[x] what the fuck man this isn't disneyland

>>14788591
seconded.

[x] I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER!

>>14788555

"Am I....dead?"

Bump

OP, where are you?

[x] what the fuck man this isn't disneyland
[x] I AM THOR, GOD OF THUNDER!

The figure shakes her head. "You are not a divinity, and you are not in a place of mortal imagining. I will find out why you are here."

She stares through you, a steely gaze boring through your eyes. "A man at arms. Died in duty. No other outstanding details." She looks at you. "Your history has been excised. I will find the missing portions, but in the meantime, I would judge you." She places her sword on the ground and reveals her other hand, holding a large and ornate scale.

"I will ask you questions. Answer them however you wish."

"It will take an armorer a month to construct a perfect set of plate armor, and a foeman a minute to pierce this armor. The armor is not to blame for the foeman's strike, and the armorer cannot be blamed for the armor's piercing. Why was the armor built in the first place?"

[]To protect its wearer
[]To fill a need
[]For no reason
[]Write in

>>14788730
[x] To defend an idea.

>>14788730

The armor was made to give the wearer a minute of bravery.

>>14788730

It was built with the intention of protecting its user. The fact that it failed in that task does not affect the reason it was made in the first place.

>>14788730
[x] because the armorer got paid to make it

>>14788751

I agree with this response.

>>14788730
[x] it was built at the command of my father odin, so I might go into battle against the Jotuns without concern for safety. FOR I AM THOR!!!!!

[x] To defend an idea
[x] To give the wearer a minute of bravery.

Her gaze does not waver.

"Twelve men stand before their lord and pledge their lives to his defense. Two quit their duties to return to their families. Three are caught stealing money from their lord and are exiled. Four are caught in conspiracy to overthrow their lord and are executed. The lord is assassinated while the remaining three men are at watch.

"Who bears the most fault?"

[]The assassin, who killed the lord
[]The two who would abandon their duty
[]The three who would steal from their lord
[]The four who would betray their lord
[]The three who would fail in their duty
[]The lord, for inspiring such ill deeds
[]Write in

[X] LOOOOOKIIIIII!!!! CURSE YOUUUUUUU!!!!!

>>14788782
[x] The Lord, for choosing such unreliable companions.

>>14788782
>The lord, for inspiring such ill deeds

>>14788802
This.

>>14788782

The Lord. He commanded no honor, respect or loyalty, and is not worthy of the title.

>>14788802
>>14788812

Thirded

[x] The Lord, for choosing such unreliable companions

Her gaze refocuses on you, and you can feel her eyes searching your mind. She blinks, then continues.

"A bastion is besieged by an enemy. The lord and his foe are rivals, and the battle is little more than internecine brawling among the aristocracy. Their men go to their deaths anyway, because duty demands it. One man recognizes the battle for the senseless waste it is, and escapes the fight. He is caught later by his former enemy, who hands him to his lord for a deserter's execution. The man makes an escape attempt and is cut down.

"Is the man's death sufficient punishment for his crime?"

[]Yes, he was a deserter
[]No, he should have been forced to stand trial for his crime
[]No, he did not commit a crime
[]Write in

>>14788869
[X]No, he did not commit a crime

Deserting from a senseless war which will benefit no-one is no crime.

>>14788890
Seconded.

>>14788869

This man had chosen his fate, knowing full well of the nobles' tendency to senseless slaughter. His crime of foolishness led to the smaller crime of cowardice, as he fled the battle.

His sentence was just, but neither he or the nobles could be considered so.

>>14788869
[x] Yes. he had a duty as he soldier. It was not in his authority to decide whether he should fight, if he had to because of law or was paid for it.

>>14788910

This.

>>14788910
Ayuh

[x]Your answers

The figure raises her hood and picks up her sword. "Your answers reveal an incongruent judgment. You are not meant to be here, but you cannot return to where you were. I will instead send you away for a short time, such that on your return your judgment can be complete."

"May your actions reflect well upon you."

With a speed that you've never seen before, she cuts through your chest...

You awaken with a start, and immediately feel your chest. There is no cut. Your scale coat is undamaged. You take stock of your surroundings.

You are in a small clearing, surrounded by dense temperate forest. The sky is a brilliant blue and unmarred by clouds. The forest presents vivid colors - in fact, all colors seem slightly brighter, as if your vision was that when you were a child. Other than the trees, which seem to extend in all directions, there's nothing here.

You breathe. You're alive. You think. There's a small glint shining a distance to the north.

[]Walk towards the glint
[]Ignore the glint and wander the forest
[]Write in

>>14788985

Investigate the glint, but be cautious, we have no idea where we are yet.

>>14788985
[x]Walk towards the glint

>>14788985

Walk towards the glint. Use all our caution to remain hidden.

This may not be the world from which we derive.

[x]Investigate the glint, but be cautious, we have no idea where we are yet.

You move in the direction of the glint slowly, being careful not to make too much sound. As you come closer, you realize the glint is light shining off a metal object.

Your halberd! You immediately recognize the polearm as yours. The point is embedded in a tree trunk, with the weapon at a high angle, as if a giant had shoved it in. The trunk is in front of a small house in a clearing, a single story house with a tiled roof and chimney. There's a broom next to the door, and a cord of wood off to the side. The bushes in front of the house are well groomed.

A tiled roof? The person living here must be wealthy. The chimney is emitting a slow wisp of smoke, but you can't see any hints of whoever's inside. There's no motion.

[]Retrieve your weapon
[]Call out
[]Write in

>>14789108

Retrieve the weapon and call out.

Smoke should mean that someone is inside.

>>14789108

Retrieve the Halberd silently as possible.

Walk to the door of the hut, and knock.

Whoever it is, they aren't expected us.

>>14789151
>Whoever it is, they aren't expected us.

In this place, can we truly be sure of that?

[x]Retrieve the weapon and call out.
[x]Walk to the door of the hut, and knock.

You move forward slowly into the clearing and very carefully grab hold of your halberd. You're not tall enough to take hold of the handle, but you can grab just behind the axe head and lever down. The wood splinters and cracks as you work the halberd out of the wood, leaving the tree weeping sap.

The halberd is indeed yours, as you have a distinct recollection of having your custom grip forged by a blacksmith. You heft the weapon and it feels completely natural in your hands. Unfortunately, you don't have the sling you need to carry it over your back, so you end up carrying it over your shoulder.

You stride up to the house and call out. "Hello? Is there anyone there?" You don't get a response.

You knock on the door and get no response. You knock again, and on a whim try the knob. The door is unlocked.

[]Enter the house
[]Knock again
[]Wait
[]Leave
[]Write in

>>14789261
[X] Give another yell, and if we don't get a response...
[X] Go around back to see if the inhabitant is out chopping wood or something.

Enter the house

[x] Leave

turn around and head down the trail/path/road/whatever.
We need to find civilization and get some answers, not hang about and chat up some lonely old maid

>>14789261

Call out again, and if there's no response, go inside.

I still want more information about where the hell we are, and we may find something inside.

>>14789288
>lonely old maid

More like sultry young forest nymph, amirite

[X] Give another yell, and if we don't get a response...
[X] Go around back to see if the inhabitant is out chopping wood or something
[x] Enter the house

You call out again and get nothing in reply. With a shrug, you circle the house. There's nobody around the back, just a small patch of empty dirt with a wooden post. The post has a great deal of cut marks on it; you recognize a striking dummy when you see one.

You circle back to the front and enter the house. It's a single room, with some chairs and a table in front of the fireplace, a bed in the corner, and a wooden tub in the other corner. There's an open book on the table. A large barrel of water is next to a washbasin; all in all it's like most other country houses you've seen.

Except you notice a rack next to a cabinet with an array of daggers on it, as well as a short gladius. There is also a very large crossbow (heartwood?) on the cabinet, with an impressive number of bolts scattered on the cabinet and on the ground. Whoever lives here has known war.

[]Write in

>>14789423

Look at the book

>>14789489
this

Watch our backs, too. If this guy is a knife fighter and we're indoors with a HALBERD, he's going to rape us three ways to friday.

[x]Look at the book

The book is open to a page on trade contracts and exchange. You examine the page, then pick up the book and examine the spine.

"A Treatise on Market Exchange, by G. Powell"

It seems to be a merchant's book, or some sort of primer. You peruse the book for a time, but not much of it is of any interest, other than you now know there are various kingdoms in this realm that enforce different taxation laws. You place the book back on the table. The fire in the fireplace is almost out. You glance outside and realize it is early evening. And you notice a figure in the distance walking towards the house.

Your blood immediately runs cold, because to a third party you look like a common burglar.

[]Write in

>>14789632
[X] Put our halberd down on the INSIDE of the doorway, where he can't see it, but we can quickly grab it if things go south. Then step outside and hail him, saying that you are lost and need directions to the nearest town.

Go outside, wave at the guy. We're not a burglar, after all. We're just lost.

>>14789557
Don't !Jump indoors.

>>14789632
Add more fuel to the fire, greet the man.

>>14789691
actually, this. Stoke the fire and warm the hearth. Leave your halberd leaning against a wall in plain sight so as not to appear dangerous. Hail him with a friendly greeting and ask for directions.

[x]Go outside, wave at the guy. We're not a burglar, after all. We're just lost.

You carefully rest your halberd next to the door, then open the door and yell a hail.

"Greetings. I was waiting for the arrival of this house's maste-"

You dive to the ground - a grey-fletched arrow zipped through where your head was, embedding itself in the wall behind you. The figure is a woman, tall for one such, and she's notching another arrow while yelling.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?"

"I was lost, I'm here looking for directions-"

You grab your halberd and bring it up to block the next arrow, neatly deflecting it as you dive forward out of the doorstep. As you look up she has another arrow sighted in.

"A lost wanderer, with my warrior's axe and training to match. You'd have to be a fool to believe such a story."

[]Write in

>>14789814
Charge (you might have to take a shaft, but I doubt thats a longbow she is wielding, if she is able to reload that fast.)

Make no threatening move, stick to the truth.
If I were hostile why reveal myself in the first place?
I've been here all day, reading the book.

>>14789849
You can fire a longbow pretty damn fast. I say we stick to cover and threaten to burn down her house if she doesn't at least hear us out.

Please agree on a course of action. Your suggestions are mutually conflicting.

"If this was your halberd, why would you leave it lying outside in a tree? That's not the proper way to maintain a weapon."

Say this while ducking behind cover.

(Why did you fucks have to be lawful stupid? You should of snuck out back, left the halberd behind, and greeted ourselves as a lost man seeking the location and time. Yes, I would of suggested that had I been here a few minutes prior.)

>>14789930
"House-burning" guy here, I'm going to throw my lot in with
>>14789856

Definitely try to reason with her, from behind cover.
Again, if we were burglars, why would we try to get attention to ourselves?

> reasoning with a woman
There is only one solution. Shameless flattery.

>>14789814
>with my warrior's axe and training to match

oh, shit.
Tell her it's your ax, and ask her how she could possibly not recognize us?

>>14789948
We're in armor, sneak around in that. Also, we seem to have just come back from the dead and something about judgement. Is this really the time to go about making enemies and killing people who have a right to fear and suspect us?

[x]Make no threatening move, stick to the truth.
[x]Say this while ducking behind cover.

From the ready stance you roll behind the pile of cordwood as another arrow sails through the air.

"Damn it, if I was trying to steal your things I wouldn't be out here getting shot at!"

"Then explain to me why you have my axe?" She yells. You have the feeling she's slowly closing distance.

"For one, this is a halberd, and two, if this was your axe, why would you leave it embedded in a tree? That's no way to maintain a warrior's weapon."

"It appeared in a tree on my land, and therefore it's mine. Don't tell me you just happened to lose it." The voice is getting closer.

"I've lost a lot of things just recently. Look, just calm down and lower your bow and we can discuss this like reasonable, rational adults. I'm not here to kill you or steal anything."

The approaching footsteps stop. "I'm willing to hear you out. But first, I want you to take your weapons and throw them to the side. The axe and your knife."

Huh, she must be an observant one.

[]Discard your weapons
[]Continue attempting to bargain
[]Sneak attack over the cordwood pile
[]Write in

>>14790104
Discard weapons.

>>14790104
[x] Discard Weapons

do as the good woman says. If she shoots us maybe we can hit on her while she patches us up after this little misunderstanding.
Chicks dig scars, amirite?

>>14790092
It sure is hard to sneak away when there's a BUILDING in the way and a FOREST to hide in.

>>14790104
[X]Discard your weapons

Agree to discard the weapons. We are in her house and she seems to have gotten over her shooty impulses. Prepare to duck, just in case of trap.

[x] Discard your weapons into the nearest hostile entity

>>14790104
>I'm willing to hear you out. But first, I want you to take your weapons and throw them to the side.
Wow, like I haven't heard that one before.
If she is as unreasonable to assume anything on her land is hers without exception, I doubt she will do more than shoot us dead and leave us to the wolves, we need to cut her bowstring if any proper conversation is to happen.

>>14790182
Eh, unwilling to kill the woman for being a shitty person.
The halberd < someone's life. Besides, it might actually be hers by the land's laws or something

Sun Tzu would be ashamed. ALWAYS negotiate from a position of strength.

Since she's in a talking mood, it's time to con her for info.
[X] "By which lord's law do you own this blade?"
[X] " does this law extend to that clearing over there?"

[x]Discard your weapons

You toss your halberd to the side in plain view, then draw your knife and pitch it in the same direction. You raise your hands high and slowly emerge to face your adversary.

She's a quite tall woman, about an inch taller than you, wearing leather hunting garb and cloak with a short yew bow nocked and aimed at your head. She has a long

dagger on her belt, and what looks like a skinning knife behind her back. She regards you warily for a moment, before lowering her bow.

"What do you want?"

You tell her the truth. "I woke up not far from here, and happened to chance by this house. I'd like to know where I am and directions to the nearest town."

She narrows her eyes. "You sound like a deserter or some sort of escaped criminal. What's your name?"

Your name. You just realized you have absolutely no idea what your name is. You're not sure if that will go over well with the woman in front of you.

[]My name is {make up something}
[]I do not know what my name is.
[]My name is of no importance to you.
[]Write in

>>14790182
Didn't say anything about killing her, read the words that are there. If you cut a bowstring a bow is useless, if the aggressor is halted proper discourse can happen.

>>14790248
[X] "My name is Grimnir, son of Wielag, and I am a soldier without an army."

>>14790248
[X] I don't know what my name is

[X] look for name on the weapon which is obviously custom made for you
oh wait, it was tossed aside.

Give a fake name. Unless it say otherwise on our damn underpants, there's no way she could tell. Besides, we need to be called something, right? Let's say Adahn.

>>14790269
Second part is good, but I think we should remain unnamed for now.
[x]My name is of no importance to you, and I am a soldier without an army.

>>14790269
Add this!

"But it appears that it is the army that has left me, not the other way around."

>>14790248

I see no reason to lie to her. In an unfamiliar place, we need some allies. Tell her we honestly don't know our name.

>>14790292
>adahn
0/10

>>14790295
Seconded.

>>14790318

Oh god, I lol'd at the picture.

[X] I am you, from the distant future, come back to warn you!

Let's go with
[x] I don't remember my name, however I do know that I am no deserter

>>14790295
[x]My name is of no importance to you, and I am a soldier without an army.

She gives you a look. "A nameless soldier wandering a forest, armed and armored for war, claiming no knowledge of the region or events."

She steps closer to give you a good look. "Take off one of your greaves. I'd like to see the smith's mark." You notice a small scar on her cheek, half hidden behind her hair.

[]Hand her one of your greaves
[]Refuse
[]Write in

>>14790379
Seconded, we've been honest so far, let's keep it that way. Granted if it turns out we ARE deserters we do need to defend ourselves.

>>14790379
Good one

>>14790383
Al right, if she thinks she can recognize the smith's mark we may have a lead on who we are.

>>14790383

"You are hardly less interesting. A woman of incredible height, an excellent archer, with a knive collection to make any old warrior proud, living alone in the forest. And a book detailing the tax policies of several nations...maybe the only thing you fear is your own reflection."

Throw her your greave, but take a peek at it yourself before you do so, it might spark a memory.

>>14790383
Oh, sure. First our weapons, now our greaves. What next, our pants?

Wait, nevermind, that might work out well.

I say we refuse for the moment, saying that if we remove our greaves, she'll just kill us as an easy target. Show this woman we aren't going to bend to her every whim.

>>14790383
[x] remove greaves.
>>14790395
Too late though

>>14790383
[x]Tell her that I'll check it myself, and that my halberd may hold some answers too.

>>14790426

Oooooh, yes, this is good!

>>14790426
This.

>>14790426
Seconding this.

[x]Tell her that I'll check it myself, and that my halberd may hold some answers too.
[x]Throw her a greave

You kneel down to undo the straps holding your right greave plate on. It falls easily, and you pick it up, looking at the interior face. There's a small marking in the center, two vertical marks with the letter 'U' inscribed between them. The mark means nothing to you. You hand the piece to the woman, who examines the mark more closely, then visibly relaxes.

"It's the same mark as on the axe, which I know has not been made in this region. The metalcrafting is too good to come from anywhere other than a castle armory, and no castle smith I know of uses this mark."

She hands you back your greave, then extends a hand. "I see you told the truth, and I'm sorry for opening fire. My name is Saskia."

You take her hand. "I trust the misunderstanding has been cleared up?"

She shakes her head. "You mean no harm, but your identity and the origin of your equipment is an unknown. Until I ascertain both, you are in danger, and through association, me."

"Danger? Why?"

Saskia raises an eyebrow. "You honestly do not know? All men of fighting age are subject to impressment by King Mors. Men found in defiance of this law are impressed, and their benefactors imprisoned.

"But there's little danger of a king's enforcer coming out this far into the forest. Come in, it's been a while since I've had someone to talk to." She picks up an arrow as she walks into the house. You're still standing outside."

[]Enter house
[]Retrieve weapons
[]Leave
[]Write in

>>14790580

Get your shit and ask her if she's a former bandit or smuggler. The weapons and tax book really point it out, you know.

>>14790580
>it's been a while since I've had someone to talk to
>She wants to fuck

[X] Retrieve weapons, no true soldier leaves his gear to rot TWICE.
[X] Follow her inside.

>>14790580
Retrieve weapons and follow her.

>>14790580
retrieve weapons
enter house
>ask what a man has to do to get a sandwich around here

>>14790580
[x] Retrieve weapons
"Halberd, woman, halberd!"
[x] Enter house
leave the halberd leaning against the wall next to the wall

>>14790580
[x] Retrieve weapons
[x] enter house

It would be rude to leave our shit lying around.

>>14790615
>leave the halberd leaning against the wall next to the wall

>>14790580
Retrieve the weapons. Holster the halberd and let her have the knife. We have no use for it anyways. She seems to collect the damn things, so she probably likes daggers and shit. After that, go inside and start talking.

>>14790639
>leave the halberd leaning against the wall next to the door
damn it... fixed

>>14790671
'Salright, bro. I knew what you meant. I just wanted to use a reaction image from my "derp" folder.

Has the OP died?

DON'T DO IT OP.

THIS CYOA CANNOT LIVE ON WITHOUT YOU.

You pick your weapons out of the grass, wiping off your knife and resheathing it, before entering the house again. You see Saskia stoking the fire - the warm light makes the small house feel even more cozy. You lean your halberd against the door and take off your knife sheath, placing it next to her weapon belt on the cabinet next to the door. Saskia takes the book off the table and places it in a previously unnoticed bookshelf.

You sit at the table, and she places a pair of old silver cups in front of you, pouring in some freshly boiled tea. "My apologies, but I haven't entertained guests in a long time."

"No apologies needed." You sip the tea; it's quite strong and very warming. "But what of your background, Saskia? I was reading your book on taxes; you wouldn't by any chance be a smuggler?"

The woman smiled as she drank from her own cup. "No, I'm simply a hunter. I accept contracts for pelts of a certain quality and quantity. Unfortunately, my business is subject to the laws of the realm, and transfer taxes have been raised recently."

"Which explains the lack of pelts."

She set down her cup. "I last delivered a set of pelts a month ago to a local trader, who I observed pay a guard almost the same amount I received as tariff. At that price there's no use trying to sell the pelts."

"You mentioned a King Mors impressing men into an army. Does this have anything to do with it?"

"An army of men requires sustenance and pay, and there's no easier way to gather such than squeezing it out of your local population." She poured herself a new cup. "And when you use your own army to collect those taxes and empty the villages of men, nobody dares raise a voice in protest.

"So yes, I'm essentially broke and living off the land, which was why I didn't take kindly to a thief."

[]Question about local politics
[]Question about herself
[]Question about yourself
[]Excuse yourself, go to sleep
[]Write in

>>14790806
why is the army needed? who are they fighting?

>>14790806

Ask if she's heard of any strange occurrences around the around. Like... people suddenly disappearing or losing their memory.

>>14790840
Agreed. And compliment her on the tea. Bitches LOVE compliments about the tea.

Question her about politics, army and then about herself.

Also, we can ask about date, year and where we are geographically. Who knows how distant is this place from our homeland/time.

>>14790847
>around the around

Herp Derp that should be "around the area"

>>14790854
I agree on that second part. Let's try getting some relationship-building exercises in

>"I am Judgment."

Heh, obvious bards are obvious. "I can't remember my name, where I am or what date it is! Quick, hit on the woman that tried to kill me!"
Ask about geography/time.
Also, does she happen to recognize the dagger?

>>14790915

[x]Questioning

"This is the 4th month of the 390th Agild Year. I think it's the 33rd day." The calendar system is apparently unknown to you. "It's early in the summer. You're on the eastern continent, Auria, in the kingdom of Mors."

"Are kingdoms renamed after their leaders?"

"No, the king takes the name of the kingdom. Is there any other way?" She cocks her head. You are definitely in a foreign world. "You really aren't from around here, are you?"

"I don't believe so. I have no recollection of where I am from or who I am. Perhaps if you told me some details of your past, it could jog my memory?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm the daughter of a hunter, who disappeared when I was young. He was like to have been killed by a bear or aurochs. My mother raised me until I was fourteen, when she was murdered by some drunk wenching soldiers. I learned how to hunt apprenticed to a friend of my father, and I've been living here for most of my life."

Saskia points her cup at you. "Don't give me any pity, my life is quite good compared to those sods living in the towns and villages. I have no regrets."

"I was going to express admiration."

"Well, don't. I haven't done anything to be ashamed of, but I haven't done anything worthy of praise either." She placed her cup in a washbasin and stood, unstrapping her leather vestment to reveal a simple blouse. "You can sleep on the spare fur, I'll pull it out of the cabinet."

She's preparing for bed. What shall you do?

[]Write in

Strip. "So how cold do the nights get around here?"

If she shows surprise at these actions, put it down to "seeming the natural thing to do - perhaps a half-remembered custom of your people."

>>14791177

Go outside and practice with our halberd, unless it's already real dark.

See what the state of our fighting skills are in the morning otherwise.

>>14791177
Go to sleep, wake earliest I can. Go chop some lumber (with a hatchet obviously, not halberd) or wrestle some bears for breakfast.

Basically, any manly stuff that is obvious to do in lonely hut in the forest.

>>14791268
This.

I guess this is a quest thread.

OP, get yourself a name and a tripcode. Trust me you will be doing everyone a favour, yourself included.


Adk her what aurochs are

>>14791268
This, topless.

>>14791350
googleisyourfriend.com
>au·rochs: A large wild Eurasian ox that was the ancestor of domestic cattle. It was probably exterminated in Britain in the Bronze Age, and the last one was killed in Poland in 1627

This thread's still up?

>>14791268
Seconded.

>>14791361

Oh
souded like some kind of fantasy creature to me... like giant spiders.


Ask her if you can help with anything (do this now or in the morning) as we have nothing else to do and getting caught and drafted to fight for some kingdom we never heard of is not exactly how we'd like to spend our confused days

This dead?

>>14788555
Say OP, did you do that eldar pathfinder quest a few months back?

[x]Go outside and practice with our halberd, unless it's already real dark

You thank her and excuse yourself. She waves you away as you step outside into the twilight with your halberd. It's remarkably cool out, though not uncomfortable. You walk behind the house up to the striking post and assume a combat stance.

Swing, swing. You don't have a distinct memory of learning how to use this weapon, but every step and motion you make is instinctual. Swipe to stab to overhand sweep to leg sweep. Polearm combat is a dance that you've apparently painstakingly mastered. Some time passes.

You finish with an overhand strike that embeds the axe head of your halberd in the striking post. You realize how tired you suddenly are; sweat is running down your forehead. You hear a slow clapping.

"You're quite good with that, aren't you?"

You turn to see Saskia leaning against a wall, wearing loose sleeping clothes. "I was wondering how long you were going to take a piss for."

"I don't remember when I learned, but I learned well."

"I can see that. We'll have to spar someday, but come inside before I lock the door. Strange things can happen at night." With that, she turned around and re-entered the house. Wiping the sweat off your brow, you follow, disrobe, and go to sleep.


The next day rises, and you wake up on the floor of the house. There's a note on the table, with a small bit of pound cake and a cup of lukewarm tea.

[]Write in

GET A DAMN TRIPCODE!

read the note
have cake
drink tea

>>14791831
Read note. Eat cake. See if you can reheat the tea. If yes, reheat and drink, if not, drink.

>>14791831

Read the note.

>>14791888
drink note
read cake
eat tea

polite self-sage for /b/ meme

[x]Read note

"I'm checking my traps and I'll be out. The nearest town is Irondale, and it's about ten miles north of here. Go northwest until you encounter a road, then follow the road north. If you see armored men, get off the road. If you want information about things talk to Nils, the merchant at the Highwater Tavern."

After eating and drinking, you put your armor back on, and lock your knife in place behind your back. The house seems a little tidier; she must have cleaned up a bit before leaving.

[]Set off to town
[]'Supply' yourself from whatever's in the house
[]Wait until Saskia returns
[]Write in

>>14791993

Scrawl a thank you! on the note and let's be on our way.

No reason to stick around.

>>14792021
Might as well do this. If the gods will it, we will be back. On the other hand, we don't want anything bad to happen to her.

But what should we do when we get to the town?

[x]Scrawl a thank you! on the note and let's be on our way

You leave the house, filling a small waterskin you had for the ten mile journey and explaining as such on the back of the note. You balance your halberd on your shoulder, as you still don't have a proper sling to carry it with.

The journey is uneventful. You find the road (a dirt path) with little difficulty, and follow it north. As a matter of fact, it's too uneventful, there's nobody on the road at all, going in either direction. You don't see another person.

The forest clears out to a flat grassland, and you can see for miles in the distance. This causes you to see the smoke over the horizon, down the path of the road. It's a thick dark smoke, reminding you of a burning oil fire.

[]Write in

>>14792133
It's probably too late already. Still, let's play big god-damned heroes

combat grip on halberd and start running

Aww
I wanted to stay here with her since we literally have no reason or motivation to go anywhere else and this place is as good as any.

at least if we asked her if we can help her out and stay here


Do not steal anything

>>14792169
Secconding

>>14792133

Seconding.

[x]Still, let's play big god-damned heroes

You hurry towards the town. You pass an overturned wagon, with sacks of grain spilt on the road and a dead farmer at the reins, his head beaten to a pulpy mess. A dead child is in front of you face down, with an arrow and crossbow bolt in the back. Whoever did this was quite well equipped.

As you close distance to the town, you see that the granary silo is on fire and belching out thick black smoke. Someone must have soaked the interior with oil before burning it; the acrid smell is familiar to you for some reason.

Most of the village is burning as you walk slowly down the cobblestone center street, your halberd at the ready. Other than the two bodies on the road there are no dead bodies in the town proper, though many of the buildings have received a brutal sacking. Blood trails leave one of the buildings, pointing you towards the town center. You press onward.

The town's central fountain is clogged with dead bodies. Mostly villagers, but some of the bodies are clad in mail and armor. Some more dead soldiers are lying around the fountain, about half wearing a light green and the other half a deep blue checkered with black. The blood has made the cobblestones sticky and wet as you slowly survey the surroundings.

As you circle the fountain, you see a hooded figure in black stand up from over a body. It turns towards you.

"I am Death."

He steps towards you.

"You are neither alive or dead; I see you have been marked. This is not your place - begone." He turns away suddenly, as the door of the burning tavern opens. A badly burned man staggers out and falls to the ground. Death approaches him.

[]Write in

>>14792277

Approach the burned man, but keep your distance.

Death might be doing this a mercy if he's burned enough.

Ask Death what you are, what you should be doing? Why have you been granted this reprieve from death?

>>14792317
seconded

ask him how to get back my memory

>>14792317

"Then where is my place? Why have I been uprooted and put here?"

>>14792317

Ask this question but more persuasively. And by that I mean with your halberd

>>14792277
>"I am Death."

Heh, I wonder if anyone else read his lines in small-caps.

[x] Approach the burned man
[x] Question death

The man is horribly burned, his skin visibly blistering on his head. Even with the best care, you know that he won't live for long. Death watches you and waits.

"Death. What am I? Why am I here?"

"You do not know? You are a Subject of Judgment. I was not there to lead you away during your time, and you wandered. You are here in your role as Subject."

"What is a Subject of Judgment?"

"Subjects of Judgment are those she cannot pass verdict on. She requires time and information; in your case, information. Your history was tampered with somehow, meaning your past is a void.

"Therefore, you've been given this time as a trial, such that your judgment may be passed."

You turn your gaze back to the burned man. Death speaks again. "He is the man you seek, and he will leave with me within the hour. I can impart a favor by forcing knowledge from him, should you desire."

[]Write in

>>14792346
Can't imagine how that might go wron.

>>14792391

If he's still capable of speech, question him ourselves. I don't really like the sound of "forced", and this guy is going through enough pain as it is.

>>14792391

Ask Death to get the information from the man, and thank him for his help.

>>14792391
Ask Death if it would be possible for ask to question the guy after he has relieved him of his pain.
Forcing him doesn't sound too friendly either.

[x] Question the man yourself

"Excuse me. Sir."

The burned man groans. Death watches you.

"Are you Nils?"

The man turns over and stops groaning. You didn't think he could hear you. Death steps over him for a moment, then steps back.

"This town was sacked by the men of King Riga, those wearing the checkered blue and black. They put the town to the sword just as a town crier returned with a reinforcement of Mors guardsmen. They fought to the death, here."

Death gestures to the surroundings. "Riga and Mors are rivals in land and power. Border raids like this are common, and feed my till."

"In any case, you would be wise to leave the area before anyone else shows up, or you may be considered complicit in this bloodbath."

Death turns away from you and walks down a spoke street, presumably looking for more dead to ferry away. "The western road leads to Idria, capital of Mors. The east crosses the border into Riga, and it is a long distance to the Rigan capital, Talus. Choose your path wisely, for I will not miss your second death."

[]Write in

go back to saskia.
this is not our war

>>14792494

I don't like the sounds of Mors...maybe it's the name, but it seems like the King might not be especially pleasant. Then again, Riga doesn't sound very cool either, sending patrols to raise border towns.

Riga might not be conscripting men of all ages though, and we're very likely to get pressed into service if we stay in Mors.

I say we head towards the other country, and try to stop the conflict from that side. Without the need for an army, the men of the nation can return, and Mors won't be able to keep squeezing the life out of his country.

At any event, we can claim to be a traveler in Riga, our gear is apparently strange enough to lend truth to our statement.

>>14792494
Ask death if there are any survivors we might help. Anybody in hiding?
If not, report what we've seen to Saskia. Ask for her opinion about the kingdoms and if she has any idea what we should do.

>>14792391
what is it we need to know, again?
I doubt that guy knows anything about metaphysic politics...

let's start with 'who did this'

Dying of burn wounds is a horrific way to go. Explain to Death that we cannot allow this man to suffer any longer, and hope that Judgment understands. Use our dagger to put him out of his misery.

[x]Return to the forest

You contemplate this, but you really have no idea exactly where Saskia's house is. Ten miles south, some vague direction south of the road with no real landmarks. You write that off as unfeasible.

[x]Travel to Riga

You take the eastern path out of the village, hiding in the grass when you hear a mounted cavalry squad speed past you into the town. You manage to follow the road away from the village without being seen.

You scavenge some food out of an abandoned homestead, and cross the border with no hassle, as the borderpost crossing is abandoned. Nobody's there, and you've seen nobody on the road.

You continue traveling, and the flat grasslands change into low, rolling hills as night falls. You have no form of shelter, so you cut a hole in a hedge and curl up there as the dusk spreads.

The next day you continue travelling, sore from sleeping in your armor. There's a small building on the next rise, it looks like an inn of some sort.

[]Write in

>>14792661
Sneak up to one of the windows and peak in, if we can. If that's not feasible, announce ourselves loudly and wait for a response. I don't want to spook some farmer who's got a massive crossbow pointed right at the door.

>>14792661
[X]Follow the rails

I can tell OP is running out of steam

OP if you want to finish this up at a later date I'm sure we'd all be there in a heartbeat as soon as we know it's up.

Should have stayed with Saskia

>>14792760
>>14792780
*sigh*

>>14792790
That's probably a better idea.

>>14792791
Then we would've failed in the judgement of us.

Maybe.

>>14792796
Did you finallu get yourself a tripcode?

anyway, don't forget to archive the thread (whoever does it, please spend 5 seconds for putting appropriate tags, I think "Judgement Quest" is good)

>>14792760
>>14792780

Is OP alive? Would like to know if you plan to continue this at a later date.

>>14793049
Either tomorrow or the day after. I've got some stuff to write in the meantime