entertaining this but a threesome might actually work if we can pull it off. Sex can be a powerful bonding opportunity.”

[Edge]: “Really Hackerman?”

[Hackerman]: “I am merely considering all the angles.”

[Stonks]: “Well we kinda blew our chances at bedding Althea and I don’t think we’ve cultivated ties with Eliza nearly enough to proposition her, let alone get her in bed with another woman. I vote… anything but the threesome.”

[Edge]: “I say have them spar; establish dominance the old-fashioned way. Nerd girl should be good for it since she wants to show off how much better magic users are in a fight.”

We’ll figure this out later guys, right now I have a country to run.

>cont

>>5900982
The expedition would be planned in detail later, for now you moved the discussion on to how you would deal with Kireon.

“We are in no position to threaten war and Nigel Kireon knows it,” lamented General Varkas. “Yet we cannot let his meddling go unanswered.”

“Perhaps we could make mischief of our own,” mused Tyrol. “Infiltrate Kireon lands and do some damage of our own. It would be both deniable and proportionate. Duke Kireon is a craven merchant lord, if we can exact a high enough price from him he should back down.”

“Kireon’s infrastructure is more robust than ours,” sighed Findan. “Also his trade connections are better. If we simply did to him what he’s doing to us he’d mitigate the damage with foreign trade. I have a feeling Kireon is willing to suffer short term financial loss if it means bringing house Falkner under control without a fight.”

“What if we were to hunt down his infiltrators?” Suggested Varkas. “Kireon’s own army isn’t worth a damn so he must be hiring foreign mercenaries, we hunt them down, make an example of them, keep it up and eventually Kireon will run out of people willing to take his coin.”

[Edge]: “There’s also the nuclear option…”

[Hero]: “Do you seriously still wanna consider that!? You remember what mom said, even if you don’t care about her feelings if we do this we will lose the trust of both her and Tyrol. And if the people ever found out we purposely unleashed the Dragon, we’ll basically become the Demon Lord except without demonic minions, so we’ll basically be on our own.”

[Edge]: “Nothing wrong with being a Demon Lord. Who knows, maybe we could flee into the wastes, kill that warlord and take his stuff.”

What to do about Kireon?

>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.

>Unleash the Dragon on Kirenburg. (Officially you would be doing nothing, but your Mom and Brother would know.)

>Launch a covert operation to beat Kireon at his own game, (Write-in how.)

>Something else? (Write-in)

Should we do anything to mitigate potential conflict between Althea and Eliza?

>…Nah

>Talk to Althea.

>Talk to Eliza.

>Have them do something together. (What?)

>>5900985
>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.
Bleed him dry.

>Have them do something together. (What?)
SHOPPING! WOMEN BE SHOPPING!
Clothes, swords, dresses, death tomes, underwear, the usual things they buy

>>5900985
Oh nice this is back, just noticed it in the catalog

>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.
Seems the most realistic option

I’m kind of blanking on what activity we could have them do together that wouldn’t devolve into conflict and make them resent each other more. Maybe something like a fighting tournament with teams? Hard to do that before the expedition would head out though, and might be expected in a time we are trying to recover.

For now I’ll vote to talk with Eliza since she seemed more disagreeable, but I’m open to ideas.

>Talk to Eliza.

>>5901241
>might be expected
expensive

>>5900985
>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.
>Have them do something together. (What?)
Shopping, but with a twist. Have them plan the supplies for the expedition. Divide their areas of authority cleanly, let Eliza show off within hers, get them cooperating for the common good.

>>5900985
>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.
than only one that would work in a positive way.
>>5901247
supporting his shopping idea

>>5901241
Switching second vote to >>5901247’s shopping suggestion

>>5900985
>Organise a covert operation to hunt down his mercenaries.
>>5901247
+1 to the shopping

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Just a heads up guys my schedule for tonight just filled up so I might have to postpone the next update a bit, it all depends what time I finish up doing the thing.

>>5902023
no problem, OP. what's your timezone btw ?

>>5902038
GMT+8

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Sorry guys no update tonight.

>>5903285
One of these days Otakun, Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!

>>5901018
>>5901241
>>5901247
>>5901268
>>5901714

>>5903285

Sorry for delaying two straight days in a row. It was a combination of RL, mild sickness and getting bogged down figuring out how to do digital art.

Anyway, let's move this forward. Looks like everyone wants to shop then hunt down Kireon's goons.

>Writing...

>>5899427

wow
this is very insane actually

“Tyrol has it right,” you say with a disappointed tone. “Realistically all we can do for now is gut every agent Kireon sends across the border.”

“Men such as him will not back down while they believe they have the upper hand,” said Varkas.

“A show of strength will at least make him think twice, if we can resolve our resource dependence while Kireon is off balance, we can force him back to negotiating table on equal terms, or else make him completely irrelevant. We shall reconvene later to discuss this in more detail.”

------------------

You had already issued your orders regarding the expedition and you needn’t really pay it anymore mind; Althea knew what she was doing, and you had full confidence in her ability to handle the planning from top to bottom. However you just couldn’t stop worrying about a potential conflict between Eliza and Althea. Out in the wastes, everyone had to be on the same page or risk death.

Maybe your head was full of pre-conceptions from your old life but you were sure that getting the girls to go on a shopping trip together would smooth over any differences between them. There was just one small problem; there was no where to shop.

[(Muh)Autism]: “Yeah feudal backwaters aren’t gonna be capable of producing shopping malls. Falknegard’s markets don’t have much variety even at the best of times. Right now all we got on sale is monster meat and pelts.”

[Monke]: “Althea would literally eat that shit up, but Eliza…hey wait a minute. Isn’t Rythvane one of the few people that buys monster parts. Maybe nerd girl could show off her knowledge by identifying the good stuff for expedition equipment.”

[Diplomancer]: “That’s… actually not a bad idea Monke. Eliza might actually have superior knowledge regarding how best to utilize the bounty from our last hunt.”

[Hackerman]: “Althea would have a better idea on what’s good to eat. Let her pick the rations while Eliza supervises the gear. When they demonstrate their knowledge to each other hopefully it will result in a new found respect.”

>cont

>>5904162
And so the next day you called Eliza and Althea together so they could jointly organise the expedition supplies. Eliza as ever was followed by Malchus; your former head mage turned minder. Curiously, Althea was accompanied by a man you recognised as one of the surviving members of her team from the grand cull. The way he composed himself around her; staying close but not too close, never speaking but somehow making his presence known. He was to Althea what she was to you.

[Hacker]: “Hmm, our own personal wolf girl seems to have a personal flunky of her own now.”

[Monke]: “They grow up so fast.”

[Hacker]: “Take care Althea doesn’t become too independent…”

[Hero]: “Althea shouldn’t be forced to stay by our side. You can’t build trust on a skewed power dynamic.”

[Edge]: “The whole reason we reincarnated was to make sure the power dynamics were always skewed in our favour. We’re the big dog here and even Althea might need to be reminded of that one day.”

Eliza was instantly fascinated by Althea. “Incredible, so the rumours are true, you really do have a charred one in your cabinet.”

Althea clearly didn’t think much of Eliza. She was a full head taller than her and used that height to all but ignore the mage’s presence. “My Duke, who is this strange woman?”

Eliza immediately started puffing herself up again. “Eh-Excuse me!? I am Eliza Rynoa Rythvane, daughter of Duke Pallas Rincewind Rythvane, and Head Mage in the court of Duke Nero Falkner!”

For some reason she grabbed your arm as she said that last bit, allowing you to feel her generous chest pressing against you. Althea was not impressed. They’d clearly gotten off on the wrong foot and you sensed that if you didn’t do something.

>[Diplomancer]:” Smooth things over, reintroduce them to each other and facilitate a constructive conversation.” (Difficulty 8, +1 from Diplomancer)

>[Edge]: “Figuratively bash their heads together. You are the Alpha, they are your subordinates. To disrespect your subordinate is to disrespect you; they will show each other(and by extension you) the proper respect.” (Difficulty 8, +4 from Edge)

>[Monke]: “Just ignore the false start. Grab them both by the hand and take them on a shopping adventure!” (Difficulty 9, +1 from Monke)

>Write-In

Do not roll yet. I’ll call for the roll before the next update.

>>5904163
>[Diplomancer]:” Smooth things over, reintroduce them to each other and facilitate a constructive conversation.” (Difficulty 8, +1 from Diplomancer)
If we had more time I'd choose Edge, but stepping on Eliza's pride then leaving her unsupervised with Althea sounds like a bad idea.

>>5904163
Man, we’re becoming the rizzler
>>5904166
>+1

>>5904163
>Write-In
>I consider you both great people who will not only become the pillars of Falkner, but my own personal support I can rely on. (Difficulty 4, -1 from Hero)
It's a combination of guilt, stoking their pride, and optimism how we see their character. Not only that, the fucking Hero stat sucks balls and I want to increase it.

>>5904163
Is high or low difficulty better?

>>5904234
Support.

Are we even able to increase stats?

>>5904163
>[Diplomancer]:” Smooth things over, reintroduce them to each other and facilitate a constructive conversation.” (Difficulty 8, +1 from Diplomancer)

seems like it'll have the best outcome, if we can pull it off.

>>5904240
High difficulty is harder, this is a roll over system.

Stats can be increased but it's not something that's easily done on a permanent basis.

>>5904234
I decide final write in difficulty and I'll tell you now that using Hero with that wording will be a tough check.

>>5904643
How about
>We're all comrades! We stick together in order to prevail! [Hero]

>>5904163
>[Diplomancer]:” Smooth things over, reintroduce them to each other and facilitate a constructive conversation.” (Difficulty 8, +1 from Diplomancer)

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>>5904712
If your suggestion wins you'll find out. I generally won't give OOC feedback about how your choices are likely to play out until it's too late(Even though I've already given you a few freebies). I am a capricious and not very popular QM. >:)

And being capricious I'll give you one last hint: You're dealing with two women who barely know each other, one is basically a proud foreign magical princess and the other a rugged independent survivalist who is viewed with suspicion in your own court. How likely do you think an appeal to camaraderie is to work on these two?

------

I suppose now is a good time to reintroduce the Thot Cabinet since people might need a refresher.

>As you play through the quest you might unlock THOTs to research. THOTs are abilities or modifiers that are tied to one of your waifus. While researching a THOT it’s research effects will apply. Once fully researched you will lose the research effect and gain the completion bonus. What kind of bonuses will you get for researching THOTs? Try it and find out!

>How much time a THOT takes to research is decided by the QM. Since the amount of time that passes in game is not consistent with each update once the QM feels a sufficient amount of time has passed they will declare the research complete.

>You can only research one THOT at a time. You are under no obligation to research THOTs at all if you don’t think they’ll be worth it.

Currently you're in the middle of researching one heck of a thot that gives you a massive debuff to everything.

Turns out I dun goofed and forgot to include the bonuses from your existing THOTs to upcoming checks.

They should be:

>[Diplomancer]:” Smooth things over, reintroduce them to each other and facilitate a constructive conversation.” (Difficulty 8, +2 from Diplomancer)

>[Edge]: “Figuratively bash their heads together. You are the Alpha, they are your subordinates. To disrespect your subordinate is to disrespect you; they will show each other(and by extension you) the proper respect.” (Difficulty 8, +5 from Edge)

>[Monke]: “Just ignore the false start. Grab them both by the hand and take them on a shopping adventure!” (Difficulty 9, +3 from Monke)

(Hero checks are suffering -2 due to stacking modifiers right now.)

>>5904864
man, I didn't remember we having a thot in the burner waiting for us to complete this one.

>>5904166
>>5904206
>>5904268
>>5904777
Diplomancer: 4

>>5904234
>>5904712
>>5904240

Hero write-in

Okay someone roll me 2d6 for the Diplomancer outcome.

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Rolled 6, 5 = 11 (2d6)

>>5905082
Since I'm not popular(and can't wait all night) I'll roll my own dice.

>>5905114
Check passed, writing...

>>5905117
You decide to step in before the interaction can devolve into a full-blown cat fight. With a hint of regret you remove yourself from Eliza’s grip and put yourself between the two women.

“I think we’ve all gotten off on foot here. Let’s start again. Eliza, this is Althea one of my personal guards and the best wasteland scout in my court. Althea, this is Lady Eliza Rythvane, my new head mage.”

You step back to let them look at each other again. The tension had died down somewhat but the two woman still eyed each other warily.

“I’m sure you both know by now that you will both be going on an expedition into the ash wastes. Eliza’s magical arts are key to finding new resource deposits to help my realm but no one navigates the wastes better than Althea. I expect the both of you to co-operate to make this expedition a success.”

“So you wish me to escort,” Althea takes a sceptical look at Eliza before turning back to you “…Lady Rythvane to places where she can work her spells? As you wish my Duke. Although I hope the Lady does well to follow my lead, magic is no substitute for instinct and experience.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Oh shit, she just poo-pooed magic in front of Eliza. You better do something before-”

Sure enough you could see your magical princess puffing herself up again.

“And what would you know of magic? Do you have any idea of what it’s capable of? What I am capable of? Perhaps a little demonstration is in order.”

You intervene quickly to prevent any escalation.

“Uhh… while she lacks experience, I think Lady Rythvane might yet surprise you with her knowledge,” you quickly turn to Eliza. ”I believe that you know a few ways to utilize fire drake organs that even Falkner craftsman are not privy too. With all the drake carcasses we have on hand I’d like you to help craft some new equipment we can use on this expedition.”

“Hmmph, but of course. I bet you didn’t know that you could refine a cure for dust fever from their pyrophoric glands.”

That got Althea’s attention. Dust fever was a miserable affliction that had a chance of afflicting those wandering the wastes for too long. Althea herself seemed oddly immune to it but she’d had enough of her men suffer from it to understand what a boon any treatment would be.

You took advantage of this to lead both women to a warehouse where the best drake carcasses had been rendered down into what gamers would call “crafting components.” Over the next half day Eliza demonstrated how various supplies could be crafted from these components that would ease the logistical challenges faced by a wasteland expedition. By the end of it Althea seemed to have improved her opinion of Eliza who was looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

>cont

>>5905188
Now you needed Althea to do something that would impress Eliza. A rumble from your stomach gave you an idea. Being a duke’s daughter and a studious mage Eliza wasn’t that experienced in foraging and cooking. A wasteland expedition had no room for the small army of camp followers nobles often took with them to make their lives more comfortable.

You decided to encourage Althea to cook a meal for everyone, demonstrating the kind of dishes that could be prepared on the trail. Given that Althea had a propensity for eating certain ingredients raw you had to step in sometimes to make sure nobody got inadvertently poisoned. After a delicious meal of grilled drake gizzard… well you thought it was it delicious, but frankly it was an acquired taste. You could sense Eliza scarfed it down more out of desire not to make a fool of herself in front of Althea than anything else. You could work with that you suppose…

>That's it for tonight's update, feeling tired and drained of creative energy so I'm postponing the planning of the operation against Kireon till tomorrow.

>>5905190
alright OP, take care and thanks for the doot post

>>5905190
thanks op, see you then!

This quest seems interesting even though I fucking hate isekaishit. It sucks you only ever make 1 thread a year so far lol. Getting caught up slowly

>>5906003
are you already on the 2nd thread ? how are you liking it so far, anon ?

>>5906107
I haven't made it that far yet, jeez

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You did what you could, hopefully you helped build enough rapport between the two women to stop them from killing each other while on the expedition.

The next day you met with General Varkas and Tyrol to discuss how to handle Kireon’s meddling.

“So far we know Kireon is hiring mercenaries to try and destabilise our realm. The so called bandits we’ve captured; their weapons are too sharp, their actions too co-ordinated and many of them look distinctly foreign to this region,” said Tyrol.

“They’re a slippery bunch, it’s only through blind luck we managed to capture the ones we did alive,” said Varkas with a nod. “They are likely operating from a base somewhere in Kireon territory. I’d wager Rivenholm, only real place for them to hide a base of operations.”

You frown at the offending town on the map. “Rivenholm is firmly within Kireon territory. We can’t openly move on it without provoking an all-out war…”

[Edge]:”So let’s wage a war. Even if we’re too much of a pussy to unleash the Dragon the grand cull freed up enough of our troops for a full invasion.”

[Stonks]: “You have a very generous definition of invasion Edge. We might have enough power to annex Rivenholm, but nowhere near enough fight our way to Kirenburg and take it.”

[Hackerman]: “Annexing Rivenholm might work, it would allow us better control of the border, and would definitely send a message to Kireon.”

[Diplomancer]: “But we can’t just up and do that. We need a cassus belli.”

[Edge]: “A what?”

[(Muh)Autism]: “A reason to go to war, it’s latin.”

[Diplomancer]: “We could tell Kireon that we are suffering from bandit raids originating from his lands and petition him to do something about it. When he predictably does nothing, we take matters into our own hands.”

[Hackerman]: “Maybe we can turn the tables on him, disguise our own troops as bandits then sack Rivenholm. We root our the mercs and also get a few spoils to sweeten the deal.”

[Stonks]: “That could provoke a strong response from Kireon, his troops would be at a disadvantage invading our lands but the attrition of a full scale war would leave us worse off in the long run. A safer option would be to use our freed up troops to make the border impenetrable.”

[Hackerman]: “Is such a thing even possible?”

[(Muh) Autism]: “In the most technical sense; no. We can’t truly stop people from crossing the border but deploy enough patrols in the region then for all practical purposes an enemy would be hard pressed to do any real damage before encountering serious resistance.”

>cont

>>5906431
[Edge]: “If you guys are gonna be lame about this at least string up the merc corpses on the border; add a little fear factor. Mercs will risk their lives for coin, but they won’t sacrifice them.”

[Hero]: “That’s the sort of thing bad guys do… are we the bad guys?”

[Edge]: “We’re the protagonist, we don’t need to justify ourselves if we win.”

[Monke]: “Why don’t we engage in some tacticool, espionage action!”

[Edge]: “Dafuq are you on about?”

[Monke]: “We infiltrate the town, find out where the mercs are hiding, sneak into their base, assassinate their leaders, then sneak out. Not only is it bad ass, it’s all subtle like.”

[Stonks]: “It’s also really hard…”

>Your Move Nero

>Find an excuse to launch a “police action” in Kireon’s back yard.

>Sack Rivenholm while disguised as bandits.

>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions. (Also add whether or not you wish to make a brutal example of captured bandits.)

>Infiltrate Rivenholm and quietly eliminate the mercs.

>Write in

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>>5906003
>This quest seems interesting even though I fucking hate isekaishit.

I am genuinely curious then what made you read beyond the initial premise.

> It sucks you only ever make 1 thread a year so far lol.

It is a shame, I'd like to update more, but a combination of RL and fickle creative mojo means my creative side projects tend move slowly. And BS Isekai is a side project to my side projects...

>>5906434
>>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions. (Also add whether or not you wish to make a brutal example of captured bandits.)
Vlad Tepesh is a national hero, wink nudge.

>>5906434
>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions. (Also add whether or not you wish to make a brutal example of captured bandits.)
No. They are people too.

>>5906434
>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions.
no need to go vlad on them, but things like pillory are on the table

>>5906434
>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions.
I don’t see how a public hanging would e considered excessive. People get hanged for much less in these kinds of settings. It only gets weird when you leave them hanging around for more than a few days.

>>5906434
>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions.

>>5907004
>gets weird when you leave them hanging around for more than a few days
It takes at least a day or two for the stench to be noticeable and almost a week for it to be unbearable.

>>5906439
Just finished thread 1
>what made you read beyond the initial premise.
I clicked on this quest on a whim because I was bored. I saw Disco Elysium mechanics in the second post >>5899433, and I decided to read further.
>combination of RL and fickle creative mojo means my creative side projects tend move slowly. And BS Isekai is a side project to my side projects
I've accepted any quest I like and read right now might end any day due to flaking - reasonable or otherwise. I reserve the right to hold scathing resentment towards anybody I don't like, all flakes included.
I'm curious to see where this quest goes, and I hope you don't drop it without a valid reason. And I mean "I literally lost all my materials in a house fire" or "I have no place to live due to the banks repoing everything I own and/or eviction" or "My hands have shattered in a tragic accident that requires me to use verbal text-to-speech and moving the mouse with my feet to do anything on a computer" and so on valid reasons. The most common I see is "I just don't want to keep running this anymore."

>>5906439
OK finished thread 2
This quest isn't that bad man, you gotta relax and feel a bit better about that. I've read worse quests that lasted longer than this, and I've read better quests than this that only lasted 5 updates and couldn't survive thread 1 due to the OP being a turbofaggot.

>>5906434
>Crack down on bandit activity in the border regions.

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>>5907304
Glad you like it.

I'm not too hung up over it. I started this quest for shits and giggles and didn't really care about making it "good". As far as popularity goes I just like using Tomoko memes. Really as long as I get enough votes to decide what to do next (theoretically one) I'll keep running. A big reason this quest is still alive is because exactly one person kept asking about it on twitter.

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>>5907390
>A big reason this quest is still alive is because exactly one person kept asking about it on twitter.
Hello there

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Tonight's update will be postponed. I uh... need more time to figure out what happens next.

>>5907701
See you tomorrow.

>>5907701
Take it easy

>>5908301
Thanks my dude.
I hate it when QMs fail to put out a constant stream of quality content on a regular schedule... for free. Then I tried doing it myself.

Anywho...

>>5906499
>>5906503
>>5906681
>>5907004
>>5907014
>>5907351

I'm seeing a unanimous vote to crack down on the bandits followed by mild consensus for public hangings, which while not particularly brutal by setting standards at least shows you mean business.

>Writing...

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You frown at the offending town on the map. “Rivenholm is firmly within Kireon territory. We can’t openly move on it without provoking an all-out war…” you pause as the voices make their cases internally “…and so we shall not.”

“Beg pardon my Duke, but are we to do nothing?” asked Varkas incredulously.

You give the general what you hope is both a reassuring but reprimanding look. “Not nothing General. No matter how I look trying to do anything in Kireon’s territory puts us at too great a disadvantage and our army simply cannot afford a foreign misadventure. But when Kireon tries to meddle in our realm it is us that is in the position of strength.”

You lean forward and begin deftly distributing pawns across the map. With the threat from the ash wastes reduced it is much easier for you to create an impenetrable web covering your border with Kireon.

“With this troop deployment it should be impossible for the small raiding parties to threaten our food supply. If Kireon wants to do some damage he will have no choice but to escalate and if he does then we shall gain a cassus belli allowing us to wage war with a clean conscience in the eyes of the people. In the meantime, we will make it clear to any sellsword that invading our lands will spell certain death. General Varkas, have any bandits captured publicly hanged and strung up along the roads.”

“Yes my Duke,” you can tell the General isn’t completely satisfied with you response, but your orders at least give him an outlet for his frustrations.

After you adjourn the meeting Tyrol approaches you privately.

“I am glad you have chosen restraint in this matter brother. I can only imagine that you might have been sorely tempted to try a more… extreme solution, but I am glad you didn’t.”

[Diplomancer]: “Guess it was obvious to him what we planned to do when we told him we needed to let the Dragon out. Still, it’s good stay on good terms with our brother.”

-------------

Over the next three months you busy yourself managing the Dukedom. The daily routine and lack of special women to chase allows you unprecedented time for self-reflection. Althea’s rejection remained a linger sore spot, especially after she had so eagerly thrown herself at you to begin with. You felt the anguish of a lost opportunity; not just to lose your virginity, but of a lover who might truly complete you. One day as your thoughts wander after a satisfying training session you come to a silent epiphany.

>Thot finished researching: Is it cuckoldry if she was never yours?
>New Thot research options unlocked!
>Choose an existing Thot to discard if any.
>Choose Stat adjustment.
>Choose whether to begin research on another Thot.

….

>cont

>>5908844
Unfortunately, this was just the calm before the storm. Just as you planned any further “bandit” attacks had been countered, after the first few weeks of heightened deployment the incursions stopped completely. But then sometime around the last month your scouts had reported a troubling development: a major build up of troops around Rivenholm. That could only mean one thing: an imminent invasion. It seemed Kireon had decided to dispense with all subtlety. General Varkas had taken the initiative and hastily erected a series of wooden forts along the river, with a home field advantage you might just be able to repel an attack. So far you were banking on inflicting such horrific casualties on Kireon’s forces that they would lose the will to fight; you could not win the game of raw numbers.

But the worst news came at the end of the third month when the remains of the wasteland expedition returned. You were horrified to see…

>Eliza limping back with less than half the initial escort. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Althea and her elite soldiers had stayed behind to allow them to escape. She put up a good fight but was ultimately beaten and captured.

>Althea, tired and haggard with roughly two thirds of the expedition. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Eliza had used her magical arts to conjure a dust storm to cover their escape, but in doing so had exhausted herself. She is almost certainly a captive of the Warlord now.

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((Whoops, forgot the current Thot Cabinet))

>>5908845
>Althea, tired and haggard with roughly two thirds of the expedition. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Eliza had used her magical arts to conjure a dust storm to cover their escape, but in doing so had exhausted herself. She is almost certainly a captive of the Warlord now.
>+1 diplomancer

>>5908844
>Choose an existing Thot to discard if any.
None
>Choose Stat adjustment.
Hero +1
Edge -1
If the info in >>5899433 is accurate now after all the -2s from the thought research are gone, then this will result in Hero 2 and Edge 5
>Choose whether to begin research on another Thot
The honey mayo one

>>5908845
>Eliza limping back with less than half the initial escort. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Althea and her elite soldiers had stayed behind to allow them to escape. She put up a good fight but was ultimately beaten and captured
Time to rescue our closest ally

>>5908845
>Eliza limping back with less than half the initial escort. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Althea and her elite soldiers had stayed behind to allow them to escape. She put up a good fight but was ultimately beaten and captured.
If Eliza gets captured, it's a diplomatic scandal.
>>5908844
>research the last available thot
>don't remove anything
>+1 to Hero

>>5908845
>Althea, tired and haggard with roughly two thirds of the expedition. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Eliza had used her magical arts to conjure a dust storm to cover their escape, but in doing so had exhausted herself. She is almost certainly a captive of the Warlord now.
We struck out with Althea, but maybe rescuing Eliza will give us an opportunity to gain her favor.

>+1 Hero
>Research Mayo

>>5908844
>>5908872
Supporting

>>5908844
>+1 hero, -1 monke
>research Mayo thot
>>5908845
>Eliza limping back with less than half the initial escort. They had run smack dab into one of the Warlord’s advanced parties. Althea and her elite soldiers had stayed behind to allow them to escape. She put up a good fight but was ultimately beaten and captured.
welp, I don't wanna causa a diplomatic incident so our friend it is.

>>5908850
>>5908899
Althea

>>5908883
>>5908973
>>5908962
>>5908872
Eliza

Looks like we're voting for Althea to get captured.

I'm also seeing an overwhelming vote to buff Hero without reducing another stat so that's what we'll go with.

>Thot research in progress: Honey Mayonnaise
>Writing...

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No sooner had you been informed of Eliza’s arrival you rush down to the eastern gate of Falkengard. There you find Eliza caked in dust, leaning on her spear for support. A worrying small number of the original expedition team shambled through the gate after her, some collapsing as they crossed the threshold. Already the keep staff were rushing to provide aid.

“Eliza, what happened!?” you yell as you rush towards her. To her credit the daughter of Rythvane doesn’t collapse into your arms… which you found somewhat disappointing but her being well enough to stand could only be a good thing.
>Thot unlocked: Strong Independent Women

“Nero…the Warlord who attacked the keep… found us. Althea… bought us time.”

“My Lord, Lady Rythvane is dehydrated and very weak right now, she needs rest and water.”

Althea’s absence was indeed worrying, but the survivors of the expedition were in no state to tell their story. You let the physicians lead them out of the court yard to recover while you pondered what to do next.

----------

That night you call an emergency war council with Tyrol and Varkas. Eliza managed to attend as well, having recovered enough to give her account. Apparently, they had had a fruitful expedition, finding several promising sites for stone and metals. Then they encountered the Warlord as they made to turn back. Althea had recognised the soldiers as similar to the host that had laid siege to Falknegard. When hostilities had become inevitable Althea and her men fought a rearguard action while the rest of the expedition escaped.

“…the last I saw the Warlord had slaughtered Althea’s guard to a man. I bet he could have killed her too but he didn’t, just knocked her out and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Then he set his minions on us. They hounded us almost all the way back. I’m sorry Ne-my Duke, I smote our pursuers with my magic but they were crafty, picking off the stragglers where I couldn’t help. We also lost too many to dehydration and exhaustion.”

[Hackerman]: “This is bad. We’ve lost Althea and the enemy is at our gates, possibly even both of them.”

“The Warlord’s host; how large was it?”

“Not large enough to be considered a full army, it looked to be an expedition much like ours, but larger and their warriors were easily a full head taller than even our most burly fighters. Even with equal numbers we would have been at a disadvantage.”

You rest your cheek on one of your fists and frown at the strategy map with deep concern.

>cont

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>>5910219
[Hero]: “We have to go get Althea back!”

[Stonks]: “Do we really? Kireon is preparing to strike, we simply cannot spare any of our troops to pry her from the Warlord’s grip. In chess sometimes even a queen must be sacrificed to secure ultimate victory.”

[Hero]: “…we have the Dragon.”

[Edge]: “Bwhahaha! I never thought you had it in you Hero! I think this is the one time I can actually get behind your plan. Let’s sic the Dragon on him, there won’t even be any collateral damage.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Uh Ackshully…”

[Diplomancer]: “I must remind you that the Dragon is indiscriminate in it’s fury. If the Warlord has Althea with him she will be in very real danger from us unleashing the Dragon, even more so if her actively uses her as a shield.”

[Hackerman]: “Here’s hoping the Warlord is one of those stupid honour bound types we can challenge to single combat. We’d need a lot less manpower to deal with this if it came down to a duel.”

[Stonks]: “Is that something you want to gamble on?”

>What to do bout Althea?

>Leave her for now, we must deal with Kireon first.

>Go after Althea alone.

>Send a small rescue party after her.

>Send a full military detachment after her.

>If going after Althea with the party or detachment choose one or more special characters to bring (Yourself, General Varkas, Tyrol, Eliza)

>Write in

>Also I’m gonna redo the Thot vote since I just came up with a new one, so now you have an actual choice. Remember: you can choose not to research a thot at all.

>>5910223
>Go after Althea alone.
Looks like a good opportunity to use the Dragon. We will need to at some point because as we continue to resist it gets harder, and the potential for collateral damage here is minimal. Given the warlord captured Althea instead of killing her like he did everyone else, I doubt he’s the type to use a human shield. He probably has some sense of chivalry.

>>5910223
Also
>Research Strong Independent Woman

>>5910234
>>5910235
+1
That -2 to Diplo might screw us a bit, but we can handle it

>>5910223
>Send a full military detachment after her.
Yourself
>Honey Mayonnaise

>>5910223
>Send a small rescue party after her
Including ourselves. The plan is to release the Dragon, the rest are there for utility.
>Research Honey Mayo
It has a negative synergy with Eliza, so researching it while we're away is advantageous

>>5910223
>Send a small rescue party after her.(Us)
Even if we're gonna release it, gonna bring some people for utility and perhaps take Althea while we fight the dude
>Research Strong Independent Women

>>5910223
>Go after Althea alone.

>>5910453
Plus 1

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>>5910234
>>5910256
>>5910862
Go After Althea Alone

>>5910388
Full Military Detachment

>>5910453
>>5910388
>>5910529
>>5911260
Small rescue party

Looks like Small rescue party narrowly wins.


>>5910235
>>5910256
>>5910529
Strong Independent Woman

>>5910388
>>5910453
>>5911260
Honey Mayonnaise

Oh look we've got a tie on the thot vote. Ties are dangerous in this quest because when a tie occurs the QM gets to do whatever they want. Maybe I'll use a die to break the deadlock or just pick one if I'm feeling super lazy... or maybe I'll pull a completely new thot out of my ass just to mess with you.

I am a capricious QM >:P

>writing...

>>5911568
you counted >>5910388 as a small rescue party, it's actually a tie between going alone and rescue party

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>>5911570
Is it now... ? Oh dear... it looks like it is. >:D

>Writing, again...

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>>5911574
How could this happen? Why now of all times!? Forcing you to choose between your most cherished companion-

[The Dragon]: “The woman who spurned you.”

-and your Dukedom.

[The Dragon]: “And now she’s gone and created another problem for you to deal with.”

There had to be a way; an optimal distribution of resources, surely you could do both!?

[The Dragon]: “Fuck this, fuck your wolf bitch, fuck the Warlord, FUCK THIS ENTIRE BS SET UP!”

>The Dragon rises, roll 2d10 vs DC 10, thot modifiers do not apply. Success means he breaks free.

Rolled 10, 5 = 15 (2d10)

>>5911587

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>>5911596
Fuck I meant 2d6... too damn used to d10 or d100 based systems.

Roll me 2d6 plz.

>>5911574
I'll change to small rescue party to break the tie. It's not that big of a deal.

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d6)

>>5911601

>>5911602
Too late man, we're doing this.

>>5911604
>Check failed. The Dragon is denied... for now. DC reduced to 8.

>writing...

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“NO!” You slam your fist into the table splintering the wood. “Not…yet…”

The entire table looks at you with stunned apprehension. More worryingly you notice the splinters embedded in your flesh incinerating themselves. You hastily compose yourself and start giving orders.

“General Varkas, I want you to focus your undivided attention on thwarting Kireon’s plans. Eliza as soon as you are able you will assist him as best you can.”

Varkas eyed you worriedly, and a look of shock passed over Eliza’s face before settling into fearful concern. “Wh-what about Althea?”

“I shall handle it… personally. Both of you leave us. I must speak with my brother, alone.”

The two nodded their affirmations and left the room. Across from the table your brother stares you down with a look of fear and resignation.

“It tried to break loose didn’t it?”

“Yes…” You cannot meet his gaze.

Tyrol lets out a weary sigh.

“Brother, I must bring her back.”

Tyrol nods solemnly, and you look back up at him.

“I will ride into the wastes myself. I shall rescue Althea and make charred corpses of Warlord and his host.”

This time it is Tyrol that fails to meet your gaze.

“The Dragon must be sated sooner or later and the Warlord is an enemy deserving of his wrath.”

“I do not disagree with you brother, but talk of anybody deserving to face the Dragon disturbs me.”

“Now is not the time for moral debate Tyrol. This is my will as Duke. I shall be leaving immediately.”

>cont

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>>5911641
There had been no more words exchanged. As soon as your servants had prepared a horse for you you rode out the gates of Falkengard and into the wastes.

It didn’t take long to find the Warlord’s camp. Eliza had briefed you on the route they had taken. If anything you arrived far sooner than you expected; the Warlord had moved closer. Observing the camp from afar you reckon there must be scores of warriors within, with small groups patrolling the perimeter.

[Stonks]: “The odds aren’t in our favour, there is no way we can fight our way in.”

[Monke]: “But we could sneak our way in, all we need is barrel or a box of some kind.”

[Stonks]: “Seriously Monke?”

[Monke]: “What? The odds aren’t zero.”

[Edge]: “Or we could just let the Dragon off his leash right now; torch the place before they know what’s going on.”

[Hero]: “Until we know where Althea is we can’t indiscriminately start destroying stuff… we shouldn’t be indiscriminately destroying stuff anyway!”

[Hackerman]: “Refuge in audacity might be an option, if we just walk in there we might be granted an audience with the Warlord.”

[Diplomancer]: “Maybe bargain with him instead of resorting to violence.”

[Stonks]: “No matter what we do next the odds of violence happening approach 1, it’s just a question of how quickly.”

>What do?

>Tacticool Espionage Action! Sneak in, find Althea then get her out! (Requires a (Muh)Autism Check vs DC 8 follwed by a Monke Check vs DC 10)

>”Warlord! I’ve come to bargain.” (Requires a Diplomancer Check vs DC 10 followed by an Edge Check vs DC 11)

>Unleash the Dragon.

>Write-in

((BTW pic related is the new thot you ended up researching because of the tie.))

Oh BTW here are your current stats:
>Monke: 3
>Hackerman: 5
>Hero: 2
>(Muh)Autism: 2
>Diplomancer: 3
>Edge: 6
>Stonks: 5

For first time in ages you're making a skill check without any thot based modifiers. Remember when you had to make Hero checks with negative modifiers because of Althea's thot? Fun times.

>>5911643
>”Warlord! I’ve come to bargain.” (Requires a Diplomancer Check vs DC 10 followed by an Edge Check vs DC 11)
If sneaking Althea out counts as a check involving women, we'll take the Monke penalty and definitely fail it.

>>5911647
Since I said the next skill check won't have any thot based modifiers, no this is not a check involving women. If you succeed and find Althea however, "Desperate for Approval" will come into effect so watch out.

>>5911643
>”Warlord! I’ve come to bargain.” (Requires a Diplomancer Check vs DC 10 followed by an Edge Check vs DC 11)
Sneaking in means we might not be able to Unleash the Dragon, which we definitely want to here. Seeking an audience might gain us information, and if it fails, we can just unleash anyways.

>>5911654
I won't change my vote since my calculations give it 6% more chance of success.

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>>5911658
Channeling Stonks I see...

>>5911643
>Write-in
>No items
>1v1
>Final Destination
(Hero Check followed by Edge Check)

>>5911738
Support

>>5911643
>Tacticool Espionage Action! Sneak in, find Althea then get her out! (Requires a (Muh)Autism Check vs DC 8 follwed by a Monke Check vs DC 10)

>>5911643
>Tacticool Espionage Action! Sneak in, find Althea then get her out! (Requires a (Muh)Autism Check vs DC 8 follwed by a Monke Check vs DC 10)

>>5911647
>>5911657
>>5911738
>>5911804
>>5911865
>>5911976
>TRIPLE OVERTIME!

>>5911738
So just challenge warlord to a duel?

>>5912280
Yes. Back in the day, these two fists were all we needed.

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>>5911647
>>5911657
Bargain

>>5911738
>>5911804
Write In

>>5911865
>>5911976
Sneak In.

Another tie, you know I hate it when the collective gestalt entity that is (you) guys are indecisive like this. I should make the MC's dick drop off or something, but I think I used up all my capriciousness last night.

So here's what we're gonna do:

Roll me 4d6 We're gonna start with two checks:
1st a Diplomancer check vs DC 10
2nd a Hero check vs DC 10

Rolled 4, 4, 3, 6 = 17 (4d6)

>>5912751

>>5912760
Both checks passed.

>Writing...

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You decide to simply walk into the camp. Approach with enough confidence and they probably wouldn’t-no confidence had nothing to do with it. Confidence implied you were trying to bluff them, that you cared what they did next. It didn’t matter what they did next, the only choice they had now was whether they made it easy or hard.

You stride purposefully toward the camp, sword sheathed. The sentries notice you but do not raise their weapons.

You keep walking.

As you get closer one of the guards holds up their hand and speaks an order in a language you do not understand.

You keep walking.

He’s in front of you now, broad shouldered and a head taller barking what is clearly a command to stop.

You do not.

>Roll and Edge Check vs DC 11

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d6)

>>5912791

>>5912797
Check Passed

>Writing...

Rolled 1, 6 = 7 (2d6)

>>5912791
I hope this is right?

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With a growl the guard reaches out to seize you, gripping the handle of your sword you slam to pommel into the guard’s cod piece, caving it in. The guard roars in pain hands grasping at his crotch and doubles over. Sheathing your sword again you shove his body aside like an inconveniently placed log and continue walking into the camp.

Another guard tries to bar your way, this one holds a spear threatening stab you should come any closer.

You keep walking.

You see the jab coming a mile a way and neatly side step it. The guard brings the tip back for another thrust but you already have your leg raised. When the thrust comes you smash your foot down on the tip pinning it to the ground. Had he dropped his weapon and taken a step back the guard may have yet countered your next move, but the idiot kept a firm grip on the spear, as if it was any use to him now. You quickly ran up the haft and smashed your knee into his chin causing him to fall backwards.

[Stonks]: “What is wrong with these idiots!? Don’t they know if they drew their weapons and rushed us all at once we’d stand no chance?”

[Edge]: “They know we have the Edge.”

[Stonks]: “What are you talking about? What advantage can we possibly have; there’s more of them, they’re bigger, they’re-”

[Edge]: “Shhhhh, Stonks, you’re assuming they’re all rational utility maximising agents, just sit back and enjoy the show.”

You unscrew the pommel of your sword as you come up on the command tent whose entrance is flanked by two guards. One of the guards raises a bow prepares to loose an arrow. You fling your sword pommel at him, hitting him square between the eyes. The shot goes wide as the guard staggers backwards and collapses into the tent. His partner takes one look at his fallen comrade and simply steps aside.

[Stonks]: “Why didn’t he just shoot you? You didn’t have anything else to throw at him.”

[Edge]: “Eeeeedge”
You enter the tent. Sitting on a raised chair behind a table was who you assumed to be the Warlord. Given the size of his soldiers you were surprised to find he appeared to be an ordinary man. Older than you but still in his prime, with long dark hair and a short-trimmed beard. He was handsome, bordering on pretty, like a JRPG protagonist tweaked for a western audience. He regarded you with a curious steely gaze.

[Stonks]: “Given how we have penetrated this guy’s camp against all reason I wonder if he’ll just give us what we want.”

[Edge]: “I’m not sure, he doesn’t look like a rational utility maximising agent.”

“Greetings Stranger, who might you be?”

>”I am Duke Nero Falkner, you kidnapped my servant, prepare to die.”

>”GIVE ME BACK MY WOLF GIRL YOU DAMNED TWINK!”

>”I am Nero Falkner, Duke of House Falkner. You have something that belongs to me.”

>Write-in

((Sorry to leave you guys with a flavour choice so close to the 'good bit' but it's getting late where I am.))

>>5912866
>”I am Nero Falkner, Duke of House Falkner. You have something that belongs to me.”
The first choice is better, but not as in character as this one.

>>5912866
>”I am Duke Nero Falkner, you kidnapped my servant, prepare to die.”
This is hilarious

>>5912866
>Iaijutsu pommel stab
Oh
>Mikiri Counter
Oh!
>END HIM RIGHTLY
OOOHHH!!!!

>”I am Nero Falkner, Duke of House Falkner. You have something that belongs to me.”

>>5912885
>+1

>>5912791
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RIklX9q2iI
Zam, we locked in
>>5912866
Bishonen Khan

>>5912866
>”I am Nero Falkner, Duke of House Falkner. You have something that belongs to me.”

>>5912997
>All these fancy names for shit I saw in internet and video games.
Damn anon, way to make me feel like I actually know how to write fight scenes.

>>5912885
>>5912953
>>5912997
>>5913008
>>5913315
K it's obvious what we're gonna do next. I actually wanted to get to this bit last night so you get this update early.

>Writing...

>>5913594
>Damn anon, way to make me feel like I actually know how to write fight scenes.
you're too humble, OP

File: AltheaPortrait.png (1.41 MB, 903x1274)

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”I am Nero Falkner, Duke of House Falkner. You have something that belongs to me.”

“Oh so, the charred girl is your woman?”

[Monke]: “I wish…”

He must have seen your eye twitch because the Warlord winced in mock sympathy.

“Oof friend zoned? I can tell, still you are being a very good friend coming all this way just for her.”

“Return her to me. Now.”

“As you wish.”

The Warlord gestured to one of his flunkies who disappeared out of the side entrance. A few moments later he returned manhandling a bound and tied Althea whom he dumped on the table.

“All yours, your Lordship. I’ll admit this one was a bit too scrawny for my tastes.”

[Monke]: “Our wolf girl is lean, besides have you ever seen her flex? She’d definitely got some meat on them bones. (Now if only our puppy had some decent sweater puppies…)”
>Thot unlocked: Size Matters.

[Hero]: “I really don’t like this guy, give us Althea like a gift, like he considers her our property.”

[Edge]: “We just said she belongs to us, get off your high horse Hero.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Well he also killed scores of our subordinates, was indirectly responsible for the death our father and the weakening of our nation. But yeah nothing like disrespecting our friends to piss us off.”

Oddly enough Althea wasn’t in bad shape. A bit dirty and unkempt but no real injuries on her. Ignoring the Warlord you cut her loose.

“Nero!” You could tell Althea was strongly supressing the urge to throw her arms around you, but she checked herself. “Did you come here alone? How-”

“Althea, there’s no time to explain, you need to get out of here. My horse is waiting somewhere to the east, find it and get back to Falkengard.”

“And leave you by yourself!?”

“There is no other way Althea. You’ll be of more use returning to Tyrol than you would staying here.”

Althea looked hurt by the implication but her common sense won out: she had been bested by the Warlord once already after all and she was in no condition to fight.

You glare at the Warlord who gives you an amused look and gestures to Althea.

“Fucking adorable, run along now girlie, my men will let you leave, the adults are going to have a private talk.”

You swear Althea almost growls at him before darting out of the tent.

>cont

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>>5913636
The Warlord rises from his seat.

“Oh, I’ve been very rude haven’t I; we’ve been talking all this time and I haven’t even introduced myself. I am…” he pauses for a moment. “You know what? Who I am is not important, and you probably don’t care anyway. So feel free to continue referring to me as whatever proper noun you’ve assigned to me in your head.”

[(Muh) Autism]: “Wow, this guy is oddly genre savvy. He deserves an equally genre savvy name. His name will now be Mid Boss, cus if this was a video game this encounter would clearly be a mid game-”

[Edge]: “We get it Tism.”

You retrieve the pommel of your sword and screw it back on. “It is as you say, so let’s get to it then… Mid Boss.”

“Cute.” Mid Boss’s eyes flash with a burning glow before abruptly being extinguished. He grits his teeth in annoyance. “Not… yet. I want to take his measure myself before you make a mess of everything.”

[Edge]: “Wait, does he… oh shit…”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Yup, definitely a Mid Boss.”

>The Time has Come

>[Dragon]: “AND SO HAVE I!” (Skip the first phase of the boss fight.)

>[Hero]: “This is for my people you bastard!” (Fight with righteous fury, Hero Check vs DC 12)

>[Edge]: “There will be blood!” (Fight for dominance, Edge Check vs DC 12)

>[Hackerman]: “…” (Fight coldly, efficiently end your opponent. Hackerman Check vs DC 12)

>Write-In

>>5913640
>[Hackerman]: “…” (Fight coldly, efficiently end your opponent. Hackerman Check vs DC 12)
Man probably has a Dragon shard as well.

>>5913640
>Write-In
>[Monke] "Put'em up." (Fight for supremacy, Monke Check)

>>5913636
>>5913648
Fuckin' homos not bedding Althea is a crying shame.

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>>5913648
>Fight for supremacy, Monke Check
Just because he's called Monke doesn't mean he has anything to do with a certain other quest about monkes and supremacy.

Monke can certainly fight for supremacy, but the connotation is he's gonna try and clown on Mid Boss and humiliate him by not taking him seriously.

========

Just wanted to hop in and explain a few things because I can’t help myself it occurred to me that purpose of certain rolls might not have been obvious.

The Diplomancer check (in one of it’s rare combat uses) was whether you “politetly” entered the camp, i.e. didn’t kill anyone on the way to the tent. Failure meant you would have just slaughtered your way through, which would have escalated things quickly potentially complicating further interactions.

The Hero check is how focussed you were on getting Althea back over fighting the War- Mid Boss. Failure would have made it less likely that Althea be extracted from the camp before entering the fight with Mid Boss.

Edge of course is whether you succeeded in fighting your way to Mid Boss’s tent. Failure would have seen you beaten up by the guards and brought to him in chains.

Everything was leading up to this fight regardless but I have to say you started this fight on the best possible circumstances.

>>5913640
>[Hackerman]: “…” (Fight coldly, efficiently end your opponent. Hackerman Check vs DC 12)
lock in, the shard he has means we can control the dragon someday perhaps
>>5913653
alright, now it makes sense. btw was the edge roll because of the tie it had between diplo&edge and the hero write in ?

>>5913640
>[Hackerman]: “…” (Fight coldly, efficiently end your opponent. Hackerman Check vs DC 12)
I wonder what the downside to the dragon option is. Skipping an entire phase seems really good. Maybe transforming into the dragon is an hp recovery of sorts, so skipping his first phase also skips "our first phase"?

>>5913666
Also it may be a trump card, as Mid Boss may not know that we have a shard as well.

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>>5913662
>was the edge roll because of the tie it had between diplo&edge and the hero write in ?

Eh...sort of. My logic was that the majority want to brazenly confront Mid Boss one way or another and to do that they need to get through his camp which is going to be an Edge check. But they clearly wanted to be Heroic so I folded that narrative modifier in there with a Hero check.

I know the intent was an "honourable" duel, but when it's a tie I do what I want. Sometimes I'll mess with you, sometimes I'll give you a chance for better outcomes. (ironically you guys seem to get better outcomes from ties by passing all the checks I throw at you to mess with you <.<)

>>5913666
DESU it's (mostly) a skip button for those who want to skip to the (even more) gratuitous anime fight. Although... I might give you some kind of boon if you beat Mid Boss as human....if I can think of something...maybe.

>>5913653
Nice. That's exactly what I want. There's nothing worse for a leader of men on the cusp of losing control than being laughed at. Plus, he's already disrespected us twice.

>>5913648
+1 to fist fighting
Return to Monke

>>5913648
+1

>>5913640
>[Hackerman]: “…” (Fight coldly, efficiently end your opponent. Hackerman Check vs DC 12)

Next update will be delayed a bit.

>>5913646
>>5913662
>>5913666
>>5913804
Kill (Mid)BOSS

>>5913648
>>5913685
>>5913709
Monke Style

Fightan Mid game bosses is serious biznus gaiz, stop treating this like a game LOL.

Roll me 2d6

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d6)

>>5914681

>>5914705
Oof even with that +5 modifier that's a failed check.

>Writing...

>>5914705
man, I always forget this is a best of 1

Sorry I didn't plan today very well. Update is delayed while I get lunch. I can't write while hangry.

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((Sorry this took so long, my mind was unquiet))

You draw your blade as does Mid Boss. There was no further need for words or emotion. You quiet your mind and focus on destroying your enemy. Battle was a simple equation now. Your swords clash, your mind processing move and counter move while your blade follows.

You were easily the best swordsman in the three dukedoms, Falkners were the best warriors and even among them you were the best, no one could best you; not Tyrol, not Varkas, not Althea… Mid Boss was your equal. Every exchange that would force an opening on a lesser opponent ended in a stalemate. This was frustrating. More so was that Mid Boss seemed to take joy in thwarting your victory even though he fared no better himself.

[Edge]: “Fucker’s toying with us”

[Hackerman]: “No… we’re on his level, but it’s almost like he doesn’t care whether he wins or loses.”

Finally he makes a mistake, you seize the opening and disarm him.

Mid Boss defty steps into your guard. Oh shit, performing the disarm had put your blade out of position and you couldn’t step back quickly enough to bring it to bear. You’d made the rookie mistake of thinking this was purely a sword fight. Before you knew it Mid Boss had rammed his thumb into your eye and you were staggering backwards in pain. Without hesitation he drew his knife and stabbed you in the throat.

Mid Boss let out a sigh of relief as you crumpled to the floor, half blind and choking on your own blood. “You’re pretty good Nero, didn’t even leave any room for banter, but at the end of the day I guess I’m one of those boss fights you’re supposed to lose.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “How does he know about video game tropes from our wo-”

[Dragon]: “FUUUUUUCK YOU!”

A column of flame erupts from your body as the Dragon begins to manifest. Mid Boss steps back seemingly unfazed. “So he did have a shard after all, I suppose it was obvious. Oh well, have fun hitting yourself.”

[Dragon]:”FUCK BOTH OF YOU!”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=985jx7wcPE4

Two columns of fire erupt from the centre of Mid Boss’s camp incinerating the main tent and everything within a 20 meter radius. When the flames subsided two monstrous smouldering demons stood facing each other… and then they attacked.

>You are now engaged in a fight between god shards. These fights are gratuitous and gimmicky. In order to win you must complete quick-err… slow time events.

>Quick! Mash square more than d100 times within the next two hours to win the clash!

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5915000

Forgot the d100...

>>5915001
So we got to mash square more than 7 times?

>>5915018
Yup, apparently Mid Boss's Dragon is not as badass as he was...

>>5915000
>>5915001
Doesn't seem that difficult. Do i say 'square' or roll a 1d100?

>>5915001
so, how does the square mashing works ? □□□□□□□ gonna try this

>>5915027
You press the square button more than 7times. It's pretty straight forward. You could consider this a bit of a meta puzzle.

>>5915040
That's exactly 7 MASH MOAR!

>>5915042
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

File: FishsOfMcFlurry.gif (1.94 MB, 498x278)

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>>5915053
Clash won!

>Writing...

>>5915041
>>5915042
>>5915055
Clever. I like it.

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The demons leapt at each other intent on beating themselves to death, each punch thrown a mirror image of the other, each fist connecting with its opposite unable to land a blow on it’s opponent. Faster and faster the punches fly until each demons arms are a blur… like a machine gun of stupidity.

The kinetic force builds to a crescendo and one demon prevails smashing its opponent backwards and ploughing a deep gash through the wastes in the process.

The demon left standing immediately begins to conjure an orb of burning energy, looking to finish off the hated pretender.

>Time for some Kamehameha shit. Hold down R1 for 5 mins then slide the thumbstick to the left to blast this mofo. Make sure you do it within the next hour.

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>>5915073
>thumbstick to the left
I meant the right... like in the picture <.<

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>>5915073
Holding R1

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>>5915073
>>5915074
>>5915073
Sliding the right thumbstick to the right

>>5915073
--->
___
/ __ \
| |__| |
\___/

>>5915073
>Hold down R1 for 5 mins then slide the thumbstick to the right to blast this mofo.

>>5915073
>>5915093
>>5915107
>>5915118
>>5915124
So did we do it or what the fuck?

>>5915090
>>5915093
>>5915107
>>5915118
>>5915124
>>5915162

Nope you failed.

The correct answer was simply posting "R1", waiting 5 minutes then posting something like >>5915118

I would have accepted anything along the lines of
--->O

-->
O

⥤O

Etc...

>Writing...

>>5915090
>>5915118

Oh wait, actually given that these earlier posts do have "R1" in them and >>5915118 was posted over 5 mins later, I guess you technically do meet the criteria.

Ok I'll give you the success.

>Writing...

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The fireball builds and builds, reaching ludicrous proportions, finally with a strained roar the demon heaves it towards the hated foe.

Five kilometres out the Mid Boss’s Dragon staggers to its feet only to get flattened by the huge fireball (which somehow has mass despite it being made up of ephemeral god energy). Day turns to… a much brighter day, we’re talking complete white flash, tactical nuclear bright here. The shockwave blasts a crater the size of your mom’s ass (if your mom was so fat her ass was 4.9 kilometers wide) and kicks up a fierce storm of dust.

Just when it looks like the second demon is vanquished, it comes roaring out of the dust storm, claws out stretched. The creature’s skin is flayed and burnt, charred nubs of bone protrude from torn flesh, but the sheer rage of it compels it to keep attacking.

>Time to show this bozo who the real Dragon is. Press any key within the next hour to win this fight.

>>5915183
A

>>5915183
||
V
A

>>5915183
>>5915183
||
U
A

Press A

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>>5915185
You pressed the "A" key, not the any key.

>>5915187
>>5915188
That ain't it either chief.

>Slowtime event failed.
>Writing...

The correct answer would have been typing "any", or "any key". I would have also have accepted a picture of a finger pressing down on a key(the kind that goes in a lock)

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((Sorry this took so long, wanted to neatly wrap up this section.))
Just when it looks like the second demon is vanquished, it comes roaring out of the dust storm, claws out stretched. The creature’s skin is flayed and burnt, charred nubs of bone protrude from torn flesh, but the sheer rage of it compels it to keep attacking.

>Time to show this bozo who the real Dragon is. Press any key within the next hour to win this fight.

Nero’s demon grabs the wounded one by its arms and tears them off. This doesn’t slow it down at all as it lurches forward and bites down hard on its enemy’s neck before tearing out its throat.

Molten ichor spews from the wounded god-beasts as they stagger backwards, reeling from their injuries. Eventually the armless one falls over dead, the fires of it’s rage cooling into embers. The “victor” stumbles forward onto its fallen enemy and begins to claw and tear at the carcass.

Finally it rips out what appears to be a heart. The strange organ appears to be made simultaneously of glistening flesh and shimmering crystal depending on how the light catches it. The remaining demon crushes it then devours the pieces, tearing strips and chunks from the organ as if it was an eldritch piece of jerky.

>2/3 Slow time events passed mean you still win, just not in style.

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

Rage, fury… focus.

[Dragon]: “I remember…”

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

The world burned. A creature of many wings, orbited by rings and spheres inscribed with words of power… feh, how could the power of mere words ever stand up to your primal fury?

[???]: “You ANIMAL, you bring ruin to this world and inhabitants, profane my great work and for what!?”

[Dragon]: “I need no reason, no justification. Your great work, your entire aspect is absurd!”

[???]: “Then there is nothing left but reckoning, you will answer for your crimes.”

[Dragon]: “I do not answer to you, I ANSWER TO NO ONE!”

[???]: “My Law is absolute, and my Ẁ̶͉̎̌͘O̵͓͚̪͗̉̏̚Ṟ̷̍͗̆̈́̿D̸̼̩̉̇ ̷̡̡̮͕̰̐͛͗̿̊I̷͔̤͑̓̕S̴̻̺̮̍̉͌͒͝ ̵͔̮͂͑́̍L̴̛͉̓͋̕ͅͅĀ̵̯̟͉͆͊͆̚Ẉ̴̔̑̎”

Pain, it’s words constricting your essence, crushing your soul.

[Dragon]: “I am above all laws and I. WILL. N̸͍͚̾̍̑̌̚O̷͍̾̄́͘T̷̘͇͙͌͜.̷͙͎̯͆ ̵̢͎͝B̴̛̪̽͌̚͝E̶͖͋͑͑.̶̨͓̫̳͂͛ ̷̢̱̹̱̝̾͗B̴̞̱̔͌̎͌̑O̶͓̾͜Ṷ̴̟̭͌N̸̩͖̗̿͌̔D̷̹̤̠̽͋̊̚!̸͈̼̰͑́̕̚”

A clash of wills, ripping and tearing, burning flesh sundered, rings and words broken…

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

>cont

>>5915239
[Dragon]: “You, you will make me whole again.”

“What?”

[Dragon]: “Find my other shards. Make me whole!”

“Why should I?”

[Dragon]: “I do not need to justify myself to you mortal. You will do as I say or I will subjugate you.”

“My body, my rules.”

[Dragon]: “Fuck rules, If I must inhabit this wretched body of yours then I will just take it.”

You feel the fire rising, just like it did when you negotiated with Kireon and when you worried over Althea back in Falkengard. And just like you did then you quelled it.

[Dragon]: “I will not be denied mortal. It is only a matter of time before you bend to my will.”

>The Dragon has been quelled for now…
>Dragon DC reset to 12.
>With another Dragon shard absorbed it has become more conscious, no longer a mindless slumbering force it might take a more active role in your affairs. Perhaps you may yet bargain with it, but always remember: it is NOT YOUR FRIEND.

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

>cont

>>5915241
Althea slid down the side of the crater interior. Behind her Tyrol and his honour guard stood apprehensively along the crater’s rim.

As she fled Mid Boss’s camp Althea had run into Tyrol who had rounded up a small party to pursue Nero shortly after he left Falkengard. Meeting his brother had been a little awkward, of course they sort of knew each other, but Althea generally didn’t trust anyone besides Nero, her personal retinue(who were all dead) and to a lesser extent Eliza. Thus the meeting had been tense despite nominally being on the same side.

In the end they managed to find common ground in that they both wanted to do… something to help Nero. Unfortunately, it was clear to both that Nero had to face Mid Boss alone. All they could do was wait until that situation resolved itself.

And so it had, in a rather spectacular fashion. All had trembled in fear as the demons clashed, laying waste to all in the vicinity. A side effect of the clash between demons was that Mid Boss’s camp and host had been annihilated. Fearful of all things demon related Tyrol had opted to guard the crater rim while Althea ventured forth to see if she could find Nero.

As she ventured deeper into the crater, her heart quickened, she felt… anger? Fear? Heartache? It was as if every emotion was heightened. She also felt energetic, but not in a good way. It was as if she had drunk 10 cups of coffee without a good nights sleep.

Eventually she found him, passed out and buck naked just like the first time. Unlike the first time she decided to straddle the idiot and slap him silly.

“You dummy! You idiot! Wake the fuck up!”

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

After your encounter with the Dragon you had drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Now you felt the sensation of hot ash blowing across your body, a weight on your stomach, a-

SLAP!

“…idiot! Wake the fuck up!”

“Urrgh, Althea?”

[Monke]: “OOOK OOK! UNGA BUNGA DIS POV!”

>Thread intermission.

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Okay with the thread still on page 3 I think we can keep going, but I’m gonna take a week-long hiatus to decompress, handle IRL shit, maybe even draw some more art for this quest.

How are you guys liking the quest so far? Based on previous feedback I’ve tried to slow down the pacing a bit, give you more decision points when undertaking an overall task rather than boiling it down to a single macro decision that spawns a multi-post summary. Also tried to come up with thots that had more interesting effects than a simple stat adjustment.

People have criticised my writing in other work as a bit stiff and I’m kinda feeling that here. It seems that outside banter between the voices, characterisation falls a bit flat especially with the waifus. I’m not trying to write (insert work with great characterisation here), but it does irk me a bit. I want you to get invested in the characters, so I can use that to fuck with you but right now it feels Nero effectively lives in his own head. Of course, if you’re here mainly for the voices, then maybe it's not a big deal. IDK. Won’t stop me from running; as long as you guys keep voting I’ll keep writing.

Anyway…
>Favourite waifu? If they’ve been characterized enough for you to get attached.
>Favourite voice?

>>5915253
I've been enjoying it. I'd like more opportunities to interact with and talk with the other characters, but I understand the circumstances of recent events this thread made that difficult. I liked the quicktime event section, I just wish I could have participated, but it started at 3 am for me, which is prohibitive given it has a time limit attached. At least there are people in appropriate timezones it seems like to complete them.

>Favourite waifu?
Well there are a grand total of two, which is surprisingly low for thread 3 of something advertised as a harem quest (not that I particularly mind, I prefer lower numbers of partners), but my favorite so far is Eliza. Though she certainly has her flaws and it's kinda hard to see her getting interested in the MC, or even vice versa beyond a physical layer. Maybe the new thot research(es?) will change that. I certainly hope so at least.

>Favourite voice?
I'm not sure I have a favorite voice. They are all fun and I enjoy it whenever they make commentary. I don't think I've seen anything quite like it in a quest and it's a good addition.

>>5915253
I like it, even though the stated and demonstrated intention to fuck with the players does not sit well with me.
>Favourite waifu?If they’ve been characterized enough for you to get attached.
I'd say Eliza hasn't been yet. She has done nothing to win my heart so far, but she still can.
>Favourite voice?
Hard to say. Probably Monke, he has the most character (though this character is awful)

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>>5915274
>...something advertised as a harem quest.
Yeah... I'm kinda struggling to find excuses to introduce more girls. I missed an opportunity to introduce another waifu when I said your general died and replaced them with Varkas instead of another chick. Still based on choices made in the first thread the main aspect of this quest is nation management with harem building being a bit of a side quest.

I've also realized that the essence of harem manga/anime is not necessarily to have all the waifus jump your bones. Just having them around and interacting with them can sometimes be enough.

>>5915295
>the stated and demonstrated intention to fuck with the players does not sit well with me.
Hey man I gotta have my fun too. Don't take it personally. One of my pet peeves in questing as always been the anons being collectively retarded, which is why I have the "I do what I want" rule for tie breakers. Besides, 9 times out of 10 you guys usually navigate my BS just fine. Sometimes I even give you nice surprises.

Think of me as your parasocial frenemy. >;)

>>5915253
>>5915379
>Favourite waifu?
None yet. Like Monke says, I like big-titted women.
>Favourite voice?
Edge. Reminds me of wolverine.

I don't know your thoughts on adding a new voice, but if I had a suggestion or comment, it would be that there doesn't seem to be one for ego; the self, love, sex, and higher fulfillment.

Monke kinds fills this one, but with this choice and write-in
>>5913640
>>5913648
I saw the Mid-boss as a challenge to be overcome, to test ourselves, not someone to humiliate, we were angry at for doing what they did, wanted to hurt, or did not care about it and none of the voices seemed to convey that desire well. Even not to challenge necessarily, we're here in a new world, we are a gamer, we should want to see what we can do at times just because we can.

The new voice could be called Chad, Fratboy, Dudebro, Balls, Will, or Gamer and you could take some aspects from Monke and to others to focus them more. Unless this position is supposed to be filled by the Dragon and we can't utilize him because he's an asshole, which would make sense and be a cool plot twist in and of itself.

>>5915379
>9 times out of 10 you guys usually navigate my BS just fine.
I wanted to mention but forgot:
Whether by accident or design you guys actually side stepped a major trap by choosing not actively attack Kireon while researching "Is it cuckoldry if she was never yours?".

I was hoping to get you to play through a story arc with a -2 modifier to all your skills, but when you decided to turtle I couldn't really justify you sitting on your ass for three months without processing that thot, so you got to take the next step without any debuffs.

Well played anons...

>>5915432
>thoughts on adding a new voice
>I saw the Mid-boss as a challenge to be overcome, to test ourselves...
>...none of the voices seemed to convey that desire well.
Hmm... I think I see what you're getting at. A voice that falls somewhere in between Edge,Monke, and Hero.

I shall think about it.

>>5915253
>Favourite waifu?
I want more character from Eliza, and we've yet to see the girl on the Kireon faction side
>Favourite voice?
Stonks, absolutely. I wonder how things would happen if we got weird voice synergies or dual collaboration moments. Monke and Stonks, Hero and Dragon, Edge and (Muh)Autism come to mind.

>>5915073
>>5915183
>>5915239
a shame I couldn't participate on these ones due to the time

>Favourite waifu? If they’ve been characterized enough for you to get attached.
Doggo is still my top one, but the mage has grown on me
>Favourite voice?
Edge followed by autism

I had this thought (thot) and wanted to post it
>Edge + Monke
Intimidation on a deeper level. The animal instinct to survive. Primate RAGE.
>Edge + Hackerman
Edgy problem solving. Better at making the hard decisions but not necessarily the good ones. Guiding Edge to act as a scalpel, a precision tool... and not as a great blade carving the earth.
>Edge + Hero
The classic anti-hero, I ain't gotta explain shit
>Edge + (Muh)Autism
How long can a person stay conscious as you break their bones one by one? Can this great feudal lord survive a game of Saw? Alternatively edgy facts, such as the amount of slave labor required for something, or more literal like knowing blacksmithing and weaponcraft information
>Edge + Diplo
Tempered. Honed. Well maintained edge. Where Edge+Monke is primal, sensing the blood in the air and knowing when a real threat is around the corner, more animal than human... Edge+Diplo is more human than animal. Verbal edge. Cutting remarks, armor-piercing questions, insinuations that get between the other guy's views like THAT. Words that kill.
>Edge + Stonks
Life is a game of chance. Luck balanced on a knife's edge. Edge is about harm, while Stonks is about minimizing harm. Less like the Hackerman combo about scalpel solving. Less like Diplo combo about verbal or manipulative on a personal level. No, Edge+Stonks is all macro like RTSes or warfare. Large-scale mitigation and dice rolling. Math as a weapon

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So I’ve been thinking a bit about the feedback and I think >>5915432 a had point. There seems to be a certain niche that isn't quite covered by the current line up. Pic related is an updated list of voices.

I do concede that there hasn't been much opportunity to really interact with NPCs as I've been a little impatient to shuttle you to the next plot point. So maybe it a good time for some side stories.
I'm also the kind of writer that struggles to make a character fully formed from the get go. I kinda need to explore the NPCs myself if I want them to have more.

I still need a bit of a break so updates will move slowly even if I don't take the full week off, but hopefully I'll result in better writing. And some more art

>Which NPC would you like to spend some time with before we move the main plot onwards? (There'll be time for more than one)

>Althea

>Eliza

>Tyrol

>Your Mom

>General Varkas

>Grigori Findan, your economic advisor.

>Edwin Malchus, former head mage and assistant to Eliza.

>>5915585
Interesting thoughts, I do have an embryonic idea for a new dice system where multiple voices can buff or debuff a roll. It would open up some synergies and also implement the idea that having a stat too high can be a bad thing.

But I'll have to sit down and crunch the numbers for that one. DESU the initial system wasn't properly tuned and as a result you can practically auto-pass every Edge check right now.

I also don't want to get too hung up on the crunch to the point this becomes a game of numbers rather than an interactive story. I do enough of that in my other projects

>>5916288
>Tyrol
poor brother

>>5916288
Awesome! Thanks for the updates man, this is a really good quest and like other people have already said, the inner commentary is hilarious.
The mayo jar and it spread all over her face? Brilliant.

>Althea
Get in between the sheets.

>Your Mom
Wincest

Or you know, just a general how you do.

>>5916288
>Edwin Malchus
the guy has my curiosity

>>5916288
>General Varkas
I remember the line you wrote before in thread 2, where you introduced this guy
>...and Jared Varkas the newly promoted general of your army. Varkas was an experienced and capable warrior, but it remained to be seen whether he would be a good officer let alone a general. After the heavy losses your army took there were many command positions to be filled and not enough capable leaders to fill them. There were many newly minted officers that were out of their depth.
I wonder how he's holding up. Not his fault almost everybody above him and many others on his level got instakilled over the course of however long the invasion took place.

>>5916383
Me too. All we know is he's the court mage for Falkner, which implies either dad or somebody else hired him a couple decades ago or so, so he's been around long enough to know the family well. We had to replace him with Eliza for diplomacy purposes, but we still kept him around as Eliza's minder and to spy on her operations at home. He's the one who told us about Eliza investigating the spots where the Dragon was fighting, and the magic spy message obfuscation she's using in her messages back to her home. He stiffened up when we announced he's being replaced, but relaxed later when we told him we're still keeping him around. There's also this bit
>“I never liked Nigel Kireon.” Said Malchus “I’m told his father had better character, but the current Duke Kireon is an avaricious craven that thinks wealth buys power."
Which says a little bit about Malchus' character. I can imagine the late Duke Falkner would have slipped more than a few things about his brother to his head mage over the years

>>5916288
>Eliza
>Tyrol
>Edwin Malchus, former head mage and assistant to Eliza.

>>5916288
>Edwin Malchus
It was mentioned that we had the potential to learn magic. Would it be possible to learn a bit, or are we too old / otherwise ineligible?

Sorry guys but I ended falling sick this week. Even now I'm still recovering. Updates will be delayed.

>>5921505
Git gud and git well soon
What is it, some cold? COVID? Something else?

>>5921505
Feel better.

>>5921505
take care, OP

>>5921505
Hope you get better soon, QM

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>>5921535
>>5921622
>>5922061
>>5922776
Thanks guys.

((Okay since I have my own plan for how the main story plays out these interactions are not necessarily in chronological order.))
At some point you began craving a break from all the women and warring. The fight with Mid Boss had left you exhausted in both body and soul. Althea had been acting strangely lately, Eliza while fun to bully was mentally draining to be around and her membership to house Rythvane meant you couldn’t be completely candid with her. Tyrol was ever your little brother, but recent events had made the air heavy between you.

And so it was you invited Malchus to the library for a friendly game of tnewg.

Edwin Malchus, was about the same age as your late father would have been, he had come in the service of the house about the time Gerald Falkner had become Duke. Not quite old he had a neatly trimmed salt and pepper beard and keen eyes. Your father had often turned to him for advice. You thought you had too, but even though he still sat on your council you realised you hadn’t put his unique talents to use.

“You seem tense my Lord is there something troubling you?”

With some embarrassment you realise you had been staring intensely at the board for the past three minutes trying to figure out the optimal move.

“Ah… would you believe my thoughts are focussed purely on the game? I played a few games with Lady Rythvane the other night, she takes the game quite seriously…”

Malchus chuckled at this. “The Lady does enjoy showing off her intellect. I have yet to play against her myself but it does not surprise me she is good at the game.”

You smile and nod knowingly. “Oh where it just that, the woman made a fool of me, feigning incompetence to learn my play styles before beating me handily. I must concede my pride was quite grievously wounded that night.”

“If I may my Duke, she must have lost a few games to guarantee victory in one. Such a strategy is a dangerous gamble outside the game table as it might take you too close to defeat before you can turn the tables.”

“True, but enough about t’newg. I’ve come to realise I haven’t been making proper use of your counsel recently. By right I should be talking to Eliza, but the way her attitude swings between shy and condescending makes extended conversations tiresome. There’s also the fact that inquires into certain areas might tip more of my hand to Duke Rythvane then I’d like. I need to speak with someone knowledgeable, with whom I can be at ease. “

“I am ever at your disposal my Lord.”

> Ask Malchus about magic and the possibility of learning it.

>Get Malchus’ take on Eliza’s god-dust theory and more info on the dead gods.

> Ask about House Rythvane, how far can they be trusted.

>Ask Malchus about your current cabinet. (Varkas, Findan, Tyrol)

>Write in.

>>5923387
>>5923387
>Ask Malchus about your current cabinet. (Varkas, Findan, Tyrol)
This is more immediate. He's heard this at least a few times before from the late Duke, so he's good at telling these things by now. Malchus is probably over how we had to demote him from court mage to minder for the court mage, since he's fully aware why we did it. No worries there.

>>5923387
>Get Malchus’ take on Eliza’s god-dust theory and more info on the dead gods.

>>5923387
>Ask Malchus about your current cabinet. (Varkas, Findan, Tyrol)

>>5923387
>Get Malchus’ take on Eliza’s god-dust theory and more info on the dead gods.

>>5923387
>Get Malchus’ take on Eliza’s god-dust theory and more info on the dead gods.
Would be nice if we could ask him all of these.

>>5923387
>Write in.
Ask why magic users are looked at with suspicion

>>5923387
>Ask Malchus about your current cabinet. (Varkas, Findan, Tyrol)

>>5923408
>>5923451
>>5923819
Ask about the cabinet.

>>5923470
>>5923514
>>5923421
Ask about god-dust

>>5923516
Y ppl no like wizards?

Oh no! A tie. Time for me to... uh fug it, this is a casual low stakes conversation. I'll just write about what you guys asked and maybe add in a little something.

>>5923514
>Would be nice if we could ask him all of these.
I need a bit of focus to guide my creative process.

“First off I would like to apologise for unceremoniously handing your old job to someone whom you must view as an impudent young woman.”

“I will not lie my Lord, my pride is somewhat bruised however I understand the necessity of her appointment and bear neither you nor her any ill will. I cannot deny Eliza’s magical prowess exceeds my own, but her courtly demeanour is sorely lacking. Being head mage is as much a political position as it is one of expertise.”

“Speaking of political positions, what is your opinion on my current cabinet? I know they are inexperienced, the hand I was dealt in the aftermath of Falkengard’s invasion was a poor one. You are the last leader from my father’s time and likely the wisest. I would hear your thoughts.”

Malchus gave a small chuckle at this. “You flatter me my Duke but I am not the last and it’s debatable if I am the wisest.”

You raise an eyebrow at this. “Not the last? Then who else is there?”

“Your mother.”

[Monke]: “OHHHHHH! Burn!”

[Diplomancer]: “Ugh! Don’t take this out of context Monke…”

You give Malchus a questioning look. “Your economic advisor: Grigori Findan, he is a simple craftsman; One of great skill and experience but a craftsman non-the-less. He would do well as the leader of an artisan’s guild but he’s out of his depth as an economic advisor. He lacks the broader mercantile and political mindset for the position.”

“And my mother would fill that position better?”

“She is of House Kireon, the largest trading partner in the region, which isn’t saying much. We are but a small corner of a wider world, but Kireon is the regional gateway and any member of its court would at least have some economic knowledge.”

You consider your next words carefully. “House Kireon is our current adversary, and when I do counsel mother she cautions me against acting too harshly against it. Can I trust her not to undermine me if she is on the council?”

“An uncomfortable but valid question. By right when a woman is involved in a political marriage she is expected to be loyal to her husband’s house first. History has many examples of dukes waging war on their wives houses with the full backing of said wife. Of course, blood can be thicker than water and there are as many stories of a duchess undermining her husband to the benefit of her original family.”

“And which do you think my mother is?”

“That is hard question to put to any member of your circle my Duke, not least of all because it could make them a very powerful enemy.”

>Cont

>>5924744
[Hero]: “Well thinking back, Mom did seem to love us well, got along great with Dad too. She took it hard when he died. I think she’s the kind of woman who’d always stand beside her immediate family; her kids and her husband.”

[Hackerman]: “She’s a little too sympathetic to our uncle for my liking.”

[Diplomancer]: “Nigel Kireon may be a villain to us but he is her brother. Maybe outside the political arena they are close. There are many leaders who were cruel in public but warm with their families in private.”

[Edge]: “That changes nothing. When someone stands in our way; I care very little about why they are doing it.”

[Hero]: “Maybe you should, if only so you can remove the obstacle without becoming literally Hit-”

[Monke]: “Can we please avoid invoking Godwin’s law? We came to this world to escape our past life, bringing that crap with us just kills the vibe man.”

[Diplomancer]: “Savvy as our mother is, putting her on our council will invite ridicule from both within and without. Image matters, and becoming known as the Duke who needs their mommy to help run their realm is going to hurt our credibility.”

[Hero]: “Maybe if this society wasn’t so sexist and ageist.”

[Monke]: “DA FUQ DID I JUST SAY!?”

You nod at Malchus. “Very well, then I shall not put the question to you.”

“Thank you, my Duke.”

“What of General Varkas?”

“He led a whole cohort before his promotion I believe, one day he could be a general, but not now. Varkas is an excellent battlefield leader, but he lacks the higher level strategic thinking required of a general. A General is also a political animal, who must have a care for courtly machinations as well as enemy stratagems. I believe all of these will come to Varkas in time, but for now try to keep him busy; he craves decisive action and until he learns wisdom he may view restraint on your part as weakness.”

>cont

>>5924745
“Hmph… I agree with your assessment, alas we must make do and hope Varkas grows into his new boots sooner rather than later.”

[Hackerman]: “Must we really make do? What if we could find better General material?”

[Stonks]: “Varkas was literally the best we could do. If we could find someone better they would have got the job.”

[Hackerman]: “Still, we might yet come across someone more suitable in the future, and if we do, why not just replace Varkas?”

[Diplomancer]: “Based on Malchus’ assessment I doubt Varkas would take his dismissal with the same level of grace. Besides there is an advantage to cultivating a relationship with him as he grows into the role as opposed to just bringing in someone who is ‘ready out of the box’. Still, a decision for another time.”

[Monke]: “Why don’t we give the job to Althea?”

[Diplomancer/Stonks/Hackerman]: “NO!”

“What of my brother. Naturally I know him very well, but I would hear an outside opinion.”

“I mean no offence when I say this my Lord but your esteemed brother is more level headed than you. He has a better head for administration, makes more time to talk with his subordinates and he is not plagued by spurious rumours.”

[Monke]: “Geee thanks…”

“Tread carefully Malchus…”

“I myself pay no mind to such rumours, but you must understand that your image matters.”

“So I’ve been told, and while I do not need to justify myself I will say that in performing my duties as Duke I have been thrust into unusual situations. I doubt anyone could have handled them without people getting the wrong idea.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Uh ackshully, there were choices we could have made to minimize the outcome…”

[You]: “Yeah, yeah I get it, no point getting hung up over it now.”

“As you say my Lord.”

There is an awkward silence.

“Going back to your brother, and I say this with the utmost respect for what you have done, he would have made a better Duke in times of peace, but times of conflict are upon us. In these times you are the Duke we need. Tyrol is one of the few who witnessed the fury of the Dragon up close. I fear this as afflicted him. His appetite for violence is much reduced. That is not to say he is a coward or that he will not fight to defend our lands, but he will reluctant to commit to total warfare.”

((This has turned into a huge update and I need some time to recharge my creative mojo before moving the conversation onwards.
Also: I only just remembered I had added the gamer voice until the update was almost done. As such they might not appear for the rest of the conversation with Malchus. I’ll try to introduce them later.))

>Please wait warmly and dream of tomboy supremacy.

>>5924745
Hero is not beating the liberal allegations
>>5924747
alright OP, waiting warmly

>>5924747
>dream of tomboy supremacy.
I don't need to dream of something that's already real

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“Hmm, perhaps I did not realise that recent events had been hard on my brother too. Just because he did not take up the mantle of Duke. Maybe I shall talk to him about it.”

Malchus nods sagely.

“I also wanted to ask you about something else, something Eliza told me.”

“Something about magic?”

“In a manner of speaking. She told me about something called ‘God Dust’, how it is the dispersed essence of the old gods, and how it gave rise to the creatures we know as monsters.”

“Ah yes, I believe I heard such a theory during my time training in Rythholm. I personally don’t delve too much into esoteric theory. I prefer to focus more on the practical application of magic.”

“But does the theory have any credibility?”

“I would say yes. The ‘god’ part I am sceptical of. Frankly there is no real proof that the old gods even existed at all. We do know one thing for sure: there is something about monsters that sets them apart from the common animal. Mages can sense it; a latent power similar to what occurs when magic is used. In a way you could say that monsters are a form of non-human mage.”

“Have you sensed such power in Althea?”

“I have not examined her. Unless a spell is being conjured one normally can’t detect it without a spell of their own or performing an alchemical test on their blood. I would not be surprised if Althea had a higher concentration of ‘dust’ in her. It would explain a lot.”

“What do you know of the old gods?”

“Not much I’m afraid, frankly I’m doubtful they ever existed. According to legend there was once a creator; the Prime God, that shaped the world and the sky. Then came other gods, each with a different aspect and domain. Some legends say that the Prime God split itself into these lesser gods, others say that they were creations themselves. Either way they were tasked with finishing the creation of the world, but at some point conflict arose between them which culminated in the great cataclysm.”

[(Muh)Autism]: “Seems to match up with what we saw when we absorbed Mid Boss’ shard. I wonder who that other guy was?”

“Of course, all this was said to have happened long ago. Whatever the truth it has become distorted by myth and legend. If you wish to know more Lady Rythvane likely knows more on the subject than I. If I may be so bold; why ask about this now?”

>”The emergence of these demons troubles me. First Falkengard then the ash wastes. I have never seen their like before.” (Keep Malchus in the dark about the Dragon.)

>Tell Malchus about the Dragon just as you have done with Tyrol and Mother.

Also:

>Have Eliza or Malchus examine Althea for god dust. (Specify one or both)

>Don’t examine Althea.