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On the Road to Elspar [Book 1] (Dryad Mercenary Schoolgirl Quest)

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[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
Minx? I think we can agree on this point.​
 
[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
 
[x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.

For me this option is more fitting than the frustrated one, for it represents to me how she doesn't have quite solid ideas on other people like Penelope's frustration to elven nobles. The unknown opinion idea fits her previous choice of letting Lucille lead in the attack instead of forcing someone unwilling like Sieglinde.
 
[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
 
commando2341 said:
Will we ever receive in-quest reasons for why there seems to be only females in the quest?

This isn't a criticism - I really enjoy the quest - but I'd like to know how or why evolution panned out like this.
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Sorry, it's probably just something that is. I can't even guarantee the races evolved. ^_^;

Lazy Minx said:
[ ] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
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Zaealix said:
[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
Minx? I think we can agree on this point.​
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Stasis said:
[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
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buli-buli said:
[X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.
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If you people are going to seriously vote for this, you know I'm going to change it to something more along the lines of "...feel jealous", right? Because this vote as it current stands comes nowhere close to how votes are typically written and structured in this quest. XD
 
Kei said:
If you people are going to seriously vote for this, you know I'm going to change it to something more along the lines of "...feel jealous", right? Because this vote as it current stands comes nowhere close to how votes are typically written and structured in this quest. XD
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I am fine with that.
 
[x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
-[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
 
[X] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
 
[x] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
 
[x] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.

Don't poke Lions. Opting out the whole Tenny and Confederacy mess doesn't seem all that bad if you got the means to do so.
 
[x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
-[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
 
AnonymousRabbit said:
Don't poke Lions. Opting out the whole Tenny and Confederacy mess doesn't seem all that bad if you got the means to do so.
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Short term yeah it's a good idea but long term not so much. It's been shown the Tennies are slowly but surely grinding the confederacy down and while they may not be able to take it all in the current war the future does not look bright for the confederacy's continued existence. Once the confederacy is swept off the board the Tennies are almost certainty going to go after the knights if not just for them being remnants of the old empire then for security's sake of getting rid of a bunch of really talented warriors with uncertain allegiance.
 
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[x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
-[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
Adhoc vote count started by Jrin on Apr 19, 2019 at 6:24 AM, finished with 48 posts and 34 votes.
  • [X] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
    [x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
    -[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
    [X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.​
    [x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
    [x] ...share similar frustrations over how the knight orders can turn a blind eye while the Confederacy is under threat.
    [x] ...see a beauty to such a transcendent pursuit, but know that the peace it depends upon is bough in Confederacy lives. You hope some day, some of their teachings will be shared with worthy candidates, to help defend their neighbors and countrymens homes before it is too late, and the enemy comes to their doors.
    [X] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
    -[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
    -[x] And your also a bit jealous of her skill, honestly.
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Adhoc vote count started by Jrin on Apr 19, 2019 at 6:25 AM, finished with 2598 posts and 34 votes.
  • [X] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
    [x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
    -[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
    [X] Your name is Neianne of Caelon and you are a mercenary in training. Ever since you came to Faulkren Academy you have slowly learned to stand on your own two feet and chase after the you that you wish you could be. You'd like to think, even, that you've made progress. You have learned to rely both on yourself and others. You have stood up for yourself and others. You have made friends and... not friends. You have experienced grief and anger. You have started to learn politics, strategy, and magic. You have learned the art of the blade. You even thought that maybe you were getting good at it. That is, until today, when you saw beauty in motion, the truth of steel. Being honest with yourself, you still struggle with politics and philosophy. You have no idea if what the Knights do is right or not and asking Sieglinde for her opinion feels like the... best way to make it make sense. But, but, you would really really like to be as good with your sword as the knight is with hers.​
    [x] ...don't really know what you feel about the knight orders.
    [x] ...share similar frustrations over how the knight orders can turn a blind eye while the Confederacy is under threat.
    [x] ...see a beauty to such a transcendent pursuit, but know that the peace it depends upon is bough in Confederacy lives. You hope some day, some of their teachings will be shared with worthy candidates, to help defend their neighbors and countrymens homes before it is too late, and the enemy comes to their doors.
    [X] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
    -[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
    -[x] And your also a bit jealous of her skill, honestly.
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I rather doubt our current opinion of them is going to matter in the big picture. No matter what we do, the war ends at defined boundaries at the first post.

Which makes me wonder if they do join the war, or at least push for a peace settlement, which is one of the things that makes the tennies go 'this shit ain't worth it right now, call a peace while we re-arm and reorganize for a few years'.

Depending on the locations, if a few end up in occupied territory and the ones in the newly conquered areas don't like what happens, they may get the other retreats to start being a bit more proactive, which lead to the surprise peace at the end of arc one.

Much like the fall of the soviet union, all the factors together that no one had put in the big picture just makes the peace sudden and surprising, because each person though their area of expertise was doing good, but the big picture wasn't too changed by just them.
 
It doesn't seem that noble when the main reason the Knights can avoid fighting is mainly because the Tennies are pointing their swords at the confederacy for the time being when they're just as liable to be targeted for the same reasons.

What are these ladies going to do once the tennies start gunning for them and their one likely ally in the Caldren Mercenaries has already been picked off?
 
On the other hand, if the Tennies don't want to go after them and leave them be to a similar extent to what the Confederacy did -- just, not poking at them in their forts and trading for their artisanal goods -- does literally anything change for them if the Confederacy falls? Do they have reason to expect that the new administration wouldn't tolerate their presence?
 
Why wouldn't the Tennies want to go after them? As far as they're concerned, those Artisanal goods and all other possessions the Knights have once belonged to the Tennies to begin with.

Why would they settle for a trade agreement?
 
[x] ...share similar frustrations over how the knight orders can turn a blind eye while the Confederacy is under threat.

I'm of the "we must all hang together, lest we hang separately camp". I'm not saying they have to fight on the front lines, although that seems like an obvious application of their skills. But pretending to be unaffected by temporal concerns is just pretentious and stupid.
 
I'm going to go against the grain here.


[x] ...share similar frustrations over how the knight orders can turn a blind eye while the Confederacy is under threat.

This or the Jealousy write in for me. The best character development happens when opposing philosophies come into conflict. And... I wouldn't mind seeing a Neianne with some biases of her own. It just makes Neianne feel more real to me. Maybe not confronting, or philisophically in opposition to the knight gives the impression of a more... open minded Neianne to you guys? But to me it just seems like the threads bending over backwards trying to avoid conflict with anyone really. That may help avoiding making rivals or temporary enemies but it also stunts Neianne's ability to stand out as her own person.
 
Muramasa said:
Why wouldn't the Tennies want to go after them? As far as they're concerned, those Artisanal goods and all other possessions the Knights have once belonged to the Tennies to begin with.

Why would they settle for a trade agreement?
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Is it a trade agreement if people you consider to be your citizens, living within your borders, make cool shit and sell it to other citizens living in your borders? Like, this comes down to whether you anticipate them just wanting to loot the fuck out of the Caldrein or if they want to keep the country as intact as possible during the conversion. There are reasons why they might turn on the knight orders post-conquest, but it's not exactly a sure thing here.
 
[x] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
-[x] But you wonder, what is the reason they spend so much time training and practicing, but not use their skills? They aren't interested in fighting in wars or protecting people, but devote their lives to skills that they almost never use?
-[x] And your also a bit jealous of her skill, honestly.
 
[x] ...share the view of woodland dryads in their respect for societies that cannot yet fully integrate with the broader Caldran public.
 
Muramasa said:
Why wouldn't the Tennies want to go after them? As far as they're concerned, those Artisanal goods and all other possessions the Knights have once belonged to the Tennies to begin with.

Why would they settle for a trade agreement?
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Any reason to do it? They don't have territory, they don't have mines, they don't have exotic things. They are just a bunch of monks in mountain forts who spend their lives perfecting combat arts. Lots of trouble, little to no gain.

And if they are hard pressed, I doubt these orders can't vanish deeper into mountains. And noone wants to fight a skilled opponent in their home mountains. Especially if they have no problem devoting their entire life to fighting.
 
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