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>>42829980
Here is where we last left off.


You move to your father's tent, where he is finishing off a mug, before going to bed and you ask 'Father, what are we to do with those two men I dragged out from the armoury earlier?'

He looks quizzical, again, for a moment, wiping the froth from his mustache before asking, 'well what would you have me do with them? You caught them.'

You respond

>'I'm honestly not sure, it's why I came to speak with you.'
>'Just kill them, it'll be easier in the long run.'
>'We'll keep them, so long as we can feed them. Maybe we can trade them for something later.'
>'We should interrogate them. Get them to betray something of their leader if I am to face him tomorrow.'
>Other.

>>42829980
We will be doing 'First come first serve' style voting, until we pick up some traction and attention, then we'll move on to three vote choices (two vote if we need a happy medium).

I look forward to this quest, I'm available for literally hours, now, unlike last time.

>>42829980
To any newcomers looking at the thread, not much was done in the last session, on account of me passing out, so reading through the archive won't take long at all, so I urge you to join us- you haven't missed much.

>>42829999
>>'I'm honestly not sure, it's why I came to speak with you.'

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>>42830302
'Fair enough my boy. I feel you've made enough tough decisions for one day, aye captain?' he says, capping his sentence with a sentimental chuckle.

'Ah' he sighs, 'I remember when you and Edmund were wee sprouts, no taller than my knee. The way you two would run and play would petrify your mother, but you never hurt yourselves, not really.' a glint of sadness poking through his ordinary charming veneer.

'Sometimes I think if your mother was still around you and your brother wouldn't be out here. Fighting the wars I'm too old to fight now. Maybe you'd be merchants or poets. She'd want something safer for you, that's for sure.' his brow furrowing as he stares into the emptiness of his cup.

He meets your gaze. His eyes cold and his lip twitching, slightly. 'Son. You needn't ride the Vanguard tomorrow if you don't want to. The enemy commander is fierce, but we have our own commanders, fiercer and wiser. If you're doing this just to prove yourself to me, don't. You've got nothing to prove.'

This is the first time your father's opened up to you about anything in months. You take a moment to reflect inward.

>'I want to lead the Vanguard. I want to serve.'
>'Perhaps your right. Send commander Cornelius instead, he'd do better than I.'
>'Would my brother be better suited to leading the charge, do you think?'
>Other

>>42830366
>>'I want to lead the Vanguard. I want to serve.'
"I love you too father but you shouldn't worry so much, I am your son after all!"

Joke around with him.

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>>42830399
You ease him as best you can, telling him you are to ride in the vanguard for your own reasons and he seems to accept this.

'You'll do me proud boy.' he says, firming up his tone, 'I have something for you.' he recalls, standing up and walking over to a chest in his tent, heaving it open.

From the chest he draws a large and intricate blade, slowly moving it out in front of him, handle facing you. 'My father drove this blade into the false king before him. Claiming the Kingdom as his own. I drove this blade into the great pretender Richmond, to defend the Kingdom as my own. My fighting is done. May this blade bring you your own fortune, and secure you your own destiny.'

You are shocked. Handling the blade, you feel that it is of legendary craft, perfectly balanced and sharpened to cut through rock. The devastation you could reap with this blade would be legendary, but you can't help but feel that this is a King's blade; you are but a pretender to the throne- not the heir, that title belongs to your brother, Edmund, who rests not two tents over.

>'I'm honored father. I will bring us victory with this mighty weapon, on the field of battle tomorrow and all days to come!'
>'Truly this blade should not go to me. Respect the line of succession, allow Edmund his own chance at kingly glory with this weapon of awe.'
>'I cannot accept this from you. It is a King's blade and while you still breathe, you are still the King. Keep it, please.'
>Other

>>42830454
>>'I'm honored father. I will bring us victory with this mighty weapon, on the field of battle tomorrow and all days to come!'


And so our position as Marshall is cemented.

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>>42830499
(Looks like it's just you and me in this thread. Out of curiosity were you in the original thread or did you read the archive or neither?)

Graciously you receive the gift your father bestows upon you. It is known simply as 'Kingsblade' and is made of an alloy unknown to you. Your father bids you goodnight, as he settles for bed and you leave his tent.

Your kinsmen who will ride the vanguard with you tomorrow have packed their campfire and retired to their tents and you are about ready to do the same.

With no other agendas pressing on you, you fall onto your bed, inside your tent and drift to sleep.

The next morning you awake to the shouting of Bellimund, your troop's cook ringing his dinner bell as he cries. You pull yourself up, dress and leave to grab a bowl of whatever Bellimund has prepared this morning.

You have a pleasant potato and leek stew, courtesy of special orders from your father, perhaps readying you for the vanguard today. As you finish up, your kinsmen stand before you, armored, fed and mounted, ready to move. Your uncle and second in command, Leon cries out to you, 'Sir! The vanguard stands ready to ride! Just waiting on you, sir!'

You face the point of no return.

>Talk to your brother
>Talk to your father
>Talk to Cornelius
>Take up arms and lead the Vanguard out from the camp

>>42830546
>Talk to Cornelius
We should refresh ourselves on exactly what we should be doing and our armies strategy.

Do us and our enemy have duels in battle? Like issuing challenges to the generals?

>>42830546
>>Talk to your father
>Take up arms and lead the Vanguard out from the camp

I saw the first thread and read bits of it, I got it up right now though.

>>42830579
>>42830586
We have our first conflict. If no tie-breaker roll comes in, I'll roll 1d2.

>>42830590
I'm willing to compromise Can we talk to Cornelius and our father and then ride off?

>>42830594
Sounds fair, one moment.

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>>42830594
You approach your commander and friend, Cornelius, who stands sternly at the gates of the camp, looking out over the field you will soon ride over. Unsure of how this battle will proceed, you press him for information, about the enemy forces and the enemy commander.

'The enemy commander,' starts Cornelius 'is Droghan the Terrible. I hulking brute of a man and high chieftain of the neighbouring tribes, for miles around. He will not allow his honor to be impeached. You wish for an all out battle, initiate it. You want one on one combat, demand it. You wish it to be unarmed, throw down your blade, but do not for a minute hope that this will dissuade him, for he seeks little else than the thrill of battle, young Princeling.' his words ringing cold in your ears.

You've heard stories of Droghan. Stories of him tearing men limb from limb. Skinning them with his teeth alone. You've seen Droghan's handiwork firsthand in the screaming valleys, when you came across a scout, hung by his neck, from a tree, with his own intestines making the noose.

Dread begins to press at your mind.

Somewhat shaken, you move to speak with your father.

>>42830663
Do you

>Chastise your father for not warning you it was Droghan the Terrible you are to face
>Remain cool and collected, promising your father Droghan's head or better yet, Droghan on his knees.
>Other

>>42830663
>>Remain cool and collected, promising your father Droghan's head or better yet, Droghan on his knees.


We can take em.

>>42830678
>>Remain cool and collected, promising your father Droghan's head or better yet, Droghan on his knees.
He didn't give us the sword cause he thinks we can't do it.

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>>42830725
>>42830731
'I shall end the tyranny of Droghan this day, father.' you say to him, feeling your own words fill your confidence. 'I know you will my boy, I wouldn't let you ride out if I didn't think you could do it. Just don't seek glory, if you can finish the job. Hubris has ended better men than you are I.' he says, sternly, gripping your arm.

You nod to him, understanding and he releases you. Your uncle, Leon, cries out 'We must ride out now, sir prince. If Droghan grows impatient we may lose this chance.'

You mount your father's war-horse and draw up your father's blade, feeling that he is riding into battle alongside you and as you rally your men outwards, the last figure you clearly see is your brother, waving you out, from a rampart on the fort. You wave back and he lowers his arm. You are now bound for blood.

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>>42830774
The ground here is bleak. No grass grows and no animals gather. Across the valley you see Droghan and his cabal. 30 in number, give or take, compared to your Vanguard of 40. You aren't sure if numbers can truly make up for the lack of primitive savagery your soldiers lack, comparatively however.

As you near, you spot Droghan at the front of his men, petting his horse and looking straight at your vanguard. The legends are true. He must stand 7 feet tall and has shoulders like a bear. His sword and axe bear blood, some fresh, some dried. A slight grin cracks across his face and you clutch Kingsblade tight. You are within shouting distance now. It is time to issue your challenge.

>Issue no challenge and charge their ranks.
>Leave your men behind you and ride out to meet Droghan.
>Dismount your horse and walk out alone to meet Droghan.
>Walk out alone, dropping your weaponry along the way.
>Other

>>42830804
*lack of primitive savagery your soldiers possess

>>42830804
*bare blood

Jesus, what's wrong with me today.

>>42830804
>>Dismount your horse and walk out alone to meet Droghan.

>>42830857
I'm going to wait to see if we can get another confirming vote for this, as it's a big decision, otherwise, I'll carry on.

>>42830867
I fear it is just us, friend. I will begin to write.

>>42830915
Ah well, let's see how this goes

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>>42830857
You look back to your men, nodding to assure them you know what you are doing, slide off your horse and begin a slow advance toward Droghan, as he advances to you.

'You've chosen a quick death, prince. Tell me, why do they send me the runt? Where is your father? Or at least your elder brother? This is insulting.'

>'They needn't quarrel themselves with small matters like this, is all.'
>'I'm twice the man either of them are!'
>Continue a silent advance
>Other

>>42830949
Have we finally run dry of thread contributions?

>>42830804
>Leave your men behind you and ride out to meet Droghan.

>>42831098
We've already voted for that one, we're here now
>>42830949

>>42830949
>>Continue a silent advance

>>42831098
My bad didn't have updated. Was reading.

>>42830949
>>Continue a silent advance

Fucking captcha

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>>42831105
Not a worry.

You ignore Droghan's taunts, stepping closer and closer to him. This only angers him, as he draws his axe and sword. As quick as a whip, he launches his axe toward you, on a true path.

Quickly! React!

>Swipe your sword upward, in the way of the axe.
>Dive to the ground, left of you
>Attempt to sidestep to the side of the axe and lunge forward with Kingsblade (DIFFICULT)
>Other

>>42831138
>>Swipe your sword upward, in the way of the axe.

>>42831152
Need a confirming vote or some time to pass.

>>42831138
>Swipe your sword upward, in the way of the axe.

>>42831157
>>42831152

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>42831167
Whoops

>>42831175
Well there.

>>42831175
Sweet

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>>42831175
With all the wrath you can muster, you strike upwards, sending the handaxe flying, far away, skyward. Droghan looks on in disbelief.

The ball is in your court

>Taunt Droghan
>Charge into Droghan, sword forward
>Swipe for Droghan's blade, to disarm him
>Other

>>42831199
>>Swipe for Droghan's blade, to disarm him

>>42831239
Need a confirm or some time.

>>42831199
>Swipe for Droghan's blade, to disarm him

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>42831254
>>42831239

>>42831239
This

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>>42831263
You swipe forward with impressive speed, surprising yourself, knocking Droghan's blade-end into the ground below you, but he has managed to keep a firm grip on the hilt. He begins struggling upwards against your grasp and you aren't sure you can hold his sword in place.

>Jump backwards to avoid his upward swing once your pressure breaks
>Feint your blade upward and clatter it down again, attempting to knock his blade loose.
>Push you weight on to your blade with one hand and strike Droghan's head with your other fist
>Other

>>42831291
>>Other
elbow him right in the nose then kick him away.

>>42831305
Meant to add Get close

>>42831291
>>Jump backwards to avoid his upward swing once your pressure breaks

>>42831305
>>42831311
Need one more vote for either of these or a fresh suggestion.

>>42831305
>>42831311
I'll switch mine to his.

>>42831416
Right-ho!

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>42831444

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>>42831465
You move to jump backwards, but are thrown off balance by Droghan's impressive force, as he throws your blade past his. You stumble backwards some feet, before securing your foothold, but straighten your gaze to see Droghan chargin toward you, sword raised in the air with both hands.

Quickly! Do you

>Strike his woefully undefended torso, risking his sword falling down on you
>Sidestep out of his way and attempt to trip him
>Meet his sword, mid-air with your own to throw off his attack
>Other

>>42831507
*charging

God damn it.

>>42831507
>>Sidestep out of his way and attempt to trip him

>>42831507
>>Sidestep out of his way and attempt to trip him

>>42831507
>Sidestep out of his way and attempt to trip him

>>42831542
>>42831535
>>42831547

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>42831555
Sometimes my dice just decide not to roll. So that's fun. Two moments, sports fans.

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>>42831565
Unfortunately your foothold was nowhere near as secure as you had previously imagined tripping and falling, whilst losing your grip on Kingsblade. Droghan stops over you and laughs, his legs either side of your body and his sword ready to plunge 'They should've sent your brother. He'd have stood a chance.'

>Attempt to tuck your legs in and roll backwards (Tough check)
>Attempt to palm the blade leftwards as he plunges (DIFFICULUT)
>Kick him square in the jewels (...Cheap)
>Other

>>42831595
>>Kick him square in the jewels
Fuck this guy

>>42831595
>Kick him square in the jewels (...Cheap)
No honor for barbarians.

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>>42831621
>>42831628
You decide that chivalry is only worth while if you're winning and with an incredible amount of force (perhaps spurred on by the impending blade), your foot connects with Droghan's mighty testes, almost certainly rupturing them.

'AHHH' he screams as he stumbles backwards, falling onto his back 'CHEAP GOAT FUCKER' he screams as he doubles over, blood matting his loin cloth.

You stand yourself up and dust yourself off, picking up Kingsblade as you do.

>Demand Droghan surrenders to you, or suffer your wrath.
>Plunge your sword deep inside Droghan's chest.
>Walk away, leaving him emasculated and wounded.
>Other

>Cheap Fighter
While nobody disputes the life or death situation, your kinsman will never forget the cheap blow you landed in Droghan. Perhaps they'll find it funny, perhaps they'll find it cowardly. It's hard to tell.

>>42831698
>Other
Pin him down with our feet and then behead him.

>>42831753
We have one vote for beheading. Any others?

>>42831698
>Plunge your sword deep inside Droghan's chest.

>>42831785
>>42831753
Need one more vote for either of these or two more for something else.

>>42831698
>>Plunge your sword deep inside Droghan's chest.
Looks like we're going to have the trait "Winning first"

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>>42831805
>>42831785
As you walk over to Droghan, you hear him curse through grit teeth. He looks to you and spits, 'Come on then puppet boy. Do as your told, finish me off. Stab me right-' his speech is replaced with gasps as you puncture his lung, twisting the blade inside, part for good measure, part for pleasure. Within the minute, Droghan the Terrible lays there, lifeless. You look to his Cabal and see them ride scared, away.

>Order your Vanguard to hunt down the Cabal
>Mount your horse and lead the Vanguard to route the fleeing forces.
>Let them flee. News will spread of Droghan's demise. Return to camp.
>Other

>>42831859
>>Order your Vanguard to hunt down the Cabal

>>42831885
Need one more for this, two more for anything else.

What would YOU like to do if just the Vanguard hunts down the Cabal?

>>42831859
>Call for them to surrender. If they do, no further harm will come to Droghan's body amd some will be allowed to take it back.

>>42831900
Interesting call. Need one more for this, to go through, same for the Cabal hunting.

>>42831885
>>42831900
Just going to flip for these two pretty soon.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>42831885
You are 1
>>42831900
You are 2

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>>42831949
'Leon!' You exclaim 'Run them down! Droghan's defeat here will be absolute!'

Leon stirrups his horse and his men follow suit, chasing after the Cabal and rapidly gaining on them. You sit down on the dirt by the hulking corpse and consider on how to present this to father.

>Resolve to bring the whole body back
>Resolve to just bring the head back, as you said you would.
>Resolve to not burden your horse and simply tell father of your victory
>Other

>>42831986
>Resolve to just bring the head back, as you said you would.

>>42831999
Need one more vote for this, two more for any other option.

>>42831986
>>Resolve to bring the whole body back

>>42831986
>Resolve to bring the whole body back
wrap the wound up, we don't want entrails falling out

>>42832008
One more for this, one more for just the head.

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>>42832018
>>42832008
You use some of Droghan's hanging cloth to secure his wound and use some rope from your saddle bag to secure him to your horse.

However, moving this ox of a man onto your horse was no easy feat and by the time you have finished, your vanguard has circled back around. 'No witnesses sir!' pipes Leon as men fall in behind him.

'Thank you, Uncle. Give me a moment, would you?'

>Make your way back to camp with Vanguard
>Other

>>42832065
Are we all out of posters?
Thread is dead?

>>42832065
>Make your way back to camp with Vanguard

>>42832065
>>Make your way back to camp with Vanguard
This one.

>>42832159
1d100 single turn single action combat is crap.

>>42832065
>Make your way back to camp with Vanguard

>>42832065
>>Make your way back to camp with Vanguard
Playing vidya

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>>42832175
(Huzzah)

The trek back to camp is filled with laughter and camaraderie. Songs are woven about your endeavors in which you become known as 'The Nut Cracker'. You're still practically singing tunes as Cornelius opens the fort gates for you and your troop.

'My boy!' you hear shouted from a crowd as soldiers part ways for the King to come over, hands extended. 'I knew you'd do us proud!' exclaims your father, joy filling his cheeks.

>Gesture to your kill and ask what is next to be done
>Dismount and accept your father's open arms.
>Ask where your brother is, for you would like to share this with him
>Other.

>>42832207
This is my first time running a /tg/ quest thread.

What would make combat more exciting or just make it better, do you think?

>>42832310
>>Dismount and accept your father's open arms.
>>Ask where your brother is, for you would like to share this with him


>>42832318
Combat is fine as is.

>>42832365
I see no reason why those two should conflict, but we still need another vote.

And if anyone else has problems with the combat or with anything tbh, speak now please, let's try to make this the best we can as soon as we can.

>>42832318
I figured. For a first-timer, you DO do it well, well enough that experimenting with a new one mid-thread is a terrible, terrible idea.

What's important is to let the idea of how the "flow" of the battle should go stew in your head. Combat Chain is commonly suggested for keeping things crunchy and yet minimize micromanagement. Just look up Deniable Assets Quest.

Most go with a general battle plan and rely 90% on what the dice gods give, and it's crap okay.

If you want something even CRUNCHIER, you're mostly going into uncharted territory. Many have sailed off into the unknown and sunk.

>>42832389
You're going to have to speak to me like I'm an idiot, because frankly, I am. What's combat chain mean in this circumstance?

>>42832417
Combat Chain, as noted by the Capital Letters, is a system made by this QM for combat. It first appeared in Deniable Assets Quest.

I won't describe it because you should probably focus on running the quest right now.

>>42832310
>>Dismount and accept your father's open arms.
>>Ask where your brother is, for you would like to share this with him

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>>42832448
>>42832365
You slide off your father's horse and accept his embrace, inquiring as to your brother's whereabouts. 'He's not left his tent since last night, I'm afraid, I fear he may have drank some nasty water.'

You pause for a moment

You saw your brother this morning, atop the fort's rampart, waving you out. You bring this up to your father and he runs pale.

Swiftly turning on his heel, your father moves past footmen to your brothers tent and swings open the flap.

Nothing.

No armour, no weaponry, waterskin, luxuries. The tent is barren.

Your father appears stunned.

>Round up the best hunters amongst your soldiers, he can't have gone far.
>Accept his choice. You know his reasons.
>Search the fort, he must be somewhere in there, surely.
>Other

>>42832587
Sorry about the wait, captcha just wouldn't fucking co-operate.

>>42832587
>Search for any messages left behind
>Ask father if he knew this was going to happen and why
>Take command for now, need a lead or something before sending a search party.

>>42832621
Do we have another vote for this course of action?

>>42832587
>>Round up the best hunters amongst your soldiers, he can't have gone far.

>>42832636
Then we'll take it as our course.

You remember the conversation you had with your brother on the balcony, just after securing this fortress. How he spoke of not wanting the responsibility to rule and no longer having the will to fight father's war.

You thought you turned him away from those thoughts however. You hope you didn't alienate him by reaping all of father's blessings.

A search of his tent reveals nothing and he had no other quarters. Father seems just as shocked as we are- clueless as to why he would just leave like this.

>Ask around to see if he spoke to anybody before this
>Round up the best hunters amongst your soldiers, he can't have gone far
>Search the fort
>Accept his reasons as his own
>Other

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>>42832751
Forgot the image!

>>42832751
>>Round up the best hunters amongst your soldiers, he can't have gone far

>>42832796
Just need one more vote.

>>42832751
>Round up the best hunters amongst your soldiers, he can't have gone far

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>>42832853
>>42832796
You rush out of the tent, stand atop the cook's table and whistle. 'I want every man who's ever tracked, trapped or even followed a beast on a horse and mobile right this minute!' you bellow, as soldiers begin to scramble around you, grabbing reins of horses and pulling them to the gates.

You turn to your father, still staring into the empty tent and shout 'I will bring him back to us.' before remounting your father's horse and taking off with your hunters.

>Attempt to track your brother
>Head towards the road to the Kingdom
>Head towards enemy lines
>Other

>>42832935
>>Attempt to track your brother
So if we kill him we become king, just going to point that out.

Let's think about that shall we?

>>42833042
You become heir to the throne, not king. Your father is still alive and well. If somebody else votes to track, we'll do it, or if some time passes.

Rolled 14, 55 = 69 (2d100)

>>42833042

>>42833070
Oh I thought he was on his last legs, we can wait then.

>>42833115
As you begin your search, the heavens above open and begin to pour and pour with rain. Any tracks your brother would've left are disappearing fast, but Cornelius thinks he has found a trail, leading into the woods.

You follow Cornelius into the trees and your convoy is slowed somewhat by having to steer your horses through wet ground and trees. You see a light off in the distance, torchlight or a campfire perhaps. You think to yourself 'surely my brother would not set up camp or strike a torch so close to our base, after fleeing.'

>Investigate the light
>Ignore the light
>Other>>42833184

>>42833184
He's too old to be fighting in battles anymore, but he's not at death's door.

Sorry about the random quote after '>Other' in >>42833215
I must've misclicked.

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>>42833215
Damn it, image didn't go through, either

>>42833215
>>Investigate the light
Time for raids.

>>42833215
And I think, on that choice, I'm going to archive it and get some much needed sleep. Thank you all for playing, it'll be back soon. Here's the archive link- http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/42829980/

>>42833353
Thanks for the thread man!

>>42833353
This is great. I normally just lurk in quests, but you do good work.

>>42833353
Thanks, GM

>>42833353
damn just saw the thread. oh well I'll try to catch the next one.

>>42833353
Shit too late to participate