Animated August 2011/08/14(Sun)00:48 No. 339783 ID: f1972f
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It is raining heavily now, can see across the airfield only by the light of a door to one of the hangers.

My youngest brother would be in one of those, training, or working, or sleeping.

>>339783
So, was she angry? How bad was it?

>>339785
Let the man have some privacy. We don't need to know EVERYTHING. Though we want to.

>>339793

I'm sure he caught shit for having anything to do with Jolienne. Sorry August, when your Lucidia had us someone mentioned that you "slept with another woman" as a petty joke (punishment for Lucidia referring to us as an "it" I believe). Not wanting you to get into trouble, we did our best to explain that you had little choice in the matter, and were a gentleman regardless.

>>339783
Did she claim you for herself, August?

>>339783
August, we don't need details, just enough to work with.
Good, or Bad?

Hmm it was some time in the morning that Lucida came looking for August, and was still daylight when August left his carriage and entered his family's compound, but it's well into nightfall now. Guess they were 'talking' for a while...

August 2011/08/15(Mon)20:40 No. 340526 ID: f1972f
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"She doesn't trust you, says I shouldn't either, that... she wants 'me,' not me acting on the whims of some stranger's artifice. Says it will make me weak, reliant, and if I should loose you, incomplete.


I had no argument."

>>340526
We are a tool. We advise, nothing more. She intends to mold you herself, you know.

" As a youth, perhaps even now, but should he not grow, in presence and power? To mold, shape, teach him... such things."

It is your decision. I only ask that we not be wasted.

well see, we don't want that, we are trying to teach you. make you strong and confident enough that you no longer need us. cause that is our ultimate goal, for you to set us down one day and us having the confidence in you that you don't need us anymore. you are still a bit off as displayed by the goo monster situation but we are getting there. also perhaps as a catalyst in more magic things. cause every time we are part of the spell it comes out a LOT more powerful.

>>340526
She's absolutely correct. You should certainly not listen to most of our relationship advice, for it is likely laced with our own personal preferences and vicarious ambitions. Not all of us are truly your friends.

Heck, most of our advice is originating partially from our own selfish desires. The desire to see you succeed in what you attempt is first and foremost, but there is also the desire for you to attempt things that we like to see.

That is not to say that we are a bunch of manipulative bastards, or give useless, tainted advice, but we are most useful in stressful situations- when you NEED something that can think for hours about what to do next. In a relaxed environment you should only accept what we say when we state good reasons behind it, or simply think of what we say in more vague terms.

You could think of yourself as a king, and we your inner circle of not-quite-trustworthy advisors. A king too reliant on his council is weak indeed, but a king without council at all cannot manage a kingdom. So, we are needed when you are challenged. At other times, you should not lean on us.

Alternatively, you could think of us as your friends. That doesn't work quite as well, however, since while we can know quite well who you are through seeing you live and think and constantly asking questions, you lack understanding of what kind of people we are, and thus cannot tell very well when our advice would be tainted by our own individual personalities. That is, if you can even differentiate between the voices...

Couldn't the same be said for any advisers?
Well, I suppose we might have some mental effects we don't know about... We should test for those at some point.

On the upside, unlike normal advisers we can't back-stab you and steal your throne due to our lack of limbs.
Keep in mind we still are mostly incapable of keeping secrets, though.

>>340526
Looks like we all agree with her.
Just realize that this really changes nothing.
We can't do anything physically or metaphysically except talk and empower spells, and we are not even 'alive' without a host.

Actually, should you happen to leave us behind like you did before you got gooed, keep in mind that any longer than a few minutes and we shut down completely until another living host comes along in range.
We had no idea a week had passed. A bit unnerving to say the least.

>>340526

I don't see what the issue is. We generally don't order you around. You ask us questions or set a goal, and we give you advice, some of which you ignore or discard. Sometimes we ask you questions and in general we just talk and stuff.

Have you ever mindlessly taken our advice? I can't think of a time where you didn't give it at least a little thought. Even if the thought was just "I hope this doesn't kill me."

A tool in some respects, an adviser in others. You make your decisions. We only offer observations, introspection, possibilities of actions... not orders. What is the important difference is that we don't have one voice or mind, you say many things and have many ideas and you are forced to use your own judgement to actually make decisions. And for that same reason we have a very difficult time lying, we can't very well deceive or plot or scheme if we cannot coordinate. You can trust us not to do those things... trusting us to have the best idea is less certain, and trusting us to keep secrets is right out.

Really the problem isn't about you and us, it's about us not having her trust. We weren't with her very long and didn't make too good of an impression. You go and speak to her about what we said, and recount your experiences with us. She needs to better understand our nature.

You know, she's wrong. We're not just like any other adviser, because other advisers at court and such have their own personal lives and ambitions. We, however, are YOURS, linked specifically to you and we can gather no pleasure or even EXPERIENCE anything except through you. Sure other people could obtain us and we could see things and talk to them, but the image has always been clearest with you and that's essentially the only input we can receive from your end of the world. We can't be bribed with money, women, or anything, it's just a picture and words to us. If anything, you can trust us MORE than you would someone who had more to gain from using you. Well, maybe not all of us, but you get my drift.

>>340526
There is no argument. You can only avoid such reliance by remembering to value your own opinions and instincts as well as ours. There have been many who have come to rely on us, and there have been many who have grown wiser during our time with them, and eventually reached a point where they no longer needed us.

August 2011/08/18(Thu)21:29 No. 341429 ID: f1972f
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>>340529
Does she now? Yes, yes, I imagine so…
>>340531
I suppose that would be rather like working to put oneself out of a job? Then again, I imagine even without need of your advice I still could make use of your power.
>>340534
Mmmm I ‘could’ think of it in such a manner, that of a king and his council. Yes, that is a not an unappealing thought. If I do intend to make something great of myself, then why ‘not’ carry a council who ‘must’ rely on me.
>>340681
I will have to watch about this ‘secrets’ thing though… I wonder if that is why Sirius did not want to touch you? Of course that implies some experience with such and I believe you may have mentioned something similar in his possession his kobold implied to you.
>>340785
I do apologize, but you must understand, I merely needed a bit of time to rest after such an adventure. Albeit, perhaps not rest of such a binding nature as I’ve experienced the past three days. I wasn’t aware you became so insensate however, though it may in my mind seem preferable to being stuck, awake, and unmoving… then I am likely to be biased here. It’s not like you folks ‘ever’ do move.
>>340832
I suppose not, I don’t like much the idea of being controlled, manipulated, but the danger is there, to mistake your thoughts for mine. Then, it’s safe practice to filter one’s own thoughts regardless of source.
>>340873
Perhaps I shall try to convince her of your more honorable intentions, later, when I’ve had more experience and understanding of them myself.
>>341280
I don’t think the worry is you being controlled by someone else, I think it’s more… me becoming little more than an extension of your will. If I resort to you every time I have a problem, then to whom does the glory or blame for our deeds truly belong to? It becomes murky.
>>341327
Yes, I really should ask you more of what kind of people you have advised; perhaps I could learn more from thei- ahh someone is coming.

August 2011/08/18(Thu)21:34 No. 341431 ID: f1972f
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Through the doorway emerges a somewhat old, crooked and unfamiliar smelling Verhimen emerges and opens an umbrella, almost ignoring me before taking a few steps and turning back to address me.
”Ahhhello there young master, yes. Wouldn’t be looking the be getten cross the way would yeh? Ere’s space under my umberella I’m not ‘posed teh sharen ‘n I ‘magine iffen I could get a hand the hold.”
”Well, I am certainly not opposed to the idea Mr….?”
”Oh, please boy, jest beh callen meh Brocade, t'ain't ‘body calls meh Mr. n'then n'more.”

Hrm... Unusual eyes, a strange scent, and an umbrella strikingly similar in color to the jacket of the last fellow we met with unusual eyes. I am rather wary of this one.

August 2011/08/18(Thu)21:47 No. 341441 ID: f1972f
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We walk out a bit through the rain, Brocade gripping my arm tightly if shakely as the rain pours around us. For a bit he is silent, then he pipes up curiously about halfway across the field.

”Well then boy, wotcha been doen wifferyerself this spring.. gone chasen many girls havya?”
”Not much sir.”
”Ahhh well, maybeh goen hunting? Neh, den’t look the type ah recon… I’s say yeh be teken cara family bet, yerh mucha public eye lately I thenk huh?”
”Huh? Well, I’ve been a bit busy lately…”
”Ohh I know!”
His voices cracks a bit excitedly and he tightens his grip on my arm a bit painfully.
”Been out wiff de boys adcha? Riden bout… getten all sortsa ‘ventures n sech.”
”Well hehe I’ve seen a few things I supose…”
”Oooooh I betcha ‘ave boyo betcha ‘ave. Yeh seen… mehbey a fella weared all scarlet loik n dressed up real fine loik…”
”Excuse me?
”An… I betcha would be knowen about i’s secret treasurah woulndcha? Yeh know, kindsa treasures liddle boys likta be nicked from der mum ehh?”
…
”Who are you?
”Sees, questen is, where’s e run offta, but I’m thinken yeh gots a good ideah bout dat roit? I meen, ain’t been seen much lately rond de ton avyah?”

Oh what the hell, who? This man must be mad!

>>341441
I did not understand a word he just said. Care to translate?

>>341437
He's asking about Larcen de Scarlett. Or maybe he's hinting that he IS Larcen. I can't tell... Perhaps you can play with words a bit to figure that out?

>>341429
>I don’t think the worry is you being controlled by someone else, I think it’s more… me becoming little more than an extension of your will. If I resort to you every time I have a problem, then to whom does the glory or blame for our deeds truly belong to? It becomes murky.

Exactly why we aid you.

As for current events, I do believe this is the previous Larcen de Scarlette. Ask him if he remembers your father and a bridge.

Mad? Don't assume that. He knows you've seen scarlet and wants to know something in particular. You can admit to seeing scarlet briefly, but say only that he shared no secrets with you. Say it's also the first you've heard of any special treasure of his but him having such a thing is no surprise.

The great thing about the way we 'perceive' the different ways different individuals speak is that it allows us to better identify them even if we don't see them or if they try to disguise themselves and their accents. So, connecting the dots that this guy is talking about Larcen de Scarlette and is asking August whether he knows where he is (or perhaps more ACCUSING him of knowing), I looked back and find that this guy is probably he whom we here here: >>/questarch/301497   Which to August means he's some guy tracking Larcen from Sperenze, which suggests that he's rather skilled at tracking and that your movements in the lowlands were not entirely unnoticed. This guy may be more dangerous than you might at first assume.

>>341600
Shit. We'll have to deal with him quick.

Say that last you heard, Scarlet had gotten into a fight with some very fast moving masonry.
(Which is entirely true, just not specific to which Larson).

Tell the man you've no idea what he's talking about. After all, you aren't one to spend your time hanging around dangerous criminals and thieves.

August 2011/08/22(Mon)10:45 No. 342278 ID: f1972f
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A thousand possibilities race through my mind in a moment of panic, and I try to pull away from the curious old man’s unnaturally strong fingers.
”I really can’t say, last I’d heard he had become quite intimate with a rather lof of rapidly moving masonry.”
”Yerh a sorry liah yew are, come boy out wiff de truth erh Brocade ‘l be twisten yer roit arm wrongways jest a bit”
”Do you know who I am, unhand me or-“

August 2011/08/22(Mon)10:46 No. 342279 ID: f1972f
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”Ohhh clumbseh me~, mustah slipped n all dis wet grass, good thing yern’t all lone out here inna dark n storm… roit?”
”You, dare to..
"Nehw den ye'll tell me where ee iz or I'll be getten mite bit rough wiff yer tenderskins gotcha?"

August 2011/08/22(Mon)10:49 No. 342280 ID: f1972f
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"Oh scav off! Damn peasant, if you touch me again I’ll have you thrashed hideless!"
I sling him a mouthful of mud to buy time whilst scrambling on the slick grass.
"Ahh! Yeh fooken welp gotta mek if ruff do yah!?"

August 2011/08/22(Mon)10:51 No. 342281 ID: f1972f
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"DO YAH!?"
With a twist the vagabond lashes out with a swift quick to the face flinging me almost a full yard across the sodden field and tearing my mask off with such force I am left numbed to all but the taste of blood.

August 2011/08/22(Mon)11:00 No. 342283 ID: f1972f
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By the time I've regained myself I am staring into the wickedly sharp point of his umbrella staff, motionless but for the slightest trembling of his unnaturally muscled fingers wrapped around the metal shaft in a disturbing manner that sets my frantic nerves on edge.

He speaks, but now in a very flat, even tone.

"Now, before I ‘really’ lose my temper, I do suggest telling me everything you know about Larcen de Scarlette!"

August 2011/08/22(Mon)11:00 No. 342284 ID: f1972f
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The sky breaks open with a peal of thunder as if to punctuate his threat, a deafening bolt of white-hot electricity lances down, wreathing his form as if he were graven in the likeness of some ancient and wrathful deity.

August 2011/08/22(Mon)11:03 No. 342285 ID: f1972f
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The field is suddenly very still, the only sounds a softer pelting of rain and my own heaving breath, which I struggle to bring back down under my control.

"Is, he...?"

toasted? yeah, is why you don't stand in the middle of a field during a storm with a metal object. suggest you crawl lightning likes to hit the tallest thing around. he could of survived though, so crawl over to him and sink a knife into his chest.

>>342281
Grab your mask and flee.

I am not really sure whether you should kill him (if he is still alive), but I doubt there is anything worth seeing in his pockets unless he is a very foolish thug.

Do you carry (and practice in the use of) inconspicuous daggers around for when you meet people like him? If you don't, you should.

I don't think this man is truly a thug. I believe he is a high ranking man from the rival family. Get rid of that umbrella weapon, then... we get him some medical attention before turning him over to the authorities. I don't agree with that other voice- we shouldn't murder the guy.

>>342284
God damn you were lucky. Confirm the kill and head back home.

>>342294
See >>341600

>>342278
Bind him with your shirt and drag him to the nearest guards. This is a mystery that should be solved.

Well we've got three options as I can see it. Kill him, capture him, or leave him as is. However, we have no idea who this guy really is and we've only a story of him assaulting us and him getting struck by lightning. At best we use our Prince status and get him thrown in the jail and get him some medical attention, at worst our story gets disbelieved and the Inquisitor gets on our ass for witchcraft or something. I'm not sure we want a part of this. Perhaps an anonymous tip to a guard that this guy is some kind of Sperenze spy and if he's not dead he should be thrown in a cell?

>>342595
him waving around a large metal pole in the middle of a field is REAL easy to believe as lightning. these guys know how electricity works.

>>342595
Besides, magic isn't unheard of or forbidden. I think they would only count the more unpleasant kinds of magic as witchcraft, so a lightning bolt in self-defense should be fine.

Some people have been known to survive lightning strikes, and this fellow's UNNATURAL PHYSIQUE probably improved his chances.

I think our best potion is to haul him back by the hood of his robe, so it would be harder for him to grab you if/when he recovers.

August 2011/08/25(Thu)21:37 No. 343001 ID: f1972f
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I check for his breath a moment with my whiskers ready to jump away at any moment, sure enough, nothing. Just to be sure, I bind his arms with his belt and begin the laborious process of dragging him across the field, made only somewhat easier by the wet grass.

I opt to leave the steel umbrella staff for a later recovery, I'd rather not risk his fate carrying it now.

>>342292
I usually carry a rather strong dirk, for use in the few rituals I know. However, these clothes are borrowed and thus most of my standard possessions elsewhere.

August 2011/08/25(Thu)21:48 No. 343002 ID: f1972f
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"Got a paira duces..."
"Duces? The hell are duces?"
"Twos dumbass..."
"Kinda faggot calls em 'duc-

I arrive at the aerodrome shaken, wet, tired and dragging somewhere over a hundred kilos of soaking dead Verhimen. A pair of lugheaded mechanics or sumsuch ceasing their argument over proper terminology of cardgames to regard me through the hazy eyes of a shared bottle of spirits.

tell them that whoever gets a guard here fastest gets a gold piece or something. can go higher if you think it is a good idea.

>>343002
Tell them to go get a guard. Then put your mouth over the dead guys and breath into it. Put your hands over his chest and pump hard ten times. Repeat. It's a method for restarting a stopped heart.

>>343002
"The humans who invented card games, but please don't let me keep you from degrading into fighting and/or sodomy. Let the possibly-dead assassin here do that.
Guards and medics, would you kindly?"

These guys are of no interest and it's not in your best interest to go around insulting or bossing people around. Put him down and get a guard or medic yourself.

>>343022
He's a noble and a dude is dying. It's a perk.

Anyways, skip the breathing into his mouth and focus on the chest compressions.

Place the heel of one hand on the breastbone -- right between the nipples.

Place the heel of your other hand on top of the first hand.

Position your body directly over your hands.

Give 30 chest compressions. These compressions should be FAST and hard. Press down about 2 inches into the chest. Each time, let the chest rise completely. Count the 30 compressions quickly: "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30, off."

If you have a method of reliably delivering a short burst of roughly 700 volts that can be used to restart the heart as well.

>>343023
During this process place us around his neck or something. Any information we can extract is good.

This dude was perfectly willing to kill us. Do we really need to perform untrained CPR to save his life?

I just don't want August to get in trouble.

>>343040
You get extra political troll-points for returning your rival's spies alive with a smug message.

And we get to demand an explanation for his presence before returning him, which is bound to be amusing.

>>343040
More information the better. I'm assuming that Larcen de Scarlette stole some fertility fetish and they're going crazy trying to get it back, but we could always be wrong.

Well I'm not to keen on reviving him unless we seek to get further information out of him, but considering our encounter with him was only ended due to a lucky lightning strike, we really don't know this guy's capabilities. Also we probably won't be able to claim complete innocence, since there's probably a clear sign of a scuffle in the middle of the yard where the lightning struck, and both of you might have some telling signs as well.

Do answer me one question though.
WHO RULES AERODOME?!

I forgot to mention the potential in asking the Sperenzes 'polite' questions about this fellow's unnatural musculature. Wouldn't want to release him into the public if he has some sort of 'dreadful disease', after all. If he is dead, it is much easier for them to just deny everything, whereas if he is alive they will want him back.

August 2011/08/28(Sun)14:20 No. 343484 ID: 0dc05a
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"If neither of you are 'particularly' busy at this point, I could use some assistance if you hadn't noticed."
"Who is that?"
"Is he hurt, wot happened?"
"Some ruffian who tried to ambush me alone on the airfield. I'm okay..."

>>343027
Absolutely not, especially if I planned to resuscitate and return him. I do believe we only just discussed why this was an awful idea? Did we not? Something about being unable to keep secrets.

>>343044
Tempting, really, but... it would be to no great benefit of mine. I already have a viable 'contact' within their walls. Better then that he just, disappear, than confirm myself of as worthy of their direct attention so soon.

August 2011/08/28(Sun)14:29 No. 343488 ID: 0dc05a
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>>343040
Precisely my thoughts.

"-he however, learned why it is unwise to carry an umbrella in an open field.
*CRACK*
"OH Damn! I!"
"Now hold on here just a moment"

I regard them very seriously before rising.
"I'm certain he was already dead, or dying, regardless, it simply wouldn't do to let him suffer. Would it?"
"Erh, no sir."
"No, of course not we, wouldn't want that."

August 2011/08/28(Sun)14:41 No. 343494 ID: 0dc05a
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"Good, we should never, seek to be cruel, but practical.
"Ahh, but... what about the.."
"The body, yes, what about that?"

>>343213
Hmm, that is a point, however... I can just dissect him. I've some experience there.

"Report the body into the guard, then have it boxed and placed in the Chennir Street Chillhouse for my disposal."
As one they answer me.
"Yessir"
"Oh and on that note, Marina, before you do you should probably button your vest just a bit. We'd like to remain under the pleasing misapprehension than we keep our 'after-hours activities' after-hours around here."
"Yessir"

August 2011/08/28(Sun)14:53 No. 343499 ID: 0dc05a
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I walk past a long collection of planes, parts, and the pilots which go in said aeroplanes. To find an kind of tacked together bar in the back, with a fighting ring making up the central exhibit.

The air tastes of the physical exertion and violence practiced here, mingled with roasted meat and alcohol, for fueling both pilots and their conveyance. Here I find my youngest brother, Kurtail de Sauterelle, at the center of attention.

It seems he has chosen an opponent of rather more age and experience, I somehow doubt he'll find the leverage he needs there.

Still, maybe I should just find his master somewhere in the dim crowd rather than waiting on him to finish.

Yeah leave your little bro to his inevitable and probably well deserved beatdown, instead talking to someone with a lick of sense.

August 2011/08/28(Sun)23:03 No. 343654 ID: f1972f
File 131459778360.png - (334.07KB , 900x630 , 619.png )

I find Sir Weldendon tucked into a corner of the bar, eating a plate of sausage and greens.

" and who-... aaAhhh good evening lordling, I almost did not recognize you so... well regardless, what pleasure brings you to my table?"
"I have been ordered to task by my father, you and Kurtail are to accompany me to the Peak of Dispute and return with a certain 'Eschrie du Moulont' in tow."
"Ahhh yes, that matter, please, do sit down. Order whatever pleases you, it would not do to stuff myself while mylord watches so unfulfilled, but to the matter in question, I have been informed somewhat of this duty, what would you ask me of it?"

Wow. Killing a guy in cold blood. I think I'm done with suggesting to August.

>>343741
psshhh, pansy.

anyway, ask if you should get any special supplies for the trip. such as a thick jacket or such.

>>343741
Yea, you can't extract information for a corpse.
August, how are we supposed to know who he was allied with? What the disposition of his forces is? etc?

Hand us off to Lucidia's handmaiden, then go use our absence to seduce Lucidia. We'll be a lot more productive with somebody who has the balls to do things right, and you'll be a lot more productive securing your intended and producing an heir.

Besides, not killing him would have been best for another reason:
If you avoid killing their shady minions, they are less likely to kill your shady minions, both due to psychological reasons and because it would make them look less legitimate than you.

>>343654
Hopefully Kurtail's contest here won't leave him injured.

Best to start by asking about the Peak region. See if you can act openly without the need for silly disguises and false names. It would be nice if we could accomplish this task in such a way that it improves the people's opinions of nobles.

>>343741

Killing a spy sends its own message: "Don't send more spies."

It's valid, useful, and leaves August with plausible deniability. They can't be sure if it was August, some other de Sauterelle, an agent of the house, or just a random death.

We already have a good idea of who the spy worked for. They don't care about August stealing the mask back, that was silliness between the boys, but the loss of the jewels is an insult and they're trying to follow up on all leads.

Likely they would have ignored August entirely were it not for the jewel theft. I'm sure they figured out who August was based on the mask alone. They're probably just grasping at straws in hopes that August knows something, since both thefts happened simultaneously.

>>343741
Let me be more precise. Making sure some guy's dead after he tried to kill you? That's one thing. Binding him and taking him to go see help? That's another. But dragging a bound body to some witnesses, telling them that he's dead but not letting them check, and then casually snapping his neck? That's just plain stupid. Or psychopathic/insane. Tell me August, are you PLANNING to be the next brother Terterus has to strangle?

>Killing a spy sends its own message: "Don't send more spies."
It would take quite a lot to make the cost of sending spies more than the cost of not having them.

Hey, Augustbro, you're not really acting the way you should be. Are you okay bro? Is there something you want to tell us? Something about you perhaps losing a piece of your sanity back there?

I dunno. I'm getting some weird vibes from you bro.

>>344586
He's fine. The inhibition against killing goes away after the first one or two, and besides having killed before August has been trained in combat and politics.

We just don't kill very often, if ever, so we are still softhearted, so to speak.

August 2011/09/01(Thu)23:25 No. 344867 ID: f91e07
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I settle myself a bit and order a plate of noodles in redsauce, I cannot say I have truly 'eaten' in three days, and while not feeling particular hungry, must try and get some more nutrition in my belly than that a glass of brandy.

>>343745
>>343745
"What can we expect here? I mean, I would prefer to be prepared and well informed."

"I expect our target to be well at home in the peak of dispute, while not a powerful person, he knows the lay of the city and how to exploit the regulations there to his defense-"
>>344586
I, am, FINE.
”-as he cannel terit moritus, ecuna winnia, Ia nicarus, Ia nicara-“
>>344138
Exactly, I have no plans in giving him back or resuscitating him, and I need to send a strong message 'should' this even get out, stronger than mere coincidence and luck, I, we are stronger…
”Wait come again?”
”No respect… no respect at all for his elders… taste his own soon enough…”
”Ah, we should consider if we want to address the humans directly, or keep them out of this, if we annoy them if could be hazardous to our attempts, and even if they aid us in capturing one of our own criminals-“
I am suddenly aware of my own breathing, as if it takes my own effort to regulate my breath… the blood in my own veins aware…
-annoyances piles of gore and ash.”

August 2011/09/01(Thu)23:26 No. 344868 ID: f91e07
File 131494478192.gif - (0.99MB , 900x630 , 621.gif )

” Anyhow, probably better to stay out of their way, though if we wanted we could go by air, better chance of getting the equipment back in time, but it’s higher profile, and e’d have to deal with them and the airfield.”
>Witnesses…he's dead… snapping his neck…stupid… psychopathic…insane…the next brother Terterus has to strangle?
I’m not INSANE! I am NOT a KINSLAYER! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE! I-
>inhibition against killing goes away after the first one or two
“Look at him, he’d make a slayer of beasts”
”Or a beast himself”
”I see little difference, beasts all the same.. of bloodied fingers… I see it…”
“I'm sure they figured out who August was…”
>Kill their shady minions, kill your shady minions…We'll be a lot more productive with somebody who has the balls to do things right

I, WILL
>you'll be a lot more productive producing an heir,
…BREAK, EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT ST- NO!
I bring my breathing back under control, I am calm, I am breathing… I can smell food, hear him ramble on about pointless similarities between this mission and his previous tasks…. I breathe… I will eat what is set before me, I’m fine. I am fine.

August 2011/09/01(Thu)23:26 No. 344869 ID: f91e07
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I begin to eat, I can concentrate on that, letting the good knight's words filter into my ear to recall later when the world makes more sense. When I can breathe without thought, when the world stops churning... something... moves... pulses, in my hand.

August 2011/09/01(Thu)23:28 No. 344871 ID: f91e07
File 131494493004.png - (252.95KB , 900x630 , 623.png )

A tangle of veins wets my fingers like the seaweed slicked net of a fisherdrownedinhisowncastasthetiderollsoverhisstrugglinghead-
"Thump... tha-thump... thump..."
"August knows something"
"-just grasping at straws-"
"I... I..."

August, something is targeting you with magic. Intruding upon your mind. Elves, perhaps. Or maybe this is a fit like you had while you were younger?

Either way, focus. The heart is not there. Most of the voices you're hearing are not real.

you are losing it. deep breaths.

>>344871
AUGUST. YOU ARE UNDER ATTACK. THE DEMON THE ELVES SET UPON YOU IS BACK. IT IS LURKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AS WE SPEAK.

Also, you probably have a concussion. You were kicked in the head.

ASK FOR THE INQUISITOR AND A MEDIC. NOW.

shit, didn't notice at first but the lines upon your mask keep shifting. you may need to take that off. now. social faux pas can go fuck themselves.

>>344880
My god you're right, there's a symbol etched upon it now.

>>344871
TAKE OFF THE MASK

Remove mask.

Call inquisitor.

Call medic.

>>344868
Yo, August. The fey is back. Follow these instructions, in this order: >>344885

Fae attack!
Green-eyed creature behind you. It seems to be twisting or rearranging our words as well as changing your mask.
Shout to alert people of what is happening, swipe behind you, and try to get somewhere less crowded so you won't hit bystanders if you need to fight. You might also want to avoid lethal action against threatening figures if you can, as the fae will likely try to trick you into attacking allies.
Don't avoid taking action in an attempt to avoid being thought crazy. As this is a magical attack, it will leave traces to prove this is indeed an attack rather than insanity.

>>344871

Fey attack.

Have your brother summon help.

Move to a secluded area.

Fight it off, this is a mental attack.

Call Lucidia.

While I've no evidence for or against what else is being claimed due to not really knowing what's real and what's not, August really shouldn't be tearing off his mask. It's had a shifting pattern on it since we first saw it; it's hardly a new development, and violating one of the most central taboos of verhimen society at a public wrestling match probably won't do any better for August's reputation of, y'know, not being entirely insane. But if some or all of this is indeed caused by some outside influence, it might as well explain some of his other unusual behavior recently.

He can take Off his shrt to cover hIs face dOnt be dumb for the sake of proPriety.

August 2011/09/05(Mon)22:39 No. 345926 ID: f91e07
File 131528757256.png - (352.01KB , 900x630 , 634.png )

Ishuffleslideoutofmychairasthetelltaleheartdrumsit'sominousrythemintomyearsIhavetogetoutofhereIneedthhisisn'trightsolong
solongsince-

August 2011/09/05(Mon)22:41 No. 345928 ID: f91e07
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"I...I...Heeeelp..."

August 2011/09/05(Mon)22:52 No. 345933 ID: f91e07
File 131528837345.png - (361.69KB , 900x630 , 636.png )

"Auuugusst Aaaauuugust."
"Whah, I?"
"I -ed ...help, he-"
"Siriu-ius?"
"August, I... YOu MUST... at Nenetor Cove... August... don't... follow you... NENETOR COVE... GUNS! Lots of guns... on...
... -erstand Au- in one -urnight! I... -rom the SEA!

[use all energy to make a pulse of antimagic, or suck all magic out of the air.]

Animated August 2011/09/05(Mon)23:03 No. 345943 ID: f91e07
File 131528902286.gif - (494.41KB , 900x630 , 637.gif )

"I... I don't... I can't my... I'm too..."
"August... -ore careful. I don- ed."
"I can't, please... stay."
"Yo- -eed to... ,understand I'm about. You shoudln't..,
...
be so- -mentary discomfo- Goodbye m-."
"UHGACK!"
The world clears, I drop to my knees, and vomit a thick, sickly sweet sludge, heaving, and retching past emptiness.

Animated August 2011/09/05(Mon)23:12 No. 345946 ID: f91e07
File 131528952803.gif - (805.27KB , 900x630 , 638.gif )

Feels better somehow though, clearer. Shapes, shadows, and scents again close in on me, but more naturally now, the earth is still again under my feet, no longer feeling the wind without sound. Tired, so tired... how can I be.. so weary after such... sleep... such dreams?

So the vision is saying something is coming from the sea in a fortnight.

If this is going where it sounds like it is going, we need a steamboat. I have it on good authority that those things are more effective in this situation than nuclear bombs.

Alternately the fae is just faking this for its own ends.

have someone bring a bowl and scoop some of that vomit up. it being sickly sweet may mean it isn't actually vomit. could of barfed up whatever was making you sick.

also check to make sure the cigar is the kind he likes. if it is then the odds of it being him go up.