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>>6134174
>“How do you people live like this?” You asked aloud. It was not the first time you’d vocalized this question, but you were never satisfied with the answer given. This scorched land was taking its toll on both body and mind. Fodlan had its own desert known as Zanado, but it was nothing like this. This desert seemed to stretch out endlessly, and the heat was next to unbearable. You thought you’d be able to get through it while wearing your armor, but your tune quickly changed on only your third day into this journey. Even Adeline, who up until this point had been the picturesque stoic knight, had opted to forego her mail in favor of looser fitting linen clothing. It was perhaps the first time you began to see her as a woman, rather than a portable wall of steel that was all too happy to stand between you and enemy blades.

“It’s not that big a deal.” Cassius shrugs. “You get used to this when it’s all you know. Is Fodlan really that much more biodiverse?”

>“Sometimes water falls from the sky.”

Cassius whistles in response. “Fascinating!”

“You and Alvin do seem to be taking this really well.” May whined from beneath her bundle of robes. The almost sickly-looking pale thief had taken to hiding as much of herself from the sun as possible, so that all you could see were a pair of beady eyes staring forward.

“Well, that’s because we’re mages.” Cassius remarks. “We’re taught cantrips at a young age that aid our travels in the desert. One in particular offers protection from the heat.”

As a mage, you could feasibly learn said cantrip easily enough. However, you’d decided to hide the fact that you could use magic as a sort of trump card that you’d be able to hold up your sleeve for the right moment. While this seemed funny enough to hide from Cassius back in Solis, the joke had long run its course out here in the desert. Only Alvin knew the truth of the matter, and he didn’t seem keen to run his mouth. But you were a stubborn sort, and you’d made it out here this far already. You might as well keep the gag going. Supposedly, you were only a few days away from Ithaca, the sorcerer research camp.

“And you say people live out here?” Elric asks. The boy was red in the face and drenched in sweat, yet otherwise appeared to still be in good spirits, likely just happy to be along for the journey. “I almost find that hard to believe.”

“Many people live in the desert.” Cassius says. “The only ones allowed to reside in the capital are those with the ability to use magic. A token amount of ‘non-talents’ are allowed access in order to ensure the city is kept running. But for everyone else, the desert is the only place they may call home.”

>“Seems pretty unfair.” You remark. “And these ‘nontalents’ have never gotten sick of things and risen up?”

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>>6134176
“They wouldn’t get very far.” Cassius remarks. “Though they may have the numerical advantage, the mages of Morfis have enough power to scour the continent several times over. The capital also has the ability to magically produce both food and water, leaving those that live outside the city completely dependent on them for valuable resources. An uprising against the Royal College could very likely lead to the end of our nation as we know it.”

“So, the entire country is dependent on one city.” Cuthbert remarks. Though he’d still seemed irritable throughout your journey, he was at least making efforts to join in on the conversation every so often. “Makes you wonder what the city of Morfis even gets out of the relationship.”

“Though our country is scant in natural resources, they do exist.” Cassius answers. “Those that live outside the city contribute in a variety of ways, including herding animals and salt mining. Perhaps most interesting of all are those that hunt for artifacts. Morfis is an ancient country, with a history dating back prior to even the Sorcerer King’s arrival. There are all sorts of wonders buried underneath the sand, waiting to be uncovered. I’ve heard of the Royal College paying thousands of gold coins just for one artifact alone.”

>“What kind of artifacts?” You ask, somewhat interested.

“Anything as mundane as a clay pot to a newly discovered tome of magic or ancient blade.” Cassius says. “In some cases, new technologies have been found that have changed our very way of life. Our destination, Ithaca, was created for the sole purpose of containing artifacts until their true nature could be worked out. Not everything found in the desert is necessarily safe to bring back into the city. Part of the responsibility of the researchers at Ithaca is to work tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of these ancient items. As such, the camp normally denies entry to any who lack the necessary permissions from the Royal College. Though I would have preferred if we embarked upon my route, I must say, it is good fortune we became acquainted with Alvin. Even I have never been to Ithaca, and I must admit, my curiosity is piqued.”

Cassius had your attention at ‘ancient blades’. The thought you might find some sort of powerful weapon to aid you in your quest was an exciting prospect, doubly so with the confirmation that you were unlikely to run into other contenders at Ithaca. You began to feel as though you made the right choice in sticking with the Adjunct. You’d hardly spoken with Alvin these last few days. He seemed to be more preoccupied with leading the caravan, head always on a swivel for potential trouble. Perhaps he wished to avoid a situation similar to the pirate attack on his ship.

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>>6134178
As the sun begins to set, Alvin calls a halt to today’s travel. Looking around, all you see is endless sand in every direction. You were unsure how the man knew exactly where to go, but you were thankful you had a guide to escort you out in these lands. You now understood why those other contenders had been stuck in Solis. Without an experienced guide, one was likely to wander these blasted sands until they died of exhaustion. Alvin’s men begin unpacking for the night, and a large campfire is set. One by one, your companions begin to gather around. With little to keep you occupied in the way of entertainment, you think to perhaps speak with one of them.

>A): Speak with Cassius
>B): Speak with Cuthbert
>C): Speak with Elric
>D): Speak with Alvin
>E): Read “A Children’s Guide to Morfis”, the book Cassius had given you back in Solis.

>>6134180
>>B): Speak with Cuthbert
Back in track. Hey dude, no hard feelings?

>>6134180
>D): Speak with Alvin
"I know ur hiding something Al. I can taste it." *Licks cheek* "The taste of a liar."

Adeline breaks out the loose linen clothing and Tristain starts to see her as a woman. Stacked in front, or in back?

>>6134295
>D): Speak with Alvin
Yeah, this ... well, maybe not EXACTLY this

>>6134180
>A): Speak with Cassius

>>6134180
>>B): Speak with Cuthbert

>“Sometimes water falls from the sky.”
>Cassius whistles in response. “Fascinating!”
Amusing

Holy shit, it's back. I haven't been on /qst/ for a while, but to see the sequel to Three Houses Quest... man, it feels like ages.

Glad to see you back, Tree! The new combat changes look very interesting, and Tristain is a very fun character. I'll be watching with interest, and will pop in to give my analyses as usual later on.

>E): Read “A Children’s Guide to Morfis”, the book Cassius had given you back in Solis.

This isn't going to win, but having a general idea about the setting (even in children's terms) might be useful.

>>6134180
>>E): Read “A Children’s Guide to Morfis”, the book Cassius had given you back in Solis.

>>6134180
>D): Speak with Alvin

Alvin wins. Writing!

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>>6134180
You find Alvin sitting alone, away from the campfire and the rest of the party. The Adjunct sips from a canteen, staring off at the endless dunes before him. Noticing your arrival, he offers you a sip. You find it to be sweet wine; your first taste of alcohol since having left Solis, and a welcome reprieve out here. You take a seat on the ground next to the mage.

“Lord Tristain.” Alvin says, smiling. “Congratulations, you may now count yourself amongst the very scant number of Fodlanders to walk across the desert of Morfis. Tell me, how are you enjoying our travels?”

>“This sucks.”

Alvin laughs. If the man were offended at the various jabs you’ve thrown at his country these last few days, he does not show it. “I suppose that response is only natural. I understand there is nothing like this back where you’re from. Still, I would hope you grow to get used to this. If you win Princess Yulia’s hand, you’ll become Morfisian royalty. It would certainly do you no favors to regard your newfound country so poorly.”

>“Will it really go that easily?” You ask. “Will the people of Morfis really accept me as their new ruler?”

“They’ll accept whatever the Princess or the Royal College tells them to accept.” Alvin shrugs. “Sometimes those may be conflicting ideas, but the fact is, they’ll fall in line one way or another.”

>“And what about you? Would you accept me so readily?”

“If you were a good king, sure.” Alvin says, taking back his canteen and sipping from it. “I don’t know what these other contenders are like, but you’ve given me no reason so far to think you wouldn’t be a good husband to the princess. You’re an honest sort. You’re blunt, perhaps almost brutally so. But you have no problem with sticking your neck out for others. And you have the strength to accomplish what you set out to do. I earnestly believe Morfis could very well prosper under your leadership. And what is best for Morfis is ultimately what matters to me the most.” He offers you back his canteen.

>“I had no idea you were such a patriot.” You say, taking another drink.

“The Sorcerer King has always been an inspiration to me.” Alvin says. “For him to take a nomadic and tribal group of people and create from nothing a sorcerous empire capable of taming these wastes…it is nothing short of miraculous. I believe it falls to all of us in the Royal College, myself included, to continue his work in improving our nation. And there is still so much more of that left to be done.”

>“Well, I appreciate your honesty. If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate just a bit more of it as I ask you this next question. Tell me, is there more to this journey for you than just transporting the ore you brought back from Rusalka?”

“What do you mean?” Alvin asks, his brow furrowed in confusion.

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>>6135281
>“I’ve seen the way you check the dunes for any signs of trouble. The amount of preparation that you’ve put into a supposedly routine trip, and then there was that pirate captain’s comments about having been set up. May had also told me your cabin on the ship was locked up tighter than a virgin daughter. And as a personal hunch, you seem a little too qualified to be playing simple errand boy. I watched you sink an entire ship to the bottom of the sea with a single spell. I understand the bar for sorcery may be high in this land, but if you were back in Fodlan, you’d be an Archmage of significant renown for pulling off a feat like that. So, forgive me if I think there may be something more at play here than transporting a few rocks back to the capital.”

“You’re suggesting I’m hiding something?” Alvin asks, not giving away any emotion.

>“I think at the very least, a not so insignificant person or persons may want you dead before you make it back to Morfis. As for why that may be the case, perhaps you can inform me?”

“Hmm…” Alvin stares off back into the dunes, pondering the question you pose to him. He stays silent for some time, before finally answering. “If we’re to travel together and count on each other as allies, then I suppose it is only fair you know the truth.” He smiles nonchalantly. “You’re correct. I do believe that someone is after my life. What’s more, the culprit is likely someone intimately familiar with the College. They knew the route I’d be traveling by sea, and had those pirates ready to intercept us. And I imagine they’ll likely be looking to throw more bodies at us as we get closer to the capital.”

>A): (React Angrily) What’s the meaning of this? Were you hoping I’d follow along as your bodyguard?
>B): Why are these men after your life?
>C): (Shrug your shoulders) How unfortunate for them that they didn’t count on my being here. No harm will come to you so long as you guide me to the capital.
>D): Write-in

>>6135283
>>A): (React Angrily) What’s the meaning of this? Were you hoping I’d follow along as your bodyguard?
I believe this route was advertised as safe and slow

>>6135283
>C): (Shrug your shoulders) How unfortunate for them that they didn’t count on my being here. No harm will come to you so long as you guide me to the capital.
>B): Why are these men after your life?

So long as guarding against assassins isn't a dull affair, I doubt Tristain would mind. Gives him more opportunities to test his axe arm.

>>6135283
>>6135323
Supporting.
Assassins coming for Alvin will just make the trip more exciting. Hopefully Tristain can fight someone strong enough to reveal his magic, but it would admittedly be funny if he just ends up never revealing it for the whole trip to Morfis. It's not listed in the OP but I think we should have the Iron Bow as a ranged weapon as well as the Light Runes.

>>6135283
>>A): (React Angrily) What’s the meaning of this? Were you hoping I’d follow along as your bodyguard?

>>6135283
I can't be angry at him, like we had a choice of not coming and we decided to go with him on our own.
>D): (Sigh in mild annoyance) Well that's for a safe journey then, hopefully these enemies of yours will be entertaining foes.

>>6135415
The issue that other anons are pointing out is that this route was advertised as safe specifically because he was here, not dangerous specifically because he was here.

>>6135283
>>A): (React Angrily) What’s the meaning of this? Were you hoping I’d follow along as your bodyguard?
"I'm not even mad if you did, I'm mad because you didn't tell me, you arse!"

>>6135283
>B): Why are these men after your life?

Alright, new thread! Good to see you again, Tree! Currently posting from laptop.

>>6135283
>B): Why are these men after your life?

>>6135283
>C): (Shrug your shoulders) How unfortunate for them that they didn’t count on my being here. No harm will come to you so long as you guide me to the capital.

>>6135283
>>C): (Shrug your shoulders) How unfortunate for them that they didn’t count on my being here. No harm will come to you so long as you guide me to the capital.

>>6135283
>B): Why are these men after your life?

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C wins, writing.

>>6135347
>It's not listed in the OP but I think we should have the Iron Bow as a ranged weapon as well as the Light Runes.
Yep, you are correct, I'll update Tristain's inventory at the first instance of combat.

I swear if I had a gold coin for every time I noticed a character error only after posting a thread.

>>6135283
Your suspicion that Alvin was in more danger than he had led on proved to be correct. Still, it wasn’t as though it changed much. You were already out here with him, and crying about any supposed deception would do you no good. Besides, a part of you welcomed the challenge. Whoever wanted the Adjunct dead would likely resort to increasingly desperate and dangerous attempts to eliminate him. Things would be too boring if you arrived in Morfis without getting into a few more scraps along the way.

>“How unfortunate for them that they didn’t count on my being here. No harm will come to you so long as you guide me to the capital.”

Alvin stares at you, almost dumbstruck, before laughing heartily. “I knew I was right to like you, Lord Tristain! The prospect of traveling by your side and seeing you overcome the trials ahead fills me with an excitement I’ve not felt in years.”

>You receive a C-Support with Alvin!

“For what it is worth.” Alvin continues. “I did not set out to deceive you. Though any potential attempts on my life are just a theory, I do still believe that Ithaca and Heim will provide us the safest route. Ithaca is home to many of my colleagues, and is rather impregnable, for reasons that will soon become apparent to you once we arrive there. And as for Heim, the wyvern tamers there run a tight ship as far as security is concerned. Whoever seeks to waylay us should find themselves at a stark disadvantage.”

>“That’s all well and good, but why is it that someone is looking to off you in the first place?”

“Your theory about the ore was…partially correct. It is important, though it is not the only thing we are transporting to the capital. The real treasure lies on my person. An ‘artifact’ of sorts, found during my time in Fodlan. The college is aware that it is in my possession. Unfortunately, it appears that information has leaked. If someone does truly intend to stop my arrival, that person is likely a rival to the Royal College itself.”

>“So, you people aren’t as unified as previously thought?”

“Afraid not.” Alvin winces.

>“What is this so-called artifact you found?”

Alvin says nothing. He stares back out at the desert, as if contemplating whether or not to answer your question. You get the impression that he may have perhaps already told you more than he was comfortable with.

“Forgive me, but this is a secret I must guard more closely. It may be in all of our interest to do so. Rest assured though, you will learn the truth in due time.”

>“Back to the secrecy, then?”

“Lord Tristain.” Alvin says, looking deeply through you. “I understand that I ask much of someone I’ve only just met. I truly meant what I said though about favoring you to win this competition though. When we return to the capital, I plan to recommend you to the Four Royal Sages, the leaders of the College.”

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>>6135867
>“Your bosses?”

“The very same. Though they have no love for Princess Yulia’s game, they wish to get behind a champion who they believe will win her hand. If you see me safely to Morfis, then I am sure they will not hesitate in sponsoring your victory. And with them on your side, you stand to gain much.”

From what you gathered about Morfisian politics, there were only two real players worth a damn. Princess Yulia, and these so-called “Royal Sages”. Winning Yulia to your side was already a given. All you’d have to do was beat up some losers in this competition and show her some of your natural charm. Plus you’d have Bronte backing you up for extra support. As for these Sages, if what Alvin says is true, you’d just have to babysit him back to the capital and he’d put in a good word. You’d have both powers of Morfis backing you. The reign of King Tristain d’Rusalka was beginning to look more and more plausible.

>“Very well, I’ll hold you up to that. But if this ‘secret’ of yours winds up putting us in any more danger, I’ll expect a full explanation. I can’t very well safeguard both you and it if I don’t know what I’m dealing with.”

“If it comes to that, you have my word.” Alvin nods.

Your journey to Ithaca continues early in the morning the next day. Once again the scorching sun is high above, bathing you in its oppressive rays. You choose to conserve your energy today and as such, you stop complaining as much. You travel all the way in the back of your group, riding your camel in abject misery, until an impossible scene appears before your eyes. In the distance, you can spot what appears to be a patch of lush green, surrounding what is unmistakably a tiny body of water. You look towards your companions, however, none of them have noticed what you have. In fact, the group appears to be traveling away from the oasis.

You’d heard of people going mad in the desert. Supposedly it was not uncommon for those stricken by the heat to see things that were not truly there. So called ‘mirages’ that played tricks upon their mind.

Still…that water looked too good NOT to be real.

>A): Approach the Oasis
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.

>>6135870
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.

>>6135870
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.
We refuse to play this stupid desert's mind games. We are not so easily broken. We are not so easily fooled.

>>6135870
>>A): Approach the Oasis
Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you

>>6135870
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.

There's a chance that this is actually something good, but there are better odds of this being a mirage from heatstroke, or even an illusion from an enemy mage trying to separate the rear guard, so... let's not.

>>6135899
"This is the work of an enemy stand..."

>>6135958
That's when Tristain sees two identical rocks some distance apart from each other in the desert as they take shelter from the heat.

>>6135870
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.

>>6135899
>>6135958
Approaching is actually going to throw us into a fight against some bizarre dude wearing some weird armor and is capable of swimming in the sand.

>>6135986
Funniest shit
>>6135870
>B): Ignore it and follow the group.
Btw TH, have you played Metaphor Re:Fantasio? I got the game last week and I'm enjoying it greatly, because the game has the whole 'Become King' deal and it having some fantastic writing I think you'd enjoy the game as well.

>>6136072
I've heard of it, but my backlog is crazy enough as is to add another 100+ hour JPRG, especially when QMing. Speaking of Atlus games, I still have to get around to playing the new version of SMTV at some point.

>>6135870
>A): Approach the Oasis

>>6136023
So you're saying if we approach the Oasis we get a free fight? Tristain says yes to that.

>>6135870
>Write-in): "Does anyone else see the Oasis?"

>>6135870
>A): Approach the Oasis
Gotta do it.

>>6135870
>>A): Approach the Oasis

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B wins. Sorry Oasis bros.

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>>6135870
You shake your head vigorously. There was no way this was real. It was impossible. This land was doing all that it could to drive you mad, but you would not give in so easily. You were here to conquer Morfis, not the other way around. This was merely another trial for you in a long list that you must overcome. Turning your back on the small glimmer of paradise, you march your camel forward, riding next to the others in your party.

>“None of you saw that, right?” You ask, slight hesitation evident in your voice.

“Saw what?” May asks, her beady little eyes staring out at you from within the makeshift canopy she hid herself in.

>“The trees over there. And the water.”

Cassius and May turn their heads to where you point. Their eyes are squinted as they scan the horizon. However, your heart sinks when they turn back to you with strange expressions on their face.

“Lord Tristain…” Cassius begins tepidly. “Are you perhaps experiencing desert madness?”

>“I am not!”

“That’s a relief.” May sighs. “Please let us know if you are, boss. It would be bad for the one person that could rip our heads off to go insane.”

“While we are on the subject of going mad…” Adeline says, concern growing evident in her tone. She’s standing in the stirrups of her camel, atop a large dune that gives her a viewpoint of the land below. “Could anyone else please let me know if they also see that?”

You and the others join Adeline at the top, shocked by what you find. A large sandstorm is raging in the distance. The obscenely massive tempest reaches all the way up towards the sky, larger than anything you’d ever seen before. Even from where you stand, you can feel the gusts reaching you across the vast stretch of desert between you and it. The shifting sands move in a circular position, going round and round and obscuring your vision of the inside of the storm.

>“Should that concern us?” You call out to Alvin, who was slightly ahead of you along with the rest of his men. Notably, they’d all stopped, and were staring at the violent tempest.

“Not at all!” Alvin calls back. “Welcome to Ithaca!”

>“That doesn’t look like a research camp to me.” You say, joining the Adjunct. “What is the meaning of this?”

“The camp lies within the storm.” Alvin explains. “Remember when I said that Ithaca was impregnable? This is what I meant. The sandstorm you see before you is not natural. It was created by an artifact that lies within the research station. No one can get in or out of Ithaca without using this artifact. In this, it provides the perfect cover and security for the various experiments that the mages here carry out.”

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>>6136357
This sandstorm was the result of sorcery? That was almost difficult to believe. You’d never heard of a feat of magic this grand before. So this was a taste of what the mages of Morfis were capable of? If there really were people living inside that thing, you were keen to see them for yourself.

>“So…how do we get in?”

“That’s what I’m here for.” Alvin says. “Stay behind. It’s dangerous to approach the sandstorm without knowing the proper cantrips for protection. I’m going to inform the mages inside that we’ve arrived. When you see the tempest disappear, you may approach and join us.”

>“Are you sure that’s safe?” You ask, shooting Alvin a knowing look. Given his suspicions about someone wanting him dead, you weren’t sure how great an idea it was for the Adjunct to approach alone.

“Positive.” Alvin responds. “I’m well-acquainted with Ithaca’s Adjunct. We can trust him. Wait here, this should not take too long.” With that, Alvin takes his leave, riding his camel alone towards the raging sandstorm.

With nothing to do but wait, you dismount your beast and stretch your legs. This entire situation was hard to believe, but so were most of the things you’d seen so far regarding this strange land. It sounded like you had some time to kill until the sandstorm dropped. Perhaps you would use it to speak with one of your companions that you hadn’t had a one-on-one with yet. Or maybe you’d get to reading that book Cassius had given you.

>A): Speak with Cuthbert
>B): Speak with Elric
>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis

>>6136359
>>B): Speak with Elric
You know whar elric, you deserve a chance. Come on, show us what you are made of.

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>>6136359
>>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis
Time 2 get educated... While being 10ft away from everyone so they don't see what book we're reading

>>6136359
>>B): Speak with Elric
I wanna support the kiddo.

>>6136359
>>B): Speak with Elric
He just wanted to impress his lady and the boys back home.

>>6136359
This is >>6135553, on desktop now.

>B): Speak with Elric
Alright, let's see to the kid.

>>6136359
>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis

Might as well. It seems we're getting a single timeslot here-- maybe it'll tell us what's up with those mirages.

>>6136359
>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis

We need to read it at SOME point, and the earlier the better.

>>6136359
>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis

>No Oasis
No...
>>6136359
>C): Read a Children’s Guide to Morfis
I feel like this will be funnier

C wins, writing.

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>>6136359
Taking a seat in the sand, you rummage through your belongings, retrieving the book that Cassius had given you back in Solis. “A Children’s Guide to Morfis (with Pictures!)” is etched on the front cover. Depicted on the front is a large city which you can only assume to be the capital, along with a bright and happy smiling sun shining over it. You couldn’t help but frown. While this book was likely below your reading level, it couldn’t hurt to give it a go over. Your knowledge regarding this land was still lacking, and the more you could fill that gap the better. Fortunately, the book seemed light enough.

You open to the first page to find what appears to be crudely drawn stick figures. There are three…people? You assume that they are people. Two of them carry spears in their hands as they huddle around a campfire looking sad.

>“What the fuck is this?” You mutter to yourself in disbelief. You read the text labeled above the picture to yourself.

>Thousands of years ago, there was a group of people who struggled to survive in the desert. There was a lack of food. There was a lack of water. The harsh sun beat at them every day. Many people lived away from each other in tribes, and worshiped many strange evil spirits. The tribes fought each other and waged war. Life was brutal and sad.

You turn to the next page. The scene remains the same, but this time, the author has drawn what appears to be a ship, floating above the others in the middle of the sky. At least you think it's a ship. The drawing is so shitty it's hard to tell. You refer to the text for guidance.

>One day, a giant ship appeared floating in the sky. The people of the desert stopped fighting, and gathered underneath the ship. They’d never seen anything like it before. It floated up in the sky for several days, and the people waited with hushed excitement to see what would happen! Then, finally, a man descended from the ship and appeared before the gathered masses. The Sorcerer King had arrived!

>The people distrusted and feared the Sorcerer King. They tried to attack him, and claimed he was an evil spirit sent to destroy them. However, they couldn’t have been more wrong! The Sorcerer King came in peace. He used his magic to help the people he encountered. He created food and water for them to survive. He destroyed the desert spirits that tormented them. And he taught others how to use the very magics that he wielded. The Sorcerer King gave his all to the people, and it was not long before they accepted him as their leader.

Turning to the next page, your brow furrows in confusion. The artstyle of the book had suddenly totally changed! A man whom you presumed to be this Sorcerer King was now depicted wielding magic at his fingertips. But this art was…what sort of children was this book for?

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>>6137013
>The people of the desert continued to flourish, and the Sorcerer King gathered many disciples now capable of using magic. He desired to create a city for his followers. One where they could continue to train their sorcery and accomplish great things. A home for all of the desert’s mages, where they could work together to uncover new knowledge and bring prosperity and peace for all. Together with his disciples, the Sorcerer King created his city, which he named Morfis. The city grew more and more under his leadership, and became a jewel in the desert. It became known as the City of Illusions, for all who gazed upon its majesty refused to believe that what they were seeing was real.

>Things were great for a time…until the Great Serpent arrived.

You turned the page. Once again, another grand, colorful spread was drawn. The Sorcerer King was depicted, along with a winged, black creature. Fire and brimstone rained down from the sky, and the clouds were black with ash. You gritted your teeth. Who was the illustrator for this thing?

>Leviathan, The Great Serpent, had appeared. The monster arrived from Fodlan, the Dark Continent, on wings of black night. It sought to destroy Morfis and ruin the Sorcerer King. It used its fel powers to mesmerize many of the people of Morfis, causing them to turn their backs on the Sorcerer King who had given them so much. War erupted, and once again, the people of the desert suffered. The Sorcerer King and Leviathan fought in a titanic clash, until finally, he prevailed, vanquishing the beast. However, it came at a great cost. The Sorcerer King had expended his life defending his people.

The next page depicted a massive, white columned building, with an ornate, closed door that stretched high.

>With his final act, the Sorcerer King entombed himself inside Tartarus, the Great Mausoleum. Tartarus was built on a hill, overlooking the city that the Sorcerer King had created and loved. Even in death, the Sorcerer King watches over all of us, and the progress that we make in creating a just and peaceful world. When the people of Morfis can finally create such a world, perhaps the gates of Tartarus will open, and the Sorcerer King will return to his people.

The final page of the book has returned to the crude stick-figure drawings that were on the first page. Only now, the stick-figures are smiling and holding hands beneath a rainbow.

>The End

“Ahh, Lord Tristain!” Cassius appears before you, a warm smile across his face. “I see that you’ve finished the book! I’m delighted that you read it. Tell me, did you have any questions? Were there perhaps any words that you did not understand?”

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>>6137016
>A): Ask about the Sorcerer King
>B): Ask about Leviathan
>C): Ask about Tartarus
>D): I hated it.
>E): Write-in


This is a draw quest now

>>6137019
>>D): I hated it.

>>6137019
>B): Ask about Leviathan
This thing came from our turf. No wonder we're the Dark Continent. Either its depiction as a black serpent capable of changing people's allegiances is a metaphor for the Agarthan MO, or this is a Nabatean being demonized by a people whose Agarthan sponsor won.

>>6137019
>E): Write-in
The Sorcerer King came on a ship. Where is it? Wasn't there anyone else on it?

>>6137041
>E): Write-in
>The Sorcerer King came on a ship. Where is it? Wasn't there anyone else on it?

Seems a good write-in and a valid question.

>>6137013
>Even the sun is frowning
Absolute SOUL

>>6137019
>>6137041
Supporting.
There's a lot of ways this can go, but for now my guess is that the Sorcerer King is a moleman and the Leviathan was a seething Nabatean. The King is pretty suspicious with how Morfis is running and him just killing the spirits native to the land. The spaceship's probably going to turn out to be underneath Tartarus to give us the chance to raid an underground dubstep rave.

>>6137019
>>D): I hated it.
but also
>>6137041
Actually a very good question, second it

10/10. My only regret is that we didn't get to open this sooner. Makes me wonder if Cassius was the one who drew the pictures lmao.

>>6137019
>>6137041
Backing this, sure.

I suspect the anons are right in that it's probably an Agarthan and Nabatean here, but we'll see.

>>6137019
>D): I hated it.
>E): The Sorcerer King came on a ship. Where is it? Wasn't there anyone else on it?

>>6137021
>>6137041
These

>>6137041
+1

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>>6137019
>“I understood every word of it.” You tell Cassius. “Even if some parts didn’t exactly make much sense. So this “Sorcerer King” just suddenly appeared one day on a ship that could fly? I’ve never heard of such a thing before, but surely it would make quite the sight. So, tell me, where is this ship now? Was the Sorcerer King the only one on it?”

“Great question!” Cassius says. “You have no idea how thrilled I am to hear you taking an interest in Morfisian history. There were in fact four others alongside the Sorcerer King when he arrived before the various desert tribes. They were his Apostles.They shared the same blood as him, and also helped with building the city of Morfis. They too fought Leviathan, and fell in battle against the serpent and his minions. However, just like the Sorcerer King, they had intermingled with Morfisians, and their bloodline persists to this day. Their descendants are the current Four Royal Sages, and they are second only to Princess Yulia, who possesses the blood of Xenophanes.”

>“Xenophanes?”

“Ahh, forgive me. That is the Sorcerer King’s true name.”

>“So where’s the ship?”

“No one knows.” Cassius shrugs. “It is one of our country’s great mysteries. Some believe it is buried far beneath the desert sands, lost during the war. Others believe it is underneath Tartarus itself. However preposterous it may sound though, the ship simply vanished one day, never to be seen again.”

>“Can’t someone just walk into Tartarus and check for themselves?”

“Tartarus is locked by unknown means. In thousands of years, no one has ever figured out how to enter. We believe that this was by the Sorcerer King’s design. Through perhaps some sort of sorcery, the walls of Tartarus are indestructible, not that anyone would ever dream to break in and desecrate that sacred place. It is commonly believed that the door will only open one way, and that is when the Sorcerer King wills it to open.”

That wasn’t exactly a satisfying answer. If there was a flying ship you had hoped to see it for yourself. You weren’t sure what to make of these people’s history. Frankly, it made Fodlan’s own origin story seem rather mundane in comparison. In the beginning there was darkness, and then the Goddess created everything shortly thereafter. There were no mythical dragons or Sorcerer Kings to speak of so far as the Church of Seiros told things.

If you had any further questions for Cassius, they are interrupted by the sudden realization that the wind you’d been feeling all this time had stopped. You look up to find that the sandstorm surrounding Ithaca was dissipating. In its place, you spotted several tiny houses and tents set up in the distance, all of which were surrounding what looked to be a large stone keep.

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>>6137622
You could make out several small dots moving around the landscape, likely the various mages and researchers that inhabited this place. It was hard to believe Alvin was telling the truth. An entire community was living inside a sandstorm.

>“I guess that’s the signal. We’ll table this discussion for now. Let’s go see what this place is all about.”

Together with your party and the rest of Alvin’s men, you begin crossing over the dunes to enter Ithaca. As you draw closer to the settlement, it gets harder to believe what you’re seeing. Ithaca is far larger than you had previously thought. Dozens of Morfisians stand idly by, staring out at your party in hushed bewilderment. These people were managing to survive not just in a barren waste, but in the middle of a sandstorm as well. You had numerous questions for Alvin, who you spot waiting for you at the entrance of the settlement. At his side is a portly, dark-skinned man with a bushy white mustache.

“I hope that did not take too long.” Alvin says upon greeting you. “Welcome to Ithaca, my friends! I’d like to introduce you to my esteemed colleague and the leader of this settlement, Adjunct Marlin.”

The bushy man examines you closely through his tiny, beady eyes. Of everyone in your party, you seem to be the only one that he pays any attention to. You stand together in silence awkwardly until he finally says something. “We don’t usually get too many visitors in these parts. Especially ones with, what do you call them…Crests? What’s your name, son?”

>“Tristain d’Rusalka. The next King of Morfis.” You say confidently.

“d’Rusalka, is it?” Marlin muses. “So, you’re related to Princess Yulia’s newest advisor. Tristan, would you do me a favor and show me your Crest? I’ve heard of these anomalies, but have never seen one in person. Please, I would greatly appreciate a demonstration.”

>A): Show the Crest of Indech
>B): Show the Crest of Macuil
>C): Decline
>D): Write-in

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech
A favor you say? Time to cash in and get something rare out of this place.

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech
Crest of Macuil boosted magic so if we want to keep this charade of us being magicless going we're gonna do Indech

>>6137627
>>B): Show the Crest of Macuil
would anyone even be able to tell the difference? I'd be surprised

Man, it's easy to forget that Blair's entire adventure involving the Agarthans is technically never actually spoken of in public. May's (probably) an Arcadian, but she wasn't alive during her mother's time, so for all she's concerned, she might just be a regular human.

That being said, how much does Tristain know about Blair's past, Tree? From what it seems, he has no idea that his parents underwent Diogenes' procedure willingly, either, so are the Agarthans basically erased from history?

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech

Not gonna lie, I am excited for the 'oh shit' moment when Tristain not only uses magic, but the Crest of Macuil to empower it. It's going to knock these people's socks off.

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech

>>6137662
The Crests do look different so our party would know that we're showing off a different Crest than the one we used in battle.

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech

>>6137680
>That being said, how much does Tristain know about Blair's past, Tree?
He doesn't know anything other than she was a decorated veteran of the war. He also doesn't know anything about the origins of his Crest.

>>6137786
Gotcha, makes sense. Can't wait for Tristain to inevitably be involved in the family business.

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech

I wonder what Tristains reaction would be to finding out about what exactly his aunt did in the war. ''What do you mean ancient underground snake people?''

>>6137918
"Why didn't I get to kill any?"

...Did Blair tell Tristain that she killed his dad yet? I mean from what I remember of the last thread of the quest she was willing to tell him that information and if he thought he was the rightful ruler of D'rusalka she'd let him take over.
If she did tell him, how'd that go? Though I doubt it because there hasn't been hints of Tristain having any resentment to Blair, or maybe it's just that he doesn't care, I can also see that.

>>6137986
The very opening of the quest will answer your questions. Though, if Tristain found out through Blair, I'm not sure.

Oh wait lol yeah she did tell him, i forgot about that

>>6137627
>A): Show the Crest of Indech
It's the one we've already showed.

>>6137622
>"Xenophanes?"
>"Ahh, forgive me. That is the Sorcerer King's true name."

>>Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570- c.478 BC) was a Greek philosopher, theologian, poet, and critic of Homer from Ionia who travelled throughout the Greek-speaking world in early Classical Antiquity

Another point for the Agarthan Sorcerer King Hypothesis.

>>6137986
On a similar subject - Tristain, Blair's nephew, was born with two Crests and has suffered zero drawbacks from it. We know this. What only just occurred to me is that Lysithea must be spinning in her grave fast enough to power all of Shambhala. Probably Edelgard, too, but definitely Lys. She and Blair had an A-Support, I think, over their shared vow to put an end to the Crest implanation experiments, and we're playing as an accidental success story of said experiments right now.

>>6138456
Blair raising the human experiment crestermensch Baki.

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>>6137627
You didn’t see the harm in showing the Adjunct the Crest of Indech. He was already partially aware of your abilities, and you’d already used it numerous times on the way here. Extending one arm forward, you produce the symbol of Indech from thin air, your body pulsating a glowing blue. It felt a little weird flaunting your Crest like this. Even back home, you hardly ever brought it out, as there had rarely been the need. But if showing it to Marlin might net you some favors, then so be it.

“Remarkable!” Adjunct Marlin exhales as he examines your handiwork. “I’ve never felt a source of magic like this before! And for you to unleash it without any sort of incantation, these Crests truly are unique! Tell me, how do you actually summon forth that sort of power?”

>“I don’t know. It just sort of comes naturally.” You weren’t lying. When it came to casting your fire magic, there were certain incantations and gestures that were required of you. But as for your Crests, they just sort of worked. You never really gave it much thought. They were a source of power from the Goddess herself. It was only natural they were a little mysterious.

“I see.” Marlin says. If he is not entirely satisfied with your answer, he does not show it. “In any event, I thank you for showing me something so interesting, Lord Tristain. Any friend of Adjunct Alvin’s is welcome here in Ithaca. Shall I give you a tour?”

You and the others follow behind Alvin as he takes you through the center of the camp. By now, most of the mages have gone back to at least pretending to look busy, though several still shoot off glances to your party when they think it is safe to. You can see a handful of people entering in and out of the large keep in the center of Ithaca. It casts its large shadow over the rest of the camp. Getting a closer look at it, you find it contains no windows, terraces, or even other entrances save for the large door in front. From the outside, it appeared as simply a mysterious solid mass of stone.

“Here in Ithaca, we are responsible for numerous technological and sorcerous advancements, all for the benefit of the people of Morfis.” Marlin says, having fully entered into the guise of a tour guide. “Our humble camp has a storied history of such accomplishments. It was here that ice-affinity magic was rediscovered, paving the way for a variety of preservation techniques used by both sorcerers and mundane individuals to better overcome life in the desert. We were also responsible for the development of anti-Terror techniques, as well as advancements in medicine and food production. Though it may sound conceited for me to say so, our humble camp is a source of pride for the entire nation.”

“Why do you all live inside a sandstorm?” May asks. “HOW do you all live inside a sandstorm?”

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>>6138468
“An excellent question, young lady.” Marlin says. “Our work is not only demanding, but can also be quite dangerous. Much of what we do here never sees the light of day. Given the risk of accidents, or the possibility of dangerous magic falling into the wrong hands, we carry out our experiments in secret here in the desert, far away from the capital. The sandstorm is our way of keeping things in order. Nothing gets in or out of Ithaca so long as the sandstorm holds.”

>“So the sandstorm isn’t naturally occurring, but magical?”

“That’s correct!” Marlin says. “The sandstorm is created by an ancient artifact known as the Djinn Orb. It is a sacred relic created by the Sorcerer King himself, passed down to his disciples. The orb resides inside our keep, and is responsible for controlling every aspect of the storm.”

>“May I see it?” You ask, hopefully.

“I apologize, Lord Tristain, but for security, the orb is kept under the strictest guard inside the Keep. Only the Adjunct of Ithaca is allowed anywhere near it. Now, your companion has mentioned wishing to know just how we survive out here. Allow me to show you a demonstration.”

Marlin stops his tour in front of a large cauldron. Peering inside, you find nothing but pitch blackness. However, once Marlin begins muttering some sort of incancation, the bottom of the cauldron begins to light up. A shape of light materializes, slowly rising from the blackness and hovering there. When the light fades away, you see…

“Bread!” May exclaims with surprise.

“We’re able to magically conjure our own food and water here.” Marlin says with pride. “It takes some effort, and frankly, is not as delicious as the real thing, but out here in the desert, this is an invaluable tool. Here, try some.”

>You received “Bread”!

>“It’s okay…” You say, chewing through a mouthful of the tough substance. It was edible at least. You take one bite, before offering the rest to May, who accepts it happily.

“I have some business to discuss with Marlin here.” Alvin says. “But the Adjunct has assured me that you are free to explore Ithaca at your leisure, so long as you stay away from the Keep.”

>“What’s so special about that building?” You ask, your mouth suddenly dry from the magically conjured “bread”.

“It’s where our more volatile experiments are held.” Marlin says. “Nothing to worry about though, I assure you. The Keep employs the strictest safety measures. Now please, enjoy your stay here in Ithaca! You’ve been afforded a rare opportunity. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on our humble home later.”

Before Marlin and Alvin depart, they provide you with some areas of interest around the camp for you and the others to visit.

>A): Visit Food Production
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development
>C): Visit Artifact Hub

>>6138471
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development
Science! Magic science!

>>6138471
>C): Visit Artifact Hub

>>6138471
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development
We've got to get to know our soon-to-be subjects. This is their national pastime. Plus, it'll tell us about what they prioritize versus Fodlan's focus on battlefield and healing magic.

>>6138471
>>C): Visit Artifact Hub

>>6138471
>C): Visit Artifact Hub

>>6138471
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development

>>6138471
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development
''Hey you guys want to see some cool shit?'' Uses Crest.

>>6138471
>B): Visit Magic Research and Development

>>6138471
>C): Visit Artifact Hub

>>6138471
>>A): Visit Food Production

B wins, writing!

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>>6138471
Not completely sold on the so-called food you just tried, you decide to visit what is referred to as “Magic Research and Development”. You wanted to get a first hand look at what sort of sorcery the Morfisians here were up to. From what little you’d seen so far, sorcery in Morfis was vastly different from what was practiced in Fodlan. Even someone like Cassius, who was able to summon spirits to aid him in battle, would be completely unheard of back home. The others in your party leave to set up camp for the night within Ithaca. In the meantime, you decide to head for a large open area inside the camp, where several mages are at work practicing their craft.

“Greetings, traveler.” You are met by a young man in a hood and robe. “What may I do for you?”

>“I was talking to your boss and he told me that this is where you guys practice all sorts of fancy spells. I was hoping you could show me something.” Since you were away from the others in your party, you figured it might not hurt to flex a magical muscle or two.

“I uhh…appreciate your enthusiasm.” The mage says awkwardly. “But you see, one must already have a preexisting aptitude for magic in order to learn spellcraft. You clearly…”

>“What, you think I don’t know magic?” You growl.

“N-no apologies.” The mage stammers. “If you say you know magic, then I believe you. Truly! What is it that you wish to know?”

>“I’m interested in fire affinity magic. Particularly any sort of unique spells you lot be aware of. Something more interesting than a simple Elfire spell.”

“I’m sorry, much of the magic that we develop here is under the strictest security…”

>MAG+LCK Roll x2: (29, Success)

You bare your teeth in a grimace, and the mage almost leaps into the air.

“B-but perhaps I may interest you in some other spells instead?! You’re from Fodlan, right? I understand our schools of magic are similar, and yet quite different in many ways. Here, why don’t I give you this.” The man reaches into a tiny bag at his waist. You recognize it as a bag of holding, the same sort that Cassius had produced back in Solis. He pulls out a scroll, which he then hands to you. “Here, take it. I have no need for this.”

You study the scroll closely, which details the necessary calculations for producing a persistent light. From what you gather, this is a sort of utility magic. The light summoned functions as a torch, illuminating surrounding darkness in a radius dependent on the user’s magical strength. While not exactly a combat spell, the light could also be used offensively to throw off an enemy’s vision. It was a simple, albeit boring sort of spell, however, there was no denying its use.

>Learned “Torch” (Illuminates Darkness. 5/5 Uses)

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>>6139156
“As mages, we derive our power from the surrounding elements.” The man says. “Thunder magic comes from the skies, whereas a mage adept with the wind can materialize tornadoes out of the air. Here in Morfis, there is no source of power greater than the sun. Fire magic has been extensively developed in this land, and is the most commonly found. Provided you have the aptitude, there is no shortage of spellcraft you may learn.”

>“A companion of mine is able to summon spirits to fight for him. Could I do that?”

“That would be summoning magic.” The mage says. “It is a subset of Elder Magic, or ‘Dark’ Magic as I understand it is called in Fodlan. Your friend is commanding nearby spirits of the dead to do battle.”

>Is that what that was? “That sounds…immoral?”

“Perhaps back where you’re from.” The mage laughs. “But here in Morfis, nothing is taboo or off limits. We believe that every sort of magic has its place, and we encourage the continued development of the craft. Something as mundane as ethics can only get in the way of progression.”

>“What about Divine magic? Or spells for healing?”

“Here, we call it ‘Light’ magic.” The mage corrects you. “There is no divine element to it, as we do not worship your Goddess. It is primarily used in combating the Terrors commonly found in the desert, but may have a variety of other uses as well. I’ve seen Light magic that drains its target of its entire ‘lifeforce’, leaving behind a withered, empty husk. Doesn’t sound so ‘divine’, does it?”

>“…No.”

“As for Restorative magic, we’ve developed numerous spells for curing not just physical wounds, but mental ones as well. There are even spells that grant their beneficiary temporary bouts of strength and vigor. Combined with traditional medicines, Morfis is a country that can serve as the pinnacle of health.”

>“So, can I learn some of that stuff here?”

“Look, I’ll get in trouble if I teach you anything more.” The mage says, turning his head on a swivel. “Everything we do here really is top secret. If you want to learn some of the good stuff, you’ll have to make a friend out of Adjunct Marlin.”

You stick around a bit to watch the mages, but quickly grow bored after it becomes apparent there is nothing you’ll learn here. As you make to leave, you hear voices coming from behind a nearby tent. Being the nosy sort, you stop in your tracks, pretending to look busy. A man and a woman are arguing in a hushed tone that is growing louder and more aggressive by the second.

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>>6139157
“Cease this foolishness, Nadia!” The man seethes. “I’m telling you for your own good to hand over your research.”

“You’re mad.” The woman giggles. “With the findings I’ve uncovered, I have the potential to be nominated as a Sage of the Royal College. A two-bit sorcerer such as yourself is incapable of comprehending the work I’ve done. Now, I suggest you leave before I report your conduct to the Adjunct.”

“I’m being civil with you, Nadia.” The male voice growls. “I do so perhaps on account of some misplaced affection for you. But you test my patience. This is your final warning.”

“My answer is no.” The woman says. “What do you intend to do about it?”

You suddenly had the feeling that things were about to break out into violence between the two.

>A): Intervene.
>B): Continue to stand and watch.
>C): Leave for Food Production
>D): Leave for the Artifact Hub

>>6139159
>A): Intervene.
"I felt like violence was about to happen, and I simply couldn't stand by and watch it. I like to participate, damnit!"

>>6139159
>>B): Continue to stand and watch.
interesting...

>>6139159
>A): Intervene.

>>6139159
>A): Intervene

BATTLE!!!

>>6139159
>A): Intervene.

>>6139159
>>A): Intervene.

>>6139159
>B): Continue to stand and watch.

>''Something as mundane as ethics can only get in the way of progression.”
Never has there been a bigger red flag.

>>6139159
>>B): Continue to stand and watch.

>>6139159
>B): Continue to stand and watch.
These are going to be OUR court mages by the end of the quest (unless we die horribly or abandon the contest for some reason). We should get to know their divides and feuds better. However, intervening now would cast us even more as a foreign meddler who thinks he knows Morfis better than the Morfisians do.

>>6139159
>>B): Continue to stand and watch.

>>6139159
>B): Continue to stand and watch.
Watching other people bicker is fun.

Seems like a pretty good opportunity to grab a new companion. Nadia has some kind of groundbreaking research and her token looks nice. Seems like the dude is going to make trouble and is about to start it. Let him throw the first punch, or spell, then knock his ass out. Tell the Adjunct we helped stop a fight? Ask Nadia if she wants to hitch her wagon to the next King of Morfis.

5 Intervenes
6 Stand and watches

>>6139159
>B): Continue to stand and watch.
can you guys put this on hold for a minute while I microwave some popcorn

B wins, writing.

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You continue to standby and watch the argument unfold. You didn’t know what was going on, nor who was in the right or wrong. No point in intervening in something you didn’t have the first clue about. The male mage has threatened the female, whose name was evidently Nadia. However, she doesn’t look to be intimidated in the slightest. She continues standing there with a smug smirk, her hands resting on her ample hips. In contrast, the male mage was shaking with rage, looking as though he were ready to lash out. In the end, he finds the restraint to back off, stepping away from Nadia.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The man says. “You should have taken my offer while you had the chance. I’d have treated you well. But you’ll reap what you’ve sowed soon enough.”

“You don’t scare me, Andreas.” Nadia says smoothly. “Why don’t you take yourself to food production? Your ‘talents’ would be better put to use making cupcakes for the actual sorcerers.”

Andreas turns with an angry flourish. The man sees red, both figuratively and literally, as he bumps directly into you.

“Watch where you’re going, damn foreigner!” Andreas seethes. He takes a second to examine you closely, before turning his head back to Nadia. “Heh, of course you’d like these talentless meatheads. Not a magical bone in him.” He steps around you, and marches off into Ithaca to do who knows what.

“Apologies, stranger.” Nadia says, walking up towards you and offering you a smile. “Don’t let that idiot bother you. He clearly doesn’t know the first thing about talent.” Like her ‘colleague’, she also sizes you up and down, only she clearly likes something she sees as she bites her bottom lip. “Wow. Brawn AND brains. It’s rare to see someone in these parts with that combination. Some folks think just because they can sling a few spells around that they don’t have to work on physical training. Glad to see you don’t adhere to such misgivings.”

>“...You can tell I can use magic?”

“Of course!” Nadia smiles. “But I’m just a bit more perceptive than most. Although, for a mage, you appear to be quite…uncomfortable in this setting. Has no one taught you how to block out the heat yet? Here, give me your hands and follow my lead.”

Nadia takes your considerably larger hands into her own. She traces lines into the air in front of you. Following her lead, you do just that, charging the gesture with a bit of magic. The results immediately astound you.

>“Woah! It’s like someone just turned off the sun!” You could no longer feel the oppressive heat that had been hounding you all this time. So this is what Cassius and Alvin had been doing to stay cool all this time? “I feel better already. Thank you, uhh…”

“Nadia.” The woman says. “And you are?”

>“Tristain d’Rusalka. I’m a contender in Princess Yulia’s competition.”

>>6139776
“I gathered as much.” Nadia says. “It’s not everyday we have visitors such as yourself. I wish you luck in the contest, Tristain d’Rusalka.”

>“Was everything alright with that man? I couldn’t help but overhear the threats he was making.”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Andreas is simply obsessed. Both with my research and with me. Unfortunately for him, well, he’s not my type.” The mage flutters her eyelids

>Was she flirting with you? You had to admit, she was certainly attractive. Avoiding the distraction of Nadia’s charms, you carry on. “What sort of research do you do here in Ithaca? It must be something special if that man was so keen on acquiring your work.”

“Oh, it’s nothing so interesting.” Nadia says. “I won’t bore you with the details. I’d much rather hear about your adventures. I find this competition of Princess Yulia’s to be quite romantic. Tell me, are you considered a favorite to win?”

>“Of course!” You say pridefully. “Not to brag or anything, but I’m leagues above the rest of those contenders that made the trip overseas just to lose to me.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, there’s a good chance that you might become the next King?” Nadia says. “I’m curious if you’d grant me a boon, Lord Tristain.”

>“Oh, and what would that be?”

“I apologize if this is perhaps too forward but…I’d love a lock of your hair.” Nadia smiles. “A memento of the soon-to-be King of Morfis.”

>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
>B): Decline her request.

>>6139778
>B): Decline her request.

Do NOT give sorcerers you've just met any part of your body. In fact, we already screwed up giving her our full name. Sympathetic magic is NOT a joke.

>>6139778
>>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
this will pay off, you'll see

>>6139778
>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
Me when a bad bitch tells me to do something

>>6139778
>>B): Decline her request.
I agree with anon, even though I know nothing about FE.

>>6139778
>>B): Decline her request.

>>6139778
Sounds extremely sus...
Dew it
>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
This lock of hair shall become her family's heirloom once we're the king.

>>6139778
>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
Not exactly a safe choice, but I want to see where this will go.
She's either going to be doing some weird voodoo stuff or Tristain might get the chance to stick it in crazy. Maybe even both.

>>6139778
>Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.
There's more red flags flying than a Red Army parade, but that just makes me more fascinated about what will happen.

>>6139778
>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.

>>6139778
>A): Grant Nadia a lock of your hair.

If we were playing the cautious (read:conspiracy theorist) Blair, I'd vote for B, but... we're playing the devil-may-care Tristain. What's the worst that could go wrong, eh?

My suspicion is that she's an Agarthan / Agarthan descendant; it's always the elf ears. Might even be the Crest Implantation Project all over again; but if that were the case, blood or flesh might work better, but hair is a lot less inconspicuous and can be used in other spells, so eh.

A Wins, writing.

>>6140423
after the oasis vote i almost thought this would be a boring quest

>>6139778
You didn’t think Nadia’s request was strange. You were a hero after all, and one destined to be king at that. It was only natural that women would throw themselves at you. It just helped that this particular woman happened to also be beautiful. Was Princess Yulia this attractive as well? Perhaps even more so? You’ve heard stories of kings taking on consorts in addition to their queens. Did Morfis have any rules about that? As your mind raced through these thoughts, you decided to accept Nadia’s request and offer her a lock of your hair. You were pretty proud of the red mane on your head, which you kept tied up to avoid any distractions during battle. Your mother always said you had your father’s hair.

>“Well, of course. I’d be happy to. Do you happen to have a knife?”

“I do!” Nadia exclaims excitedly, producing a dagger from seemingly nowhere. “Oh, thank you, Lord Tristain! Could you bend down, please?”

You comply, bringing yourself to the shorter woman’s level. She gently grasps your head, dagger in hand, and tugs away at a strand of your hair.

>“Ouch!”

Nadia gasps. “Ahh! Apologies, Lord Tristain! I-I’m afraid I grew too excited.”

You rub the back of your head before examining your hand. A faint trace of blood was present.

“Forgive me, my lord. Give me one second, and I’ll patch that cut up.”

You feel a cooling sensation from where Nadia had cut. You recognize it as the work of healing magic. The pain which had appeared so suddenly completely vanishes. You turn around to examine Nadia once more. The woman looks apologetic enough, and bows her head deeply. The dagger that was in her hands a mere moment ago has vanished.

>“...Right. No harm done. You enjoy that now.”

Nadia smiles at you sweetly. “I wish you great fortune in the trials ahead, Lord Tristain. Let us meet again when you become king. I’d very much like to exchange words with you. But for now, I’m afraid my research beckons. Farewell, my lord.”

You watch Nadia bounce away, straight towards the keep that Adjunct Marlin had forbidden you enter. Even with her back turned towards you, the woman cuts an impressive figure. You’d have to take her on her word and reach out once you were King. The more powerful sorcerers you had in your corner, the better.

The day was still young, and you had time to visit one more area of Ithaca before it was best that you return to the others and turn in for the night.

>A): Visit the Artifact Hub
>B): Visit Food Production
>C): Return to camp, spending extra time with your companions.

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>she has our double crest blood
It has never been this fucking over for the Rusalka bloodline in the entire recorded history of Fodlan. Never trust a mage.

>>6140481
>>B): Visit Food Production
i feel like there's potential in making food out of nothing
>>6140487
destroying the notes last quest robbed us of a cool fight, wouldn't want that to happen again

>>6140481
>B): Visit Food Production
Someday, we will be asked what our tax policy is.

Called it. Now we get to fight a crest-powered boss down the line, eh? It's not like Tristain knows anything about the Agarthans though, and I'm sure he'll relish the fight.

>>6140481
>Visit Food Production

>>6140481
>A): Visit the Artifact Hub
We had a schizo pope in Blair's quest. Let's see how that'll be topped here.
Unless they can somehow make Heroes' Relics compatible with the Crests of Indech and Macuil, Tristain will be fine anyways. He is a based masochist who keeps facetanking hits and hiding that he has magic just to keep a gag going.

>>6140481
>Visit Food Production
The noise I made when I saw that Tristan quest was a go.

>He’d suggested turning towards faith and chivalry, serving as an educator and model for young knights.
>Taking his advice under consideration, you instead turned towards boozing and women.
topkek at least Leopold can say he tried.

>Just gave a maybe snake our blood
Back home auntie Blair has just sensed a massive disturbance in the force

>>6140481
>>A): Visit the Artifact Hub

>>6140700
Aunt might have wanted to slay the snakes, but Tristain want's to lay them instead

>>6140758
Nah he's gotta lay with Bronte so his mighty dual crested protagonist genes can enrich the dynasty. And give aunt a nice heart attack in the process kek

But I'm going to laugh so hard if this princess pulls a Ganon. Or if she's an absolute smokeshow but the personality turns out to be the Sorcerer King body surfing into his descendants like all good slitherers do.

>>6140481
>B): Visit Food Production

So let's take bets everybody, what is the Princess's deal?

A): Is she an idiot who doesn't realize what her idea could cause?

B): Is she smart and this is a complex scheme to gain power and such?

C): Is she just really into strong men and wants a good hunk of a king as her hubby?

D): Or is she actually nice and thinks would benefit her country?

I'm betting either B or D

>>6140835
I would work back from what we know. Bronte seems to be a helpful little sister, and as far as we can tell didn't try to manipulate Tristain into anything but heal and protect him when he found danger in pursuing his antics. She is also Blair's child, and may have some part in hunting snakes. There is also some trade between Blair's county and Morfis. Tristains point of view isn't normal, but this is all probably about right.

Bronte is scouted by some Morfis mage to their College. An institution that holds a lot of power and the practical running of the country in terms of power, proximity to the royal line with a city of only mages, requires mages to make the trip to the capital. Even making most of the food for the country by magic. Was and is considerably isolationist. Seems to have a lack of ethics in some of its prominent mages, and considerable trust issues/experience with things getting out of control. Founded by some presumed super agarthan and his apprentices. There is a cult that has somehow continued to survive as some kind of boogieman/outlet for people who don't fit in. Mages arranging for assassination of rivals doesn't seem to be out of place either considering the whole pirate thing.

Bronte is then picked by The Princess to be her advisor, which has caused a bit of a stir, several years pass and now we have this marriage tournament.
It has quickly gathered some of the most powerful and eligible Fodlan bachelors with their follower armies, mercs and money, into the Capital.

I suppose they will be used to destroy the cult and make the College lose face and purpose, letting the Princess gain power.

But I think C would be the funniest so I'm going with C.

>>6140835
I have a few hypotheses, but they're based on things I'm assuming from what we know.

>1. Yulia is luring Fodlaners to Morfis so she can throw one of us at her "extended family," due to a spy she had in the Resistance Army reporting back to her about Shambhala

>2. Xenophanes body-jacked Yulia and set the contest to lure as many Crest-bearers to Morfis as possible and restart the Experiments that way

>2a. As above but the purpose of the lure is get one of us to kill Leviathan (who isn't really dead), because some spies reported back about Rhea going berserk at Garreg Mach while our aunt was in Zanado

>3. Yulia thinks the Cult of the Serpent and the Church of Seiros are effectively the same thing (due to somehow learning the origins of both Leviathan and the Saints), and is hoping to legitimize (and control) the Cult by marrying one of their unwitting brothers in Sothis

>3a. As above, but the purpose of us being here is so we'll run into the Cult, shout HERESY!, and wipe them out, thus eliminating a thorn in the royal family's side once and for all

>4. Leviathan isn't really dead and has instead gone full Fell Dragon; they've possessed Yulia and are trying to breed a vessel they can take over that will have both Agarthan and Nabatean powers

>>6140853

I find it very interesting that Brontë was allowed to get as high as she did actually. Not only is she an outsider but her mother killed as many sages as Byleth did - I'm surprised she wasn't assassinated or something. Maybe Morfis being so closed off worked in her favour and news didn't travel, or perhaps the Morfis snakes don't much care for the dark continent snakes considering sorcerer king ran off in the first place.

Or perhaps Brontë is pretending that she's more related to her adoptive grandpa than she actually is? If these snakes somehow don't have magical DNA tests like their cousins on the continent then with her white hair and magical talent she might be able to pull it off.

...but this whole babble was a prelude to me putting forth that perhaps this whole marriage tournament was put forth to the princess by Bronte herself as a lure to get Tristain over here to act as nice little nuke for them.

Tristan's got two crests, is battle hungry to the max and holds Bronte in high regard, so would be the perfect candidate to wreck shit. Plus this whole thing is tailor made to cater to his interests and Bronte would know what his personality is like. And if he doesn't pan out then the tournament might attract other hopefuls they can use as a backup option.

And there's the fact Blair let him go so easily even though others counselled Tristain against it. Sure that could be our girl throwing up her hands and figuring Tristain is gonna go with or without her blessing, but Tristain is technically her heir and Blair's never been one to risk things (when snakes aren't involved). Tristain says she gave the OK for him to check up on Bronte but he's not the sharpest axe in the shed when it comes to schemes kek. Maybe Bronte slipped her mother a message to play along?

And even if Brontë and Yulia planned the scheme but then Yulia was bodyjacked then Brontë might be able to convince whoever is now in charge to let to tournament go ahead under the pretense it will produce a strong heir for the next body jump.

>>6140928
Leviathan going full fell dragon after having his ass kicked sounds amazing. But as for 3, wouldn't that be more easily done if she just marries the guy with the most dragon blood in the cult? Or perhaps the blood is so diluted that there aren't any crests in the snake cult but they still rever them for some reason so she's fishing for a crest from the dark continent.

We've got Charon and Lorenz crests present and accounted for, and if this first sword from Sreng is a Scratch/Cormac baby then she might have her mother's indech crest.

>>6140993
>perhaps the blood is so diluted that there aren't any Crests in the snake cult but they still revere them for some reason
This is the assumption I have as well.

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B wins, writing.

Really enjoying reading these theories.

>>6141025
Glad you're enjoying them! Did we ever find out what the elves were? I forget.

>>6141025
Blair may not be around but will we keep the conspiracy nut flag flying in her stead

>>6141031
Didn't anemone explain the gist of it when she was telling us about how the Arcadians came to be? Plus the visions Blair saw in the Zanado tower. Think the only thing Blair doesn't know is that some of them are still kicking around in the church.

>>6141037
I'd have to check the archives, but I think you've got it?

>>6141031
Agarthans that intermingled with Nabateans and Humans.

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>>6140481
You decide to next visit the Food Production Hub. You were interested in learning more about the magic that Adjunct Marlin had employed to create that loaf of bread. Sure, it wasn’t the tastiest thing you’d ever tried. Something was definitely off about it, in fact. But even you had to admit that magic of that caliber was essentially a miracle. You’d never heard of someone being able to conjure food before, let alone enough to sustain an entire colony of people. You wander off to a section of Ithaca, where you find more of those same cauldrons that Marlin had used. A burly mage is there to greet you.

“Welcome, traveler.” The mage says. “What will you be having?”

>“Like…to eat?”

The mage nods. You peer into the cauldron that stands between the two of you. Just like before, you see nothing but pure emptiness inside. A bottomless pit that seemingly has no end. You glance back up to the mage and squint your eyes.

>“Uhh…what are the options?”

“Anything you can think of.” The mage replies. “Describe the food you desire, and it is within the cauldron’s power to conjure it. Within reason of course.”

>“Within reason. Right. Well then. I’ll have a steak. Tenderloin, to be precise. Medium-rare. Lightly salted.

The mage stares at you blankly. For a second, you believe you’ve stumped him. All of a sudden, he stretches his hands over the cauldron. He begins muttering something under his breath, and the same ball of light you saw Adjunct Marlin conjure appears from the inky blackness. It materializes and warps itself perfectly into the shape of a tenderloin steak. The light you saw fades away, and the cut of meat floats there, ripe for the taking.

“Enjoy.” The mage says.

You grab the steak from mid-air, taking a large bite. As you chew, you realize that your order was made perfectly to your specifications. The meat was flavorful, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. This was phenomenal, even! So, what was this nagging feeling you had in the pit of your stomach that something wasn’t right?

“Dessert?” The mage asks.

>“Desert dessert?”

Unappreciative of your play on words, the mage conjures forth another ball of light from the cauldron. This time, what materializes is a cone shaped bread substance, filled to the brim with what looked like frozen milk. Unable to identify the strange food, you eye it suspiciously in your hands. It was cold to the touch.

“This is a recently discovered food. You’d only be able to find it here in Ithaca. Supposedly it was a favorite of the Sorcerer King and his disciples. The recipe that we found said it was called ‘Ice Cream’. Try it.”

You take a lick of the mysterious food, followed by several more. It was sweet. Definitely tasty!

>“I have to say, this is the most impressive thing I’ve seen of this land yet. Just how do you even do something like this? It’s incredible!” You take several more licks.

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>>6141073
“Transmutation magic.” The mage answers. “The act of transforming one object into another. It is the pride of Morfis, and what allows us to feed and grow our population. With the right calculations and recipes, we are able to transform commonly found organisms into edible food fit for consumption. Food conjured by magic may lack the full nutrients of the real thing, but here in the desert, it is a valuable resource for survival.”

>“Commonly found organisms?” You ask, taking another lick of your ice cream. “Like what?”

“Plants. Weeds. Bugs. Leeches. Everyday pests that serve no utility can otherwise be repurposed to fit the needs of the country.”

You drop the ice cream onto the sand below you. You’re unable to hide the look of pure disdain you have for the mage, and it takes your full restraint to not bash his head into the cauldron before you.

“A common response for your first time.” The mage says. He reaches into a compartment near him and hands you a plain beige bag. You open it up to find…

>“What are these made of? Maggots?”

“No, that’s the real stuff. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more.”

>You received Peanuts! (+1 LCK Permanently)

Chewing a handful of nuts, you find that the sun above you has suddenly been eclipsed. Sand begins picking up into the air rapidly and in great quantities, until all of Ithaca is engulfed in the midst of a massive tempest. Adjunct Marlin must have reactivated the ‘Djinn Orb’ that he had mentioned. So, this is what it was like living in the middle of a sandstorm? None of the mages around you seemed to react sharply, clearly used to this sort of thing. Each of them carries on with their work as though nothing has happened. In fact, save for some sudden shade, nothing really had changed. Still, you could see how sharp and powerful the winds that surrounded the settlement were. If you tried to walk through them, you’d surely be flayed alive.

You’d seen enough of Ithaca for now. You planned to return to the others in your party before calling it in for the night. Once Alvin and the others had restocked, you expected to be on the road again tomorrow.

>A): Choose one companion to speak with.

>>6141066
Okay so it was them, cool.

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Cuthbert

Let's chat with the babysitter a little more.

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Alvin
Hand over all you pointy weapons, the way I've seen you mages handle knives doesn't inspire much confidence

>>6141089
I should clarify that Alvin is actually still in the Keep, speaking with Marlin. Companions in this case means anyone in the spreadsheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mrlj-c7Oe51qIoat3LJfDSv0Bw2nmExQT2EqlKlWPGw/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Alvin hasn't officially made the spreadsheet just yet

>>6141089
>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Cuthbert

Changing to an actually companion kek>>6141090
I've just seen Alvin heal our guy so many times brain is auto placing him in the healer spot. Glad to see Tristain is carrying on aunts tradition of overworking his white mages

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>MAY

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Cuthbert
What does the old timer think of all this shit? Has he tried the leech steak yet?

>>6141074
>>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>>Cuthbert

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>May

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Elric
We ought to talk to the lad, see if we can start his training BEFORE he falls into a trial-by-fire.

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Elric

>>6141074
>A): Choose one companion to speak with.
>Elric

I do want to talk to Cuthbert in the next round, but I want to reveal some of Elric's stats before we throw him in the fire. Worst comes to worst, we stick him next to Adeline to help him grind up some XP safely, but yeah.

Cuthbert it is, writing.

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>>6141074
You arrive at the camp that the others in your party had set up for the night. Most of your companions have already appeared to retire, likely exhausted by the day’s journey. The only one still awake is Cuthbert, who sits around a makeshift campfire. The veteran soldier looks as unfriendly as ever as he sits there staring into the flames absentmindedly. You take a seat across from the man, intending to strike up a conversation. However, as you sit there, Cuthbert merely glances in your direction, giving you a curt nod before returning his gaze to the flames.

>“Could you at least try to make an effort?”

“This is me making an effort.” Cuthbert says. “I’m here, aren’t I?” And Elric is still alive, head attached firmly to his shoulders. I’d say that’s the result of solid effort right there.”

>“I’d say that was more my doing. After all, if it were up to you, the boy would have been bled dry by Nestor.”

“Not likely.” Cuthbert replies. “I knew it wouldn’t come to that. If I’d sensed the first whiff of violence from that man, I’d have dealt with it accordingly. I may be older, but I know I’d at least be capable of that much. I just thought it would be good for the boy to get a sense of the real world for the first time. He’d been cooped up too long back home. He’d hardly ever experienced hardship back in Fodlan. Hell, for all his education, he’d hardly ever had experiences at all. And here he is, trying to conquer a foreign nation. A fool’s errand, if you ask me.”

>“Heh, you sound like you hate the kid. How’d you get saddled with him anyway?”

“I don’t hate him.” Cuthbert says. “I’m actually quite fond of the little lord. Even if he has ruined my retirement plans.”

>“Retirement?”

“I’m well into my 40s. Way too old to be doing this soldiering thing, in any case. I fought in the Unification War. Fought a lot, if you could believe that. The fact that I’m alive is nothing short of a miracle from the Goddess herself. Of course, when you fight that much, it soon becomes all that you’re good at. I made an impression on Elric’s father, and he offered me the position of bodyguard for his son. Was supposed to be an easy job. Just stand around and watch him, and intervene if his life is ever in danger. Of course, Elric hardly ever got into trouble, so I was able to mostly sit back and relax after a lifetime of avoiding people like you. The lull I was enjoying just makes all of this seem even crazier. I’d love to know how this foolhardy idea got placed in Elric’s head, and how I wound up halfway across the world for it.”

>“What do you mean avoiding people like me?”

“Crest bearers.” Cuthbert says dryly. “Monsters.”

>“You fought Crest bearers?”

>>6141567
“If I did, I wouldn't be here. No, I tried to avoid them like the plague. It was the only sensible option. Lost a lot of friends to those beasts. In the old days, there were a lot more of you. The war whittled that number down to a handful. But back then, encountering a Crest bearer on the battlefield usually meant death. Doubly so if they had a Heroes Relic at their side. Supposedly they were human like the rest of us. But upclose, I didn’t really buy that. They were demons. Real horrors born from a nightmare.”

>“Do you believe that I’m a demon?”

“Maybe.” Cuthbert smirks. “At the very least, you have the capacity to become one. But it doesn’t bother me. The Empire had demons of their own during the war. Fought alongside a few of them. If I have to be on the same battlefield as a Crest bearer, I’m just glad he’s on my side.”

>“What did you do during the war anyway?”

“That’s an impolite question to ask.”

You and Cuthbert sit there in silence for some time. Though the Unification War was a bloody affair, you often had fantasies about having been there. It always seemed like it was the moment in history you had been meant for. Better to have been thrown into the midst of war and fought against others like you than to sit in a castle all day, bored and waiting to die. If it weren’t for this whole affair, you were sure that’s the fate you’d be suffering right now. Still, you felt like you understood the man before you a bit better. Despite his unfriendly nature, perhaps there was something you could learn from the veteran.

>You gained a C-Support with Cuthbert!

The two of you sit there, listening to the sounds of the raging sandstorm, until it is time for bed. Stretching your limbs, you put out the campfire, and you and Cuthbert retire to your respective tents. You sit alone in the darkness for some time, the thoughts of the day still racing through your head. Unable to sleep, you nod off throughout the night. At some point, a strange sinking feeling wells up in the pit of your stomach. You felt almost…nauseous? Was it that damn leech steak?

You try to put off this feeling of queasiness for another hour, but remain feeling restless and sick. Perhaps you needed a walk. As you stand up within your tent, you realize something strange. You can no longer hear the sounds of the sandstorm surrounding Ithaca.

Instead, you’re able to hear the very faint sound of footsteps, which are approaching your tent ever so gently.

>A): Grab your axe.
>B): Wait and see what happens.

>>6141568
>>B): Wait and see what happens.

>>6141568
>B): Wait and see what happens.

MAY DID YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE GOBLET OF SAND *Tristain said calmly.*

>>6141568
>Wait and see what happens
Worse comes to worst we can always roast them

Kek Cuthbert is the epitome of "but did you die?" Wonder what side of the war he was on.

>Feeling sick
That damned snake witch and her blood sorcery!

>Only a handful of crests left
Sobering. And nearly all of them are present here huh. Only ones that seems to be missing is Daphnel and Indech via the Varley line, but Ingrid and Bernie would absolutely protest the most at their kids taking part in this thing so not surprising.

>>6141600
My God thats it. Its Bronte's plot to wipe out the rest of the Crests.

>>6141568
>B): Wait and see what happens.
What's the worst that could happen.

>>6141600
>Wonder what side of the war he was on.
He fought for the Adrestian Empire, it's quite clear in the text.

>>6141568
>B): Wait and see what happens.
Whoever is coming doesn't know that we know they're here.

>>6141568
>B): Wait and see what happens.

>>6141609
Bronte:''The world will know true equality when the Crests have been eradicated! I did this for you mother!''

>>6141568
>>B): Wait and see what happens.

>>6141568
>B): Wait and see what happens.

Even if they come in swinging, we've got our Crests, magic, and our fists to defend ourselves. Come what may, eh?

>>6141568
>>B): Wait and see what happens.

>>6141568
>A): Grab your axe.
C-C-COMBO BREAKER

>>6141568
>A): Grab your axe.
Axebros, we've got to respect our weapon.

>>6141568
>A): Grab your axe.

Wait and see what happens wins.

Trust the plan.

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>>6141568
You stand perfectly still, watching the shadow outside your tent grow closer as the footsteps draw near. Without the rage of the sandstorm, you’re able to hear whoever is approaching you with ease. You don’t make a move to grab your axe. Your tent was surrounded by those of your companions. It was possible it was just one of them shuffling around after having to take a midnight leak. The footsteps stop directly outside your tent, and whoever they belong to is now standing directly outside. Were they lost? The two of you stand together in perfect silence for a brief moment. Suddenly, your tent flap opens and you find a dagger plunging into your chest.

>Tristain: 6 DMG, 45/51 HP

You look down at the protruding object lodged inside you, following it to the black-garbed arm that was currently clutching it tight. In the darkness of your tent, you can make out a man dressed in inky clothing that concealed his form save for his beady white eyes, which were now wide-open in shock. It seems this was intended to be a killing blow. Perhaps it would have been on anyone else. The assassin, likely not used to having to stab someone a second time, stands there, seemingly unsure of what to do next. You show him why you never let other men in your tent.

You punch the assassin in the side of the head with a large crack, sending him flying. His grip on the dagger sends it sailing along with him, out of your chest. You move to stand over the man, who scrambles to get back up to his feet. In a panic, he slashes you with a dagger, but this blow lacks the strength of the first, and merely cuts you.

>Tristain: 2 DMG, 43/51 HP

You pick the assassin up from the ground. The man is light in your arms, and with a heave, you flip him over and slam him headfirst into the ground. His neck twists in a grotesque angle, and it doesn’t take a cleric to tell that he’s killed instantly.

>10xp gained! (10/100)

You rip the man’s mask off, finding that this is no one you know. Suddenly hearing a noise and screaming outside, you grab your axe and iron bow and duck outside to discover what the commotion is. There, you find more men resembling the black-garbed assassin you just killed. Three of them are in the midst of engaging Adeline in combat, each of them circling the woman. One steps too close and is gored for his trouble. Another two are engaged in a fight with Cuthbert, kept at a distance by the man’s weighty halberd. You can hear similar scenes playing out all around you. As you look up, your suspicions are confirmed.

The sandstorm surrounding Ithaca has vanished.

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>>6142256
“Boss!” May calls out. The thief has suddenly appeared behind you, a look of panic on her face. “Cassius and Elric haven’t come out of their tent yet!

May was right. You saw no sign of Cassius’ or his phantom. Elric was also nowhere to be found. Both their tents were on opposite ends of each other, the flaps open. Hefting your axe up, you prepare to charge into one of them. You notice that something about you still feels off. Almost as if something was missing. A blockage within you that was unexplainable.

>A): Charge into Cassius’ tent
>B): Charge into Elric’s tent

>>6142258
>B): Charge into Elric's tent
Cassius MIGHT be able to save himself. He's got that summon, and decent magic besides. Elric WILL die if we don't go now.

>>6142258
>>B): Charge into Elric’s tent
Shieeeet did she seal Tristain's crest powers? Actually, maybe its something being used by the enemy that was intended to seal the Sandstorm artifact, but had the unintentional side-effect of making Tristain feel weak. I suppose they must have a similar kind of crest magic? Unless its blocking magic in general such as mage spells.

>>6142258
>>B): Charge into Elric’s tent

>>6142258
>B): Charge into Elric’s tent
Cuthbert is probably with him but Elric is also a dead weight so things might go sideways depending on the amount of assassins are in there.

Snake bitch has sealed away our crest looks like, time for our protagonist statline to hard carry and for us to give her a boot to the head later

>>6142291
>Cuthbert is not, in fact, with him
Right we gotta save our little cousin's BF or she'll do something terrible like cry

>You show him why you never let other men in your tent
For some reason this line got a kek out of me.

>>6142258
>B): Charge into Elric’s tent
Cassius might be able to at least not die immediately, but the same can't be said for Elric. He's weak enough that he gets one-rounded by the pirates at the very beginning.

>>6142258
>>B): Charge into Elric’s tent

>>6142394
The one time a man enters our tent he penetrates us and we end up snapping his neck.

>>6142291
Just wondering, if this might be a general anti-magic field rather than an anti-crest thing considering the sand machine is down too? If one is going to sack a town of mages taking out their magic would be one of the first things you want to do.

If so Cassius might be in a bigger bind than we thought. Elric definitely needs the help more, but might it be possible to tell May to give Cassius a hand?

>>6142258
>B): Charge into Elric’s tent

It's possible that Elric is able to distract them long enough with Enthusiasm, but I'd rather not gamble on it. If we can get someone like May to assist Cassius, that'd be great. He's our guide, after all.

>>6142440
Possible. I think in the games, when you're Silenced, you could still use your Crests and Combat Arts, but I could be wrong. Of course, there's also the FE7-style magic dampening field a la Kishuna, but I dunno if that's what we're up against here.

I've never heard of any magic that could seal a Crest externally, but these *are* Agarthans we're talking about. If they could produce Crests in other people, perhaps they could seal them as well.

>>6142258
>A): Charge into Cassius’ tent

>>6142258
>>B): Charge into Elric’s tent
Our boy is basically a civilian. We need to help him, and I don't know if Cuthbert has gotten there.
>>6142441
I support the idea of telling May to get over there and help Cassius.

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>>6142258
You grit your teeth in frustration. Someone was attacking Ithaca, and you didn’t find it coincidental that this was happening just as you got here. You weren’t sure if Cassius was still asleep or somehow incapacitated. But even then, you still had more faith that the man could defend himself better than Elric could. You didn’t have to agonize over your decision for very long.

>“Go check on Cassius.” You tell May. Brandishing your axe, you race over to Elric’s tent while the rest of your party deals with the assassins. Ducking inside, you’re able to make out two figures within the darkness. Elric is there, his back against the wall while the assassin brandishes his dagger menacingly. Upon your arrival, he turns on a swivel to face you.

The man sizes you up and quickly realizes that he is no match for you. He instinctively takes a step back towards Elric. You intend to make quick work of him, when he suddenly jolts and grows stiff. In the darkness, you can see the bloody gleam of a rapier sticking through the man’s throat. As the sword is retracted, he drops his daggers, clutching the bloody wound and falling to his knees. Elric stands there with his blade in hand, and even in this light you can tell the boy is completely white in the face. He stares at his handiwork in abject horror, eyes wide as he listens to the man’s gurgling. You put the assassin out of his misery with a downward strike of your axe, splattering blood onto the boy’s face.

>“I imagine you’re feeling all sorts of things right now.” You say to Elric. “But save it for later. We’re under attack and need to figure out what’s going on fast.”

In response, Elric only nods, clutching his rapier and following you outside of the tent.

You find that your companions have made short work of their attackers. Both Adeline and Cuthbert are surrounded by the corpses of the dark-garbed assassins. You are camped a decent distance away from the rest of Ithaca’s mages, but you’re still able to hear the sound of ongoing screaming and fighting. May exits a nearby tent with Cassius, the latter being supported by the smaller thief. He appears to have been wounded.

>“May! Cassius! What happened?”

“One of these creeps got the jump on him!” May answers. “We managed to subdue him together, but….”

“Apologies, Lord Tristain.” Cassius winces, clutching a stab wound in his chest. Despite the injury not looking too grievous, he looks completely out of it. “But…we appear to have a problem. For some reason, I’m unable to call upon my magic.”

Cassius’ words make all too much sense. This weird, nauseous feeling that you’ve had all night. You realize that you’re now unable to sense magic anymore. When did this happen exactly? And why was it that both you and Cassius were affected?

>“Is this normal in Morfis?” You ask. “Do you people have some sort of method to null magic?”

>>6142981
“Not that I’ve ever heard of..” Cassius says. “I don’t even know how such a thing would even be possible.”

You try producing the Crest of Indech, and are heartened to see the symbol appear. So, your magic was blocked, but you could still call upon your Crest powers? That was interesting. And helpful, because you’d likely need use of them to punish whoever the hell was responsible for this.

>“Ithaca’s sandstorm is down, and you’re unable to use magic. If there was a way to null magic, it would probably be useful for something like attacking an entire colony of mages. Has Alvin returned back from the Keep yet?”

“I kept watch all night. He never came back.” Cuthbert says.

Great. Were these people here for him and whatever secret he was carrying?

“Someone’s coming!” Elric stammers.

A woman is in fact, shambling towards your direction. From her uneven walk and pace, it’s clear to tell that she’s been wounded, attacked by the same assassins that came for you. As she draws closer, you recognize who she is.

>“Nadia!”

“Oh good…you’re still here. I thought you might be…” Nadia smiles weakly. Her hands are clutching her stomach in a futile attempt to staunch the heavy bleeding. She falls to her knees, coughing up blood on the sand.

Without at least a Concoction, she will likely die.

>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
>B): You’re wounded, likely about to fight more, and cannot rely on healing magic. You can’t afford to give out your supplies to strangers.

>>6142982
>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
I want it on record that I still don't like her. This is purely so we can find out what the fuck she used our blood for earlier and to get info as to what's going on inside the colony proper so we're not going into this completely blind.

>>6142984
>>6142985
Linking to the right post and also changing my vote
>B): You’re wounded, likely about to fight more, and cannot rely on healing magic. You can’t afford to give out your supplies to strangers.

>>6142984
>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
May be a dumb decision but fuck it

>>6142984
>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
How can she make the most dangerous thing Tristain will ever fight if she dies here? It simply wouldn't do, not at all.

>>6142984
>>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
C'mon you crazy lady, we need you kicking for at least 2 more updates.

>>6142984
>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
There's a lot of questions to ask like how she even fought off her assassin, but as long as she doesn't immediately betray us, she'll be able to fill buckets with blood by the end of this fight given Tristain's track record.

>>6142984
>>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)

>>6142984
>>B): You’re wounded, likely about to fight more, and cannot rely on healing magic. You can’t afford to give out your supplies to strangers.

>>6142984
>>A): Give Nadia a Concoction (3 in inventory)
nooo don't die you are too sexy ahaha

>>6142984
>B): You're wounded, likely about to fight more, and cannot rely on healing magic. You can't afford to give out your supplies to strangers.

If we had at least 4 Concoctions, we'd have enough to spare, but as it stands we have our own people to keep alive.

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>>6142984
You only had three concoctions on you, and if it was true that all magic in Ithaca was currently nulled, you would be unable to rely on any healing from the likes of Alvin. Still, Nadia had made a decent impression on you earlier. Regardless of the fact that she was a stranger, you couldn’t just allow a fan of yours to die unceremoniously like this. You had a duty to your future subjects to show them that you were powerful, and yet also benevolent. Uncorking one of your concoctions, you approach Nadia and pour the elixir onto her injuries. You watch as her wounds begin closing almost instantaneously and the color returns to her cheeks. Nadia looks up at you. Tears well up in her eyes as she stares at her savior.

“Lord Tristain…thank you. Once again, you’ve saved my life.” Nadia says with reverence. “You are magnificent.”

Once again?

>“Can you tell us what’s going on here? Who is attacking Ithaca?” By now, you could hear Alvin’s men beginning to rustle out of their tent, putting on their armor and weapons.

“The Riahi.” Nadia winces. “Assassins for hire.”

>“Who are they?” You ask Cassius.

“A clan of assassins who dwell deep within the desert.” The mage answers. “Trained killers who have practiced their craft for generations, and trace their lineage back to the time of Morfis’ founding. I thought they were merely a rumor…”

“No rumor.” Nadia shakes her head. “It’s them. I heard their leader say as much. The sandstorm disappeared, and in mere moments they had infiltrated both Ithaca and the Keep. They’re holding Adjunct Marlin and your friend inside. They’ve seized the Djinn Orb, as well as released the Magic Seal from within the Keep’s basement.”

>“Magic Seal?”

“It’s a safety protocol, hidden deep within the bowels of the Keep. Its existence is also extremely confidential. As its name suggests, it blocks all magic within a certain radius. Ithaca uses it in the event that an experiment runs out of control. The Magic Seal is capable of nullifying any potential sorcerous dangers to allow containment. It’s hardly ever been used though. And even then, there are certain restrictions that limit the radius of the Magic Seal’s power. For the seal to be nullifying even Ithaca’s sandstorm means that all restrictions have been removed.”

>“How would these assassins have even passed through the sandstorm to do that though?”

“Someone from within Ithaca would have had to undo the restrictions on the Magic Seal themselves.” Nadia says.

So someone on the inside was working against you. Had they known you’d be passing through at just this moment?

>“You said you saw their leader? And that they were holding Alvin and Marlin?”

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>>6143204
“As I was escaping, I heard her yelling from the Adjunct’s chamber.” Nadia says. “She ordered her men to kill anyone they came across while she performed interrogation. I tried to hide, and made a run for it when I saw an opening…but as you can see, I did not make it far before suffering injury…”

“How did you manage to escape?” Cuthbert asks, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You’re a mage too, aren’t you? Your magic should have also been nulled. You’re telling me you managed to get away from a group of highly trained assassins?”

“I escaped because of Lord Tristain.” Nadia says, looking at you passionately. “The Sorcerer King himself must have willed for this to happen. I’m convinced more than ever that he wishes for me to complete my research. And he put you in my life as proof!”

>“...What exactly were you researching?”

“The very essence of life itself!” Nadia answers. “The harvesting of an individual's quintessence, their very life force, and how to implant it in a different host to create new life. My progress has been stalled for ages…until I met you, my lord! Your vitality is simply...divine! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

>“That cut…”

“Forgive my duplicity, Lord Tristain.” Nadia bows her head shamefully before you. “I had taken your blood on a mere whim. As a contender, I figured you must be strong. But I had no idea the secrets that your blood held! The creature that I’ve brought to life from your quintessence is amongst the most powerful I’ve ever seen. It slaughtered the Riahi in droves, allowing me to escape. Even now, I believe it may be battling against the assassins.”

>“You did WHAT?!” You recoil in horror. You grab Nadia’s cheeks, pulling them painfully. “Why is no one in this country NORMAL?”

“I’m sorry, Lord Tristain!” Nadia whines through the pain. “But I’ve never been more convinced of anything in my life…you are a man worthy of adoration! Please, I beg of you, take the Keep back from the Riahi and help me save my research! I will follow you inside and show you how to save your friend! The Adjunct’s chamber is guarded by several mechanisms you do not understand!”

“So if we want to get Alvin back, we have to go inside that scary keep filled with deadly assassins.” May says. “And a…monster, that has the boss’s blood and who knows what else?”

“We could always just leave.” Cuthbert says. “Leave these damn mages to their own fate,”

“Alvin was our guide.” Adeline says. “He was also the one supplying us with food and water. A trip without him would leave us at the mercy of the desert.”

>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
>B): Screw this. You’ll take your chances out in the desert.
>C): Write-in

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>>6143206
>>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
how could i say no

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

>>6143206
Oh hell yeah Nadia is the fucked up weird dark mage! She's an insta addition to our crew.
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

also
>Your vitality is simply...divine!
Nice
Also also, the capcha for this post was 'HEVNNN' heavenly in deed.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi, and rescue Alvin.

We're no coward and no oathbreaker.

>>6143206
>>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
"It better be strong, if it came from me!"

I can't believe Tristain is already a father.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
We wouldn't be an impressive king if we ran away from supposedly skilled assassins that can only deal with defenseless mages and an untrained kid.

Interesting. I wonder if she's actually doing Crest Implantation Research, or if that died with Diogenes. Blair burning the last of his notes means the research was lost, so Nadia may be doing something completely tangential that just happens to work better with Crest Users.

She could still be an Agarthan though and is hiding stuff about her research. We'll see.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

We said we'd have his back, so we'll have his back.

Oh, and the use of the term "Magic Seal" does make me think this is a Kishuna-style unit that just nulls magic around them in an area, rather than a device. I wonder if they're recruitable.

>>6143204
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
Could there BE any other option?

>>6143206
>>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
Come on Tree you already know the answer. That said, its kind of funny if Nadia doesn't have a way to actually banish or disinvest her blood magic monster except to brute force it.

>>6143206
>>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

Time to deliver a beatdown.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.
How could Tristain leave his future subjects in the lurch like this?

>Tristain has Dual crested demonic beast (?) child
...Might want to keep this knowledge from reaching the Princess, she might not be thrilled to be a step parent. At least grandpa Rex would approve of his new strong new grandkid kek

>>6143252
Might be that the sorcerer king didn't bring knowledge about Crest Implantation when he fled? The notes and the dark continent sages have been destroyed but Nadia might have stumbled upon it on her own. If her ramblings from earlier can be taken at face value this groundbreaking stuff for Morfis.

>>6143281
I mean if your creation has a weakness that can instantly beat it then that creation sucks, if you have a failsafe that just shows you're a shitty mage who can't trust their own work.

>>6143605
Well that is what these did. They built a failsafe magic Seal because they can't trust their own works lol. Two failsafes if you count the Djinn Orb making a killer sand tornado that surrounds the entire base.

>>6143206
>A): You will enter the Keep, defeat the Riahi and rescue Alvin.

>>6143206
The answer was obvious. You had no intention of leaving Alvin behind. You gave him your word that you’d see him to Morfis safely. Not only was he your guide to the city, but having another favor to hold over his head should serve you well. Besides, having to fight against a group of killer assassins and whatever the hell Nadia made with your blood should prove to be an exciting time. In your mind, there were zero drawbacks to marching in there and showing these desert-dwelling bastards just how outmatched they were.

>“We’ll defeat the Riahi.” You say to Nadia. “Just guide us on the inside, and we’ll handle the rest.”

Nadia’s face lights up. The concoction has restored her vitality, and her eyes radiate with determination. “Thank you, Lord Tristain. Words alone cannot express the gratitude I feel towards you at this moment. I promise when this is over, I shall do all that I can to aid you in your quest.”

“We’re really doing this, huh.” Cuthbert groans. “Can’t say I’m surprised. If that’s the case, let’s hear some more answers from you. What can we expect once we get into the Keep? The way I heard it, that’s where you lunatics keep your more ‘volatile’ experiments.”

“That is correct.” Nadia says. “However, the Magic Seal does not discriminate. Our sorcery may be nullified, but so too are many of the Keep’s internal defenses and experiments. We’ll have just the Riahi to deal with. And my…construct.” She adds the last note sourly.

“What manner of creature is this ‘construct’?” Adeline asks.

“The construct is not an exact replica of Lord Tristain.” Nadia answers. “The vessel itself is not even flesh and blood. It is a skeleton, reanimated by blood magic and quintessence. Even then though, its animation is unaffected by the Magic Seal. It possesses all of the abilities of Tristain d’Rusalka, but lacks his personality and will.” She looks down at her feet sheepishly. “I have…yet to perfect that part.”

>“Does it have the ability to use a Crest?”

“A Crest?” Nadia asks, a confused look on her face. “I’ve never seen a Crest before. What does it do?”

>“I grow a bright blue and kill things a lot faster and in more bulk.”

“The construct shared similar…characteristics, when in battle.” She rubs her chin, her mind wandering to what this revelation means for her research. “These Crests…perhaps that is why your quintessence was so much more potent than any other I’ve seen before.”

You had to admit, the idea of fighting your exact copy, right down to the ability to use the same Crests, was a tantalizing concept. After all, there should be no greater challenge for you.You just hoped it could keep up without a brain.

>“Save this mad sorcery routine for later.” Cuthbert barks. “You mentioned the Adjunct’s chamber being guarded by a mechanism. What did you mean exactly?

>>6143952
“The Adjunct’s chambers are at the top floor of the Keep.” Nadia says. “However, the stairs to reach those chambers can be retracted, barring any entrance. There are only two ways to lower the staircase. Either from within the Adunct’s chamber, or by switching on two mechanisms located on the east and west side of the Keep. I know how to flip these switches, allowing us entry to where the Riahi’s leader is.”

>“What about the Magic Seal? How do we deal with that?”

“It resides in the lower level of the Keep. We can go down there and resolve that issue.” Nadia says. “Doing so will at the very least allow me to aid you in battle. I am adept with Light Magic, and also possess the ability to heal.”

“We could also leave the Magic Seal as is…” Cassius suggests.

>“Why the hell would we do that?”

“Our magic may not work, but neither does theirs.” Cassius shrugs.

“I do not know if the Riahi are able to employ magic.” Nadia warns. “I see your point, but it would be a gamble. And you’d be losing out on two fighters in me and your friend here.”

“Cassius…” Adeline says. “Can you even fight in your condition?”

The mage was standing on his own two feet now. May had helped him to bandage the wound he’d received earlier, but it was clear to see he was still hurt. As long as the Magic Seal was still up, he was likely to be more trouble than he was worth.

“I’ll aid you in whatever way I can.” He replies.

“We can leave the defenseless here with Alvin’s men.” Cuthbert suggests, nodding towards Elric.

“No!” Elric protests. “I want to come as well! Alvin has been nothing but kind to me. I can help rescue him! I-I even took one of those guys out!” His face grows pale as he remembers his handiwork.

“It’s your decision, boss.” May says, clapping your back.

>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
>B): Leave Cassius behind
>C): Leave Elric behind
>D): Leave both behind
>E): Write-in

>>6143953
>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
Hear me out, because in any reasonable military situation, what I'm suggesting would be incredibly stupid. This is actually the safest place for either of them. The Riahi got past Alvin's men before to get to our tents. If we leave our two most vulnerable members here with a bunch of green units, we're going to walk back and find them dead, along with possibly all the green units.

>>6143953
>>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
Leaving anyone outside while the camp is under attack by assassins is not very clever. We'll simply force concentrate and curbstomp anyone in the keep.

>>6144001
Actually fuck it, can we requisition Alvins boys too? Is there anything valuable in the camp they'd need to guard? If not bring them along to speed up the assassin murdering that we're going to do.

>>6143953
>E): Write-in
>Enter the keep with all companions + what of Alvin's men want to come with you

Once the assassins we've taken out don't check in with the main force then more reinforcements are going to be sent, especially since we're the only people here who don't depend on magic for our firepower. Cassius and Elric and the green units of Alvin's will be in more danger that way since we're going to be in the keep. We don't have full command of Alvin's men but we can explain this to them and see if anyone wants to tag along - more swords will always be helpful. We can put Elric on Cassius babysitting duty for now if we don't want to throw a concoction Cassius' way right now.

Think the play is to take out the magic seal first - that keeps whatever assassins are outside the colony outside once the sandstorm starts up and brings Nadia, Cassius and what keep mages are still standing back into play. Then we go for a rout.

>>6143953
>>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
>E): Write-in
Grab Alvin's Boys

Shouldn't we vote for the destination as well? Either straight for the East/West Switches and the Adjunct, or for the Magic Seal first. I'm partial of going for the Seal first so we can have Nadia's healing magic, plus more fighting is more exp. Though if she can still use blood magic couldn't she do that? Unless she only knows how to make these wack ass skeleton things.

>>6144036
Destination is probably going to be next update once the roster is decided?

Also to add to this >>6144033 if any of the assassin grunts do have notable magic I'll eat my shoe. Their whole plan is to make everyone a sitting duck with the magical seal and then swoop in, no point bringing in mages who will just be deadweights for that. Leader might have magic but taking out the seal means that hopefully Alvin might be able to soften her up a bit.

But the lack of seal will probably give the Tristain skeleton access to fire + magic crest thought, but honestly I think the tradeoff of having a healer and Cassius back online is worth it. We can always chuck Tristain + Cassius' wraith at it and have the mages take pot shots after.

>>6143953
>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
Nadia made a damn Morph, or at least a bastardized version of one. Tristain needs to fix her before she goes the Nergal route of killing everyone for their quintessence.
It'd be funny if the assassins are weak because they're actually magical assassins, but I doubt it. It seems more like the Magic Seal will just buff the Morph and allow it to use magic. Hopefully it shares our spell list so it can't just throw around Elfires boosted with Macuil.

I don't think that bringing Alvin's men in would be necessary. The Riahi are probably going to be focused on us once we march into the Keep and start killing them all, not with whatever's happening outside. Bringing them with us is also going to make it harder for Adeline to protect the actual named characters. Unless Tree starts throwing Lethality assassins at us, they Riahi are barely a threat outside of zerg rushing us, but Alvin's men will get slaughtered once the Morph comes into the picture. If we do stop the Magic Seal, that'd also allow everyone else in this camp to fight back and defend themselves against the Riahi.

Quick question, Tree. The Crest of Indech states it lets us make a follow-up attack regardless of speed, but if we already outspeed the opponent and use it, do we get another round of attacks a la a Brave Weapon, does it give us an 'extra' follow-up attack, or does it have no effect?

Also, there doesn't seem to be any rule against it, but I figure I should ask-- can you use the Crest of Indech when casting Magic to double someone, or is it restricted to physical attacks? What about Combat Art: Earthsplitter-- can we use it with magic?

These answers might change the below (speculative) formulas, so I figured I should ask.

>>6143953
>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions

Alvin's men will probably just slow us down, I think. Just stick Cassius and Elbert next to Adeline and keep them safe.

>>6144074
Assuming the not!Morph is an exact copy of Tristain with his stats...

26 STR + 12 ATK (Steel Axe) = 38 - 20 DEF = 18 (x2 from Crest of Indech) = 36 DMG.

18 MAG + 7 (x2 from Crest of Macuil) MAG (Elfire) = 32 - 14 = 18 (x2 from Crest of Indech) = 36 DMG.

Ironically, even with Crest-boosted Elfires, combined with the Crest of Indech, it does about the same damage to us as the Steel Axe + Indech combo-- the difference between our STR, ATK, DEF, and our MAG, ATK, RES is about the same if we take our Crests into account.

Of course, this will likely change in the future as time goes on. With more powerful spells at hand, the x2 bonus from the Crest of Macuil will no doubt become more prevalent, even with our slightly-weaker MAG. And of course, against Armor Units or other low Resistance fighters, magic will shine (barring any use of the Hammer, anyway).

In a mirror match against our own self, the best thing to do would be to return to Blair tactics and let it drop us to Resolve levels through a Indech-boosted Steel Axe combo (51 - 36 = 15 HP), which would allow us to swing for 26 STR + 7 (Resolve) + 12 ATK (Steel Axe) = 38 - 20 DEF = 25 (x2 from Crest of Indech) = 50 DMG...

But that actually leaves the Morph on 1 HP. Thankfully, we'd then take our turn and swing first, obliterating it. It seems in a mirror match, whoever swings first loses, hah.

Thus, it might just be better to lift the magic seal to get healing magic back early anyway. We need to be at full HP when we face our own Morph, though I do wonder if it 'grows' alongside us as we're leveling up while fighting through the keep. That would also likely force a redo on the math, heh.

Actually, another question, Tree. When we use the Crest of Indech, the follow-up attack triggers after the opponent's counterattack, yes? Or before?

And does Resolve trigger *after* the round in which damage that brings us down to the threshhold is dealt, or is it active as soon as we're at that threshhold?

>>6143953
>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions
>E): Write-in: Grab Alvin's Boys

>>6143953
>>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions

>>6143953
>>A): Enter the Keep with all your companions

>>6144003
Technically they're guarding the supply baggage, but you may be able to convince a few to come along.

>>6144094
It's an extra follow-up attack that comes out following your first attack. If you did already outspeed someone enough to double them, you'd still only attack three times, not four.

>>6144094
>can you use the Crest of Indech when casting Magic to double someone
You can, yes. Earthsplitter though does not work with magic.

>>6144096
>Actually, another question, Tree. When we use the Crest of Indech, the follow-up attack triggers after the opponent's counterattack, yes? Or before?
It triggers after your own attack. So if you're using it, you would attack twice, before being countered.

>>6144096
>And does Resolve trigger *after* the round in which damage that brings us down to the threshhold is dealt, or is it active as soon as we're at that threshhold?
It triggers as soon as you're at the threshold.

>>6143953
>B): Leave Cassius behind
Guy's hurt.

File: Zayn and Zain.png (78 KB, 396x163)

78 KB PNG

>>6143953
>“The more the merrier. If everyone wants to go, then so be it. Just don’t get in my way. There’s a monster in there with all of my abilities, and I intend to go all out to bring it down. You’ll have to pull your own weight in there. No slowing the rest of the group down. Is that understood?” You say, motioning towards Elric.

“Y-yes sir!”

>“And what about you all?” You say to the dozen of Alvin’s men that have assembled before you. Many of them look confused and unsure as to what is going on. “I’d prefer if some of you stayed behind and guarded all of our crap, but Alvin is your boss after all. Anyone want to tag along?”

Most of Alvin’s men look ready to fight each other for the honor of staying behind and doing guard duty, but four men step forward, more determined than the rest. You recognize them from the ship. They were a rough looking sort, used to battle. You wouldn’t have to worry about them getting in your way.

>“That settles it.” With your armor equipped and your affairs in order, you heft your axe over your shoulder and take point in front of your party. “Let’s go!”

You and the others race towards the center of Ithaca, where the Keep resides. The sound of battle has grown dim, and an eerie silence has fallen over the camp. By this point, it was likely that the Riahi had either finished off or subdued the remainder of Ithaca. As you draw closer to the Keep, you take a closer look at the structure. It was made of smooth, polished obsidian stone. There were no windows or viewpoints into the interior. Somehow, the building managed to give off an eerie vibe that had you feeling uneasy. Was this due to your closer proximity to the Magic Seal? Or was it perhaps your instincts warning you of the dangers that lay within those unassuming walls. Approaching the front entrance, you spot two men waiting at the top. They look remarkably different than the assassins you fought earlier.

“Unbelievable, ain’t it, Zain?” The first man says. He was a large brute, bald and with a scar running across his forehead. In his hands was a brutal-looking axe unbefitting of an assassin.

“Hard to believe, Zayn.” The second man says. Like the second, he is a hulking sort, covered in scars and sporting a dull look.

“Can’t believe they survived.” Zayn says.

“People’ll say the Riahi have gone soft.” Zain replies.

“That’s no good.” Zayn says, spitting on the ground. “Can’t have that.”

“Can’t have that. Margo said not to let anyone in.” Zain says. “Hey, should we kill them?”

“Hahaha! Good idea brother! There’s only a few, we can take ‘em!”

“Let’s kill them! Kill them!”