Remove ads

Ostentum (Magic Knight Errant Quest)

Reader mode
Remove ads
Jaiun
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Take her with you back to your camp


    "Can't just leave her here," you lean down toward the woman, "let's get her back to camp, and then..." you start to move her, when Cortaine stops you.

    "I'll get her, don't worry," she says, getting ready to carry the stranger, "you should try and take it easy, yeah?"

    "That's..." well, you suppose. "Very well, then."

    You focus on gathering your armor and weapon, then turn back to Cortaine to see her slowly lifting the unconscious woman up. She hefts the woman up across her shoulders in a competent fireman's carry.

    "Alright, I'm ready," she says, lightly adjusting the weight over her shoulders.

    ...You don't tell Cortaine that you expected her to flop the unconscious woman's body over her shoulder in an uncomfortable position, balanced precariously, and possibly drop her. Instead you just check with Ancillas to make sure he's ready, and start making your way back to camp.


    Trekking back through the woods, you keep trying to stretch out your core, where a majority of the soreness lies. You aren't feeling too bad, especially considering the extent of your injuries and that ugly burst of pain at the end. You can only assume it was the strange shadow's magic, causing damage inside of you...you shiver. It gave you that gnawing, irritable feeling, too; it was making your temper flare more than it should have.

    At least you're fine. Guessing from your current state, you'd do alright in a normal fight, and you ought to recover fully before long. You won't need any rest, you think - you should be able to keep traveling with no issues. You're durable enough for that.


    You get back to your shabby camp in the clearing without incident. Cortaine carefully lays the woman down, then looks around. Ancillas stands there silently. You kneel next to her and wonder...what exactly to do. You examine her a bit more carefully.

    Hmm. She really doesn't seem hurt, as Cortaine affirmed; it's almost looks like she's just sleeping, instead of out cold. As you noticed before, she's sparsely dressed, nothing but a fancy red chemise. It looks nice, but not something you'd expect someone to wear while alone this far out in the wilderness. She's pale, very much so - looks like she has a pale complexion, that's currently even paler and wan looking. Hrmm...her long hair is tied at the bottom with a ragged looking red cloth, looking a bit out of place with her nice clothes. It's got some symbol on it...if it's a family crest or something, maybe you can identify it? You gently lift her hair, and the cloth, to see...

    Your brow perks curiously. This looks to be the symbol of the Kr'joran Rune Fencers! Could she be one? That just makes this even more confusing. If she is one, what's she doing here?

    You'll need to get the answers from her whenever she wakes up, you suppose...you look back to her pallid face, glancing at her vacant amber eyes - eh?

    Oh! You stand back up and move away a bit. She's awake? She was just looking at you! How long...? Agh...whatever.

    "You're awake, then? Are you alright?" you offer your hand, "Can you stand?"

    "I believe so," she says smiling thinly. She takes your hand with a thank you, and you help her up.

    Temporarily disregarding you, she busily adjusts her clothes, wiping off dirt and trying to work out wrinkles. She fixes her hair, flipping it back into place rather fabulously. She takes note of the three of you watching her.

    "Hm? Is something on my face?" She asks with a calm, empty smile.

    What a peculiar woman...

    [] You've got some questions for her...

    [] Send her on her way, now that you know she's fine.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    Last edited:
    Fancy hairflips.

    I approve.

    [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    Last edited:
    [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    Well, she's awake and totally fine to let wander off without any information what-so-ever.

    Which of course means investigation time!

    [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?
     
    Nima
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] You've got some questions for her...
    -[X] Her name and if she knows where she is right now.
    -[X] You found her lying next to some sort of shadowy creature after you heard someone scream last night. Was that her and does she know what that creature was?
    -[X] Ask what's a Kr'joran Rune Fencer doing here anyway?


    "..." you try to get your thoughts in order, and finally conclude how to proceed. You start at the basics. "Could I ask your name?"

    She looks expectantly at you. After a moment she speaks up, "To whom am I introducing myself, then?"

    "Ah..." you realize that you forgot to give her your own name. "I am Lethis Writham."

    "Hello, Lethis." She pauses, looking aside a moment, before returning to eye contact. "You may call me, Nima."

    "I...see. Nima, then. Pleasure."

    "Hm," she answers simply with a nod.

    "Nima, do you know where you are?" you ask further, eyeing her carefully.

    "If memory serves, I'm in the woods to the south of Klause," she gives another level answer.

    "Okay, then..." so, she knows where she is, she's seemingly fine, and apparently totally unconcerned about the condition she was found in. And also that she woke up surrounded by strangers. "I found you last night, on the ground next to some strange, dark monster, and I'd gone there because I heard a scream."

    She listens to you quietly as you explain all that, cocking her head as you pause.

    "Was the screaming you?" you finally ask.

    "Was it?" she answers curiously, "I don't remember screaming particularly loudly at any point."

    ...

    "Then," you squint, "Do you know anything about that...creature?"

    "Creature, you say?"

    "Yes," you nod, "a shadowy figure. Dark haze floated from it like a cloud. It had an insanely threatening aura, and I was forced to defend myself from it. It used some bizarre magic...and it wielded an impossibly sharp blade."

    "Eh? A shadow-person?" Cortaine looks over, surprised.

    "...It was that dangerous...?" Ancillas frets, "If we'd acted sooner..."

    "Don't worry over something like that, Ancillas. I'm perfectly fine now, aren't I?" you try to assuage the boy, before looking expectantly to the woman - Nima.

    "Hmm. A shadowy figure, was it?" she seems to think a moment, her eyes growing a bit more serious, "It sounds like you encountered a shade."

    "A shade?"

    "There are stories about them, albeit fairly old, and admittedly superstitious. I can't imagine the tales are widespread. But what you described sounds like one."

    "And what is a 'shade'?" you ask, head cocked.

    "Hmm...old texts say different things. Collections of dark thoughts and evil intent, restless and disturbed souls, simply people lost to forbidden magics - you'll see a different answer anywhere they're mentioned," she says with a shrug, "All that remains consistent is that they're described as incredibly ill omens. Portents of calamity, if you will."

    "...Calamity?" you repeat with a grim expression.

    "Wouldn't you say it's easier to believe that's all a superstition, though?" she shrugs once more, "After all, surely it can't be that every time some old codger thought they saw a shadow-person in the darkness, a disaster followed."

    "I'm no old codger. And the wounds it gave me were not imagined," you assert with a frown. It's hard to get a read on this woman.

    "Ahah, now, I never said that."

    ...You sigh.

    "For these tales that are so old and unknown, you sure know quite a bit about them," you continue with a bit of suspicion.

    "You could say I'm well learned," she answers readily.

    Slowly you rub your forehead.

    "...Fine. Aside from all that," you move on to your next question, "what's a Rune Fencer doing here, anyway?"

    She perks her brow, looking around briefly, "There's a Rune Fencer here? I had no idea," she faces you again, "Wouldn't you know better than I? I'm only just hearing about it."

    "That cloth," you indicate the tattered red cloth she's tied her hair with, "It bore the symbol of a Rune Fencer, no?"

    "Ah," calmly she pulls her hair over her shoulder, examining the rugged cloth. "This is a memento. Indeed, it once belonged to a Rune Fencer."

    "You mean..."

    "Yes, she died."

    "I'm sorry," you quickly say, but she shakes her head.

    "It was a lifetime ago. Besides, you might say she's still here with me," she lightly caresses the makeshift ribbon, "in spirit."

    You rub your neck, letting the uncomfortable silence settle. She fancily flips her hair back into place, then addresses you again with her own question.

    "So, why did you bring me here?" she looks around the clearing, at your simple camp.

    "Eh? To help you. You were unconscious in the forest," you reply dumbfounded. Was it not clear that you were helping her...?

    "Ah, right," she nods with understanding, "Then, you decided you'd ask me some questions. So, what comes after that?"

    ...Well then. What comes after the questions?

    [] Ask more questions?

    [] Part ways with her

    [] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause

    [] Let her do whatever
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Ask her if she knows how to fight.

    If yes,
    [X] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause

    If not, [x] ask her where she plans to go.
     
    Last edited:
    [X] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause

    This forest ain't safe, so if she doesn't have any plans, she's better off riding on the Chivalry train.
     
    [X] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause

    The real cause of shadow-people is a limited animation budget. :V :V
     
    [X] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause

    I'm back, what I miss?
     
    Protection
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Offer to let Nima travel with you to Klause


    "Well, the three of us are traveling to Klause. If you'd like, you can join us."

    "Ah...I see. To pay you back, yes?" Nima nods with a smile, "Very well. I'll accompany you to Klause, but I'm afraid that's where we'll have to part."

    "Er," you squint in confusion, "I'm sorry, you said, 'to pay us back'?"

    "Hm? Yes. You mean to have me offer you protection as reward for your trying to help me, yes?" she claps her hands together firmly, "So long as I am your ally, you needn't worry about shades. Or wolves, most likely."

    She seems to have gotten the wrong idea, but, whatever. More importantly, 'you needn't worry', huh?

    "Your protection," you repeat her words, "Is that so?"

    "Yes," she smiles again, quite warmly, "Will that be alright?"

    Well, you're the one that asked if she'd come along. No reason to deny her.

    "I have no problem with it."

    "Then that's that." Nima answers immediately. "I hope we can enjoy our travel together. I'll be ready to leave whenever y'all are."

    You blink, noting that somewhat crude 'y'all', a noticeable contrast to her normal, more refined manner of speech. She doesn't say anything about it, or even seem to notice what she's done, and nobody else seems to notice, so...you'll just ignore it.

    --

    Once you've gathered what supplies you had sitting around the small camp, and finished getting your armor back on, you're ready to depart. And depart you do.

    As you head out, Cortaine addresses Nima, finally introducing herself.

    "Uh, I'm Cortaine, by the way. Hired protection." She explains briefly with a light wave.

    Ancillas realizes he hasn't introduced himself, either, and jumps in, "Oh, I'm Ancillas..."

    "Ah. Nice to meet you, miss, and you, young man," she nods to each of them in turn. Ancillas seems relieved.

    "Then, Miss Nima...are you a mercenary, like Cortaine?" he starts asking questions of Nima.

    "No, I don't believe I've ever done mercenary work."

    "Oh..." he exclaims, a bit puzzled, "so...um, but you offered to protect us, right?"

    "Indeed, I did."

    There's some silence as Ancillas probably tries to figure out what to say, until settling with an uneasy "Ah, okay...". Despite being royalty, he really isn't all that good at talking to people.

    You suppress a yawn and keep your eyes forward. With your journey starting again, you silently hope that today won't be as eventful as last night. Either way, now that you're on the road again, what to do as you journey?

    [] Be vigilant

    [] Is there anything worth talking about?

    [] Or maybe a way to pass the time?

    [] Or...something?
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Ask Nima what her profession is, and if she's performed similar jobs like this before.
    [X] Any news and interesting tidbits about Klause?
     
    [X] Ask Nima what her profession is, and if she's performed similar jobs like this before.
    [X] Any news and interesting tidbits about Klause?
     
    [X] Ask Nima what her profession is, and if she's performed similar jobs like this before.
    [X] Any news and interesting tidbits about Klause?

    Okay, so could the shade have some magical brain-damage spell, or did we just pick up the joke character?
     
    [X] Ask Nima what her profession is, and if she's performed similar jobs like this before.
    [X] Any news and interesting tidbits about Klause?
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top