>>64256
Get Comfort over here.
Try to find out how much leeway she has in these orders, and, I feel it necessary to add, stop ordering her around.
Just because she's forced to follow the orders is no reason to be impolite.

>>64256
When was Loyalty specifically told to wait? Orders are supposed to be vague, if done right she would have been able to attempt to meet us along our path.
From now on we must remember the exact words we say to Loyalty, not just the gist.

Let's ask why she couldn't keep out of their reach, and apologise profusely for being too specific.

Order her to negate your previous orders for your optimal survival, mentally, not just physically, when necessary to serve us better in the future? Might be risky though. May have to ask her if it will work, do not order her, however, this is a question of a possible future and is not an order you are placing in effect as of now. Be very clear on this.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/13(Tue)17:28 No. 64303 ID: 49c49c
File 125548010754.png - (15.87KB , 640x400 , V408.png )

>>64263
Comfort came with us.

I didn't mean it as an order! I just... said to wait for us in the village. I was relaying the plan, not trying to give her a command, dammit!

>>64264
I said that after telling her to get things in order in the capital. I didn't realize the wording would be so important...

"Why didn't you just run around, staying away from them?"

"I thought I could talk to them, convince them to leave me alone. They surrounded me and... they got so close. It all happened so fast, instinct kicked in. And... I butchered them."

"Loyalty, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I didn't know-"

"No! You didn't know!" Emotion chokes her voice and contorts her face. The sorrow is nearly tangible in the air. "Because you didn't care to ask!"

"You're right. I was impatient. I was foolish. I didn't take the time I should have. It was my fault, and I'm sorry. I'm not used to this yet. Please forgive me."

She cries silently for a while. I feel awkward, not wanting to get too close in case she's still angry but knowing she needs human contact too. And Comfort's being aloof as always. I try nodding towards Loyalty with my head but Comfort just shrugs.

"I don't see what the big deal is. So some people bought it. It happens all the-"

"Comfort...!" I cut her off with a glare. "Not really helping here."

She shrugs again and wanders off.

This is much harder than I thought it would be.

Bull D: We can't know everything to ask, she should've said something!

... I'm sad ;_; How can we fix this?

Checkit out. Made some stat cards for the characters. I posted them in the discussion thread if anyone wants to take a look: http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/313936.html#314487

Ask if all the towns of this land are likely to have a such violent reaction to her. If so it may be better to head for Dunn, or if she thinks she would enjoy some wilderness training head for mountains. Also, ask her about the little book and if she knows a place where they might be able to read that.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)15:08 No. 64800 ID: 45396a
File 125555811138.png - (11.45KB , 640x400 , V409.png )

>>64318
>>64726

[No action taken to comfort Loyalty. -3 Empathy.]


I... feel sad. But I didn't do anything, I have no reason to be sad. I don't like this feeling. I try and look out for her feelings and look what happens. And You're right, there was no way I could have known!

"Maybe you should have said something, huh?"

Loyalty looks up in horror and confusion, her lip quivering. I cut her off before she can start crying again. "Are all the towns in Calumet going to give you such a violent reception?"

"Y-yes... probably. Less s-so the further from the c-capital we get."

"Fine. Then we'll be heading for Dunn unless you'd prefer some solitude, in which case we can train up in the mountains."

"I... will go wherever my master instructs me," she replies, her tone resigned.

"Yes, you will. And you'll also answer my simple question."

"The m-mountains would be nice."

"Good. Thank you. Also, do you know where I can get an ancient book translated?"

"N-... No. Maybe one of the universities?"

Ask her if we can order her to have a higher self-esteem.

The mountains then where you can teach me how not to be such a dick. Fractured mind: Attention span of a goldfish. And to actually use the sword before we risk running into another like you.

After that we'll go to some university to try our luck and see if we can dig more info on these swords. Like would we be able to transfer the loyalty to some mortal without killing me because eternal servitude does not really sound so good. And what if that mortal just dies of old age.

>>64819
... that's just messed up dirtbag.

>>64800
ask which in particular would be the closest and not generally hostile.
Have her mark somewhere in the mountains that might be a good place to meet up. Then tell her to Explore in that area (up to about 50 miles away) for resources (food, water, good camp sites) for at least an hour. She is allowed to do anything else she wants during the time we find someone to handle the book, but to be at that exact point at noon every day until we meet up with her, so to make it easier to find her once we are done.



... also apologize, that first bit was rather heartless.

>>64800
...give her a hug.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)16:39 No. 64838 ID: 45396a
File 125556356331.gif - (136.29KB , 640x400 , V410.gif )

rolled 2 = 2

---

[There are two opposite suggestions of order, so a 1 means we go to the mountain first and a 2 means we find a university first]

>>64819
"Can I just order you to have a higher self esteem?"

"Yes, but it would only change my attitude, not my thoughts. But if it would make you happier..."

>>64829
"Alright then, let's head to the mountains. Hopefully... we'll be able to smooth things out with training and hard work. After that we'll find a university and do some research. Sound good?"

She nods her agreement.

>>64831
She says she knows a secluded place in the mountains she used to visit before she found her Sword, and it should be ideal for training. She marks the location on the map, and I tell her to go make sure it's well stocked and then do whatever she wants until we meet her up there, checking the spot at noon every day. Before she leaves I make sure to apologize. She thanks me, but I don't think she believes me...

>>64835
...so I give her a hug. I think I catch her by surprise based on how she tenses up, but she slowly hugs me back. It seems to calm her down and I'm glad we split up on that note.

[Better late than never! +5 Empathy.]

I'd better go find Comfort. Where did she wander off to? We'll need to leave soon if we're going to avoid whatever storm is causing all that rumbling.

I think the rumbling might be coming from those houses over there. That's some weird dark flashes, to be sure.

Let's try to use that whole "Wielder sense" thingy. I mean, might as well try, right?

Gotta find Comfort and see how she's doing.

>>64838
(oh man, we are going to get such a bad rep so fast...)

that's not a storm, looks like explosions or something in the town. Get a better look.

Comfort is slaughtering a village, you really should go ask what the hell she thinks she's doing.

Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)17:15 No. 64862 ID: 45396a
File 125556570816.png - (49.30KB , 300x300 , Hug.png )

Gotta head out for dinner. Will respond as soon as I get back. In the meantime, have a hug. :3

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)19:27 No. 64890 ID: 023b2b
File 125557365026.gif - (133.33KB , 640x400 , V411.gif )

>>64852
'Wielder sense' still isn't working. Presumably that's part of what I'll learn in the mountains.

>>64850
>>64853
Oh... that's the village we just left...

[Animated]

Whoa, what the hell are you doing?

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)19:34 No. 64902 ID: 023b2b
File 125557406337.png - (46.84KB , 640x400 , V412.png )

>>64861
>>64895
"Comfort, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Oh, hey Unity," She greets me cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to the violence around her. "You're just in time; I'm done. Got the last one. Now Loyalty doesn't have to feel bad: they all would've died no matter what she did. Let's go tell her, she'll be so relieved!"

>>64902
That's a lie because you wouldn't have done this if the visit had gone as planned.

Also WHAT THE FUCK

>>64902
Unicode stare Comfort. FFS, woman! Jesus fuck on a jackhammer!

>>64902
Say "Okay, let's go."

Then when we get to Loyalty, order her to kill Comfort immediately. Help her out with this order.

She's trying to comfort Loyalty. How nice.

Okay, well, we can't kill Comfort. Just head back to Loyalty and make sure we keep an eye on Comfort and her craziness.

>>64902
That's not comforting!
That's not comforting at all!

I think we need to keep an eye on her from now on. A very close eye. Wielders seem to have some serious issues.

>>64945

But not us! We're all a perfectly normal person.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)20:21 No. 64963 ID: 023b2b
File 125557685841.png - (57.18KB , 640x400 , V413.png )

I don't even know... where to begin. She's killed everyone, there's corpses everywhere, men, women, children... everyone.

But... she's still my best friend. I'm not going to try to hurt her unless we all decide it's necessary. And... ohhh Anna... what's happened to you?

>>64909
"Comfort... your reasoning is faulty. If things had gone fine earlier than you wouldn't have had any reason to come back and kill everyone. Now Loyalty is going to feel responsible for everyone's deaths."

She looks indignant for a moment before responding. "Well that's selfish, she's not the one who killed these people, I did! She shouldn't go around trying to take responsibility for everything."


Ugh, that failed to explain things to her. There's got to be something I can say, some way to put it to make her realize what she did was wrong. But then again I might not know enough about how she's thinking now, so maybe I should question her first. Or we could just move on and pretend this never happened... Sigh.

Be a man, she deserves the honest truth that she's probably lost most of her humanity. Her justification is that of a sociopath. As her friend you have to tell her this. There is right, morally ambiguous, wrong, and completely fucking wrong. When something completely fucking wrong happens you need to lay down the law, friend or not.

I'm not saying battle her or hate hate your friend, just get to the point.

>>64969

I pretty much agree with this... except make sure and tell her that when Loyalty is around, so we have a guaranteed victory.

>>64963
She hasn't explicitly stated her reasoning for killing them all. I mean, if she's saying Loyalty had nothing to do with it... why'd she do it? Ask her that.

Comfort, why did you do it? Can't you see that the only thing you've done is cause more pain and suffering? When Loyalty only wished that nobody should have died, you killed them all. You haven't helped anybody. Did you really do it for her or did you do it because the sword wanted you to? Does it speak to you?

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/14(Wed)22:05 No. 65036 ID: 023b2b
File 125558314112.png - (57.00KB , 640x400 , V414.png )

>>64969
Right, tell her straight up, no beating around the bush.

>>64973
I really don't think we should tell Loyalty that this happened. And Comfort wouldn't attack me... right?

"Comfort, you're acting sociopathic. You're losing touch with your humanity. You just ended all these people's lives on a whim for no good reason! That's not helpful, Anna. That's evil."

She looks at the ground for a bit before answering. I can see her thinking it over, but her head pops back up rather quickly. "'No good reason'? I... I did it so Loyalty would be happier and... and maybe then you wouldn't have to keep paying her so much attention, maybe."

>>64981
Uhh... I don't know what to make of that. But I guess it answers that question.

"But, what you did was still wrong. You killed a bunch of innocent people. Your losing your humanity."

"What are you talking about, Unity? We gave up our humanity willingly... we're more than human now. Can't you feel it? We Wield the weapons of the Angels! We can run circles around the fastest living animal, we won't ever grow a day older, arrows bounce off our skin... Does that sound like a human to you? Why should we concern ourselves with the pointless daily routines of mortals who are here one instant and gone the next?"

What scares me most is how much her words resonate with me: she's right.

>>65002
"Comfort, can't you see that the only thing you've done is cause more pain and suffering? When Loyalty only wished that nobody should have died, you killed them all. You haven't helped anybody. Did you really do it for her or did you do it because the Sword wanted you to? Does it speak to you?"

She looks a bit quizzical at this line of questioning. "My... Sword? I don't get what you mean. The Sword is an extension of me, it speaks to me through its gentle caress, it chides me with it's sharp prods, it rewards me with blessed pain. No, you're wrong Unity. I've caused no pain, no suffering. I killed these people: I ended their pain. I set them free from their miseries. They are no longer burdened by the weight of existence. They would be thanking me if they could still speak."

"We should care about mortals because we were mortals. It's out of respect. Sure, in our old lives we were nothing, but we still loved others did we not? Weren't humans special then? And about their pain, this world weighing down on them... isn't the sword weighing down on yourself and hurting you? You still want that sword though. What if they wanted life as much as you want that sword?"

Or you could justify your mercy to humanity and compassion to Loyalty because your a true gentleman. That chivalry is the most important aspect to an angel.

Totallynotsamefag!!V1AJL5LzHl 2009/10/14(Wed)22:27 No. 65052 ID: 704c80
File 125558442782.jpg - (105.01KB , 698x389 , oh god get away.jpg )

>>65036
ok, seriously dude I'm freakin speechless. Personally, I don't want this kind of reputation, we don't have to be like other wielders, we can do the right thing... but I think your friend may be beyond saving for that cause, especially if she can't handle not being the center of attention for 2 damn minutes. Please seriously consider the possibility of having to kill her, but for now let's just get out of dodge.

What about everyone left behind, what about their memory? For everyone you kill there will be someone who their death touches. The pain they feel when they know they will never see their loved ones. Will you kill them too to end their pain? What about loyalty, she will be horrified by what you have done, what you will do. Will you kill her also? How about the other sword wielders, they also must have some connections to others, when your cycle of death touches them what will you do? And what about me, while I admit I know none here I am pained by your actions and the feelings they bring. Are you to end my pain like this also?

Will Comfort only be satisfied when there is no one left in this world to feel anything?

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)00:02 No. 65075 ID: 023b2b
File 125559015320.gif - (25.96KB , 300x350 , V415.gif )

>>65052
I... I... Anna and I have been through so much. We used to do everything together. And things have been weird between us this past week. I don't think she's trying to be the center of attention, I just think she misses the bond we used to share and is trying to fight to get it back. I miss it too but...


>>65051
"We should care about mortals because up until a week ago we were mortals. Don't you remember how we used to think, used to hope... used to care? Losing our humanity doesn't make us better off, it leaves us without the very thing that makes us special. What use is remaining young for eternity if we stop living?"

"I... I don't... know."

"And yes they may live with pain, but pain is what lets them know they're alive. The ability to feel pain is just one side of the coin. Being alive means knowing pain, yes, but it also means knowing true peace, true joy, true... comfort. And in death they know nothing at all: no peace, no joy, no comfort. You've saved them from the downs but in the same fell stroke you've deprived them of all the ups."

"I d-didn't mean to-"

>>65056
"And what about everyone left behind? For everyone you kill there will be someone who their death touches. The pain they feel when they know they will never see their loved ones. Will you kill them too to end their pain? What about Loyalty? She will be horrified by what you have done, what you will do. Will you kill her also? When will your cycle of death stop? What about me, while I admit I know none here I am pained by your actions and the feelings they bring. Are you to end my pain like this also?

"Will Comfort only be satisfied when there is no one left in this world to feel anything?"


For the first time Anna appeared to recognize our surroundings. I watched as every person she had killed, every wound she had inflicted registered in her eyes as though she was seeing them for the first time. She looked down at her hands, at the blood dripping from them, both her own and that of her victims, and she wept. Regret and sorrow surged through her so strongly that had I not stepped forward to support her she would have fallen to the ground. I held her for a long time as she let loose tears for the evil deeds she had done, repeating over and over, "Kevin, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Kevin." And every time I told her, "It's okay, Anna. It's alright."

[Animated]

>>65056
Probably, yes. So it might not good to give her such ideas.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)00:08 No. 65079 ID: 023b2b
File 125559053518.png - (24.80KB , 640x400 , V4.png )

Anna Empathy points: +8
Not being a dick points: -3 (later revised to +2)


Finally I think our hero can catch a moment's rest as he begins his training. Or is that difficult too... I forget. Tune in next time to find out!

Swords of Virtue - Intermission Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)16:30 No. 65169 ID: 58b001
File 125564943320.png - (255.11KB , 640x400 , Intermission by Fire.png )

We burned the village. Not to cover it up but, you know: a village full of corpses is how plagues get started. Comfort insisted she do most of the work, but other than that she hasn't said much. As we watch the fire consume the huts I finally have a little time to reflect. So much has happened in such a short time.

It seems like a lifetime ago but it was just this morning that I found the Sword of Unity and became a Wielder. That's when my mind was splintered and the voices started. After that I met up with Comfort again and things were a bit weird at first. I guess that's part of entering a new phase of life, relearning everything we had taken for granted.

Next we headed north for the capital city of Beauvai, where we found the whole town under curfew. Loyalty met us at the city gates and escorted us to the keep to meet the king. The king offered us a place in his army as knights, but Comfort and I decided to turn him down. He didn't like that decision and tried to have Loyalty kill us... so I killed him. That broke his hold over Loyalty and made her serve me, although we still aren't really sure how that works.

Then I had Loyalty set up a replacement goverment for Calumet (since we destroyed the old one...) and told her to meet us in the village to the north while we got some supplies and looted the king's body. When we got to the village we witnessed a fight break out as Loyalty defended herself against the angry townsfolk. I got her out of there but she was still distraught, so after a bit of difficulty I managed to get her to calm down. Now she's waiting in the mountains for when we head up for training.

And that's about when I noticed comfort had slaughtered the whole village for some misguided reason. I talked some sense into her, but I'll still need to watch her closely. She feels repentant, so hopefully the worst is past. For some reason though, I doubt it.

Swords of Virtue - Chapter 5 Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)16:45 No. 65171 ID: 58b001
File 125565030176.png - (33.73KB , 640x400 , V501.png )

Location marked on map

Current Quest:
Get book translated (*Find university)

Active Quest(s):
Train with Loyalty (*Meet up with Loyalty in the mountains)
Research Swords (*Find university)


I think we're both ready to get out of here now. That column of smoke can probably be seen from miles away, so hanging around would be a bad idea. But where to now? Should we look for a university? I'm afraid I don't know where one is, and I don't have any maps of further up north. We could always just start moving and hope we run into something...

>>65171
Yeah, just head for the mountains.
The book might help you understand the swords better, but so will actually using the sword.
Besides, with how the sword abilities pan out so far, I'm guessing it translates to "Problem, Sword-Wielder?"

>>65172
I suppose we could just go, the book wont be any less translatable in the near future.

>>65171
I was gonna say head for the hyuuge city down south, but whatev.

Let's search a bit for the university. With our speed it won't take long to at least check out that city across the river.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)18:41 No. 65206 ID: 58b001
File 125565725298.gif - (62.60KB , 640x400 , V502.gif )

[From what I can gather we have 1 vote for training, 2 for translate (shot_trip in IRC), 1 neutral (totallynotsamefag), so we'll go with translate first.]

>>65172
The book isn't that short, so it might be more useful than that. It would be good to let someone get to work on translating it before I start training since it will likely take a while.

>>65185
Right, the city ought to have a cartographer or survival shop where we can pick up a map.

[Animated]

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)18:42 No. 65207 ID: 58b001
File 125565732716.png - (266.86KB , 640x400 , V503.png )

"Whooooo!"

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)20:19 No. 65228 ID: 58b001
File 125566319143.png - (26.02KB , 640x400 , V504.png )

This city is much more inviting than Beauvai was. There's no wall circling it and the hustle of people going about their business in the market district provides plenty of cover to mask the arrival of two more shoppers.

After being on the road for several months you learn to recognize the most useful shops. The ones that aren't flashy, in a sensible location, with a certain quality clientele. Every town has one, and Comfort and I make a game of seeing who can find it first. This time I did.

"The Traveler's Respite", the unassuming sign said. We went in to find a grizzled looking man behind the counter, dagger within easy reach. There are a number of maps on a counter next to him. A label says the price is 5 bronze coins a piece. I've got 6 silver coins, which are worth 20 bronze each, and 17 bronze coins, so I could afford the whole lot if it's necessary. There's a map of the whole continent, and one of each of the nations that neighbor Calumet: Dunn to the north, Adair further north than Dunn, Calcasieu to the west, Barraga to the east, and Cortland to the northeast.

Which ones should I buy? And should I ask the shopkeeper anything while we're here?

Glad we looted the king. Can we get one of each? Never know what could come in handy.

>>65228
let's go with just the whole continent, and the north and west neighbors. Ask him where we would find a good university too. If that's not on one of the maps we got, buy the map for it... and at no point show him how much money we have.

North, west and continent maps. Rest can be gotten when needed. Ask if there is an university here and do they allow visitors to do research there.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)22:55 No. 65250 ID: aec572
File 125567249837.gif - (100.42KB , 640x400 , V505.gif )

>>65234
>>65235
Makes sense to me. It's awfully cumbersome to have that many maps around, so just these three should be plenty unless the shopkeeper-

[Animooted]

Hats of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/15(Thu)22:56 No. 65251 ID: aec572
File 125567257051.png - (24.41KB , 520x400 , dressup gaems.png )

Alright guys, gimme your hat suggestions if you would. You can post pictures or draw 'em on yourself if you'd like.

You know what to do.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/10/15(Thu)23:05 No. 65254 ID: 6faa8c
File 125567312354.png - (4.00KB , 640x480 , Hat.png )

>>65251

Insomnia 2009/10/16(Fri)04:45 No. 65267 ID: 8ca61a
File 12556935028.png - (6.67KB , 333x333 , somehat.png )

Quick, put this on, maow maow.

2009/10/16(Fri)06:33 No. 65270 ID: 43d730
File 125569998094.png - (19.49KB , 520x400 , whydoikeepdoingthis.png )

>>65251

>>65267
I swear to God if the rest of the quest doesn't have these...

Flynx!Gatekeeper 2009/10/16(Fri)08:11 No. 65277 ID: 18dd96
File 125570591694.png - (63.16KB , 520x400 , 125567257051.png )

>>65251
Fuck hats.

Suggestion 2009/10/16(Fri)08:17 No. 65278 ID: 5d5878
File 125570621595.jpg - (4.52KB , 188x165 , itsahat.jpg )

>>65251

Flynx!Gatekeeper 2009/10/16(Fri)08:22 No. 65280 ID: 18dd96
File 125570655260.png - (43.23KB , 520x400 , 125567257051.png )

>>65251

Suggestion 2009/10/16(Fri)11:55 No. 65318 ID: f4963f
File 125571927688.png - (45.40KB , 520x400 , Victims_Swords_of_Virtue.png )

>>65251

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/16(Fri)13:14 No. 65338 ID: de6a2d
File 125572404685.png - (39.02KB , 640x400 , V506.png )

With our silly anachronistic hats chosen, I get back to business.

"Where's the nearest university and are visitors allowed to do research there?"

The shopkeeper looks less than pleased to have to help out a customer but he grudgingly replies. "Your best bet is the academy in Trimdom, the capital of Adair. They have an extensive library, but you have to pay to access it. If you want somewhere closer, I think there's a place in Cortland. It's called... the 'Athenaeum of Knowledge', if I recall correctly. Had a fellow drop in a while ago who told of nearly limitless information on any subject, but you had to trade knowledge or do a task for them to get it. The guy seemed solid enough, but I still think Trimdom is your best bet."

That was... surprisingly helpful. I thank the man and grab the maps for Adair and Cortland. "Five maps at five bronze a piece and two hats at twelve bronze each will cost you 49 bronze."

That's a rather large sum. I have enough, but if the library in Adair has an entrance fee I don't know if the remainder will be enough. Should I try to barter with him? Or put something back? Then again I doubt he'd be able to catch us if we ran without paying?

We're going to pay. I'm not losing any of my Not A Dick points.

And we have to have the hats. I say we pay the money and go to that Athenaeum of Knowledge. Surely all of us together will be able to provide some knowledge to exchange, and even if we can't we can always do a quest.

That being said... do we go there before or after training?

>>65338
With everything we can do it should be easy to earn some money when necessary.

>>65338
Go ahead and pay it up, look for some simple job to make up for a portion of the lost money.

Simple being a very relative term, of course.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/16(Fri)16:12 No. 65377 ID: de6a2d
File 125573476473.png - (138.94KB , 800x600 , V507.png )

I pay and thank the shopkeeper. He takes the money and then promptly goes back to pretending to ignore us. I guess it's time we decided what we're doing, so let's take a look at the map.

[This is the map for the continent of Ceylundor. The gray squares on the map represent areas for which we have a more detailed map, and can zoom in. The areas are: 1. Calumet; 2. Dunn; 3. Calcasieu; 4. Adair; 5. Cortland. If you'd like to examine a detailed map, just say so.]


Current Quest:
?

Active Quest(s):
Get book translated (*Go to academy in Adair)
Train with Loyalty (*Meet up with Loyalty in the mountains)
Research Swords (*Visit academy in Adair *Find Athenaeum of Knowledge in Cortland)
Get more money (*Find a job, bum)


What should we focus on first?

Let's meet up with Loyalty.

>>65383
we already said we'd research first, let's head to Adair and see what the situation is.

Situation has changed, since the universities are not on Cortland having Loyalty along for research no longer should invoke hostilities. We'll go see Loyalty first and see if she can put us at least to Comforts level.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/16(Fri)21:23 No. 65500 ID: de6a2d
File 125575341148.gif - (85.82KB , 640x400 , V508.gif )

>>65383
>>65468
Um, right. The book can wait until we bring Loyalty along with us. After all, we did promise to let her do some research too...

To the mountains!

[Animated]

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/16(Fri)21:27 No. 65503 ID: de6a2d
File 125575366326.png - (360.13KB , 612x400 , ohgodthistooksolong.png )

The spot Loyalty marked on the map correlates with a small clearing situated between two mountains. It's still pretty high up though, and the air is chillier.

When we get there though we find an old cabin. It must have been a grand sight when it was still intact, but now it's falling apart. Supports are missing, chunks of the wall have fallen off, and sections of floor have rotted through.

There's no sign of Loyalty, but she might be nearby. It's about two o'clock now, so Loyalty doesn't have to be back for another twenty two hours, unless she wants to.

What should we do in the meantime? Or should we go looking for her?

>>65500
TRAINING-FROM-HELL-MONTAGE TIEM
Seriously, tie a boulder to your back and jump back and forth across a river.
Go cut down trees until you can do it in one stroke.
Get up to full health and try to shoot laser beams from your sword.
Hold it out, focus your energy, then spin in a circle.
Run up trees.
Run up waterfalls.
Run up training partners.

>>65504
You are too speedy for your own good. =P

See: >>65503

It's where she found the sword or near it. Let's poke our nose in other peoples business and try to find where it came from. Look in cabin and try to see if this was Loyalty's home before or some ex-wielders. Any skeletons in closets?

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/17(Sat)00:28 No. 65548 ID: de6a2d
File 125576451122.png - (365.84KB , 640x400 , V510.png )

>>65515
You're right, it could be interesting. She did say she knew this place, and since she's not around...

"Let's go look inside."

Anna gives me a weird look. "Are you nuts?"

"Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

"It's in adventuring, not being stupid."

I shrug. "Well I'm going in."

She just shakes her head. "I'll be out here to dig you out when it collapses."

"That's not very comforting, Comfort."

I turn to walk into the building, mainly to hide my grin. And that's when I hear:

"You crack me up, Unity."

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/17(Sat)01:18 No. 65559 ID: de6a2d
File 12557675356.png - (33.61KB , 640x400 , V511.png )

The first room of the house looks like it used to be a workshop or storage room, perhaps. It's wide open though, and completely barren. I carefully make my way inside, stepping over missing and rotting boards. The floor squeaks and groans with each step, as though protesting my presence.

I make it to the doorway for the next room, the door long gone. There's a dresser here, ancient and battered, leaning against the wall on one side of the room. On the other side is a staircase that wraps around the room to provide access to the upstairs floor. The staircase looks in decent condition, but the ceiling is terrible and I doubt it will hold my weight.

Actually I don't think this room will hold my weight for long at all. What should I do? And please hurry!

>>65559

Make your way to the dresser, loot everything intresting and then see if you can make it to the stairs. Just to take a peek upstairs. If the house starts to crumble jump through the window or wall to ensure you are not buried under anything.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/17(Sat)22:41 No. 66034 ID: 728e01
File 125584446437.gif - (2.79MB , 640x400 , V512.gif )

>>65579

[Super Animated]

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/17(Sat)22:41 No. 66035 ID: 728e01
File 12558444949.gif - (436.69KB , 640x400 , V513.gif )

[Animated]

Yeeeeeah!

Check that the house isin't following you like a boulder and stop before you hit a cliff.

>>66034

((That's pretty sleek animation))

>>66035
Well, nice save. Now get back up and see what Comfort's up to. Besides saying 'I told you so.'

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/17(Sat)23:51 No. 66066 ID: 728e01
File 125584866287.gif - (32.32KB , 640x400 , V513.gif )

>>66048
Done, and done. Fortunately it stayed where it was, in spite of my awesome headgear.

>>66049
Thanks, but I didn't get to check the upstairs... Plus the cabin's kinda... destroyed now. And I'll never hear the end of it from Comfort.

[Animated]

"You're insane."

Speak of the devil. "Tell me that didn't look like fun."

"It looked like fun," she admits with mock hesitation. "And you are still crazy."

We both laugh, letting off some nervous energy. Now that I got some snooping out of my system, what should we do? We still have to find Loyalty... although the sound of the cabin collapsing might have been loud enough for her to hear it if she's relatively close by.

>>66066
Wait to see if she arrives, first. If not, look for nearby shelter where she may have rested - if she's been in the mountains for days, she may have tried to stay out of the elements, or out of sight.

>>66066
Did you manage to grab that photo that was in the drawer?

>>66066

Did you take a good look at that picture you found? Might as well start looking for her, check the immeadiate surroundings first.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/18(Sun)00:45 No. 66082 ID: 728e01
File 125585191895.png - (30.98KB , 640x400 , V514.png )

>>66068
I did. Even as everything was collapsing around me my natural looting instinct kicked in. It's a family portrait, although the artist was obviously not very skilled. The woman looks a lot like Loyalty, only with black hair. The picture is really old, I'll roll it up in one of my maps to keep it safe.

>>66067
She hasn't been in the mountains that long, we only separated a few hours ago.

>>66069
Yeah, we can search the nearby area without getting too far from the cabin. And if it starts getting late we can look for shelter.

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/18(Sun)01:30 No. 66087 ID: 728e01
File 125585463998.png - (300.41KB , 640x400 , V515.png )

We head back up to the cabin to start our search... only to find Loyalty already there.

"Hello, Unity. Hello, Comfort." Her tone is even as she greets us without turning away from the wreckage in front of her. "I came when I heard the crash. I wasn't expecting you so soon."

>>66087
Apologize for hastening the destruction of her childhood home. You didn't know what it was until it was too late. Then hand her the photo you managed to get out of it.

>>66103
This

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/18(Sun)10:43 No. 66217 ID: 99e08c
File 125588778878.png - (301.00KB , 640x400 , V516.png )

>>66103
"Loyalty, I'm so sorry we destroyed your childhood home-"

"What do you mean 'we'?"

"Shush, Comfort."

Loyalty slowly turns around... and she looks genuinely calm. She covers a laugh as she glances at our new hats. "Oh, it's okay. It was falling apart and probably a hazard anyway. I'm glad no one got hurt."

"You don't seem bothered at all. I thought you'd be sad or angry..."

She shrugs and nods her head indecisively. "I was pretty shocked and kind of saddened when I first came up here and saw it. I haven't been here in almost twenty years, and I forgot how quickly nature can take its toll. I thought it would be neat to see something from my past."

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/18(Sun)10:43 No. 66219 ID: 99e08c
File 125588781757.png - (23.98KB , 640x400 , V517.png )

"Well, I found this in a dresser before the house collapsed. The bottom drawer was jammed shut and I had to break the frame to open it."

I hand her the picture. A sad smile crosses her face and she looks nostalgic. "Th-... thank you."

Swords of Virtue Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/10/18(Sun)10:44 No. 66220 ID: 99e08c
File 125588789294.gif - (13.67KB , 640x400 , V518.gif )

Now that we're all here I suppose we can start our training. We can find shelter later; Loyalty says she knew a family that has a small guest cabin nearby that goes unused most of the year.

So what should I focus on? What kind of training should I undergo? Strength training? Endurance? Agility? Becoming more attuned with my Sword? Or maybe try to develop a special ability?


[Okay guys, here's how this works. You get five points to spend on increasing Unity's abilities. Each point can be used to increase a physical attribute by 1 up to a max of 2 increases per attribute.

Points can also be spent on Weapon Skill, which provides access to better sword techniques like area attacks, whirlwind attacks, ranged attacks, and helps in sword duels.

And finally points can be spent on unlocking new abilities. Abilities are battle powers or passive bonuses provided by the Sword. These abilities are created and submitted by you, the players. They have to be on theme (Unity and the lack thereof), and their cost is determined by how strong they are. 1 point is mediocre, 2 points is strong, and 3 points is extremely powerful.

And yes there will be a training montage, which will depend on how Unity is upgraded.]

>>66220
Short-range telepathy for the purposes of unified action. Basically just medieval magic radios.
Two points?
Point to Agile, point to Tough.
Low-power mending effect? Taking the pieces of something and rejoining them (without having to use a candle? Will need to be improved later.
One point?

>>66223
Remember that his Sword drains Unity, so abilities should be designed around the idea of fracturing or splitting up. For instance, a level 3 ability would be to split up into a large number of clones to simultaneously attack a target from multiple angles (gasp Naruto!). Or you could get it cheaper by making the clones weaker than the original, or by decreasing the number of clones.

Telepathy could work, in that it splits Unity's mind further and spreads it across distance so other people could hear it. That would allow you to communicate to other characters directly. It would however, be very distracting to Unity since you're basically taking some of his thoughts from him. I like the idea though.

I'll let this run for a while until we get some sort of consensus, or at least a majority agree with a course of action. Keep the ideas comin'!

>>66229
In that case, I will suggest an ability to disorient a target by bollixing with the signals of their body.
Three points, but scalable from 'Irregular heartbeat and broken muscles' to 'Spasm and fall over'. Make it a gaze attack.

I vote for two points in might. Three on Body Bomb (Deunify's an enemy's body in an explosion with area affect.)

Gamebreaker right there though, I like the guy without a name's power if we don't want a gib exploding attack... it might decrease emapthy points even using it on enemies.

at least 2 on weapon skill, 1 on agile, and Seconding the telepathy, maybe even the ability to send our vision using it too. So if we were say, trapped in a castle we could use it to see what is around and spy on stuff or something.

2 points weapon skill
1 point agility or strenght (split vote)
1 point split mind (if cost is 2. Take it off weapon skill)

One point might, two points toughness. Also two points in giving Unity the ability to enter into a highly focused trance on injury to be able to ignore any negative effects and lessen the nastiness of the hit.

Let's make him into a damage sponge!

I like both the Disruption of Unity (aka Body Bomb) and Mind Split abilities. 3 points in the former, 1 point in the latter. Also 1 point into Weapon Skill.