>>733506
Well it wouldn't be erased I guess, more unnecessary since we're going to make him a enemy if we dob him in this mess and word gets out.

>>733502
We're pulling the rug out from under Bardo?! Isn't he the one Cheese owed a huge debt to? Cheese if you do this, would your debt to him be erased? Will you finally be free? I'm asking because I honestly have no idea if it'll work like that and if it does work like that, then this is a really good opportunity to get rid of Cheese's debt and set her free!

Also, should we ask Moss if the 40 silver Fen sent off reached him yet?

Ok, who's plan is it? No reason not to go along with it, you guess, unless it's a plot to get you to be caught in a lie while under one of those oaths. Could also be Cati, maybe, diverting attention away from herself? Or any other noble angling for some complex scheme against another noble and just taking this opportunity. Getting caught up in random noble plotting has to work out for the positive sometimes, right? Anyway, it's believable enough. Trade the cloth to Bardo for your freedom plus some pocket money.

Right now I'm leaning towards doing that, but you could try setting up your own plans as well, and the blackmail scheme is one to begin with. You'll need someone to pass messages out of this camp for you, and Moss here could fill that role.

So... Apanya wants me to pin the blame for this mess on Bardo? Well, I can't say I have any problem pulling the rug out from under him. That would suit me just fine, actually.

Did the planning mention anything about your siblings, or any other specifics?

(Do we need to double check they're no one in the tent listening to this?)

>slap on the wrist punishment
So... we get him thrown in the dragon army, with a stint in the coliseum if / when he survives a tour of duty. Supposedly a death sentence, but really exactly what he wanted.

>Uh, are you okay? You don't look well.
Actually, I take it back, you're looking pretty good for someone who just got roped into noble politics and betrayals without any warning.

Fen let you in on his crazy plans too, right? Almost doesn't seem crazy now, considering how big this blew up, and how quick.

Oh, we should make sure to talk to Fen and actually include him in the decision-making process.

Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?

Cheese 2016/07/03(Sun)20:08 No. 733518 ID: dd338c
File 146760172854.png - (49.95KB , 800x800 , 579.png )

>Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?
Mythril.

"Is... is it Lady Apanya's plan?"
>"That, yes."
"Well, uh... hm. Yeah I can do that. So anything else to watch for?"
>"Considering you're probably going to have to keep your mouth shut for the duration of the whole hearing other than that, no, not that I know of."
"Well, I have a history with Bardo, and... you know, for a random guard in a breaktown, you're looking pretty good for someone who got roped into stuff like this!"
>"Running for 6 hours does wonders for the nerves."
"Hahahaha I disagree. Anything you want me to pass on to Fen? I mean he might want to be involved in this."
>"Somehow I think he'll make it worse. I've got to ask you to not mention anything or that I was here. I'll catch up with him in Graskin. Just give him a hug for me."
"... wait really?"
>"I'm only half joking. I appreciate what he's done more than I think either of you would know. I can't see him myself, right now, and I need to get back to Graskin once I catch my breath."

He's hiding something more that he doesn't want to tell me. I also can't tell if there's anyone in that tent.

I could also get Moss to deliver something back to Apanya probably. Like blackmail. Threats about Zizi and all that. If I wanna.

Moss, I think, might not trust you. Last he knew of you, you stole from Fen. Maybe you should make a little more of an appeal? Like "Moss, I know you probably don't think highly of me, since I pretty much got Fen tangled in all of this. I kinda wish you were able to talk to Fen so he could tell you what's up between us now. I really do owe... a ton, my life and my freedom, as well as the other debts, aaand he's really attractive, so. If there's anything more you could tell me, that could help me help him, please let me know? I know how to use information."

As for blackmail... well, you kinda need to set it up. Contingencies and all that, the "if I don't leave a certain message in a certain spot bad things happen" stuff. You might be able to send letters with your siblings when you part from them, and you might be able to find someone besides Moss to send letters without reading them, but it's chancy. And typically it's after you do all that that you send the actual blackmail letter.

Not phrasing it as blackmail, of course, just "earnest advice" from an anonymous tipster who suspects "some dastardly scoundrel" has set up certain things to happen if a certain someone gets too hard a sentence. You know the style.

Also really, we should talk to Fen. We don't need to give away the whole plan or involve him in that, just ask questions like "hey Fen if you had the choice would you want to get punished by being "forced" into the army or "forced" into the arena? I'm trying to pull some strings and I'd like to know what you want." That sort of thing.

>Just give him a hug for me.
>half joking
Cheese you have half an excuse to hug Fen, I say you grab onto it.

>I've got to ask you to not mention anything or that I was here.
>He's hiding something more that he doesn't want to tell me. I also can't tell if there's anyone in that tent.
We could stall for time, extending the conversation. Just flop down besides him. He's going to rest, and you might as well take a few minutes off yourself, right?

Would also give you the chance to smack your tail into the tent, checking for occupants.

>Bardo
Why would Apanya want you to bring him up? Are you aware of any politics between them? Could this be an attempt to pin the blame on him, or help him- making him the 'rightful' owner of the dragoncloth?

>I could also get Moss to deliver something back to Apanya probably. Like blackmail. Threats about Zizi and all that. If I wanna.
Seems a bad idea, to me. Even more so since before we know what Moss is holding back and what's motivating him here.

>Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?
I've been getting confused too, so I went back and made a table of all these noble jerks.

http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest#Nobles

Blackmail in this situation sounds dangerous. Fen coming from Zizi's tribe is already going to spook them and put that thought into there heads.

Just be up front with Moss. He seems like that sort. Motion to the tent and make ear motions and a questioning look before saying anything important.

"I understand where you are coming from Moss. Fen has done more for me than I could ever hope to repay. He could have struck me down for what I did to him but he was understanding enough to listen to my sad tale and forgive me. So until he completes his quest and possibly long afterwards I am working with him."

"But I have history with Bardo. Possibly the type you had with Raysan if I am guessing right. And if I am going to help Fen while he is in the army and the Colosseum I need to keep our heads above water. I might not be able to do much during this trial but if there is anything else you think could be relevant it would help."

Hey, wait a minute. Ok, ask him to forgive you for being paranoid but you want to look inside that tent for a second. Then... there's a little problem. Fen will be asked to testify too, right? And he knows the buyer is Cati. I'm not sure but I think Croc knows that too? If he's asked, him being honest, that's what he'll say. Then if you say Bardo, one of you will be called out as a liar and suffer for it.

So we have to talk to Fen about it. And, you know, we don't want to tell him to lie, he's an honest kinda person.

>>733536
Don't say out loud that the buyer is Cati. It doesn't help us if more people know that, and if Moss is hiding something, it might be that he's fishing for information on someone's behalf.

1/2 Cheese 2016/07/03(Sun)22:15 No. 733556 ID: dd338c
File 146760930917.png - (87.43KB , 1000x800 , 580.png )

"Moss, I know you don't think highly of me, but I wish you could talk to Fen and he'd set things right! I owe a ton to him and I need to make it up to him when all I've really done for him so far is just... steal his shit."

I sit down with him. He leans back and grabs his sword, although it just looks like a cautionary thing.

"Sorry, I need to rest, too. My tail, you know... huge. Sucks. Anyway, that history I have with Bardo... I'm going to help Fen while he's in the army and stuff, and I need to keep my head above water, so if there's anything relevant you think I should know, then..."
>"I really am just some guard in a breaktown, and I got caught up in all this because some asshole called out a barbarian as a theif with no evidence. If Apanya is planning something, she wouldn't tell me."

>Why would Apanya want you to bring him up? Are you aware of any politics between them? Could this be an attempt to pin the blame on him, or help him- making him the 'rightful' owner of the dragoncloth?
I have no clue. No clue at all.

>Blackmail
I'll hold off on this.

"So, uh, what if other people know the buyer wasn't actually Bardo?"
>"I don't know, but I was told to tell you about this and only you. Nothing's gonna stop you from spilling the beans to whoever, but just remember that this is Lady Apanya's plans you might be screwing up."

I "accidentally" bap my tail into the tent.

I accidentally fling it way off to the side. No one is inside.

>"... why?"
"S... sorry."
>"If that's all, then you'd better head back."
"Y-yeah."

2/2 Cheese 2016/07/03(Sun)22:15 No. 733558 ID: dd338c
File 146760933043.png - (37.56KB , 800x800 , 581.png )

I go back and find Fen in his room. He's sitting on his bed like he's trying to relax, but he looks kinda tense. Maybe I should tell him what happened, maybe I should just let him be.

>>733558
You should totally give him that hug from Moss. You have an excuse, and he's all tense, he could use a hug!

Plus it'll make you feel better and there's no one else to see.

>I have no clue. No clue at all.
If you have no information on which to act, it seems to me your best move is to not try and get clever. Ab libbing or interfering with Apanya's plans if you don't have any clue what she's pulling will probably blow up in your face.

Don't tell him about Moss, or what he passed on just now.

Well your big butt ruins yet another special moment Cheese. Need to get Moss something nice as a apology later.

Whisper to Fen and ask how he is holding up. Tell him the basics but avoid giving him any info that he could hang himself with.

And tell him that Moss said hi and to give him a hug for him. Apparently he is very very grateful for what Fen did and just wanted to let him know.

Then just sit and chat with him.

We sort of know that Apanya is trying to take down Bardo for some sketchy stuff he did. So am guessing she will use you to publicly take him down. What you have to ask is what trouble could Bardo be in if he was the dragoncloth buyer and you say that in court?

And why has she not taken him down yet? Is there lack of evidence? Is she planning on outing your relationship with him so she can blame him for your actions? And how bad would it be for you if she does?

I think we have to play along but keep getting info from anywhere you can.

As for Fen ask if you can give him a hug from Moss. Then see what they asked him and how he has been treated.

Ask if he'd like you to help relieve his tension.

...
...
... with a back massage! Oh no wait you have huge claw hands never mind.

And talk to him. Tell him about this apparent plan that Moss relayed to you, about what you're going to try and do, about what's going to happen, and ask what he thinks. Say you're thinking of going along with it, and he would just need to avoid saying Cati was the actual buyer. Just... imply but don't say you didn't know who the ultimate buyer was supposed to be, something like that.

... And tell him that, if it comes down to it, you'll try take the blame. It was your fault he got tangled up in all this. If Apanya wants to string someone up as an example of not messing with nobles, a conniving merchant mutant who's already known around the area is a better show than a random wandering savage. You can make yourself out to be a manipulator. Gauche should be pushing to help us, and Apanya really should be grateful for flushing Vackles out, so you hope you'll be able to either get him off or have the punishment be army service or the arena, something he already planned to do, but if it looks like it could be something to endanger his life or his appointment with Lily, then you'll do your best to turn it on yourself.

You'd deserve it more than him.

Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)11:31 No. 733630 ID: dd338c
File 146765708319.png - (47.81KB , 800x800 , 582.png )

"Hey, Fen?"
>"Hi, Cheese."
"Are you alright."
>"Yes."
"... cause, uh, you look tense and sound a little unhappy."
>"Nothing of note."

I approach him without really any kind of tact and I give him a hug even though I really don't think it was the right time but I don't know good times.

>"Are you alright?"
"Ahaha this hug is definitely because someone out there appreciates you and I'm not just trying to get touchy feely. Um, I shouldn't tell you this, but Moss was here. He wanted to give you a hug."
>"What for?"
"I dunno, something about Rasyan." I whisper.
>"Why did he not do it himself?"
"Uhhh I can't really say! You'll see him again sometime, though, so don't worry about it."

Oh, gosh, he can't hug me back, because I hugged him from behind! Why did I do that? Can I just slide over to his front to change? No that's weird. That's weird and I'm so bad at this.

"You sure you're okay?"
>"Just homesick."
"Oh, geez. I don't know what would help."
>"I don't need anything. It will pass, and I'm not interested in returning home right now."

We stay like this for a bit. I don't know how I'd get any information on what Apanya may be doing, because while I'm under guard, here, trying to get reliable information would be tough.

I think I'm ready to go to Graskin, unless I can think of anything else to do here.

>I think I'm ready to go to Graskin, unless I can think of anything else to do here.
Dunno, you could ask Fern what they've told him. You know you're supposed to get dragged off to testify, but what's happening with him? Or Croc? Geeze, where did that guy even go.

You could maybe awkwardly apologize for Cabbage looming over him ready to kill him the whole cart ride.

Another reason hugging him from behind is awkward is his horns are poking you in the face now. If you're not careful, he might accidentally poke you in the eye with his horns!

Other than checking with Fen to see what sort of questions they asked him and maybe doing the same to Croc there is not much else we can do.

Oh we should talk to your siblings and let them know to expect a recall. And give out hugs. Cept no dragoncloth so Tomato gets left out sadly.

Tell him about you needing to say the cloth was going to Bardo! Just to make sure he avoids saying it's Cati if it comes up and he can do it without lying. And tell him you're trying to set things up to avoid him getting in any trouble, but that it's possible you'll only be able to reduce the trouble. So tell him what that might turn out to be like and ask what he'd prefer.

Also ask about Rasyan and his guards' bodies, for potential blackmail purposes. Whispered super quiet, of course. I still think you should try set that stuff up, but, I guess others aren't agreeing with me.

I think you also need to tell your siblings about how they're going to get a message to leave? If they're going back to Erja and somehow Fen does still go there himself they could be contacts with him, so long as they're cool. You might also want to give Fen tips about going there in case you end up not getting another chance to talk to him.

Oh hey, his broken horn has healed up pretty nicely so far.

1/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:18 No. 733686 ID: dd338c
File 146767432474.png - (50.18KB , 800x800 , 583.png )

>Where did Croc even go?
I don't know, but he's been around. His voice carries far, so sometimes words about berries and upwards rafts just kind of float to me.

>If you're not careful, he might accidentally poke you in the eye with his horns!
Worth it though.

"So Fen, what did they tell you?"
>"Very little. I'm surprised I'm not locked up after they found out about Rasyan."
"Yeah, I mean, don't try to run or anything, cause then you'll get an arrow somewhere in you."
>"That's one of the things they told me. The other is that what happens to me will be up to the mithril noble."
"Right. Well, don't worry. If it comes down to it, I'll take the blame, and they'll gladly string up a weird mutant sooner than a barbarian."
>"That isn't right."
"Maybe not, but I do deserve it as a person more, soooo it works out."
>"Thank you, but I do not want people taking the fall for me."

So nice.

"I guess all I can say is that if it comes up, don't tell anyone who the dragoncloth was going to. Not Cati, not no one as far as you know."
>"Alright."
"And it's okay if you're forced into something like the army right?"
>"I am not changing my plans just because someone tells me to do what I plan."

I also ask about Rasyan and his bodyguards looks just in case I want to blackmail, but I'll save it for how the hearing goes. Then I talk to him about Erja Nokol for a little bit just in case we don't get to chat for awhile.

2/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:19 No. 733687 ID: dd338c
File 146767435094.png - (58.88KB , 800x800 , 584.png )

We head off to Graskin. I let my sisters know in advance about the message they'll get, and sure enough, my sisters end up turning off towards our home. Our goodbyes are shorter than they might've been normally, but if things go right, I'm going to be heading towards Erja before long.

Once my sisters leave, I get put next Croc.

For the entire remainder of the trip. He just doesn't stop talking.

I didn't think I'd ever be happy to return to the sight of Graskin with the mountains of Poluputus looming behind it, but here I am. People are yelling at the mountain kobolds to run faster, so I guess there won't be any time to relax when we get there.

3/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:19 No. 733688 ID: dd338c
File 146767436356.png - (55.49KB , 800x800 , 585.png )

The outer part of town is like the good parts of the fence. Plenty of poverty, but no one in their right mind would start a rebellion here. There's well trained and well armed guards all over the place. And these ones actually keep the peace, not act like glorified tax collectors.

Once we start getting into the upper levels of the central structure, the walls start getting clean, smooth, and, well, rich.

We're lead in seperate directions to a bathing house. It's used by way more people than could be involved in this hearing, and before I can even ask what to do three girls come up, toss me in a bath, and start scrubbing.

>"Deary, you don't need to hide in the water! Leave the judgements to the nobles."
"I wanna hide though."
>"Nonesense. Well, we'll have a nice, modest set of clothes for you."
"Do you really have my measurements?"
>"Haha, miss, this is Lady Apanya's palace. You'll have a selection. Just don't sully it, of course, and return it to us once your business is over. Now, loosen up! You're way too uncomfortable, here."

Geez it's not like this could go horribly.

"So uh... is this your job? Just, scrubbing people in the bathhouse all day?"
>"Yes it is. It's tough work, but it pays for my home overlooking the town."

I'm sure it's sooooo tough.

>"Dear, I'm going to give you some oils. Your scales are as dull as they get."
"I dunno, I don't think I want to stand out that much?"
>"Nonsense. No one's going to listen to anyone who doesn't look like they take care of themselves. Even Kajos, of all people, has a brilliant sheen. Besides, everyone else is going to just just wonderful for this hearing of yours, so if you look like leftover porridge, you'll just stand out in ways I don't think you'll like."
"I guess that makes sense. What's with this water... oh my gods is it enchanted?"
>"Yes, dear, we have a full time bath wizard."

Oh god. Oh god. Don't laugh, Cheese. Don't laugh about the fact that I share the world with a bath wizard.

4/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:19 No. 733689 ID: dd338c
File 146767437760.png - (55.17KB , 1211x882 , 586.png )

After a long time of that, I feel.... fabulous.

Guards are around us all the time, and we meet up with Fen heading towards the hallway to Apanya's throne room. I think this is the waiting area for people who want an audience, but we probably don't need to wait. There's a lot of conversations about what I assume are some big topics, and a lot of sensitive information could be learned if people listened in.

Which is probably why the chorus is to the side, chanting a tune that drowns out stray voices.

I thought Shup's place was the most massive structure we've ever built from the ground up besides the emperor's palace. And it probably is. But this place comes pretty close.

"Are you okay, Fen?" I whisper to him.
>"There's just... so many Shups, here."

I think I'll appreciate that sentence better if I let my imagination do the work.

5/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:20 No. 733691 ID: dd338c
File 146767442972.png - (38.22KB , 821x683 , 587.png )

There's no waiting after all. We go right into Apanya's throne room, or hearing room, or whatever this is, and she's sitting up at her hundred foot high chair. I hope the acoustics here are good because I doubt she's going to bother raising her voice to yell down at us. Considering the echoes from stray chattering though, it'll be fine.

Croc and Gauche and all sorts of people are here. There's 5 gold noble seats under Apanya. Rasyan's seat is empty, because he is dead and even if they found his corpse it would be weird even for the empire to put his corpse up there. He ruled over the eastern portion of the Turtle's Hideaway, which is weird since Pocktown is right in the middle of Krix's territory so he had a portion of the west side too. Krix will probably get that town now just so that the gold noble territories make more sense.

Otherwise, Cati, Bardo, Krix and Jolli are already in their seats.

Fen and I take some seats and wait in relative silence. Just before it starts, we're all made to swear under the same oath I had to, take earlier for the whole duration of the hearing.

>"Let the noise die. Lady Apanya shall now speak about the recent events regarding the Fence." I hear someone call out.

6/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:20 No. 733692 ID: dd338c
File 146767444340.png - (48.66KB , 800x800 , 588.png )

Lady Apanya looks like she just wants to wave off the whole situation and isn't even bothering to hide it. Bardo is right under her, and he doesn't exactly look at ease.

>"Krix." She essentially yawns out the name. "Tell me about the state of that stain of a town, the Fence."
>"The town guard is eliminated. Same as all the other resistances."
>"Damages to the town?"
>"Significant."
>"Avoidable?" Apanya asks with all the care that a bird has for to the interior design of a fox's hole.
>"Hardly. The buildings there were so crude and out of shape that one fell down when I sneezed on it. I did 'em a favor giving them an excuse to reconstruct the town."
>"How generous. Perhaps the citizens there will have the chance for an honest day's work, too. Where is Warfield?"
>"Dead."
>"Is that so. What nobles of the Fence are still alive, Jolli?" I notice Apanya does not even ask how Warfield died.
>"Sir Gauche, and Lord Rumu." says Jolli. "That I am aware of, but others may still be discovered while I am away.
>"And did either of them do... anything?"
>"I believe that Sir Gauche orchestrated the assassination of Vackles."
>"Then I would suggest that you consider Gauche be placed as the new stone noble of the Fence, since Krix proved to be merciful towards the town and left it repairable." says Apanya.
>"Then I, Lord Jolli of the southern portion of the turtle, declare that Sir Gauche shall be the stone noble, and mayor, of the Fence, and is now responsible for its reconstruction."
>"What a fast consideration and decision you came too, based on a mere suggestion. Let's move on, then."

7/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:21 No. 733693 ID: dd338c
File 146767447071.png - (18.67KB , 800x800 , 589.png )

>"Vackles' rose to power. Someone could have prevented it. Jolli, explain this."
>"He had been recommended to me by Warfield himself to oversee his guard."
>"Well, it's a bit of a shame that Warfield isn't here to defend himself, so I suppose we'll consider him guilty, yes? Let's not bother charging him with it, though, I dislike speaking to dead people. I suppose that's that. Now continue to explain why Krix had to be the one to eliminate the remainder of the guard from far west?"
>"My region is plagued with bandits, my lady." says Jolli. He's not bad at speaking I guess, but I can still see that he's a lot less enthused about this explanation. "My soldiers were hunting across my land, and to pull them back to the fence would simply let the bandits cause as much strife."
>"I suppose children with sticks can pass for bandits these days, since your army can be called an army. You are so attached to your army's strength that you were too patient, too willing to wait for opportune moments to strike, that your army was left scattered and thin waiting for ideal moments that would never have come."

8/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:21 No. 733694 ID: dd338c
File 146767449802.png - (16.16KB , 800x800 , 590.png )

>"Now we will speak of the dragoncloth, Jolli, where is it?"
>"I do not know."

Apanya's eyebrow snaps up and down faster than she blinks.

>"I suggest you try answering again."
>".... Sir Gauche was in custody of it, but he and the others claim to have given it to someone else - it is unclear, and I simply had more pressing matters to attend to than chasing a single dragoncloth. I summoned Hunstine, who claimed untrustworthy things, like how the barbarian, Fen, was the owner of a dragoncloth, and how he was the one to slay Lord Rasyan."
>"I suppose that is unlikely, but I also heard you simply dismissed him. Is that so?"
>"Yes, it is. I only summoned him to find the dragoncloth, but with no concrete about Lord Rasyan, and the idea that a barbarian would own -"
>"And yet, dear little Hunstine went on to retrieve Rasyan's corpse. Did you not even think to do this?"

...

>"... I was not aware he could tell where Rasyan was."
>"It is hard to hear their testimony when you dismiss them, isn't it? That's a good lesson to learn. Now, Moss. Do tell me Moss is here. Ah, there you are."
>"My lady."
>"You were in contact with the barbarian shortly before Rasyan's death. Is that so?"
>"It is."
>"And you searched Fen, correct?"
>"I did."
>"And dragoncloth?"
>"I believed he had it."
>"Now tell me all about why you didn't report this?"
>"I'm sorry, my lady, but I was an unremarkable soldier turned guard to an unremarkable breaktown. Dragoncloth is beyond me, and I simply thought he had an unusually valuable cloth, but upon reflection, it must have been dragoncloth after all. Please forgive my stupidity on that."
>"Let's not confuse humility with self deprecation, now. You did not think it strange that a barbarian had a valuable cloth?"
>"I saw his white eyes, and sensed there was no wrong doing, so it wasn't my place to question it."
>"Normally I would admonish such a judgement, but in light of the judgement shown by the present nobility, I cannot even manage that. I declare no wrong doing from Moss. Now, Jolli. You let one of your biggest towns grow an army right under your nose, you cannot squash rebellions and bandits, and your choice in advisors and staff has been untrustworthy, you summon a wizard to spend time and a slave for a ritual that you immediately toss out without so much as sending a runner to investigate its validity. You are now demoted to a wood noble, and will be given a small entourage to hunt bandits yourself. Do well, and you will work your way back up to stone swiftly, and do poorly, and you will die. Your possessions will be split by the standard decree."

Can't say I expected that.

9/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:34 No. 733698 ID: dd338c
File 146767527263.png - (34.40KB , 800x850 , 591.png )

>"Now, it appears that Hunstine's vision had truth to it after all, and so it is fairly obvious that the dragoncloth is located within the Crow Zone. Thank you, Jolli, Hunstine, for acting so remarkably obtuse on the matter so that I was able to announce this deduction myself. Gauche, you are inheriting the Fence's... wealth, let's call it, but Krix deserves a token of appreciation for his trouble, as I hear that Vackles' second in command, Tons, resurfaced and was ready to lead the guard on before Krix dealt with them. Therefore, we will extract the dragoncloth from the crow's reach or wherever they sent it off to, and Krix will receive it. And while I'm thinking of it, Moss is clearly a well experienced guard in healthy shape, and he is doing a disservice to the turtle letting himself rot with the breaktown wood. Krix, you have a good guard position for him, don't you? Put him to good use, and treat him well as he does a good job. Now, Cati, I hear that your abominations were in town and had relations with the dragoncloth. What were they doing?"
>"If Colleague Krix is to receive it, then he will have it, but when I heard about a wandering dragoncloth, I wished to pursue it with my abominations."
>"And why would you ever send those abominations, which I'm sure you trusted so much, for such a task?"
>"They are the siblings of Cheese, who is sitting there, and I felt that they would be an adequate choice to attempt to take the dragoncloth from Cheese, given how much the siblings of Erja Nokol mean to each other." Cati explains.
>"And why is it that I received word from one of my spies that those abominations had three mythril coins and five hundred gold?"
>".... I do not know, they do not appear to be present to this hearing."
>"If purchasing a dragoncloth was appropriate, it would cost about as much. Were you attempting to purchase a holy relic handed down by the emperor himself, as though it could compare to mythril or gold coins? Well, it's no secret that I have done it before while in your position, even if I am ashamed of it. Well, it must be either that, or you simply let abominations get away with over three thousand gold pieces? Whether you gave it to them or they managed to steal it, I'd love to hear how that came to be."
>"It is impossible for me to doubt your messengers, Lady Apanya, but are you sure their word is true?"
">You have done the impossible, Cati. Well, if we look at your books, and they come up cleanly, we will consider my messengers at fault, then?"
>"Oh, no, forgive me for my out of place suspicions, Lady Apanya. It is true, I was to purchase the dragoncloth from Cheese. I do plan on getting the funds back one way or the other. I know where their family is, and that is more valuable to them than the money."
>"Well, that's wonderful, I'm sure your coffers will thank you. It's interesting to me, though, because Bardo explained to me that Cheese was selling him the dragoncloth. Is that so, Bardo?"

10/10 Cheese 2016/07/04(Mon)16:34 No. 733699 ID: dd338c
File 146767529234.png - (17.99KB , 800x800 , 592.png )

>"I did tell you that, and it is true." says Bardo. "Cheese is under my employment, and she was to sell me the dragoncloth. I do not know where Lady Cati gained her information from."
>"Which means that one of you is a liar under oath. Let's have a tie breaker, then. Cheese, step forward. Tell me, who was to purchase the dragoncloth from you? Know that I, under the oath of all my power bestowed by the emperor, will not charge you with crimes if you were attempting to sell them to both parties or other such nonsense. Tell the truth, no matter how ugly."

Oh my god.

She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.

>I'm sure it's sooooo tough.
Any idea how sore your hands get doing the same back and forth scrubbing all day? And how much water soaks into your fingers when you're scrubbing in water itself? They're not just scrubbing floors and walls, either, but fur and scales. A bit harder on the fingers, that.
Though getting to enjoy the bath salts is a plus.
Maybe it was a hidden comment about "Oh god I have to clean this gross abomination."
>"There's just... so many Shups, here."
Pff, that's a funny way to say "Field Nobles." ...Er, nobles who happen to be field kobolds.
>She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.
Huh. Gauche will probably remain at the Stone level for now, so I wonder who she'll bring up for it?
And, I wonder if she maybe intends to bring Fen up to Wood since he "worked with Gauche," so that in controlling the new Gold above him, she'll have control over all of the levels? Would skip the army stage of things, but it would also be dangerous to have a Mithril in control of him, even separated by so many levels.

If I remember, you were going to use a long supply chain to verify the dealer, set up a meeting position, rent out a base, then set up a bid with another dealer, etc. Let's go with that.

State that for all purposes and intentions, you never had a single buyer even though the cloth was not meant to be divided. In preparation of the sale of an artifact worth thousands of gold, you set up a series of supply links that intertwined across multiple nobles for various intentions; some wanted to use the cloth as bait, others were planning to steal it for themselves, etc. It was the only way you could get through this without a noble deciding to shoot the middlewoman, by ensuring that the consequences would affect them and everyone.

And when she demands to get to the point, claim that TECHNICALLY this entire event was orchestrated by the efforts of all of the gold nobles under Lady Cati's command, due to the stake that each of them put in the command chains and how they used the authority under Cati's rule to get this far in the dragoncloth trade.

Let's see if Cati can handle a losing the stability of ALL of her gold nobles at the same time.

>>733710
Cati's not the one getting rid of her Golds. Cati is a Gold. Apanya is the Mithril.

So, it's Cati that we're supposed to betray. I guess Apanya considers her a little too... proactive. And, possibly, her dealings with mutants shameful. And it must be Apanya's plan, Moss just lied (on thinking it was just valuable cloth, not dragoncloth) and got rewarded with a promotion. With Jolli getting demoted with a chance to climb again, too, I think he's been convinced to play a part as well. Half the people here have been fed their lines, I think.

Well... we can't go pissing Apanya off. She's the one in control. We don't want to piss anyone off, but if we have to shove Cati off a bus I guess that's what we have to do. The only trouble is her power over your siblings, Cheese. She probably won't keep that power long enough, though. Still...

If you think you can act, hesitate for a moment and give a twitch like you're trying not to look at Cati. Say something like "Forgive my anxiousness, Lady Apanya, I am... also concerned for my family." Pause a moment, as if steeling yourself, to see if she answers with an assurance, but whether she does or not, go on to say: "The dealings with the dragoncloth were complicated, my lady, and I did investigate several nobles as alternative buyers in the case something went awry, but... with apologies to Lady Cati, I must say that in the end, the intended recipient was to be Lord Bardo."

Which is kind of not really a lie, since he was to be recipient of the money we got for the sale. Just not of the cloth.

Ok a few thoughts Cheese.

1. Do you think she is trying to get rid of both Cati and Bardo? Or just Cati if the suggestion from Moss did in fact come from Apanya and not Bardo sneaking into the chain somehow.

2. If you did say Bardo was the buyer would that throw him under the bus as well for buying dragoncloth? Or would it save his ass because lying under oath is the worse crime?

3. She went out of her way to say you would get immunity for the crime of selling to both of them. Is that her trying to hint that you should throw both of them under the bus?


Well I guess the normal choice would be between Cati or Bardo. Cati did just threaten your family and getting her killed would save you having to pay her back. But getting Bardo killed would drop your debt directly.

But if the advice Moss gave you was from Apanya its probably best to play it her way. Having a judge who is not pissed at you is the best option regardless of what happens.

>Oh god. Oh god. Don't laugh, Cheese. Don't laugh about the fact that I share the world with a bath wizard.
What's so funny about bath wizards?

>Jolli's demotion.
Well, it doesn't look like Jolli's having a jolly time, does it?

>>733698
Oh shit! Who's that scary guy?! And Cheese, no matter what happens, DO NOT laugh at the fact that he might get stuck in that tiny little booth he's sitting in!

>Apanya's trying to get rid of gold nobles.
>Choose Cati or Bardo.
Moss' message said that we'd be "pulling the rug out from a gold noble" and that it was Apanya's plan. I'm guessing there's going to be some kind of punishment to whoever lies under that oath, but who do we call a liar?

If we tell the truth, then Bardo will be the liar and Fen will probably be hit with a big punishment because we didn't go along with Apanya's plan.

If we lie, then Cati will be the liar Fen will probably be hit with a minor punishment because we did go along with Apanya's plan.

>>733703
>Bring Fen up to Wood Noble and skip the army.
I hope not. The army will give Fen some valuable combat experience and sure he wouldn't like having to miss out on that.

>my sisters end up turning off towards our home
Huh. They're gonna need to double back and get the dragoncloth for Cati, unless they want to make an enemy of hers.

>Now, loosen up! You're way too uncomfortable, here.
You're made out of squishy glorps. If she can tell you're not loose enough, you're really tense.

>I dislike speaking to dead people.
Would... they have actually summoned his shade or called his voice from the earth to charge him with his crime? Is that a thing that's done, making (high ranking) dead actually answer for crimes they've been charged with?

>Moss assigned to Krix
I don't think that's a promotion he'll enjoy or wanted. He was living the good life out in the country, we jut got him roped back into the military. More collateral damage.

>Oh my god.
>She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.
Maybe.

Let's consider our options:

(A) We say Bardo. Cati is declared a liar and is killed or demoted. Apanya is (hopefully) pleased with Cheese and gives Fen the slap on the wrist we want (military service and coliseum after). Status of Cheese's debt to Bardo: unknown. Maybe we could still pay him off with Cati's money, maybe he would just claim it from us, saying it was his to purchase the cloth in the first place.

(B) We say Cati. Bardo is declared a liar and is killed or demoted. Apanya is cheesed at Cheese, which is bad for Fen. We don't owe Bardo a debt anymore, and still have Cati's money. If she doesn't reclaim it from us before we squirel it away, or let it go as repayment for saving her ass.

(C) We say we were playing both against the other, and selling it to both. Both are spared. Bardo's debt stands, though we can pay him back if Cati doesn't get her money off of us.

(D) We tell the 'truth' that we intended to make sure the dragoncloth ended up in Fen's hands. There would have never been a sale. Both noble lose, more of a clean house.

Now, I think the important thing to remember is Cheese felt Moss was holding something back. Like, Apanya's message was to "say Bardo, but *also* still tell the truth about Cati". He could have been holding back a detail, or context. Figuring this would still save Fen, but payback Cheese.

Also, Apanya is leading the witnesses. The way that question is worded, it sounds like she expects the answer to be "I was trying to sell it to both of them, playing them against the other."

I think that's the answer you go with. For once, your right move isn't to screw over nobles and get them killed. You're actually going to save two. For some reason, Apanya wants them alive.

>>733722
Yeah, she's leading our answer, we just need to make it sound plausible. Maybe she's looking for a excuse to punish them, but not with anything severe enough that she has to get rid of them.

It looks like Apanya wants you to say you were selling to both of them? She was rather leading the witness at the end there.

Whats the penalty for lying under oath?

I would go along with what the judge is leading you say. She can make life horrible for you and Fen if you don't play along.

You did a lot of flailing, trying to get out from the mess you found yourself in. You could tell her that you made it known through a lot of channels that there was valuable merchandise for sale, but not everyone knew precisely what it was.

>>733722

If Moss held something back, to get Cheese in trouble instead of Fen... well, she did tell Fen she'd take the blame if she had to. And if he didn't, it's still best to go along with Apanya's plan, I think.

It might be possible to fudge a little between the two, by saying "ultimately Bardo but I did put out feelers to other possible buyers and I did consider Cati". Or something like that.

>>733741
The sticking point there is if Cheese can't trust Moss (who seemed like he was holding something back, and was in fact the first person to warn Fen away from Cheese, saying she was a spy who can't be trusted) we can't be sure what Moss said is what Apanya wants.

And the one reason I can think he didn't want Cheese to tell Fen: if Moss is trying to screw over Cheese, he might not want Fen to know that's what he's doing.

>>733743
>we can't be sure what Moss said is what Apanya wants.

In which case we can't be sure what Apanya wants at all. But we do know Moss is in with Apanya and, at least, looking out for himself, probably looking out for Fen, and probably wouldn't have wanted to do anything to piss off Apanya either. She knows Moss is the one who she sent to relay the message to Cheese, and if Cheese doesn't say what she wants her to say she could go after him as well. It'd be easy for Apanya to ask, after Cheese got thrown in a cell or something, why she was disobedient, and for Cheese to say "I did what Moss told me to".

For all we know, what Moss was holding back was just that he had his own instructions, which he could have revealed to Cheese to let her in on more of the plan, and he didn't.

Ok when Cheese asked Moss "Is it lady Apanyas plan?" he said "That, Yes."

Which implies to me he was lying or at least holding back info. This plan could be sent from Bardo possibly.

I'm sure what Moss was holding back was his promotion to Working for Krix and that he's not plotting some weird bullshit. He's not a master manipulator or calculator so he couldn't predict what may happen when he makes machinations.

If Moss lied to us about what to say, it's another nobles machinations.

I'd play it safe and accuse Cati, we PROBABLY keep the money, and Bardo was clearly told to lie about a deal with cheese by somebody, because otherwise he would have been surprised when he was accused. Bardo is expected to take the fall in regards to the deal or it wouldn't have come up. So it's either Bardo's plan or Apanya's and she's informed Bardo that he will accept responsibility for the deal.

For starters, we can say that we were initially planning to sell it to Bardo (so he speaks the truth) until meeting Cati's emissaries scrambled the situation.

Then you contemplated several strategies, including selling it to Cati and paying back Bardo with Cati's money.

>>733794
ADDED: And then Vackles came in looking for the dragoncloth, and that's when things got crazy.

>>733763
>He's not a master manipulator or calculator so he couldn't predict what may happen when he makes machinations.

See, that's the thing. Moss is smart, and also a pretty humble guy. Apanya wouldn't have told him everything she was going to do, he would only have gotten his instructions and Cheese's, to relay. He wouldn't be dumb or arrogant enough to think that he could add or subtract whatever he wanted from either of those without screwing things up; he would know that he has no idea what Apanya's full plan is, or what key step it's depending on to go off properly.

You're supposed to say Bardo is telling the truth, which would screw over Cati. Bardo is likely in on the plan, and was promised that he would be let off easy for the crime.

Cati was going to betray you, and your family, and you'd have been stuck with Bardo. So fuck her. Say she's lying, and you were going to sell the dragoncloth to Bardo to clear your debts with him.
You can still pay Bardo off, of course, because your family has the money and Cati isn't getting it back after this. Another reason to say Bardo is lying is that if you diverge from Apanya's plan you will anger her. Don't anger a mithril noble.

Oh and >>733687 did you enjoy talking to Croc? How do you like the big lug?

1/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:35 No. 733869 ID: dd338c
File 146776892307.png - (29.18KB , 800x800 , 593.png )

>What's so funny about bath wizards?
Even if wizards aren't so great in a fight a lot of the time and they do mundane things, they're still a huge generator to the empire! Without wizards, we couldn't support nearly the population we do, a lot of diseases would run rampant, construction would be tougher, so for a wizard to just be... bath wizard.

>Who's that scary guy?!
That's Krix. I won't laugh at him getting stuck in that tiny booth made for regular sized kobolds, because if he did get stuck, he could break it.

>Did you enjoy talking to Croc? How do you like the big lug?
I might actually like him if I could understand a word he said! Considering he said he didn't like my personality, he sure talked to me an awful lot. At least he's quiet, now. He's way too casual around nobles, but even he'd have to have a deathwish to start shouting something dumb over Lady Apanya.

>Would... they have actually summoned his shade or called his voice from the earth to charge him with his crime?
In a mithril court... yeah, that could happen.

>Whats the penalty for lying under oath?
If the person to deal with the sentence is generous, death. But normally the oath is so serious that they torture you until your spirit and soul are broken so hard that when you do die, your soul supposedly won't contaminate the land with those rebellious thoughts.

So, okay.

This situation.

What a mess. She's leading me to say both of them.

I was told by Moss that Apanya actually wanted me to say Bardo.

Moss, who I'm pretty sure thinks I'm nothing but trouble, with good reason, and I think might've been holding back when we met.

But Apanya is leading me so hard.

And at the same time, I think I've gotten a read on her. This is all the telltale signs of cleaning house, and even if it's slight, I can tell detect a little bit of dismissal in Apanya's voice when she speaks to, and about, Cati and Bardo.

I hope I don't screw this up. I hope so much. If Moss is trustworthy, then Apanya wants me to say Bardo, but she didn't say anything about....

"Neither?"

Give me a sign, Apanya! Don't give me that face! Did I mess up? Did I do something right?

2/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:35 No. 733870 ID: dd338c
File 146776895407.png - (35.43KB , 800x800 , 594.png )

Maybe?

>"Neither? What a claim. Let's make sure we didn't mishear up here on our high chairs. Are you sure you did not make plans to sell Bardo or Cati dragoncloth? That you are accusing both of lying under oath?"

No!

"Yes! I'm sure!" I say, because changing my mind means I've lied, and that's no good. "I'm sure! I've sworn to say the truth, and I'll swear again for that!"
>"Welllllllll." She trails off for a moment. "What a bind. To lie under oath... dear immortal, it's best if you explain what that means."

3/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:43 No. 733874 ID: dd338c
File 146776938096.png - (86.02KB , 1200x800 , 595.png )

There's a Dragon Knight on the balcony to the side.

>"It means to say they are above the oath. That they are above the emperor's legacy. That legacy is strength, and so breaking the oath is a declaration that they are stronger than the emperor himself. The golden title bearers Cati and Bardo shall have their title and services up to this point recognized, and shall be given the chance to prove their strength through combat against myself, as the emperor's brother. Should they be victorious, their crimes shall be absolved."
>"Sir, no!" Cati yells. Bardo gawks backwards, though he doesn't look right at Apanya. "Even if we are under suspicion, the gold nobles are still a high ranking position of the empire! To place a mutant's word over our own... is that what you are doing?!"
>"No, but it is what Lady Apanya is doing." His voice is weirdly hollow but echoing, like he's talking into two tubes facing each other. "But it is a fair point. Lady Apanya, would you mind explaining your reasoning to me?"
>"I stated to Cheese that I would not charge her with crimes should she claim she was selling to both or 'such nonsense', the latter of which meant nothing. Against my temptation, she claimed the very opposite. I then gave her the chance to back out of her first claim, further leading her towards a path. Once again, she chose the opposite. The only possible reason she would ever go against my direction, that of a mithril noble, would be because she is following the oath to an even higher power, the emperor himself."
>"So be it. We will battle, and because I must be places, we will do it now. Bardo, Cati, prove your strength to me, or die."

4/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:43 No. 733875 ID: dd338c
File 146776939381.png - (90.43KB , 800x800 , 596.png )

They die. Cati tried to jump back, and dodged the throat slice just to get cut down her torso.

I don't even see what hit them. The Dragon Knight's cloak flipped out, and I see what looks like it might have been a wire going outward, but the wound is like they were slashed with a blade. It came out so fast, it was like the last word to the sentence he said prior.

5/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:43 No. 733876 ID: dd338c
File 146776941674.png - (21.65KB , 800x800 , 597.png )

The daggers were on strings, and they get snapped back to the immortal. People down here shuffle reflexively, but no one dares call attention to themselves by moving too far. We just keep staring down and forward. Some of us are better at looking at the edges of our peripherals than others. Apanya waits silently for Cati to stop screaming.

>"Well, Krix. Cati and Bardo's belongings will be liquidated to pay for the legal debts they owe. The debts in their favor, and their remaining wealth, will be transferred to their replacements. Illegal debts, for example, Bardo's hidden merchant ring bribes, mutants, and general riff raff, are null and void. As they lost their titles in bad standing, their families will receive nothing. As for the mithril and gold coinage that Lady Cati had stolen or misplaced, it will be returned. It will be placed into the fence coffers for purposes of rebuilding and improving the town's reputation on the whole. The next time that it gets ransacked, I would like to feel mild disappointment. I suggest you gain control of the spy ring, and to do so, I suggest you place an illicit ally at the top and give them adequate funding. We will cover this in more detail, later."
>"I will, Lady Apanya." says Gauche.

6/6 Cheese 2016/07/05(Tue)18:44 No. 733877 ID: dd338c
File 146776947065.png - (15.58KB , 800x800 , 598.png )

>"Now, about you, barbarian. You killed Rasyan, correct?"
>"I did." says Fen.
>"Why?"
>"He attacked me."
>"And you killed him by means of ripping his throat out with your mouth, yes?"
>"Yes."
>"Since you did not strike him down like an opportunistic assassin, I will say that he had it coming if he was that weak. Nonetheless, Rasyan did have political power, and you have created a vacuum in the empire. We can't simply let barbarians come running in and slaying our nobility. That is banditry, which I'm sure you're aware of our opinion on that. Your sentence is to make up the power vacuum you've created, by means of mandatory military service. Do you have any preferences to where you would serve?"
>"I would like to join the Dragon Army and participate in the campaign I heard about in Erja Nokol."
>"How agreeable. I will send you an escort to see that you make it to the warp in a few hours to the dragon army's headquarters, where you will be given standard training before being sent to the mausoleum of the dead forest. You will be known in the army as the barbarian who slew Rasyan by means of ripping his throat out like a wild animal, the brother of the kingslayer who managed to defeat a Dragon Knight, and the once-owner of dragoncloth. Should you survive your campaign with such high expectations, I will recognize you as a legitimate potential owner of dragoncloth."
>"Does this mean I will get my dragoncloth back?"
>"No, but it does mean that if you manage to take another dragoncloth either as a gift or to take it by force - not thievery - then you will be the legitimately recognized owner. Even if you commit other crimes, even if that crime is to get another dragoncloth, your right to own dragoncloth will not be revoked even if other punishments are enacted. I will stop this hearing now, before Warlord Krix somehow gets killed too. I will work with those those who require personal attention, starting with Sir Gauche and followed by Woodlord Jolli. Krix, do you have anything you would like publically heard?" says Apanya.
>"Yeah, I do. I want to hear what Croc there was doing in all this mess." Krix says.
>"Then ask him in a public place. Dismissed."

>>733875
Holy @#$%^&*(s!

This isn't disturbing because of the lack of bureaucracy. This is disturbing because that execution was bloody and intrusive, yet it came from an emperor's praetorian guard, in the middle of the seats that everyone here craves. It implies that those in emperor-class power simply DON'T CARE; they don't care about the commoners, they don't care about the nobles, but most importantly they don't even care about THEMSELVES.

And that's a scary thought.

>>733876
At least he's using a top-tier weapon. Seriously, I hope that any champion worth his salt isn't forced to downgrade to something less artistic.

... That one game trailer was a serious @#$%ing disappointment.

>>733877
Property IS nine-tenths of the law. Hm.

Okay, it looks like you're going to leave Fen's squad for a while. Officially. Map a campaign route and try to meet up with Fen at your discretion over the course of his tour. For now, take the cash prize and use the opportunity of your current location to buy yourself a nice house, preferably in the middle of nowhere but within two days to at least three major hotspots.

Well guessing from Apanya's speech there you might work for Gauche now. Or at least she is leading him to hire you as his spymaster.

Moss looks a bit miffed at you. Might want to ask him whats up later.

Well this turned out better than expected. You are (mostly) debt free and Fen is on his way to where he wanted. And Cati can not touch your siblings. That last bit about the money is probably directed at you personally so you might want to get the crows to drop off the money (or at least most of it) and cloth so Apanya does not get irritated at you.

Give Fen a hug and tell him that you will send word to him as soon as you can and to make sure to let you know if he needs anything you can provide.

God-damn that was some nasty politicking, I think we did choose the right answer, as she put emphasis on Bardo's hold over us being void, and letting Fen choose his punishment. On the flip side, it sounds like Gauche is our boss and we have to give up Cati's gold, which isn't too bad but still, right choice I think

I bet you that bath wizard is a older kobold who got the position after years of sanitation work. Probably has spent there lives working on water quality magic and disease prevention and dousing. A water mage would be vital for any big city or public health would plummet. Plus being able to find places quickly to set up new wells and keep them clean would be important.

Could be wrong but is probably a cushy position for veterans to reward them for service. Who knows.

Well good job at doing what the scary mythril noble wanted you to do. Looks like she might be rewarding you with a position working for Gauche. Which looks horrible to Moss as you get a nice job and Fen gets forced conscription (and Moss gets a new job with way less nap time). You had better explain to him that this was the best option and we had planned to get Fen in that campaign regardless. You don't want Moss on your bad side if you can help it.

It would be nice to be able to keep our illicit gold but Apanya wants it in the fence treasury and its probably not a good idea to cross her. It might be best if you help "find" the misplaced funds with the help of the crows and turn it in. Do not let anyone be able to prove you had it.

I feel bad for whoever has to clean those bloodstains off those hundred foot pillars they're running down.

>>733876
So... it sounds like your next project is getting those mithril coins from the crows and handing them to Gauche before Apanya kills you. And then helping him seize control of Bardo's spy network / cutting away pieces of it for yourself / secretly taking control of it for yourself under Gauche. Sounds like your kind of thing! And no more debt! And working with a noble you can sort of stand who owes you his life. Could be a lot worse.

I suggest a "no hard feelings, but please don't try that again" to Moss, when you're out of the noble's earshot. He tried to get you killed, or misslead you, or cut a deal with one of the other nobles. But if he's Fen's friend it's better if he just gets over it and moves on.

You already have. People lying to you, or trying to get you killed isn't anything new.

...and/or the other way to play it is blackmail. Moss owes you one now, especially if he doesn't want Fen to find out what he just tried to do.

>>733877
And Fen got what he wanted. He's going into the dragon army hotter than we would have prefered, but it still works out, I suppose. You'll have to say your goodbyes, for now.

Well, looks like you're going to be busy for a while, Cheese. Gauche may want to employ you (though possibly not), you have to help retrieve the dragoncloth and coins (or at least make a very, very convincing attempt to retrieve them), you have to send some influence back home to Erja to make things as much easier for Fen as you can, aaaaaand you need to get yourself out of the sight and reach of Bardo and Cati's remaining resentful family, friends and loyal underlings.

Important to remember: you have to set up some way of keeping track of Fen's dragoncloth. Keep in mind, he doesn't want any dragoncloth, he wants that specific piece. You'll need to know if Krix tries to pass it on or, like, make himself a pretty dress out of it or whatnot. You still owe Fen a ton!

But aside from all that... well hey, you're free, Cheese! You can work for fair pay! You can visit home! You've basically gotten everything you wanted, and all it took was a little treachery and murder. And basically a whole town being decimated but that was on Vackles not you.

See if you can find some privacy with him to talk things over. Offer him some sympathy for the terrible mess an honest guy like him's had to involve himself with, but let him know (gently) that what happened up there was a vision of what he might expect to have to be prepared for, when he becomes a noble. If he doesn't find some other, better way to hold on to power, at least. You might take the opportunity to talk to Moss, as well, and to Croc. Wrap things up with everyone together.

Oh and if you're going to be Fence a while longer, that means you can look out for those kids who helped you! (And one who didn't help you but you now own).

>>733870
>No!
Was that to mean you did not do something right? Did you earn her ire? Better get that shit back from the Crows and deliver it to where it should be! Unless the Crows will be handing it over anyway? I'm unsure exactly how screwed those poor birds are now that you've outed them as complicit. And yourself as one of their contacts. Didn't they say if anyone found out you were a Crow-friend you'd die?
You solved a lot of problems just now but you have a bunch more to worry about before you're in the clear!

Maybe Gauche can help. Work closely with him now that he's a big man again in the Fence. He might agree to be your umbrella to shield you from the remaining shit that hit the fan.

Since you're free now (I think), does this mean you're going to be in Erja Nokol when Fen arrives for his mission? If so, that means you and your family can help him out!

It sound like it might be a while before you'll be able to see Fen again. Make sure you give him a hug and tell him goodbye and you'll miss him or something like that.

And absolutely DO NOT forget to return those fancy clothes you're wearing! I know it sucks that you have to return them, but you've gotta. There's no telling what they'll do to you if you don't return them.

1/3 Cheese 2016/07/06(Wed)19:17 No. 734095 ID: dd338c
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I don't need to run out the nearest window or anything, but I do need to get the dragoncloth and money from the crows. If I don't, Apanya or Krix or both will do it themselves. It won't be pretty or go well.

>Was that [No!] to mean you did not do something right?
No, it meant I really wasn't sure what I was doing was right! I think it was the right thing. Certainly not the worst.

>Implication that Dragon Knights don't care
I don't know for certain, but this is a big suspicion. They just kind of wander around and do empire things as they want. There's a big disconnect between them and everyone else, differently so from the gap between a noble and the peasants.

We start shuffling out. Gauche gets my attention and approaches me.

>"Worm, meet me in the fence tomorrow. You will work for me."
"Wow, I'm actually your choice?"
>"You're the best choice I have of all the people who are still alive, right now."
"Gosh, thanks."
>"Don't thank me. That implies you think that I proudly chose you."
"Well, will I get to travel around much at all?"
>"Once things are in order. I will expect you to devote all of your time in the Fence for at least the first three weeks."
"Okay. Uh... well, I'll show up tomorrow as soon as I can, then."

I should've given long goodbyes to my sister. I shouldn't mess around, I really want that startup boost, because most of my contacts are just associates and whatever. I can't really make people go out and do tasks without blackmail or whatever.

From Rasyan's documents that Fen stole, I found that mess of shady deals between the hometown of Krix, Rasyan, Cati, and the capital here. Some of that may be moot with this shakeup, but at the same time, that shook out a lot of dirty leaves that I can see.

Then there's that potion wizard in Erja Nokol. Also I should keep track of the dragoncloth, but I doubt Krix is going to do much with it fast.

Later. Or at least tomorrow.

2/3 Cheese 2016/07/06(Wed)19:17 No. 734096 ID: dd338c
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Fen is talking to Moss, and I don't want to interrupt the friendly tone there. Moss leaves, and I step in to give Fen a hug before he gets taken away.

"I'll send you a letter!"
>"I'll be able to receive letters?"
"Yeah! I mean, they're not one hundred percent reliable, but you know."
>"I have to go. I will see you sometime again."
"Okay!"

3/3 Cheese 2016/07/06(Wed)19:17 No. 734097 ID: dd338c
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Wait that was it? He just left? That was so fast. Maybe he's not into long goodbyes.

I look for Moss. He's wandered off pretty far to an untravelled hallway, and gone between a pillar and a wall, which is not part of the main walkways. He's noticed me, but is making a point to stare forward and away. After trying to read the nobles that play hard to read for a living, and Fen a weird foreigner, Moss is an open book. He's distressed, angry, and I interrupted a keep-his-shit-together session. I have stuff to say to him, but maybe it's stuff that doesn't need to be said.

"Fen got what he wanted anyway. I suspect you were trying to cause problems for me, but I do still hope I didn't cause problems for you."

>>734097
"So I think I'm in a fairly good position now, how about you?"

So hey there.

I wanted to check and see if you were ok.

I know we got off on the wrong foot but I really am trying my best to help Fen. I hope I did not ruin anything for you.

>>734097
Maybe you should give him a few moment or minutes to finish his keep together session before interrupting him? I mean, there are obvious advantages to keeping him off balance, but this might be easier if he were more rational and less panicking.

"So... you okay?"

I also liked "no hard feelings, but please don't try that again".

The other important thing to cover: "You know Fen will be coming back for that cloth first chance he gets. We've both seen how he gets, and Apanya as good as gave him permission. And you'll be working for Krix when that happens."

He needs to decide what side he's own. If possible, we need to turn him to be our inside man. Use his friendship to Fen, and what you have over him now. Find weaknesses. Information that Fen will be able to use.

Gauche hiring you was probably his way of saying "Thanks for saving my life" without actually having to say that out loud. Or maybe it was just a logical choice to hire you, which means he acknowledges your skills. But it's more likely that he's doing a "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer" thing.

Fen probably would've had a longer goodbye if he was more familiar with you as an ally. You haven't know him long enough for him to think of you like that.

One reason Moss is stressed out might be because he actually has to do work now, instead of just lying around and taking naps whenever he wants like he usually does in the breaktown. Another reason could be because he has to work under a scary guy like Krix. Or maybe it's both of those reasons.

I'm sorry you lost your job at that town and have to work for Krix now. I have contacts in the crow zone if it isn't obvious, which is where I imagine you're heading to. I'll have some people try and make your job easier there.

Keep sending me letters once I'm at the fence and keep me updated on what needs to be done. I'll take care of it.

Cheese 2016/07/07(Thu)15:38 No. 734346 ID: dd338c
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I wait in silence for as long as it takes, before the awkwardness turns into silent hostility.

"Hey."

....

"I wanted to make sure you'll be okay. Fen got he wanted, and I can't complain, but I hope I didn't cause any problems for you."
>"There's no point to feeling guilty in my name."
"Still, uh, there's no hard feelings from me."
>"What?"
"For, you know... I suspect you told me to say one thing, but it looks like I should've said the other."
>"I had nothing to do with that."
"R-really? You looked kinda miffed in my direction after I said that."
>"Yeah? I saw every remaining gold noble in the province get theirselves demoted or gutted aside from the warlord, who I could only ever speak good of. Everyone gawked at that, and I wasn't looking at you. Besides, going off script worked out, didn't it?"
"Well, yeah... but, you know Fen's gonna come for the cloth the first chance he gets. When he gets out of the army, well... you'll be working for Krix.
>"Thanks for reminding me."
"Uh... back when we first spoke by the Fence, well, maybe I was wrong, but it kinda felt like you had something to say to me, and I'm getting the feeling you're holding back some information from me."
>"I was and still am keeping myself from telling you how much I despise you."

Yeah I can understand that. What I did to Fen was a horrible thing. Even if things worked out in the end.

I know you probably don't care but I was basically a slave to Bardo. He had me piled up under so much debt I would never see the light of day or have any chance of seeing my family again.

And then Fen showed up and even though I knew it was wrong I saw a way out. I knew it was wrong but years of desperation drove me to make a horrible mistake. I am just glad Fen could forgive me.

And now I have a chance to be more than the creepy mutant spymaster. If I can help Fen with his goals maybe I can find redemption and improve my own life.

>>734346
That's fair, long as it isn't because I'm a mutant. Then its not fair, cause I didn't have a choice in that matter. In all frankness, I'm not my biggest fan either. Imagine having to deal with me 24/7, day and night. The worst.

That's a pretty strong reaction based on your limited interactions. He must see a lot of crime in his position, what you did can't be all that special. Surely you must have done something else to piss him off.

>>734346
I'm... kinda used to people hating me, to be honest. For the mutant thing, or what I do.

That's sort of what makes the way Fen treats me so different.

Look, I'm not going to apologize for Bardo or Cati. Neither of us thinks they were good people, and one tried to enlave me with debt, and the other tried to control me by threatening my family.

I'm sorry you got stuck with Krix. I know how shitty it is to be stuck under a bad noble.

But I'm not here to rub it in. Fen's your friend, and you're going to be working for his future opponent. You have an opportunity here, if you're willing to act like someone you despise. We can stack the deck in his favor.

>>734346
Why, for what you did to Fen? You made a big mistake out of desperation, and you're making up for it.

"Is that all? Most people don't bother hiding what they think of me. If telling me would make you feel better, go ahead. Or do you want me to try justify myself to you? I'm a mutant. I can't be a big strong honorable warrior like the empire imagines its ideal kobold is, like Fen or Croc or you, to get showered in praise and loyalty, and mithril noble ladies commenting on my... "healthy shape"."

*wink*

"... So I became an information trader. I deal in bribes and blackmail and secrets and lies. I deal with terrible people who do terrible things, sometimes to me. I figure I've turned out pretty good, considering. I had a moment of weakness with Fen, but I've done everything I could to do right by him since. It's up to you whether to believe anything I say, though."

Let's not push Moss to be our spy or sleeper agent or anything, by the way. He seems a pretty straightforward, upstanding guy, he doesn't seem the type to carry out straight-up treacherous acts himself, he's already done a lot for Fen and he doesn't like Cheese. We'll see how things stand with him when the time comes.

>"I was and still am keeping myself from telling you how much I despise you."
Why? If you've got something to say, then go ahead and say it. I mean, look at me. Do I look like I can stop you? Just go ahead and tell me exactly how much you despise me. I probably deserve most of it anyways.

1/2 Cheese 2016/07/07(Thu)18:24 No. 734394 ID: dd338c
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"I'm used to people hating me. I mean, can I stop you? I'm not some big empirical warrior ideal and it's tough enough to get people to look at me without grimacing, let alone having mithril ladies talk about my 'healthy shape.' I hope it's because of the dragoncloth and not me being a mutant. Fen helped me out and didn't kill me and I owe him so much, so I'm gonna help him to pay him back! You've got to have seen worse crime as a guard. I mean, dragoncloth or no, thievery can't be the thing that turned your stomach."
>".... about 6 years ago, they say you told a noble's war band that some town was hiding funds. They set it on fire and searched it top to bottom. You did that so another town, less than a quarter of the population, wouldn't get attacked instead. Is that true?"
"I... was more despicable back then, but I did. I'm trying to redeem myself, though, because lately I've been seeing how shitty I've been."
>"It was three nights ago you just stole a pricless artifact! How hard have you been trying when you just failed?!"
"I told Fen how sorry I was! Ask him about - "
>"You have yet to make it up for him, and you still want him to save you!"
"I was stupidly desperate and got caught in a moment of weakness! One noble has me hopelessly in debt, the other threatens my family, I just see a dragoncloth and my mind - "

2/2 Cheese 2016/07/07(Thu)18:30 No. 734396 ID: dd338c
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He grabs me by the shoulders and slams me back into the pillar.

>"You saw it?! I had my family and friends and every place I loved killed and razed while Warlord Krix did his rebellion. I had to hide for months in a dead land, and when it finally ends, I see him rewarded with wooden nobility. Today I saw my wife. I could only visit for about 30 minutes after not seeing her for weeks, after she made it clear to me that she's been wanting a husband, not bundles of coins. Today she finally did it and left me. And I don't blame her. Guarding is the only thing that I can do that even lets me save anything and support us, but it keeps me from her, and she... and I left to come here to see Krix, in person, for the first time, and get told by Apanya that because of my 'healthy shape,' I'm working for Warlord Krix now. She even knew my history with him and still... and then kills or demotes every single remaining gold noble except him. Now I've got just a friend or two in the world, and work for..."

He chokes before his voice steadies.

>"Fen wasn't followed. He was ignorant. His back was turned. I could have stabbed him, taken his dragoncloth, and be treated to dinner by some bigots for ridding the world of someone south. I can't fence dragoncloth myself, but I could've taken it, and if I found a way to sell it for a 10th of the price, I could have retired for ten lifetimes. But I didn't. Because I'm decent.. I learned to be happy with what I've got, and it's not easy, but I'm determined to keep it that way when I keep seeing people like you go running off and making huge messes, siccing warbands on towns and coaxing nobles to set other towns on fire intentionally or not. That's why I don't like you."

"@#$% this country, it's built on monsters that pretend to be kobolds, to the point that everyone in power is SUPPOSED to be twisted in some way, shape, or form, and then asked to fulfill some personified ideal that's far from anything they're worthy of! The only reason I'm not up there on that golden tower getting my head chopped off is because I can't fit!

... Metaphorically and physically."

>>734396
Tell him that within a year, things will change. If there's anything he needs in the meantime you will try to help, because he's a friend of a friend, and you're trying to keep the one friend you have.

Make sure you're both being quiet while you have this little... discussion.

"Fine. That's fair. I could try tell you that everything shitty I've ever done was me being pushed into a corner by some noble being terrible first, but I'd bet that's the excuse they'd offer themselves. And I bet you know it already, don't you? But you can't touch the nobles, so you want to vent on me. I deserve it too, so go ahead. I could be worse, but you are a better person than I am, I won't argue it. Look, if you hate the idea of working for Krix, I can try spin things with Gauche to get him to ask Krix to... lend you out, I don't know. The Fence needs to rebuild its town guard, and he'll need someone who knows the job and has integrity, to train and organize it. Gauche mostly just wants to provide for his family and keep quiet, so he'd suit you. Or, if you want to get payback you can stay with Krix and wait for a chance. If Apanya knows your relationship to him, then I'd bet she's aiming for a full sweep, four out of four, and installing you as someone who'd be willing to help it happen."

>Because I'm decent.
....Yeah, you know what, you are.

And you know what? You're a rarity. I don't think most people are that decent. I think there are a lot of kobolds who would have stabbed him in the back, and very few who would have helped him like you did. If Fen's really gonna be a noble, he's gonna need people like you.

Me? I'm scum, but at least I know it.

I'm sorry you got burned by this. There's not a whole lot I can do to make this better, except help make it an even set. There's one gold noble who's past due for a fall.

...as long as the empire's a tinderbox of greedy bastards though, it doesn't matter if there are people like me to light the fires. Something always will, until we change. Fen's the first person who's ever made me hope that might happen.

Yeah life is a miserable unfair mess isn't it? Assholes get ahead and the common man gets fucked. But for all the harm I might have caused I was doing my best to improve my life. You say you don't like me? Well I don't like cowards who hide from the world after it beat them down.

I am not going to pretend I am some saint working for the greater good. Most of my life has been a mad scramble to keep myself alive. You can at least get honest work. I am pathetic mutant and not even a abomination that can get hired on as a death machine like my siblings. I spent years just trying to get by. And honestly for a lot of it I did not care about the people that got hurt along the way. When everyone spits on you and the only way you can go outside without getting beaten is if you have bodyguards you get a twisted view of things.

But you know what I never hid and hoped that the world would fix itself. I was out there every day trying to improve things for myself the only way I knew how. And I regret so much of it now. But if I stop trying now just because I helped hurt people before then all if it goes to waste.

I had no idea she would stick you with Krix or that you had a history with him. But you know what? You only have to live with him for a few more months at most. Cause a friend of ours will be back soon and he is going to get his property back. Hell I think Apanya knew that and she did get rid of all of her nobles back in that court room. Just one of them does not know it yet.

So you might hate me but can you work with me? I have hitched my horse to Fen's wagon and will do anything I can to help him. And if he knew about your sad tale he would be doing the same for you right now. If you can stomach your hatred of Krix long enough your revenge will be soon coming.

>>734396
Not everyone is strong like you, Moss. You can't expect them too. Krix will get his one day, just keep your head down and you'll see it. Most nobles meet the same fate as Bardo and Cati, their too hungry for their own good.

4 nobles have died in the last week, all for the same reason. Too hungry, too ambitious. It won't be long before Apamya does the same thing to Krix. Hell, it's probably why she put you there. She's probably been filling his armies with people who have all the reason to hate him, and now she's sending him after that accursed dragon cloth. She's cleaning house, Moss.

The main difference between Krixs demise is that Fen or me won't have anything to do with it. You want him dead, Moss, find whatever plot Apanya's doing, and help it along yourself.

Just know it's probably going to get a lot of people killed in the process, and you won't be decent by the end of it. You'll look into that abyss and become a part of it. Funny thing is, you don't even really have a choice in the matter. What's going to happen is going to happen, and you'll do you, regardless.

Fen Quest Thread 3 End Cheese 2016/07/07(Thu)23:05 No. 734472 ID: dd338c
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"I'm not a saint, either! I'm not my biggest fan either, you know, and I've gotta deal with me every day of the week. Maybe you're decent, and that means you're a huge rarity. You want the warlord dead, right?" I ask, making sure no one else is around and whispering during all of this.
>"More than anything now, but I don't want to burn down the people Tunna just to indulge myself."
"And how many towns are gonna burn down because you didn't want to burn down that place? Yeah, what happened to the Fence is awful, but Sir Gauche is... not the worst. I think he can turn it into a good place, especially with Lady Apanya ordering him too. If he's supported, then maybe it's for the greater good that the Fence got sacked today."
>"I'm sick of hearing about all the shit that happens for the 'greater good' that never comes."
"And I'm sick of the empire being built on monsters that pretend to be kobolds. And watching strong, decent people like you just sit around and let things be. Sir Gauche is going to need a town guard. If you just want to have a cozy job, then maybe I can have him buy you off of your new employer, because you're a friend to my friend and that counts as something. But, you know, if you want to make some change, you can be the best guard under Krix and, over the next few months, find out how some barbarian could sneak in and mess things up."

He looks away.

>"Spare me. I'm going to have to kick innocent people out of homes, 'interrogate' random citizens who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and topple merchant wagons because they didn't load Lord Krix's coffers. I'm not so optimistic to assume Fen is going to make it out of the army, but if he does, I'd never forgive myself if he got killed by Lord Krix when I might've been able to prevent it. That's what will convince me, not Lady Apanya's plans, not your lectures, not telling myself the 'greater good' while kicking kids' teeth in for feeding themselves."
"That's a good reason. I don't know why or if Lady Apanya would bank on Fen making it out, but she isn't the sort to just throw random assassination plans out and hope they stick. Who knows how many other people she's put under Krix's payroll. Lady Apanya completely cleaned her house of gold. One of them just doesn't know it yet."

That was fun. See you later, Cheese.

... Ask Moss if he wants to hit the bath salts. Your treat.

oh no someone turned off the chroma key compositing too early!

Anyway, good luck Cheese. See if you can find enough spare money to afford some good clothes and grooming more often. It'll make a good/intimidating impression on the kinds of people you're going to be dealing with. Also you actually look kinda pretty now, not just weird-cute. It'll do wonders for your confidence.

"For the record, it was actually the kids kicking in my teeth."

It occurs to me that Apanya's agent might be Croc. That's why he was in town- he was doing spy work. Which means he might not actually be interested in Cheese, heartbreaking though the possibility might be.

Cheese should try to eliminate that possibility before bothering to learn his dialect so she can understand him. On the other hand, learning the dialect might be handy for the purpose of speaking in code.