>>25873971

"That, Cecil, is a tome from another world. It might seem unassuming, but it is known as the Gran Grimoire amongst those who would know of such things."

You reach forward to open the book, only to find all the pages empty. That is until you turn back to the first page. Much like a magic tome working in reverse, arcane symbols appear, glowing gold at first until they fade to simple black ink on the parchment.

"The young gentleman made it clear to me that your journey would be of great import. Greater, even, that being a Warrior of Light and protecting the balance of the realm." Matoya reaches under the desk for a black teapot, lifting it above her other hand. Blue flames lick from her fingers, dancing against the base of pot. "And the Gran Grimoire is there to record your tale."

>>25874046
"Who was that man, and where does he know me?"

So to make it clear, we won't learn anything from this book but rather we'll be recorded and written?

>>25874147
It's just a save/load option, I'd guess.

>>25874106

"He introduced himself as Cidolini Esos, but he told me little about himself, besides the fact that he was an author of epics, travelling in order to find inspiration. I doubt that is the truth of him." The flames from her fingers die down, and Matoya pours two cups of a murky green tea, disturbingly similar to the waters of the marsh. "He said nothing of how he knows you, but being a Time Mage of considerable power, I have no doubt that it's from some time in the future."

She speaks matter-of-factly, as though she might be telling you what the weather was like the previous night.

"Oh, and for your journey, he paid me well for use of my raft. You will find it behind the Beholder's Cave. Should be big enough for your wagon and all your friends. With that, the River Gungnir will be open to you."

>>25874189
>Boat acquired
Fuck yeah, let's check out what side quest locations we can reach!

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>>25874218

I like having spells
"Before we depart, do you have any tomes you could spare us? I figured someone as feared as you would hold on to those sort of things."

>>25874241
We're at Witchmarch, right?

>>25874285

(You are.)

>>25874282

"Tomes? For free?" Her ash-painted lips twist in a frown as she blows at her tea. "Fine. I suppose I do have some stock in your success, after all."

Her sigh exaggurated enough to ensure you realise how much effort you're causing her to expend, the witch stands up and cautiously reaches to the side of the room. Finding the end of one desk, she slowly steps about until her palm presses to the side of a bookshelf.

"Most of these are empty now..." she informs quietly as her hand hovers next to each tome. "Ah. Here. This should be just about your level."

Turning around, she sets down a thick book bound also in white, with an illustration on the front showing a feathered sandal.

"Haste. A second level White Magic spell that will lend to one the speed, agility and reflexes of a feather dancing on the wind. You wear the red, so you should be able to master this. Unless you'd prefer to let the little White do so, instead. Faster reflexes might do her some good."

A scandalous smirk crosses her lips as she sits down again, slowly pushing your cup toward you.

"If... you had to make the choice. Which of the three other Warriors would you see die so that the other two might live?"

>>25874401
The monk, he's the oldest and has had his share of life already.

I suggest we rescue the princess as our next move, it's very traditional. Take the boat to Dorter and then walk north to Lodestone Cavern, that's where she's being held at, right?

>>25874401
"not sure yet, don't know them well enough."

>>25874465
yeah, the girls are both still very young

>>25874465
Alternatively none, sacrificing any of the warriors of light isn't an option. We full paladin now.

>>25874465
>>I suggest we rescue the princess as our next move, it's very traditional.


I agree with the last part only if when we propose it to the others, as it being Traditional


>>25874473
yea say that

If we find his goal and have him contempt, the monk- but otherwise none.

>>25874473
That sounds kinda harsh, we'd sacrifice the one we like the least? We're supposed to be a hero...

>>25874524
its true because that is what we will do.

>>25874465

"His share of life? I had you as about the same age. Unless you've had your share of life, too?"

>>25874488
>>25874473

The witch gives a throaty chuckle.

"Worry not, Cecil, I'm not asking you to cut one of their throats, or anything. It's simply a question. If a lonely old woman can't toy with the minds of those who visit her, then what can she do? Now, finish your tea and get some rest, lest you have any other questions you'd like to take up my time with. You have much travelling to do, and much blood to spill, yet."

>>25874632
"I can think of something we could do besides mind fucking... like half of that" ( big grin)

>>25874695

"With that cursed thing of yours? I think I'd rather live a long, happy life." Her smile might not match yours in size, but it's well amused enough, before she hides it behind another drink of tea.

>>25874743
>Our penis kills everything it touches
Why does everyone know about this

>>25874743
"Your loss, I do every thing I can to make it worth it."

(bow and leave)

>>25874789
It smells, I'd guess.

>>25874804

With no small degree of hurt pride, you leave the witch to chuckle into her tea as you make your way upstairs, entering the same, small room that the rest of your party share. Although you're rather sure that you've never slept under such a strange roof before, you're glad to not be sleeping in the clammy, stale air of the marsh and sleep gently drifts over you in waves.

The next morning, you are woken by the firm shove of Conara's foot.

"You gonna sleep all day?" She grins down at you as she pulls on her boots and packs up her bed roll. You see Ferra, all ready to go, leafing through your tome before she sees you newly awaken. Jumping on the spot, she glances from place to place, before setting the Tome down as if it might burn her at any moment.

"That's Haste, right? Are you intending to learn it? It's a more... adept technique, after all. It might take you some time to get used to the next level of the White Voice."

>>25874940
yea that's the plan

>>25874940
How rare are haste tomes?

>>25874940
Let Conara learn Haste, it's better if she focuses on buffing and healing and we to damage.

>>25875033
>Let Ferra
ftfy

>>25875060
Of course, my bad. Since Ferra does kinda crappy damage in battle it's better if she focuses on buffing.

Let Ferra learn it and we can focus on the 2-h sword

>>25874940
would you help me?

>>25875018

"Mm... rare enough. Even White Mages of the Church aren't guaranteed to learn it. Primarily, we're taught healing spells. It was a most gracious move of the White Wizard of Corneria to grant me the Holy Tome. It is mostly Paladins or Priests who will learn spells like Haste and the more offensive kind. Though, I would relish the opportunity to learn whatever kind of White Magic I could... I would not like to be but a healer all my life."

[ ] Let Ferra learn Haste
[ ] Learn Haste yourself

>>25875150
ours is the rode to power

>>25875171
Der Wille zur Macht

>>25875150
Let ferra learn Haste

>>25875184
On second thought, Cecil is too incompetent to be an Ubermensch

>>25875171
Dude she would totally owe us one if we let her learn the Haste, and it would make her happy to boot. Besides we're the Warriors of light, we're supposed to work as a team.

>[ x ] Let Ferra learn Haste

>>25875150
>[x] Let Ferra learn Haste

>>25875210
>>25875239
>>25875266

Easy come, easy go, you think as you tell the teenage redhead that the spell is hers to learn. Given how quickly and how brightly the girl's smile appears, you wonder if such a decision had been her intention from the beginning. Either way, she wraps her arms about your shoulders, tightly embracing you for a moment.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Cecil! Just wait and see, I'll learn Placate, I'll learn Haste and I'll learn Holy. Just watch, I'll become worthy of the title 'Warrior of Light', just like you three."

Conara watches from the doorway, her arms crossed, her head nodding, before she interrupts with a snigger.

"Alright, lovebirds. The witch told Shang that we got us a boat, so we best get on it."

With that, she leads outside, the blushing White Mage following to tell her off as you pack up and put on your chainmail.

Matoya smirks at you, or in your general direction, at least, holding a long pipe which wafts a sweet, tingling scent about the stone tree.

"Eager to please, aren't we, Cecil?"

The monk sits at the table, drinking a cup of tea for the moment.

"So? You seem to be the brains of the outfit. What's our next step? Seems to me we got three choices. Kuzar, the Lodestone Cavern or the Old Fire Temple. Unless you have another idea?"

>>25875488
>score

>>25875488
Lodestone Cavern. If we rescue the Princess then the bad guys cannot complete their ritual.

>>25875488
I suggest we rescue the princess as our next move, it's all very traditional.

How is our party compared to theirs? I remember them having a dragon and killing soldiers easily.
I feel like if we go after them right now someone will die.

>>25875563
Whom?

>>25875563

Ser Hellond Highwind has his three lieutenants, the Fire Dancer, the Geomancer and the Sky Pirate, as well as about a hundred loyal soldiers, if Matoya is to be believed.

>>25875527
>>25875526

"Traditional?" The witch laughs. "How very noble of you. I'm sure she will swoon at the thought of being your first port of call."

"It's a fair suggestion," Shang stands, draining the rest of his tea. "As you say, they need the Princess for their ritual. If we take her, they are but a small army. I imagine that will leave us with better odds than whatever power it is they desire to amass."

<continued>

>>25875644
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/25569558/
The second post, if we go to save the princess isn't it likely we'll meet the people who are going to use her?
If so, I don't think we really have enough experience to face them at the moment.

>>25875814
Then we'll have to use subterfuge and sneaking, very traditional.

>>25875752

You make to leave the petrified tree, before Matoya speaks up once more.

"I offer you one final piece of advice, Cecil. The elf of Lodestone Cavern wields dark and powerful magic. For one, he has made it impossible to wield metals inside. The crystals inside will draw any steel, iron or even mythril to their grasp, and as long as his spell remains, there they will be held. So, too, has he granted his home to monsters. So I suggest you discover a way to battle without your sword."

With the witch's final advice, she bids you farewell. Leaving the tree and stepping around the rise of rock, you see the chocobo already ushered onto the raft, stepping on the spot unsure as the great, wide wooden boat shifts under their weight.

"Yellows don't like the water," Conara chuckles, offering her hand to Ferra so that she, too, can board. After you and Shang step on, the three of you use the long oars to push off, down the river that lends its water to the marsh.

The river will be able to take you to Dorter, Erstspear, Corneria or Goldor, all leading you to the region of Lodestone. Which port would you like to stop at? And would you prefer to fast-travel or speak with your party?

>>25875814
There's apparently one dude there at the moment

>>25875914
And turns out he has magnet powers

>>25875914
Relax, it'll be just like Luke and gang sneaking up on Death Star to rescue princess Leia. None of them could've taken on Darth Vader in a fight, yet they were successful.

>>25875940
I was saying we could hopefully take one guy. But then it turns out hes a badass warlock

>>25875940

Obi-wan could. And he took one for the team.

And we have an obi-wan style old experienced mystic warrior who we singled out as most likely to bite it in our party. Hmm.

>>25875899
Travel to Dorter, ask if the monk can show us some unarmed moves.

>>25875899
at what port could we find hard woods? like a iron wood? get some heavy dense wood weapons/ simple Armour

>>25875965
What about just staves instead of wooden swords?

>>25875988
that works too.
also, a archer or 3 would be nice to hire/ convince to follow us to glory.

Maybe shang could wield stone cestuses...cesti...more than one cestus but less than three

Doesn't this magneto shit mean our Onion Knight is completely useless in that encounter? Instead of getting wooden anything we should focus on locating and taking out the source of the metal-attracting spell.

>>25876034
Shang's hand are lethal weapons already, he wields cesti just to look cool.

>>25876054
It's probably somewhere inside the cavern, so we need to go in without metal gear anyway.

>>25876054
I think most of her shit is made from aminals

>>25876054
no no we do that too but weapons are nice
and nothing says fuck your defenses like walking in like they aren't even there.

>>25876091
True, all her gear is free range.

>>25875965

You have never heard of 'iron wood' before, and are not sure such a thing would even exist. But your suggestion gives Conara and idea, after you tell her of the elf's power.

"Shouldn't be too hard to make some wooden spears of javelins, right? My blade's made of hardened bone, so it should be alright, but you'll need weapons of your own."

>>25875962

As you take turns fishing the oar against the bottom of the river, you ask Shang about teaching your unarmed techniques.

"Hmm... even if we are to practice every night, it will take you at least a month to even become adept. You have some strength in you, at least so it should be possible.

>>25876124

>or javelins*

>>25876124
We'll just get some bo staffs or tonfas, those should suffice. Anyways we're not looking to fight our way in anyway.

>>25876124
>You have never heard of 'iron wood'


o come on we know of fine hard woods for rich houses and furniture.

if we are using a stick to kill monsters I want a damm good and Heavy stick

>>25876205
Deal with it, faggot. There's no iron wood around here.

>>25876181
The entire cave is full of monsters, how do you expect to get in without a fight?

>>25876205

Erstspear forest had hickory a plenty, Ryara had said when you travelled through it with her. You wonder if there will be any left. However, none of your lot seem to have much knowledge of trees.

>>25876181

"It would take you just as long as learn to use those, Red Magician," Shang sighs as he pushes the boat along.

"Everyone... I think we're still being watched..." Conara points to the river. Indeed, the bubbles seem to rise in the water that your raft has not long passed.

"Should I smack around a bit with my oar, see what we catch?" The monk smirks. Given the powerful figure he possesses, you imagine it would smart even with the force of the water holding it back.

>>25876344
"We're being watched, but it hasn't attacked yet. And I'd rather not fight something while in the middle of a river on a raft with a pair of skittish Chocobos. Let's just keep an eye on it for now."

>>25876344
Five bucks says that it's an octopus of some kind. Smack it and fry it for dinner.

>>25876394
This
It was following us in the marsh mud too, but it didn't attack us there so I don't think it will now. Lets wait till we reach some land to furiously poke it.

>>25876394

"What kind of beast just... watches?" Ferra shudders at the thought, before turning back to her Placate Tome.

Travelling on the raft is a good rest for everyone, you find. Pushing along takes some effort, but you get plenty of rest between and even the murky waters of the swamp are easily traversed thanks to the width of the river. The travel is easy, but for the moment you come to the edge of the marsh. All four of you have to push to coerce the raft up the shallow drop that empties the running river into the basin of the marsh. But once you're out of that, you find yourself out of the swamp entirely, crossing into greener lands, the river dotted with trees a plenty and disturbed by no bubbles.

Until again they appear, trailing behind once more.

Night's falling and it's perfect practising time. Which would you rather do?

[ ] Continue to learn the two-handed sword and practice with Conara
[ ] Learn fist-fighting from Shang and leave Conara to her own drills
[ ] Decide that Ferra will probably muck up in the next fight and steal the Haste tome back to learn, yourself

>>25876500
>[x] Continue to learn the two-handed sword and practice with Conara
Conara's sword will still be usable in the Lodestone Cave, so it's imperative that she gets better with it.

>>25876500
>[ ] Continue to learn the two-handed sword and practice with Conara

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>>25876443

[ ] Continue to learn the two-handed sword and practice with Conara
Waiting till we reach land so we can poke the shit out of those bubbles...

>>25876527
>>25876525

In a move you decide is truly leadership material, you decide that Conara's talents with the sword will prove more useful in the future and so you spend your night sparring with her, loaning her your hand-half sword so that she she doesn't end up cutting you with her wind-element magic. She's getting much better with it, you realise, your own continuing ineptitude with the longsword painfully apparent.

The night passes. You sleep and eat. The next day is much the same, traversing more river, watching more bubbles pop up behind you and, as night falls, training again.

<continued>

>>25876638

"What's there?" Conara points, distracting you from your shift of steering the raft. It's easy to see what's caught her eye.

It's a very small village indeed, with about twenty houses comprising it entirely. There's no White Church, no Traveller's Shop and the people seem not to farm, but for the pigs and chickens they usher about, but they border on a small, light-filled wood, where you see some bow-wielding men and women travelling inside. The place seems to have kept all its young men from the war. You're not surprised. There's but a dirt road leading the way out and the village has a single cart to its name. You'd be most surprised if it was on any map, never-mind the map of major locations you were given.

"Shall we stop?" Ferra perks up, eager to stretch her legs.

>>25876689
"no we move quickly, quite and get past them asap"

>>25876689
"Probably better not. We don't know what's trailing us, and we wouldn't want to bring unnecessary consequences onto this town, like what happened back at Calim."

>>25876731

"Oh, alright..." she sits back down on her crate with a huff.

>>25876736

"You don't need to blame yourself for that, Cecil," the Onion Knight says. "It's not our fault there were Bombs in the forest. Or that the goodly high lord wouldn't believe us."

"But it's a wise move not to endanger these folk. I had almost forgotten about the damned bubbles, myself..." the monk adds.

The chocobo have nothing to add, themselves, bored with the inactivity, they spend most of their time clicking at each other's beaks or pulling their feet from beneath one another to make the other trip.

"If we go down a ways, we can spend the night in the wood, though, right?" the White Mage raises her head again, hopeful. "Shang can hunt for us so we need not eat from our rations, I can pick apples and such and you can make spears or javelins like Conara says."

>>25876912

(Or if you'd prefer, you could always just fast-travel to Dorter and tell Ferra to deal w/ it and learn her damn nerd spells.)

if we fast travel do we still get the crappy makeshift spears?

>>25876912
once we are clear of the village make assault plan for the bubbles the next time we see them we cast lightning on them and see what happens

>>25877176

Making the spears will require stopping for the night as Ferra suggests, but I can gloss over that on the way.

>>25877186

You have no lightning element spells.

>>25877186
agreed, it sounded like we'll be hitting land for rest and shangs hunting.
Will frost work?

>>25877256

You can feel free to try, but it would need to be close to the surface, you know, otherwise you'll just be freezing a patch of water.

>>25877309
Lets dock near the woods like ferra suggested then try it.
"For fair warning, I'm going to attack whatever's following us before we set up camp on land, have your arms ready in case it attacks back."

>>25877419

The wood, sparse as it is compared to Erstspear forest or the Bandit's Wood, stretches on for miles. Even with half a day's travel, you find yourself surrounded by the fruit-bearing trees and clumps of bushes and weeds.

When you dock, giving the chocobo and Ferra alike space to exercise their legs, you find the trees suited to crafting some makeshift weapons. Conara's Sylph Blade is well suited to the task, easily sharpening a couple wooden spears and several smaller javelins from the thicker branches lying about. They might not be the sturdiest of weapons, but as you tap your finger on one of the spear points, you can tell they're certainly pointed enough to provide a fatal wound if needed.

Shang spends the next couple hours finding and hunting food for the party. With the spears, he tells you, you will be able to fish on your way downriver. That way you won't have to touch your supplies. For tonight, however, he leaves the river alone, not wishing to disturb the lurking beast until its time comes, so instead you feast on a boar he manages to capture, as well as peaches plucked from some of the trees.

"It's not apples, but even better!" Ferra declares, wiping the sweet juice from her lips.

<continued>

>>25877613

You divulge your plan to the party. Ferra and Conara exchange grave looks, the latter unsheathing her sword. Shang simply nods, hooking his nunchaku under his arm. They wait on your actions as you slowly close in on the gurgling disturbing the otherwise tranquil flow of the river.

Realising it's now or never, you recite the spell in your mind, hundreds of sounds passing in but a moment as you extend your open palm at the water. A burst of white flourishes, a frosty mist shooting down into the river. When it hits, shards of ice explode from it, freezing along the surface and stretching beneath. The bubbles rise much more rapidly, big gushes of gas escaping from underwater. The creature emerges not long after. It leaps from the water, screeching as daggers of ice embed and spread along its skin.

You recognise it immediately. With its long, head, pouted lips, shelled body, webbed feet and frog-like limbs, the Sahagin darts from the water, brandishing a spear. But there is one thing seperating it from what you have seen in books. Besides the two, tiny black eyes on either side of its face, it has a large, red eye on its forehead, red but for the black, serpentine pupil stretching vertically. Bouncing on the shore with its shell, it slithers around your party, its limbs pushing it along as if it is swimming still, with alarming speed. It makes for the forest.

"Just the one?!" Conara hops lightly on the spot. "What do we do?"

>>25877844

(Alright, folks, thread seems to have died down so I'm gonna call it for tonight. Will be playing again on Tuesday, at 15:00 chantime/EST. Next on Final Fantasy Quest: To Kill a Mockingsahagin.)

>>25878224
Thanks for your work, OP!

>>25878289

(Thanks for playing, anon. I promise more plot-stirring next time!)

Rolled 59

>>25878334
god damn, can't believe I missed it again. fuckdicks.