>>6098808

every time I complete the OG post in a new thread and the formatting *sticks* I get a bit emotional, give me a moment

# # # # # #

Rules Recap:

We vote by majority to decide actions. In rare cases, if a tie happens I may incorporate both options if narratively possible or interesting. This does NOT happen for combat rolls.

We use 1d100 roll against a DC, plus bonuses.

>natural 1 is a critical failure, natural 100 is a complete success.

Roll vs DC for most checks.

Combat roll is instead Bo3, counting successes against my rolls (usually you need to beat only 1 or 2 of my rolls)

If you or I get dubs, trips or more on the rolling post we add the following values/effects to what was just rolled and only that:
>dubs: +6
>trips: +18
>quads: automatic critical success + kiss on the cheek
>quints: permanent bonus + double kiss on the cheek

these rules apply to my rolls as well but only to the first one (as I use a single post for my rolls)

>Write-Ins:

there will be the occasional prompt for these. Interesting ideas or suggestions may be incorporated in the update even if they don’t reach a majority. Discussions and questions are highly encouraged as they may give you numerical bonuses or allow you to skip dangerous situations!

# # # # # #

Pasta?

Pasta!

>Lore and Important Characters: https://pastebin.com/By6W3xxD

>MC and stats (updated!) https://pastebin.com/CuxGS43X

# # # # # #

And now, the news…

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>>6098811

“Argia Candente,” Carnaval says with a voice like echoing bells, “I wish to speak to you.”

You behold the Angel of Ansàrra, standing in front of you, her glass wings tinkling like far-off bells beckoning to a celebration. Carnaval flexes her marble fingers, as if she wanted to reach out to you — but hesitates and pulls back.
“I have heard your name many times upon the lips of your Master,” she adds. Her voice is so smooth, almost liquid, metallic.

You notice, because you can’t think about anything else to do at this moment. This is the Angel.
Ever since you heard about the Holy Land, you thought about its white shores, the tall towers capped by blue domes, the noble standards flowing in the wind. A land of plenty and of health, a land of full life and life fulfilled, under Ansàrra’s undying watch.
But you have never been to the core of Madua, not to mention ever even saw Her floating palace. You have heard Her voice and you have felt Her presence, especially the other day when Soralisa reached out for you in the Well, and tonight, many times.

But the living Angel.
Here.
For you.

Each of the crystal feathers making up her wings shines with a crimson glow that bathes her smooth skin, like light scattered upon a vermillion sea. Her gilded eyes search for your face, inscrutable. She smells like molten iron, like acrid burning oil, like incense and with the tinge of spilled blood. She is prayer and punishment, and she’s here.

“How— how may I be— of service.” You put together your words, pulling them from the fragments of your scattered mind. Carnaval frowns a little, her wings tinkling softly as she adjusts her posture, hunching over to lose a couple inches, seeming less threatening perhaps. Less glorious? Unlikely.

“Now I had my chosen line wrenched off me. This is indeed a momentous occasion.” She tilts her head, giving you another long look. “It is I who wanted to be of service to thee. Due to my carelessness, you and your companions have been assigned to a mission far more dangerous than your rank or your experience may guarantee. An oversight that has troubled my heart and weighed upon my wings.”

[cont.]

CAPTCHA: KPS2... this brings me back.

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>>6098813

Questions rush towards your lips, too many for any of them to spill past your mouth. You can only feel the grass touch the exposed skin of your arms — oh no, Rubida’s work is getting all dirty,
complains a distant part of your mind — as the wind plays with your silver hair.

Carnaval’s golden eyes linger over your head.

“You carry a mighty curse, Argia Candente. I did not desire for it to trouble you any more than it already had. I was careless, and I wish to extend my apologies.”

“I— no, this is—” you reach for Master’s hood to wrap it over your head, but the Angel was just being considerate was she? She did not ask you to cover yourself. At least you certainly hope so. “No apologies required.”

“It is not so,” she sighs. “Nevertheless, you and your companions have shown remarkable progress and astounding resilience before evil. You faced a great and ancient tumour upon the face of this world, and you excised it.”

“Y-Yes,” you agree. “All of us. Soralisa and Rubida and Salicera.” A pause. “I gave some help.”

Your Master chuckles.

“Your Master believes your contribution was much more substantial than ‘help’, Argia Candente. So does everyone else who was there with you, as far as I could gather.”
You jolt.

“You s-spoke with the others?”

“Nay,” she replies with a smile. “There is Another who could inform me of that.”

Oh.

Oh.

[cont.]

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>>6098815

This also reminds you — could Carnaval know anything about your connection to the cameo?

Perhaps you should ask her — as soon as you put your shattered mind back together.

“I- I— I am just trying to do my best. B-But if there is anything I can do…” the Angel raises a hand and you forget how to speak.

“Allow me to finish, please.” She closes her eyes and takes in a long breath. The blood in her crystal wings glows and hums. “Rumour has reached my ears that your manipolo is due to graduate soon. But for some reason this mission, even one against the Sisters—” she bites into the last word, “was not enough. As Law would have it, it is beyond me to intervene in the matters of the Amaranthines.”

That is news to you. The idea that Carnaval — Carnaval! — could think someone is beyond her shakes you like a leaf. It’s like learning the colour blue was red.

“Hence why I have thought of a workaround. All on my own, mind you,” she smiles. It’s a vision. She looks so beautiful. Stunning. “I shall have you four embarked on another mission. One that, were you to succeed, will immediately allow you access to the Trial of Fire.” Her smile grows a little wider as her wings creak. She puffs out her chest just a bit, looking extremely pleased with herself. “And lest you worry, it will mostly be a diplomatic mission. A simple affair involving the Treviri Throne. And even if danger were to arise, you would certainly be able to deal with it. It shall at any rate be far less dangerous than an encounter with a Sister would be.” Her smile falters just for a moment, and Carnaval rubs her hands together, caught by a nervous tic. “I am positive. Well, confident. Hopeful.”

You let her words play around in your mind, echoing in the empty walls of your skull.

The Trial of Fire. A Knight. Your family, safe and secure in the Holy Land.
Everything you have been working for.
Your hand, finally reaching for a cup of wine, raising it to your lips in celebration.

Carnaval eagerly awaits for your reaction.

>Stand up proud and accept right away. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, the Angel of Ansàrra interceding for you. You’ll take whatever mission she thinks will benefit you.

>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?

>The Treviri Throne? Oh, why the heathen lands? Why did Carnaval decide to send you there of all places?

>There is also something else that just now catches your mind… [Write-in]

this is so much work with 4chan's formatting, but I am so glad to be back. Thank you so much for supporting our beloved doofus. Let's see what troubles she gets herself into this time.

>>6098817
>>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?
Well what's catch?

Glad to see you back, OP. Cheers to more fun adventures and secrets revealed.
>>6098811
>MC and stats (updated!) https://pastebin.com/CuxGS43X
why is Argia's bazzongas' size marked as secret if we know that they're D ?
>>6098817
>she smiles. It’s a vision. She looks so beautiful. Stunning.
wife

>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?
I'm all for it, but I don't wanna it be all for nothing.

>>6098817
>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?
Coming back only to find out our hard work means nothing because of some bullshit office politic sounds frustratingly likely.

>>6098808
>Voting Link (please vote, my mom checks my threads

I am happy she supports your writing and hobby. Get her on here to vote.

>>6098817
>Stand up proud and accept right away. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, the Angel of Ansàrra interceding for you. You’ll take whatever mission she thinks will benefit you.


Welcome back.

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>>6098896
>what's the catch?
you'll have to sign up for League of Legends season pass

>>6098907
>glad to see you back, cheers

thanks anon! looking forward to more silvery shenanigans!

>a secret

forgot to eDit

>>6098910
>bureaucrats ruining it for everyone
some things are just... true in every world.

>>6099046
>welcome back

thanks!

let's see how this one goes. It's a busy day for me (when it is not?) so I'll say 8 more hours for voting or so. Welcome back everyone.

>>6098817
>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?

>>6098817
>>Sounds great, but… why now? What would the Blessed Blind say about it? There is no refusing, but shouldn’t you first ask if the Amaranthines wouldn’t veto this mission later on?

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>>6098896
>>6098907
>>6098910
>>6099046
>>6099156
>>6099216


>>6098817

“O Crimson Comet,” you begin, praying for words that would not offend her, even if such a thing seems impossible. “I am honoured that you thought of me— of us — for this mission, but. But… I have one question. If I may.”

“You may,” she allows, looking a tad confused.

“We have been given to the care and rule of the Blessed Blind, Astoria di Ottava Ora. We are still beneath it.” your eyes shift towards your Master who shrugs. “And I wonder: could this cause conflict with the Amaranthines later on? I do not mind bowing the head to my betters, but I do not want the efforts of my friends to go in vain.”

And you also wouldn’t want the chance to free your family to be overturned on a whim or a technicality. Admitted such a thing could happen to Carnaval. You cannot pretend you understood even a lick of it, but Rubida’s words during your interaction with the Blessed Blind have shaken you to your core. It’s like there is a whole different side to the Holy Land, one full of unseen words and treacherous steps, from which your Master has hitherto protected you from.

Carnaval’s golden eyes burn a little darker at your words. She tilts her head to look at your Master and they share a look, gold mixed with his grey.

[cont.]

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>>6099264

“Child,” Carnaval starts, tapping her marble finger against her platinum lips, “the lofty councils and gatherings of the Holy Land may clash with each other sometimes. We cannot expect a pond to hold clear water if we let it lie still. Yet, this would count as a personal favour to me,” she taps her chest. “Few callings would be considered higher. None could overrule it.”

“If I may,” your Master interjects, standing up and stretching his arms, “I believe that our Argia was shaken by certain things she has seen, or not seen as of late. It’s in her nature to worry about this.” He gives you a smile and you feel your heart picking up pace. Maybe you won’t be reduced to ash by a blast of cleansing light.

“I see. A worthy question, then.” Carnaval blinks and she seems to go back to her good mood, even excited. “I hope this news will be cause of joy for your friends as well.”

“They will,” you reassure her. At least, they surely will be for Salicera. She seemed eager to try her blade against some new enemy. And Rubida and Soralisa would benefit from less time in the outback.

In fact, this is great news. But there is a patina of worry about it you cannot wholly shake.

For the time being, you let go of it.
Better this way.

“When would we depart?”
“One turn,” Carnaval informs you. “To gather your bearings and to travel to the coast. And one more day for any further delay and allow the other party to meet up with you.”

“Meet up? Are they coming… walking on hallowed ground?” The idea of heathen boots of the Throne walking over the streets and fields of Madua makes your stomach lurch.

Carnaval shakes her head.

“Starless Night, nay! Perish the thought. You will meet up on boat.”

You nod. Makes sense. Even in the rare occasions when diplomats and dignitaries of the other Powers are allowed access to the waters of the Holy Land, every exchange happens on the open sea, far from the shores.

So. Seven days from now.

You will have time to rest and recover. And perhaps to have that heart to heart with Salicera.

Your hand reaches for your cameo. You also may have a question for Carnaval, while she is here.

>Ask about the connection with your cameo

>Ask about the role of the Blessed Blind over all this. Astoria made it look like you’d be under her for the remainder of your training, even if it was supposed to only be this one mission

>Ask about Soralisa. Is there any chance for her to fully recover?

>[Write-In]: you ask all that, and more (add another quick question that may be answered)

>>6099266
>>Ask about Soralisa. Is there any chance for her to fully recover?

>>6099266
>>Ask about the connection with your cameo

>>6099266
>>Ask about the connection with your cameo

>>6099266
>Ask about Soralisa. Is there any chance for her to fully recover?

>>6099266
>Ask about the connection with your cameo

>>6099266
>Ask about the connection with your cameo
Not because I value it more than Soralisa, but because I have faith. if Soralisa is to recover, with divine aid, it won't be because we asked as a personal favor. That isn't how forces of good operate one hopes.

>>6099314
>>6099434

2 for Soralisa

>>6099358
>>6099418
>>6099468
>>6099605

4 for cameo info

writing!

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>>6099605
really liked this way of thinking by the way. hold onto that feeling anon. it's right at the core of this quest.

one day you will see.

>>6099266

As your fingers trace the profile of Saint Bragia over the ivory, you also wonder if Carnaval can tell you something more about the strange connection you have felt over the days and months. Your growing bond with Saint Bragia Lacresta.
“There is another thing. I-If I may.”

“I have a little more time yet,” the angel nods, her wings tinkling and creaking behind her. “Ask away.”

“I have began to feel queer about my bond with this thing.” You pull the cameo off your neck and show it to Carnaval, her golden eyes tinging with interest. “It is Master’s gift.”

You stand up again and walk to the angel, setting the most precious thing you own into her marble hand. She raises it to her eyes and you notice the golden light painting the edge of the cameo into a soft yellow. The angel’s eyes glow.

“This is exquisite. Why would you be worried about your attachment to a thing, at any rate? Are you worried about the pitfalls of greed?”

“Nay,” you vehemently deny, shaking your head. “I was— I have been taught a serious lesson about those. I come from the Mar da Candéa.”

“Your family name.” Carnaval’s other hand reaches for your cheek, rubs one long and smooth finger against your skin, all the way to your forehead. As she does so, you feel some kind of pressure growing inside you and echo against the tip of her finger. As she withdraws it, you almost stumble forward, holding your forehead in your hands. That was… different.

Carnaval’s jaw sets. The soft glow of her eyes turns brighter, sharper.

[cont.]

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>>6099883

“The merchants of Frigéia,” she grits her teeth. “They took from me and they took from you in thy turn. When I shall flounder one of their vessels in the future, I shall etch your name on the ship’s side, child. Let it be known.” She pulls her hand back, letting it fall by her side. “But that is not what worries you.” She holds up the Saint’s effigy, looking at it under the brightness of the planetary ring. “This is not familiar to me. It is older than I have been in this world.” She sighs, the traces of sourness on her face disappear and she gives it back to you. “No matter how high one soars, we are all subjected to doctrine. I am…” she hesitates. Her cheeks glow a little brighter as well. “Ah, child. My strength lies not in poignant answers to ancient questions. My wings are the voice of Ansàrra, my blood is Her vengeance, my talons are Her swords and my song Her edict.” She folds her hands over her chest and shows you a light bow. “Now I have to apologise twice in one night. I cannot answer what you ask for, but I can remind you that if such a bond exists, it comes from the Sun-Birther.” Her smile turns fonder, as if remembering someone dear to her. “We are all grains of sand sifting through Her onyx hand.”

“I see.” You take the cameo back into your han and set it onto your neck once more. You share one look with Master and the same fondness shines in his grey eyes as well.

Perhaps you will have to find an answer to this mystery by going directly to the source.

“May I also— ah, I don’t want to waste your time, but I want to ask: my friend—”

“The one who risked her life channelling far too much,” she nods, fanning her tinkling wings out. “Soralisa da Zaribari.” They stretch onto the grass, painting it crimson, until they are just as wide as she is tall, perhaps more. They look so imposing. A marble statue, holding the searing light of dawn, framed by blood-stained glass. “I cannot foresee her future. But she has been helped. I see no reason why she would be in want of help in the days ahead.” A pause as she bows her head to you one last time. “Be it coming from above, or from friends she may hold close. Your path is surrounded by thorns, Argia Candente. But there is steel in thee. Not just silver. Perhaps you ought to remember that.”

[cont.]

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>>6099884

Carnaval folds one of her wings over her chest and with a snap like cracking ice she detaches one of her feathers off the rest. Blood droplets shower on the grass and burn through it like acid, sizzling on the ground.

“Take this in memory of what you truly are. And of me, if you so want.”

“I— I don’t know what to say, o Carnaval.”

Your hands close on the crystal. It’s hard and warm, thrumming with a hidden heartbeat. The blood vessels inside like like glowing cracks of ruby in the see-through glass.

“Then do not,” she smiles. “May swords carry you when words fail! Especially when you shall have to deal with the Mage!” She chuckles, unfolds her wings and with a thunderous creaking and tinkling of glass, a bout of wind pushes you back on your knee as the Crimson Comet raises high in the sky. Another beat of wings and she’s off, a glowing white and red dot, streaking across the night sky like a shooting star, too stubborn to fall and crash.

You look at the so-called feather she left you. It’s as large as a dagger, and seemingly just as sharp. Where your bare skin touches it, it lights your blood up, as if your skin was nothing more than glass. It makes you shiver, but it’s pleasantly warm.

Then something else reaches you.

The echo of the angel’s words.

Mage.

Does that mean…

“We are going on a missions with an Asterite?”


>Stay a while with Master and discuss what just happened. Even if it means feeling tired tomorrow.

>Too much emotion for one day. Maybe it’s time to just call it a night.

>Did Master see your molten spring? You feel like discussing the experience with him. Is he… proud of you?

>You likely won’t find your answers here. Better go back to talk with Soralisa, if she’s still up.

And now you have one more keepsake! Wonder what that feather will be useful for? Oh and... Mages. Asterites. This is getting complicated... who knows what the future has in store for you? As always, thanks for playing.

>>6099885
>>Too much emotion for one day. Maybe it’s time to just call it a night.

>>6099885
>You likely won’t find your answers here. Better go back to talk with Soralisa, if she’s still up.

>>6099885
>Stay a while with Master and discuss what just happened. Even if it means feeling tired tomorrow.
>Did Master see your molten spring? You feel like discussing the experience with him. Is he… proud of you?
We came to talk to the old man. let's not leave without doing so. Who knows when he'll see Master DILF again?

>>6099885
>>Too much emotion for one day. Maybe it’s time to just call it a night

>>6099885
>Stay a while with Master and discuss what just happened. Even if it means feeling tired tomorrow.
damn, Argia is so lucky.

>>6099885
>Stay a while with Master and discuss what just happened. Even if it means feeling tired tomorrow.

>>6099885
>>Did Master see your molten spring? You feel like discussing the experience with him. Is he… proud of you?

>>6099885
>>Stay a while with Master and discuss what just happened. Even if it means feeling tired tomorrow.

>>6099890
>>6099959

go to bed

>>6099907

go find Soralisa

>>6099950
>>6100098
>>6100105
>>6100274

discuss what just happened with Master

>>6100274

focus on Master's impression of you

thanks a lot for the votes anon. Writing now.

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>>6099885

You made a promise to yourself to never drink wine again, at least until your family is safe.
Thankfully, that promise does not cover other alcoholic beverages. And your Master’s special reserve is always at the ready.

“A toast to disciples who exceed all expectations,” he says topping up your small glass.

“Ha toasht,” you reply, your tongue already starting to feel thick and heavy in your mouth. Your head is pleasantly buzzed out. Oh, how you missed this. “To Masters.” You drink it all up in one gulp and as it fills your mouth with its oily and heated kiss, the drink warms your chest and your belly. “Ahhh—” you let yourself fall on the grass, looking up at the silver ring. The wind runs its invisible fingers through the grass and plays with the strand of your silver hair.

Carnaval saw you without your hood.

She singled you out for a personal favour.

“And feathers.” You add, looking at the crystal in your hand. It’s hefty and still warm, still thrumming with deep life. “I just hope all this will help me get my family out of the Landing Strip. Give them the life they deserve.”

“When you do, an old man will be out of a job,” Master chuckles.

“Don’t say that!” You reply. How did Carnaval put it? “Perish the thought! You’ll always be my Master, even if… when…” you don’t really have a segue for that. Your brain is getting all mushy. “Always.”

Which does convey the point.

A few more moments of silence. The wind plays with your hair.

“Thank you for having me, Argia,” he replies.

[cont.]

>>6100795

“Master, I—”
“This is a night for honesty, so I should try to be honest myself. Before I found you, I thought I would spend the years that the Sun Birther would leave me as the banner to an order of valiant but strict Knights. I felt aimless. The Holy Land caught in petty disputes and Mannish arguments. But then I took you in, and you took to the Faith like paper to flame, and it brought you into the brightest light. These things do not happen by accident.” He lays next to you, picking up your cameo. “You said you feel a connection to Bragia Lacresta.”

“I do. I had a vision of her, back then. She was also taking part in the molten spring.” A pause. “Did you…”
“The best I had the honour to witness, in a long, long time. Someone over the gates of Dawn had a hand in that, and I say this as a compliment.”

Carnaval was so overwhelming. Magnificent and far different from how you imagined her to be. She stunned you. But you know Master.
You can allow yourself to smile widely next to him.
To rub at your tired eyes. Ah, something must have gotten in them.
Dust carried by the wind, no less.

“This cameo was gifted to me, and I gave it to you as a reminder. There used to be a girl much like you, once. A girl who had a hard time making friends, a girl who doubted herself and her value to Ansàrra, a girl who became a a martyr. The Mourned.”

You nod. It’s as fresh as the first time you heard that story, when Master told it to you. Saint Bragia.
Betrayed, burned, buried.

“She was neither the strongest nor the most exceptional of the servants of Ansàrra. She did not have the skills in arms and the resilience of Kishirra. She did not possess an inkling of the might of Carnaval. And yet, she is greater than those two.” He lets the cameo fall back against your chest. “Because she had trust. I think Ansàrra sees a bit of Bragia Lacresta in you as well. That is the reason why this cameo leads your way. And the reason why Sunseekers and Amaranthines and Blessed Blinds shut in their white towers would never understand it.” He chuckles again. “And here I am, Head of my order, and committing the worst of sins, speaking as if I was privy to Her thoughts.” Master shrugs. “Yet some things do not need proof for belief. And most importantly…”

[cont.]

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>>6100835

He stands on his elbow, aiming his thumb down to the town.

“You have friends now. You are giving water to your tree. I am sure it will grow strong and beautiful.”

“Y-Yes.” Salicera’s face flashes before your eyes. You wonder if you should speak about your doubts with Master, but given all that happened, with the way Salicera earned your trust again and again, you’d feel like it’d be walking on treaded ground. Better not to. “I’m trying. I really… I can’t believe my luck.”

“You have earned your luck, Argia.” He reaches out for you and pulls you into a hug. “I am proud of you.” He runs his fingers through your hair and another of those knots you felt in your heart ever since the moment you left for this year, that treacherous voice that kept whispering in your ear (Master did not want you! Master got rid of a bad disciple! Master did not want to have anything to do with your curse, silver girl!) finally dissipates.

You cry against his chest, wetting his shirt. He takes it without a word, allowing you to ride the wave of your sorrow, of his understanding, until the wind has changed, and the stars have too, and the stormy sea inside you finally turns into a placid shore.

He pulls away from you. Your head feels heavy. Everything is buzzing. Your eyelids feel heavy.

“The night is growing thin. Can you walk?”

“Mmhhssyesh,” you groan, and he chuckles, helping you to stand up.

“Party girl. I’ll help you on your way back.” He drapes your arm around his shoulder and together, his other hand using Kishirra’s poleaxe as a walking stick (the heresy! but you are too tired to argue…) he helps you go back to town. “After all,” he sighs, “it’s likely we won’t see each other for a while.”


>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>Your friends… you didn’t believe they’d grow so fond of you. Wonder what Master thinks about them?

>You won’t see each other for a while? But you just met so soon! Can’t he stay at least one more day? You get ready to plead…

>[Write-in] Another thought sprouts in your head...

Glad the cameo's mystery is definitely solved. I'm happy we can put that behind ourselves forever. Argia is getting ready for her new journey. Let's all hope she's ready... and thanks for playing.

>>6100839
>>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>>6100839
>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>>6100839
>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!
Good to see this back. Also, if Argia was an Asterite, would she also have a good understanding mentor?

>>6100839
>>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>>6100839
>>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>>6100839
>Your friends… you didn’t believe they’d grow so fond of you. Wonder what Master thinks about them?

>>6100839
>>Wait, the Asterites… Master has traveled far and wide, he’ll know something about them!

>>6100848
>>6100862
>>6100870
>>6100889
>>6100910
>>6101354

lotsa love for the Asterites. You are going to meet one of them soon enough

>>6100914

interesting choice anon. maybe one day Master will tell you his thoughts. props for choosing this option.

writing!

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>>6100839

Master’s words push an icicle straight into your heart.
You won’t see him for a while… even as you just reunited.
“I see. I wanted… I hoped…”

“I am requested elsewhere,” he explains, helping you climb downhill towards the city. Now that the celebration has died down, most people have gone back to their homes and the streets are once again empty. You can see it from there. How clean and well-kept everything looks. Even in such a small backwater town as this…

“How are the Throne-Lands?” You ask then, reminded of the foul rumours that surround the people from those place. The Throne is the largest and most-populated of the Powers, a lumbering giant that sometimes swings its fists this way and that. They are known to miss, but when they do hit…
Even the Holy Land suffered through the echoes of the last Eldritch War.

“Vast and strange,” he replies, his voice taking that dusty tone you’re used to when he starts recounting the past. “The stars seem to shine brighter there, and the more south you go, the brighter they get, until they look like fire-lit jewels when you reach the Borderlands.”

“Have you been there?”

“Just the very outskirts. The will of Ansàrra has not brought me there for now.”

“And how will the Throne people react to our presence? The Throne has not been a friend of Madua.”

He rubs your shoulder to reassure you. You are going to miss Master’s presence. The way he can make you smile with a gesture.

“Neither has the Emperor been unfriendly to us. Friederigo is a reasonable man, a trait most uncommon in those of his line. You and your friends will have to fear little from him or the regular troops of the Throne. In fact…” he chuckles, “I’m afraid you’ll have to hold onto your robes! The people over there are prone to superstition and hearsay, and they’ll believe a patch of your clothes is enough to heal their cough, or it can be used to keep wine from spoiling, and such.” He shakes his head. “There’s good people on our side, Argia. There’s good people over there too. And yet…” his gaze turns darker as the slope turns into a plain. “This Asterite Carnaval picked for your mission… I am a bit concerned.”

[cont.]

>>6101433

The woman lies beneath the large, muscular man. With a grunt, he pulls away, having finished his job. The female beneath glints with sweat, smooth tanned skin etched by pale scars, her long blond hair stuck to her back. Sitting on the bed, he makes it creak with the weight and mass of his huge body. By contrast, the woman looks so frail, almost fragile, even with her defined arms and muscles. It looks like he could break her like a twig, if he wanted to.
She flexes her long fingers, and with a swift movement of her wrist she snaps out of the cuffs that had tied her to the bed, sitting in front of him and pulling her long blonde hair into a ponytail.

“How was I?” The man asks.

“Adequate,” she replies, a satisfied glint going off in her green eyes. They are a very pale green, almost grey, the colour of jade and faded moss, dried by flight, forgetful rain.

The man’s huge shoulders relax. He lets out a deep breath, relieved.

“Thanks, Magistra.”

“No thanks yet,” she replies in her soothing voice. She sounds like silk rubbing on silk, and yet the man’s hands twitch at the steel hidden in her tone. “I want you at the ready for when I come back from this mission. Remember: no showers while I'm away.” She picks a pair of soft-woven gloves and slowly pulls them on, hiding from sight the silvery scars covering the back of her hands. “I am going to need your services when I get back from babysitting that gang of Maduan dykes.” She grins, a smile like a sickle.

“I’ll save my final rating for later.”

[cont.]

>>6101435

# # # # # #

“Why? Do you know them?”

“No. Her rank is quite high, but not high enough. Besides, i have heard she is a tad... peculiar. That is all I know.”

You frown. You do not like the idea of spending time with Asterites. They are dangerous people.

And their powers make your skin crawl. The way someone could have something like that without it descending from Ansàrra—
Even for someone like you, grown under the looming shadow of the Echorian, it feels unnatural.

You stumble forward, the cobwebs of sleeps now starting to truly cover your eyes. Between the alcohol and everything else… it was a long, long day.

You are faintly aware of Master opening a door and leading you to your bed. He sets you on the creaking mattress, running his fingers through your silver hair.
He does not mind.
He never did.
You are going to miss him.

“Master—” your head reaches for his own and he allows you to leave it there, but your grip is weak, between how tired you are and the spirits in your body. “Why are you concerned?”

“An old man is allowed his worries,” he sets a kiss on your brow and stands away. “I am sure you will do just fine, Argia.” A pause. “I am proud of you.”

“Ah-”

Your arm falls at your side. Lulled by those words, you allow yourself to slowly fall into sleep, your other hand wrapped around the cameo.
The last thing you see is Master closing the door to your room behind himself, and the last thing you hear is his voice.

“Salicera? A word, please.”

Ah, you were supposed to…
To…
The blanket of sleep tucks you in.

[cont.]

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>>6101440

# # # # # #

You turn to glance a the small town that welcomed you. The crowd, young and old, farmer and sheep, cows and horses and young women whispering to themselves and tanned farm hands checking out Rubida as she rides on her horse, they are all waving and cheering as the group of four Knight (in training!) departs.

Master is at the helm. He’ll be with you for a part of the journey, at least.

Astoria is nowhere to be seen. It seems like she disappeared since the night of the celebration. Your Master explained it as ‘State affairs’, whatever that may mean. He wore one of his dusty smiles when he said so.

The morning after the celebration, a weary Salicera shot you a glance and made you understand that for the time being, there would be no talking.

Perhaps now that you left the town you can start to get closer again. You feel like you let her down.

At least, Soralisa is starting to get her sensitivity back. It’s going to take a long time, but she’s confident that with time and prayer, she’ll recover.

For the time being, she rides in front of Rubida.

And so, five people and four horses, you leave the town, riding towards the port where you will meet with this mysterious Asterite… and after you’ll have passed this new trial…
You pull your robes a bit tighter, Carnaval’s gift pressing against your chest.

“A Knight, finally,” you mumble, thinking of your family’s relieved faces.

But for the time being, feeling your new sword safely tucked in its beautiful new sheath, you’ll have to focus on how to get there.

The sky is getting cloudy again.

>Ask Master if he can spar with Salicera. Will this help you get back in her good graces?

>What do your friends know about Asterites and this mission anyway? How about you do one more briefing, just to make sure?

>Travel to the coast is going to take a while. You have time to revise your training — you worked well as a group last time, but this time you’ll have to work in sync…

>[Write-In]

>>6100870
>glad to see this back
thanks anon! I'm happy too!

>Asterite!Argia's Mentor

this is a very interesting question. The short answer is 'haha fuck no', and you'll find the long answer in the next updates.

As always, thanks a lot for playing.

>>6101435
>She flexes her long fingers, and with a swift movement of her wrist she snaps out of the cuffs that had tied her to the bed
>Remember: no showers while I'm away.
freaky woman

>“I am going to need your services when I get back from babysitting that gang of Maduan dykes.” She grins, a smile like a sickle.
friendly rivalry
>>6101441
>Travel to the coast is going to take a while. You have time to revise your training — you worked well as a group last time, but this time you’ll have to work in sync…

>>6101435
Our own boytoy when?

>>6101441
>>Travel to the coast is going to take a while. You have time to revise your training — you worked well as a group last time, but this time you’ll have to work in sync…

>>6101470
>Our own boytoy when?
no boytoys for us, only manhusband

>>6101441
>Ask Master if he can spar with Salicera. Will this help you get back in her good graces?
Feels like we should've talked with Salicera. Bit of a misstep.

>you'll find the long answer in the next updates.
I see. I doubt that Asterites are known for their humility or good treatment. I suppose godly nuclear magic turns you into a freak.
>>6101435
> Remember: no showers while I'm away.
Truly, she is Napoleonpilled.

>>6101440
Blonde? Light eyes? A freak? Sorry Stilly, this is my new bae.

>>6101441
>Travel to the coast is going to take a while. You have time to revise your training — you worked well as a group last time, but this time you’ll have to work in sync…

>>6101531
which quest do you make ?

>>6101576

>>6089315

Harry Potter Universe quest, set about 20 years after the last book. The MC ends up needing to spend a year abroad, so she is heading to the American Hogwarts, Ilvermorny with her twin. Still finishing up the prelude. Influenced by Disappearing Hogwarts Quest but that one is not required reading aside from Easter Eggs.

Come check it out!

>>6101583
wait, were you that same anon who did horny fics of DH in previous generals ?

>>6101590
I am the artist formerly known as smutAnon, chattyAnon, ect, yes. No smut in my quest yet.

I think I only posted 1 fic in the general during the hiatus, the rest were limited to the DHQ threads.

>>6101441
>Ask Master if he can spar with Salicera. Will this help you get back in her good graces?

>>6101522
I didn't know we were going to get plastered with Master, or I wouldn't have voted that way. Sometimes, though, so it goes. Can Salicera truly begrudge us wanting to catch up with someone so important, whom we won't see for a long time? Maybe, but if she really begrudges us that for very long, it will tell us a great deal about her suitability as a paramour, or lack thereof. And I say that as someone on Team Sally!

>>6101601
>does Salicera really really begrudges us?

keep in mind this is Argia we are talking about and remember her infinite plus people skills

>>6101583

good luck with your new quest! might check it out!

>>6101441

>Travel to the coast is going to take a while. You have time to revise your training — you worked well as a group last time, but this time you’ll have to work in sync…

>>6101760
>good luck with your new quest! might check it out!

Thank you!

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>>6101462
>freaky
you have no idea.
>>6101470
>>6101531
>new bae
kek, just wait
>>6101782

>revise training and focus on your roles a little better

>>6101522

>Master pls

update will come a little earlier because I have some stuff to do later on. writing!


kinda unrelated, can't guarantee more puppet show for this thread but I'll try to write one, I enjoyed putting it in last time

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>>6101441

A few hours later, a light drizzle has caught you by surprise. Your group has found cover under a large stone sticking out of the trail. You stand right beneath its lip, looking up at the grey sky, hiding the planetary ring with its dull hue.
The last time you found yourself in such a situation, Soralisa could still use both arms.
She is laying on the floor now, reading one of her books, while Rubida patiently takes care of her air and turns the pages for her.

Salicera is taking a break, laying against the moss, her face covered by her hood. You do not know how to deal with her yet. You have a feeling she’s trying to hide it, but missing your planned encounter hurt her. Especially after you yourself insisted so much.

Master reaches you, the noise of his heavy boots making you turn.

“Is it soothing to watch it rain?”
“It is,” you agree, pulling your hood tighter over your head. Now that you are crossing the heartlands of Madua, you don’t want to risk revealing your silver-coloured head. “I’m trying to clear my mind up a bit.”

“That worried about the Asterites?”

“Not just that. The mission as well. Carnaval did not specify much,” you shrug. “I don’t even know what we are supposed to do.”

“She wasn’t any less secretive with me. I believe it’s because she can be scatterbrained sometimes. She certainly wouldn’t have kept details hidden on purpose.”

Carnaval… scatterbrained? If it wasn’t Master suggesting this, you’d draw your sword to cleave through such heresy.

[cont.]

>>6101942

You purse your lips.

“At any rate, I feel responsible.”

At those words, Master’s steel gaze turns a bit mischievous. You have learned to fear these moments.

“Go figure. And I believe you used to just be their Vanguard, not their leader.”

“I’m not,” you reply, fidgeting. “I likely never will. But it’s just going to be the four of us out there, no Blessed Blind to rely on, no Military Chaplain to fall back onto… and they did follow me to the black end of the world.”

“And all the way back. You have proven yourself to be reliable, Argia. Do not shy away from this role, lean into it. You will be a Knight soon, and then you’ll feel that weight every day.”

“Will it ever get easier?”
“Nay,” he replies with a grin. “But your shoulders get stronger.”

You nod in understanding.
“Very well.”

You turn towards the others.
“Uh, if I may—” Salicera pulls the hood off her face and gives you a glance, as the other two also turn to look at you. Always under scrutiny. It’s no worse than the stage, though… “I thought that we have rested well enough. Even if this is a diplomatic mission, I…” how to explain this? “I have a hunch we are going to need our swords anyway.”

“I was not going to leave it to rust,” Salicera smirks, standing up, her hand already running to her weapon. It’s the same sword you nicked with your tetracerarmide blade.

“What do you propose then?” Rubida listens patiently, Soralisa as well.

[cont.]

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>>6101943

You can feel Master’s proud smile warming the back of your neck. And your cheeks are also getting warmer.

“I— I was thinking we must not lose our keen.” You unsheathe your new blade, the white edge glistening even in the dull light of the rainy day. “Sparring. And after that, give a bit of thought about our formation, given Soralisa’s… given Soralisa can focus on support, Sanctions and helping us not to fall flat on our face.”

The brunette looks down.

“I am serious! I know next to nothing about the Treviri Throne. Rubida?”

She shrugs.

“Salicera?”
“Don’t ask me.”

“See? You are our only reliable source of information. I want you to be comfortable in your new role, which means…” you raise your weapon. “It’s up to us three to protect her. Now, sparring. Who wants to go first?”

Your chest wound feels much better after all.

>You pick Rubida. She’s bound to be the closest to Soralisa anyway.

>Salicera. Swords trump words anyway… and this way you can have a steely conversation.

>Master is here… it would be a grave mistake not to ask him.

>Or perhaps… [Suggest a combination of the two, or something else.]

Thanks for playing! Our silver girl is going up in the world! Let's all hope it's a good thing and she can bear the responsibilities!

>>6101944
>Master is here… it would be a grave mistake not to ask him.

>>6101944
>You pick Rubida. She’s bound to be the closest to Soralisa anyway.

We must out-do her head cheerleader energy by beating her into submission.

>>6101944
>>Master is here… it would be a grave mistake not to ask him.

>>6101944
>Master is here… it would be a grave mistake not to ask him.

>>6101944
>Or perhaps… [Suggest a combination of the two, or something else.]
>Master and Salicera
As a bit of an apology for flaking on her with the talk. I still feel bad about it, especially after being a bit pushy about it, but people were excited for Master.

>>6101944
>>6102110 +1

>>6101927
Hey look, our Canon D-Cups! And Canon Love of Puppets!

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>>6101944
>>Master is here… it would be a grave mistake not to ask him.

>>6102182
Did someone say Cannon in D?

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>>6102397
I normally like smaller women but I do love that we rolled so well for her boob size.

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>>6102397
this is SO cute!
>>6102470
this as well. I also like enjoy more petite dimensions, but Argia got stacked. Master's fault, with his bread+milk enforced diet.

luckily I'll have my revenge... my pettanko princess is about to enter the stage...

>>6101952
>"Master!"
>>6101988
>"Master?"
>>6101995
>"Master..."
>>6102397
>"Master!!"
>>6102110
>>6102182
>"...oh... and Salicera too."

>>6101957
based Rubida stan. your vote will not be forgotten, absolute chad


writing in a bit, then update!

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>>6102535
>based Rubida stan. your vote will not be forgotten, absolute chad

I normally like light colored hair, but I am in no way opposed to black hair, especially if they have light colored eyes. What color are Rubi's anyway? Might try to AI gen some images later, even though it blocked me when I tried for Argia because i used the tern "large breasts".

>>6102535
Master is too cool. I bet he was a big fucking dork when he was young. Probably had a chuuni phase.

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>>6102535
Art Noveau is my weakness

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>>6102540
>Rubida's eyes

she has jet-black hair, pale skin and deep blue eyes, while Argia's are a more of a sharp, clearer blue. Her features are considered aristocratic because they supposedly hint at a Kiengir heritage (while in-universe there is no such thing, Kiengir would never mix with baseline humans. they also had sable-coloured skin)

cute pic! now that's a butt worthy of a Knight!

>large breasts blocked

try 'fullbodied', 'motherly figure', aigen is a bitch when it comes to censorship

>>6102550
>Master has a chuuni phase

Ibardo Delebasse's past is full of mystery...

>>6102570
that and French symbolism. those two styles go so well with Fantasy. I personally use more of an Italian inspiration for my setting (who would have guessed, hm?), while Kiengiri stuff is explicitly megalithic/Sumerian in nature, but symbolism/art nouveau goes well with the more magical places of the setting such as the Echorian, the Twelve Cities of Tramontana (the place where Asterites mostly come from) and certain parts of the Borderlands.


writing!

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>>6101944

“I think I’ll take this dance,” Master says, taking a step forward, bending at the waist before you. “If you will allow me this honour, Argia Candente.”

Rubida snickers, delighted.
Salicera grins, sitting with her legs crossed, hands on her thighs.
“This is going to be entertaining to watch.” And then: “Kick his ass, Argia!”
“I-I could never! Even suggesting anything like that…”
“It’s a figure of speech! Calm down, I know how devoted you are,” she replies, waving her hand. “But it’s nice to see you panic a little.”
“Uhm…” you blush and look away. You really need to reach out to Salicera after this.
“Master Delebasse, a word, please?” Soralisa interjects, trying to raise one arm and wincing when she cannot.
“Yes?”“Are you sure you want to use your relic for—for sparring? I doubt even Argia’s tetracerarmide’s weapon can withstand the hallowed blindglass…”
“Oh, this thing?” He swings Kishirra’s poleaxe, cutting through the air with a thrumming echo. It almost sounds like he’s plucking chords on an harp with the Kiengir marvel. “Argia is used to it.”

Soralisa’s mouth hangs open.

“M-Master Delebasse? Y-You trained and sparred with Argia using a blindglass weapon?”

“For three years.”

You nod. What is Soralisa so scared about? You are perfectly aware Master’s weapon can cut through steel like wet paper.
How would you get so agile, otherwise?

“One thing, though,” he adds, raising one finger. Soralisa’s brown eyes get even wider. You can almost hear the gears going on in her mind, thinking Master has suddenly changed his idea, that he will pick up a normal weapon… “This is not my weapon by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just its bearer and warden, for the time being. Try to remember that.”

Rubida gently closes Salicera’s jaw.

“I-I of course, Master Delebasse. I will treasure this moment.”

Rubida sneakily bites her lip, rubbing her thighs together as she turns to look at the two of you.
You wonder what she’s so excited about.


[cont.]

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Rolled 38, 63, 99 + 92 = 292 (3d100 + 92)

>>6102636

This is just some sparring… and you are getting ‘your ass kicked’, to use one of Salicera’s weird expressions.

“She has quite the sturdy head, hasn’t she?” He mutters, a glint going off in his grey eyes. “And there’s nothing to worry about. Her old teacher has gotten lazy and careless.”

You gulp.
That’s what Master always says when he feels like showing off.

“L-Lynx?” You plead, quickly bending at the waist in salute and then quickly falling back into the prudent, defence-focused stance, your white-edged sword held up in front of you.

As if this thing is going to help you at all. Even if it wasn’t a priceless artefact, Master holds a poleaxe.

There’s just no competition.

Master shakes his head.

“You are their Vanguard, or am I mistaken? Lion.”

“L-Lion, of course.” You switch into an aggressive stance, sword aimed at Master, your body tilted. Your heart beats so hard in your chest.

It’s going to be quick.
Probably painless.

“Sharp is the Dawn,” Master declares.

“And relentless,” you reply, and you dash ahead…


>Combat Roll: remember this is just sparring. Please keep your limbs attached to your torso over the course of this combat roll.

>You roll 1d100+19+10 (from Cameo, which seems determined to lend you help...), for a total 1d100+29.
>Each reply/anon rolls 1d100+29 which is compared to each of my rolls, in turn (first roll to first roll, second to second etc)
>I roll 3d100+92
>Beat at least 1 out of 3 of my rolls.
>Dubs and trips bonuses apply


Speaking of easter eggs, the 'Lion' and 'Lynx' stances are not, AFAIK, actual stances in swordplay, but they derive their name from a famous diagram in a Medieval sword handbook. Thanks for playing and now... good luck.

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>>6102642
>99

Looks like Master is actually quite springy on those old legs.

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Rolled 42 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6102642

Rolled 35 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6102642
I heard this quest needs help with some [i]real good[/i] rolls?

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>>6102648
beautiful pic, anon

as a reminder

Your new sword's edge is made of tetraceramide, which is astoundingly sharp. You get a Critical Success on a range of 97-100 on a natural roll.

And yes, only a natural roll. It basically gives you a 4% chance to crit per roll.

Of course, you Master's weapon is made of blindglass, known as the 'fuck-you' material... wouldn't be Kiengiri stuff if it wasn't ridiculous.

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>>6102650
now more than ever

thanks anyway for coming to the rescue! buffet and bandages are on me

Rolled 31 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6102642

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>>6102666

props for the Satan trips (or is it Ansàrra's trips now?)

ok, thanks for the rolls. Writing!

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>>6102669
Master is too strong

>>6102648
>>6102650
>>6102666

Shit we are not giving a good showing...

>>6102669
Stilly my beloved.

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>>6102671
beautiful pic anon. and yea, he's OP as fuck.

>>6102683

let's hope you start doing better.

# # # # # #

You have only one chance.
Sword versus poleaxe? You might as well holding a paper straw.
As you dash towards Master, towards his stone-still form, you know that there is only one way you can beat him.
Get close.
Bait the swing.
Hit the dominating hand.
Thrust through his now-broken defences.
It’s simple enough, in theory.
You have tried hundreds of times.

You thrust at his side, but that’s just to bait his swing. He’ll hit you with—
Master gently shifts his stance, the bottom of his poleaxe swings against your legs, trying to make you trip. You jump over it and—
He shifts again, bending around your bait swing, only to pivot on his left leg and start pushing the weapon’s shaft towards you.
It make sense. It’s quicker than using the weapon’s head.
Also, it gives you a chance to survive.
Delighted by the fact Master still prefers his favourite disciple in one piece, you pivot as well, outpacing his movement — using your momentum to dash past his elbow, your sword’s pommel aiming for his hand, almost touching it—

And then something hits your hand.

The poleaxe’s bottom. Again.
It’s sharp, lightning-quick and it leaves your hand dull. Your sword falls off your paralysed fingers.
He catches it.

“Ow,” you groan, rubbing your wrists, or trying to. It’s not easy with a hand that has lost almost all of it sensitivity.
Master bows and pulls back, holding up your sword for you to pick.

You do so, echoing his bow.

[cont.]

>>6102696

When he pulls back, he reveals your three companions, and all of them look stunned.
“What did just happen?” Rubida asks. “I never saw you move so quick. How…”
“That was hot,” Salicera grins, a flush on her cheeks. “That was some serious hot stuff!”
“The Lion, then… you broke the stance and…” Soralisa tries to put the pieces together.

“Argia did the only thing she could,” Master explains, reaching out to you and rubbing your wrists, helping the blood flow. You pout. You know. You tried this hundreds of times. “When fighting against a poleaxe with a sword, you are out-reached and out-maneuvered. She dashed ahead, baited the strike…”

“… she wanted to hit his hand! The dominant hand that holds the weapon! This way she could break his guard and—” Soralisa gasps, putting the pieces together.

“—finish the job. That’s the theory,” you glance at the brunette.

“But that’s so risky! You could get your head shattered by the mallet!”

“Actually, by then the shaft and the counterweight is what’s the problem,” you explain, using your dazed finger to point at Master’s weapon. “The head is much harder to use in close space, because it’s so heavy, so you usually hit back with the shaft. It can break your arm or legs if you are not careful.” You sigh. “No wonder Kishirra used one of those.”

“The mallet and the blade are a problem if you keep your reach. And by then,” Master turns and swings at the air, producing a hiss that proceeds out into the rain, cutting into it like an invisible knife made of wind, “it has too much strength. It is a nasty weapon.”

“Tell me about it, Master,” you grumble, clenching your hand. You are finally getting the feeling back and you pick your sword back.
“But don’t underestimate Argia’s sword,” he adds. “You have seen how quick she is… especially on her feet.”

“Hm?”

“It was a compliment, stone-headed disciple.”

“Oh. Thanks Master.”

“Anytime. Speaking of which… please, once again. Lion. I’ll go easier on you.”

You comply, knowing he’s just being facetious. He never goes easier on you.

“And you three in the back, please pay attention. You may learn a thing or two.”

You clench your teeth. You and your big ideas…

[cont.]

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>>6102698

# # # # # #

You spend the next hour sparring with Master.
You are definitely a bit rusty, and your form needed some work. By the end of it you are sweaty, grumbling and covered in bruises, but Master’s eyes glint with satisfaction and pride.
And you feel like you have indeed learned a bit, as he corrected your stance and gave you precious insight on using such a sharp edge.

>Your bonus when using a longsword grows to +21!

Now, as Master eyes the other three, you know what’s coming.

“Ten more minutes for rest. Then I’d like to see another of you take my spot. Argia. Which one?”

You glance at Salicera and Rubida…

>Salicera. It's going to be hard... but you feel like you have learned a few new tricks.

>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.

>Another combination of these two (You and Rubida against Salicera)

>Soralisa? Perhaps in a spelling battle...

Thanks for playing. rolls were kinda shit, but it's to be expected. at any rate, you got something out of your training with Master, especially when applied to your new weapon. Now we'll see how you deal with the others. On a related note, writing battle scenes is hard enough already, writing battle scenes with swordplay feels like getting my teeth pulled. But in the end it was fun, and that's what matters. Thank you for helping keep this quest fun, anon.

>>6102700
>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.

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>>6102700
>>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.

>>6102700
>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.

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Rolled 31 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6102642
Of course master rolls a 99. Let's hope I get that 4% crit.
>>6102652
I like fate Jeanne, but it's also a shame that she's in fate.

>>6102700
>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.
we haven't done much with her, let's change this.
>On a related note, writing battle scenes is hard enough already, writing battle scenes with swordplay feels like getting my teeth pulled.
wait, I thought swordplay would be something easy for you, considering you did other stories.
>>6102714
that's what I get for not updating the page

>>6102700
>Salicera. It's going to be hard... but you feel like you have learned a few new tricks.

>>6102700
>Rubida. She's roughly on par with you, and you need to get used to her fighting style again.

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>>6102702
>>6102707
>>6102711
>>6102729
>>6103157

Total Rubida victory…

>>6102747
… oh, almost.

Writing!
Nice to see support for the group’s alpha bitch, but then again… *flips hair* was there ever any doubt?

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Rolled 6, 72, 56 + 18 = 152 (3d100 + 18)

>>6102700

“It’s been a long time,” you say turning to Rubida, who understands immediately. “Maybe we should check on each other’s progress.”

“Progress? What progress?” She scoffs, standing up and stretching. “Are you so confounded you think I may need progress like a country bumpkin who hasn’t learned to hold a sword until she was sixteen? We highborn have been trained in the art of combat from a tender age, I will let you know. No progress required on perfection.” She picks up her axe and stands to face you, assuming a defensive pose. “At the very least, I am glad I don’t have my old armour anymore. No risk nicking and ruining the steel finish this way,” she grins. “Watching you sparring has been impressive. If you win…” she licks her lips. Is she nervous?

About sparring with you, the silver-haired, cursed outsider?

“… that wine-tasting is on me.”

Oh.

“Well now I can’t lose,” you reply. Maybe Rubida is only showing off a bit. You think. One day you’ll know her enough to peer through her layers, but for now… for now you just have to let swords talk.

“Who are you betting on?” Salicera whispers to Soralisa, who looks at her with wide, scandalised eyes.
“Betting? That’s a barbaric practice better left to the heathens of Frigéia!”
“Soralisa is right,” Master agree. You’re glad he upholds doctrine with such clarity of purpose an— “But if, or rather, when, my pupil wins I’ll treat you to that sparring lesson you asked for, Madama Fors.”
“Really? Go Argia! Kick her aristocratic butt!”
“Master! You can’t use me as bait for your schemes!”
He shrugs.
Rubida scoffs.
“So that’s how it is!” She raises her beautiful head, giving you one of her piercing looks. She somehow manages to look taller than you. “Disrespect, plotting and treason! I shall wash such dirt in blood.”

“Uh… we are using actual weapons, Rubida…I’d rather”
“Oh, Starless Knight. Candente, learn to read the room!”
There’s nothing written anywhere… this is getting even more confusing.
Rubida rolls her eyes.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Candente. Just give me a salute and let’s start…”

This time, you begin with the Lynx. Rubida frowns — it seems she’s not really familiar with this form, but she raises her axe and seems to get ready to take the swing on you.

Let’s put Master’s lessons to the test.

>Combat Roll! Like before. Beat at least ONE of my rolls.
>dubs, trips etc apply
>you have a 97-100 Nat roll crit range
>good luck.

>>6103187
>rolls a 6
Rubida, you ignorant SLUT

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Rolled 40 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6103187
Time to establish dominance over our bitchy hot friend.

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>>6103191
>69

Heheheh.

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Rolled 83 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6103187

Rolled 48 + 29 (1d100 + 29)

>>6103187

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Total Rubi death, kek. Take that, soon to be literal prostitute!

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>>6103191
>>6103203
>>6103208

>>6103216
>soon to be prostitute
it’s SACRED prostitute anon. it’s an important job with big perks which makes her a pillar of her community.

oh my my my. looks like Rubida won’t be able to weasel her way out of this one. Update in a bit, currently at work

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>>6103232
Suuuuure. About as Sacred as Belle Delphine or Sasha Grey, kek. They are pillars of the coomer community too! Hahaha.

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Talk of sacred prostitutes make me miss Elf Maiden Quest

>>6103243
Heresy anon, you’ll be sent to sacred prostitute re-education camp. Three of four months should do the trick.

Writing!

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>>6103290
>being forcefully re-educated by Rubi and Sora for 16 hour a day

I can live with that. Just no crispy handies.

>>6102636
>Rubida sneakily bites her lip, rubbing her thighs together as she turns to look at the two of you.
>You wonder what she’s so excited about.
>>6103187
>If you win…” she licks her lips. Is she nervous?
Rubida is letting her hidden slut out. Now I see some of her personality from that au fic.
>>6103191
>>6103203
>>6103208
we beat her on all 3 rolls, with a 69 to boot. nice.
>>6103298
>I can live with that. Just no crispy handies.
tf is a crispy handie ?

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>>6103335
>tf is a crispy handie ?

Soralisa with her fucked up burnt hands jerking someone off.

>>6103341
>Soralisa with her fucked up burnt hands
I knew what was a handie, just didn't understand the crispie part. ouch for the unlucky guy's head.

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>>6103350
Maybe they are into it? Fire and burns and what not are part of the religion, after all. I am not, due to having worked in burn units and recalling the smell and appearance and screaming makes me a touch sick.

One of the worst things I have had the pleasure of seeing happen is a patient having their burns debrided, scrubbed off when it was most of their body burned. Painkillers can only do so much, and someone needed to help the nurse hold them down so the other person could scrub. We also had a literal fire in the burn unit once, which was both horrible and funny.

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>>6103335
Rubida may have hidden goals you suspect nothing about...

>>6103341
I didn't need to know that.

also, sorry for the belated update, I came down with a flu. turns out riding in the rain may not be the best idea after all?

writing...

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>>6103187

If there’s one thing you have learned so far, is that Rubida does make good on her promises.
She rushes at you in a wide left swing which turns into a sharp thrust at the last second, banking on the weight of the axe and her own momentum to cleave through your defences.
To be fair, Rubida is not as tall as you, but she is well-built.
At another time, it could have worked.
“Hnf!” She huffs as you reposition yourself, your boots skimming on the wet ground, using the edge of your sword to catch her weapon. The head of the axe impacts with your blade in a shower of sparks as metal finds its match and more than its match in Maduan tetracerarmide.
Rubida pulls back, a shaky grin on her lips.

“Is that fair? For a country bumpkin like you to hold such a good blade?”
“I earned it,” you reply, raising it and changing your stance into that of the aggressive Lion.

You allowed her the honour of first strike.
Or maybe you were a bit too shaken by your training with Master.
As always, he’s leagues above you in everything. Skill, swiftness, experience and strength.
But Rubida is roughly on par with you.
Your turn.

Axes are a funny thing. They are great on the offence, and you also used to carry one. You certainly made use of it in the fight with the Malostromo tree.
But you know something.
They don’t offer much reach.
You thrust forward, your tetraceramide edge biting once again on Rubida’s metal. The head of the axe holds it for a moment, then she lets go, falling back and your strike goes wide, raking against the rock wall behind her.
Luckily, your weapon is not Master’s blindglass, so you don’t simply cleave through it like air, the sword’s edge still drawing a deep gash on stone, leaving behind a line of gravel and dust.

“Ack! Watch where you aim that thing, Candente!”

“I’m quite confident about my ability to aim,” you reply, this time going for her leg.

“This happened because I lost my equipment! This is not a fair fight!” She complains, leaning back at the last moment. Then, with a glint in her blue eyes, she rushes forward, the back of her axe raised to try and hit either your shoulder or your dominant hand.

Smart.
[cont.]

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>>6103990
She’s trying to use the same trick you tried with Master.
And just like Master…
You skip to the right and hit Rubida’s stomach with the hilt of your sword.
She lets out a choked gasp as you catch her right in the sternum. Falling back, she grasps for something, falling on her knees, the axe forgotten as it clutters on the ground.

The rain comes back to fill the silence in the room. The first to speak is Master.
“I suppose this means I am going to be quite preoccupied with Madama Fors for the past hour.”
“For real?” Salicera’s brown and grey eyes shine as she balls her fists in victory. “I mean… sorry Rubida. That one look like it hurt.”
“Wasn’t my intention.” Sheathing your sword you help her stand up. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“At least it wasn’t the sharp edge, Candente,” she groans, but there’s a hint of mirth in her voice as she stands up, holding onto her stomach. “But in a way, I’m happy. It means you are back, better than before. This is something… hnnfh, I may have a few bruised ribs. Something I can count on. Can count on you, Candente.”

“Oh no. I can petition for healing, let me…”

“I’ll do it,” Soralisa stands, reaching out to both of you. “I needed more practice anyway.”

You hesitate, but then you remember how you try to support her when she felt like she was being a burden. It’s clear she’s trying to find her footing.
It feels reassuring when you manage to understand people.
From time to time.

“Sure. Apologies for the hit.”

“I have earned it,” Rubida winces, or maybe grins, it’s hard to say. She lays on a blanket and Soralisa sits next to her, starting to murmur words and intercede for her healing. Rubida’s gorgeous face relaxes as she falls into an easy slumber under the brunette’s care.

As Master and Salicera finally start to discuss their starting position and goals for the sparring session, you feel like your attention is going to get split anyway.

>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.

>You prefer to comfort Rubida, holding her hand while discussing with Soralisa. What does she know about Asterites, actually?

>You prefer to take a break and watch from afar, examining Carnaval’s gift.

>Then again, there might be something else to do [Write-In]


sorry for the somewhat shorter update, I really need my beauty sleep. Writing with a fever is not the best feeling in the world. See you soon, and thanks for playing... try to be a little gentler with poor Rubida next time. You wrecked her.

>>6103994
>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.
let's see how the isekailing fares

>spoiler
relax and take care, OP

>try to be a little gentler with poor Rubida next time. You wrecked her.
Next time it'll be on the bed

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>>6103994
>>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.

>>6103994
>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.
Mmm, inderesting.

>>6103994
>>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.

>>6103994
>>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.

>>6103994
>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.

>>6103994
>You watch Salicera and Master. The match is going to be too quick for you to learn much, but it’s going to be an interesting sight.
Try not to salivate, Argia.

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Rolled 93, 74, 68 + 68 = 303 (3d100 + 68)

>>6104774
impossible task

feeling better, should be able to start updating in a bit. thanks for your patience and the votes.

>>6104034
>>6104041
>>6104060
>>6104065
>>6104418
>>6104604
>>6104774

everyone wants to see the match of the century, hm

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Rolled 88, 80, 16, 6, 25, 8 + 92 = 315 (6d100 + 92)

>>6105146

Okay, I can try to focus on writing for a while. Writing new update...

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>>6103994

No matter how much you’d like to ask Soralisa for more info, you feel like that can wait. Holding onto slumbering Rubida’s hand for good measure, you focus on the two figures standing before each other. Salicera shows an excited grin on her face, even as her hands clench her sword nervously. You know she is going to give her best performance.

By contrast, Master is as placid and as calm as ever. At least outwardly. The light in his grey eyes seems to pierce Salicera from side to side, like an invisible spear cleaving her in two.

Your breath hitches in your throat, waiting for them to make a move. Maybe it will be Salicera the one to attack first. Will she try your same trick by attempting to hit Master’s exposed hand? Or will she just trust in her extreme speed and agility to try and pierce through his defences in a flash? Having spent three years with Master, you know that would never work… you have seen him move quicker than thought at times. Sometimes it looks like Master’s limbs do not move under his will but are under Ansàrra’s command, bound to her Will by invisible strings.

Salicera shifts back and forth, attempting to correct her posture. You notice the tiny changes in her stance, how she leans sometimes a bit further and sometimes backs away as she trades look with Master.

Behind you, Rubida silently opens one eye, watching them.

The silence stretches, for ten, twenty heartbeats, while the rain keeps falling undisturbed and reckless.

Then Salicera sighs and sheathes her sword, bowing to Master.

“I concede.”

[cont.]

File: fishing for good rolls.png (7.63 MB, 4000x1920)

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Rolled 62, 7, 99 + 84 = 252 (3d100 + 84)

>>6105195

What?

You blink, then let go of Rubida’s hand and stand up, bewildered. Master chuckles beneath his beard.

“But you didn’t even fight! You didn’t even…”

“There is no need to,” Salicera opens her hands in defeat. “I tried and there is no way I can break his guard. Even if I do, he’s going to retaliate with such quickness and strength I’m going to spend the rest of the afternoon in la-la-land.”

“Madama Fors relies on a most peculiar expression,” Master adds. “But she is not wrong.”

“No, wait. Where is the sparring? I thought you wanted to spar?”
The brunette shrugs.

“We already did.”

“Your friend is a true sword master in the making. Perhaps in a few more years of training, but she has the talent for it, the intuition. I’m glad she’s on a journey with you.”
“W-Wait! I thought… I didn’t even… what did even happen?”

“Some people, like your teacher,” Salicera explains, “can see an entire fight go through in their minds. It’s like strategy players who can see how the entire game will play out based upon the first few opening moves.”

“So that’s why you kept adjusting your posture?”

“My opening moves, yes. I think we both agreed that it would have been a hopeless endeavour no matter what I tried, so I decided to throw it.”

“Ah. Well, that wasn’t very…”

Salicera looks at you and bites the inside of her mouth.

“… entertaining?”

“N-No, I wanted to say something else,” you try, blushing.

“You are a terrible liar,” she chuckles, then shifts her posture to face Master again. “I’m sorry about what I just said. I got a bit too cocky and disappointed Argia. I can’t do that. Would you mind do it again? Without…” Salicera licks her lips, suddenly nervous. “Going for the throat?”

“Oh, if this is about Argia then I will be first to apologise in tow.” He sets the blindglass poleaxe against the wall and holds his hand out. “Your sword, please?”

Ah, he’s talking to you. You quickly unsheathe it and hand it over. He receives it with a smile and tries it out, swinging it about.

“Hmm. Not bad. Not bad at all. Some very light imperfections in the manufacture, but nothing you should ever worry about,” he adds. Then he stands in front of Salicera, who is holding her own weapon out, giving you a grin, as if to say: ‘watch me!’.

“Sharp is the Dawn,” Master states.

“And relentless.”

>Combat Roll! I roll for Master, you roll for Salicera.

>Bo3, beat at least TWO out of my three rolls. 1d100+68, 1 roll per reply per anon.

I felt like giving you the steering wheel for this roll. Let's see how it goes.

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Rolled 90 + 68 (1d100 + 68)

>>6105198

>>6105203
>argiapic
>rolls a 90

Salicera calm your tits

Rolled 13 + 68 (1d100 + 68)

>>6105198

Rolled 89 + 68 (1d100 + 68)

>>6105208
I for one hope her tits maintain their present enthusiasm.

>>6105198

>>6105198
>“Some people, like your teacher,” Salicera explains, “can see an entire fight go through in their minds. It’s like strategy players who can see how the entire game will play out based upon the first few opening moves.”
obligatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOpjxhNMDoM
>>6105203
we finally beat a roll against master, thanks to Sally's bonus.
>>6105239
>>6105242
the 99 was a lost cause, but we didn't even beat the 7, lmao

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>>6105263
>A Game of Shadows
I adore that movie. Did Salicera canonically reference it while speaking about Master? Who knows.

>we beat a roll

you did. Salicera is... verymotivated. Overall you rolled very well. It's just that Master keeps spamming 99s even without using his ridiculous ability to roll 6d100.

>final results

my 146 vs your 158 (you Win)
my 91 vs your 81 (you Lose)
my 183 (critical), vs your 157 (you Lose)

writing.

>>6105274
bratty stillàdia is making me wanna cuck her slime bf

>>6105277
that's just a paid lookalike anon, too much bust. nice Sisters dubs tho

>>6105198

It’s evening again. The curtain of rain has lifted, leaving room for a clear night, brightened by stars and the silvery ring.
You lay on the grass, beneath a large tree, while Master is humming some old foreign sold to himself. Some kind of ballad in a heathen dialect you don’t want to force yourself to recognise. It’s going to be either a celebration of Ansàrra’s mercy and grace or a celebration of some tavern wench and her under-the-table skills.

Salicera comes to sit next to you, kneading her arm.
“How are you?”
“It’s fine,” she waves her hand and — winces. “Ow. Alright, maybe not properly fine. That last strike really broke through my defences.”
You still cannot get it. What ‘last strike’ is she talking about?
Salicera and Master’s sparring (more like a duel given how into it both of them were), had lasted just as long an heartbeat.
You remember Salicera dancing forward, Master… moving, Salicera’s sharp gasp of triumph, and then a clang of metal against metal, and Salicera falling back on her rump, holding her arm, her sword clattering against the ground, Master already helping her stand back up.

It was too quick for your eyes.

“Can we go over it again?”
“Sure,” she chuckles. “I don’t mind it. If it’s for you…”
The night air carries some queer heat to your cheeks, but you try to focus and listen to Salicera…

“I was the first to strike. I went for his other hand, not the dominant one, because that was the only way I could have an advantage.”
“Oh, I see,” you point out, eager to show you start to get it. “You aimed for his other hand so that Master wouldn’t expect it!”
Salicera quirks one of her eyebrows.
“Eh? No, of course he did expect it.”
Oh.
“We both knew what was going to happen, but I did try it anyway. And with that first strike… I thought I could have a chance.”

[cont.]

>>6105291

Salicera charges, lunging with her whole body, using all of her enhanced strength and her years of experience to thrust to her right, towards Ibardo Delebasse’s other hand, and as their swords clash and a shower of sparks cries between steel and the white bite of tetraceramide, she twists her wrist— Master Delebasse’s shoulder is right there to catch her, but he’s a smidge too slow, a smidge too kind — and she strikes with her pommel against his hand, she feels the hit ricochet through her wrist and she lets out a surprised gasp of victory. Maybe she can—

“So, I think I get it now. You hit his wrist… even just that is simply incredible,” you mutter, checking out Master’s hand. One of them shows a small bruise. He has refused or not asked for any treatment, leaving it alone. Is it pride? Or maybe he just wants to show Salicera she is that good…?

“I was the one most surprised.” She scratches her head. “I thought he’d overpower me.”


— can use this to get an advantage but as she tries to, Salicera finds out she has definitely overreached, and she can’t put enough strength into her segue. Master Delebasse is also hesitating a moment. Did he not expect to be actually hit? But even like this, even his comparably weaker pull is enough to make her stumble, almost lose her grip on her sword, and that’s it, she pivots on her back leg and swings, aiming for his arm. She has one chance. Just one chance…

“And didn’t he? Right at the end. If that was an end. It looked like one single fluid strike to me.”

Salicera gives you another of those looks. Her cheeks grow a little darker under the light of the ring.

“It may as well have been.”

[cont.]

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>>6105294

… and that chance slips out of her reach as Master Delebasse puts all his might into his final swing, using it to tilt her weapon to the right, forcing it so hard even her strong fingers have trouble keeping their grip, and the blade once more comes alight with sparkles — she tries to hold on, but the strength of the swing overpowers her, catches her like flotsam in a flood, and her sword arches behind her and clangs against the wall, and she’s falling on her bum as the ground comes to welcome her.

“There was never any chance,” Salicera grunts. “I’m not skilled enough. In fact, I was even surprised by the fact he humoured me. I kept pestering him for days…”

“It was incredible!” You exclaim. “Brilliant! I have seldom seen Master having to actually try in a fight.”

“Heh. Hope he doesn’t try too hard, my shoulder is still sore. I thought the strike pulled it out of its socket for a moment.”

“It was… just some of the best entertainment I have ever watched,” you admit, biting your lip and feeling very foolish.

Salicera grins.


>At this point, it’s almost night. How long is Master going to accompany you anyway? You should try to have one final heart to heart before he leaves…

>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.

>You invite all the girls together to properly discuss your strategy from now on, after you have checked on each other’s progress.

>And also, there might be something else… [Write In/Add a suggestion]


thanks for playing. nice update to write, I had fun!

>>6105298
>>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.

>>6105298
>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.
I think the only chance Sally had of winning was with a triple beat and maybe that'd not be enough

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>>6105298
>>At this point, it’s almost night. How long is Master going to accompany you anyway? You should try to have one final heart to heart before he leaves…

>>6105298
>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.
And apologize profusely for getting too drunk last night. Offer to make it up to her.

>>6105298
>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.

>>6105298
>>You invite all the girls together to properly discuss your strategy from now on, after you have checked on each other’s progress.

>>6105298
>Salicera is right there. Time to try and have that infamous conversation. Or at least ask her to.

Voting is in favour of speaking to Salicera. Writing update

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>>6105298

You bite your lip, watching Salicera and the way the light plays with her hair. In a flash of memory you feel her lips lightly pressing against your own once more. The moment you shared… was it just a moment after all?

“I am sorry for last night,” you whisper.
There. It’s out. It feels like someone just pried a poisonous knife out of your guts.
You can breathe again.
“I should have come back sooner, but I had to speak to Master about Carnaval, and the mission, and then we started drinking and…”
“So you do drink,” she says.
“U-Uh, yes, but not wine! Just some spirits.”
“So that explains why you were so out of it.”
“Perhaps…” you coil a strand of your hair around your fingers. “Anyway, if you want to speak, I’ll listen. About that thing you wanted to—”
She reaches out, setting her finger against your lips once again.
“Not yet. I have my reasons. Let’s talk before we embark on the new mission, though.”
“Oh. I hope it’s not… I hope I did not… I’m just…” why is it so hard to find the right words? Sometimes you just fall back into being an absolute idiot who can’t speak, not even spell correctly.
“I just need a bit of time,” she adds, running a hand through her hair. “It’s something for your ears only. And after that…”
“After that?”
She turns on her side, looking at you with a grin.
“You can give me another sparring match.”


[cont.]

>>6106324

# # # # # #


The night always feels a little sharper in the Treviri Throne.
The stars just a bit closer.
She stands there on the balcony, the precious coat of silk and sapphire, fabric embedded with ancient words and rhymes in Kiengir dialects draped over her shoulders.
“How many?” She asks the portly man next to her. He seems unfazed by her partial nudity.
“Thirty eight at a first count, Magistra. All of them grateful to attend this journey.”
“And we did not spend a copper,” she grins, leaning forward on the marble rail, letting her jade eyes take in the gardens and the well-kept hedges and tinkling fountains of her manor. “All of them so eager to just visit the Holy Land. Truly words are worth more than their weight in gold, and hope is the thinnest and strongest of knots.” She nods. “Thirty eight mariners working for free, just for a chance to catch the wind off Madua… that is a better figure than I expected. You will partake in the savings, Gerardo, of course. When I come back.”
“Honoured to bring prosperity to your demesne, Magistra.”
“Very well. I will keep to myself now. Knowledge is Night.”
“Knowledge is Night,” he replies, bowing deeply to her and withdrawing to the servants’ quarters.
She remains alone, pulling her coat tighter over her shoulder, watching the stars dancing. Both kind of stars, the slow and the quick.
She pulls out a vial filled to the brim with ink and pours it out on the balcony, then, moving her hands like a spider she starts to weave a tangled figure out of the ink, the liquid moving as if by itself, or perhaps led by the two fingers on her right hand, painted black, or by the large scars on the back of her hands… an observer would have a hard time understanding. The Asterites’ secrets run deeper than their skin.
The entangled weave twists upon itself in a geometric embroidery. Her jade eyes keep looking at it for a few long breaths, its liquid surface glistening silver under the planetary ring.
Then she sighs, her hands fall back and the liquid flushes inside the vial once more.
Divination is beyond her.
It’s fine like this. The embroidery of stars is unconcerned with someone as unimportant as her.
“I’ll make do,” she mumbles, trying to comfort herself. Just another mission, even if she is far from keen on babysitting this quartet of Maduan whores.
She turns and walks inside, her coat following her like a shadow.
Tomorrow Marsevero awaits her. Saying goodbye to her students.
To Arda, especially.
And then…
“… the Sea, again”, she murmurs to herself.

[cont.]

>>6106325

# # # # # #


Master is going to leave in two days.
The road will bring him to the core of Madua, to the forbidden parts of the land where you cannot walk. You and your group will instead continue to ride to the south and to the west, towards the shore and the Mar di Salina, where the white pearly beaches lead way to the storms and waves.
Gripping on your reins as you keep riding, you wonder what you can do to squeeze everything you can out of the next forty eight hours, before he disappears and you will have exchange the horse’s reins for the reins of command.
Your manipolo looking up to you.
You will need to be ready, and to use your time wisely.

At least you know that, after this, you can look forward to having that conversation with Salicera… and perhaps something more.


Choose two:

>A. Train with Master and Salicera. You know the success of this mission depends on you and the more you hone your skills the better [Gain a bonus to your combat rolls]

>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is]

>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

>D. You are expected to lead an entire group, but the only leadership you’ll need is that of Ansàrra. How does Master do it? [Gain insight on Sanctions]

thanks for playing. Sorry for the somewhat irregular updates. I feel better but today was also very busy. On the upside, I managed to meet with some Chinese friends on mine and they were delighted to know that I got the inspiration for the molten spring celebration from a Chinese tradition. So there’s that. See you soon.

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>>6106327
>A. Train with Master and Salicera. You know the success of this mission depends on you and the more you hone your skills the better [Gain a bonus to your combat rolls]
>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

>>6106327
>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is]
>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]
gotta know what our new boon will do and our enemies

>>6106327
>>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is]
>
>>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

>>6106327
>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is]
>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

>>6106327
>A. Train with Master and Salicera. You know the success of this mission depends on you and the more you hone your skills the better [Gain a bonus to your combat rolls]

>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is

>>6106327
>A. Train with Master and Salicera. You know the success of this mission depends on you and the more you hone your skills the better [Gain a bonus to your combat rolls]
>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

>>6106327
>B. Carnaval’s gift… what can it be used for? You’ll need to pester Master for answers. He’ll know what to tell you, after all he seems to know her… [Gain insight on what Carnaval’s ‘feather’ is]

>C. You are going in the Treviri Throne. What else can Master and Soralisa tell you about this? You need to be prepared. [Gain insight on how to deal with Asterites]

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>>6106337
A+C
>>6106412
B+C
>>6106418
B+C
>>6106485
B+C
>>6106508
A+B
>>6106608
A+C
>>6106628
(thanks for being here even as a busy QM senpai)
B+C

final tally
3A
5B
6C
0D (my poor faith/str build...)

>winners:
B+C options

writing

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>>6106899
Its a good quest. I like the characters and setting even if I was not expecting it to be Isekai land and I loath that genera with 2 or 3 exceptions.

>>6106899
>>6106904

Also if that is all it takes to make a Maduan bish not retarded and hate the state and its corporate cronies, I need to get me one since I brew my own beer or fruit wines on occasion. Now I would just need to know her opinions on certain races...

>>6106904
Harry Potter is sort of isekai, what with the portal and the mundane loser leaving out world for a magical one where he's the super special chosen one.

>>6106906
>certain races...
This is how you got the ban, isn't it?

>>6106899
C would have been my back-up choicr anyway. This works out well! We've got Sally's sword skills anyway.

>>6106904
>isekaishit

oh, I absolutely share your sentiments, anon. One of the reasons I wanted to explore it through this quest is because I wanted to write something different from the usual wish fulfilment, as seen through the eyes of 'natives', so to say. so , yeah, that may be the reason, or at least one of the reasons, why Salicera is both so OP and so self-focused, it's le critique of the average FemMC in isekai. Can you show her the light? That remains to be seen...

>that pic

cute! younger Rubida checking out the family's hand-me-downs? so full of hope, so full of smiles, before the Seven Sisters happened.


>>6106906
>brewing my own beer or fruit wines

based beyond compare

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>>6106327

The next couple days pass in a flash, even as you try to hold onto every instant. Master’s presence is so reassuring, as you ride through the golden fields of Madua, with its lazy rounded hills and peaceful people. You make sure to hold onto your hood at every moment, shying away from curious looks — but every time your group interacts with farmer and travellers, Master catches all the attention, and Rubida always (and with nary a word) positions her horse so that she hides you and your hair.

You two share a few smiles over the course of these blissful hours.

Yet, with every mile bringing you closer to your destination, your worries about what’s next keep mounting up.

You really need to ask further questions to Master, but the next evening, when your group is taking a break in a devotee’s shelter on the roadside, you can’t find him anywhere.
It’s a terse sunset, and as the light gets lower and lower you’ll probably miss your chance, so you try to do your best monitoring your surroundings.

The only thing that catches your attention is a series of low, rhythmic thuds coming from a secluded room, followed by… is that groaning? It sounds like Rubida’s voice.

Worried, you knock on the door. Maybe she got something inside her that upset her stomach.
Rubida’s voice raises in a squeal from inside, then silence, then—

“Rubida? Are you in there?”

[cont.]

>>6106922

“Y-Yes,” she replies, seemingly out of breath. You are starting to worry. “I just… I needed to take a moment to myself. Is this important?” Her voice sounds weirdly stretched, throaty. Maybe it’s the changing weather.

“Are you alright? You sound strange. Do you want me to go call Soralisa an—”

“No! I’m fine, perfectly, fi-ii-neh,” she groans, her voice knotting into a gasp as the weird sounds suddenly pick up again. “Hmmfh, just needed a moment… is this… can you plee-eeah!-ease come back… laterrr?”

You blink, a bit confused about what all this is about. Perhaps you are getting a bit too used about friendly, helpful Rubida and this is just a bad moment.

“I just wanted to check on Master, I have some questions for him. Have you seen him?”

“N-No, no ideAH,” she squeals, and maybe she slips from inside her room, because you hear Rubida hitting the wall with her fists.
“Are you sure you are doing fine inside there?”

“E-Everything is fine innn-side,” she replies. “Please, A-Ah-AHrrgia,” she pants. “Just… come back in a bit. I-I think I’ll be fine in a f-few… minutes…”

“Sure. Sorry if I caused you trouble.”

“N-No trouble at alll—” she gasps, and you decide to just leave Rubida to her own devices. Perhaps you’ll find Master taking a swig in some other room of the shelter.

At any rate, you feel a bit better knowing you managed to have a friendly interaction with Rubida and understand her needs perfectly.


[cont.]

let's all be proud of our silver-haired doofus. she's making progress!

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>>6106923

You allow yourself a smile as you check for Master in the empty rooms, but there is no sign of him anywhere. You end up taking a moment to yourself in the small chapel to the side, lighting a candle to Saint Kishirra.

Luckily, a few minutes later he walks in, with Rubida and Soralisa in tow. Rubida looks refreshed, running a hand through her hair, her cheeks flushed. Soralisa is looking at her feet, seemingly embarrassed, and Master is his usual carefree self.

“Someone told me you wanted to talk?” He says, sitting next to you, with Soralisa doing the same on the other side. Rubida sits behind you instead, checking the candles.

“Yes, Master. I was a bit worried about—” you hesitate. Master smells a bit… weird.
You blink.
Better not to know.
Better not to think.
Thinking is not even required to qualify as a good Knight.
So you don’t.

“About the Asterites,” you continue. Just focus on your question. Nothing else. “I have heard rumours and whispers about them over time, but I wanted to know what we can expect. And what makes them so dangerous.”

“It’s not exactly what they can do,” Master tilts his head, looking at Soralisa, who seems to gather her wits and quickly intervenes:
“Y-Yes, it’s what acts through them.”

“Like… Echorists?” You try. Memories of your childhood sift through your mind. The arcane practitioners in their secluded island, the awesome forces they could channel through their bound souls…

“No,” Master shakes his head. “Asterites play with forces much more powerful than lost Kiengir souls. And as such, when those forces turn on them…”

“… it makes it a worse problem for everyone else,” Soralisa sighs.

You nod, eager and terrified to know more.

And was this supposed to be an ‘easy’ mission? Carnaval’s feather seems to pulsate against your chest as you listen to Soralisa…


[cont.]

as it turns out, Carnaval's judgement may be a tad faulty. I'm sure our girls will be fine. The rest of the update is still going to happen, but I'm literally falling asleep as I write, so I will continue as soon as I can. sorry but work is being a bitch again. hopefully for the last time in a long while. thanks for playing and please look forward to some body horror next. just the most wholesome fun in this quest... cute girls doing cute things, that's the shit

Not a fan of Master railing Argia's friend.

>>6106932
Yeah he should be railing her instead

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>>6106932
Yeah... me neither. Granted, she is going to be a literal whore, so we better get used to her being fucked by old men... Personally, I think Rubi is only for 3-somes with Argia and Sora.

>>6106920
Yeah. I was trying for either her or Soralisa a few days ago but none of the Sora ones turned out very good.

>>6106916
If we want to be reductionist enough, almost everything that follows Campbell's hero's journey or of the Fools journey could loosely be considered Isekai I suppose. And besides, being the chosen one to some degree is important; no one wants to read about random Hufflepuff #3 spending 7 years keeping their head down then going on to a boring Govt. job and having 2.1 children. Well... I mean SOL is kind of like that and is driven by people just liking the characters, I suppose.

The greatest work of modern fantasy could almost be considered "isekai". Frodo gets found by the call, leaves the "normal" world, has adventures in magical lands, is "chosen" to carry the Ring which makes him the most important person in Middle Earth, ect.

Hell my own shitty quest uses some of the formula given the characters are going to a new world, not by choice but by circumstance almost like being hit by truck-kun, and the MC just received the Call which marks her as important. Not overpowered but important, probably, based on what players choose in the future. Or maybe I am just overthinking story structure after a glass of wine.

>This is how you got the ban, isn't it?

I literally have no clue how I got it. None of my posts were deleted, I was being nice. No racial slurs, nothing.

>>6106943
Argia is for Sally. In the absence of she, Rubi, and Sora, Master would have been a good fallback, but he probably would break our heart.

>>6106949
I meant HP is isekai in the sense that isekai is about going to 'another world' it's what isekai means where (you), a lame dweeb from our world, are secretly super talented and important. LotR doesn't qualify, nor do many 'standard' fantasies, because the character is just exists in that world and follows a hero's journey rather than being transpoeted from the real world TO that world through a portal or by a truck or whatever.

>>6106923
damn, master, our friend of all people ? at least wait for us to go our own way
>>6106924
>Luckily, a few minutes later he walks in, with Rubida and Soralisa in tow. Rubida looks refreshed, running a hand through her hair, her cheeks flushed. Soralisa is looking at her feet, seemingly embarrassed, and Master is his usual carefree self.
and Sol probably opened the door, didn't she ?
>>6106932
same
>>6106949
there's a difference from random men and our master doing it while we're close, even if I get him.

>Well... I mean SOL is kind of like that and is driven by people just liking the characters, I suppose.
what's sol ?

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>>6106960
Or we can find a proper boytoy of our own

>>6106961
Slice of Life.

Stuff like K-on which just follows some chicks having a music club and band; no stakes no massive character change or growth, no grand destiny. They hang out, have character interaction then graduate.

Lucky Star is literally just the lives of some school girls over the course of their last year in HS and really the only thing driving it is the cuteness of the characters and their interaction with one another.

Contrast this with a more story based "story" where the success of the MC and others is important in some way to the world at large.

>>6106960
Nah, I want Rubi's bitchy HS energy to be directed at Argia's privates or Sora being a cute with a relationship with us.

>>6106975
Putting her hair up? Oh my! My body is ready, but is my heart??

>>6106977
Rubi is plainly bi, and a little slutty. I don't think she will ever be 'only' for Argia, even ignoring her religious duties as a temple prostitute. Could probably finagle a threesome with her and Master, if we were so inclined, but I don't think it seems IC for Argia and I don’t think Master sees us that way.

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>>6106992
Eh, I don't really get off on our naive silver haired girl getting fucked by someone old enough to be her grand-father. Perhaps he even is given we are the only disciple he has ever taken?

I am sure Agria probably wants to get married and have kids some day, given the setting but having a "friendly" relationship with some of her first friends? Practicing some? Having Rubi show how she accepts and grown to be fond of her? Sora letting Argia know that even if something came between them for a while she still cares about her? Hot. Love it. Even if it doesn't happen in game I might write something as a fanfic like that.

Maybe I should go retire to the yuri board for a while before writing my own gey-ish stuff.

>>6106992
>Rubi is plainly bi
in the omake perhaps, but not yet in canon

>>6107053
Maduan lady knights apparently have a 'reputation'. I guess there's only one way to know for sure, though.

>>6107053
Can't help but wonder know. Do they have male sacred prostitues> And yeah Rubi is 100% bicurious. Soralisa is kind of up in the air since we haven't interacted so much with her but is clearly okay taking dick. Sally is probably just gay for Argia since she found someone that is intersting, could become a non-NPC in her mind.

Stilly will do whatever for souls and lecture you on anarcho-capitalism, the stock market, Max Stirner then try and sell you StilladiaCoin after seggs though; her husband will try and kill you after, however. Worth it.

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>>6106923
Why does this evoke the feeling of being cucked?
Unbelievable.
Master and Rubidia couldn't keep it together for a few days to see us off without tainting our image of them.
At least do that kind of stuff when your student and friend isn't in the vicinity.

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>>6107130
Yeah... slightly disconcerting and weird to be honest. Hopefully Rubi doesn't get knocked up, kek. I like the almost walking in on a friend doing sex stuff trope but not when it is with an old man who the MC is supposed to respect as a mentor, maybe even close to a father figure. Apparently the dude can get all the pussy he wants but he really had to fuck our friend?

>>6107130
>Why does this evoke the feeling of being cucked?
it fits the extended definition, like those doujins of a mom fucking your bully or the girl you like, but aren't dating, seeing someone else
>>6107138
>Yeah... slightly disconcerting and weird to be honest.
same, but tbf it has been established that people are pretty liberal about sex here, minus fooling around too much and cucking, so I can see why Master was ok with doing it.

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>>6107075
>Max Stirner
Holy shit, Stilladia is based?

>>6107157
Hasn't it already been implied that Argia has walked in on him and village girls a few times, and is just sort of actively not thinking about it?

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>>6107174
>someone esle on the Maduan carpentry fourm dedicated to writing fun letters about fictional characters knows about Stirn-y boy

Site that keeps giving.


This game has made me want to go to Treviri, invest in StillyCoin, make my fortune, find a cute Maduan girl, use my money to buy a farmstead on the coast. Raise chickens and goats. Have a small field and orchard, as well as a couple of boats to fish and crab with. Hire locals to help; become part of the community as a pillar, as me and the light haired wifey make a dozen kiddos. Become a pillar of the region, help out when we can; maybe have her start up a day school for our kids and other's in the region. Make some beer and wine to sell on the side. Have a small shrine to Stilladia hidden in the root cellar, since StillyCoin is what let us buy our farmstead and such.

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>wakes up to 20+ replies

Maybe I should just pivot to publishing infidelity romance

>>6106932
I tried to show over the past updates how Rubida was kinda down with it, but maybe I should have been a bit more explicit, kek. Thanks for feedback anyway

>>6106943
Not gonna happen

>>6106949
>turned out not so good
I should be the judge of that, anon

>isekai discussion

I don’t know, the specifics of the ‘other world’ is in the modern sense either reincarnation or ‘soul theft’ to a different place. SAO, which afaik was the one that truly exploded its popularity in the West, was not a proper isekai in this sense, being VR, but it’s an interesting concept.

I consider isekai to focus on this specific idea/trope of the different world, so there must be some kind of shift and transportation. If a character is merely leaving their familiar world behind that’s not isekai, even if many stories start with a change of scenery, but that’s just mirroring life. Isekai can also be done well, and as a tool to explore certain themes.

>no one wants to read about random hufflepuff
You’d be surprised.

>overthinking story structure

Hah, maybe but it’s a fun conversation

>>6106960

>LotR doesn’t qualify as isekai
I agree. Neither does HP, strictly speaking, it’s still set in our world. If Hogwarts was set in a completely different dimension then yea, but they are still anchored to historical events such as WWII and mythical figures such as Merlin

>>6106961
>there’s a difference from random men and Master
Yep, I absolutely think so. Also, Ibardo may be pushing 120 by our standards, but he’s more middle-aged than anything by Maduan chronology. Remember than people in the Holy Land live about twice as long

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>>6106992
>Master does not see us that way

You are practically his daughteru, he really does not see you that way

>>6107008

>only disciple ever taken
No, first disciple in twenty years. There have been others before.

>Rubida/Soralisa/Argia poly on the side

Kek. Don’t give me ideas anon

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>>6107075
>Salicera is probably just gay for Argia
Yeah, probably

>The Stilladìa will lecture you on AnCapistan
Hot. Reminder she’s married and single-target sexuality tho

>>6107174
>walked on him railing farm girls
Yep. Happened a few times, and it happened to Carnaval as well in the first thread

>>6107210

>this game pushing the ruralpill
I can now retire as a successful man.


>spoiler
Kek, I suppose the Stilladìa would be delighted by your little secret shrine, anon and perhaps Ansàrra would allow it?

>>6107285
>Hot. Reminder she’s married and single-target sexuality tho

I will now take up the sword and kill her weird slime-thing husband, and then do some hentai brainwashing stuff on Stilly to make her mine. We can call Engels and Marx boy lovers together while we diversify our portfolios and vote in our local elections.

>>6107295
You want to marry Stilladia and take an economics class. I want to impregnate Stilladia, Ansarra, and all Six remaining sisters to remind them all nothing is stronger than the soul of Man and THEN turn them all into loving housewives. We are not the same.

>>6107309
The big goal is to manifest all the sisters in human forms, and fuck them stupid then put children in them, make them love said kids and demanifest as evil gods and be good mothers even if the kids will probably need some therapy to not be evil god-lings.

Stilly can babysit.

>>6107323
I never said anything about human forms.

>>6107275
>I tried to show over the past updates how Rubida was kinda down with it, but maybe I should have been a bit more explicit, kek.
We all saw that, the problem was master being down to plap her so soon

>>6106924

This was supposed to be a simple day, just needed to get ready for departure, she thinks as she walks through the austere corridors of the academia, caring little about the students and staff giving her a wide berth. She has put on her travel clothing already, exposing her strong shoulders, but people quickly react to her presence, bowing right and left, even if she’s not wearing her teacher robes.
“Off to a bad start,” she grumbles, turning right on the second flight of stairs until she enters the infirmary. The sterile room is covered in drab drapes filtering the sunlight as other Asterites walk back and forth between the beds, so many of them filled with wounded and groaning bodies.

A group of tall Frigéian physicians in their black robes surround a solitary bed where a red-haired girl lays, her naked body held in chains and leather straps. Thin tubes spread from her pale body, dripping blood into vials. One of the physicians, his face hidden by the veils of their outfit, picks it up with his gloved hands and looks at the crimson contents.

She frowns. That’s not the way to handle one of her students.

“Thank you for providing it,” she intrudes in the group like a slim cat scattering a murder of crows. “I will be taking that.” She catches it from his grasp, and the physician does not protest, maybe restrained by the flash of scorn in her jade green eyes.

[cont.]

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(forgot the pic, the replies starts from the post above)

>>6107593

“Teach—” groans the girl on the bed.
“Arda.” She reaches out for her hand.
“Tch. And it was such a perfect day. Now… now I have to deal with you as well,” the redhead adds.
“Not for long, rest assured… I am going to leave on a journey soon. Stars have blessed you again.”
“Blessed alright, teach.”
The blonde woman turns her gaze towards the other bodies. Some of them are displaying only light signs of mutation, their skin rippling like murky water, teeth falling out of their mouths, losing hair… but they wouldn’t keep those affected the worst here in the infirmary anyway. Arda’s gift can only do so much. “Try to get some rest.”

The teacher turns away from the bed and the redhead lets out a pained sigh.
Holding the vial of blood in her hands, she gets out of the infirmary, walking downstairs, where most people are gathering anyway. Students and full-fledged Asterites alike. Like before, they part before her, leaving stunned gazes in her wake.

The corridor leading to one of the inner orchards has been quarantined already. A group of Asterites whispers holding their hands out towards the entrance, surrounded by other staff.

“Ah. You have came,” says a portly man dressed in a white coat, a worried look upon his face.
“As soon as I could. How is the situation?” A desperate question with a banal, tragic answer. She can see it in the crowd, in the quarantine, in the display surrounding her.
“It’s almost over anyway.”
“Starless Night,” she curses, and the crowd whispers at her use of the Maduan expression. She does not care.
“Sandora,” the man says, reaching out gently to brush his hand against her arm. At any other time, nobody would call her with her given name. Not at the Academia. Here she is Eleventh Seat, Sandora Mirari, Magistra of Marsevero Academia. “There is no need to go in.”
Her eyes focus on the door leading to the orchard. The wood is shifting, turning into stone, then scales, then gums. Then it starts dripping black ooze.

“I’m his teacher,” she states. “Just call the Crows, please.”

[cont.]

>>6107594

# # # # # #


Master crouches next to you, picking up a candle and starting to drip hot wax on the floor as Rubida and Soralisa watch him intently.

“Not all Stars are evil,” he begins. “The Seven Sisters are made of different cloth. Sometimes, though, people are born with a gift that is a curse. The energies of the upper spheres grind inside their bodies, like a storm upon the shore, leaving pale marks on the back of their hands. We call those Asterites, because they are borne of the Stars as well.”

Soralisa nods, while Rubida frowns. It’s clear she does not like the subject, and you can agree. It sounds ominous.

Master sets his finger against the largest drop of wax and begins to smear it on the wooden floor, tracing circles.

“Yet they have often been an instrument of destruction,” Rubida points out. “We have been at war with Asterites before. And they have been at war with themselves… spoiling and rotting their own country from the inside.”

“That much is true,” Master agrees. “They play with fire, but we don’t call fire evil. May I go on?”

Rubida’s cheeks flush and she nods, turning her face away. You notice her hand reaching for her right arm, rubbing it.

“Asterites hold this power inside themselves,” Master continues. “Like Echorists from Argia’s homeland. But an Echorist who loses control over their Echo is a threat mostly to their own psyche. And the decay can be slow enough for others to wise up to it. Asterites… they are caught in this grinding, grinding, grinding. Every day of every year their soul rots from the inside, overrun by forces too strong and foreign for tendons and flesh. As Rubida said, they do rot from the inside. Sometimes, the rot bursts out all of a sudden.”

“But then how do…” you ask. Soralisa is the one who intercepts your question.

[cont.]

>>6107596

“There are ways. Most are merely palliatives, but the Silt from the Borderlands can hold this decay back. For a while at least. But if they run out…” she purses her lips. “It is not pretty. I have seen engravings… it’s like an illness that spreads from flesh and bone to wood and stone. The very air vibrates with sickness. It twists everything and anything.”

You shudder at the ideas Soralisa is bringing up, while Master keeps drawing with the wax on the floor.

The door creaks open as Salicera also comes in, taking her seat next to you. She gives you a smile.
“Sorry. Was asleep. You were talking about the mission?”

“Yes. Asterites.”

Salicera nods and listens intently like the rest of you. Master continues.

“Of course, the older an Asterite gets, the more powerful they become. But the ancient and powerful members have a steady supply of Silt, and they are watched over constantly by Crows. While the young and eager, especially the students…” it’s his turn to frown. “Sometimes it’s just a stroke of bad luck. As Soralisa said… it is not pretty.”

“It’s a stain,” Rubida hisses. “A stain.”

[cont.]

>>6107599

# # # # # #


Sandora shivers when the Crows surround her. Like always, she has not heard them come. She did not even feel them.
One moment she’s alone in front of the door, and the next three women clothed in black, their faces covered by a silver mask.
The students gasp and they steps back, trembling away from the trio of assassins.
Sandora inwardly shakes her head. Most of the students believe they’ll only get their own Crow assigned to them upon graduation, but they have been under their vigil, blind gaze ever since they were borne under the Stars.

The Crows do not speak.

It would be a problem if they did.
Sandora steps towards the door, and on cue a couple of servants pick up a large glass screen, putting it front of them. The Crows do not seem to care.
She reaches for the door, raises a hand — the ink from her vials spreads out and slithers through the air, pushing the doors open.

It’s the smell. It’s always the smell that makes her retch.
Sandora winces, fighting against the need to gag as the reek invades her nose, burning and far too sweet.

The orchard is not there anymore. Instead, a thing wriggles and writhes inside, bathed in the golden light of morning. A rippling mass of damp earth shifting and running into blackened flesh, of blood rising in tall arches like rubies, of teeth dancing on steel beads, of surgical instruments flowing in and out of shape like mercury. A mystical rose, each soft petal of pulled skin pumping in agony.

“Roberto,” Sandora wheezes. The Crows fan out, covering the perimeter, while the two servants lift the screen and help her get closer.

— thchchthchh—- sizzles a stretched voice through the air, sounding like rippling fabric.

“Roberto,” she tries again.

tcheeaar tries the voice again. The rose of mutating flesh in admixture of inorganic and metal opens a single blue eye inside it, staring at Sandora.

“I have come to say goodbye.”

[cont.]

>>6107601

# # # # # #


Master finishes tracing lines in the wax. Only then you notice is a rudimentary star map, crossed over by the planetary ring.

“It’s a weak balance,” he sighs. “That in which Asterites live or die. Their powers are worth of awe, that much is true. But each day they teeter close to collapse.”

“Wow,” Salicera scratches her chin. “So we’re going to deal with a ticking time b— I mean, with such a threat?”

“The Asterite who was picked by Carnaval for this mission in a tough one,” Master reassures you. “You are going to be safe around her. Besides, you four, and someone especially…” he flashes a proud look of his grey eyes towards you and your cheeks grow flusher, “… are all under Ansàrra’s protection. Which is another reason why Carnaval picked you.”

“How do we deal with this, Master?” You ask, frowning, looking at the star map. “It feels like we’ll be under threat at every moment.”

“Remember the reasons you are there,” he explains. “This is a diplomatic mission. You are going to help the Asterite in some of her affairs, and if everything goes well you will receive your reward.”

At those words you feel the knot in your stomach tighten. Becoming a Knight, at last. Seeing your family freed from the Landing Strip.

Everything you have worked for, crowned.

“It’s easy, then,” you say with renewed confidence, clenching your fists. The cameo seems to infuse you with strength. “We’ll just have to make everything go well, no matter what.”

One by one, the others smile. Soralisa is bashful, the light of the candles highlighting her cheeks. Rubida nods, a sharp look in her eyes. Master is proud.

And next to you, Salicera gives you a tight little grin.

“Our Vanguard, everyone.”


[cont.]