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— Blackwing —
One of the larger northern provinces of Goldfort monarchy, but modest in population due to the bountiful plant and animal life.

- Mist Raven troupe -
Theater troupe of moderate size, located in south Blackwing.

Emi
Flute player and the first in Blackwing to popularize musicians dressing up as fictional characters while performing, but not without difficulty. It took several years before she became well known and eventually well liked.

Nara
Fiddle player whose left eye was damaged and replaced by obsidian-like resin, courtesy of Lady Rin. Easily unnerved and often accompanied by her raven familiar, Isabelle. She has few friends and finds it difficult to make more outside her immediate social circle, the troupe sextet.

Zorn
Former fencing instructor turned stage choreographer. Him and his friends were heavily involved in the Green Lamps district many years ago, and assisted prostitutes in leaving the district. A distant and melancholic hard-ass to most, although he and Emi enjoy roasted tea together on occasion.

Grantham
Independent Illustrator who has a contract with Mist Raven. Secretly sells pornography to support himself and his child financially.

- others of note -

Lady Rin
Eldritch librarian of the town’s library tower. Adoptive mother of Nara. Formerly a private investigator who lived in the central provinces.

Toht
Slaughterer and hunter. Teenaged giant whose mother was once an acquaintance to Emi.

Summary of previous chapter

It was a typical evening for Mist Raven troupe but right when a play was about to begin, Fiddle player Nara went missing. Flute player Emi and stage choreographer Zorn looked around the playhouse for her — with Emi witnessing Nara and her familiar raven, Isabelle, crashing on the rooftops. During their break, Nara revealed she visited Fennec’s house as she noticed his dog was being attacked by strays, so she intervened. She accidentally revealed she was sending her raven to stalk him for the past week due to him being bit by a stray.

Emi tells her to cease such breaches of privacy and help her talk to the actor she took a liking to after the cleanup was done. [b]It was a success[/b] — they enjoyed talking to each other and soon left for a bar. Rather than heading home right away, Emi decided to stay at the playhouse for a little longer for the roasted tea. She encountered Zorn, who asks her for a favor: help him find the crooks that injured Grantham and stole his pornography. Although disliking the plot, she agreed, as such theft would severely wound his income and led him and his friends to Lady Rin. After explaining the situation and providing evidence from the scene - scraps of fabrics torn off in the affray - she bestowed them a talisman which could locate and disassemble the crooks’ clothing. Zorn and his crew tracked them down and engineered a situation for them to be arrested, but was unable to find the stolen pornography.

The day after, news of a venereal disease outbreak reached Blackwing — the capital was cut off from the rest of the world. No more exports until medical personnel from the south resolved this situation. Emi was late to be informed and was only able to stockpile soon-to-expire eggs and bread to withstand the winter. Luckily, she was able to trade some of the bread with Lady Rin for coal and oil in exchange for making the dessert, Poor Knights (Arme Ritter). In the evening, she came across Toht and bought cuts of pork from him, who also assisted in finding people who could trade with her.

Emi was preoccupied with chores and rehearsals next morning, and when she returned to her house at noon, she discovered a note on her porch.

"we know your part in this. you’re next."

Turning to Lady Rin for advice, she revealed Fennec also received such a letter as well (despite not in the plot what so ever). While she suspects this kind of retaliation is done by an amateur, she advises Emi to arm herself as a precaution. Heeding her advice, she immediately visits her home to borrow her weapons. There, she encountered a wrathful Nara tinkering occult fetishes to watch over Fennec. Upon hearing her story, she helped Emi find a suspension system to fit her mother’s sidesword and offered to install her security devices at her house. Emi agreed and welcomed her in the house, but she had to leave early due to a meeting with Toht — the DeBoers want to trade with her. Both Mr. and Mrs. DeBoers were affable, even lending her a cart to help with transport and willing to share a portion of their bombs to Toht for fishing. On the way out, she ran into their son, a sixteen year old whose nose was recently broken in a fight, startling him.

Before returning home with the cart, she decide to visit the playhouse for roasted tea, coming across Zorn and Fennec. Through their conversation, a terrible truth was discovered — the son of the DeBoers might’ve been the anonymous person sending the threatening letters, as Tip, one of Emi’s colleagues, saw someone similar to him fleeing her house after delivering the letter. Skeptical of her description, and not willing to risk a kid’s life over a single clue - the nose injury - Emi wants more substantial evidence before they do anything.


https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=prinzessin%20quest

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Fleeting sunlight cuts through the pale azure sky. The icy wind glides through the mountainous landscape and makes my hair flutter. On evenings such as these, I should be drinking roasted tea and watching the boundless horizon. Ah well. Such is life. Just as my limbs start to ache from pushing the cart, the house was in sight.

… yeah, it isn’t the most handsome thing out there.

This stilted box was supposed to last some two or three years, a mere stepping stone to proper houses entirely made of cut wood rather than bamboo, but I made it work. It served me well for half a decade — a mere winter can’t make it unlivable. Not now that I have wood and coal, anyway.

As I walk up the stairs, I notice a chill permeating the wooden steps. Shadow leak from the floor, their tinge blacker than usual. Cracking open the door, I see that my house is enveloped in a shroud of darkness. She’s doing her… things again.

It seems, in my absence, the withdrawing room’s table has been transformed greatly. Towers of manuscripts drape the wood furniture in a pale off-white color. Fetishes carved from bone and contraptions molded from flesh form a barrier of crescent shape around a certain fiddle player who has fallen asleep.

I.. suppose I can’t blame her too much. The past few hours must’ve been exhausting for her — her date yesterday was midnight, or so. Today’s rehearsal was damn tough on all of us. And then there’s the matter of… whatever she does to ensure my residence doesn’t have any troublesome spirits.

I tap Nara on the forearm to wake her up.

“Mmm…”
“Hughhhhh…….”
“Y.. yeah?”

>>5763954

“… ah! Err.. sorry about that.”
“Everything’s done by the way…”
“I… mhnggh….”

The icy chill and darkened shadows are quickly banished once Nara summons Isabelle to her. Once she becomes more lucid, I explain to her about everything I’ve just learned — the DeBoers family, Tip’s description of this anonymous writer, everything, including my plan to find more evidence before more drastic measures are used. She’s more than willing to help me, and the method is pretty simple as well: have crows under Lady Rin’s command follow me to their farm and observe the kid. Izzie will the one relaying this to her.

“Er.. about your house….”

According to Nara’s findings, it seems my residence doesn’t attract particularly malevolent spirits. That’s good to hear, at least. I don’t need to spend much time or effort on offerings: just have meals set up once every few months and I should be in their grace.

Her… sculpture-security system thing seems to be working fine as well. Those two crow effigies on the stairs’ railings will be watching not only the porch but a sizable area of the streets as well: anyone deciding to walk towards my house won’t be doing so anonymously. It probably isn’t necessary, but there’s no harm in installing it. Maybe this DeBoers kid turn out to be innocent and the real bad guy is out there. Or maybe he’s working with other people. Or just in case he becomes desperate and acts dumb.

>>5763956

Before I load the eggs and loaves of bread into the cart, I spare a few moments to talk to Nara. It’s been a very exhausting day for both of us.

What do I want to talk about?

>Romance advice and Fennec
Nara and him seems to be getting along quite well on their first date. No doubt they’ll be eager to go on another one soon. I’m sure they’ll be happy together, but there’s no harm in talking about certain aspects of a relationship that a beginner should know about. Communication. Trust. Compromises. I’ve seen too many that fail at those.

>Current affairs and future plans
Damn, the past few days have been quite something, hasn’t it? The captial’s out for good for at least a few weeks, there’s some anonymous writer trying to scare the troupe, and we have a big performance tomorrow. Perhaps talking about what we will do after tomorrow’s play will keep our minds off stressful things.

>The occult and the supernatural entities
These things are pretty convenient, I must admit. I would love to learn more about these sorts of things — it could be another tool I could use when there’s a problem. Nara is still an… intermediate, but she might be able to point me in a direction when it comes to studying things as these.

>>5763957
>Current affairs and future plans
Gurl talk.

>>5763957
>Current affairs and future plans

>>5763957
>>Romance advice and Fennec

>>5763957
>Romance advice and Fennec
Aw yeah it's back.

>>5763957
>>Romance advice and Fennec

Pretty close.
Closing vote tomorrow morning.

Voting closed - writing

Hey folks. Got a cold. Update might take a while longer.

>>5764926
Ah damn. Get well soon, QM!

>>5764945
Thanks. Feeling much better right now. Should get this update out tonight.

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>>5764801


>Romance and Fennec

They’ve hit it off pretty well. First date and they’re already doing tongue kisses - I did not think Dao was even that brazen. Ha. Not bad at all. I do remember her saying she hasn’t dated before, so I should probably give Nara some advice about this.

After we load the bread and eggs into the cart, both of us return to the withdrawing chamber. We originally intended to sit on the mats and talk for no more than a few moments, but well… our conversation has a nasty habit of continuing for a little too long.

“… yeah, it’s- he’s… he’s good. He’s not that shaken from the stupid letter. Were I not busy tonight I would’ve asked him out again.” Nara isn’t terribly happy about what transpired earlier today. She’s keeping her head up but still…

"… just.. be sure to leave him some distance, yeah?" I advise her not to be overly aggressive — it can be overbearing, even for those who have taken an interest in the person. It ultimately depends on the person, of course, but generally speaking, it simply isn’t necessary to go on dates with such frequency.

“Alright… I- I got it. Thanks.”
There’s still a lot that Nara needs to learn, but she’s doing pretty well so far. She seems to listen to me decently when it comes to communication and boundaries. Quite surprising considering what she was up to before, but I’m glad she was able to rectify that somewhat.

“Good luck on your trip. Stay safe, yeah?”
"Yeah."

And off I (and Izzie) went, to south of Blackwing. The DeBoers’ farm awaits.

>>5767188

As the sunlight begins to fade from the perpetually azure sky, more and more folks walk the streets. I thought nothing of it at first until I notice the same posters over and over again.

There’s a new troupe in town?

" The Wild North West show "

— accounts most awe inspiring and queer of the frontier’s closing years —

Ah. I see.
These folks are retelling stories of those who lived through the closing years of the war between us Sables and the Gales. It ended…. almost a decade ago, I believe. It was a different time - a time of foreign mercenaries, military campaigns in the north west provinces, and the paranormal. How it ended was truly something else. Our previous monarch - the black lord - was one of the most martially inclined, directly killed the Gales’ heir apparent in single combat. Never thought such a thing would even take place these days.

Reenactments and more physical performances. Perhaps, if I have time, I might check it out. The illustration of the horses do look quite interesting.

[…]

Sun’s nearly out by the time I arrived at the DeBoers farm. I didn’t have much to say and neither did Mister nor Mrs. DeBoers. Terribly exhausted, I’m sure. It didn’t take more than a couple minutes to unload everything.

Well. I suppose this is it for tonight. They don’t seem to notice Isabelle sitting on the roof - even I didn’t at first.

Right before I leave, Mrs. DeBoers hand me a small bottle of cherry jam.

"Uh. Thanks ma’am, you.. don’t really need to."

“Take it, dear. Don’t worry - we have plenty already.”

I thank her for the gift and take my leave. It’s no green custard, but it will still go nicely with toast.

>>5767191


Alright. That is it. I’m free for rest of the evening. I could head home now and go over the scripts one more time (although I’ll be doing that tomorrow anyways) but I do have time to check out that new show more throughly. Dessert does sound nice, too.

What’s my plan for tonight?

>Head home directly
No fuss. Just get back home, and go over things once more before the performance on tomorrow’s evening.

>Check out this new troupe
They must’ve came here today or late yesterday. I might as well see what’s its all about.

>Dessert
Something sweet would be nice. I’ve used my breath a little too much today.

>>5767198
>Check out this new troupe

>>5767198
>Check out this new troupe
Theatre adventures are best adventures.

>>5767198
>>Check out this new troupe

>>5767198
>Check out this new troupe
and then dessert

>>5767198
>>Dessert

>>5767198
>>Check out this new troupe

>>5767198
>Check out this new troupe

Voting closed.

Heads up: I’ll be busy for the entire day tomorrow - probably update on Thursday

you’ll be meeting two new NPCs.

>>5768040
>check out new troupe

I have the time. Might as well.

The azure sky becomes dark as soot. As I leave the farm and venture closer to the center of Blackwing, the desolate paths turn lively once more. Much of the wind’s howling is muffled by conversations amongst friends and sizzling of soon-to-be-ready-meals: aside from the ubiquitous crispy omelettes, minced and skewered meat were popular side dishes, especially for those with a small budget, and there’s a lot of those at the moment. Eating those with rice alone isn’t the most healthy suppers out there, but I don’t blame them (I wouldn’t call my choice of dessert that good either). There’s no shortage of people doing their shopping during these hours, and it’s not getting any less crowded as the night continues, no, the markets at this part of town become most vibrant during dusk.

I’ll pass.

Now then, let’s see what the posters and broadsheets can tell me about where this show is: Large venue south of Blackwing…horse and rider emblem… and that street….

Uh.

>>5770179

Beyond the amber lights of nightly markets and quite far away from the medicinal stores is a section of town where morals come to die (supposedly). The Green Lamps district - called such due to the color of whorehouses’ lamps when they are open. There’s a lot more than just those alone, but the namesake stuck.

This show is located on the very edges of that district.

It does explain a few things, I suppose — south east is already taken up by troupes native to this province, so renting large venues there wouldn’t be feasible for touring ensemble. Locations in north or central Blackwing would be even more expensive since they would be competing with other non-entertainment companies. Renting buildings from Green Lamps is a lot more feasible - especially if they have bars or gambling houses as sponsors.

The district itself is " illegal " technically speaking, but law enforcement tends to leave it alone if they don’t cause trouble - easier to police things that way.

It is what it is.
I’ve got no quarrel with fellows who walk that path — they did what they must to get by, and it’s not like this industry was always a " clean " one to begin with. I’ll be checking this one out.

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>>5770181

I’ve learned many over the years of dressing up and assuming a persona, but one thing that continues to surprise me is the anonymity I get when I visit places without my makeup - mostly there to accentuate the eyelashes - and costume. My dyed white hair doesn’t mean much when there’s twenty something people here whose hair are dyed as well.

As suspected, the… posters in this area are a lot more vulgar in tone. There’s a lot more emphasis on the physique of the performers. One illustration is depicting a female giant carrying a mortar (the artillery gun kind) while wearing the typical clothing seen on birdmen or angels: shorts, accessories from precious metals - armlets, bracelets, finger rings, thigh rings - and… not much else.

"Arabella the Hawk"

Another depicts a male goblin with two swords wearing only a skirt styled to resemble leaves and vines which wrap around his groin.

In a poster nearby Green Lamps, he is more… tastefully dressed. While his doublet and breeches are slashed - with very prominent holes to emphasize the clothing underneath - the accompanying text is more concerned about the swordsmanship of this person.

"Grianggrai of Two Swords"

>>5770184

Now that I’ve gotten a good look at the posters and all its advertisements, I make my way to the actual location itself.

I can see it now why they chose this place - standing before me is a building, wide as a mess hall, black as vanilla but draped with bright red and white fabrics. This must’ve been a gambling house they rented. The lights are scarce, however: the show won’t be taking place tonight.

Still, not bad at all.

… my stomach growls.
Heh. Well, I was walking for a damn while. I could go for some duck noodles or duck rice.

I’m still not fully acquainted with this place. I’ll just go ask.. uh…

There’s this.. five person group talking amongst themselves while walking - probably not a good idea to barge in.

Oh. Got one - a goblin on his own, leaning against a wall and reading some broadsheets. He probably isn’t that busy.

"Hi mister, do you happen to know where the restaurants are on this street?"

He replies without looking away from the broadsheets much.

“yeah, sure, there’s.. a row of noodle restaurants at the corner, right there. just keep going left and you should see them.”

>>5770185

I thank him and-

“uh. wait.”
“… are you..”

I turn around and the goblin is instead holding the broadsheet on his chest. Much of his face is covered by a black cap and its brim, but he seems rather young. Only thing that’s indicative of his adult age would be the hair in front of his ears.

“the prinzessin?”
“the prinzessin dorothea?”

Ah.

What should I respond with?

>I get that a lot.
Yeah, no. I’m not her. Thanks for the tip, though.

>No.
Uhh.. no? I’m not her I’m afraid.

>Maybe.
This stays between us, yeah?

>Indeed I am, Grianggrai.

>>5770186
>>I get that a lot.

>>5770186
>I get that a lot.
>Are you Grainggrai of the Two Swords?

>>5770186
>Indeed I am, Grianggrai.
the only alpha chad response

>>5770186
>>5770397
Hah, supporting.

>>5770186
>>I get that a lot.
>>Are you Grainggrai of the Two Swords?

Writing.

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>>5770397
>>5770683
>>5771091

>I get that a lot
>Are you Grianggrai?


Well. Not bad at all. But I can’t be caught here. Our troupe - while not completely family friendly - is not so edgy that their musicians could be seen lounging around Green Lamps. Bars outside it, maybe, but not here.

I was always a pretty good liar.

"I get that a lot."
"But, no. I’m not her."

(A little sincerity sprinkled in there also helps.)

"Thanks for the tip, though."

I suppose I could turn around and walk away after ending the conversation on that, of course, but no. It’s time for my question.

"By the way, are you the two-swords Grianggrai?"

His lengthy ears and eyebrows jolt up slightly. That little facade of his and the broadsheets momentarily drop.

“ ah. i’m afraid not. “
“ but… I often get mistaken for such. “

There was a smirk on his face the entire time, and soon, on mine as well. Both of us knew damn well what we were doing. Still, there was a moment of hesitation before he spoke again.

“ i really like your costumes! .. by ..the …way. “

His voice dies down slightly at the end of the sentence. It reminds me of when I first interacted with Dao and those of like caliber, actually. I’ve heard praises from the audience and colleagues plenty but I never imagined it coming from someone who is tangentially related in the industry.

>>5771674

I respond to him with….

>"Appreciate it. Good luck on your upcoming show."
A professional response, befitting a senior worthy of looking up to.

>"Thanks. You’re not half-bad yourself. I saw the posters - the slashed doublet and breeches go well on you."
A courteous response from a colleague in the same industry.

>"It’s nice to meet someone who has an eye for things. Perhaps we could discuss it further during supper? If you wish to, of course."
A very irresponsible response that’s sure to provoke something inside this young fencer’s heart.

>>5771676
>"Appreciate it. Good luck on your upcoming show."

>>5771676
>"It’s nice to meet someone who has an eye for things. Perhaps we could discuss it further during supper? If you wish to, of course."

>>5771676
>"Appreciate it. Good luck on your upcoming show."
Second option is also good by me.

>>5771676
>>"It’s nice to meet someone who has an eye for things. Perhaps we could discuss it further during supper? If you wish to, of course."

>>5771676
>"Appreciate it. Good luck on your upcoming show."

>>5771676
>>"Thanks. You’re not half-bad yourself. I saw the posters - the slashed doublet and breeches go well on you."

Pretty close. I’ll be closing vote tonight.

>>5771696 is me, and I'll switch to
>"Thanks. You’re not half-bad yourself. I saw the posters - the slashed doublet and breeches go well on you."
if >>5771802 will, just so we aren't totally curt and can at least make a friend.

Voting closed.

>>5771684
>>5771802
>>5772136
Appreciate

>>5771696
>>5772122
Flirt

>>5772227
Thanks

Updating tomorrow. Gotta sleep.

>>5773471
Night QM.

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>>5773094

A very indecent part of me would like to ask him out for supper. I wonder what his response will be, knowing his idol said such things to him. Considering how jittery he already is, teasing him is going to be a lot fun. I could probably get him on my lap by the end of the night.

Another part of me dislikes the distance between us - I don’t want him to think I am his senior, no, I am nothing more than just another person in another troupe with a different area of expertise. My words shouldn’t be treated with more reverence than anyone else.

In the end, I kept it professional.

>"… Appreciate it. Good luck on your upcoming show."

“ thanks. ” He briefly nods his head in return before returning his attention to the broadsheet.

As I was walking away, in the corner of my eye, there was this tall woman approaching him. She was a little taller than most giants and had red skin, one with a far darker shade compared to Toht - crimson, almost. Judging by how giddy he is when talking to her (and him pointing in my general direction), I figured this must be "Arabella" , his colleague. Much like him, she is wearing flowy clothing and a large hat, albeit in white - a decent disguise.

Mhm. Maybe I’ll talk to them again later. For now, I’m getting real hungry.

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>>5774346

Noodles, made yellow from eggs.
Given life through a brief strain through hot water and a foundation of oil.
Ducks are struck with a knife’s flat and edge to create relatively uniform slices.
A handful of garlic and green onions is sprinkled on top.
Most importantly, a spoonful of chili above it all to keep my throat warm.

I never did get bored of duck noodles (the dry version, at least). Such a hearty thing - one that is more easily to consume quickly compared to rice - but not needlessly complicated.

After a decent supper, I quickly left Green Lamps and headed home. I had my fair share of practice of the flute for today, so the evening was spent reading a fair copy of tomorrow’s play, Regression. My memory was a little hazy when it comes to a work this long….

… alright, I think I get it now. After W.W. activates that volley gun contraption, he sets his student free and executes the last of the gang’s members — heads to the warehouse which had opium processing instruments — and dies there before law enforcement arrive. It’s… a decent ending, I suppose. His family is safe - his enemies in the opium trade is all dealt with - and he died doing what he loved. Sort of. He "was alive" so to speak.

It’s going to be quite something. I take one last sip of rice wine and double-check everything for the last time tonight.

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>>5774349

Once again, I am at the playhouse’s rooftops, looking at the soon setting sun.

As "Regression" is more mundane and adult-oriented compared to other plays we do, my clothing has shifted accordingly — the sleeveless jerkin, asymmetrical hoses and bright violet garters are replaced with a less showy dress and hoses which both reach the upper thigh.

The others in the sextet also has more subdued designs: Nara’s bodice and skirt are darker in shade and the garters more muted in tone. Tip’s rings and bracelets are fewer in number and less reflective.

As I look down, I can see all manner of folk in south Blackwing. The situation at the capital hasn’t been… completely resolved yet, but the supply lines are starting to catch up with the provinces’ demands, and the arrival of a new troupe - whose performances are more physical than most - must’ve renewed interest in this side of town. The number of teenagers do worry me a little.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine. There’s… I don’t think there’s any rape or torture in this.” Nara reassures me that those kids could handle the contents of the play - stories of critical acclaim or of religious nature tend to feature much worse.

"Probably. I just hope they don’t make too much of a mess."

>>5774352

Even before the sun goes out, the playhouse’s queues are lengthy and its mat-covered floor filled, being a little more rowdy than usual as well. Before the play begins proper, we (well, the actors mostly) read out advertisements and thank all the contributors that made the show possible. Ten, twenty minutes must’ve went by before it actually starts.

“… got your word this won’t wind up outside the border?”

“It’s never leaving town.”

The play begins relatively similar to the book - a disheveled Wichien Watcharin meets with an arms dealer in an outhouse. He acquires an old volley gun, relic of the recent war, for unknown purposes. His opium empire has crumbled, but we don’t know how. Not yet.

Where we diverge is in the details: we only have three hours of runtime - plot lines has to be condensed, but the most important are the following…

" Legacy costs " arc revolves around the death of W.W.’s former superior - he must remove evidence before law enforcement finds them while dealing with the logistics of running an opium distribution network. Schemes and subterfuge are the hallmark of this storyline, acting at the forefront.

" Confessions " arc focuses on W.W.’s former allies - and his family - turning against him as they suspect his illicit actions while new players enter the opium trade. Fight scenes are most prevalent and varied here - from unarmed fights to gunplay.

" Blue Sky " arc is the last - and considered the beet - storyline of Regression. W.W. has lost everything and has the entire country’s law enforcement looking for him. His ingenuity is put to the test as he takes down the last of his enemies and secures his family’s safety. Music plays a pivotal role in concluding this arc: his leitmotif and ending song are its highlights.

>>5774353

It is a lengthy piece, and one that demands perfection on every level. We gave it our all, but one arc stood out. For the better or for worse.

That being…

>"Legacy Costs" [Narrator Fennec]
Line delivery can elevate or break a scene.
mini-game: be mindful of what is said and choose your words carefully.

>"Confessions" [Narrator Zorn]
Choreography demands trust and precision.
mini-game: remember the sequence.

> "Blue Sky" [Narrator Emi]
Music can enhance a scene - only if everything is in harmony.
mini-game: steady yourself and find your way out of this maze.

>>5774356
1st choice
>Blue Sky
2nd choice
>Confessions

>>5774365
you can only choose one.

This one will perform better / worse than the rest, depending on how well you do on the minigame.

>>5774368
>no ranked choice vote
:(
blue sky

>>5774356
> "Blue Sky"

>>5774356
>"Confessions" [Narrator Zorn]

>>5774356
>>"Confessions" [Narrator Zorn]

A tie. I’ll count the votes again when I wake up - if there’s still a tie then, I’ll do a 1d2.

>>5774356
>"Blue Sky" [Narrator Emi]

>>5774356
>"Confessions" [Narrator Zorn]

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Still a 3-3

1: blue sky
2: confessions

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Updating tomorrow.

Art WIP.

Update is taking longer than usual. Art finished.

>>5774346
>She was a little taller than most giants
This is coming in late, but about how tall is the average giant in your setting?

>>5778037
As a rule of thumb

Giants are double the height of humans
Humans are double the height of goblins

Messengers (birdmen): 5 m
Giants: 3.0 - 3.5 m
Human: 1.5 - 1.7 m
Goblins: 0.8 - 1 m

Toht is also an outlier - only being marginally taller than adult humans despite being a teenaged giant

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>>5774365
>"confessions"

— an hour before the play —

Hnngh.
I never liked the feeling of these powders and mixtures on my skin.

“… I can’t do shit if you keep making faces.”
“Simmer down, Zornrham.”


I never did manage to get over it.

“Sorry.”

Even the most gentle of strokes on my face still makes me slightly nervous — I’m forever grateful that Baithei is being patient with me. I slow my breathing and try keep my expression neutral as the troupe’s makeup artist does her thing.

…ugh. It still feels grating.

By the time I look in the mirror again, few traces remain of the dark circles that once lingered under my eyes. I myself don’t particularly care about such things but appearances must be at a certain standard when a play is concerned, even for an antagonistic role.

“Thanks.”

“Do get some more sleep next time. Makeup can only do so much.”

Hm. After this week I might actually heed her advice.

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>>5778444

— late morning hours, today —

Four fights in one hour. None of it could be described as easy, but the confrontation between Jacek’s [ya - sek] gang and officer Lek’s posse is one I worry most: the final duel between the two of them offer no amnesty for mistakes. No one else will be there to distract the audience from missteps in choreography, and injuries have the potential to be more severe compared to a gunplay or fistfight.

I skim through the fair copy of Regression one more time.

Lek’s posse arrests him… the confrontation between W.W. and his brother… the gang shows up….. a gunplay occurs after brief conversation……… and…. here. The last stand of officer Lek. His entire posse is down and he faces Jacek alone. Lek is defeated and executed in front of W.W.

Tonight will be especially exhausting for the actors: rappier light sparring, half speed. That will be all.

>>5778445

— half an hour later —

For someone relatively new to stage combat, he is doing quite well. Only the final exchange that gives him trouble.

After the exercise, both of us sat on the stage for a little while. Facing us were the only barren floor and rolled up mats, but the evening is sure to bring some sixty or seventy people here. As I prepare to leave, I tell Tarnin to keep practicing whenever available and use my note as reference.

“If you have anything - I’m on the second floor.”

The sharers tend to get real jittery about hired men potentially appropriating props and costumes outside theater grounds. Triple-checking equipment certainly beats doing paperwork, though.

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【Note’s glossary of terms】

- Footwork -

>Increase
Moving lead foot forward, widening your stance

>Gather
Moving back foot towards lead foot, narrowing your stance

- Cuts -

>Huffthauw "Hip cut"
With an increase, Zornhauw targeting the hip line [can followed up with another hip cut]

>Schedelhauw "Scalp cut"
>Zwerchauw "Thwart cut"
Too dangerous — ignore

>Wehrstreich "Defense strike"
Zornhauw against incoming cuts

>Dempffhauw "Suppressing cut"
Oberhauw that beats the opponent’s sword down - facilitates thrusts / cuts to the arm

>Fusshauw "Foot cut"
Mittlehauw targeting the lower legs

- Thrusts -

>Oberstich "High thrust"
>Gurgelstich "Throat thrust"
>Geischstich "Face thrust"
Too dangerous — ignore

>Verfiertestich "Deceitful thrust"
With an increase, thrust - delay the speed of the foot landing. This delayed thrust excels against overly defensive opponents.

>Fliegenderstich "Flying thrust"
With an increase, thrust - the closer the feet are, the more reach you will have. A quick thrust that can catch unsuspecting opponent off guard.

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— Second hour of the play —

Up to this point, Jacek and his gang is never seen directly - only the aftermath of their assassinations are shown, their faces hidden and the numbers of the gang obscured through dividers. A valuable yet understated assets of the opium empire. When Wichien Watcharin is tricked into revealing the location of his buried money and surrounded by Lek’s posse, he summons the gang through a hand mortar given to him by Tian.

For the first time tonight, I step on to the wooden stage unobscured. There’s five people with me, but I have the (second) heaviest script amongst them.

I stand at the forefront, my hands behind me and my eyes lingering just above the crowd.

"That’s him."

With a flick of the wrist, the others leave their dinner and unraveled the weapons kept hidden in furniture. Polearms. Matchlock arquebuses. Snaphance pistols. Rappiers of varying width and length.

After this glimpse, the stage is once again occupied by Wichien Watcharin and Lek’s posse. It was good long minutes before we showed up again. Lek finally have W.W. dead-to-rights. His student turned against him. The biggest opium distributor in Pikebreak was going to be put to the sword! It’s such a shame Jacek caught them monologuing.

Just as things were going well, the sextet’s drums sing a thunderous tune - the galloping of horses, riding across the desolate plains. The crocodile lute mourn the posse with a piercing wail, cymbals ringing for every member gunned down.

>>5778451

One side has two guns while the other has eight. The gunplay was never going to end well for them.

Only one man still stands. An officer of the law, his wheellock pistol spent and polearm out of arm’s reach. His fingers grasp a rappier. And so does mine.

… there are those who say, the true art is not fit for entertainment.
"It ends too quickly."
"I can’t see what’s going on."
"It isn’t as cool."
To that, I disagree. Always did. It is true that the Knightly and Noble Art of Fencing shun the wide parries and swings of play fighting, to say it cannot be dramatic is simply false.

And indeed, I was proven right.

When he tried to cut at my calf, I simply void it by shifting the leg back and cutting at his shoulder. A flying thrust? I keep my blade forward and catch the blade with the crossguard - pushing his point offline as I step forward, sending a thrust into his (doublet protected) chest.

As the fight continues, I ramp up the speed of the cuts. Once my oberhauw gets blocked and glides off the blade, another one is sent my way. The exchanges get faster and faster - and that’s when I change the angle of attack. With a quick mittlehauw and a sidestep, I cut at his arm and thigh.

We’re at the end now. With his chest punctured, his legs and arms cut, Lek will charge me - throwing every manner of cuts and thrusts.

Or so the audience thinks.

A cut down at my sword, a cut up, a sidestep followed by a cut to my leg, a horizontal cut at my chest and one final thrust done with explosive footwork.

If I remember correctly, the second strike is….

>Oberhauw
>Mittlehauw
>Underhauw
>Zornhauw

the third must be…

>Dempffhauw
>Huffthauw
>Zwerchauw
>Schedelhauw
>Fusshauw
>Underhauw
>Wehrstreich

and the final one should be..
>Oberstich
>Gurgelstich
>Geischstich
>Verfiertestich
>Fliegenderstich

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forgot to change my name for the first six posts - just know that Zorn is narrating not Emi. I ain’t deleting and reupdating all that lol

>>5778458
Second...
>Underhauw
Third...
>Fusshauw
Final...
>Fliegenderstich
I think?

>>5778450
first is "A cut down at my sword" which sounds like:
>Dempffhauw "Suppressing cut"
but the first one isn't being asked about

second is "a cut up" which should be:
>Underhauw
ascending cut from the pic

third is "a sidestep followed by a cut to my leg" which should be:
>Fusshauw "Foot cut"

fourth is "a horizontal cut at my chest" which should be:
>Mittlehauw
also not asked about

fifth and final is "one final thrust done with explosive footwork" which should be:
>Fliegenderstich "Flying thrust"

I'm not smart enough so I'll support this >>5778767

>>5778767
+1

Heads up: I’ll be busy all day tomorrow. Update will probably on Tuesday.

Since we’re roughly at the half way point of this thread, I would like to ask for feedback once again.

>what do you think of the pacing? Too slow? Too fast?
>what do you think of the word count? Too much? Too few?
>what do you like/dislike most about the story so far?

Feel free to ask questions about the setting or characters.

>>5779941
>>what do you think of the pacing? Too slow? Too fast?
satisfactory
>>what do you think of the word count? Too much? Too few?
satisfactory
>>what do you like/dislike most about the story so far?
omg finally doing a play whoooooo

>>5779941
>what do you think of the pacing? Too slow? Too fast?
It was a little slow last thread, but this one's plugging along!
>what do you think of the word count? Too much? Too few?
Sometimes a bit wordier than my preference, but I know how it goes. My updates balloon in my quest, too. At least you always include interesting details for setting the scene, establishing elements of the culture, tetrameter.
>what do you like/dislike most about the story so far?
I, too, am excited to be getting into the actual showbiz side of things more.

>>5779941
>what do you think of the pacing? Too slow? Too fast?
Good
>what do you think of the word count? Too much? Too few?
Very good
>what do you like/dislike most about the story so far?
Not enough smut

>>5778767
I can't really think of anything else so I'll support this.

>>5779941
>what do you think of the pacing? Too slow? Too fast?
It's fine. Sometimes it takes a while to get into things, but that could also be an advantage.
>what do you think of the word count? Too much? Too few?
I like it.
>what do you like/dislike most about the story so far?
We're doing a play!

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>>5778549
>>5778767
>>5779006
>>5779891
>>5780442

a sneakpeek of the next update…

Thanks for all your feedback! After the play finishes, you’ll be interacting with others in the showbiz too.

>>5780064
>Not enough smut
Don’t worry, there will be a Seggs™ option soon for Emi and Zorn.

>>5780967
I think you meant to reply to >>5780438

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>>5781043

>>5778549
>>5778767
>>5779006
>>5779891
>>5780442

While it may look like random flailing to the audience, the device Tarnin is executing was carefully designed: 2 vertical cuts - 2 horizontal cuts - 1 thrust. The cuts are linked together in a rhythmic fashion: the first is a descending cut to beat my blade down, the second is a rising false edge cut to my wrist. The third is a horizontal cut to my calf which comes back around as a cut to the chest. Such a device can be overwhelming, but there are ways to win out in the play.

With an increase-gather, Tarnin moves forward to deliver a suppressing cut against my sword.

>all correct!【 COMPLETE SUCCESS 】

Being as gentle as I can, I make a half-circle movement with my hand. Such a minor change in angle was all it took for his blade to miss mine entirely - and now I have the upper hand. (Were this a real fight, I would’ve cut his head and then transition into grappling.)

As soon as he misses, he tries to bring the blade up again for a false edge cut. My sword moved faster - slicing his right shoulder, passing through his entire arm and pushing his blade down once more.

Stepping to my right, he tries to sweep my lead foot. I simply retract it back and make him miss. As his sword glides from his left to his right, he pivots his wrist so the blade could come back again, this time at my chest. I slap that nonsense away with a defense strike while passing a step backwards - moving my current lead foot (that being the left) to be my back foot once more.

And now, we’re at the very end. His feet come together and his eyes go narrow.

>entire sequence thoroughly explained and correctly deduced!【 FLAWLESS EXECUTION 】

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>>5782141

As if pulled by a string, Tarnin takes a wide step. The very moment that tip comes at me, I shift the hilt so the quillon and side ring would catch the thrust while I perform the Knightly and Noble Art of Fencing’s signature "triangle step" - moving the left foot behind my right, putting the body offline. I do not remain there for more than a blink of an eye, no, for that is a transitional posture. With the thrust now caught and myself safe, I step forward and deliver a counter-thrust to his chest while maintaining blade contact.

And the fan-favorite character falls. He was a skilled investigator and skilled shootist who has survived many gunplays where the odds were stacked against him, but this time, the game isn’t rigged - it’s unwinnable. If his posse didn’t celebrate and just left quickly, Jacek’s crew wouldn’t had time to get a volley off and take out their horses. Even if Lek won the fight, he’s still in an open field with barely any cover against five shootists. He’s a dead man walking.

The battle is won. Lek is on the ground while his entire posse is wiped out, but before I execute him, the W.W. in bindings begs me not to.

“He’s family!”
“He’s my brother-in-law.”

I glare at him while still keeping a snap matchlock pistol (looted from his cronies) trained on the dying peace officer. Partly surprised and annoyed, I asked why he didn’t tell us such before we came here. Apparently it was a misunderstanding - he thought it was another gang coming to kill him at first.

“Sorry, but there’s no situation where he comes out alive: we snuffed out his posse and he is half-dead.”

My gaze shift to Lek again.

“EIGHT THOUSAND.”

W.W. reveals the truth - he buried his excess money here, and was tricked into revealing its location by Lek and his posse. Eight thousand bullet coins each weighing one ivy gourd, which will be given to us if we let him live. Still….

“That much money won’t do us much good if we are dead.”

We already slew and murdered three people - that’s more than enough to warrant a beheading. No point doing things halfway.

>>5782142

Lek figured that out before W.W. did.

“Wichien.”
“You’re the smartest guy I ever met.”
“And you’re too stupid to see…”
“He made up.. his mind.”
“Ten minutes.”
“Ago.”

“…”
“Do what you—“

The spring jolts the serpentine forward, and the (unlit due to fire hazard) slowmatch gets pressed into the touch hole. A thunderous howl of the drum echoes across the room which is briefly followed by a silence.

With the last of the threats gone, Jacek’s gang wasted little time in digging up dirt around them, and indeed they found their prize. With such a haul on their hands, they technically don’t really need W.W. nor his turncoat student anymore - they could leave the opium business and be set for several lifetimes. While they could’ve taken everything, even executing Wichien for his actions, Jacek stays his hand, and leaves him one hundred of the coins as a parting gift. Only one problem remains.

“He was out here, working with them, right?”
“Shouldn’t we find out what he told those guys first?”
“I bet I could get it out of him back home. I… I could do it.”

Jacek’s cousin convinces him not to kill W.W’s student for now. He concedes. They spend the rest of the day burying the bodies and transporting all the coins. That is how the "Confessions" arc ends - the sum of his criminal actions have caused the death of his family member and wiped away most of his (ill-gotten) earnings.

>>5782146

After the arc’s conclusion, we take a twenty minute break. I check up with Tarnin and the others if they had any injuries. Thankfully, there weren’t any - the padding on doublets and coats proved good enough. Ugh. That was quite the workout. I could use some roasted tea.

"Heya. You busy?"

Emi enters the backstage and hand me a cup of it.

"The audience’s been talking about you, a lot. They think you’re pretty cool. You should go see ‘em!"

Ugh. I’d rather not be in the foreground. I’m hardly an actor most of the time.

"Come on. It’ll be fun. I’ll be there."

Maybe some other day, but no, not this one. Kids are.. well, kids. I decline her offer.

“Nah. I’ll pass. Those kids… There’s way too of them tonight.”

She sniggers a little upon hearing that.

"You say that as if you’re some old man. You’re barely two years older than me."

To a twenty five years old, they’re damn young!

“You- hugh… you know what I meant.”
“Sixteen, seventeen year olds aren’t…. they might act retarded. Really retarded. I’m sure you know it. Some of them have no self-control.”

Her smirk abruptly ends. She considers my words for a moment before speaking again.

"… I’m.. sure they won’t be retarded enough to harass you just because you killed their favorite character - and - if anyone tries to grope you I’ll drag them out myself."

In any other circumstances, I would laugh a little upon hearing that, but no, she’s dead serious. I’m sure she could pull that off without any retaliation considering her reputation….

No wonder Nara looks up to her.

>>5782150

As for my final response, I…

>Accept her offer - go meet the fans
For once, I’d like to be as optimistic as the sextet when it comes to interacting with the audience.

“Alright, alright. Lead the way, prinzessin…”

>Counter offer - get fried chicken skin together and hang out
No. I’d rather not. I’m just.... tired. The last hour took a lot out of me. I really don’t want to interact with strangers right now.

“Uh.. sorry, but no. I’m just.. too exhausted already. I was thinking of getting some fried chicken skin from the vendor around the corner instead. You.. wanna come?”

>>5782151
>Accept her offer - go meet the fans

oh hey we're zorn now
make sure to empty our pockets of any spaghetti before we go out there
make sure

>>5782151
>Accept her offer - go meet the fans

>>5782151
>>Counter offer - get fried chicken skin together and hang out

>>5782151
>Accept her offer - go meet the fans
(>>5781043 is me; I'm on mobile)

>>5782151
>Counter offer - get fried chicken skin together and hang out

Voting closed.

Head’s up: I might be busy tomorrow. If things go well, update will be on Thursday. If not, it should be on Friday.

>>5783266
Nice try, Fake!Wuxian.

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Hey folks, can’t update tonight. Looks like it’ll have to be friday, then.

Art WIP:
"So, you want to get into martial arts..?"

KDF fencer on the left. Hōjutsu practitioner in the middle.

>>5783998
ninja on the right?

>>5784054
You've meet him before.

>>5783076

>Accept her offer

“Lead the way… prinzessin.”

A faint smile returns to her face, and some semblance of it appears on mine as well. I know she has my back, and I have hers.

And so, we return to stage once more.

Rows of people are still there, albeit less organized. The kids have formed their own little circles to talk amongst themselves and share their snacks. Those my age are a little more quiet in their chatter, at least. As for the more elderly folk, I don’t see them here much - they must be outside, buying the lottery tickets or playing cards.... or something or sort. I never cared much for those vendors, anyway.

"Hey folks! ~ "
"I heard you really enjoyed the fights…."

With just a couple sentences, Emi has captivated everyone in the room. Even the chatter from the most rowdy of kids have died down as she introduces me to the audience. As we’re casually answering questions and unofficially interacting with the fans, we sat on the stage’s edges when we addressed the questions.

The first few questions were educational in nature…

>i really like the stuff you guys did. what do you recommend for someone wanting to get into martial arts?

“Well… it.. really depends.”
“What exactly do you want out it? Exercise? Self-defense?”

There’s many, MANY, aspects to self-defense, even without the martial arts themselves, but I try to keep it as concise as I could.

“… there’s a lot you need to learn if that’s your goal. Wrestling. Use of the Dagger. Singlesword. These are good subjects to study, but you should learn wound treatment as well.”

And the golden rule when it comes to violent confrontation.

“.. If someone tries to attack you with a weapon, it’s best to run away. Techniques in grappling… boxing.. those can help you with that, but above all else, it is stamina that is most important.”

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>>5785243

As for doing it for exercise….. that’s where the possibilities really open up. Blackwing might be a small city population-wise compared to the central or southern provinces, but that’s not to say it is lacking in martial arts.

I mention three. The first is the one I primarily studied, and for a time, taught others: the Knightly and Noble Art of Fencing (That’s the shortened version of the title - the original is too damn long to speak)

“The system I study comes from the Frankfolk. The Fechtbutch [fencing book] covers the longsword, dussack, rappier, dagger and staff.”
“It’s lengthy, but you don’t need to learn everything. Not all at once. You can try each of them out and see what you like best.”

The second is one that has become very popular as of late - the Art of Gunnery.

“I believe there’s a couple clubs in South Blackwing that still shoot regularly during these months.”
“It can be fun, but you will need to walk a lot.”

And the third one is from Calfsteppe, the Art of Arms.

“One of their subjects is the use of the battlesword.”

They probably won’t be a bodyguard or Doppelsöldner [double-pay mercenaries], but training with the two-handed swords is still good exercise.

“It will build upper body strength. You will be able to lift heavier things for longer.”

>>5785244

Each of them have their own barriers to entry, of course, but the examples I have given seem to resonate with those kids. It’s.. natural, I suppose. I knew many colleagues, and later, students of mine who took an interest in fencing due to it being depicted in media.

>can you fight with two swords like the guy in the wild north west show?

Ah. That goblin. I think I’ve seen his posters earlier today. Pulling customers through sexual attraction is one tactic, I guess.

“I.. wasn’t trained in it. I don’t think I can do it well.”
“As for.. uhh… GriangGrai, was it?”
“I believe he studies the Art of Arms. One of the subjects was using a case of swords.”
“It is… difficult.”

I proceed to explain that it can be done, but the main problem comes from the length of the weapons - they can get bound up if not carefully maneuvered. The buckler and dagger are both easier to learn and carry, so they are more prominent in most treatises.

[…]

There’s time for one last question before we need to get ready for the third act.…

>are you two … DATING??

The question got more than a couple giggles from the younger folks in the room. Even Emi sniggered a little from such profound words being spoken.

…. what did I expect from fifteen-year-olds.

Emi gently lets them down.

"Haha, thanks dear, but no."
"He’s just my colleague."

Another wave of giggling and whistling follows. Unsurprising.

>>5785245
As for me, I finally shut them up by…

>A simple denial
Imaginations tend to be a lot exciting than reality. Let’s just end this quick and get back to the play.

“No. We are not dating. That’s all.”

>[lie]Telling them I already have a lover
Curious little bunch, aren’t they? Fine. I’ll play along.

“Nah. I already have someone. No, I’m not telling.”
[low charisma: QM rolls 1d2 to determine if they believe it or not]

>Actually play along
Hmm… talking to them was entertaining this far. I suppose going a little further couldn’t hurt.

“Aw. I’m heartbroken, Emi. ~ ”
After this update, the play will conclude and you will have the option to switch back to Emi POV

By the way, what do you think of Zorn POV so far?

>>5785256
>[lie]Telling them I already have a lover

>>5785256
>>Actually play along

>>5785256
>Actually play along
I found the switch interesting and well managed, though I'm usually not a fan of POV changes in quests.

>>5785256
>>[lie]Telling them I already have a lover
the weapon autism did not disappoint

>>5785256
>Actually play along

Oh wow. I didn’t expect we would be on page 8 this early. I’ll be closing the vote a little earlier from now on. In a couple more hours voting will be closed.

Current votes

>>5785530
>>5785774
Lying time

>>5785587
>>5785619
>>5785808
Rizzing time

I forgot to close the vote. My bad.

Update should be out by tonight.

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>>5785825

>Actually play along

I’m not a charmer. Never was.

… That’s why I haven’t had a lover after all this time. That’s why I used to visit Green Lamps. That’s why I didn’t confess to Dao when I had the chance. It’s damn time I become a little bolder. A little more confident. Come on!

I reconstitute my lips into something resembling a faint smile and attempt to speak as cheerfully as I can.

“Awww…”
“I’m heartbroken, Emi ~ “

The crowd erupts once again. In the stream of laughs and whistles, both of us cannot help but smile along with them. Haha, I’m sorry, Emi.

In response, the prinzessin shifts her gaze to me instead. Before she addresses me, she also shifts her posture - from sitting forward with her forearms on her legs - to casually leaning back with both hands behind her.

"Mhm. ~ "

She becoming even more alluring than before - her words linger in the air for just a moment longer than usual, and her voice now has a certain depth to it.

"We… seem to have a misunderstanding."
"Perhaps.. we should sort that out over a drink, then? ~ "

… ha …. huh?

Those sentences sent EVERYONE over the edge. Their once subdued giggles and whistling turned to relentless cheering and shouting. All my confidence shattered upon hearing them - my fingers fidget themselves as I avert my gaze from her.

God, she really knows how to be charming.

"Well? ~ "

She leans forward and pushes her middle finger against my chin, making me face her again.

… AAAAHHHH WHAT THE HELL IS THIS.

>>5786320

No, no, no. NO! I got this. God damn it, ZornRham. I’ve gone this far - I’m not gonna stop this half-way, no! I end my squirming and respond in a tone as silky as I could possibly muster.

“Perhaps. We should. ~~ ”
“Be seeing you, then. ~~ ”

Still keeping that smirk, she nods and stand up to announce that they’ll have to take their leave now, as the third act will commence shortly. After waving goodbye, we both disappear into the backstage. The kids didn’t simmer down for a while after that….

"Uh. Hey."
"That.. wasn’t too far, right?"
"I should have asked you beforehand."

Behind closed doors, Emi apologizes for being a little too physical with me. I don’t take offense to it. In fact, I should be the one apologizing.

“No, it’s fine.”
“I.. shouldn’t have said that begin with. Sorry if I put you on the spot.”

She reassures me that isn’t necessary.

"Nah, nah. That.. that was.. good."
"Damn good."
"One hell of a way to keep them engaged."

"… it was pretty fun, wasn’t it?"

Indeed it was exhilarating. I half-expected myself to freeze up the entire time when talking to those kids, but I concluded it wonderfully. I can see why she likes it now.

… I think I feel a little more confident, actually.

>Remained confident due to successful execution of sword choreography
>Accepted Emi’s offer to meet the fans
>Chose to be very bold when interacting with the audience
>【 CHARISMA INCREASED! 】

>>5786322

— Regression’s third act —

After the death of his brother-in-law, W.W. knows it is only a matter of time before law enforcement piece together what happens: he and his family must flee the province before they could be caught.

“Wichien…”
“Where is Lek..?”

His wife was the first to piece together what had happened.

“You.. killed him.”
“You killed him.”

“No.. no, NO!”
“I TRIED TO SAVE HIM!”

At this point, W.W. has told so many lies to his family, manipulated them for so long to keep them away from his criminal activities that the one truth he finally decides to tell goes unheard. A fight ensues as his wife tries to force him out of the house with a knife - in which he disarms her, although not without being cut in the hand. Seeing that his wife and children are entire completely against him, he flees.

It all falls down. Everywhere across town, his name and deeds are printed on every broadsheet. His opium warehouses were raided and seized. His crooked lawyer also leaves - fleeing to a province north of Pikebreak. All that money and he can’t do a damn thing but run away and hide.

The story starts again a couple months after his escape from Pikebreak. The time he spent on his own, and his lawyer’s parting advice made him realize if he doesn’t turn himself in, his family will be charged with being accomplices. Before he does that, he goes to a bar to drink.

>>5786323

" What was Wichien Watcharin’s contribution to the plantation? "

W.W. sees a broadsheet - on it, an interview from his former colleagues! He was the backbone of that farm - he was the best at harvesting rubber and transporting it.

" To be honest… I.. he was just another harvester. "
" His contribution wasn’t… anything unusual. "

His friends lied. They lied. Every goddamn aspect of this interview was complete falsehood, designed to distance themselves away from the opium dealer he became.

As his fist clenches and his eyes grow narrow, the fiddle and crocodile lute starts playing, followed by the drums and cymbals. It was barely audible at first, but the razor-sharp screams of the string instruments became louder, and louder, overpowering everything else on the stage. For a couple minutes, there were no dialogue, and Regression’s motif makes its appearance in full for the very first - and last - time in the play.

W.W. knows he is damned.
He’s going to die, one way or another.
But there’s still some scores left to settle.
It’s time he becomes the danger, one last time.

>>5786326

With the last remnants of his blood money, he purchased a volley gun and returned to Pikebreak.

First order of business: his old colleagues.

“If you’re going to go that route…”
“You need a bigger knife.”

With nothing but his word alone, he threatens them into giving the leftover bullet coins to his family, under the pretense of generosity from a more well-to-do family. After scaring them into submission, he disappears into the night.

Only one thing left to do….

(And my time on the stage once more!)

W.W. knows he can’t win fairly against a group of fighting men. He is a middle aged man that’s dying of a tumor. That is why he stalks their compound and hides his volley gun behind the largest room - that being the withdrawing chamber - under the cover of shrubbery.

I step on the stage, with a little more confidence this time.

While we lounge around and drinking, there was a knock on the door.

It’s him.
I tell my guys to immediately search him for weapons: he didn’t have anything but some paper with nothing on it.

“You shouldn’t be here, mister Wichien.”

Before they parted, Jacek told him to never met again - he no longer needs W.W. to make money, and he could compromise their safety. His cousin cannot save him being executed this time.

>>5786327

“I’m here for Gaid.”
“You TOLD ME you would kill him.”
“Or are you working with a snitch!”

Wichien’s greatest strength was his intelligence, and he used it against Jacek: he knew Jacek was an honorable man, who "played the game the right way". To accuse him of being a snitch would be unthinkable.

I stomp across the stage and leaves, coming back with the former student of W.W. now chained up and bruised.

“Does this look like a partner to YOU?”

It was Jacek’s cousin who came up with a plan to force Gaid to keep processing opium rather than kill him right away.

W.W. slowly walks up to him, looking at all the injuries he caused, and… pushes him into the floor!

Immediately after, he smacks the shutters open and flicks the papers out, the friction of his hand causing it to catch fire — he doused those papers in a incendiary solution!

That fire causes a trail of powder to lit up, quickly reaching the volley gun. The thunderous drums roar once again as the entire gang gets gunned down. It seems that this time, he was the one who caught me monologuing.

>>5786329

Anyone who didn’t suffer a fatal wound was quickly finished off by W.W. and Gaid. As I laid on the floor, my thigh injured from the shot, I try to beg…

“You’re.. here for the money, right?”
“You pull that trigger—“

Jacek gets snuffed out.

With the last of enemies gone, W.W. sets his student free and part ways. However, he soon realizes he won’t make it: a shot from his own volley gun pierced his side.

As the peace officers arrive at the compound, Wichien Watacharin falls to the floor, dying in the warehouse that was used to store opium - the very thing he cherished so much.

Rather than a somber tune, the sextet plays something higher pitched. The flute and fiddle graces the ears of the audience with a cheerful melody as Tip begins singing.

~ all those days ~
~ became so long… ~

Thus, Regression concludes.

… I think.. I finally get it now, what Emi was trying to say all those years ago. The looks that appeared on those folks’ faces - Their gasps. Their cheering. Their laughs. It certainly feels nice.

I do hope those kids don’t make too much of a mess, though. Cleanup is going to be long tonight.

>>5786331

[…]

It was almost midnight when everything was done. To celebrate such a successful play, most of the troupe visited restaurants and bars. As luck would have it, the Wild North West show also concluded a little while before ours, and their staff also had the same idea about how to celebrate.

Emi and I choose the Crow’s Beak. It’s not the most convenient bar to get to in South Blackwing, but the prices are pretty good for what you’re getting.

"Yeah… they couldn’t make it."

She said the rest of her sextet couldn’t be here tonight. Nara and Fennec are.. elsewhere. Nin and Bua were too tired to come here, and Tip was just too hungry.

As we got seated, Emi noticed two particular individuals she seems to have met before — "GriangGrai" and "Arabella" (she only knew their stage name).

Talking to GriangGrai could be fun. The Knightly and Noble Art, in particular the rappier, has its roots in Calfsteppe treatises. Meeting another practitioner of the art sounds nice.

Talking to Arabella would be lovely. I’ve heard she’s a veteran of the Sables - Gales war, part of an artillery crew. I would love to listen to her stories. She’s… also not half-bad, either. Very tall and fleshy - she’s totally my type!

Or… I could talk to Emi. It’s been a while since we have talked at length. Sharing stories again would be nice. And there’s the matter of what transpired today….

>>5786333

I decide to…

>Approach Arabella [ Emi will approach GriangGrai ]
Seems like both of us found people we would like to talk to.

>Approach GriangGrai [ Emi will approach Arabella ]
It’s been a long night. Let’s make friends!

>Talk to each other
Let’s been a while since we hang out, hasn’t it?

… with that settled, we both get a drink. It’s going to be a long night for….

>Zorn (choose Zorn POV)
>Emi (choose Emi POV)

FYI: I will busy for the entire day tomorrow.

>>5786334
>Talk to each other
After that whole exchange I think it's fitting.
>Emi (choose Emi POV)
Hm I'm half tempted to stay with the Zorn POV.

>>5786334
>Approach GriangGrai [ Emi will approach Arabella ]
>Zorn (choose Zorn POV)
mmm, wepons

I've never watched breaking bad, but did we just fit all the seasons into a single play?

>>5786334
>Talk to each other
>Emi (choose Emi POV)

>>5786334
>>Talk to each other
>Emi (choose Emi POV)

>>5786439
Yeah it's pretty obvious.
I almost laughed my ass off at the 'I am the danger' reference.

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>>5786439
The entire fifth season.

>>5786334
>Approach Arabella [ Emi will approach GriangGrai ]
>Emi (choose Emi POV)

>>5786439
>>5786579
>>5786889
Reminded me of the Star Wars scene in Reign of Fire.

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Voting closed.

>>5786439
Friend route

>>5787061
Kōhai / Senpai route

>>5786359
>>5786451
>>5786515
Idol route

Updating tonight

>>5787552

Ever since that intermission, Zorn has been a little tense whenever we talked. I don’t blame him - I used to get nervous too when I first started. All those eyes on you, all those opinions, it can be overwhelming.

“Uh.. Heya. Emi.”
“Can I.. go drinking with you?”

I can tell he was really wound up when he approached me after the play. Of course I accepted it: we both could use a drink or two after such a long day. I remember when Dao used to take the rest of us drinking after plays like these. Get us to ease up. Tell stories. Give us advice. Yeah, I think he could use something like that.

>Talk to each other [ Emi POV ]

"You into peach wine? I’m thinking of getting a bottle. It’ll be my treat."

“Uh.”
“You- don’t really need to, Emi. It’s- It’s fine.”

Zorn fidgets his finger a little upon hearing that. I assure him he shouldn’t feel guilty about it, even reminding him of the time he lend me a training dussack and one of those puffy hoses - pluderhosen as it was called - and let me keep it even after sparring.

“.. yeah. I could go for that.”

We both can’t help but to lighten up when that bottle arrived. It was a stocky thing, reminiscent of a ceramic jar but scaled down. As expected of any San - Yumi Corporation product, the bottle has a rich brown shade to it along with a white crest featuring their sigil of three arrows - a nod to the founders’ original professions. Pouring it reveals a cloudy amber liquid that’s exceptionally icy.

"I wonder many bowyers or fletchers are still left in this country at all..."

Zorn perks up a little upon hearing me musing about the crest.

“Oh! I’ve heard a couple of metal workers in Clawflash say there’s a hundred or so bowyers there.”

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>>5788946

Zorn proceeds to tell me about a trip to Clawflash a couple years ago. I knew the capital was on a large island, surrounded by five rivers, but I never really had a scale of the place. Not fully. Some HALF A MILLION people in there?

“Well. Not everyone lived on the island. There were towns built on the land around it and there were a lot of traveling merchants but….”
“Yeah. Pretty much.”

He visited a colony of metalworkers, most of whom were immigrants from Dawnfall Isles. Those kind of folks tend to have their own villages and miniature towns to themselves.

“They mainly fled due to warring states and religious prosecution.”

Another thing he saw were the slaves, and the size of that industry. He counted no fewer than six agencies alone dedicated to dealing with every aspect of it - the paperwork, the transportation, inking, tracking…

I don’t think we even have two here. After the war ended, the rest of the war slaves that didn’t get ransomed were let go. Right now we mostly have debt slaves and slaves saved from criminal charges. I think Blackwing has about.. one, two percent of the population that are slaves? Zorn says the capital’s is somewhere around ten.

"Wow. That’s… that is a lot of debt slaves."

We both realize the wine went down our throats much quicker than expected. An entire bottle gone in just.. less than half an hour.

“Yeah.….”
“… uh, hey.”
“You want any snacks?”
“I was thinking of ordering some fried chicken skin.”
“My treat.”

>>5788949

Along with some snacks, Zorn also got us a bottle of plum wine. It was a little cloudier and more orange than the previous one, with a strong sour flavor to it — A damn good compliment to the salty-and-slightly-spicy chicken skin! He certain knows his stuff.

As the night went on, we exchanged more of our experiences. Tales from travel, recollections of noteworthy events, stories of days gone by. It was interesting, learning more about the provinces - and all the differences we have. The good. The bad. The ones in between.

He was captivated by my stories as well. Zorn knows the feeling well when I mention the early days of my career - the pushback I got from the sharers and audience, the search for a troupe that will take me in. He faced something similar when he was a fencing instructor: the burghers, they didn’t particularly care for the art anymore. Gunnery was the "next big thing".

Haaaaah, man, I miss this. It’s been good fun talking about it all.

“Hey..”
“Emi.”
“I…”

His words starts to slow down quite significantly.

“About the break…..”

Uhh.. shit. Did I push things too far? I try to apologize.

"Uh.. hey, if I made you uncomfortable.."
"I’m really sorry, okay? That won’t—"

He stop completely for a moment before looking at me again.

“No, no. That’s not—“
“I.. I think I like you, Emi.”
“Being there, on the stage, with you, made me realize that.”
“You’re.. really cool.. and nice.. and.. I.. I really, really want to be with you, Emi.”

WHAT.

"I.. I think you’re.. err.. drinking too much, Zorn."

I certainly didn’t expect this outcome of all things. We’ve been friends for years. I.. didn’t know he thought of me that way.

“This is- this is real. Emi. I really do mean it.”
“Seriously. I wanted to say this even before we came here. I just.. couldn’t work up the courage to do so.”

>>5788950

Is that’s why he was all wound up after that? God, how the hell did I miss all that! Shit. So that’s why he was so nervous when we first got here. He was thinking of a time to confess but my little ruminating stretched everything this far.

I..

I think I know what to do.

>Accept his confession.
I want to, as well.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure. We could be together, Zorn."

>I’m interested in something else.
Both of us want it, right?

"I’m.. not interested in that kind of relationship, but maybe we could.. stay as friends but… enjoy each other? From time to time?"

>Gently let him down.
He’ll understand.

"I’m sorry, Zorn, but.. I don’t feel the same way. Sorry. If you don’t wish to be friends anymore I understand…"

>>5780967
y’know, when I wrote that, I didn’t necessarily mean Emi and Zorn were going to have sex with each other — the two could do it with GriangGrai / Arabella depending on the options and charisma. I was going to type something along the lines of that but I decided against it and saved that idea…. I think it turned out decently.

>>5788951
>I’m interested in something else.

>>5788951
>I’m interested in something else.

>>5788953
I think you did just fine. They have a good dynamic.

>>5788951
>>Accept his confession.

>>5788951
>Accept his confession.

>>5788951
>Give me some time to think about it
As characters they may have known each other for years, but as a voter I haven't seen enough to make this kind of decision yet.

>>5788950
>>Accept his confession

Damn close vote. I’ll be waiting for a couple hours more.

>want more romance in the second thread
>nearly of the players vote for the fuck buddies option
What did they mean by this?

I’m fine with either option but i just found it odd thats all.

>>5789466
Not all romance is monogamous marriage-track romance, nor immediate going-steady romance
Additionally, some people may not back this specific ship

>>5789466
Count how many posts wanted more romance, then count how many voted to accept the confession.

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>>5789482
I went back to the first thread. There’s like two people that actually want romance. Huh. I must’ve remembered it a lot differently.

>>5788951
>>Accept his confession.

>>5789466
Fuck buddies is still romance, just a different kind of love

>>5789150
Not sure yet

>>5788990
>>5789008
Fuck buddies

>>5789025
>>5789114
>>5789458
>>5789605
Lovers

It’s settled, then

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>>5789891
Weird. This is still me, btw. Picrel. My trip changed for some reason. I don’t think I’ve had this happen in the first thread either. I phonepost all the time.

>>5789893
Is your trip still the same as it was before? Maybe a letter/number was deleted or replaced, it isn't unheard of.

>>5789893
I don't believe you. What did you do to the real schiz?

>>5790059
I’m pretty sure my trip was correct and I didn’t spell my name any differently than usual

>>5790167
Handholding coming up.

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>>5790233
>>5790234

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>>5789891

Mhm.
I mean…
He’s fun to talk to and physically speaking, he isn’t half bad either.

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I saw him many times when he drilled others through the choreography, and for the most part, he didn’t wear a puffy pluderhosen nor a thick doublet, no, he wore a shirt and hose which clung tightly to his skin. He has pretty much everything: a strong back, well-built shoulders, small waist, long legs, wide calves and a slender figure.

We could just stay as friends but fuck from time to time. I mean, it.. isn’t exactly a bad thing, is it? It’s just stress relief. Not that different from masturbation, really.

… I suppose I could do that, but I want something more fulfilling. I want more than the occasional bed warmer. I want a lover.

>Accept the confession

“.. thanks, emi…”

It was a little amusing to see Zorn be this meek after I tell him I’m okay with this kind of relationship. I can see his fingers are even more restless now. A most terrible idea came into my mind. I think I can tease him more.

By deepening my breath and slowing down the speed of pronouncing words, I can create a very sultry voice. It takes some restraint and practice to not use up more breath than necessary, but the results are…

"Hey ~ "
"Ease up a little … now. "

I rest my hand on his. He still writhes for a moment, but as I maintain contact. Slowly, his breathing slows down and becomes less jittery.

And then I starts fondling his hand. My fingers grope their way around his palm, constantly pausing to rub and gently squeeze it. By the time all of our fingers were intertwined, Zorn became a mess once more.

HAHAHAHA. I love that expression. Zorn looks so bashful yet his fingers doesn’t want to let go. He lets out so many moans but I haven’t even fucked him proper yet.

>>5790319

After I had my fill, we returned to our conversations once more. For a little while, at least. Before we knew it, Crow’s Beak closing time was dawning on us: two at dark.

"Mhm."
"It is rather late."

We’re definitely not waking up early. Not when we’re just starting to get home two hours after midnight.

As for the bills… they weren’t that bad. I could’ve paid " less " (size wise) if I bought a jar or bowl of peach wine instead of a mere bottle, but I’m not terribly concerned about it. Zorn didn’t have much trouble paying either - he’s not the type to eat snacks that much to begin with.

The night was beautiful. It was brisk, as always, but there was a certain tranquility to the empty streets we walked home on. Having your lover hold hands with you the entire way certainly made the experience better. When we arrived at my house, there never was any doubt if Zorn would stay or not - both of us headed for the basement right away to wash our feet.

We’re very, very eager for what’s to come.

>>5790321


I’m not the extravagant type when it comes to sex - flowers, aromatics, scented candles, I don’t think they’re worth the effort - but there are preparations that will pay off significantly.

Towels. Wet ones, especially, are great at wiping off any excess secretions from the body.

Cold water. They’re a decent drink after each session. A (separate) bowl of it is also for preparing condoms: dipping them in water is necessary for a precise fit when worn.

Lubricants. There’s a lot of vegetable oils you could use. I still have a stockpile of aloe vera oil. Hell, you could even use lard or butter but those can rot much easier.

And obviously, the contraceptives. To rely on only one is a mistake (if you’re having sex with people the same race as you, anyway. With giants or goblins, only condoms are "necessary" to prevent venereal diseases.)

There’s quite a few types of condoms. Some are linen sheaths, others are made from leather. I found the ones made from intestines to be the best. Just thin enough to feel everything.

As for the mixtures from preventing pregnancy… I’m not exactly sure if it could be called contraceptive or abortifacient. They straddle the line between both at times. Especially if they’ve been processed and concentrated. I mainly use it for dealing with menstruation these days. Huh. Now that I think about it…. I.. don’t remember the last time rue was actually used in a meal, honestly.

… and done! That’s all we need! Having Zorn with me really helped speed up the preparation.

>>5790322

There’s just one problem with all this….

>both of us want to be dominant 【Emi VS Zorn - strength】

>both of us want to be submissive【Emi VS Zorn - charisma】

Hey folks, I’ll be busy for the next two days. Not sure If I’ll have art accompanying an update next time

FYI: we’re nearing the end. I’ll be wrapping this up soon.

>>5790324
>>both of us want to be submissive【Emi VS Zorn - charisma】

>>5790324
>both of us want to be submissive【Emi VS Zorn - charisma】

but they were both bottoms...

Heya. This thread is moving way faster than I expected. I think this should be the final vote.

as for the future of prinzessin quest… I’m not sure yet. This will be a decent endpoint for the story, and I currently have another quest in mind. You’ll know it when you see it. I may revisit it in the future.

>>5790324
>both of us want to be submissive【Emi VS Zorn - charisma】
lmao

I’ll be closing vote in a few hours.

>>5790322
>both of us want to be dominant 【Emi VS Zorn - strength】

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Final update done! Just the Seggs™ left. It’s coming tonight.

>>5790324
>>both of us want to be submissive【Emi VS Zorn - charisma】

>>5790462
>>5790496
>>5790813
>>5791326
Both subs

>>5791082
Both tops

Rolled 115, 94 = 209 (2d200)

【Emi VS Zorn】

Emi:
+25 Charisma bonus
+10 Experience bonus

Zorn:
+10 Charisma

Rolled 45, 83 = 128 (2d100)

My bad. Should’ve been 2d100 instead.

>80 vs 93

Writing.

sorry for not clarifying the rolls earlier. I wanted to do a 1d100 vs 1d100 so that’s why the bonuses are stacked this way - Emi is in her element.

Too bad he learned a thing or two.

Tonight.

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>>5791409

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-a0S5Xx3jOabprlCoRwJjAP_PUwkKGrNQxcSheq4uOw/edit

[…]

That night was lovely. Neither of us could walk properly after and all across our bodies were blemishes, but it was so worth it!

While today may be our day off, that doesn’t necessarily mean we could laze around the house, of course. There’s still plenty on the agenda: aside from doing the usual chores, I still need to restock my supplies of contraceptive medicine, and we really should get checked for venereal diseases. I… don’t think he has any, but he has slept with prostitutes a few years ago. I myself didn’t use any condoms when Sing was with me, seeing he was a giant.

Best if we err on the side of caution. Sex without condoms feels great, but it’s not that important. Pustules and constant itching just ain’t worth it.

Since we woke up rather late, we made our own breakfast. While I cut the bread and prepare the jam, Zorn is busy lighting up the stove and getting the plates.

“How would you like your toast, prinzess? ~ “

Ha. I may have spoiled this virgin a tad too much. He’s such a slut now, walking into the kitchen with just a shirt alone. I couldn’t help but ogle his thighs.

“.. you’re the one fully naked.”

Well, I have my hoses on, at least. Sure, they don’t reach the lower thigh but… I’m in my house, aren’t I.

(We end up doing it again after breakfast.)

Alright, alright. That’s enough. Let’s actually get things done today. After that whole mess, both of us finally took a shower and try to dress properly once more.

POCK.
POCK. POCK.

We were interrupted by loud knocks on my front door. Looking through the spyhole reveals nothing—

Oh. It’s her familiar. Isabelle has something to say.

“ the kid. “
“ he’s involved. “

Their observation finally yielded a result: Nara and Lady Rin’s crows spotted the DeBoers kid drawing and delivering pornography to someone in Amberlight street during the early morning. They followed this person, and it lead to a bar.

Eavesdropping on this bar reveals the attack wasn’t unprovoked violence — this barkeeper was discussing the punishment his 'associates' could receive with his lawyer, and ask if there’s a way to lessen it.

So that’s how it is.
Another distributor of pornography feels threatened by Grantham and gets his lackeys to beat him up, steal his artwork and ruin him while obscuring it as an attack by entitled crooks. When Zorn and his crew deal with those, he sent threatening letters to anyone suspected of being involved. The DeBoers kid might have delivered one of them.

Zorn was right. The DeBoers kid is involved, but he isn’t the only threat. He’s not the one pulling the strings.

>>5791804

“ Rin has a plan. “
“ she wants to see you two. “

I guess today is going to be far busier than I thought.

Hah, man. How do I keep getting involved in these plots and schemes?!

>Thus concludes Prinzessin Quest (for now)

Thank you all for playing!
>which part of the thread(s) was your favorite?
>which characters did you like / dislike the most?
>ask me anything - is there anything you would like me to elaborate on?

Farewell for now.

>>5791806
My complaint is that it's too short

>>5791806
Thanks for running it! I do hope we get a continuation someday.

>which part of the thread(s) was your favorite?
The play and meeting fellow industry professionals.

>which characters did you like / dislike the most?
Nara is my fave. Zorn's cool, too; I like his overt toughness and confidence as a facade for a shy softie.

>ask me anything - is there anything you would like me to elaborate on?
Just more of the quest in the future would be cool.

>>5792388
>too short
Yeah, it’s a shame the thread is on page ten this early because of (((those))) other threads in the board.

The romance arc could’ve been longer, actually. If you chose to talk to GriangGrai more casually / flirt with him on your first meeting, you would get to know Wild North West Show more. There would’ve been an option to have the troupe’s staff meet with theirs. Zorn would be the one approaching Arabella.

During the bar, if you choose to hang out with Arabella / GriangGrai, you’d get more insight into their past and how they operate, being a part of a business more adult oriented.

>Nara is my fav. Zorn’s cool, too.
Thanks! I wanted to flesh out both of them in the first thread but couldn’t do so, so I wanted this to be more about him.

>more of the quest
There’s nothing set in stone yet, but it should be more crime & punishment oriented now that the pieces start falling into place.

spoiler]Lady Rin and her late husband has their fair of secrets that Emi or Nara could discover[/spoiler]

btw, what did you think about the seggs

>>5792661
It's good. Just too vanilla.

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>>5792780

>>5791806
>which part of the thread(s) was your favorite?
Definitely the play, even if all the breaking bad references went over my head

>which characters did you like / dislike the most?
Emi was pretty great, at least when she was thinking about performances/work and not daily life necessities

>ask me anything - is there anything you would like me to elaborate on?
How come they set up in a city of giants instead of a city of humans?

>>5792661
Didn't read, illegal and haram

>>5792844
>How come they set up in a city of giants instead of a city of humans?

The troupe was formed by people in Blackwing. Staying in one place, with reliable sponsors and shareholders is simply more efficient for the troupe in general, since if they’re traveling there’s problems like the cost / size of renting places and getting sponsors.

As for giants, thats just a regional thing. The north is mainly populated by giants. The south, goblins and serpents. The center is a mix of everything, but mainly has humans.

>didnt read the seggs
Aw.

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>>5791806
The setting is interesting, the technology-level appears to be the equivalent of the end of the Renaissance where firearms are starting to become prominent but aren't at the point of having musketmen in block formations dominating the battlefields yet. An early "Age of Sail" themed story in this setting could be interesting.
I also found it funny how "modern" the rules/technology linked to sexual libertinism ended up being. Is a love-goddess cult responsible?

>>5792859
>The south, goblins and serpents.
>serpents
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

>>5792661
Was pretty good. They're a cute couple!

>>5792545
>Yeah, it’s a shame the thread is on page ten this early because of (((those))) other threads in the board.
Thirty days for a thread is still pretty damn long by 4chan standards. And you can always do another

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>>5793455
>the technology-level appears to be the equivalent of the end of the Renaissance where firearms are starting to become prominent
You’re correct! The technology level is early 1600s. Cuirassiers in three quarters armor are still a thing, along with pike squares where arquebusiers are not yet the majority.

>I also found it funny how "modern" the rules/technology linked to sexual libertinism ended up being. Is a love-goddess cult responsible?

That mainly has to do with the main quirk of this setting: different races cannot breed.

This fundamental law sets much of my stories in motion.

If you’re looking for an adventure about goblins, serpents, the supernatural and the effects of this law…

Thread 1 of Goblin assassin: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5290674/
Thread 2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5321981/

If you’re looking for a story exploring the Green Lamps Whorehouse district of the capital and the criminals in it….
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Sira

By the way, serpents are not half-human half-snake. They’re literally big snakes that could talk - they’re based on Nagas of buddhist mythology. (That’s not to say they don’t give good tongue kisses, of course.)

goblin assassin thread 1 also features a plotline and NPCs which heavily deals with consent, sex, and pregnancy.

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these two were my favorite characters to write in a long time. You’ll be seeing them in that particular plotline.

Shout out to ReptoidQM for commissioning this artwork! He’s another great writer whose quests are more high-fantasy than me.