Spin, Oh Sword of Fate! [Fire Emblem: Fates/M:tAw/Book of Swords]

Chapter 5: It Has to Be This Way pt. 11
Mokuyobi (Thursday), the 28th of Hachigatsu (August), according to the Wheel of Time
0/89, according to the Wheel of Fate
65/??, according to the Wheel in the Sky
22 Days Until...
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Providence Roll: 63+5 (Study the Stars)=68

They had managed to convince Tsubaki, somewhat at least, that Sadaharu was going to teach Mozu about how to sing well, and all that (Though they didn't word it that way, of course). Giving the proper farewells, the group made their way (with the captive Dark Mage in tow, who had declared his intent to join them for some odd reason), with Takumi and Mozu providing information on where to possibly go. That is, until...

Providence Roll for Tracking: 98+5 (Study the Stars)=103! Natural 98 boosts roll!

...They encountered Oboro walking in the opposite direction. Needless to say, reactions were... mixed. Hinata had latched onto Oboro faster than you can say "Optimism Incarnate", Takumi just patted her on the shoulder, before turning away so that he wouldn't show his smile at her rescue. Everyone else on the other hand...

"Does anyone else feel like this entire journey was a waste of time?" asked Ullr, who was cradling his forehead in his palm. Practically everyone raised their hands at that.

Oboro has been... Rescued? 100 XP Gained!
Mozu Has Gained a Level! 227 Until Next Level Up!

VOTE (PLEASE PAY ATTENTION):

First, the big one. Previous comments have led me to question whether or not it is good to continue the quest in the format it is currently in. Since I am far from a mind-reader, I want to get your guys' opinion.

[] Continue the Quest as is, the Sunk-Cost principle may be a fallacy but it does have a point.
[] Start the Quest over, getting rid of all crossovers except for the First 3 (Any Background crossovers will be just that, *in the background* and will not have any effect on the main story whatsoever besides some brief mentions (A/N: This is how I originally envisioned the quest to be)
[] Start the Quest over, but utilize an actual proper system like Dark Heresy, Storyteller, even DnD if we're really desperate.
[] Both the 2nd and 3rd options, it's definitely not too late to change course now, we're not even at Chapter 9 gamewise.
[] Start the Quest over, but just have it be a Fire Emblem/Mage, Fire Emblem/BoS or even just a Fire Emblem Fates Quest.

Should you choose the first option, then the rest of the vote proceeds as normal:

You have 3 points! Distribute these points as you like, but you can only put one point at most in a stat per level-up, and you cannot put points into the same stat you put them in last level up!

[] Strength: 11->12
[] Agility: 17->18
[] Precision: 13->14
[] Intelligence: 12->13
[] Magic: 9->10
[] Persuasion: 10->11
[] Endurance: 11->12
[] Luck: 9->10

Also, where will you go? Oboro's taken care of, so all that leaves is...

[] That weird dragon vein, what's going on there?
[] Write-in (NOTE: Be reasonable with your choices, You can't just go to Valla right now.)

VOTING ENDS AT 8:00 PM PST, 11:00 PM EST ON THE 24th OF NOVEMBER
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Well then, that's an entire battle off the table... *Sigh*

As I've said above, due to previous comments and criticism, I've decided to put this quest's fate up to a vote. Also, I might change the poll to reflect that as well. To be perfectly honest, even I'm being overwhelmed by how complicated this whole thing's becoming. So, I'm asking for what you guys want. Also, if you do vote for a change in system, I do have another admittedly homebrew one that I could use. Essentially it uses d10's just like the storyteller system, albeit you still have levels. You start off with a small number of "dots" to put into your stats, and then every level you get one dot to put into a stat. This helps balance the difference between high and low-level units by a lot, which I feel is even more important after the encounter with the Paladin. Traits would still be a thing, but they would have more balanced effects instead of having traits go from 0 to 100 on the whims of the dice.

Moving away from that, if you do decide to just continue as is, well, where would we go from there? I'm not asking this pessimistically, I'm opening up our next destination to you guys, since I've been also getting complaints about you guys not getting enough of a choice in matters. Also, I was not expecting to post today, but since this was a... very short update shall we say, it made no sense to delay it any longer.

Overall, I'm happy to be serving as a QM, but I've realized just how inexperienced I am, and for that I apologize.

Interlude 3: Let the Battles Begin, Part 1

Cheve Providence Roll: 16

Despite his oath, it took Leo a long while to come up with the resources he promised, due to several unlucky circumstances involving city guards. Basic Weaponry, Vulneraries, it was really the bare minimum when it came to supplies, but for a homegrown revolution, it was sorely needed. By the time they had everything they needed, it was several days after the deadline, and even then some of the "stock" had been lost. Ryoma, who had quickly become Scarlet's second in command, was shaking his head as he looked at the charts for the supplies they actually acquired compared to the ones which showed the number promised. He looked up at the Prince whose nation they were currently rebelling against.

"It's not even 60% of what you promised." Leo just sighed at that statement of fact while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"The problem is that I don't have the resources to have all of this transported through the Road. If I ever spent that much gold on something, the Royal Treasurers would tear me limb for limb. As it is, I had to rely on more overland methods, which means of course exposure to rain, cold, guards, etc."

Ryoma and Leo Friendship Roll: 83

"I'm not blaming you for this, I'm just annoyed at our circumstances." It had taken a few days, but Ryoma had discovered that Leo, a Prince of his Sworn Enemies... wasn't such a bad guy. He'd never admit it to anyone, but after making all the arrangements with supplies, and even just through simple conversing, he thought... that perhaps they had bonded a little. "Do you think we have enough to equip everyone we've already recruited?"


Scarlet snorted. "Barely. But we're not going to have any more for later recruits, and definitely not enough for most of the populace. We might need to steal some from the local Garrisons if we're hoping to recruit and equip everyone. Niles, do you think you can scrounge up a few maps of a place?" The one-eyed criminal, who Ryoma could easily admit he did not like in the slightest, just chuckled.

"Can a bird fly? Give me a day to do some scouting and we can work out the rest later. Though-" Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by the man of the Nohrian Trio who Ryoma liked the most barging through the door and carrying an open tome.

"Guys, we've got company!" He shouted. The moment they heard this, Leo and Ryoma both pulled helmet's over their head, not wanting to be discovered as royalty by whoever was confronting them. Scarlet also put her Wyvern Rider helmet on to hide her identity, while the Retainers simply pulled the hoods on their raincloaks over their heads. A lone guard got through the door of their safehouse, pointing towards them and shouting, "There they are!" Raising their weapons, the five got ready to fight.

Encounter Roll: 82 (Lv. 20 Enemies, 4 Mercenaries, 4 Knights, 1 Troubadour, 1 Boss)

Ryoma: Roll to move in Super Heavy Armor, DC 60: 56+49 (Strength)+30 (1/2 of Agility)=135, Critical Success!
Ryoma: Critical Success Rolled, roll to acquire trait: 90, upgraded trait acquired!
Trait: Never Shall I Shrug As Atlas Did Lv. 2 (Endurance): +15 to all rolls to carry heavy weights over long periods of time!

Charging forward with a speed atypical of the armor he was wearing, the disguised Crown prince thrust forward with his naginata, a guard variant, at the shielded guard.


With a cry of "You Die... NOW!", he impaled the mercenary onto his polearm, before somehow raising one of his armored legs to kick the fresh corpse off of the weapon. The force of the impact sent the body flying into the waiting faces of his comrades and leader.


Rushing in with one of his other tomes in hand, Leo crafted a bolt of lightning, which he sent off towards one of the fallen mercenaries.


It hit him, then exploded into a ball of electricity, frying his comrades nearby.


The Massive shock was almost painful to look at. Averting his eyes, Ryoma was forced to turn his gaze away. Once the electricity had cleared, however, the sound of clanking armor could be heard.


A voice was heard outside of the house entrance, "Hey Lads! They're here!" And with that, two knights, running faster than Ryoma could have imagined a Knight could run, lifted up the leader of the group until he was standing again, while a third Knight ran in, charging at Leo.


He had clearly exhausted himself, however, as his lance barely moved toward Leo. Even under his helmet, Ryoma could sense the Prince's smirk has he took that opportunity to fire back.


His invisible smirk grew as he saw the shot hit the knight dead on, the electricity dancing around the highly conductive armor. Sparing a moment to glance at the Knight's shield, his eyebrows twitched in confusion as he stared at the unfamiliar word imprinted on it.

Seriously, what the hell was a "Wombat?"

Niles moved in, and after seeing the knights come in, decided to pick the less armored target in the group. Namely, the leader.


His shot went wide as the leader moved his head to the side, the arrow whistling past. Grabbing his blade, he threw it back at Niles.


The kukri whistled through the air at an impressive speed before burying itself into Niles' chest. He was knocked down just from the sheer force of the throw. Leo gasped as he saw his retainer, his friend killed right before his eyes. He had no chance to respond before Scarlet jumped into the fray to avenge the fallen Outlaw.


She stabbed him right in the shoulder, before flipping him over her own shoulder and onto the ground behind her. He scrambled to get back up and attack her with his spare sword.


Despite being surrounded on all sides, Scarlet easily parried both of his attacks. It was a sad thing, then, that it was now the Leader's time to shine.


He got a swing in on Scarlet, but he got his kukri stuck the floor on the second swing. Grinning to herself, Scarlet raised her lance...


And stabbed the hero right in the leg, causing it to bleed as he grit his teeth in pain. Sadly, this moment would not last, as the final member of the group, a troubadour, finally came racing in to help perform some healing.


It seems she wasn't too good at her job, as she only healed the most shallow wounds. Finally, Odin tried to step up to the plate after seeing his friend die. Growling in Anger, he...


With a blast of black lightning he hit the hero dead-on, but sadly, that wasn't enough to put him down. Finally wrenching his sword from the ground, he tried to throw it at Odin...


...And he succeeded, lodging the blade in Odin's shoulder, and tossing the Dark Mage just from the Force alone. Ryoma grit his teeth as he saw this, thinking "Why would you try to get yourself killed just to get revenge? You should have made sure your friend was safe, or at least try to take out the healer, not try to become a martyr..." Still, it was his moment to act.

Round 2 Begins! Current Turn: Ryoma!
Knight 2 Effect: 68, Does not activate

With a lunge he tried to distract the Hero.


His polearm left a gash in the Hero's side, causing him to bleed, but in a masterful event, the Hero raised his shield in perfect timing to easily block Ryoma's next strike. That of course did not mean that Leo couldn't do anything, especially after seeing both of his Retainers impaled.


He could not do anything, however, as the Hero once again parried away his attack... Somehow... Meanwhile, the Knights were not happy that there friend was down for the count. The First one cried, "GET HIM LADS!" before attacking the Wyvern Lord right next to him.


His Axe just bounced off of her armor, though. Grinning at the amount of pain she was going to inflict on him, Scarlet raised her lance once more...


...And missed with her first attack, but her second one hit the Knight in the head, nearly crushing his skull. The 2nd Fighter, left behind, tried to catch up with everyone.


And With a very impressive speed, he marched up to the "General" attacking his Leader and tried to stop him. With Force.


His attack just plinked off of Ryoma's armor, and with the Psuedo-General turning towards him, he braced for impact.


With two quick slashes the Knight was dead, fully and truly. The third knight, as it were, was still trying to help his friend take down Scarlet.


Scarlet, without even looking, just smack away his axe blade with the blunt end of her lance. Whirling around...


...She smashed his helmet in with her lance, however, she generated too much momentum and thus could not attack the Knight a second time. Meanwhile, the fourth knight... Was dying.

Knight 4 Dying roll: 69, Success!
Two More Successes Needed For Stablization, Three More Failures For Death!

Scarlet decided to finally do something about those pesky knights surrounding her. Thrusting her lance forward...


She caught the knight on the tip, before pulling the polearm out.

Boss: Good Fortune, DC 81: 16, Does not activate

The Boss, helpless without a weapon, decided to try and grab one from one of the downed knights.


Ryoma stopped him right in his tracks, however, leaving him vulnerable for a counterattack.


The Leader tried to fight off Ryoma, but every slice kept hitting true, leaving more and more marks on the normally skilled fighter. However, the Troubadour was here to save him.

Troubadour: Roll to heal, DC 45: 66+15 (Magic)+9 (1/2 of Intelligence)-15 (Severe Wounds)=75, Major Success!
Damage Healed: (d6: 5)+20 (Stave)+5 (1/3 of Magic)=30 Healed!
Hero HP: 45->75

Odin, as it were, was trying not to die. Like you'd expect.

Odin: Roll to not die, DC 50: 82, Major Success! Counts as Two Successes!
One More Success needed to live, Three more failures needed to die!

He was holding on for the moment, but Ryoma knew that they were on a time limit. If they didn't grab Niles and Odin soon and get out of there, at minimum those two would die. At worst...

Providence Roll: 77
???: 22, Does Not Happen
???: 77, Well, look who's here!


His thoughts were interrupted as the Leader's shield, along with various other items, disappeared without a trace. As the now unarmed enemies were wondering what had happened, Ryoma heard someone shout, "NOW'S YOUR CHANCE! DON'T LET THEM GET REINFORCEMENTS!" Deciding to take the stranger's advice, Ryoma lifted his naginata...

Round 3 Begins!
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