Rolled 97

"Spread out and flank her."
Once the girls have moved away from us, fire at her with a rowan arrow and immediately dodge behind something.

Rolled 35

>>21935052
Good rolls bro.

Arrow straight to the head.

>>21935052
dous that arrow in some rosmeary and go go go

Rolled 30

>>21935080
I don't think we carry rosemary.
also third roll for >>21935052

>>21935052
If this manages to kill her, we have to spout a one-liner.

"Spread out and flank her." You say, and Cass and Ariana obey immediately, springing away from you. Already, your bow was in your hand, and you drew it back, a rowan arrow nocked, for only a second as you aimed.

Kalla whirled about, pointing her fingers to Tannis a second time, and you let loose.

the rowan arrow tore through the air, soaring along it's path, and shot directly toward the base of Kalla's skull. One of the strange, glimmering, teardrop-shaped objects shot up in the way, and the rowan arrow shattered against it. Kalla spun around, and grinned at you.
"My wings-" She said, gloating. She suddenly stopped talking when your second rowan arrow slammed into her left eye.

Kalla collapsed, dead, and her teardrop-shaped wings dissolved into dust.

Everything was very silent, and Cass raised an eyebrow.
"Nice shot-" She started, but was bowled over when an enormous, heavily muscled wolf collided with her. Cass started fighting back, trying her best to punch the werewolf out, as both her wounds from the wolf's claws, and the wolf's wounds were constantly healing.

"Well." Gabriel said, behind you. "That didn't quite work like I planned it to."

>>21935101
why rolling at all when the first roll is so good?

Rolled 53

>>21935120
Arrow the werewolf.
"Why the hell are you chasing me Gabriel? What do you want with the sword?"

Rolled 51

>>21935120
I aim to disapoint
hit him with our best shoot

Rolled 24

>>21935128
Well, why not? It's the best of three with our bow, and there is still a small chance we could get better than 97.

Anyway, arrow to the head of the werewolf.

>>21935128
Because for this quest Exa's taking the middle/highest of three rolls for actions (Using highest if we're good at it and middle if we're not.)

You draw back a standard arrow, and shoot it at the werewolf, catching his haunch.
"Why the hell are you chasing me, Gabriel?" You ask, not even looking him in the eye. The werewolf clenched his leg, and the arrow shattered, the wound already healing. "What do you want with the sword?"
"You mean you still don't remember?" Gabriel asked, as Cass clawed out the werewolf's eye. You draw back and aim again. "Well, if you don't remember, then the sword probably isn't that important. Just give it to me and your friend Cassandra will be fine."

Rolled 8

>>21935202
"I can't do that, Gabriel, even if I don't know what it does."

Arrow the wolf (again)

Rolled 55

>>21935202
"I don't think so, Gabriel. Why don't you explain yourself?"
Step away from Gabe and fire again.
Unless his healing factor is pushing the arrows out, eventually we'll hit a joint and muck it up.

Rolled 34

>>21935202
Rolling for shooting more arrows at the OP werewolf.

Rolled 16

>>21935202
"Bullshit, Gabriel. I may not know details, but I'm not stupid either.

Tannis, help Cassandra!"

Also, continue firing arrows at Gabriel.

"I don't think so, Gabriel." You say, and let the arrow loose. The second arrow didn't shatter, but it was promptly pushed out of the werewolf's ribcage.

The wolf reared up, and slammed down at Cass... Just as Cass fell through the shadow, Ariana's arm pulling her down, to some unknown destination.

He simply smiled. "Well, then, remember, I tried diplomatically." He said, and pulled out a rapier on his hip. "I suppose this is the time we fight, like all good rivals do. Cor, find the witch."
The humongous wolf snarled, and then leapt up, onto the rooftop of a nearby glass-blowing shop. The entire building creaked from the mass, as the wolf started sniffing.

Tannis started limping toward you, her ankle twisted badly and bruises covering every inch of her body, very slowly fading.
"I can still help!" She called.

>>21935286
tell tannis to go after the werewolf then

Rolled 68

>>21935286
"Go and help Cass with the wolf-thing, Tannis!"

Rolling for defence, don't attack.
"Stop with the half-answers, explain it all to me now."

Rolled 76

>>21935286
"Be careful."
Draw sword, be ready to parry.

>>21935302
that.

Rolled 4

>>21935286
"Thus far you've tried to convince me to go bandit, tried to steal my place in Reality, and attacked my companions. What made you think I was going to trust you?"

Fire one arrow at him if we have time/distance, then go for the Sword.

Rolled 93

>>21935286
help the girls I got this one let loos a arrow

>>21935339
he may not knoe english well but he is luckey

"Go and help Cass with the wolf-thing, Tannis!" You cry. "But be careful."

As Gabriel went to attack, you catch the edge of his blade with your guard, drawing the blade smoothly.
"Stop with the half-answers." You say, as he whips around his rapier, obviously not quite that skilled with it.
"Well, you want the truth?" He asked. "I'm playing by the rules *you* set. You made me the villain, so I'm the villain."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Tannis start clawing wildly at the werewolf... but the wolf ignored her, still sniffing. With a powerful kick of it's legs, the wolf leapt across the entire street, landing on a nearby rooftop, peering into an alleyway, sniffing more.
"And if you don't remember..." He said, as you parry his blows. "Well, then I have more chance to have you give me the blade. It's not in my best interests. I hope you understand."

"There you are, child." The wolf snarled, and made to pounce.
Out of the sky came an enormous, furious red dragon, snatching the werewolf into the air, tearing off it's head with a single, powerful crunch of it's jaws. Astora sat astride the dragon, hand flaming wildly.

"... Well." Gabriel said, looking up at the dragon. "Would'ya look at that? I don't even know what that's a metaphor for."
For a moment, you see that his guard is low, and your own blade is ready.

Rolled 47

>>21935427
Cut him. Preferably through the wrist so he has to stop attacking.

Rolled 15

>>21935427
FINISH HIM

Rolled 76

>>21935427
"You are crazy, Gabriel."

"But...I'll play along, you're no longer the villain. Understand?"

Defend again

Rolled 56

>>21935441
Dude, his guard is down. Go for the killing blow.

Rolled 89

>>21935427
"deus ex machina you prick"

stab him

>>21935427
"Do you ever give straight answers? What is there to remember?"

"You are crazy, Gabriel."
"That's what you said the first time we met here." He said, and started to raise his rapier-
You knock it out of the way, and plunge your blade through his heart. He gurgled, and then collapsed... and at the last moment, smiled at you.
Reality twisted, and for a moment, everything seemed... fake. Unreal. Like it was a painting, or a shadow on the wall, or a strange code of white and black... and then everything was normal again. A pool of blood sat at your feet, but Gabriel's body was gone. A headless werewolf's body fell to the ground next to you, the dragon apparently done with it.

"... Where'd the guy go?" Astora asked, climbing down off of the dragon, her face stern.
"Astora!" Ariana cried, running out of the alleyway to hug her. An injured, glowing-eyed cass stepped out, the deep scratches in her body slowly healing, while Tannis climbed down off of the building.
"Hey, kiddo." She said, ruffling Ariana's hair.
"But what about my coming of age?" Ariana asked. "... did I finish it? Are you here to take me back?"
"No, it's just that this place was ruled a war zone by the crones. We can meet here."

>>21935534
"I haven't a clue what's going on."

"I guess you don't know what's going on, Sword? I bet you wouldn't tell me anyway."

>>21935534
"I have no idea where he went. Everyone alright?"

>>21935534
"Nice to finally meet you, Astora."

>>21935534
"I'm pretty sure he just dropped himself out of Reality. He'll be back, unfortunately."

"I'm pretty sure he just dropped himself out of Reality. He'll be back, unfortunately." You say. "Everyone alright?"
"I hurt my leg." Tannis said, her cat-form limping on three legs toward you.
"I'll be fine." Cass said. "I just need to stay angry enough to keep healing."
Ariana said nothing, just continued hugging Astora. The dragon, without being commanded, tore upwards and into the sky, before vanishing from view.
"Out of reality?" Astora asked. "Hmph, what exactly have you been fighting? A god?"

>>21935631
"Yes."
Pickup Tannis.

>>21935631
"No, just a madman."

>>21935631
"No idea."

>>21935631
"I don't think he's a god, no. Eldin's observations tend to support us being the same kind of being, and Gabriel implied - before I met you, Ariana - that I could do it myself if I stopped following 'the rules'. Mind you, I have no idea what he's talking about."

"I don't think he's a god, no." You say, and scoop Tannis up off the ground, rolling her back to inspect her leg. It was twisted badly, most likely on landing, and you get to work wrapping it. "Eldin's observations tend to support us being the same kind of being, and Gabriel implied - before I met you, Ariana - that I could do it myself if I stopped following 'the rules'." You say, and Tannis started purring.
"Mind you, I have no idea what he's talking about."
"... Or he's a madman." Astora said. "So, kiddo, what've you been up to?"
"I have a new gift!" Ariana said. "Come on, I'll show you!"
"We should probably get out of view. Don't want the mundanes to know what we are. I already have two rooms in an inn purchased for everyone here." Astora said, and the flame in her hand twisted, before becoming a perfectly normal hand... but it seemed strange, like it was a mirage.

>>21935631
Did we figure out what that woman was? A fairy or something?

>>21935747
"You're too kind."

"Perhaps we should all get something to eat as well?"

>>21935747
"Heh, you already killed him once, Astora."

"You're too kind." You say, before collecting your unbroken arrows, Tannis's paw wrapped, she climbed onto your shoulder, digging into your armor with her claws. "Perhaps we should all get something to eat as well?"
"Yeah, probably." Cass said, her eyes no longer glowing. Her unnatural healing slowed significantly, apparently connected to how active her troll blood is.
"This way." Astora said, and started to walk while Ariana started talking excitedly about your adventures.
"Did we figure out what that woman was?" You ask.
"A fairy." Cass said.
"Fairy." Tannis mewed.
"The wings were what revealed it." Ariana said, grinning at you. "The folklore book talked about them. Even had a picture."

>>21935747
"He's done it once before, Astora - when you met me, he had forced his way into my place in reality until I managed to force myself back in. After you fried him, you didn't remember him ever being there."

>>21935861
"I should probably read that book again."

>>21935747
>Reality twisted, and for a moment, everything seemed... fake. Unreal. Like it was a painting, or a shadow on the wall, or a strange code of white and black... and then everything was normal again.
>.. but it seemed strange, like it was a mirage.

Wonder if we go along with this, using our will power or something, would everything around us turn into some kind of a painting/play/fiction

I'm more interested of finding out what we are and what our play is in all of this than playing "house" with our companions.

God damn sword, no help at all....

>>21935898
We haven't read it at all yet.
So it should be "I should probably read that book."

>>21935901
We probably should experiment with that, yes.

"I should probably read that book." You say.
"After I finish it." Ariana said, and grinned. "I'm almost done. It'll just be another night, I swear." Astora giggled- something that seemed uncharacteristically unlike her.
Before you knew it, Astora was stepping into a large, empty tavern, walking right past the tavern owner, nodding at him. She tossed a key to you, and then sat down at a rather large table, where everyone else took a seat.
"Me and Ariana will take the room on the left, and the three of you can have the other one, I guess." She said, and ordered some food, giving them an entire gold coin.

>>21936028
"Sounds fair enough."

>>21936028
"So, Astora, have you been watching us the whole time we were travelling from Sardin?"

Ok, so, we want to make cass angry to heal her up quicker, right? The easiest way to do this is to kiss Astora, or the cat.

"Sounds fair enough." You say "So, Astora, have you been watching us this whole time we were travelling from Sardin?"
"I have." She said.
"Where were you when we were fighting the undead?!" Cass suddenly asked, angry, her eyes glimmering green as the last of her wounds faded.
"I was three days north at the time." Astora said. "Too far away to help. Since that night I made sure to stay close enough to help if anything bad happened. So calm down, trollblood."
Tannis, meanwhile, leapt down into her seat, curled up, and went to sleep.
The tavern owner stepped by, and set out enough steak for everyone, as well as greens, warm bread, and even enough food for Tannis.

>>21936163
And you dont remember the first time you met gabriel at all?

>>21936134
Arousal works too, apparently. Remember she had the acid spit thing happen when we kissed her?

>>21936163
"Thanks for this, Astora."

"Tannis, wake up, the food is here."

>>21936163
"Astora, do you remember the first time you met Gabriel at all? I doubt it, since you didn't remember right afterwards, but it never hurts to check."

"Ariana, I plan to try the 'dropping out of reality' thing tonight. Any tips you can give me from your shadow-diving?"

"And you don't remember the first time you met Gabriel at all?"
"I never met that man before, no." Astora said.
"He's done it once before, Astora - When you met me, he had forced his way into my place in reality until I managed to force myself back in. After you fried him, you didn't remember him ever being there."
"... I don't remember that." She said, and frowned. "... that's disturbing."
"And Ariana, I plan to try the 'dropping out of reality' thing tonight. Any tips you can give me from your shadow-diving?"
"Well... you need to feel your way into it." Ariana said, popping a long bit of fried potato into her mouth. "Like.. it was thick mud, kind of, feeling it ooze through your fingers."

You reach down to wake Tannis up.
"Tannis, wake up, the food is here." You say. She woke up, rammed the top of her head against your hand, and started eating.

<... You should wait at least a day.> One voice said, suddenly.
<Instead, this night... you should give the blade to Ariana, before she sleeps.> The second said.
<... It will give you answers. Answers that we cannot.>

>>21936252
"Oh? Deciding to be helpful now then?"

>>21936252
Prepared action for next time Tannis headbutts us, headbutt her back.

"I think he's after this."
Give Astoa the sword to hold.

>>21936252
"Hey, Ariana, the sword wants to talk to you tonight or something to that effect."

>>21936252
"Huh. Well, I suppose I'll have to do that then."

>>21936252
Blink. "The sword suggests saving experimentation for later and giving it to you for the night instead, Ariana. It says that'll net us some answers. Are you up for that?"

"Oh?" You ask. "Deciding to be helpful now, then?" You ask, glancing to the blade.
<We need to find ways around our limits.> One voice said.
<This is something that just occurred to us.>
"... What's he talking to?" Astora asked.
"The sword." Cass said. "It's... magic or something."
"The sword suggests saving experimentation for later, and giving it to you for the night instead, Ariana." You say. "It says that'll net us some answers. Are you up for that?"
"... For the night?" Ariana asked. "Maybe if you don't have the sword, my Gift of Truth will react differently or something. Maybe that's what it's aiming for."
"... What would the sword do to Ari, worst case?" Astora asked, meeting your eyes. She almost seemed to glare at you, waiting for the answer. You got the creeping impression that if you answered her wrong, you'd be a pile of ash in a second.

>>21936352
"It talks. That's it. It's no different from any other sword outside of that ability."

>>21936352
As far as I can tell, the worst it can do is annoy you occasionally when it argues with itself. Here, feel free to have a look.

>>21936352
"The worst it could do is bore you to death, it doesn't talk often, the times it does it is very unhelpful."

>>21936391
Amend to this, "Admittedly, it says that that's because it has restrictions it has to find ways around. For all I know it's a matter of asking the right questions."

>>21936352
"It does something weird with the Gift of Truth, but other than that and the talking it can't do anything."

>>21936352
nothing its just a sword and i am insane :P

"It talks." You say. "That's it. It's no different from any other sword, outside of that ability. The worst it can do is annoy you occasionally when it argues with itself, or bore you to death. It doesn't talk often, but the times it does it is very unhelpful. Here, feel free to have a look."
"I don't have a hand free." She said, taking another bite of food and raising one of her hands. "It looks normal, but that's because my Gift of Sight is making it look normal. It's aflame even now. But I'll allow this, if Ariana is up to it.
"... Well, I do want to hear them talk." Ariana said.
"Admittedly, it says that it's unhelpful because it has restrictions it has to find ways around." You say. "For all I know, it's a matter of asking the right questions."
"... Interesting." Astora said, eying the sword again. "I do have to commend you for your archery, though. I saw your fairy slaying."

>>21936352
"Still not going to tell me your names, Sword?"

>>21936462
"Probably one of my better shots."

"What would happen if you held it with your flame-hand?"

>>21936462
I'd like to say it's years of practice put to good use, but that might not be the case.

>>21936462
"Hunting was my main activity back home. When your options are learning how to shoot or starving to death, you learn how to shoot."

"Probably one of my better shots. Hunting was my main activity back home." you say. "When your options are learning how to shoot, or starving to death, you learn how to shoot."
"That must come in handy." Astora said.
"What would happen if you held it with your flame-hand?"
"She'd drop it!" Ariana said, and grinned. "She's really clumsy with it, even though she can make the fire room temperature. That's because it's not a normal hand. It's a claw-thing instead."
Astora shot her a glance, and Ariana grinned back at her.
Tannis, meanwhile, snuck the spare bone off of your plate and started stripping off bits of flesh from it, still in her cat form, while, experimentally, Cass licked the tip of her utensil, examining it to make sure it wasn't melting.

>>21936545
Might as well try to give Ariana the sword now.

"Hey, try it now."

>>21936545
So Astora, can you tell me more about the witches coming of age? It seems like I'll be sticking with Ariana until hers is over.

"So Astora, can you tell me more about the witches coming of age? It seems I'll be sticking with Ariana until hers is over."
"Of course." She said. "Gifts are hidden inside of witches, and they have to be brought forth, from... love, or hate, or danger- something that someone cloistered back home would never experience. For that reason, the crones decided hundreds of years ago, that when a witch comes of age, they're sent out into the world alone to unlock the rest of their gifts, and nobody from their old life is allowed to speak to them until they gain their familiar. That's it, really." She said. "Though, this is rather new- I spoke to the crones about events here, and they deemed that any witch during their coming of age, if they're in a war zone, they can meet with others from their old life. Because war is war, after all, and if Eldin wins, the crones win, and the witches win. They're secretly hoping that Ariana decides to help, because then I will help." She shrugged. "They can't control me directly."
"Was that... big scaled thing your familiar?" Cass asked.
"It's a dragon. And yes." She said. "That's why they can't control me. Dragons are mythological beings. Magical. I'm afforded certain... protections, because of it, due to tradition."

>>21936667
"What do you mean 'control you'?"

>>21936667
Are the crones very controling?

So familiars can be anything?

>>21936667
"Control you? Not sure I like the sound of that."

"What do you mean, 'control you'?"
"We're not talking about using one's Gifts to control someone else, like... mind control or something." Astora said. "The crones are our rulers. They're able to order anybody to do anything they wish. Except for me."
"Are the crones very controlling?"
"They have the right to be, but no, they aren't. Not within sanctuary itself, though they speak endlessly about how sanctuary relates to the outside world. They also serve as lawmakers and magistrates, when it comes time." She said. "Though most of the time they just tell people to bug off and fix their own problems if it's not important."
"So can familiars be anything?"
"Any creature that exists." She said. "Though magical creatures- dragons, wyverns, gryphons, and such... those are incredibly, incredibly rare."
"My sister's the only one this generation!" Ariana said, proud. "That's why she's Nobiliss."

>>21936667
"So why don't you... just help? Wouldn't Eldin's victory be a good thing for you witches?"

>>21936798
"So, do you want this effort here to succeed or fail?"

>>21936798
Did Ariana tell you about her Gift of Sticking Her Hand into Rocks?

"So why don't you... just help? Wouldn't Eldin's victory be a good thing for you witches?"
"It would, most likely." Astora said, thinking for a moment. "Very well, I'll help. As long as Eldin doesn't leer too much, in which case, no promises."
"Did Ariana tell you about her Gift of Sticking Her Hand into Rocks?"
"That's not what it's called." Ariana said.
"... You opened up another gift?" Astora asked, and grinned down at her sister. "I'm glad. No familiar yet, huh?"
"No, no familiar yet." Ariana said.
"What's your gift do?"
"It lets me... travel through shadows. Or drag people through them. It feels like water. I can't go very far, though."
"Well, you are my sister, so you'll get one of the highest-class gifts. Maybe the Gift of Fate or something."
"If I was that lucky you wouldn't have needed to help me today." Ariana said, and frowned.

>>21936909
"Well, it wouldn't do anything if it hasn't activated yet, right? So maybe you aren't that lucky *yet*.

>>21936909
"Ah, if I understand right though, then it will be brought out when your sister is not there to save you, when it will be needed most."

>>21936909
It would be tough luck to get stuck with me.

Gifts run in families?

>>21936909
"How powerful is the Gift of Fate by the way?"

>>21936909
It's the best name for it.

>>21936909
are you kidding it was incredibley LUCKEY that she was here

"It would be tough luck to get stuck with me." You say. "Gifts run in families?"
"Gift strength, usually." Astora said. "I have the Gift of Flame, and Gift of Sight. Both of those are some of the most powerful in recent history, other than the Crones. Odds are, Ariana will end up with something like that."
"Well, it wouldn't do anything if it hasn't activated yet, right?" You ask. "So maybe you aren't that lucky *yet*."
"Maybe." Ariana said.
"How powerful is the Gift of Fate, by the way?" You ask.
"The Gift of Fate is the most powerful gift ever known." Astora said. "Whatever happens, it's as if the world itself conspires to help whoever has it. A tree happens to fall on an order knight following her, or a cloud happens to hide her in shade while a wyvern is out hunting. A witch could throw a knife randomly, and it'd just happen to strike the center of the target. It means casual, almost accidental perfection of everything they do, and they live for nearly a hundred years."
"Even rosemary doesn't work on it." Ariana said.
"That's because anyone with the Gift of Fate would never smell rosemary. They'd be too lucky."
"Well, yes." Ariana said.

>>21937033
That seems like a gift you might never know you had.

>>21937033
"In that case, good luck with your Gifts."

>>21937033
Do we still have those bottles we looted off the undead knight by the way? Did we figure out what they were?

>>21937086
That's a pretty good point. We should probably ask Astora if she knows what they are while we're thinking about it. Especially the Aqua Sanctis.

>>21937086
>You still have both bottles, and no, you still haven't figured them out yet.

"That seems like a gift you might never know you had."
"That's why we're encouraged to meet other people when we're on our coming of age." Astora said. "Because it might not be obvious to us, but it'd be obvious to anyone nearby."
Tannis set down the last of her food, and then rolled onto her back, already asleep, and the food was done.
"Well, that's enough talking for one night." Astora said. "I'm going to go to bed."
Ariana asked her something you couldn't catch in a small, quiet voice, and Astora's look softened, and she nodded silently. Ariana grinned, and gave Astora another hug.

>>21937033
If you smelt rosemary would you get your normal hand back?

>>21937105
We should probably ask her about the bottles and their contents in that case.

>>21937105
"Here, Ariana."
Hand her the sword.
We'll ask about the bottles tomorrow.

>>21937105
"Yeah, yeah, I think I'm going to sleep soon as well."

>>21937105
No reason to ask about bottles today. Give her the sword and go to bed. Experience strange dreams.

>>21937105
Hand over the sword to Ariana, swordbelt and all (uhh...we DO have a sheath for it, right?).

Then ask Ariana, "Before I forget...do you know what Aqua Ignis and Aqua Sanctis are?

>>21937148
Don't forget, our viewpoint follows whoever has the sword. So we'll see it from Ariana's perspective.

"One last thing." You say, and stand. "Do you know about these bottles and their contents?"
She took the two in hand, and examined them.
"Aqua Ignis is a health tonic." She said. "It makes you stronger, healthier, and heal more quickly, as well as make it harder to get ill. Aqua Sanctis is an oil, not a tonic, and you're supposed to apply it to weapons, to help for hunting magical beings. That all?"
"Yeah, yeah, I think I'm going to sleep soon as well." You say, and take off your swordbelt, handing it to Ariana.

Your name is Ariana, and Abel just gave you the sword. Without thinking, you put it on your hip, and your sister glares at him again. Without thinking, you frown- she glares at everyone. Your feet feel like they're sinking into the ground, and so you wiggle them, trying to stay afloat despite the shadow you're standing on.
"Anyway, let's go." Astora said, taking your hand. The two of you went upstairs and to the room she rented, where you started putting your belongings aside.
"Oh, right!" She said, and gave you a pouch. "Also, spending money. Just in case."
Then she frowned, when you slid your dagger underneath your pillow.

>>21937208
"Just in case."

>>21937208
So what do you think of abel?

>>21937208
"Gotta be careful"

>>21937208
Let's try something out. Can we blatantly break the character of the person who's viewpoint we are usurping? Like, forcing Ariana to hurt herself with the sword?

>>21937252
Yeah, how about no.

>>21937208
"Just in case."

>>21937252
Let's not do that, since it would probably result in Astora murdering Abel.

>>21937208
Been wondering for a while now, we know there are witches and warlocks, then wizards, I wonder what sorcerers are?

>>21937264
Hey, i just want to know if we are actually playing some kind of demonic sword with mind-possession power, or if our viewpoint is just centered on the sword. Trying to force the wielder to do something out of character would be the easiest way to find out. It doesn't even need to end with anyone getting hurt.

"Just in case." You say. "Got to be careful."
"Oh, Ari, I wish you didn't have to." Astora said, and pulled you into a hug with her normal hand.
"So, what do you think of Abel?" You ask, a moment later, as she lit the lantern with a thought.
"Abel? Hm, I'm not sure." She said, and gave that faraway glare again. "He seems to be very moral, and he's willing to fight for his friends. I suppose he's not the worst person you could've met."

She quickly slid out of her charred armor, and slipped on her bedclothes.
"You're going to read again, I suppose." She said, and you grin at her, before climbing into bed next to her with the folklore book. She moved the lantern to your side of the bed, and you popped it open, and started to read.

A mural stared out at you- one with a sentinel, standing at the top of a hill, with a berserker, charging into the horde of enemies, and a pointed-eared knight, with a familiar blade in hand. Powerful deja vu overtook you.
"Hm." You say, looking at the next-to last page. "This familiar to you?" You ask your sister, pointing to the strange picture.
You look over to her, and she was already asleep, her flame quenched as it usually was when she slept. Cruelly twisted, serrated talons lay there where fingers would go. You took them in hand, finished the book, set it aside, and blew out the lantern, and went to bed.

>Roll 1d6. Taking first roll only.

Rolled 5

>>21937313
think happy thoughts?

Rolled 3

>>21937313
rolling

Rolled 5

>>21937313

Rolled 2

>>21937313

>>21937338
Success, a decent roll.

>>21937352
d6 rolls aren't usually high good low bad things.

You are Nobody.

Nothing.
Emptiness.
No sound, no sight, no thought... nothing.

Nothing but a single, pounding feel, inside your chest, throbbing and pulsing.
And then, a moment later, a hum.
<Can it hear?> You hear something.
<Yes. I gave it that function just now.> Something else said. <Now I'll need you to give it sight.>
<Sight, of course.> The first thing said, and suddenly you Saw.
You lay there, floating in the darkness. You knew, intuitively, that you had two legs, and two arms, your heart beating heavily. Three beings floated above you, incomprehensible in shape, but with glowing eyes of different colors.

<Greetings.> a voice said. <Welcome to life.>

---
And time passed.
---

You are Nobody.

Floating through the darkness, streams of light blazing by, you and the other shapeless beings drifted along the light as if it were a road, flying forth.
<Interesting.> The eighth said, eyes of dark red, looking to the sky. <Something is happening.>
<Something is happening? What would it be?> The thirty-second asked, eyes of white.
<It's them.> The first responded, eyes of teal said, and looked to you. <They're here to meet you, Forty-second.>
Joy resonated through the darkness,
from the others, you were nervous,
as the darkness burst into light,
as,

for the first time,

you

stared

up

at

God

.

>field too long!

Your name is Abel.
You rub your head, remembering that strange dream, your back aching from sleeping on the ground again. Cass and Tannis were asleep on the bed, Tannis absentmindedly groping the changeling next to her.
"Morning." Ariana said, giving you your sword back. "Nothing strange happened, and it didn't talk to me. Astora's still asleep, though."

>>21937505
"I just don't know anymore."

>>21937505
Check a mirror, what colour are our eyes?

"Lame, It'd be nice if it at least spoke to someone else, so I knew I wasn't mad."

>>21937505
"Thanks."

>>21937505
"Did you shadow in, or did I forget to lock the door?"

>>21937505
Well, but i had a really mad dream... I think i met god...

>>21937505
"I am confused."

"Lame, it'd be nice if it at least spoke to someone else, so I knew I wasn't mad." You say, getting to your feet to look into the mirror. Your eyes, blue as always, stared back at you.
"Well, the important thing is that without the sword, you might have had a different dream. Something that would help you a bit." Ariana said. "So? Did it?"
"I just don't know anymore." You say, closing your eyes. Already, the 'god' from your dream's appearance was fading. But... but you saw them. Her. It.
You shake your head. "Thanks. Did you shadow in, or did I forget to lock the door?"
"I shadowed in." Ariana said, and then grinned at you, and whispered. "And! Astora told me she likes you. Well, technically that I could've met someone worse. But that's how she talks."

>>21937505
"The Gift of Truth gave me a dream, though, and I think that's what they wanted. I think I know why Eldin can't get a name from me, though."

>>21937602
"That's good to hear!"

>>21937602
"Hah, good to know. What's on the agenda today then?"

>>21937602
I think we should tell her everything we still remember of the dream before it fades. How we were created, how we used to be nobody, the 42th nobody, in fact.

>>21937675
We should write it down somewhere instead. We can tell them when we know more.

>>21937694
why wait, shes the expert on magic stuff?

"That's good to hear!" You say, and quickly take out some paper, writing down what you remember from the dream, as Ariana looked over your shoulder- and quickly looked away when she caught what you were writing.
"... So it gave you a dream." Ariana said, and gave you a smile and a hug. "I'm glad. Did it help?"
Cass mumbled something, and pulled Tannis into a hug. Ariana grinned evilly. "I think Cass thinks that's you." She said.

>>21937761
"Well, it gave me one answer and opened up a whole bunch of questions."

>>21937761
"Help? I'm not sure, but that's not your fault."

"Should we wake her up?"

>>21937761
Stop grinning like that, you're scaring me.

>>21937761
I am not entirely sure I want to get in between them.

I'm not sure if it helped, but it certainly was interesting. Apparently I have a number.

Has Gabriels eyecolor ever been mentioned?

"Help?" You ask. "I'm not sure, but it was interesting."
You turn to Cass and Tannis, still sleeping on the bed.
"Should we wake her up?"
"No, we should wait until they kiss." Ariana said, grinning gleefully.
"... I can hear you." Tannis said, becoming a cat to slip out of Cass's grip, climbing off the bed, and then becoming human again. "She's a woman. Maenad aren't interested in women."
"Aww." Ariana said, pouting.
"Men, though..." Tannis said, leering.

You see Cass's eyes flash green, and she sat up.
"Morning." She said, coldly.

>>21937827
"Morning, Cass."

>>21937827
"Help me, Cass, she's trying to steal me away."

>>21937827
Morning sleepybutt.

>>21937827

Say "Morning Cass." while stifling a chuckle.

>>21937827
Make eyebrows at Tannis while we greet Cass

>>21937827

Ask the sword what was up with the dream and how it is supposed to help us

"Morning, Cass." You say.
"... Ari!" You hear from the other room.
"Right, Astora's awake. I'll be right back." Ariana said, and stepped through the wall.

Cass and Tannis met eyes for a moment.
"Hey, why are you angry at me?" Tannis asked, frowning. "I haven't done anything... yet."
You sigh- last night they'd been arguing the same way, fighting over which one of them got the bed with you, until you'd decided to sleep on the floor again.
"Yet?" Cass asked, and her eyes flashed again. You turn to the sword.
"What was up with the dream? And how is it supposed to help me?"
<It's more information.> The first voice said.
<It didn't help us figure out what Gabriel is, but it might help you figure out.> The second said.
"Well, Eldin told me I can't have him without his permission, or I'd already have chained him up." Tannis responded. "So I'm waiting for permission! There's nothing wrong with that."

Someone knocked at the door.
"Time for breakfast." Astora said, on the other side of the door.

>>21937943
"I'm coming in a minute, let me just try something" Try to step out of reality somehow. Sword said to wait a day, might as well try it out now.

>>21937981
Agreeing with this. Focus on that dream, see if we can power it or something.

>>21937943
I think in future we should get our own room, devoid of women liable to kill each other with us. Maybe with Ciros. He was pretty cool.

"One moment, Just have to stop a lizard from eating a cat."

"I'm coming in a minute." You say. "Just let me try something."

You focus on the dream, on that sense of being nowhere, focusing... and nothing happened, no matter how hard you focused.

"You okay?" Ariana asked, when you opened your eyes again. Cass and Tannis were gone, and the door was open. "You look constipated."

>>21938089
"Hah. No, I'm fine. Just trying something. I'll go down in a minute."
Put the sword down and try again.

>>21938111
This makes sense, wouldn't hurt to try it considering the sword is meant to tie us to reality.

>>21938089
"Now that i had that dream i tried doing... stepping out of reality. Obviously it didnt work. Looks like i have to continue relying on bows and swords."

>>21938111
oh, good idea.

"Hah. No, I'm fine." You say. "Just trying something. I'll go down in a minute."
"Okay." Ariana said. "... Be careful."
You nod, and she ran back downstairs, and you set the sword aside.

---

You pick the sword up again frustrated. Nothing special happened. You make your way downstairs, and take a seat at the table alongside everyone else. Cass was quite obviously ignoring Tannis, while Tannis was very focused on stripping the meat off of the bones she'd gotten. Astora took up some food... and then dropped it out of her 'flame' hand. Almost hatefully, she glared at the fallen carrot, apparently the target of her enemity.
"Did everything come out okay?" Ariana asked, grinning at you- after a worried look at Astora.

>>21938220
"Everything is fine. I think."

Grab whatever food is leftover.

>>21938220
Oh I don't know, I'm just a bit annoyed that everyone else has supernatural powers, and I don't even have the ones I'm meant to have.

Also I'm really unused to having people fight over me.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm just a bit annoyed that everyone else has supernatural powers, and I don't even have the ones I'm meant to have." You say.
"Supernatural powers aren't all fun." Ariana said, with another glance to Astora. You collect some food and start eating. "Like my own Gift of Vermin makes all sorts of critters annoying, and I constantly have to focus to keep from falling into the ground. Everywhere I step automatically becomes a shadow, now that the gift's stronger."
She frowned.
"I don't even get rabbits, though. All the other witches got rabbits except for me."
Astora looked up, and gave Ariana a grin. "But you get otters, right?"
"Right! I'd forgotten." Ariana said. "We need to get some otters to bring home."
"Wouldn't it be too cold for them?" Astora asked. "I'm not going to keep an entire building aflame for pets, you know."
"Aw, fair enough." Ariana said.

>>21938394
"Do you have your own manor back in magic-land?"

>>21938394
Rabbits don't sound like much fun anyway. What do you give you, grass?

>>21938394
"Too cold for otters? Your home must be really very cold, i've never known the little buggers to be very frost sensitive."

"Too cold for otters?" You ask. "Your home must be really very cold. I've never known the little buggers to be very frost sensitive."
"I don't know much about otters." Astora said, and shrugged. "I just assumed, you know, that they were water creatures and couldn't stand too much cold.
"Neither do I."
"And rabbits don't sound like much fun anyway." You say. "What do they give you, grass?"
"They cuddle." Ariana said. "And they're adorable. They're very fun."
"They're too stringy sometimes." Tannis said, and started stripping more flesh from bone.
"... Do you have your own manor back in magic-land?"
"It's been in the family for generations." Astora responded, and nodded. "Surprisingly it has a roost for my familiar- which is funny, because familiars the size of mine hardly ever exist."

>>21938475
"Lucky you. Sounds like you're pretty much witch nobility Ariana, you never told me I was helping the equivalent to a princess or duchess.

Do familiars have names?"

>>21938475
"That sounds like advanced planning to me. Is there a Gift of Precognition?"

"Lucky you." You say. "Sounds like you're pretty much witch nobility, Ariana. You never told me I was helping the equivalent to a princess or duchess."
"That's because it doesn't matter." Ariana said. "Especially right now, on my coming of age. Someone's past and station isn't supposed to be relevant."
"Do familiars have names?" You ask.
"Yes." Astora said, meeting your eyes. "My dragon... is named Astora."
Then she grinned. "That's actually kind of a ridiculous question, though you wouldn't know that. A familiar is a second body. I can see through it's eyes, feel through it's skin, and act through it. Like, for example, right now I'm soaring through the sky, looking down at the city. And I think Eldin's raven is soaring around somewhere near, too. I've been tempted to chase it for the past ten minutes."

>>21938583
"That's pretty cool."

>>21938583
"What's the plan for today? Anyone got anything they want to do?"

>>21938583
"That sounds incredible, sometimes I wish I could fly.

I had heard that it was a second body, I just didn't know exactly how close the bond was.

Does your dragon half have the Gift of Sight and Fire, or is that restricted to your human bits?"

"That sounds incredible." You say. "Sometimes I wish I could fly."
Astora shrugged, but said nothing.
"Does your dragon half have the Gift of Sight and Fire, or is that restricted to your human bits?"
"If my familiar and I are close enough together, it does." She said. "It has the Gift of Sight when it's this far away, still, but it doesn't have the Gift of Flame unless I'm touching it."
"What's the plan for today? Anyone got anything they want to do?"
"I wanted to find a map for the coast in the south." Ariana said.
"I planned to speak with Eldin." Astora said.
Cass just shrugged, and Tannis was too busy chewing on the bone to respond, her face covered in blood- her meat had been almost raw when she'd started to eat.

>>21938697
"I guess we'll go see Eldin, then."

>>21938697
"I suppose I'll join you shopping, Ariana. It'll be like that first day in Sardin again."

>>21938697
"I was thinking of getting a bit more training with the sword. We are in a warzone now, i want to be able to defend myself."

>>21938719
>>21938741
>I need to borrow some of AC-Guy's 'I LOVE TIE VOTES' pictures.

"I was thinking of getting a bit more training with the sword." You say. "We are in a warzone now, I want to be able to defend myself."
"That sounds like a good idea." Tannis said. "I'd teach you, except, well, I don't know how."
"I know a thing or two." Astora said. "That is, if you're okay with a witch teaching you."

>>21938863
"Astora, I travel with an adorable witch and a rather cute changeling, the nature of my existence is often called into question, and I shot an evil fairy in the eye.

Why would I have any problems with you teaching me?

I would love to learn more."

>>21938863
"Why would I not be? It'd be an opportunity to see some new styles."

>>21938863
Usually i am getting coached by my sword. In my dreams. Can't get much weirder than that.

"Astora, I travel with an adorable witch and a rather cute changeling, the nature of my existence is often called into question, I shot an evil fairy in the eye, and I'm usually getting coatched by my sword. In my dreams. Can't get much weirder than that."
"... Good point." She said, and turned to the tavern owner.
"Sir, do you mind if we go out back to practice swordsmanship?"
"Missus, you've paid me enough that you can do whatever the hell you want." The tavern owner responded.
"Good to hear." She said. "My familiar will have a sword for me by the time we get out there."
"But I wanted to go get that map..." Ariana said.
"Don't worry, me and Tannis will come with, Ari." Cassandra responded.
"Okay." Ariana said, and grinned. The three of them left, and you and Astora made your way to the backyard of the tavern- a small, nearly empty yard, with a dragon taking up all of it, a sword with an *extremely* long hilt in it's mouth. Astora took it in her hands, and got into a rather familiar stance, as the dragon took off once again.
"Are you ready?" She asked.

>Roll 1d100 for swordsmanship training!

Rolled 35

>>21939052

Rolled 29

>>21939082
FUCK YOU

Rolled 61

>>21939052
swrod

>>21939097
...fuck me.

Rolled 13

>>21939052
fight.

>>21939097
You are not helping.

Rolled 1

>>21939052
Sword fightan.

Rolled 86

Huurrrr

Rolled 79

>>21939125
>>21939117
i am glad we did not get this at the start of the thread when it actually mattered

>>21939148
Well, apart from sniping the fairy our rolls have been fairly shitty all thread.

The two of you get to sparring, as Astora parries blow after blow, and as you parry her own blows, practicing, for quite some time. Halfway through, Tannis came out, asking Cass 'why she had to come' before she was dragged out by the changeling and witchling, your eyes locked on Astora's as the two of you ignored them. Some time later, apparently tiring of the endless spar, the witch stepped in close, knocking away your blade with her own. In response you shoulder-checked her, bowling her back, and then knocked her sword out of her hands.

She sighed.
"I thought you *needed* training." She said, and got to her feet, throwing her sword into the air again. The dragon caught it in one of it's talons. "Whatever the sword is teaching you, it's teaching you right."

>You are now Skilled in swordsmanship!

>>21939215
>>21939052
>>21938863
>I'm not sure why I dropped my trip. But these are all me.

Rolled 29

>>21939215
"Good to hear. I was worried that I was going to have to fight someone one day and find myself horribly outmatched."

"Should we try to catch up with Ariana or go visit Eldin?"

>>21939215
"Thanks, I think I learned a lot, I appreciate it. The sword is pretty helpful, but I didn't know where I was in comparison to anything.

Though in a real fight you would've just lit me on fire and eaten me.

If you excuse me I'm going to wash up a bit, it's been a good workout"

Take off our shirt, for the ladies, and head inside to wash up a bit before going out.

>>21939215
yay. Is there a higher level of skill than "skilled"? Would it make sense to aspire to masterswordsmanship?

>>21939215
It had me fighting myself.

What will you do if Ariana gets a huge familiar? Like a sea serpent or something. Is there room for it back home?

>>21939255
>The *more* skilled you are, the lower DCs are.

"It had me fighting myself." You say. "Most of the time."
"Hm. interesting." She said. "Maybe your fast learning is your supernatural power."
"Thanks." You say, shrugging and peeling off your tunic. "I think I learned a lot, I appreciate it. The sword is pretty helpful, but I didn't know where I was in comparison to anything. Though, in a real fight you would've just lit me on fire and eaten me."
"Of course." She said, avoiding your eyes, her cheeks red. "No reason in actually fighting fair. Where'd you get that scar?"
You look down to a set of three long scars covering your lower torso.
"Bear." You say, and shrug- it wasn't even a very large or healthy one, but you decide not to elaborate. "What will you do if Ariana gets a huge familiar? Like a sea serpent or something. Is there room for it back home?"
"Back home? Certainly. There's room for anything, if you have enough time to build it, and with a dragon and a huge familiar we'd have enough strength to make anything."

>>21939361
"Wow, this sanctuary must be a pretty big place. And only the witches know exactly where it is? That's an impressive feat. Is magic used to hide it?"

>>21939361
Exabyte, to avoid having to do romance plots, throws ALL THE ROMANCE PLOT HOOKS at the character. I've caught on to you good sire!

"Wow, this sanctuary must be a pretty big place." you say. "And only the witches know exactly where it is? That's an impressive feat. Is magic used to hide it?"
"It's just that it's so far north that nobody cares enough to go up there." She said. "Though one of the crones have the Gift of Sight, so they can tell when anyone is coming near and make them go away."
She shrugged, and leaned back on the dragon again, unclasping her blackened, charred armor, a thin cotton blouse hiding underneath, as she tossed it to the dragon, who slipped it into a satchel. "Not that they'd had to do it before. It's also actually pretty close to the Tzari barbarian towns, and nobody wants to mess with them."

>>21939406
He's drowning us in hooks so that we'll be too busy fighting each other over who to pick to actually work on /any/ of them. Also, Ariana will probably try to nudge us towards whichever pairing she thinks will lead to more awkward situations for her to giggle about.

>>21939476
"Unfortunately I've never heard of that, I'm just a small-town boy, this is the furthest I've travelled in a long while I think."

>>21939476
"The who barbarians? Is it cold up there?

So, what's going to be happening in this town in the future? If it's a warzone I'm not sure I ought to stick around, because the order is going to try to take it back, probably with siege weapons, you'll stay with a dragon, and I might find it unpleasant to be between a catapult and a dragon."

Rolled 16

>>21939476
oh?

"it sounds like an interesting place to visit now my life has gotten this...interesting..."

(at some random point)
"I wonder, should I learn an instrument to make the wandering more fun, maybe the viol or the flute..."

"The who barbarians? Is it cold up there?"
"It never really gets warm." She said. "And they're called the Tzari. They don't speak english like us, but one of the crones get along with them famously. They're normally very territorial."
"So, what's going to be happening in this town in the future? If it's a warzone I'm not sure I ought to stick around, because the order is going to try to take it back, probably with siege weapons, you'll stay with a dragon, and I might find it unpleasant to be between a catapult and a dragon."
"I don't know what's going to be happening in the future quite yet." She said. "That's why I was planning to go talk to Eldin to find out. He's probably going to use my dragon to make sure I destroy whatever siege weapons they start to build. With my Gift of Sight, I can see whatever they're sending."

Rolled 53

>>21939613

perhaps you and Eldin can work out some armor to protect your familliar on the approaches...

an extra layer of scales of steel, or even folded paper, I've heard that if you fold it enough it'll stop arrows...

or would that impede your flight?

>>21939613
"Sounds like fun.

If you excuse me I should probably clean up, take a bath while I can.

Did the rest of you enjoy the show?"

"Perhaps you and Eldin can work out some armor to protect your familiar on the approaches..."
"Perhaps." She said, and shrugged. "But I needn't worry. My familiar's scales are okay, and as long as a familiar doesn't die, I'll be fine. If it does, then I'll be an emotional wreck for a year and a day. But after that, one's familiar- as well as their emotional control- comes back. Anyway, I'm off to speak to him." She said. "Sounds like fun." You say. "If you'll excuse me, I should probably clean up, take a bath while I can. Did you enjoy the show?"
She flashed you a glare at you, and then saddled her dragon again, taking off into the air.
"A little." You catch, just before she fades from view.

You make your way back up to the bath for a bit, and soak, alone.

>End of thread!
>I'll stick around a bit to answer any questions you guys have.
>Also, my twitter is @futureexabyte and I usually fuck around on the IRC (#Exabyte on Rizon)

>>21939751
Thanks Exa!

>>21939490
I think I've figured out what our supernatural ability is: We're an incubus.

Think about it, 3/3 women we've met have fallen for us (at least superficially). I propose to test this we should go find that 'Poppy' who was mentioned the other thread, and see what we can do to her.

Rolled 7

>>21940093
no, just no. stop that shit right the fuck now...

IF AND ONLY IF we can do it in a totally passive way will I even remotely condone this, otherwise I WILL put my efforts into fucking up such plans..

consider this a blanket statement valid for the next several months...

I may be one man but I'm reasonably certain I speak for others on this matter

>>21939751
>You say. "If you'll excuse me, I should probably clean up, take a bath while I can. Did you enjoy the show?"

what show?

>>21940299
What? By 'see what we can do' I mean 'talk to her and try to gague her reaction'.

Rolled 87

>>21940380
sort of. We have, or had, too many harem gathering quests. now, if it's a sound decision for other reasons to invite them along then I'm fine with that.

I may also have been overreacting, it's been a while since I could post here. My college campus is banned from 4chan and I've been watching the Exabyte quests with great regularity...I occasionally had to scream at my computer at all of the harem stuff involved in Sorceress Quest...

but now the semester is over, and my apartment is not banned so I can play and I will say, even if it is a little conceited, that I have pulled out some GLORIOUS CRITICALS in the past...

Rolled 22

>>21940501
>We have, or had, too many harem gathering quests

I meant this to include all of /tg/ though people tried to pull it in Cyborg Quest and Sorceress Quest to some limited success..

>>21940541
Sage your post thread discussion.

>>21940501
Who cares about your rolls? You never turn off the dice, so you're bound to roll something interesting once in a while.

That aside.
I find it quite frankly suspicious that every girl we've met so far is all over Abel, and I'm rather worried. I am not supporting hareming anything. I just want to know if we have powers and how they work.

>>21940501
I'm going to call bullshit on that. There were a few trolls pushing for the harem, but no one seriously suggested it.

>>21940627
>Every female character has their own reasons for acting the way they do. It's not the result of any possible powers, incubi or not.

Rolled 47

>>21940627
okay, sage is now active.

as for leaving my dice on, that has lead to some shenanigans in the past. occasionally a good or bad roll before it's asked for twists the play of events in little ways. true, many of the rolls are indeed pointless, but I do like to roll.

and now that you draw attention to it yes it is a little suspicious. even the neon haired maiden Tolstoy waited a fair while before opening up to Dave, and Sigma waited longer.

>>21940649
perhaps you are right; some of them seemed more serious than the normal troll and as I've said I may be overreacting out of a fit of 4chan deprivation.