Thank the kid. That sounds like it was probably her. She would keep hidden and use bodyguards, if she could. (Pay 'em if we haven't already). It's good one of them hung around, just in case that was a decoy.

(Also, it's a good thing we didn't leave the noble seal, a bodyguard could have seen it and told someone. They won't know the significance of the note, just that it's a secret message).

So, I guess all we have to do now is kill time until we see if Cheese sends a reply message, or if she shows up to the meeting.

>>710371

This sounds like a decent plan.

Now you just have to hope that the note the crows gave you is not "Kill the bearer of this message" sort of thing.

Be ready for anything but hopefully this will get you a meeting. Eight bodyguards makes me think she is very scared of you. Will have to see if its just normal paranoia or if she realizes she made a big mistake stealing from you.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)14:52 No. 710376 ID: dd338c
File 145842435863.png - (55.04KB , 800x800 , 319.png )

I hand him a copper.

"Thank you. I will give one copper for now, then the last copper when Pon reports later or Cheese communicates with me, whichever comes first."
>"Okay, um... I guess I'll go back to her then."

He says, running out while clutching that copper to his chest.

Olen keeps food and drink for me as I ask, occasionally checking in on me. After nearly two hours of waiting, it starts getting dark, and Olen lights a torch nearby me. People have come and gone, and sometimes it feels like half of the patrons in here are dealing in shady business. It's busier, here, but everyone seems to keep to themselves.

>"You're welcome to sit by the fire, sir." she says. "It does get cold at night in this town. And don't worry, as rotten as the wood may get, on the bright side, it's very difficult for it to catch fire, so.... oh, no, more importantly, I just got a written message from, um, well, the seal is from the h-honorable noble Sir Gauch, who you likely know is in charge of this district." she says, handing it to me like it might burst into flame if she isn't careful with it.

It's written in bad handwriting with large letters, which does make it seem like Cheese's note.

'Fen I will try to make it just stay there for me don't leave! You're safe there I like you so please don't hate me. And to show I know things you bought food in exchange for foreign food and copper and got my bad map and a look at the big map.'

>"And, um, if there's anything you want from me, please don't hesitate to ask, sir."

We got a return message, so by the terms we set, we owe them a 3rd gold coin. (And a forth if Cheese actually shows).

>Fen I will try to make it just stay there for me don't leave! You're safe there I like you so please don't hate me
This... sounds like a premature apology. It makes me wonder if she's trying something again. Like running while we wait, or guards coming to arrest us while your location is known.

We believe she got the crown note, though, and the crows believed that would persuade her to work with us and give the dragoncloth back. This is our best chance to end this peacefully. If the crows are wrong about that, well, we were never going to get it back without resorting to force. So we wait, and give Cheese a chance. If she doesn't show, this gets messier.

>"And, um, if there's anything you want from me, please don't hesitate to ask, sir."
Geeze, look at how nervous the poor girl is. Offer her polite reassurances and send her on her way.

>>710376
Well, it's a start. I don't understand why she didn't meet in person, though. Did the note not work? Or is she super busy? "try to make it" sounds like she's busy, but... Ugh, I wish we knew for sure. Where the hell's Pon? I'm guessing she'll come by just before curfew.

I guess we have to wait. If Cheese runs off again because of this, we can just track her down again.
Also, I think we know where she's staying now. Sir Gauch's house. Hmm. She might even be stuck there, which is why she can't meet.

Ask for a room. I guess this means we've paid for two rooms, but it's still within our budget.

>>710378
I would personally guess that more than being busy, she's in a tricky situation with the local lord, who she ran to for protection, and she can't extricate herself quickly. (Assuming, of course, she's not lying).

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)15:22 No. 710381 ID: dd338c
File 145842616491.png - (36.65KB , 800x800 , 320.png )

"You're doing fine, thank you. Here is what I owe the establishment. Hand this to the owners." I say, handing her the gold coin. She gawks at it for some time before leaving, and it almost seems like she calls that large field kobold over so that I can see that she is handing it over to him.

Half an hour passes. Pon and Non show up, and I give them their copper piece. Some noise starts coming on overhead, and I hear rain. The roof is leaky, and lots of waiters put buckets down at strategic points.

>"Are you dry, sir?" she comes back to ask me.
"Yes."
>"Um... the owners say that you can stay here the night, if you desire. It's not quite that late if you have a better establishment, but it will get dangerous to go out soon, and we'd hate to hear something happened."
"I was just about to ask. Thank you."

I have to think about how long I'm willing to wait. If she's stuck in the noble's place, there may not be a big rush, but if she's running for it, she can get far if I wait all night.

I'd give her a little while longer, then go and leave a message with the owners for her is she shows. If Cheese is trying to get in touch with you, she'll arrange another meeting if you miss her tonight. No big harm. If she's running though... we can't afford to give her a head start.

...does the storm mean it's foggy out? It might be easier than usual to make contact with the crows, which will help if we need to track her down.

>>710381
I think we should trust in the crows, and assume the note worked. Go check out the room they have.

If she runs for it you go complain to the crows. That being said it is a dark rainy night. Maybe you can contact them?

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)15:48 No. 710385 ID: dd338c
File 145842773896.png - (22.31KB , 800x800 , 321.png )

"Is it foggy, out there?"
>"Oh, I think so, but it's still mostly settled down at the lower fields, so it shouldn't be too bad up here."
"I won't go to bed yet, but I would like to see the room."
>"Sure! This way, sir."

We go upstairs, and the wood bends distressingly low under my weight.
>"It's not much, but it does have a window overlooking the street which can be closed, and our cleanest bed. If you would like this room, I'll have it cleaned further for you before you retire for the night."

If I hurry and leave a message with the owners of this place for Cheese if she shows, I will be able to drop down into the fields and hopefully find a crow and be back before night settles in too badly.

>>710385
...well, a worst case scenario is that Cheese has sent assassins. Stay here, because we REALLY can't risk missing Cheese, but keep an eye out the window.

>>710385
I... damn it. I'm really not sure she's going to show, but this gets so much messier if she doesn't yield here. The crows can help us chase her down again, but if she's running, she knows the crows have contact with you, so she can try to avoid them.

No going to sleep, I think. Stay up, and if she doesn't show and business hours are over, you can go out into the night to find a crow.

Then we can either follow her, or go to the other place to sleep. Because if Cheese is going back on her word again, it's not safe to stay where she and the local noble know you can be found.

Do NOT miss Cheese, under any circumstances.

Assassin's we can deal with. If she sends them or does not show up, it means a betrayal of the crows, which I think is unlikely, so that means something bad happened to her.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)16:30 No. 710393 ID: dd338c
File 145843023867.png - (17.63KB , 800x800 , 322.png )

"I will stay here for at least a little while."

I stare out the window. It faces a bare wall across the street, and gives me a good view of people entering and leaving the diner. Olen remains with me, although she seems nervous about starting conversation, so she isn't talkative company. I do keep the light off, and there is at least enough glow on the street to watch.

Two more hours pass. Things get quiet, and it seems like most people have gone to sleep.

>>710393
Worrying, I think it still makes sense if Cheese is being protected by a noble. They might not be giving Cheese much freedom to go places. So she might be waiting for a chance to sneak out or something.

In any case, I'd say to wait some more. If she ran then you've got to make up for a 4 hour lead, which wouldn't be easy.

>>710393
Ask her if Cheese is the sort to send assassins.

>>710393
*Sigh*. Cheese isn't going to make it, tonight.

Leave a message with Olen. If Cheese shows up, tell her you're sorry, and we'll arrange a meeting a better time for her.

Let's go find a crow.

Give Cheese a chance to get over here. Its not been that long and if she is wrapped up with a noble it might be awhile.

If she is taking the time to escape so be it. You will continue the chase and can ask the crows what they think later. No sense ruining things buy jumping the gun and missing her.

That being said if you see anything suspicious coming be ready to run for it.

Worst case I can think of is that her noble patron is not so much a patron but someone she is unwillingly working for. And he can get the guards after you. Or for that matter your bags searched at the bank for clues.

Next chance you get you need to burn any evidence of your noble killing other than the seal and swords. Like his bag and bloodied clothes. Heck even those are risky if we don't have someone like Cheese to help us get rid of them.

Just a thought but take a look at the note she sent again. Can you get any clues from it?

The message seemed simple enough but almost seems to simple. Like maybe she could not safely say what she wanted to. So check things over to see if she tried to leave you a clue.

Keep waiting. It'll be the small hours before the streets are really safe for someone like Cheese to be out and about, and she might need to make arrangements to be able to come out at all.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)17:13 No. 710403 ID: dd338c
File 145843283648.png - (16.51KB , 800x800 , 323.png )

"Do you know if Cheese is the sort to send assassins?"
>"Wh-what? I'm sorry, I've never met her."

>Just a thought but take a look at the note she sent again. Can you get any clues from it?
No, it doesn't appear to contain any clues, at least not ones I can get.

Another hour passes. Olen yawns, and does her best to hide it. The rain staggers between on, off, and a drizzle.

One more hour passes. Sometimes I still hear a loud argument, and it surprises me people can sleep with that going on.

The arguments stop after a little while, and a soft drizzle seems to soften any other noise.

In the distance, I hear a crow caw once.

Look out the window and follow that crow. For it to risk coming into the town it has big news.

>>710403
We better go out and find that crow. Tell Olen to tell Cheese you stepped out, if she comes by.

Go out very ready for a fight. We've been told repeatedly it's dangerous after dark.

>assassins
Hahaha, come on, you just worried that poor girl for nothing.

>In the distance, I hear a crow caw once.
Go.

Tell Olen good night, you don't think Cheese is going to make it. Thank you for waiting with me. If by some chance you do see her, tell her she can arrange to meet another time.

Tell Olen you are heading out to check on something but may be back.

Ask her to bring a light into this room if anyone other than Cheese shows up looking for you. Then you will know to stay away if you come back and see this room lit up.

If Cheese does come while you are gone tell her that you had to run but will find a way to contact her again.

Wondering if the crow call is Cheese making a crow call. Either way follow it and find out.

Wait and see if it caws again. Go down to the front door and look out. Don't leave yet.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)17:41 No. 710420 ID: dd338c
File 145843448008.png - (74.78KB , 800x800 , 324.png )

I get up.

"Olen. If Cheese shows up, tell her I stepped out and will be back."
>"S-sir, it's far too late! Please, wait here."
"No." I say, continuing to walk out. She almost seems like she might block my way, but she leaps out of the way as soon as it's clear I'm not stopping. I give her a silver for her constant trouble tonight. "And if someone looks for me who isn't Cheese, please light my room."

The crow sounded distant. It must have cawed loudly for me to hear it without knowing where I was.

I get about 3 blocks down the way before a mountain kobold blocks the thin path. Two small field kobolds, perhaps children, step into the lane at about 20 paces behind me to block the path behind me. They do not appear to have bows, only daggers.

"Heard you've been nice with your money. Dump your pack and your purse right there, draconian." he says, pulling out his sword and -

Gods damn it, I forgot to buy a buckler.

Get your sword out and charge him. Aim to disable him quickly and then move on. Or distract him long enough to grab a overhead walkway and climb away. We don't care about fighting him if you can just get away.

Use quick strikes to bait the shield out and then attempt to disable his sword arm.

Without a buckler of your own you wont have the easiest time of things but its doable. Watch for the kids behind you and use your environment if you can. Like a glob of mud in the face or something.

>>710420
It's fine. You can use that cool dagger as a sidearm. Parry a blow with your sword then stab at anything within reach. You don't need to do anything fancy here, I doubt he's well trained, and that dagger will do a LOT of damage.

What you really need to worry about is the kids running up and stabbing your shit once the fight starts. You can probably just dodge their attacks though, they can't be very good. Try not to kill them.

>>710425

We left the magic sword and dagger at the bank.

So... how's your arm? Do you feel up to a fight?

Fastest way to get out of this is probably to charge the kids. They likely can't stand up to you and will be forced to scatter, and then you can lose the big guy and head for the caw.

Also, if he starts charging after you, he's not gonna be able to change direction or stop very quick. If he starts to chase you, you can stop, or throw yourself at him / to the side to strike him in the leg or something. One good cut means he won't be able to cut you.

>>710430
We bought a mundane dagger.

...if we wanted to be ruthless, we could kill the kids first since the mountain kobold is likely to be too slow to be able to stop it.

>>710430
Shit, you're right, all the magic shit is in the bank.

...How about we go for the kids straight away, but instead of killing both, just injure one and take the other as a hostage? Get the mountain kobold to drop his weapon and get out of our way, and we can get through this.

See, this is why Cheese might have been having to take her time, and possibly why she told you to wait.

Keeping your eyes on him, start moving over to the side of the street, so you can put your back to the wall. as you do, unbuckle your pack, like you're starting to do what he says. Once you're unburdened, draw your own sword. Don't get too far from your pack because those kids/short people will likely be on it to try steal your stuff. Hopefully you can just do your super stern glare and look competent and they'll wonder if they should be as confident as they are.

Did you remember any of the armor recommendations? The one about hiding some under your shirt, for example?

>>710434
I doubt he cares enough about the kids to stop if we have one hostage. Safer to assume he doesn't, than to take a risk betting on his better nature, and to suffer for it.

1/2 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)18:48 No. 710450 ID: dd338c
File 145843848169.png - (43.45KB , 800x800 , 325.png )

>Did you remember any of the armor recommendations?
There was armor I was thinking about buying, but I did not get around to that either.

The kids may be kids, but they have that stern look in their eye. I can't treat them as innocent things incapable of fighting, although I will go out of my way to not kill him.

I don't give the kids a chance to flank me effectively. I charge the mountain kobold. He's slow, and points his sword too far in, letting me parry it to the opposite side of his buckler.

I shove my smaller dagger into his head from beneath his jaw.

2/2 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)18:48 No. 710451 ID: dd338c
File 145843849100.png - (60.76KB , 800x800 , 326.png )

The kids stop in their tracks. One of them yells out 'boss', but don't get any closer.

>>710451
"Tell your friends I am not an easy target, and to leave me be, if they value their lives."

Then walk away.

We have a crow to find before it moves on.

They came to attack because they knew you had money. Don't think about being generous because then that message will stay. Just continue to search for the crow.

Wipe the blood off the blade, then carry on, I think it'll be a good idea to get away from here in case anyone investigates.

Damn, Fen.

Turn to the kids and tell them that, next time they hear of someone hanging out in dangerous areas with a lot of money, they should think for a minute about what sort of person would feel like they can do that. And let them go. Hopefully they'll spread the news about not messing with you.

I'd say go back to the diner and keep waiting for Cheese, since you just got a demonstration of why she might have told you to stay where you were. You don't even really know where you're going, anyway.

>>710451
Turn and look at them with an evil look in your eyes and say, "Unless you wish to join him, I suggest you leave and don't bother me again!"

Probably not a good idea to put effort getting the word out that you're skilled. They might set up somthing too hard for you instead of underestimating you.

Just hurry and find that crow befor more trouble.

Also because someone probably noticed what you just did, and instead of being scared off they might just go "well clearly we need more dudes" and you'll need to fight, like, three guys next time. And then, like, seven. Or however many it takes for you to go down. There are lots of idiots in the world and you can't kill them all, even as badass as you are. The further you go the longer distance you'll have to cover on the way back, and the more opportunity they'll have to gather up guys to block your way. This guy here may well have just been sent to test how good you are.

Cheese probably has just as much trouble moving through these streets at night, either coming to you or getting away. And, as mentioned a good while ago, even if Cheese does leave, she'll probably go into the fog first chance and talk to the crows, who'll set her straight for you.

So, go back, and wait for morning if that's what you need to do. Even someone like you shouldn't be out in this part of town this late.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)19:11 No. 710462 ID: dd338c
File 145843989296.png - (102.06KB , 800x800 , 327.png )

"I am not an easy target. Tell your friends."

I don't have time for more. I leave before the kids find more people, if that's how they would react to this. No other people approach me. The guards, thankfully, let me leave, although they look at me inquisitively as I leave in such a rush.

>You don't even really know where you're going, anyway.
No, there is no sign of a crow, but there is fog down below. I decide that if I can't find a crow down there quickly, then I will return quickly to the diner despite the risks. However, right at the start of a path, one waits for me. It scrawls 'wait' in the ground, and flies off before it listens to a word I said. No more than 5 minute later, it comes back to me with a note in a waterproof package.

'Betrayal! Cheese did not listen to the note! She is heading east with your item! Follow the crow that gave you this note!'

>>710460
Follow! Follow!

I think we may kill her for this. She better have a DAMN GOOD explanation!

Well time to get muddy. Follow the crow and keep a eye out.

I am guessing she is desperate. She thinks the dragoncloth will get her out of a bind she is in and is willing to risk everything.

So you just need to prove to her that you can solve her little problem better than she can. And then you own her until she pays you back.

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Things were looking like they'd go this way.

I wonder what her real agenda is, or who her loyalties are, cause it doesn't seem to be the crows.

(Unless she already contacted the local noble for the sale, and there's no way she can safely take it back unless we kill a second one? Her hands could be tied, or she could not be making the calls right now).

The other, really paranoid possibility is the crows are playing us somehow. Too late to do much about that, though. If they wanted, they have enough evidence to out us and burn Fen for the murder.

>I think we may kill her for this.
Opportunistic theft doesn't deserve death. Fen's done the same, himself.

We'll take our stuff back by force. If she's not willing to work with us, then we'll take it from her.

Tell the crow: "Thank you. I will follow. I will try not to harm her, by I will take what is mine back by force if she will not return it".

Ah, dammit. Nothing to do but follow, hope you're up for some endurance running Fen.

>>710464
If it comes to it, the seal might be enough proof, hell of a risk though.

Follow crow, then.

I'm a bit worried about the crows thinking of Cheese as a better friend than you, but they did she she seldom does much for them.

You know I don't think we ever told the crows the stolen item was dragoncloth. I don't think they realize the real stakes.

Well chase after Cheese and you can decide what to do with her depending on what happens when you catch up with her.

While we can't really trust her right now I would rather not kill her solely for the fact that we need her information network. Having her alive and working on your side would make things so much easier. We need all the powerful friends we can get.

That being said if she shows her true colors and is a horrible bitch about things go ahead and kill her.

>>710473

If they don't know what the item is, it's possibly they misidentified Cheese as still having it. Which means she might be running because she's already sold it and is afraid Fen will be unhappy about that. We still need to follow her, then, both for the chance she has and so, if she she doesn't, she can tell us who does.

Remember to take some care, Fen. If she's going east you might reach unharvested fields, and if I recall there are still dogs around the harvested ones, just not so aggressive. Also that lady earlier said there was a curfew and anyone out after sundown is supposed to be killed by the guards. You'll probably have to heavily bribe your way back in.

1/2 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)19:36 No. 710478 ID: dd338c
File 145844141092.png - (28.29KB , 800x800 , 328.png )

The crow starts fluttering. I seem to only be able to walk at an uncomfortable pace for it, but I begin running and it flies slowly.

It starts chittering angrily, snapping its head back and forth looking for Cheese.

"Wait."

Tracks.

Judging by the rain... this is at least a few hours old. I believe she meant to run as soon as she sent the note.

2/2 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)19:37 No. 710480 ID: dd338c
File 145844142071.png - (164.65KB , 800x800 , 329.png )

I follow. It goes off the trail. I don't even know precisely where we're headed but I feel somewhere between north and west. There's no fence visible, but the rain softened the ground just enough to make Cheese's tracks incredibly obvious as we go through what were once fields. If this were a vast expanse, I would consider myself hopelessly lost, as there's only a black fog around me. However, this place is packed tight with towns and linked with roads, so heading in a single direction will lead to a fence, worst case.

In this case, though, the tracks lead to Cheese between an hour and two later. The crow chitters again.

>"Go away, crows! We're done! I know that, so just leave!" She's out of breath, and is having trouble running. I can hear her wheezing, and the crow flies back behind me.

>>710480
Unsheath your sword. Ask her if she's going to give back what she stole from you, or if she'd rather make one last donation to the crows.

Cheese you are going to get sick at this rate. Its time to explain yourself.

I am pretty angry with you but if you can explain things we might be able to work something out.

And please don't do anything stupid. There are a pile of corpses behind me and I would rather not have you be one of them.

Aw. Cheese is down on her luck, I think.

>>710480
Cheese? Can we talk?

I'm not sure what the crow's note said, but it doesn't seem to have made you very happy.

Just call her name.

... Man, this must be kinda like a horror story from her point of view. Like she'll turn around and there'll be a flash of lightning showing you following behind her.

I say catch and disarm her first. Tell her she isn't done by a damn sight.

One bad decision I can forgive Cheese. I think the crows can as well. But the longer this goes on the harder it gets to forgive you.

How this ends is up to you. Return what you stole and explain yourself and I might just want to help you out of whatever mess you are in. I would rather be your friend than your executioner.

Are we walking into a ambush here? The last time she was seen she had guards with her, and it seems unlikely she would run on her ow. As she would have had to run through town, and risk getting ambushed like we did.

"Cheese, are you okay?"

If you want to go really intimidating on her:

"Cheese. Twice, you've tried to take advantage of my trust. Twice, you've tried to run from me. That's four times you've thought you could get the better of me. Rasyan also assumed he could get the better of me. His bodyguards thought they could get the better of me. A thug on the streets of the Fence, just two hours ago, also thought he could get the better of me. You have all been wrong. And every step of the way, you've all only made things worse for yourselves. You are the only one still capable of regretting it. The only one still able to rethink your strategy. I would suggest you do just that. You know what I want."

1/4 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)20:31 No. 710496 ID: dd338c
File 145844468436.png - (174.96KB , 800x800 , 330.png )

"Cheese."

She freezes. I take out my sword.

>"No... nonono..."
"I've left corpses behind me, but I would rather you not become one. I would like to talk. What did the crow's note say."
>"That... you're with them now." she's choking on her words. "That... I should give it back." She says, clutching her pack.
"Explain yourself. I sent you a message saying that I was willing to give you a second chance. Did you not believe me?"
>"I can't... give it back."
"Where are your guards."
>"I... I ditched them." She's still walking forward, but her tail is limp. "I ditched them, it doesn't matter!" She's just shoving herself forward as her tail drags in the mud. "They c.. I couldn't let them find out what I had! And when I turn in your cloth to pay off my debt, then they won't need to be around me! Then I can have privacy again, and can sleep without people staring at me, and I can visit my home, and... and! I already told - I told my boss I had the dragoncloth, and I have to give it to him! If I do... if I don't..."
"Stop moving. It's becoming harder to forgive you as you keep trying to leave. Return it. Twice, you've tried to take advantage of my trust. Twice more, you've ran from me. Rasyan thought he could get the better of me after I chased him."
>"Wai-what? Rasyan? You chased Rasyan? What happened?"
"I killed him."

There's a long silence. I feel like her tail is sinking deeper into the mud while we stand.

>"That... no. G-good joke, Fen. I'm, glad you can still.. joke at a time like this."
"Look behind you, Cheese."

Another pause. I take out Rasyan's seal.

2/4 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)20:31 No. 710498 ID: dd338c
File 145844469563.png - (202.84KB , 800x800 , 331.png )

"Cheese. You're the only one who can rethink your strategy on how you deal with me. Considering what happened to far better fighters than you, I'd recommend you take the opportunity. I'd rather be your friend than your execut-"

3/4 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)20:34 No. 710501 ID: dd338c
File 145844484452.png - (87.61KB , 800x800 , 332.png )

She screams, and takes an easily dodged swipe at me.

For a moment I was afraid Cheese might have been a skilled fighter. She's not.

4/4 Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)20:34 No. 710502 ID: dd338c
File 145844485367.png - (130.57KB , 800x800 , 333.png )

I push her forward with my free hand. Her legs slip from the mud and, unable to do anything with her tail, she lands face first in the mud.

She's trying to crawl forward, crying and screaming at me to let her go, that she'll do anything for me, but not the one and only thing that I want her to do.

Sit on her.

Who is her boss, and what are her debts? If the only way to get the dragoncloth back without her dying is to buy her freedom or "steal" her away, I'd say do it. She's important somehow, being involved with nobles and crows, it's not worth killing her.

>>710502
Ask her if she liked Rasyan. He seemed like an ass, and the papers you recovered implicate him in a lot of nasty business. It seemed like killing him did her a favor?

Also ask who she is in debt to. If it's nothing we can help with, just take the dragoncloth and go.

It's tempting to tell her why you want it so bad, but that's information only your closest friends should know, not a pitiable whelp like her.

Crouch down next to her.

How about you tell me what happened to you. Start from the begging? Who do you owe? What is it you need so desperately off your back? Maybe I can help.

It looks like if we want our cloth back, we're going to have to help her out of the whole she's in. Even if we kill her, we'd have to after the people she was entangled with, anyways.

...actually hang on, ask how much the debt is. I wonder if we have the money to cover it?

"Cheese. Calm down. You're not solving anything by screaming. Now, it sounds to me like I might not be the only one chasing you. So, we'll keep moving. And you will tell me everything, because it's not going to make things any worse for you at this point. Who is your boss, and what is your debt?"

Ask her what else she told her boss, if her boss knows about you then you'll have trouble just taking the dragoncloth and leaving. Helping Cheese may be the best option in the long run depending on what she's gotten into.

Take a few deep breaths and start telling me your whole story. If we are going to fix things for you I need to know whats going on.

When you met me you assumed I was just some barbarian out of the wilds. Did you ever think to ask yourself where I got something like that? Or how I might be more than just some ignorant savage? You tell me your story and I will tell you mine.

But first get up out of the mud.

Tell her to stop being a baby. She can't stop you from taking it back. Like, at all. Her chances of surviving dealing with the consequences of failing to steal the cloth are greater if she cooperates.

Especially if the alternative is forcing your hand.

Sit on her huge butt if its not to muddy.

Cheese calm down and start telling me whats going on. I think we can help each other but you have to relax and tell me what is going on. If you tell me your problems I will tell you mine ok?

This cloth is the only thing I have from the one I love, the one that inspired me. It is NOT money to me, it is my reason to move and get up and face the worst of the world. It is LOVE. I would not stop, no matter what gets in my way getting that cloth back.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)22:43 No. 710549 ID: dd338c
File 145845263810.png - (205.27KB , 800x800 , 334.png )

In the interest of keeping my new clothes clean, I avoid sitting on her. She is muddy. I do, however, put my hand on her.

"Calm down. You can't stop me from taking it. It's the only thing I have from the only person who I really loved. The chances of you surviving this theft failure will be greater if you cooperate with me."
>"N-no it's... I'm done. Once I'm found by basically any one who's anyone, I'm dead."
"Were you friends with Rasyan? His correspondences made him out to be bad."
>"He was bad! But! I still needed him! Well until the dragoncloth, then, I could get out of this whole mess!"
"It sounds like you got in over your head with the dragoncloth. Who is your boss?"

She pauses, and starts laughing. It's not a good laugh.

>"Which boss?! I work for Bardo of Graskin but only so I can throw him out so that Rozuihan, the mithril of Erja Nokol, can help put someone under her thumb in his place, so maybe my boss is Rozuihan? But Bardo suspects me, so he keeps me under heavy surveillance cause I've already deposed like 3 nobles before, and the only way I can ever have peace is by talking to another noble, like Rasyan, who pretended to be another noble to speak to me about Tunna's illegal slave trade in that breaktown we met at, while his body double took a northern path to make it look like we never spoke! We traded information on Bardo's dirt with the deal that Rasyan was going to depose him in the mithril noble's face and now Rasyan's dead and no one would believe me! Maybe Rasyan would be my new boss, or maybe I'd be transferred over to the new gold noble, but it didn't matter!
>Bardo's debt on me is way over three thousand gold! It's overkill! That's like what one hundred peasants make in their lifetime! And like a peasant, Bardo doesn't pay me enough to match the debt and interest he piles on me, and neither would my new boss, whoever it was, because I ruin the lives of every important person who I come across so people keep sending me at other people! The only way I could buy my freedom now is to get way more money than anyone could ever think I made. So when I saw that.. when I saw that dragoncloth, I knew that Cati, the gold of northern turtle, would buy it off of me for... well, a bargain, but still a pile of gold that I could buy off my debt, and then...and then I'd be free, and Rozuihan would consider my hometown worth something and the people there wouldn't basically just be bandit raiding practice and, a-and then I could go home and.. I'm so sorry, when I saw it, I thought no way, I'm not a petty awful thief, I'm better and I wouldn't do that to the... to the first person who was ever a little bit nice but then... I couldn't sleep and... I thought..." she chokes up and starts trailing off.
"Did you mention me to Cati or anyone that I had dragoncloth?"
>"N-no, just... no. Fen I just want to go home instead of just constantly getting passed around for information for the rest of my life. So... if you're going to take the dragoncloth, just... just kill me now, because when Cati's guard comes to get the dragoncloth and I don't have it, it... and if Bardo finds out Rasyan was killed so close to where my path was... and when Rozuihan finds out how hard I fucked everything up, then... then dying in the mud is way better."

"What makes you think your employer will keep their word? They could be lying to you, to make sure that you work extra hard to bring them what they want. From the rumors I've heard of you, you're their best informant, so why would they let their best informant go free? They're not going to let you go. They're going to get a Dragon Cloth and keep they're best informant."

Cheese, fake your death, like you should have done a long time ago.
We could also make his double work for us, maybe make HIM the new Rayson, somehow. Or something.

Cheese, you don't get good at ruining people without being good at planning. If you can't fake your death, use your political guile to use Rayson's death to work for you. Fake your death for a time, then come out of the shadows when the time is right. With dragon cloth supposedly in your possession, you are a target that would probably die, so hey, get creative girl.

No you don't get to take the cowards way out. This is a mess and honestly I have no idea how to fix it for you. I have all of two days experience in spy intrigue. But as long as you are alive there is still hope. And I am willing to give you a hand because maybe we can help each other.

So we need to find a nice place out of the rain to chat things over with our crow friends and see what we can come up with.

Do you want to know my story? Maybe hearing my mess will make you realize that your life is not so bad.

So my brother is Kingslayer Zizi. And I have given up my cozy life in the wilds to try and win myself a fortune by strength of arms so that I can steal Lord Shup's fiance away from him before they get married. I have until mid winter to become a noble strong enough to stand up to Shup.

Then tell her about the last few days.

>>710549
...I see a way out. Ask her how much of the dragoncloth she needs. You were thinking about having something made out of it, right? It's not like we need the rest of it, after doing that. I imagine a scarf won't use the whole cloth.

As for Rasyan, he died in a place quite close to where bandits operate, and only had two bodyguards. Plausible deniability. If anything, you'll be blamed for it, because you've been throwing around money like crazy.

>>710552
She's selling the dragoncloth to not-her-boss, to get the money to pay off the RIDICULOUS debt her boss has on her.

How did she even get that deep in debt? That seems outright impossible.

>>710549
>Rasyan pretended to be another noble.
Wait, we killed a fake noble?!?! O_o

Do you really think that giving the dragoncloth to Bardo is going to get out out of debt? As long as he is alive you will be his slave. The debt is just a trick to get you to accept the arrangement.

You need a better plan. The current one is just going to get your hopes smashed.

If I let you go with the cloth right now in a week you would be even worse off because you would be in the same situation with the extra guilt of having betrayed your friends.

>>710549
Where did the crows fit into in all that?

>>710552
This is probably right. Even if we let her keep it, they'd probably still screw her. They don't sound like the types of people to give up someone they can use, and the nobles make up their own rules.

Cheese, if you're going to get out of this, the dragon cloth isn't going to cut it. You need help.

Your name is Fen. Your bother is Zizi Kingslayer. From what you understand, he already made a pretty big impact in the empire once. You're starting to think maybe it needs shaking up again. A lot of these nobles don't see like they're using their power very well.

If Cheese is willing to work with us, we start on some plan to get our cloth back without getting her killed. Looks like we'll be overthrowing more nobles.

>now Rasyan's dead and no one would believe me!
You have a lot of his paperwork if that would help.
Has she thought about running away to the middle of nowhere and living with barbarians?

You know, it's sounding like the only way to save Cheese is to become the Nobleslayer, brother to the Kingslayer. Kill nobles to either pay off her debt or kill the noble who enslaved her to liberate her. Of course, with a debt of three thousand gold, either he's higher than a gold noble, or Rasyan was carrying nothing on his person. Or maybe he's trying to become stupidly rich and is making a debt high enough that he'd triple his coffers if anybody pays it.

...Or:
>>710554
>And I have given up my cozy life in the wilds to try and win myself a fortune by strength of arms so that I can steal Lord Shup's fiance away from him before they get married. I have until mid winter to become a noble strong enough to stand up to Shup.
Becoming a noble yourself is a good point. If she requires another noble to save her, then ask her to follow you. If you fail to become a noble by midwinter, your own life intentions are over, but if you make it, you can be the noble she needs.

>Has she thought about running away to the middle of nowhere and living with barbarians?
...That won't work. The nobles still have sway over barbarian tribes, and can easily eradicate any tribe who tries to shelter her.

Fen 2016/03/19(Sat)23:50 No. 710568 ID: dd338c
File 145845665100.png - (116.54KB , 800x800 , 335.png )

>Wait, we killed a fake noble?
No, Cheese was saying that Rasyan pretended to be a different noble, not that Rasyan was not a noble himself.

"So you were selling it to Cati to get out of a debt from Bardo?"
>"Yeah..."
"Three thousand gold? How did you get that much?"
>"He... I had to take out loans for stuff. And he also made me pay for bribery, which of course it's impossible to do my job without bribing, but I had to pay for it, and since I couldn't, he... loans."
"Rasyan only had about 20 to 30 gold on hand.
>"Well what would he spend it on? He just needed some pocket change, and gold is heavy."
"What makes you think they'd let you go?"
>"Because they still have to follow the law! I'd have so many witness nobles and stuff who would at least lift a finger for me since I could give them information! I have it set up so that there'd just be no way!"
"What if you faked your death?"
>"Oh, god, because if I was found, then, and.. it's tough for me to hide for a long time."
"... did you even need the whole dragoncloth?"
>"It... I thought about only taking half, but... I was scared and it was in the heat of the moment and I didn't think about it till way later! And I told Cati how much there is, and... all of it."
"Either way, Rasyan may be blamed on me or on other random bandits, as he only had a couple bodyguards."
>"There's still a bunch of other stuff!"
"I'm not going to kill you."
>"Why not?"
"I'll defend myself, and I've already killed more than one person per day since arriving here, but I'm not about to start murdering girls crying in the mud. I have to wonder, now. Where do the crows fit in this?"
>"They... I've done so much and I've been everywhere, there's way more than just the crows! They're just... they were a big help for a little while until they couldn't see me anymore."
"Wasn't there a body double? What if he acted like Rasyan?"
>"That uh... oh, would he agree? He must, if... I don't know! I don't know his body double."
"I also came across a lot of his paperwork. Would that be enough?"
>"Not unless he had a huge stockpile of stuff on Bardo." she says. It didn't seem like there was.
"Ever think about running away to the middle of nowhere and living with barbarians?"
>"South? That... Fen have you seen many non-draconian savages?"
"Not really."
>"I wouldn't last 5 seconds."
"Right, well, Cheese, my name is Fen, my brother is Zizi, sometimes called Kingslayer, apparently."
>"Wha?"
"I left home because I fell in love with Shup's fiance."
>"Wh- Lily?!"
"Er, yes. I want to become a noble and propose to her, and I have until mid-winter."
>"Fen that's insane you're insane."
"I've been told, and I don't disagree."
>"Um... what's your plan?"
"Enter the yearly gladiator tournament."
>"Oh, um... that's also insane. Um... you also know that... only about one in ten winners of that who become nobles stay a noble for more than a few years?"
"What happens?"
>"Other nobles push them out, cause it turns out that being able to kill people really hard doesn't, you know... doesn't mean you're good at politics. I can help you with that. Uhm... Cati, uh, Cati has some dirt on her, as nobles do tend to, and I have some of it. If you... Fen, if you're not going to kill me, then... if you just, let me sell the dragoncloth, I think that I can find a way to get it back. Do you mind having someone else have it, just for a little while?"
"I was planning on joining the army first, and then joining the arena."
>"Fen that's... you can't keep a dragoncloth in the army. There's no way they'd let you! Which arm - it's the dragon army isn't it."
"Yes."
>"You're going to have all your personal belongings stripped outside of the clothes on your back cause they just plan on having you die! If you do well in the army, though, then, you know... oh, I have a bunch of ideas. I can work with this. I'll make it worth your while, I promise! I mean - that is - I want to make it up to you. really. And I'd like to work for a noble I can call a friend. So... if you have ambitions like that... can I please use your dragoncloth this time, and I promise I'll come up with a lot of good plans on how you can steal it back? Think of it like an investment, and when the investment is over you get your dragoncloth back and one really grateful and indebted informant! As opposed to... well, an informant just at your mercy, which I guess is... anyway Dragoncloth is in a really weird legal area, and if you do it under the right circumstances in the right way, the empire will see you as the rightful owner."

Well, if the dragon army is going to just take it away from you anyways... May as well let her "Hold onto it" for a bit longer, sure.

"I understand we didn't get the chance to before, but in the future, tell me about things, and ask me about things. If we're going to help each other, we need to know what's going on.
Also, isn't she going to need a new guard? Although I'm not sure we can really just leave town just now. One, you have most of your stuff in the bank, two, curfew. You don't really need to be killing a bunch of innocent guards who are just trying to enforce the law.

>>710568
Deal. But tell her if she crosses you again she'll be worse than dead.

Hmm. Tell her about all the other loot you got off Rasyan. Can she fence it? Or will it be traced back to her?
Oh, another option is we could leave everything in the bank, and withdraw it when it comes time to go to the Arena. They let fighters take equipment in from outside, right? If not then I don't know what to do with it. Money's gonna be useless as soon as we enter the dragon army.

Oh, ask what you should do with the noble seal. Probably can't fence THAT.

>>710571
We already left town. Getting back in might be an issue, but we can probably just bribe them.

>I think that I can find a way to get it back. Do you mind having someone else have it, just for a little while?
Well, so long as she knows where it is, we always have the problem of getting it back the hard way. The sticking point is it may be irrecoverable depending on what anyone else does with it.

Long term, this is probably worth it. Having her working for you, with all those connections and inside knowledge, is one way this could actually work.

One downside is the dragoncloth won't be helping you stay alive in the army or the arena.

>the army will strip you down and
Right. Everything goes into a bank for long term storage before we enlist.

>"That uh... oh, would he agree? He must, if... I don't know! I don't know his body double."
I would think if she wanted to set up a false noble, we'd need more information (the crows might have enough?). And we'd probably need to use the emblem and maybe the necklace and weapons we took from Pocky to reinforce it. That's a long con though, and he'll probably need to be blackmailed / strongarmed into it. (Did the crows learn anything about that meeting?).

>>710568
Well... Lily did intend on me somehow using the cloth.
I suppose using it as part of a grand plan to attain nobleship is probably the best way to use it, because as armor I'll just lose it.

>>710568
Put your hand on her shoulder and give her a big smile and say, "Very well, if you've got plan, then I guess I'll trust you!"

Fen Quest Thread 2 END Fen 2016/03/20(Sun)00:48 No. 710579 ID: dd338c
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"Wait - wasn't there a curfew out here?"
>"Only where there's crops or by towns that have a curfew."
"I can just go back into town then?"
>"Uh well if you walk back slowly then it may be daylight by the time you get back."
"What about you?"
>"I... I have to keep going. I was... ah, I got so scared when I got your note, I was gonna take a big risk by going to the Pit and try to intercept Cati there even though I said to meet me at the fence but I guess I gotta go back to the Fence now? That's probably best. Is this real? You're not going to... even hurt me?"
"No, not unless you backstab me again. I have things I'd like you to fence, and we should have better discussions in the future." I say, putting my hand on her shoulder. "So pick up the rest of your composure and get out of the mud. You look terrible."
>"That's how I feel."

>>710579
Cave kobold? More like mud kobold.