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827264 No. 827264 ID: bfb318

Previous Threads/Wiki: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest
Inventory and Other Info: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest_Statistics
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Lagotrope


"What're you gawking at, barbarian?!"

Orjin marches ahead of me along a path, and doesn't even look at me. I feel like cave kobolds might have eyes on their back. On the occasional time that we reach the peak of a hill, I see grave markers poking out of the grass as far as the horizon will let me.

"It's bigger than I expected. Is every major landmark excessively built?" I ask.
"You sleep in a hole in the ground! The answer will always be yes for you!"
1914 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 847611 ID: 33d4be

Just put your hand on her shoulder. The one nearest to you. Tell her that between the intended mission and all the extra information you and her brought back, and her recovery time to excuse her, she'll be able to spend tomorrow in as much comfort as she can get, and that she deserves it.

This is only speculation, but Aira may be thinking of how she has a habit of being saved by people. She mentioned that as a recurring element in her life before, didn't she? She must be wondering if her own abilities really measure up, and if she'll be horribly dead the moment her luck runs out. Maybe you should offer more serious training/sparring with her some time? Maybe teach her other skills you have, and have her teach you some more social skills for the empire? She's one of your best allies, and setting her up for a good life in a high-ranking position will really help you out long term.
>>
No. 847612 ID: 015058

I am going to give you a hug now Aira.

Then give her one. Unless he fluffs up in panic or something.
>>
No. 847613 ID: 28cb85

If you're not sure it's right, better not. She's more likely to appreciate you offering your hand to help her to her feet or something.
>>
No. 847616 ID: 3abd97

>>847603
I think blunt Fen style honestly might work here.

"I get the feeling I am missing something, or that there is something that has been unsaid."

One guess: "Did you want me to explain the situation with Lily further?"

>>847606
Aira's had the lines on her nose since she was first introduced. If they're missing somewhere, it's either an art error, or they were covered up.
>>
No. 847617 ID: deec6e

>>847603

Let's salvage this conversation. If hugging might be awkward and you're unsure, think of some other way of displaying your empathy for her. She does know you love another, so I don't think a hug would necessarily be interpreted as a show of romantic affection. If you really want to be blunt, you could make it a sincere statement, or observation - "You look like you need a hug. Is that inappropriate here? Stupid barbarian, remember."

But there's other ways to show concern and ease worries. Ask her how her eye's coming along. Suggest what jokes you should report in to Orjin with ("Taking a long time dying, sir. Will disappoint eventually, but what else is new."). Ask her if there's anything she likes to do to relax - and if she wants to ask more questions about the Momo/Lily situation, since you did promise to explain more when you got back to camp.

Ask her about herself. What does she want out of her army service? What made her join?

And suggest holding a small wake to Padli, if the rest of the squad is up for it. For morale.

"He would have appreciated it... and who knows? Around here, he might still. It's nice to be remembered."
>>
No. 847618 ID: c90231

>>847613
i second this, best not to push an awkward and unprofessional hug. just help her up and talk about something else
>>
No. 847619 ID: 3cc68c

Listen I am not good with words or speeches.

Can I give you a hug instead? I think that would convey my feelings better than me trying to say them out loud.
>>
No. 847620 ID: 5b6223

Hand on shoulder is usually a good way to lead into it. She seems like she could use some comfort, and it seems like she's comfortable around you.
>>
No. 847622 ID: 91ee5f

>>847603
Tell her that you're sorry you keep getting her hurt every time she comes with you.
>>
No. 847626 ID: bfb318
File 151150633814.png - (17.49KB , 800x800 , 1030.png )
847626

I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Are hugs inappropriate?"
>"Only in front of Sir Orjin. Wait, is 'hug' something different for barbarians?""
>"It's where two people hold each other for a moment."

She mutters something under her breath, something about knowing what a hug is.

"I'm sorry. I sense that I might have made things awkward."
>"And you're the color green. It's fine. I can appreciate this kind of awkwardness."

She stands up, I follow, and we hug.

>".... let's do it again, once we're out of armor."
"Is this bad?"
>"No, but it could be better.
"Did you want me to explain more about Lily?"
>"Not while hugging."
"Is that bad?"
>"... are all barbarians this bad at being social?"
"No. This is why I wanted to hug. It's easier than talking."
>"That was a good idea."
"Sorry you keep getting injured whenever you come with me."
>"Stop talking. You are better at hugs after all."

I had a mind to ask her why she joined the army, and if she wants to spar sometime, having a funeral for Padli, and other things. Instead, I stop on her request. She's in no hurry to stop the hug, which is fine, because neither am I. It is a long hug before she says anything.

>"Thank you. Let's go find Sir Orjin."
>>
No. 847628 ID: bfb318
File 151150638661.png - (52.83KB , 1200x800 , 1031.png )
847628

Thankfully, camps are kept in the divisions we came from, and it isn't hard to find the knight's segment of the assassin's branch. It's also easy finding Sir Orjin, as passing a few paths leads us to a building called "Holly's Counter." We go inside.

Holly, Valsano, Dame Frais, Sir Mopp and Sir Orjin are there.

Any joyful sounds of surprise amd reunion are muffled by Orjin shouting.

>"Look who showed up after all! You lovebirds take the scenic route or something?!"
>"Yes. We found roses to smell." says Aira, who seems to have been more outspoken than usual today.
>"Smell shit on your own time!"
>"Drink?" Holly asks.
>>
No. 847629 ID: 015058

Yes a drink would be good.

And a toast. To the fallen. And the living.
>>
No. 847630 ID: 33d4be

"Yes, a drink for everyone." You have some gold to spare. Don't play it off like a celebration, it can be for anyone who wants or needs it to be, but if people want to grieve or try shake off the stuff they've seen, that's fine too. Ask if Mowbow made it. And/or what news from everyone else, for that matter.
>>
No. 847631 ID: 1e7aa8

>>847629
Only toast to the living. Pretty sure Orjin is going to take offense to us toasting Padli.
>>
No. 847632 ID: e24b91

Something light.
>>
No. 847633 ID: 3abd97

>"Drink?" Holly asks.
Yeah, get a drink. We can toast the people we lost today, at least.

Trade war stories with your squadies, see what shit they had to deal with after you all split up.
>>
No. 847634 ID: 830fb7

Grab a drink announce a tost commemorating Padli and the fallen saying something like "to those we have lost, may we never forget their sacrifice and to those who still stand, may your lives be long, blades always strike true, and your deaths merciful.
>>
No. 847636 ID: c88e6d

>>847628
Drinks!
>>
No. 847638 ID: 0bdece

"I thought this is our time?"
>>
No. 847640 ID: bfb318
File 151150775248.png - (15.42KB , 800x800 , 1032.png )
847640

>"Yes." says Aira.
"Yes." I say, finally caving to the peer pressure to drink. "Can we toast to Padli, Orjin?"
>"Yeah sure." says Orjin.

Holly passes out drinks, reminding everyone that they're free for our group. I have something in mind to commemorate Padli, but Orjin, who is our superior, gets the honor of saying it.

>"To that son of a bitch." says Orjin. "Got himself grabbed."

We drink. I'd say that alcohol doesn't taste as bad as I remember it being, but Holly may have given me a light drink.

"Where is Mowbow?"
>"Okay, get this." says Valsano. "What mental image do you get when you hear 'Death Carrot'?"
>>
No. 847641 ID: 17c2ee

"...Did he choke on soup?"
>>
No. 847642 ID: e24b91

A spaceship shooting exploding bananas. Sometimes hotdogs.
>>
No. 847643 ID: 3abd97

>"What mental image do you get when you hear 'Death Carrot'?"
...a metal carrot, serrated like a dagger?

Was it one of those large monsters with things riding on their backs? They looked vaguely rabbit like.
>>
No. 847645 ID: 28cb85

An Erja Nokol mutant that wants to sound intimidating?... Mowbow did make it here, didn't he?
>>
No. 847646 ID: c88e6d

>>847640
....Animated carrot choked him to death?
>>
No. 847647 ID: 1e7aa8

"...don't tell me there's another necromancer using Death Carrot as his name."
>>
No. 847648 ID: deec6e

>>847641

Yep. This one's a winner.
>>
No. 847651 ID: 830fb7

>>847640
A cursed carrot or a mutant/Abomination trying to sound cool.
>>
No. 847654 ID: bfb318
File 151151022585.png - (16.64KB , 800x800 , 1033.png )
847654

"Maybe a mutant trying to sound threatening, that or he choked on soup."
>"Hahaha that might be it! That would make sense, someone who was named 'Death Carrot' is absolutely someone who'd choke to death on soup! We fought a monster that talked about how he was 'one of Death Carrot's greatest creation!' I couldn't stop laughing! Almost had to let Mowbow handle him alone."

Valsano stops talking for a second to take another drink.

>"... good thing I didn't though. Mowbow got slashed up pretty bad, but he'll pull through. And now the lucky bastard can just sit and get paid to stay in bed for a couple weeks. I woulda taken a dive too if that's how it'd be!"

He stops talking for a moment, then has another giggle fit.

>"Death Carrot! There's a person called Death Carrot!"
"What about you, Sir Orjin, Dame Frais?"
>"Nothing spectacular." says Dame Frais. "We went with the regular army down to base and had to fight through a series of weaker monsters."
>"By the way." says Holly. "Once the fighting is done, we're going to get a detailed report about everything once everything is reported and the big picture is formed out of everyone's individual experiences."
>>
No. 847656 ID: c88e6d

>>847654
That's a terrible name. Also, we ran into an incompetent and insanely powerful necromancer who made a person out of raw mana just to fuck with us.

....The person they made was completely ordinary though soooooo yeah. Then Fen set the necromancer on fire and exploded a Mana Crystal Beast.
>>
No. 847658 ID: a0e836

You know what would be really good now? A bath.
>>
No. 847660 ID: 3abd97

>>847656
I feel like understating it would be funnier, and more Fen. Just "I lit a wizard on fire."
>>
No. 847661 ID: 094652

Raise a toast to the Ice Worm, who will probably get beheaded by Garlic Soup now that it's clear it isn't loyal to them anymore.

Seriously, they would make fantastic pets for nobility. An ice machine that loves hugging flames? You could get ten mithril per baby worm before they begin constructing worm mills.
>>
No. 847663 ID: fe4165

>>847660
say this please
>>
No. 847664 ID: 28cb85

We'll be sure to get Mowbow some carrot soup or something, that ought to cheer him up while he's in recovery.

So, I set my brother's ex on fire.

Aagh dammit, that was a golden opportunity for an 'old flame' joke.
>>
No. 847667 ID: a0e836

>>847664
so, "I ran into an old flame of my brother's, and I set her on fire"?
>>
No. 847674 ID: fa8fda

>>847654
"I lit a wizard on fire." Take a drink while comments are made. "Apparently they can make a perfect copy of somebody without even trying. By that, I mean they did so on complete accident."
>>
No. 847679 ID: 9e4723

Add that is starting to get annoying that your enemies recognise you all the time and they always have a monolog to give.
And then get their asses kicked.
>>
No. 847680 ID: de6d84

>>847660

Perfect.
>>
No. 847682 ID: bfb318
File 151153026015.png - (14.45KB , 800x800 , 1034.png )
847682

>What about you, Fen? Do anything interesting?" Valsano asks.
"I lit a wizard on fire."
>"What'd it look like?"
"She was a southern wizard, some kind of bird with a blindfold. Her name was Momo."
People process that in, before Sir Orjin shouts more.
>"Fuck that lady!"
>"Bad fuck or sexy fuck?" says Valsano
>"Take a damn guess!" Orjin doesn't say anything more on Momo.

>Take a bath
I do that. This building shares a bath house with a few other greater knight groups, but Sir Orjin's is the only one currently in the base. It gives me time to think, but I just get errant thoughts like if mithril nobles keep things like ice worms as pets.

Aira comes in to draw a bath as well. We're both chilled from wandering through the tombs for so long, and the empire's baths are good at making hot water.

"I thought bathhouses were divided by gender."
>"Not in the army. Do you mind me being here."
"No, I just wondered."
>"Okay. Are you going to rest tomorrow, too?"
"It feels strange to me to rest while there's fighting going on out there."
>"This isn't some tribe fighting. We have to rotate fighters to recover, instead of sending out everyone to get fatigued."
>>
No. 847685 ID: bcac0b

You've both got the same dirt on you, you should both be in the same bath.

Also easier to talk. Or waterhug. A time-tested southern tradtion.
>>
No. 847686 ID: 178769

Makes sense, otherwise the untiring dead would be able to tire the whole army out and make them a new army of sleepless undead after they all died of exhaustion. Rotation in mass warfare allows for a front of fresh troops to be fighting at there best before being pulled back for patch up and rest before being put back out. Great for moral too if you get to rest a bit between fights.
>>
No. 847688 ID: 54d6ca

I guess. Attrition rather than one battle deciding the fate of the tribe.

>>847685
Nah, those tubs are pretty small and Aira's already drawn a bath.
>>
No. 847689 ID: 830fb7

I say it should depend on wether our armour is done. If it's finished it disserves a good test run if not we can wait for it. Eather way we should probably take the rest of the day and /or night off to get some rest.
>>
No. 847690 ID: a0e836

You'll see tomorrow how well rested you are. Probably some lighter duties tomorrow, getting back into the thick of it later yet.
>>
No. 847691 ID: b2bad8

>>847682
"What do you think will happen to Lily Construct?"
Now things are just winding down, which is a good time to take stock of the things we now know. There is a second Lily, made accidentally by some feathered wizard named Momo. Cassa is apparently still alive despite what we saw, so they are likely a Construct. But if they are like Lily, they might not know yet and could still be convinced to our side.
We need to make some kind of plan.
>>
No. 847692 ID: bfb318
File 151153246474.png - (19.45KB , 800x800 , 1035.png )
847692

I consider rotating soldiers. It makes sense, when I think about it.

"I'm not sure. It depends on if the first pieces of my armor will be done. What do you think will happen to the Lily construct?"
>"I honestly have no idea."

We sit in the bath for awhile. Between the time spent in the tombs, the time took to walk down here, give a report, and find Orjin's building, it may have gotten much later than I thought. Then again, it feels like a full day has passed.

Holly comes in.

>"Hey, I got that detailed report, or at least a preliminary version. Would summing things up spoil the mood in here?" Her eyebrows waggle at us.
>>
No. 847693 ID: 54d6ca

Nah, go ahead. Just washing the dirt off and warming up, the anomaly was freezing cold.
>>
No. 847694 ID: b2bad8

>>847692
The mood is lousy. Anything that ruins that would be welcome.
>>
No. 847696 ID: a363ac

>>847692
"mood?"
>>
No. 847697 ID: bfb318
File 151153409736.png - (14.64KB , 800x800 , 1036.png )
847697

"We're just getting warm and washing. I don't think there's much of a mood."
>"Mhm. Okay. Let me start with the bad news. Our army barely knows what they're doing, or how to deal with this whole fight. The good news is that the necromancers aren't much better. A lot of details are missing, but supposedly there was evidence of necromancers miscommunicating, stepping on each others toes, and maybe even infighting. This kind of undead army has never been fought before, but it's also never been used before, so no one knows what they're doing.
>"The necromancers knew the anomalies, at least the way they were set up, were a temporary thing and they would eventually need to deal with the us more directly. Once you all started neutralizing the anomaly, and the rest of the army started hacking at the canals, well, that was when they decided to respond with overwhelming force. Or that's what it looked like their goal was, as there was a lot of magic. Everyone down here, Zall and any wizard, says they used more magic than all the 7 archwizards of the empire could generate in a whole year. Maybe even a decade. There's simply no evidence that they can regenerate what they used anytime soon, so it's a good sign they went all out using experimental magic with mixed results. The supply route has been getting broken up, so we're constantly fighting, and we're afraid that their goal now is to break it up constantly enough to siege us. Sir Zall is ordering a big push of supplies to stockpile down here in case it happens.
>"We also have wizards making countermeasures. Items that will help confirm people's identities. Anti-magic wards that will prevent cave-ins, and so on."
"Why didn't they cave in this area?"
>"They did. The whole northern gate is completely trashed, so a lot of our soldiers are occupied guarding and rebuilding that area. This is a big area, though, and caving in this whole place isn't something they can do. Chances are, the necromancers will still use their big mana shots defensively, so it's still a big issue for expeditions going outward.
>"That brings up the mana batteries, though. There's at least 4, but 2 were killed. They didn't have much for brains, because if they were smart, they probably wouldn't have ran into danger like they did with you and Aira. The antlers, worm, and battery flesh gave us a big idea of where the big mana zones are, because the necromancers can't use their mana if they're too far away. That way we can send in people towards or away from magic heavy areas, depending on what we want done. Zall definitely wants to focus on killing their mana storage anyway, because he doesn't want to wage a magic heavy war. It just gives way too many options for the enemy, and we can't defend against everything.
>"For other stuff, well, frogs are considered to be an enemy now. There's reason to think the frogs are sending the enemy information. Oh, and news about Lily was given to us specifically. They've sent runners to check in on the real one. The 'fake' Lily is doing alright. They think that they used some kind of base brain, but then used your expectations of her to give her her personality. That would explain why she knows things no one else did, but when pushed, we realized she actually knew very little about Lord Shup, her family, and so on.
>"Moving on, there's four major identities we've found. Garlic Soup, Momo, Death Carrot, and someone we don't have a name for. Several monsters have intelligence too, but they act like rank and file beasts. For the most part, their forces are moved in big groups at a time, and we're not even sure if they have much capability to micromanage much.
>"I think that's the general overview of the report. Anything else can be learned depending on what you do next. Anything else you want to know, or I can get for you? Everyone else is turning in for the night."
>>
No. 847698 ID: a363ac

>>847697
"A sleeping partner would be nice?"
>>
No. 847701 ID: a363ac

>>847698
Fen is used to sleeping with his family after all. I am sure some "friends" could help with making his rest easier.
>>
No. 847702 ID: 9e4723

Then it is just as i thought, the are prety powerful, but they don't know how tu use thier resourses. They actually show their incompetence by not being able to kill us when they could, specialy Momo, that woman is stupid. I think Fen should rest, and prepear himself to go and do some assassin work, start hiting big objetives. But that depens on what our superiors whant.
>>
No. 847703 ID: 9e4723

Also, we are going to tell Fen's friends about his thing for Lily eventually, they might get the wrong idea with Aria.
Also also, Aria MIGHT have something for Fen to. So yeah, awkward.
>>
No. 847704 ID: 91ee5f

>Anything else you want to know?
Ask about Lady Cassa. Everyone saw her get shot in the head. Is it possible that she survived thanks to all the healing cloths that her guards put on her or could that not really be Lady Cassa?
>>
No. 847705 ID: 54d6ca

Aside from asking about Lady Casss, I can't think of anything. Rest up Fen, sounds like there's gonna be more assassin work in the future.
>>
No. 847706 ID: 17c2ee

Hug her too. It's time to be sappy. And awkward.
>>
No. 847708 ID: b1b4f3

>>847697
I bet the base brain is Momo's.

How about you spend some downtime playing that board game?
>>
No. 847709 ID: 91ee5f

>>847698
>>847701
Asking to have someone sleep with us is appropriate in the army.

Fen may be a barbarian, but he knows that he can't sleep together with everyone here in the army the same way he did with his tribe back home.

>>847706
Let's not try to hug her while we are both wet and naked.

>>847708
>Play board game.
Yeah, we can do that for a little while before going to sleep.
>>
No. 847711 ID: 54d6ca

>>847706
Maybe not while we're naked and soaking wet.
>>
No. 847712 ID: 66085d

Well I would love to know about the lady Cassa situation.

Other than that I would not mind having two cute girls to spend the night with. The ones in this room if they are interested.
>>
No. 847714 ID: 015058

That sounds like a pretty good update. Maybe ask about Cassa being back from the dead. And then see if they want to spend the night with you.
>>
No. 847716 ID: 54d6ca

>>847712
I thought we only had eyes for Lily? I mean, I'd consider Aira and Holly to be close friends but I wouldn't go asking them to sleep with us.

Besides, we told Aira of our relationship with Lily, so asking that would send mixed signals.
>>
No. 847717 ID: 3cc68c

Ask about Cassa.

Then awkwardly seduce some ladies. AKA just asking if they want to spend the night with you and not worrying if they say no.
>>
No. 847718 ID: b9789a

>>847716

We quest for Lily its true. But no reason we can not take other lovers that mean something to us. Fen only seems to dislike casual flings with girls he barely knows.

Get some company for the night if they are interested.
>>
No. 847719 ID: fcd101

Getting some getting some fluffy bed warmers for the night or would not be a bad idea.

Also ask about the things.
>>
No. 847720 ID: 62db95

>>847711
Specifically while we're naked and soaking wet.

>>847716
Lily is the end goal, but its alright to have smaller goals along the way. Both Holly and Aira are important to Fen by now, i'd say.
>>
No. 847721 ID: fa8fda

>>847697
I think that having company while he sleeps is a nice reminder of Fens old home habits. It's like he's unconciously replicating something to give a sense of familiarity and calming.
Everybody has their own way of coping with war. Some people drink, some people become less mature in their actions, and some people grip onto a small part of their past lives.
>>
No. 847723 ID: fa8fda

>>847716
Lily is the only object of our affections. Aira and Holly are just the only ones we really know down here, and their physical presence is comforting to Fen. I think it just adds a senamblance of normalacy to what's happening.
>>
No. 847724 ID: a0e836

Enough with the awkward thoughts. Let's ask about Cassa, and play one or two rounds of kimankara if there's still time.
>>
No. 847725 ID: c0641d

>>847724
Agreed. Time for some perfectly platonic R&R.
>>
No. 847726 ID: 9e4723

>>847724
I second this, i totaly forgot about Cassa. It is really alarming that se survived after all that happened to her. The arrow shot and the falling to the hole would have being almost imposible to survive. What happened to her? Are they 100% sure that she is "the Cassa".
>>
No. 847727 ID: 33d4be

Yeah ask about Cassa. It'd be nice to have some more details about Lily, too, is she an undead who was heavily modified with magic to become Lily, some living prisoner who was heavily modified, or made entirely out of magic? Any idea how long she's going to last?

After having your questions answered, get dried and dressed and go check on Lily physically yourself, just knowing you dropped by will probably nice for her. Then go get as much sleep as you can. I was under the impression Holly had shifted to a different sleeping shift than you, but if not you can ask her to join, and Aira, for warmth and security purposes. Not sex, that'd be awkward. Aira would know who you're really thinking of and Holly I'm not sure is into you that way, plus they probably wouldn't be into both being called in together like that.

Remember, Zall said that you'd be as safe sleeping in an anomaly as in your bed, and that it wasn't as much an exaggeration as he'd wish. Make sure you're safe when you go snooze.
>>
No. 847730 ID: 9e4723

>>847727
This is a good excuse to sleep together. We haven't heard nothing else about Krix bounty crew for a while.
Besides, both Holly and Aria are fluffy and warm.
>>
No. 847731 ID: 3abd97

>Anything else you want to know
Has there been any new information on how Cassa survived, or if she's a construct or undead?

>or I can get for you
"I'll want to write more letters, later."

We need to tell Zizi, again, that he's the worst storyteller. And that we lit his ex on fire. We want to keep Cheese in the loop.

Was considering writing Shup earlier, but if he's already in the loop on not-Lily and we aren't even sure Cassa died that kind of messes up my earlier mental drafts a lot.

>"A sleeping partner would be nice?"
I'm just going to say no to Fen propositioning either of them if that's the way this was meant.
>>
No. 847733 ID: bfb318
File 151154339422.png - (17.72KB , 800x800 , 1037.png )
847733

"I'd like to know what's going on with Lady Cassa."
>"I'd like to know, too!" Holly says. "But that's a bit hidden. She's not a construct like our Lily, though, she's been able to run through her life's memories more than Lily. That's about all I know. This was a quick report, after all. I think you'll be allowed to visit either one, tomorrow."
"Okay."
>"Where do we sleep?" asks Aira.
>"Behind the bar, you passed the door, it was on the first left. Don't worry, the acoustics here are surprisingly nice, so a rowdy crowd won't interrupt sleep. Plus, since it's indoors, it's much easier to guard against people looking for your bounty. The only downside is that it's still cramped, but no more cramped than the tent was. If you want, I know of a comfy, private spot where you two can sleep together without being disturbed." she says, making a weird face.
"As long as the room isn't too cramped, we will be fine. I would like to play some kimankara first, and I would like help writing some letters since I have more to tell Zizi. When we sleep, Aira, if you're still cold, we can sleep together again for warmth. You are welcome too, Holly."

Holly looks like she's laughing hysterically on the inside.

"Oh my goodness, I love you barbarians." Holly says.
"I am missing some kind of joke. I'm certain by now I've mentioned that it is common for us shroomleaf tribes to sleep together under the trees? It is a gesture of familiarity, nothing more or less. Aira and I have already slept together before."
>"I'd like to do it as barbarians, then." says Aira. "Just sleeping as awkward friends, nothing more."
>"I'll pass." says Holly. "But maybe I'll take the offer someday. I'll keep you both updated. Rest up, because Sir Zall's got plans for you."
>>
No. 847737 ID: 91ee5f

>>847733
>Plus, since it's indoors, it's much easier to guard against people looking for your bounty.
That takes care of that problem.

>Rest up, because Sir Zall's got plans for you.
I guess it's time to finish our bath, play a little kimankara, and then get to sleep. But don't rush Aira to finish her bath, she'll be done when she's ready to be done.

Tomorrow, since a few pieces of our armor were only 1 day from completion, we can go check on those after writing to Zizi. Then ask the blacksmith how long we'd have to wait for the rest of our armor, so we can have the complete set.
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No. 847739 ID: b1b4f3

>>847733
>Plans
Finally! Some real action!
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No. 847740 ID: c88e6d

>>847739
The largest battle against undead there ever has been isn't enough action for ya?

Anyway, let's go sleep in the Kobold Pile!
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No. 847741 ID: a0e836

>>847733
I'm having a guess at this, but it sounds like with his conversations with Garlic Soup and Momo, Fen is becoming the "face" of the imperial army for the enemy. If they hate Fen more than they hate Zall, the latter will sure take advantage of this.

Speaking of, if Garlic Soup ever talks to Fen again, Fen should tell him that if the army ever flips Momo's allegiance, he'll know when he sees two of Fen approaching.

PS: In the letter to Zizi, On the one hand Fen should mention that he'd have appreciated more advance knowledge about Momo... but also mention that her reaction to his lack thereof was hilarious.
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No. 847745 ID: 9e4723

>>847739
Fen is ALL about special plans, tell her that you are excited. After all, you did pass a lot of time doing nothing back home, this is a good change of pace, even if it's ends up been dangerous. Got to look cool too.
>>847741
Yeah, let's inform your brother about Momo, that was quite funny, but unexpected, we need more "reliable" information.
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No. 847758 ID: 33d4be

Hmmm, could it be that someone might be in line for a promotion??? You guys should brush up on whatever the next rank up from you is expected to be able to do.

Anyway, even if the bar is secure, maybe you should like... prop a couple of metal objects on the inside of the door or something, so if someone opens it they'll fall and clang loudly. Keep your swords next to you.
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No. 847759 ID: 91ee5f

Oh, yeah, we should get something to eat before we go to sleep! Fen only drank a glass of alcohol when he got here, so let's get a proper meal in him!
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No. 847778 ID: d36af7

If you're up against four poorly-coordinated necromancers, and the highest serial number you've seen on a mana battery beast is four, there's a distinct possibility there were originally eight mana batteries, two per necromancer, and with two confirmed kills they're now down to six.
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No. 847780 ID: a0e836

>>847778
Can't argue with your logic, but there's also a possibility that there were only four, starting at 1. That may be wishful thinking on my part, though.
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No. 847783 ID: 9e4723

>>847778
Are we sure that there aren't any more necromancers, and by extent, more mana beasts that we haven't meet yet?
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No. 847821 ID: a1ac61

>>847733
So long as those plans include the word "almost" before "certain death" we should be able to handle it.
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No. 847828 ID: 33d4be

Oh, how are Firzel and Bolk?
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No. 847833 ID: 28cb85

Hope he's good at planning then!

I'm guessing maybe the mana leaking from the mana beast interacted with all the healing bandages Cassa was wrapped in, causing her to be healed quickly, but that's just me hoping there aren't many more constructs running around.
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No. 847860 ID: d36af7

>>847780
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
>>847783
If mana beasts have serial numbers, the simplest assumption is that whichever ones you're looking at are from near the middle of the production run. Tricky statistical analysis becomes possible with larger sample sizes, but so long as the serial numbers are all single-digit there's almost certainly no more than ten total.
>That brings up the mana batteries, though. There's at least 4, but 2 were killed. They didn't have much for brains, because if they were smart, they probably wouldn't have ran into danger like they did with you and Aira
Pessimism says "at least four" means "more than four, but we haven't found the rest yet." Given that they're a support unit, and suicidally stupid when unsupervised, it would make sense to keep some in reserve, way behind the front lines, rather than committing them all at once on an untested plan.

As for the number of enemy commanders, they're not saying "at least four" there, it's three names-and-faces plus one unknown. If each necromancer has their own assets and they're tripping over each other, maybe even infighting, that makes it relatively easy to figure a count of enemy factions: just look at how many sets of disjointed enemy action you're facing at once.

I figure eight mana beasts because four active enemy factions with no apparent hierarchy among them means approximately equal resources for each, which means a multiple of four. Two sets of four mana beasts would be enough to have each necromancer deploy one and keep one in reserve. Makes sense to send out the first four produced so you can get field testing data for last-minute mods on the second batch, and tactical data on how to make best use of those, which would presumably be of higher quality just from increasing familiarity with the production process. Prototypes are always buggy.

It's a classic strategy: First, split your force into three groups. The cheap, defense-focused types (cold zombies, anomalies) press the enemy in front, then fast cavalry (flesh tube) circles around to outflank (cutting off supply lines), and finally the reserve force exploits an opening in the enemy's defenses, or patches a hole in your own, whichever becomes necessary as the situation develops.
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No. 847869 ID: c0641d

>>847860
This is such a good summation that I suggest that we propose this as a theory to Grand Knight Zall. We’re treating these guys too much like some supernatural, nebulous threat that’s completely alien to everything we stand for. They may have undead, expendable, renewable troops and magic, and may be able to do some janky stuff with them, but beyond that, they still have to play by the same general rules and strategies as us.
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No. 847871 ID: 33d4be

>>847860

I'm not entirely sure of these assumptions. The wizards with the army know more about magic than Fen (and us, thus far), and may be able to say something like "if there were many more than this we'd be able to tell" for some reason we're not aware of. For example, the way the kobold lands work suggests there's a (massive) upper limit on how much total magic there is in the world, and they might be able to make an educated guess on what could have been stored up without someone noticing that it was going missing.

On the other hand, splitting the mana beasts evenly among themselves seems unlikely because they must be very rare and therefore valuable, and it seems more likely that whoever provides them, either by making them or bringing them in from somewhere, would keep a majority for themselves and only give them to others as needed. "No apparent hierarchy" doesn't mean much because whoever creates the mana beasts is probably a specialist and too focused on that to be capable of otherwise running their forces, and would therefore seem to wield equal or lesser power or not be a commander at all.

In any case, "be prepared for things to be worse than they seem to be" is one of the fundamental rules of running an army and I'm sure Zall is the kind of man who'd have thought of it.
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No. 847922 ID: 9e4723

>>847860
>>847871
>>847869
This all possibilities. Let's just hope that Zall doesn't miss any of this lines of thought. Fen wouldn't be able to figure out so much of it, and he shouldn't, he is the one who is going to carry out the mission, not plan it.
if the chance presents itself, we can allways make some sugestions, or make some questions.
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No. 847968 ID: 91ee5f

>>847922
I agree.

Fen is just a soldier, it's not his job to make these plans. Leave the planning to Grand Knight Zall.
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No. 848040 ID: c0641d

>>847968
But we’re trying to rise above the rank of “just a soldier,” remember? Even if Zall deems us incorrect or redundant, we surely won’t hurt his perception of our intelligence; would an idiot come up with this kind of summation?
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No. 848043 ID: 33d4be

>>848040

There's a chain of command, though. Common soldiers (and I know we're one step up from the lowest rank at this point but so's everyone else here) can't just submit suggestions to the overseer of a whole operation. A better idea would be for Fen to suggest these things to Orjin and then Orjin could pass them up further if he sees fit.
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No. 848045 ID: 91ee5f

>>848040
>would an idiot come up with this kind of summation?
Yes.

It's called a wild imagination based on theories instead of facts.
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No. 848077 ID: 15a025

Ask about what's going to be going on tomorrow.
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No. 848149 ID: a0e836

by the way, when you next write to Cheese, ask her about the name Death Carrot, because it sounds like this one should be ridiculous even by Erja Nokol standards.
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