"Oh papa, please can we keep him! His name is Dog and he's probably really nice! If we can't afford to feed three, then I shall give him my portions. I'll just eat at his house." Carna points over to you, you don't remember agreeing to this but honestly, your mother had already gotten into the habit of preparing food for her each night.

Carna's father took some steps forward, his steps shook the home and even when he squatted down to try and meet your eyes, his shortest height was still well a head above yours standing.

"Can't you keep it at your place Shorty?" Carna's father had a cute little name for you, he always teased you about being a little bit smaller than his daughter.

"S-sorry. Mother is allergic." Looking back on it he was never anything but nice to you, but his battle-scarred face made it hard not to be intimidated by him since you were so young.

"Please papa! Pleeeeeeeease! I'll walk him and pet him and hug him and everything! Just let me keep Dog!" Carna tugged against her pig-tails. Her father scratched his messy hair.

"C'mon, you beg too!" Carna nudged you in your shoulder with hers, her hands still occupied. It wasn't exactly any of your business but...

>Cutely convince him about how great it'd be to have a dog
>Stubbornly beg with Carna

Fuck yes I'm actually here for the start of the quest for once

>>31372456
>Cutely convince him about how great it'd be to have a dog

>>31372462
I half didn't believe it when I saw the OP with no replies.

>>31372456
>Cutely convince him about how great it'd be to have a dog

>>31372456
>>Cutely convince him about how great it'd be to have a dog

You'd heard that Carna's father in his past had survived The Dragon's Walk and fought alongside the then-Black Knight, but you were well-aware of his weak spot for cute things. His daughter he still had trouble saying no to after long years, there was no way that the might of two children and a small puppy couldn't bring down his walls.

"C'mon sir, pleeeease! Mother is allergic and father is always so serious." You clasped your hands into tiny fists and looked up towards Carna's father, widening your eyes. He sighed deeply and ruffled his messy hair further.

"And look, look how cute the dog is!" You pick up Dog and thrust him at Carna's father, Dog's tiny feet scratched at his beard. Dog's tiny nose sniffed at Carna's father's face for some moments before giving the tip of the old man's large nose a little lick.

"Fine fine!" Carna's father stood up, grabbing Dog from your hands in his massive grip and holding him up to the air, "The dog will join our family today!"

"Hurray!" Carna jumped up and down circling the room, her father span around with Dog in hand. You didn't come over often, but it was always a fun time when Carna's father was around, even without a mother it was a warm and lively family.

Carna's father stopped turning and put on a dead serious look, "One thing though... we should really think about a better name than Dog."

And so the dream ends.

>CONT

File: 1397091301269.png-(32 KB, 600x400, librarianquest.png)

32 KB PNG

>Year 484 of the Raschan Calendar

Ten years ago you lost her, Carna; whose father had the size of three men. Now ten years later, neither rain nor drunken Belgran girls can stop you from finding her.

You wake up in the morning to the sound of loud barking, it takes you a moment to open your eyes, you drank just a little the previous night but certain circumstances still had you going to sleep with a pain in your head.

It takes you a moment to open your eyes, where a vaguely familiar dog is pawing at your nose. It's Chance, the dog Sheryl had been secretly keeping.

Before you have the chance to pick him up and calm him down, you hear knocking at your door. Yu'yan's voice rings through, "Hey friend, you in there? Didn't turn into a werewolf or anything did you? Demons didn't come for you in your sleep right? If a Valkyrie came for you, invite me in anyways."

You pick Chance up and he stops barking, waggling his tail and panting while you hold him. You promised Sheryl you'd talk to the teachers about letting her keep the dog, but it might be better to wait until after you have permission to introduce it to your classmates. They could make for some welcome allies in the upcoming battle though...

>Hide Chance for now
>Invite Yu'yen in and show him the dog

>>31373024
>Invite Yu'yen in and show him the dog

>>31373024
>>Invite Yu'yen in and show him the dog
this is a perfect chance for Yu'yen to score some points with Sheryl. He'd probably hate us if we didn't tell him about Chance.

Whether he's any GOOD at dealing with pets or convincing teachers, on the other hand...

>>31373024
>Invite Yu'yen in and show him the dog
no reason not to.

>>31373024
>>Hide Chance for now

>>31373024
>Invite Yu'yen in and show him the dog

The rooms in the dorms are all unfortunately without locks, but it saves you a little bit of effort in this situation. You yell to invite Yu'yen in.

"You alright in th-" Yu'yen steps into your room and takes a pause when he sees Chance. He carefully steps towards the dog, then off to one side, then hopping to the other. Chance's head follows him as he awkwardly moves around, "Well, hello there little friend." After confirming Chance to be docile, Yu'yan goes to pet him on the head.

"His name is Chance. I saw Sheryl feeding him the other night and we talked about getting permission to keep him as a pet." You explain.

Yu'yan eyes you curiously, "Well, I certainly hope you'll let me in on this. If milady likes dogs, then I also like dogs." Yu'yan picks up Chance and carries him to your door, "I'll hold onto him while you get yourself all proper looking."

You pick up what you need for class, slip on your jacket and make way out.

>CONT

On a usual day before the little demonic encounter some weeks ago, you would meet up with Leona, Rein and Yu'yan in the cafeteria or the entrance room of the dorm and the four of you would head off to class. Although not as a rule, there was a small place to keep your shoes at the door of the dorms. Rein had a couple pairs of boots but she kept a specific pair for class that she didn't mind getting dirty. Judging by how it was missing, she didn't seem to want to wait for you this morning after last night and you had a feeling Leona had gone on ahead with her.

In the main room, Yu'yan was trying to teach Chance to lend out his paw. As you made way to join Yu'yan, you hear a shuffle coming from the entrance of the hall leading into the girl's rooms. Sheryl was peeking out from the entrance, and if you weren't keeping an eye-out for her she'd be easy to miss. She was a fair deal shorter than your other classmates and the hood she perpetually wore did a good job of keeping her from standing out.

"Morning." You yell over to Sheryl. She always got up earlier than everyone else to reach class, so that she was here right now certainly meant that she was waiting for you to emerge with Chance. It must've been a surprise for her to see Yu'yen come out first.

"Yu'yen agreed to help us keep the dog. Why don't you walk with us to class so we can talk about it." You suggest as you made way to your Lunese companion.

Sheryl nods once and makes small footsteps to join you two.

>CONT

"You know milady, the Lunese have a long history of training dogs. Our goddess Nyne keeps foxes as her patron animal so it runs deeper than blood. Once we get permission for Chance here, how about this Yu'yan shows you some tricks." Yu'yan has shown you before that he's well capable of subtlety, but it didn't look like he had any interest in using any while he pestered Sheryl on your way to class.

Sheryl has shown you before that she's well capable of ignoring someone, but at the moment it seemed she genuinely couldn't hear Yu'yan's advances. Her attention was focused on Chance who she had been carrying since you left the dorms. Someone will have to buy him a leash later, you hope it doesn't end up being you.

There's no way she'll easily part with that dog now, it's hard to believe she's the same taciturn girl when she's with Chance, the smile on her face is easily described as child-like and the long ears tucked away in her hood clearly wanted to push their way out with the way they shuffled in there. You need a plan to help her keep this dog.

Changing the topic away from Yu'yan's bragging, you tell the two...

>That you should ask Kran for permission first
>That you should ask Masoch for permission first
>That you should ask Silvest for permission first

>>31373653
>That you should ask Kran for permission first

>>31373653
>>That you should ask Silvest for permission first
Don't demons like dogs?

>>31373653
>That you should ask Kran for permission first

>>31373735
Silvest is a cat

>>31373735
Cats don't.

>>31373735
the CAT demon
I vote That you should ask Kran for permission first

>>31373767
Depends on the cat.

>>31373653
>>That you should ask Kran for permission first
I'd rather ask her. She has a soft spot for helpless things following after a people obviously.

"Let's ask Kran if we can keep Chance when we get to class. Masoch seems pretty strict and... well, you know what they say about cats and dogs." Cats and dogs have always been at odds since Rasc the Hound devoured Catus.

Sheryl nods approving your idea.

"Geez, ignoring me all this way but listening to his ideas." Yu'yan pulls his arms up and wraps them around the back of his head, sticking his tongue out.

"That's because I'm actually helping."

"I'm helping too. Just slower!" Yu'yan nods to himself, "Anyways, I've got some leathers I can fashion into a leash and I'm sure I could build a dog house with some loose wood. I can't help with the other necessities though, and the dorm foods won't do well for his palate."

"You seem pretty familiar with dogs Yu'yan."

Yu'yan closes his eyes and takes a moment to think, he opens just one when he responds dryly, "Yeah, my family kept a lot of pets so I had to make myself pretty handy."

With that, your group arrives at The Archives.

>CONT

When you first step into class, you can see Rein's stares digging holes into you. Leona shyly waves your way with half of her face hidden behind a book, you notice that she's not wearing your glasses and reaching into your pocket, you can feel them sitting around from when you took them for safe-keeping the previous night. You'll need to return those sooner or later but it might hurt your case with the dog if Rein gets angry at you before class starts.

"Let's sit together until Kran arrives." Yu'yan suggests as he plops himself down next to your usual spot. You take a seat and Sheryl follows, making sure to place you between her and Yu'yan.

"You wound me milady." Yu'yan sighs.

While you and Yu'yan discuss matters with Sheryl covertly playing paws with the dog, Kran enters the room. Anlak follows behind her a few steps looking much better than yesterday and takes his usual seat closest to the door.

"Alright, let's ask her now. We don't want to wait for the dog to start barking." Yu'yan nudges you lightly.

You look to Sheryl who just nods back at you. Taking a deep breath, you stand up, "Ms Kran! We need to ask you about something!"

>CONT

Chance sits on the teaching podium panting over it, Kran eyes him inquisitively.

"So let me get this straight... you'd like to keep this dog?"

Sheryl stands in front of Kran sheepishly and nods, you and Yu'yan each stand on one side of her. Anlak has his usual lack of expression on, Leona and Rein both watch with anticipation.

"Well... usually we don't allow pets unless they serve on the field, but I think this... Chance was it? He seems a little on the small side doesn't he?" Kran wasn't wrong, Chance is just a puppy. "What do you think Graps?"

From out of her shadow, Kran's demon companion emerges with a bow and speaks, "I would recommend against drafting him milady, I've fought alongside many hounds on the battlefield but I can tell this one would be a runt left to grow on his own. Perhaps a sub-contract or..."

"No need to continue Graps, we aren't going to be sticking any demons in this dog." Kran waves down Graps who takes another bow and returns to her shadow.

You were hoping she'd give in easily but it seems you'll need to work to convince her.

>Reason that Chance can be trained.
>Beg as hard as you can
>Urge Sheryl to speak up
>Let Yu'yan handle the negociations.
>Write-In Always assume this is available as an option even when not visible.

>>31374411
>>Let Yu'yan handle the negociations.

>>31374411
>Reason that Chance can be trained.

>>31374411
>Reason that Chance can be trained.

>>31374411
I'm sure Yu'yan's got this.

>>31374411
>Reason that Chance can be trained.

>Let Yu'yan handle the negociations.

Why not both?

>>31374533
This. Lets give Yu'yan the lead. He seems very knowledgable about dogs, also it'd help Sheryl open up.

>>31374411
>>Let Yu'yan handle the negociations.
He is the bigmouth always going on without a stop so maybe his mouth will actually be usefull for once?

"If we can make him useful in the field, we can keep him right?" You ask.

"That would be the case, but he's just a pup. He won't even be full grown by the time you finish training." Kran says.

"We can find uses for him still, can't we? Tell her Yu'yan." You decide to trust in your companion, he seems to have some some kind of experience with animals.

Yu'yan closes his eyes, crosses his arm and takes a moment to think. After some drawn seconds, his eyes pop open again and he speaks confidently, "As it so happens, this Yu'yan has trained many dogs before. Leave it to me and I'll prove we can make this dog useful."

"How exactly?" Kran eyes your little group skeptically.

"Belgran dogs are famous for their sense of direction, they often use them to find survivors under avalanches in the snow. Even at his size, you can give me some weeks and I'll teach him to sniff out women anywhere in the city just by the scent of their perfumes." Naturally, Yu'yan had to pick that example.

"Well... alright, if you all take care of him you can keep him in the dorms for now. I'll talk to Masoch and in some weeks we'll see if this Chance here can get some work done."

"Alright!" Yu'yan smiles and tilts his head to you and Sheryl. Sheryl picks Chance off the table and hugs him tightly without care of the others watching. You place a hand on Yu'yans shoulder and the two of you share in the warm sight.

>CONT

>>31374533
Why not both.

Kran let Chance sit in on the class while she continued her lecture on Daktori arms. Every time maces came up, she took a short pause.

After the class ended, Rein presented to her the goal of yesterday's contest and Kran cheered as she dangerously swung it around. Rein stumbled a little bit when it came uncomfortably close, but Anlak always so close to the front managed an impressive catch.

"I'm going to go work on that leash. I could use some help, but you should see if Sheryl can handle buying everything else on her own. Ah, no romantic stuff though, alright friend?" Yu'yan tells you as he grabs his books and begins to make his way back to the dorms. As Yu'yen makes way to the door, Anlak cuts just slightly ahead of him. Yu'yen stick his tongue out at the departing Daktori before continuing his walk. Shortly after that, Leona and Rein pass by on their way to leave class. Rein huffs and strolls by without giving you more than a glance, Leona gives you an awkward smile as she trails behind her sister.

You finish packing up your books and...

>Go to help Yu'yan
>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein
>Help Sheryl shop for dog supplies
>Write-In

>>31374985
>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein
>Help Sheryl shop for dog supplies

Can we exercise to increase tenacity?

>>31374985
>Help Sheryl shop for dog supplies
But give Leona her glasses back first.

>>31374985
>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein
we still have her glasses

>>31374985
>>Help Sheryl shop for dog supplies

when we return
>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein

>>31374985
>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein

We should confirm we're not a date rapist.

>>31375108
This.

>>31374985
>>31375113
This. Telling them we're not a rapist is more important than dog stuff.

Also we have her glasses in our pocket.

>>31374985
>>Try to sort things out with Leona and Rein

You follow behind Leona and Rein catching them out by the front desk. As you approach, Rein sticks her boot out at you and you narrowly stop yourself from running into it.

"What do you want now? Making moves on my sister and now you and Yu'yen are sticking yourselves onto the elf girl." Rein spits her words out at you.

"He really wasn't doing anything..." Leona weakly defends you.

You sigh and take Leona's glasses out of your pocket, holding them up for Rein to see, and for Leona to see less. Rein snaps them out of your hand and thrusts them to Leona's chest, the glasses bounce a little before Leona catches them.

"Hmph. If that's all you wanted then you can make you can get back to your own business now!" Rein crosses his arms and taps a foot waiting for your exit while Leona puts her glasses back on.

"I promise, I really didn't try anything." Rein is usually fairly reasonable, but her attitude in regards to her sister is fierce.

"C'mon Leona, let's go." Rein grabs her Leona's hand and starts to drag her off, Leona puts up a light resistance but she gaves way quite quickly, looking back at you as she's dragged off.

It's going to be hard dealing with this. Having handed the glasses back you're not sure when your next opportunity to resolve things will be.

>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.
>[Tenacity] Grab Leona's hand.
>Let them go and...
>...Help Yu'yen
>...Help Sheryl
>Write-In

>>31375552
>Let them go and..
>...Help Sheryl

>>31375552
>>[Tenacity] Grab Leona's hand.

>>31375552
>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.
Bitch I'm trying to talk to you

>>31375552
>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.

>>31375647
>>31375700
I always forget to mention this but when presented with a stat, roll 1d12. I take the best of the first two applicable rolls regardless of the voted option. Other anons have already pointed out the problem behind this to me but I figure the player count is still small enough to get away with it.

>>31375552
>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.

Are you ignoring me, bitch?

>>31375552
>>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.

if I was why would I bring her to a place you are likely to be instead of off to some cheap hotel?

Rolled 10

>>31375752
Rolling

Rolled 10

>>31375552
rollin

Rolled 3

>>31375785
roll

>>31375552
>[Alacrity] Try to cut Rein off and continue the conversation.
in for a penny in for a pund

You quickly dash between Rein and the entrance, she's a bit surprised at your speed but you're not ready to let her walk away from the conversation, "Look, we're friends so I want to patch this up quickly. I promise I didn't lay a finger on Leona other than to help her get back to you, I promise."

Rein balls a hand into a fist ready to move you out of the way, but Leona tugs on her arm, "C'mon Rein, he's telling the truth. He only meant to help, I'll be more careful in the future, okay?"

Rein sighs and looses her hands, "Fine. But I better stay sure that nothing is happening behind my back." Rein walks past you pouting, pulling Leona with her.

"Thanks for yesterday, I had fun." Leona whispers to you as she trails behind Rein.

Mission complete. You breath out thankful that it wasn't any harder than that, though you'll still need to stay clear of being alone with Leona for awhile.

With that cleared up, you need to decide on what your next order of business is. Sheryl's probably a ways into town now, you didn't catch her leaving but she's certainly not still in the classroom and she always has a way of vanishing. Yu'yan is certainly done with the leash by now but he still needs to work on the doghouse, he's probably in town to get supplies. You decide to head that way, steering clear of the dorms where Leona and Rein were headed until the evening.

>CONT

When you reach the town square, you notice that the weather is getting colder. There's been some light frost around Deneb since you've arrived, the city so close to the frozen norths but right now you can feel the light touch of it even through your jacket.

As you decide where you'd most likely find Sheryl or Yu'yan, you catch the sight of your teacher Kran slipping into a bar. The one you had met Masoch at the previous night, the one where Leona had left you floored.

She's probably just talking to him about the dog like she promised, but you're a little curious about how the teacher's act outside of The Archives.

>[Cunning] Spy on Kran and Masoch
>Search for your friends in the markets
>Write-In

Again, 1d12 for [Cunning], [Alacrity] or [Tenacity].

>>31376115
>Search for your friends in the markets

>>31376115
>Search for your friends in the markets

Rolled 11

>>31376115
>Search for your friends in the markets

>>31376115
>Search for your friends in the markets

We got Rekt in that bar
Good Times , man Good Times

>>31376115

>>31376153
This was me. Changing to.
>[Cunning] Spy on Kran and Masoch

Rolled 2

>>31376115
>>[Cunning] Spy on Kran and Masoch
SECRETS

You head into the markets, the city is still bright out and the bar is too depressing for a few reasons. You keep an eye out for Yu'yan and Sheryl's various tells, a Lunese man wearing far too little clothes for the cold weather and an elf in a cloak are both pretty distinct to pick out in a crowd, although Sheryl makes herself much more conspicuous to passer-byers.

From the corner of your eye you catch the sight of such a cloak in one of the side-streets of the market, much thinner and more closely packed than the main street. You make way towards it, navigating around a few house wives. "Sheryl!" You yell trying to call for the girl.

The figure turns around and pulls down their hood to get a look at you, but you know instantly it's not who you're looking for. Male, short parted black hair, dark eyes with a purple tint to them and pointed knife-ears. An elf you don't recognize stands in front of you.

"My apologies, did you have me mistaken for someone?" He speaks softly, his voice almost girlish. The people on the narrow street seem to push themselves even further to the sides, doing their best not to get involved with your encounter, and you have good reason to believe it has nothing to do with you. Elves are a cursed people, and one that so readily revealed himself is often the cause of trouble.

>Tell him you were mistaken and return to the main streets
>Tell him you were mistaken and inquire about him

>>31376422
>>Tell him you were mistaken and return to the main streets

>>31376422
>Tell him you were mistaken and return to the main streets

>>31376422
>>Tell him you were mistaken and inquire about him

>>31376422
>Tell him you were mistaken and return to the main streets

You're a little curious about the elf, but you're certainly not going to go up to a stranger and ask him what he's doing pulling his hood down.

"Ah sorry, I was looking for a friend of mine." You tell the stranger.

"Is that so? Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish buying foods." The elf slips his hood back on and continues into down the road, the best foods are on the main streets as far as you know but it could be difficult for his sort to shop in the open. You return to the main streets and continue your search.

There was something about the elf that seemed a little familiar to you, but you shake the thought out of your head quickly.

Walking down the main streets, you see Sheryl dragging along a heavy looking bag of dog food with one arm, and having little luck with it. Her other arm securely holds Chance, she really should have left someone to watch him before she came down here, but you suppose that she doesn't have many people to ask.

Naturally, you catch up to her and pick up the bag to help her carry it back the rest of the way. She looks a bit surprised to see you, but doesn't make any comments one way or the other. The two of you make ways back.

>CONT

When you return to the dorm, a little dog collar hangs off the front door. Yu'yen has attached a note to it, 'Out getting wood' is messily scribbled on.

Sheryl takes the leash before opening the door for you to enter with the dog food, you quickly place it inside and peek back out where she's putting the new leash on the dog. You're not too familiar with this field but you can tell the leash isn't shoddily made. The edges look smooth and rounded, and a small coin hangs off the front of it on a string.

"I guess we just have to wait for the doghouse now." You mention to Sheryl. She nods in return. Come to think of it, the dorm doesn't provide food on the week's end. Rein had been cooking for you during those days up until now, but she definitely wasn't completely over what happened earlier.

You'll need to do something about dinner.

>Check with Rein anyways
>Invite Sheryl to eat something
>Eat out alone, send Sheryl to Rein

>>31376880
>Eat out alone, send Sheryl to Rein
Mayeb we'll meet someone in town.

>>31376880
>Invite Sheryl to eat something

What's for dinner? Spaghetti?

Rein turned out to be much more protective than i would imagine.

>>31376880
>Invite Sheryl to eat something

>>31376880
>Invite Sheryl to eat something

>>31376880
>>Eat out alone, send Sheryl to Rein

"How about we go find something to eat?" You suggest to Sheryl. She peeks down at Chance.

"We can take Chance." You answer her unsaid question. She nods and sets Chance down, grabbing the end of the leash as she gets up.

The two of you make way back into the city and into the streets. Taking the food back took some time, you really should have put it into the kitchen but you're sure no one would toss it out while you're gone. Through the streets leading out The Archives, pass the square back where you found Sheryl you go, noting the various places you could eat in your head.

You end up heading into a small diner when you see a "Pets Welcome" sign on it. As you step inside, a small cat runs between your feet and gives Chance a small scare. Sheryl kneels down and picks him up before you two head to a counter.

The place isn't very busy which is likely for the better for how small it is. The kitchen is clearly visible behind the shopkeeper, a gruff looking fellow. The only other customer in the store sits at the counter on the opposite end from you, a Lunese man with his hair frayed neatly to one side, a fox is curled on the floor beside him off of it's leash but it pays no attention to the couple cats running about.

You order something to eat, Sheryl takes some time to pick something out and orders a plate for herself and some food for Chance from a small section of the menu catered to animals.

>CONT

You're not generally picky about food, and the taste of the dish doesn't disagree with you. It's certainly better than the dorm chef's usual servings, although it pales in comparison to what Rein makes. Your problem here is the small of animals overpowering the aroma of your selection.

Sheryl on the other hand is running into different trouble entirely, watching her eat presents some light dinner entertainment as she navigates her food around her tightly kept hood. Chance has no trouble gobbling up his meal.

Trying to distract yourself from the smell, and the worries that cat hairs might've ended up between the meat, you think about making some light conversation.

>Ask about who Sheryl is looking for.
>Ask about Sheryl and Chance.
>Ask about Sheryl and how she feels about her classmates
>Write-In

>>31377356
>>Ask about who Sheryl is looking for.

>>31377356
>Ask about who Sheryl is looking for.

>>31377356

>>Ask about who Sheryl is looking for.

"Say, you mentioned that you were looking for someone too, right?" You remembered that months ago, on the night when you'd met Sheryl and told her about Carna that she was also trying to find someone.

Sheryl continues her meal without responding, and you take that as a sign to drop the topic and do the same.

It isn't until after she's set down her fork that she gives you an answer, "Yeah. I'm hunting someone down."

You swallow the last bite of your meal, "And who would that be?" Sheryl eyes you carefully, you continue talking, "I just thought it'd be fair since I already told you about my goals here."

She takes a peek down at Chance who's tumbling around the floor, full from his meal. It takes her some time to decide to continue, "My father was a contractor, he left my family when I was young so I've been pursuing him for some time now... my search led me here."

"To Deneb?"

"Yes... my father was a Seeker. It took me a long time to dig that out, but by the time I arrived at Deneb he'd already been listed as a Stray Cat."

The Black Cats of The Seekers served as their field agents, The White Cats as the keepers of the group's ancient secrets as well as operators for The Black Cats. Stray Cats as you've learned from Masoch, are Seekers who left with valuable information or became too much of a liability to keep around. Hunting them down is one of The Black Cat's duties.

>CONT

Before you can decide whether to press Sheryl for more, the sudden jolt of the nearly comatose Lunese man across from you grabs your attention. The table shakes when he stands up, and after some moments of stirring about he walks over to the two of you.

"Hey..." He speaks in a sleepy voice, "I don't want to interrupt the two of you but... forget it, Gin, tell them." The fox beside him gets up and walks over to you on his four feet.

"Your friend is in trouble." The fox, Gin says; "You might want to head out to the woods. I'm sure he'd appreciate the help."

"Geez Gin, is that all you're going to say?" The Lunese man yawns and Gin whips him once sharply in the back of the knees with his tail.

"Just get up and go, Rum says there's only one demon left, and it's not because the kid slew all the others." Gin looks at you with clear eyes as he speaks.

"I'll take your dog back to the dorms I gueeeess... I mean I'm on my way to The Archives anyways." The Lunese man tells you while sliding a handful of coins onto the counter. Sheryl looks at you confused.

>The man is crazy, pay and return to the dorms with Sheryl.
>Send Sheryl back with Chance.
>Let the man take Chance and head to the woods.
>Take Chance and Sheryl with you to the woods.

>>31377920
>Let the man take Chance and head to the woods.

>>31377920
>>Let the man take Chance and head to the woods.

>>31377920
>Let the man take Chance and head to the woods.
If it were me I wouldn't believe him. But I have the benefit of knowing this is story.

>>31377920
>Let the man take Chance and head to the woods.

>>31376422
>>Tell him you were mistaken and inquire about him
cannot turn away from plot hook

"Let's trust him." You tell Sheryl. She hesitantly picks up Chance and hands it over to the stranger. He holds the dog up and stares at it for a good few seconds before placing it on the fox Gin's back.

"Please tell me you aren't honestly going to have me piggyback all the way back."

"Well, I'm not carrying him."

"Just hold the fucking leash."

"Yeah yeah," The man turns to you, "Hey you two, get running. I'll pay for your meals."

You nod to him and dart out of the door with Sheryl close behind you, making way for the city gates.

Night has come early over Deneb as the winter begins to set in, when you pass the gates it doesn't take long for you to come across the forested path of the road and you have a feeling that the friend he's talking about hasn't strayed too far from it. Sheryl pulls down her hood as you sprint, and after some steps stops behind you. Her yell, "This way!" pulls you to a stop and you follow behind her sudden lead. Perhaps there is a difference in her ears after-all.

As you push through the trees, you hear noises coming from further in the woods, distorted voices speaking over each other. "Hungry..." one of them says, "Devour..." another one of them adds, "Kill..." a third catches your attention.

Sheryl draws her short sword and cuts away a branch in front of her, you draw yours as well preparing for the worst.

Hopping into a small clearing, you see a fallen tree laying between two figures. Yu'yan and a peculiar demon.

>CONT

"Glad you two showed up, I was worried the Valkyries would find me first." Yu'yan doesn't look wounded, but he struggles to stay standing, using a turned lumber axe to keep himself up.

The demon opposite of him slowly slinks forward, it isn't like Graps or the goblins you'd faced. It's shape resembles a wolf with the hair peeled off from the neck up. A large scythe comes out of it's tail and it's feet resemble human hands. It's furless head has more than a few pairs of eyes popping out of it.

"There's a superstition among the Lunese that if you take too much from the woods they'll strike back at you, I think a demon is fairly disproportionate retribution for one lumbered tree though." Yu'yan smirks at you, pulling himself up roughly and readying himself to fight with the lumber axe.

Swinging it's scythed tail out, the beast chops through the fallen tree. It slowly comes towards your group.

>[Cunning] Wait for it's movement and try to make a counter-attack.
>[Alacrity] Draw it's attention away from Yu'yan and Sheryl.

Rolled 11

>>31378439
>[Cunning] Wait for it's movement and try to make a counter-attack.

Rolled 7

>>31378439
>[Cunning] Wait for it's movement and try to make a counter-attack.

Brutal cunning

Rolled 7

>>31378439
>>[Cunning] Wait for it's movement and try to make a counter-attack.

>>31378439
>[Cunning] Wait for it's movement and try to make a counter-attack.

The demon approaches you slowly, more distorted noise coming from it's maw. After a few heavy steps, it shoots it's tail forward at you, not a whipping motion like the one you'd fought but straight ahead like a harpoon, extending far further than it should by how you gauged it's length.

But you're prepared, you make a shallow dodge to the side and run forward, making slices along it's tail where the bladed part ends.

Yu'yan runs along the opposite side, he takes the lumber axe and spins around making a whirling toss at the demon's foot, the axe embeds itself into one of the toenails forcefully but it doesn't seem to have done much significant damage.

"Watch out! It's going to scream."

What? You hear Yu'yans warning and turn to realize what it meant, the demon's maw opens and it let's out a sharp noise, the air in front of it's mouth twists towards you.

>[Alacrity] Avoid the hit.
>[Tenacity] Hold your ground and brace for it.

Rolled 2

>>31378598
>[Alacrity] Avoid the hit.
>

Rolled 1

>>31378598
>>[Alacrity] Avoid the hit.

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Rolled 3

>>31378644
>>31378645

Rolled 4

>>31378598
>[Alacrity] Avoid the hit.

>>31378644
>>31378645
>>31378660
>>31378667
Pfft...fttftft....PFFFTAHAHHAHA.

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23 KB GIF

Rolled 8

>>31378686

You react to the blast a second too late and it the invisible attack catches you, when it hits you expect the force to slam into you but instead your external body is untouched. The wave rips the breath out of you and you stumble forward with your energy drained.

Pulling it's tail back, the demon means to take your head but Yu'yan dashes by and grabs you, pulling you down onto the grass as the scythe harmlessly swings over-head.

"Told you to watch out." Yu'yan stands up and kicks up a large piece of shredded wood off from the ground, it spins in the air once before he grabs a hold of it. He makes way towards the demon again.

You take a moment to grab your breath again, your vision is a bit blurred but it doesn't take long to pull yourself together.

Yu'yan is running towards the demon's foot where the axe is embedded, but it doesn't have it's sights on him. The many eyes seem to ignore you as well, all focused on one direction.

Looking where they do, you spot Sheryl holding her short sword out. The hand wobbles, a look of fear has taken over her. The demon lifts it's scythed tail and points it at the elf girl.

>[Cunning] Pull the demon's attention away from Sheryl.
>[Alacrity] Run and grab Sheryl.
>[Tenacity] Try to deflect the demon's attack as it comes.

Rolled 10

>>31378840
>>[Cunning] Pull the demon's attention away from Sheryl.

Rolled 5

>>31378840
>[Tenacity] Try to deflect the demon's attack as it comes.

RIP AND TEAR

Rolled 12

>>31378840
>[Cunning] Pull the demon's attention away from Sheryl.

>>31378840
>[Tenacity] Try to deflect the demon's attack as it comes.
With a roll like that we can afford to be a bad ass.

Rolled 9

>>31378840
>>[Tenacity] Try to deflect the demon's attack as it comes.
time to be a man

The blade shoots forward and you rush between it and Sheryl, slapping the flat of it with your sword and pushing it upwards over top your head, the tip of it cuts the tips of your hair. You grab Sheryl's sword out of her shaking hand and twist your body forward with the your blade's tip as a pivot and swing Sheryl's sword into the demon's tail again, cutting deep into it where it's thinnest. Not quite enough to cleave it off, the scythe dangles at an odd angle when the demon reels it back.

You pass Sheryl's sword back to her and make way forward to join Yu'yan at the fray. Sheryl breathes in deeply and follows behind you.

You spot Yu'yan half-way through swinging the axe at a twisted angle, slamming the blunt into the wooden plank he picked, now embedded in the demon's foot where the axe had laid. The plank digs deeper into the demon's foot and pins it to the ground. He tosses the axe to the side as the demon struggles against the make-shift stake and runs to rejoin you and Sheryl.

"We should probably make out of here quickly." He suggests.

>Run for it, this is too dangerous to keep at.
>Stand and fight, this is too dangerous to leave alone.

>>31379045
>Run for it, this is too dangerous to keep at.

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>>31379045
>mfw executive decisions
Tell Sheryl to run and get Kran while we hold it off

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>>31379045
>Stand and fight, this is too dangerous to leave alone.

Rolled 12

>>31379045
>>31379087
this we are in that moment

>>31379087
this could work

>>31379087
This

>>31379087
Aye Aye This!

"You two run and find Kran, I can't leave this alone right now." You keep your eye on the writhing demon as you direct Yu'yan and Sheryl.

"You're going to keep that lady you're looking for waiting a long time if you up and die here." Yu'yan plucks Sheryl's sword out of her hand and walks up beside you, "Let this Yu'yan help you. Can't let you show off too much. Sheryl, run back and grab teach would you?"

Sheryl nods and makes way back through the woods.

"Looks like you did a number on the tail, and I've got it's movements pinned down, but that scream is going to be some trouble eh friend?" Yu'yan tosses the sword in the air and catches it by the hilt, making swift cuts at the air, "Oooh, good handle. Got any plans? I'm thinking we take the other legs so it can't move at all. We've got two swords to three legs... we can figure out what to do with the last one later."

>[Cunning] Discover a weakness.
>[Alacrity] Go with Yu'yan's suggestion and cut out the legs.

Rolled 6

>>31379215
>>[Cunning] Discover a weakness.

Rolled 12

>>31379215
>>[Cunning] Discover a weakness.

>>31379215
>>[Cunning] Discover a weakness.

Rolled 9

>>31379215
>[Cunning] Discover a weakness.

>>31379252
We see all the weaknesses

>>31379246
>>31379252
>>31379260
>>31379266
>steal all the glory by coming up with our own plan.
I'm OK with this

>>31379292
He only takes the first roll.

Rolled 2

>>31379366
It's two, now.

>>31379292
>>31379366
am sorry

You take a deep breath and scan the demon over, thinking carefully over the situation.

It's a thin body, but your weapons can't cut deep enough to sever anything reliable. It might be too difficult to go for the legs.
It moves slowly, the feet on the demon resemble human hands and won't do it well for walking. It didn't make any efforts to swap at Yu'yan with them and must require all of them to move effectively.
The tail is powerful and swift, but it always lances in one direction when attacking. It whips around freely otherwise... why is that...
There're countless eyes on the hairless dog head...

But it still can't process multiple targets or wield it's scythed tail freely.

"Yu'yan, how many demons were here when you arrived?"

"Hm? There were three or four, all goblins. I took out two before you arrived and escaped from the others, but then one of them caught up to me real big, and it had pieces from the others meshed onto it."

Yeah, that sounds about right. You think back on your lessons, demons will consume each other for power but it takes time for them to manifest the powers properly...

"Let's go for the eyes Yu'yan."

Yu'yan looks at you curiously for a moment, but he confirms his approval with a smirk, "Sure, whatever you say friend."

>CONT

The voices of the demon all still speak, it can't control itself fully yet. You don't know what the eyes see, but you've got a feeling it needs them all to focus down on one spot to attack.

With it's wolf-like maw, several of the misplaced eyes will certainly be useless when it opens it's jaw.

You and Yu'yan dash towards the demon, Yu'yan takes the lead and rushes straight at it. The tail flies at him, but the incision in it makes it flop out awkwardly. He smacks it with the side of his blade and it hits the ground.

Out of options, the demon opens it's maw and blasts out it's cursed breath. Yu'yan ducks low and rolls past it. That's the opportunity you needed.

The tail of the demon pulls back, but you're already holding onto it where the wolf-like parts connect. You ride the tail as it pulls back and jump onto the demon's back during the recoil.

>[Alacrity] Try to slice out the eyes as quickly as possible before the demon stirs.
>[Tenacity] Hold on tight and go for a strong strike.

Rolled 8

>>31379468
>[Tenacity] Hold on tight and go for a strong strike.

Time to finish this

Rolled 11

>>31379468
>[Alacrity] Try to slice out the eyes as quickly as possible before the demon stirs.

Rolled 11

>>31379468
alacrity we are the fastest

>>31379468
>[Tenacity] Hold on tight and go for a strong strike.
I assume this means we're cutting off the tail?

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>>31379468
>[Tenacity] Hold on tight and go for a strong strike.
"By the power of Greyskull!"

You hold on tightly to the back of the demon as it struggles, dealing with Yu'yan underneath it. It topples over to one side with it's clumsy movements against the stake pinning it to the ground, but the large tuffs of fur on it's back make for a decent grip. Slowly making your way further up it's body, you reach it's head. Pulling yourself up fully, you raise your blade over your head and in a decisive movement, bring the blade down. The demon's eyes catch you in action too late, you dig deep into one and one of the distorted voices screams out before fading away. You pull your sword out, and your blade seems to have dug straight from the top of it's head into the roof of it's mouth.

It's then that you hear it, the sound of it's scythed tail speeding through the air at you.

>[Cunning] Direct the blade with your own.
>[Alacrity] Jump off the demon.

Rolled 2

>>31379674
>[Cunning] Direct the blade with your own.

Rolled 3

>>31379674
get off the demon

Rolled 8

>>31379674
>[Cunning] Direct the blade with your own.

Cunning Brutality

>>31379674
>>[Cunning] Direct the blade with your own
If we're going to fail at something, then we're going to fail with style.

The scythe flies at you and you twist your blade to catch it, in an attempt to re-direct it. A sudden jerk in it's movements as it flies causes it going lower than you anticipated, and it slices into your sides. You grip your blade hard and grit your teeth, you may've screwed up here but you've still got a job to do. Jabbing your blade down into the side of the tail, you pin the tail through the incision you had made into the back of the demon.

As the tail begins to reel back, you let yourself fall backwards off of the demon's head.

With the tail stuck against the demon, the scythe reels back not to the hind of the demon, but instead pulls itself along your embedded sword, tearing itself up as it runs. The demon again too late realizes what's happening, the crooked scythe flies back too fast for it to put itself together and slices through the demon's face, continuing onward as it pulls.

You close your eyes confirming your job is done, preparing for the worst to happen when you hit the ground... but instead, a pair of lean muscled arms catch you.

"I usually don't do this for men, but I think you earned it." Yu'yen smirks down at you, "Well, don't get too comfortable though, you're going down." Yu'yen drops you lightly onto the grass.

The demon collapses into the ground, it's head split in two, missing a leg and it's tail torn into strands. Slowly, it's body drifts away like ashes.

>CONT

>>31379747
How's that for style.

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>>31379864

>>31379864
That'll do pig. that'll do

You and Yu'yen rest up against the grass for some moments before Sheryl returns with someone. Your vision is blurred from the blood loss, but you can see a smaller shape run along beside the figure's leg and come up to you.

"And here I heard you just got out of the infirmary." You focus on the shape, the fox Gin comes into vision, "Keta, deal with his wounds won't you?"

"And how do you suppose I do that?" The larger figure kneels down beside you, this 'Keto' seems to be the Lunese man from earlier.

"We didn't make a contract so we could start a comedy act."

"Neither you nor Rum have any healing weaves."

"Then bandage him you lazy fucker."

"Yeah, hold on a second. Hm, guess we'll take you back to Masoch. If it's just this much he can fix it in an instant." The Lunese man reachs into his heavy jacket and pulls out a wooden box, popping it open he removes a pipe and sticks it into his mouth. He picks up some leaves and drops them into the opening of the pipe before snapping his fingers underneath it, a little flame pops out of his thumb and he lights the herbs in his pipe.

"Ah sorry about the smoke, I can't do first aid until my fire's going."

"Useless!" Gin declares.

Sheryl comes over to you supporting Yu'yen on her shoulder. You confirm from the floor that they're in fine condition.

Ten years ago you failed to save Carna, but today you protected Sheryl. For now, that's good enough. Closing your eyes, you let Keta handle your wounds.

And so, life goes on.

It's over, huzzah.

My schedule for the next few days is messy so I can't tell you when I'll be running next. Twitter in OP blahblahblah.

If anyone was curious, 1-4 is generally a failure, 5-8 is generally succeeding with various degrees of cost, 9-12 is generally successes. And it's best of two.

A lot of today's session ended up being cleaning up loose ends, but I don't know if you guys prefer that stuff. I'd like to borrow from /qtg/ topics to improve, so if anyone is still sitting around here, could I ask you what sort of ratio you prefer between school day antics and FUCKING DEMONS?

>>31380101
>FUCKING DEMONS
Succubi when?

>>31380101
I like the current ratio, really.

>>31380101
The ratio is fine, maybe a bit too much waifuing going on, but not enough to bother the story at all. Fun thread today again, great job OP.