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289214 No. 289214 ID: 7bef4e

An expectant hush falls over the cathedral as the coronation begins, the great circular awning flooding the room with the sun’s pure rays, setting the gold and silver tapestries and ornaments ablaze with life.

You stand there at attention with your peers, brothers and sisters in devotion to the Church. You have spent many long and arduous years training, learning the ways of your craft, of how to smite foe with blade, reveal truth with words and how to use the fierce light of your soul to chase away the darkness.

It is at this moment begins the rest of your life: The Paladin Graduation Ceremony. The last hurdle to becoming one of the most powerful human beings on the continent of Victoria. With but a glance you command respect, with but a word you can denounce a man and ruin him utterly, with but a single act you can set entire nations into motion. At eighteen years of age, you are taking the last steps necessary to become a Paladin.

But, you are not yet a Paladin. So long as you remember your oaths and answer truthfully, you should not fail.

“First candidate!” The Lord Paladin calls forth, breaking the silence prevailing through the air.

It begins; those before you approach the three mighty individuals assembled at the altar, their bodies clad in alchemical silver, their footsteps heavy with anticipation and anxiety. The Bishop, Jean Piaget, the Lord Paladin of the Cathedral of Saint John, Marshal Rowan, and the Inquisitor Lord Kabal. One by one they Paladin expectants are called up forth, until it is your turn.

“Next candidate!”

Your march up to the altar with as much trepidation as your fellows, your eyes staring down into the burgundy carpet path before you, and eventually you kneel before the holy triumvirate.

“Child, tell me, what is thy name?” The bishop questions as soon as your knee falls to the ground, his next question somewhat puzzling. “Pray tell, are you a son of Adam or a daughter of Eve?”

You look up, eyes rising to meet the three, mouth ready to utter answers that should be readily apparent. Up this close, you can see the three in finer detail. The old Bishop Piaget stands proudly, albeit crookedly as an old man, his eyes robbed of sight and skin haggard, but still he clings to his holy staff, that badge of office, so proudly. Despite his blindness, his stare is piercing, gazing into your very soul. Lord Paladin Rowan looks down upon you expectantly; his body clad in shining armor save for his head, his hand bearing the holy parchment of names to record you into the Paladin roll of honor. Then finally Inquisitor Lord Kabal, the strangest of the three, dressed not in traditional finery but in the formal wear of a nobleman, despite being a woman not over the age of thirty, atop her crown a top hat, as though disrespecting and defying the authority of the bishop. One eye shielded by an eye patch, her lone pupil stares cunningly at you, as though you were something particularly of note.

Inquisitor Lord Kabal, a woman you have met only a handful of times in your life, and a woman you’d prefer to never meet again.

Your mouth opens, the answers upon your lips.

Don't go tripping over your tongue now.
Expand all images
>>
No. 289219 ID: 8d8786

Janus Theodric Lane
>>
No. 289220 ID: f6360f

>>289214
You abandon Liberi Quest for this? I disapprove.



...



Fine, fine. Azalea, daughter of Eve.
>>
No. 289222 ID: cf244d

You are a strong Son of Adam, and don't you forget it.
Your name is Rafael Dominguez, but your friends call you Rafi.

>>289220
>implying it's not happening concurrently in the same continuity
>>
No. 289247 ID: 7bef4e
File 130051979533.jpg - (74.28KB , 700x600 , Janus copy.jpg )
289247

Same continuity as Liberi Quest. It's a continuation of that sad tale. Expect to see familiar faces.

"I am Janus Theodric Lane, a son of Adam." You reply, turning your gaze back to the ground.

“Of your origin, from whence do you hail? The Bishop asks, his ancient voice laden with authority. "I ask of you, what is the origin of thy blood and name?"

Humble Origins: You were the child of rural urbanites, having left the countryside in search of a better life in the city, only to be devoured by the cruel maw of the urban sprawl and the unforgiving harshness of life in a factory. You were destined for such a fate, had it not been for the intervention of God. On your eighth birthday your powers manifested, marking you out as a chosen. Whisked away by the Church, you were sent away to a Paladin academy in Mainz, Konigreich, where you spent the rest of your days, forever separated from your family. Life in the city has given you a more harsh edge to your words and an occasional tendency to speak more plainly, earning the ire of most nobility and fellow clergy, but you can emphasize with your fellow low born man.

Noble Origins: You were born the child of wealthy nobility who had sponsored many fantastic steam inventions and forayed into the dangerous world of mercantilism. You were being groomed to eventually take control of your parent’s enterprise, given a harsh regime of academics until your eighth birthday, when your powers manifested. Despite your father’s best attempts, you were taken to the Paladin academy in Mainz, Konigreich, no longer eligible to inherit your family’s estates. You maintain distant contact with your family, exchanging letters and occasionally meeting your sister under controlled supervision. Your noble upbringing has ensured you got the best, leaving you with an education superior to most other Paladins, causing most nobility to see you as a peer or even a superior, while lesser born men look upon you with mild disdain for your obvious pampering and extravagance.

Unknown Origins: You were a child orphaned by the century long Holy War that tore the land of Victoria asunder, your parents the victims of war, famine, thievery or any number of other terrible fates. You barely avoided a similar fate when you were dropped off at the doorstep of a monastery one rainy night, a full moon somehow tearing its way out of the clouds. Many within the cloister deemed your arrival ominous and auspicious, but despite the protests of many you grew up within the sheltered community, learning ancient Remian, the bible and theology, as well as the harshness of Benedictine Rule. On your eighth birthday you were found to possess the holy powers necessary to become a Paladin, and so you were sent away from your home, promising to make your foster family proud. Your upbringing has left you hard working, disciplined and focused, although you have difficulty interacting with people outside of the clergy, and even amongst the clergy you still have a little difficulty.
>>
No. 289248 ID: cf244d

Humble Origins seem most interesting.
>>
No. 289249 ID: ffb831

>>289247
It's great to have you back!
So,
humble origins = nobles hate us
noble origins = commoners hate us
unknown origins = neither likes us

Unknown origins, I say. We can make allies without prefudice getting in the way.
>>
No. 289250 ID: 8c73c8

i say humble.
but in front of the bishop you exercise complete control over your words and talk as well as you can. don't want to embarrass yourself in front of him.
>>
No. 289259 ID: c71597

>>289247
Noble. The extra education and possible ability to call on the family for aid would be really nice to have.
>>
No. 289263 ID: f6360f

>>289247
Noble. Damn the rabble, we do God's work and the important people are the ones who can help us most in accomplishing it.
>>
No. 289267 ID: a41aaf

Another vote for Noble Origins.
>>
No. 289286 ID: 12639d

Unknown, having a relatively neutral faction relationship web is useful when you need to operate with both classes.
>>
No. 289292 ID: 259738

Unknown origins.
>>
No. 289295 ID: 5f0943

I too will vote for Noble background.
>>
No. 289298 ID: 46c430

Humble or Unknown.
>>
No. 289306 ID: 1e959b

Let's use INsane troll logic for this. I like chocolate, especially Toblerone, which of Swiss manufacture, and the Swiss flag has a white cross, and crosses are holy to Christians, and paladins are holy. So a Swiss Paladin is clearly better as holy + holy = very holey,like Swiss cheese. So we need to make the paladin more holy. What does Switzerland have that paladins don't? Cockoo clocks? No, not really. AH! Neutrality! So which is the most neutral choice? Its the Unknown Origins , of course.
>>
No. 289341 ID: 7bef4e
File 130056631152.jpg - (77.95KB , 900x400 , Mentors copy.jpg )
289341

“I was born of...” You pause for a moment, trying to find the right way to word it “…Lost flesh and blood, unknown to men and known only to God. I was raised by the Church since before my first steps- to God and God alone I owe my life.”

“My personal name, Janus, stems from the Remian God Janus, the God of beginnings and transitions, whilst my child’s name Theodric stems from Theodoric the Great, who after the Remian fall became ruler of Italy. His name stems from the words "people" and 'ruler'.” You explain, considering the burdens your name carries “Of my family name, I have none- I take it from Lane Abbey in Palatinate, Konigreich. The good nuns and monks there are my family.”

“Who did you serve as you climbed the steps to this moment?” Inquisitor Kabal asked next, her voice probing “Whose example do you follow?”

Brother Jacob Stark: A strong, brash and forthright Paladin, he exists as the knightly ideal from which the Paladin descended. A master of arms, he was a Paladin Errant, and thus traveled all across Victoria, exposing you to many different cultures. He often followed the motto ‘Actions speak louder than words’, espousing diplomacy for force and causing many an incident between the Church and various states, but he was still loved for that same sense of justice that got him into so much trouble. While you served him the most dangerous incident you were involved in was the discovery of a cult worshipping pagan gods, led by a Druid wielding nefarious powers. You saved your master’s life that night, taking a bolt of lightning meant for him, and through force of will survived. Your training has molded you into a perfect knight, but such adherence to a knightly code has obvious drawbacks, which include rubbing a lot of people the wrong way with such a ‘holier than thou’ attitude, despite the fact you are holier than they in most respects. You are a master of arms, almost undefeatable in the ring of honor, but your skills in diplomacy are at the bare minimal, while your training involving your Paladin powers focused more upon making you faster and stronger. You also received significant training in steam powered armor and are more than adequate in its use should the need arise.

Brother Erik Faust: A pleasant, charming man, of cool temperament and pleasing words, he was considered by many to be a master of diplomacy, able to diffuse the most dangerous situation with but a word, as well as a master of his God given Paladin powers. As a Paladin Sentinel, you tagged along with him as he accompanied various diplomats across Victoria, he often doing most of the negotiating, as well as curing the grievous injuries and sicknesses of many kings and queens. You rubbed elbows with some of the most powerful people in Victoria and took part in discussions that decided the fates of nations. Your defining moment during that period was during a terse stand-off between the Church and the eastern nation of Ryzia, the former demanding greater power to exercise their pagan cleansing in Ryzian territory. As talks broke down, the matter came to a head, and even as your esteemed master had given up hope, you interject, your charismatic appeal earning both sides attention. Eventually the matter was settled peacefully and war was averted. You have acquired the same tranquil aura your master projected, although this makes it difficult for others to feel truly intimidated by you. You wield your words as effortlessly as a swordsman wields his sword, and although your skills with arms are just barely what is required from Paladins, you abilities are still above and beyond most men. While your ability to make use of steam armor is the bare minimum required by Paladins, your control over your powers is incredible, able to flexibly channel it into yourself or others to provide strength of heart or to heal a malady.

Sister Elena Tempest: A stern, harsh woman who was as cold as she was calculating, she is considered to be one of the more extreme, radical Paladins. She made use of a Liberi, a child who had made a pact with a demonic doll for incredible power and immortality, at the cost of forever trapped in the form of a child, a girl simply named Orchist. Liberi who have joined the Church in an attempt to redeem themselves are known as “The Blessed Flock”, publicly known as children who have been possessed by angels and are capable of miracles, but you know better as a Paladin. Sister Elena was also a master of the Paladin powers, able to focus it and use it in the most destructive of ways, a skill few Paladins knew, never mind mastered. As a Paladin Errant, the three of you were shipped all across Victoria, hunting down the malign and horrific, the demonic and the depraved. Amongst your targets were cults, rogue liberi, nefarious underground organizations, grotesques, zombies- name a supernatural horror and you have crossed paths with it. Your defining moment during this period came when a foolish warlock traded his soul in order to open a gate to hell, leaving his body open to demonic possession. As the demon fueled youth tossed aside your master and her attendant effortlessly, you stood your ground and called upon the holy light of your soul. With a spiteful chant, you destroyed it utterly with a fistful of light, utterly shattering the creature. Your tutelage has left you cold and callous, uncaring of the emotions or concerns of others; you get results regardless of the methods. As a result you have a vast array of forbidden knowledge regarding the occult. Your diplomatic methods are more intimidating and violent than the typical Paladin, and your swordsmanship is adequate. You can effortlessly control a suit of steam armor and your ability to smite your foes with holy might makes you unique amongst Paladins.


((Pictured left to right, Brother Stark, Brother Faust, Sister Tempest. Also, good to be back.))
>>
No. 289345 ID: a0d5fc

A vote for Sister Tempest, to line up with our background.

With lots of occult knowledge, hopefully we can grow in some interesting direction.
>>
No. 289346 ID: 8c73c8

i say Brother Jacob Stark

((PS. Kabal, if you pop into IRC you can ask the mods to ungraveyard your thread or move it to the archive. you could also ask here what you want to do with it.))
>>
No. 289364 ID: d5245e

A vote for Sister Tempest.

(also, might i say that it is only with such knowledge as we have learned from Sister Tempest that we can trully do the greatest good, after all, stopping the evils of man can do no good when man leaves his evil to demons, and masterfull swordsmanship leaves too much leeway for a demon to survive.
Best to destroy it in one fell swoop.)
>>
No. 289366 ID: f6360f

>>289341
Hrm.... Tempest, I think. Faust would be my second choice.
>>
No. 289383 ID: a41aaf

Sister Tempest. Interacting with Inquisitor Lord Kabal should be... interesting.
>>
No. 289502 ID: b6ca92

>>289341
Sister Tempest. Occult knowledge is hard to come by, and skill in the virtuous arts are even harder still to gain. We were blessed by her tutelage, and the blazing light of her soul kept the truth ever shewn from the darkness.
Also, we can always improve in the physical arts, and diplomacy is always a bitch anyhow, and only useful for empire-building; a goal that could be no further from our heart, considering our devotion to God.
>>
No. 289518 ID: 7bef4e

((I intended to update sooner but a whole mess of stuff came up; I decided to just quickly update at midnight without a picture. Also, I'll go jump onto IRC and ask to dig up Liberi Quest, to give it a proper ending.))

“I served Sister Tempest with honor and without hesitation.” You reply immediately, recalling the numerous adventures and countless lessons. “She instilled in me the skills necessary to face my fate and fulfill my duty, whatever the cost.”

Lord Rowan stepped forward next, quickly asking several questions that had to be met immediately and without hesitation; this was where most Paladins fail. The slightest pause could be seen as the first signs weakness, a weakness that could grow into doubt and lead down a dark path of ruin.

“The heart that beats within your breast; for what does it beat?”

Passion
Piety
Love
Duty

“With your sword, what will you cut down?”

Cowardice
Ignorance
Hatred
Impertinence

“What shall you ask of God?”

Might
Purity
Trust
Success

“What shall you offer to Him, so as to be made worthy of Him?”

Glory
Belief
Trust
Sacrifice

“For whom would you offer your body up as a shield?”

The Innocent
The Church
The People
God

“Who will you crusade against, in the name of the Holy Father?”

The Heretic
The Apostate
The Demon
All those He deems unworthy
>>
No. 289520 ID: f6360f

>“The heart that beats within your breast; for what does it beat?”
Duty

>“With your sword, what will you cut down?”
Impertinence

>“What shall you ask of God?”
Trust

>“What shall you offer to Him, so as to be made worthy of Him?”
Sacrifice

>“For whom would you offer your body up as a shield?”
The People

>“Who will you crusade against, in the name of the Holy Father?”
All those He deems unworthy
>>
No. 289524 ID: 07416a

Passion
Ignorance
Clarity
Sacrifice
The People
All Those He Deems Unworthy
>>
No. 289594 ID: a0d5fc

Passion 
Ignorance 
Success 
Glory
The People
The Demon
>>
No. 289595 ID: d601f2

>>289518
Duty.
Ignorance.
Success.
Glory.
The poeple.
All those He deems unworthy.
>>
No. 289620 ID: c90982

>“The heart that beats within your breast; for what does it beat?”

Duty

>“With your sword, what will you cut down?”

Cowardice

>“What shall you ask of God?”

Success

>“What shall you offer to Him, so as to be made worthy of Him?”

Sacrifice

>“For whom would you offer your body up as a shield?”

The People

“Who will you crusade against, in the name of the Holy Father?”

All those He deems unworthy
>>
No. 289646 ID: a41aaf

>“The heart that beats within your breast; for what does it beat?”
Duty

>“With your sword, what will you cut down?”
Ignorance

>“What shall you ask of God?”
Success

>“What shall you offer to Him, so as to be made worthy of Him?”
Trust

>“For whom would you offer your body up as a shield?”
The Innocent

>“Who will you crusade against, in the name of the Holy Father?”
The Apostate
>>
No. 289744 ID: 7bef4e
File 130068716614.jpg - (83.80KB , 900x700 , Knighting copy.jpg )
289744

(((Well, I thought I'd have this weekend to devote to just running Paladin Quest, but it looks like I was wrong. Oh well.))

Your replies are rapid and immediate, without a trace of hesitation. You have internalized the oath to your very core, meditated upon it for many days and hours; these answers are your true, heartfelt answers.

“The heart that beats within your breast; for what does it beat?”

”My heart beats out of duty, for it is duty that gives me purpose.”

“With your sword, what will you cut down?”

”With my sword I cut down Cowardice, the greatest blight upon the human soul.”

“What shall you ask of God?”

”I shall ask God for success in my endeavors.”

“What shall you offer to Him, so as to be made worthy of Him?”

”I shall offer Him my sacrifices, for the only measure of a man is that which he has given up.”

“For whom would you offer your body up as a shield?”

”I would shield the people with my body, for they are God’s children and I their protector.”

“Who will you crusade against, in the name of the Holy Father?”

”I raise my sword against all those He deems unworthy.”

Lord Paladin Rowan looks upon you approvingly, now it is in their hands whether you pass or fail here.

“You have up to this point in your life possessed no property.” Rowan states as he sets aside the scroll, turning his attention to a table laden with weapons at his side “We gift to you the armor you wear and the sword that all Paladins bear.”

He takes up a blade and gives it to Kabal, kissing it lightly at the cross guard before handing it off

“Be without fear, standing bravely before the manifold enemies of man and God.” Kabal began to recite as she drew the blade, kissing it upon the pommel. “There are those who would abuse the weak and the helpless. There are those who would propagate the wrongs in the world. There are those who would in their malice destroy the world and drown it in sorrow. You are the bulwark against the darkness. It is your duty to defend the weak, right the wrong and safeguard the innocent.”

“Swear upon the sword your oath, and give yourself over to Him now and forever more.” She points the blade tip at your lips, demanding your kiss. “You are His will made manifest, let none dissuade you.”

“I pledge myself utterly and wholly to the will of God and the Church.” You reply, kissing the blade and sealing your fate.

“Kneel a man.” Kabal finishes as she taps one shoulder, then the other “Rise a Paladin.”

You stand uneasily, as though you were but an infant, standing for the first time. Kabal thrusts the sheathed sword at you, awaiting your claim to it. Your hands reach out for it, lifting it gently out of her grasp, handling a fragile thing that would shatter at any moment. All sense of time is distorted, the sensation of elation rushing through your veins. You are now a Paladin.


-----------------------
Character creation: COMPLETE

You are Brother Janus Theodric Lane, born to unknown parents under an unknown star, left at the steps of Lane Cathedral during the midst of the Holy War. At the age of eight your spiritual powers manifested and you were sent to the Paladin Academy. At the age of fourteen you were squired to Sister Elena Tempest.

Your upbringing has left you with a serious, hard-working mentality that finds peace in solitude, while your service to Sister Tempest has taught you the benefits of being detached to people and things. You are generally a cold, aloof man who is single-minded in purpose and ruthless in action, but there is a soft tenderness to you that you scarcely show. Whether it is because you have rarely been shown such kindness, or if it is because you fear abandonment, you cannot say, but you are guarded in your emotions and relations, rarely opening up to others. The only emotion that betrays you is the white hot passion you exude in battle.

As a Paladin, you uniquely possess the ability to harness your spiritual power offensively and you are quite deft in its application. Comparatively, your skill at arms and use of steam armor can only be called average amongst Paladins, and your inflexible diplomatic skills consist of calm, cool discussion, white hot threats and steely acts of intimidation with little else in-between. Unlike other Paladins, you are well versed in the supernatural threats that plague men.

------------------------------------------
>>
No. 289745 ID: 7bef4e
File 130068740595.jpg - (94.04KB , 900x700 , Convince me copy.jpg )
289745

“Next candidate!” Brother Rowan announces callously, breaking you out of your spell.

You quickly rush back into line with the others, the excitement still surging through you. Soon enough the ceremony is over and you are all dismissed, free to spend the afternoon in whatever way you may see fit.

As you filter out of the cathedral with your fellow peers, Inquisitor Lord Kabal calls out your name, halting your steps. You feel a chill run up your spine as you consider what implications this may have.

“Brother Janus, I’ve a matter I wish to discuss with you.” She properly states as she approaches, a smug smile on her face “Come, let us walk.”

Considering her substantially higher authority, you cannot refuse and begin to walk about with her, allowing the mass of newly appointed Paladins to venture off without you.

“You were quite composed, Brother Janus.” She praises you, her aims ambiguous “But, that’s only to be expected. You see, I’ve been observing you for quite some time.”

“Observing?” You reply curiously, unsure of what to make of such a revelation “I am but a humble initiate- I doubt there is much to observe.”

“You undervalue yourself, Brother Janus. I think you would make a wonderful asset to us. The Infernus Arcanus incident where you smote a demon with your powers is a perfect example of your potential.” She elaborated as we passed out of the Cathedral’s shadow and into the eastern garden “You would be counted amongst our most elite members, given equipment far superior to what even Paladins are normally provided, promoted far quicker, and most importantly you would be fighting the most dangerous of the Church’s enemies, rather than simply wandering about and stumbling upon trouble.”

“What sort of organization is it that you mind, if I might ask?” You ask incredulously “Forgive me for being untrusting of your words, Inquisitor, but this seems to be far too great an opportunity for someone as anonymous as I.”

“Our organization is given carte blanch to fight the Church’s enemies. I put who I want on this team, and the only thing that earns you a place on this team is skill. We don’t need to tiptoe around politics; we can act without worrying about the political repercussions. ” She began to elaborate on her mysterious group of collaborators “We answer directly to the Pope. We can do the right thing at the right time.”

You remain silent, unsure of what to make of this sudden opportunity. It just seemed too unreal, too good to be true.

“What if I were to say you would work alongside the esteemed Vincent Pious?” She chuckled darkly, tempting me with that name “He is the leading Paladin and personally works with most of the organization. He showed particular interest in your abilities and skills.”

Vincent Pious. The man who won the Holy War. He bravely fought against impossible odds and triumphed. If not for his relative youth, he would’ve been catapulted through the ranks. Amongst Paladins he stands at the forefront as being a living legend. The opportunity to work with him, fight with him, all right there.

“Don’t assume this will be easy in anyway.” She immediately interjected. “You will face terrible things that tear away at your soul and would cause lesser men to go mad. You will go up against impossible odds and fight impossible things. You will have the best, for you are the best and you will do battle with the worst.”

“If you wish to live quietly as an unassuming Paladin for the rest of your life, refuse.” She states with finality, “But if you wish to rise up and choke the greatest of evils with your own two hands, then agree, and I shall show you a world of dark wonder where hopefully, you and I will die glorious deaths.”

You stand silently for a moment in the midst of the eastern garden, the sun's bright light beating down upon you, the scent of roses filling your nostrils.

You open your mouth, ready to answer: Yes or no.
>>
No. 289747 ID: f6360f

>>289745
"A Paladin who wishes to live a quiet and unassuming life does not deserve his title. It is my sworn duty to crusade against all the forces of darkness, no matter the cost to myself. I am God's sword and humanity's shield against evil. If you believe me capable, and it would help me accomplish that duty, then it would be my honor to fight and perhaps die with you and yours."
>>
No. 289749 ID: 8c73c8

sure, this looks like exactly what you were trained to do.
>>
No. 289767 ID: 46c430

>>289747
Say this.
>>
No. 289774 ID: a41aaf

>>289747
Seconded.

Hopefully we will be issued our own Dashing Top Hat.
>>
No. 289829 ID: 7bef4e
File 130073768681.jpg - (75.87KB , 900x400 , Choices copy.jpg )
289829

"A Paladin who wishes to live a quiet and unassuming life does not deserve his title. It is my sworn duty to crusade against all the forces of darkness, no matter the cost to myself. I am God's sword and humanity's shield against evil. If you believe me capable, and it would help me accomplish that duty, then it would be my honor to fight and perhaps die with you and yours."

“Ah, excellent. That bravado from the ceremony is still pumping through your veins.” Kabal chuckled she began to dig through her pockets, looking for something. “I knew you would accept. Well, had you said no, I would’ve had to rely on more convincing methods…”

You can only begin to imagine what she meant by ‘more convincing methods’ when she discovered what she was fishing around for: three metallic cards. She tosses them to you and you snatch them effortlessly out of the air with one hand. A quick glance reveals the images of three different children on each metallic card; you realize what these are: These are Alchemical Silver Portrait Cards, a new innovative technology that allowed images to be captured in perfect detail. The technology for these was announced only a few months ago, and then there is the simple cost and difficulty in acquiring sheets of alchemical silver.

You glance back up to Kabal as she casually lit up a cigar, puffing lightly. From her nonchalant attitude you can tell that her claims of having the best was no jest: She has access to resources men could only dream of.

“Those three children- pick the one you like the most.” Kabal ordered you in-between puffs “Men working on impossible tasks will need impossible allies, after all.”

You scrutinize the cards more closely; you notice there are names on the back of each one: The first one, a young girl roughly nine years of age by the name of Olivia Liefeld. You recognize the face and the name; during your training as a Paladin you were randomly asked to accompany and ‘play’ with members of the Blessed flock, and she was amongst that handful of children. She was a good, kindly girl.

Kabal began to elaborate on the first child as you studied her image. “Olivia Liefeld, you’ve met her. Daughter of a Paladin and a nobleman, was born with deformed limbs and was bed-ridden from birth. She came into possession of a Liberi and thus mobility, but was given to us for salvation. Upbeat child, but has little experience with the world due to her reclusive lifestyle, and is thus rather naïve. Also, spoiled.”

The second one looked familiar, a boy somewhere around ten years of age, according to the card his name was William Cherco. You recall the face from a mission that sent you to the Cathedral in Florence, Norther Istallia. He was amongst the Blessed Studying there and from the few moments you spent with him, he seemed to be a studious, serious child.

“William Cherco.” The smoker moved onto the next child as she deeply inhaled “Born in Northern Istalia, in some tiny bastard village in Ligura. He was kidnapped by slavers but was able to escape after becoming a Liberi. He turned himself at the Il Duomo Cathedral and was recently shipped here on my orders. He’s a despondent boy and thinks quite lowly of himself, but he is bright.

The third and final face was a complete mystery to you. A girl roughly eleven or twelve years old, the name given was “Samantha Kerrinton”. All you could tell about her was the pained expression on her face.

“Finally, Samantha Kerrinton.” The Inquisitor sighed as she dropped the butt of her cigar, grinding it into the stone path with her heel “I’m not at liberty to disclose her past, but I can tell you she is a loyal child. She is eager to please and will do anything you ask, no matter how impossible it may be. Amongst the three available to you, she is without a doubt the most powerful. The only thing she asks for is a brother.”

“I’m quite certain you’re compatible with any of these three.” Kabal summarized as she drew another cigar and began the process all over again. “Personally, I’d pick the last one. I’m curious to see what will happen.”

Right off the start she's making you choose a Blessed- normally such things take years of knowing and bonding with a Liberi before making that final leap. But she seems strangely confident that whichever one you pick will be the right choice. All that there's left to do is trust in the Inquisitor; you've already said yes, after all.


((Pictured left to right: Olivia Liefeld, Wiliam Cherco, Samantha Kerrinton))
>>
No. 289833 ID: a41aaf

Kerrinton. She didn't get to be Lord Inquisitor for nothing, so her... suggestion... isn't to be taken lightly.
>>
No. 289835 ID: 8c73c8

hrmmm, Olivia would most likely be hard to deal with in a serious mission. being spoiled and naive would mean she may refuse orders or get tricked easily.
William, with his lack of self confidence would hesitate and in the heat of battle hesitation can cost your life.
Samantha, she will do anything you ask without hesitation, meaning instant action and is utterly loyal.

take Samantha, for her power, her loyalty(and for that tiny desperate sliver of fear of abandonment in your heart)
>>
No. 289853 ID: 02ba0c

>>289829
Samantha Kerrington.
>>
No. 289854 ID: a9ba96

>>289829
Kerrington. She seems the most interesting.
>>
No. 289939 ID: 252e1b

Voting for Samantha.

>>289829
>“I knew you would accept. Well, had you said no, I would’ve had to rely on more convincing methods…”

Which is to say she would have arranged for trouble to come his way, anyway. They want this paladin badly. Nice. Speaks well of him.
>>
No. 289997 ID: 89e758

Voting Kerrington, she has experience being a player character.
>>
No. 290040 ID: 7bef4e
File 130077870313.jpg - (116.04KB , 800x800 , Sleeping Samantha copy.jpg )
290040

“This one.” You choose, holding up the card that belonged to Samantha Kerrinton

“Ah, excellent choice.” The Inquisitor darkly chuckled once again as she quickly inhaled the entirety of her cigar “Just as planned…”

As she dropped the remnants of her cigar and crushed the remains underneath her boot, Kabal snatches the two other cards away, leaving you with Samantha’s card. Primly pocketing them away, the Inquisitor began to march away, beckoning you to follow. “Come now Brother Janus, the day is young and it’s generally best to throw fresh meat to the sharks immediately!”

You quietly obey, mouth opening to demand an explanation, only to be cut short by the Inquisitor “As I told you earlier, I am going to be sending you into the most dangerous of situations, and generally they aren’t situations that a pair, or even a team of Paladins can handle- not to insult your exceptional prowess, but there are just some really bad things out in the world.”

“To that end, I am pairing you with a Liberi. Even thouh most Paladins take years cultivating such a relationship and that relationship is generally what separates them amongst the already elite Paladins, for those who work with me the company of a Liberi is almost mandatory.” She explains, her footsteps leading you away from the Cathedral garden and towards the orphanage barracks “To that end, I selected amongst the various children available to us the three that would be most compatible with you.”

“I imagine that the two of you will get along famously- according to your aptitude tests you scored quite high in the areas that these children desire the most in a guardian.” Kabal went on to explain as we passed by the orphanage barracks and to the Paladin barracks, in particular the Blessed lodgings “Furthermore, your temperament and scores in other tests, as well as your background, makes you suited for this. I’d imagine for you it will be quite natural.”

“Aptitude tests? I do not recall taking such things.” You reply in confusion as you both enter the Blessed lodgings, externally appearing to be an grandiose add-on to the Paladin barracks “You said you’ve been interested in me, but truly, for how long?”

“Why, Brother Janus, don’t you know? You’re being watched, judged and tested, always.” The Inquisitor revealed nonchalantly, as though this were common fact “Even as you slept, we were keeping tabs on you. We know everything about you, Brother Janus, otherwise how could we trust you as a Paladin?”

The hallways of the Blessed barracks were eerily silent, devoid of most decoration save for a painting of the Saints or a framed prayer done in calligraphy. She turns into an almost unnoticeable stairwell, leading upstairs. The winding darkness is almost claustrophobic, the light footsteps of Kabal and your own heavy footfalls the only noticeable sounds.

But, you can hear, almost dimly, as though it were a trick of the mind, a child’s giggle.

The second level is lit by the sun, flooding through ancient windows, stained glass painting the ground. She leads you to one of the many doors lining the hall, opening a heavy oaken door with a parchment nailed to its surface with the Remian numerals XII. Drawing a key ring laden with keys of many different sizes, she promptly selected one and unlocked the door with a grin.

“Ah, as for how long we’ve been keeping tabs, that’s a secret.” The Inquisitor added as she threw the door open.

The dimness of the room only highlighted the barness of it, little more than a stone cell with a humble bed, a change of clothes alongside a stuffed cat toy upon a table, a chair, a window barred with iron, and most curiously a mirror embedded on the right side of the room. Laying upon the bed, was the sleeping form of Samantha Kerrinton, her appearance exactly as depicted on the card.

“Here is some money, she’ll be awake soon.” Kabal set several florins onto the table “Your mission is to spend the day with her. Do what you will with her- take her to the park, lunch, whatever, so long as you return to the Cathedral by ten P.M.”
“Wait, what do you mean spend the day with her-?” You stammer back in confusion “That’s ridiculous-“

“Just do it.” Kabal silences you, effortlessly pushing you against the wall with one hand “I’m not too sure what will happen when she wakes up, but I’m sure you can handle it. Your dossier says you’re good at ‘winging it’. Show me.”

With that Kabal left the room, leaving you with a sleeping little girl. As you approach her bed, you realize that she is nude beneath the covers. The prospect of being in the same room as a nude person is somewhat uncomfortable for you, never mind it being also female and a child. Then there was the problem of what to do with the girl- you’ve never interacted with children in any extensive manner. Even the Blessed that traveled with you and Sister Tempest seemed to treat you with mild contempt and kept her distance. In fact, that leaves the question- what do normal people do with a free afternoon? With a sigh you sit down at the table, examining the other things of interest.

The Inquisitor left you with roughly a hundred florins-enough to really do anything in an afternoon. The clothes seem to be around the right size for Samantha. What draws your attention is the stuffed animal: It’s a cat wearing numerous hats and a business suit, but it’s had its eyes blindfolded and mouth sewn shut, as though it should see no evil or speak no evil.

As you reach out to touch the stuffed animal, the figure upon the bed stirs, stretching lightly and sitting up uneasily, clinging to the sheets frightfully, her expression confused and frightened, until her eyes turned to you; the emotion reflected in her impassive eyes was that of longing. “Brother…”

What do you do?
>>
No. 290042 ID: 8c73c8

"uhh, good afternoon. i'm not entirely sure how to be a brother, but i'll try my best! we have the afternoon free to do what we want, do you have anything in mind?"
>>
No. 290051 ID: a41aaf

Treat her with civility, but NEVER outright claim to be her brother. It will not end well.

Wish her good morning, ask her if there is anywhere she would like to go,and offer to leave to allow her to get dressed. Act as if the entire day is a one-off: if asked, do not outright rule out that you may meet her again, but subtly imply that she will only see you for the one day. When she finds out that you have chosen her, she will feel as if it is due to the day spent together, rather than a whim from a set of cards. Allow her to reach out to you, rather than attempting to reach out to her.

BRB rewatching Gunslinger Girl
>>
No. 290052 ID: 252e1b

>>290040

"Good morning Samantha. I'm afraid I have you at the advantage; I'm Janus. I've just graduated as a Paladin. You may call me Janus, or Brother Janus, or Brother, as you will.

"You and I have been given a chance to get to know each other. We have the entire day to do as we will, to go to the theater or see the sights in the city, to go and play. I have enough money that we'll be able to sample the cuisine as well; I certainly would like to have lunch with you. If we find each other agreeable, we'll be able to work together later. But that's later. Today is our day. What would you like to do?"
>>
No. 290054 ID: 252e1b

>>290051

Brother is a generic term for men in a religious order isn't it? She could be using his proper title as a paladin.
>>
No. 290062 ID: f6360f

>>290040
Try to be friendly. "Indeed. Brother Janus, specifically. Good to meet you, Samantha. Now, up and dress, please; we have places to go today."

Do not allow this situation to devolve into long conversations. You're not a diplomat nor a manipulator; keep things moving and get a sense for what she's like before establishing your relationship with her as anything other than you being in charge and vaguely friendly. After you understand her a little better, you can move on from that. Do not tell her where you're going; it is hers to merely trust in your judgment and follow, for the moment.

Take her out of the barracks and go walking through the city. Keep a close eye on her and how she acts; what activity you choose can be dependent upon that. If all else fails, stop somewhere for lunch.
>>
No. 290465 ID: 7bef4e

(((FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- Sorry guys, I didn't realize how close to midterms it was when I started Paladin Quest. I'm gonna put this on pause for until next week. I NEED TO STUDY HARDCORE CAUSE I SUCK AT MATH.)))
>>
No. 290473 ID: fe20ce

>>290062

This one. Try to let her do the talking. Be court, be precise, but before all: be quiet.
>>
No. 290491 ID: 45be60

>>290465
Don't sweat it. If you waited until you weren't busy to start a quest, it would never happen at all.
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