Neither of you are the teenagers you were when you met, and you think you've grown more than her, she certainly seemed surprised when you refused to let her take control for the whole time. The look of surprise (and more than a little wariness) she wore was very gratifying when you pinned her down and-

Well, regardless, you know this is going to complicate your life. You'd like to believe it was just two people reliving old passions for a night, but previous experience with Tellia tells you she has plans within plans within plans.

As long as those plans are just ensnaring you, well you can handle it. If she tries to use your students, she'll find out just how much you've changed.

You lay back and think about what to say to your students when you go down to breakfast. As you try out various excuses in your head, Tellia stirs.

“Good morning” she says huskily in your ear.

“Good morning your Highness” you say dryly.

She chuckles “That's not what you called me last night” she says teasingly, nibbling on your earlobe.

“I called you a lot of things last night” you say.

“True” she says with a sigh “my favourites were 'vicious conniving bitch' and 'wanton whore'.”

“Well you know” you say “in the throes of passion people sometimes say...exactly what they are thinking.”

Tellia laughs “Oh Sally” she says “I've missed you.”

“I'm sure” you say, letting her know in no uncertain terms how much you believe that statement.

“Well maybe not all of you” she admits, her hand trailing down your chest and stomach “but certain parts of you I'm very glad to see, touch and tast-”

Your own hand intercepts hers “you have no idea how thrilled I am” you say “but on to more immediate concerns, I assume 'Tellaric' will be joining us for breakfast?”

“I have what I came for” she says casually “I don't mind leaving by the servants entrance, being just your bedmate and nothing more, cast aside when-”

“Don't be so melodramatic” you chide “besides, you disappearing will raise more questions. Come down, thank everyone and then piss off.”

“Are you sure you want to ruin your reputation” says Tellia, gazing at you beneath her long eyelashes “I bet a few of those girls go to sleep thinking of you. You don't want them thinking you're a fancy-boy do you?”

“They can think what they like” you say “whether they think I'm into guys or girls has no impact on anything.”

“So noble” she say mockingly, pinching your cheek “and here I thought you'd have a few favourites picked out for 'private lessons'.”

“Did you?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, maybe not” she admits, sitting up and getting out of bed, completely ignoring her nakedness as she hunts around for her clothes.

You watch as she gets dressed, wondering what this means for you, for the two of you. As Tellia dresses you notice her backpack has a leather-covered lump protruding from one of its side pockets.

As Tellia is putting on her underwear and tunic, you slip out of bed and retrieve the bundle. Sitting on the bed you unwrap it, to find a single thick golden band, just large enough to form part of a crown.

Even a single spell reveals the complex web of magic woven into it.

“Isn't it wonderful?” says Tellia, sitting on the bed next to you, her fingers trailing down your bare back.

“So this is really part of the imperial crown?” you ask.

“As far as I can tell, yes” says Tellia “I'll need to cast a few spells and examine some of the old records. The Crown of the Absolute Ruler was broken into three pieces, all the parts need to be put back together if it has a hope of having anything like the power it is supposed to have.”

“The Emperor can draw upon all the power of the lands” you say, quoting the legend of the Imperial Regalia “Tellia are you sure its safe?” You're not sure if you're asking if its safe for her to use without harming herself, or if the magical powers it would give her are safe to be held by well...her.

Tellia clearly thinks you're asking about the first option.

“Of course not” she says with a snort “it'll take a a lot of time and patience before I know how to use this safely, but the power is worth the risk, don't you think?”

But maybe she just answered the second option instead.

“Who does it belong to?” you ask “I mean, many of the royalty of the various kingdoms have ties to the Imperial House by blood, adoption or marriage.”

“It belongs to me” says Tellia, taking hold of the golden band, she tugs on it, but you don't relinquish it. The two of you lock gazes.

“Sallazar” she says softly “give it to me.”

“Maybe I should hold onto it” you say “until you find the rest of the Regalia, you don't want it getting lost do you?”

A look of anger appears on Tellias face, then its gone in a flash, and she gives you a heavy-lidded grin and leans in to kiss you gently “alright” she says “if you want to give me a reason to come and visit you at your school, then you research it, and tell me what you learn.”

That wasn't really what you had in mind, but maybe Tellia needs to think you're thinking with something other than your brain. She'd get upset if you told that you simply don't trust what she'd do with this.

Oh not that she'd be cruel: Tellia was always kind and generous to her servants, guards, the common people. But she was ruthless and driven when it came to her political rivals. If she is set upon becoming Queen of Wester then she would likely be a very good ruler from the point of view of the ordinary folk. But she may have stepped over a number of corpses to get there.

Tellia pulls back and is still looking at you, the golden band, part of The Crown of the Absolute Ruler, held by both of you.

What do you say about the Crown?

>Let her have it
>You'll take it for now
>Ask her what powers it has
>Other (what?)

And breakfast?

>Tellia comes to breakfast in disguise (As Tellaric? As a woman?)
>Tellia sneaks out on her own
>Other (what?)

[Meta]

Demon Style added to Monk
Win/Loss record added to club paste
Known clubs added to setting

[End Meta]

>>41866679
>Let her have it
>Tellia sneaks out on her own

>>41866679
>>You'll take it for now
>>Ask her what powers it has
>>Tellia comes to breakfast in disguise (As Tellaric?)

>>41866679
>Let her have it
>Tellia sneaks out on her own

>>41866679
>You'll take it for now
>Ask her what powers it has
>Tellia comes to breakfast in disguise (No opinion)

>>41866679
>You'll take it for now
who would look for a item of absolute power in a all girls school
>Tellia comes to breakfast in disguise (No opinion)

>>41866679
>Let her have it
>Tellia sneaks out on her own

>>41866773
Absolutely everyone who finds 8ut she has it hidden somewhere.

But yeah sure, lets put our students at danger so you get more excuses to fuck around with yourwiafu.

>>41866679
>Let her have it
>Tellia sneaks out on her own

>>41866792
Anon seriously calm the fuck down.

>>41866792
Dude, it's been a week. Desalinate already.

looks like Tellia is leaving quietly with what she came for, but please do check my count.

Writing.

>>41866679
>Let her have it
>You tell your friend Tellaric goodbye before breakfast so everyone knows where he left

>>41866679
>Other (Tell her you don't trust her with it.)
>Tellia comes to breakfast in disguise (her choice. if she's still here that is....)

>>41866825
>>41866826
2and 5 seconds too late

>>41866819
Its not like what he's saying is untrue though.

>>41866834
It literally doesn't matter. Besides, the first one is actually 13 seconds too late.

>>41866792

Relax, dad.

>>41866837
Danger is going to hit us no matter what, and this way we can ward the shit out of it rather than have it catch us with our pants down. Anyone opposed to her would come after us based on our old friendship alone.

>>41866834
yup. May own damn fault.

>>41866867
>Anyone opposed to her would come after us based on our old friendship alone.
Except not no. They would have very little reason to.

And we are now as prepared as we will ever be, given that we know she is back and will get us into shit again.
Not having the crown just means its less likely shit will come for us directly rather than her dragging it to us.

>>41866867
Danger being a constant isn't a good reason to invite more of it for no purpose.

>>41866867
>Danger is going to hit us no matter what
Yes, other unrelated danger on top of this. Your point?

>>41866878
Except no because no we're going to likely get caught far afield instead of at home where we have a shit ton of wards for defenses.

>>41866891
But there is a very good reason. Anyone gets their hands on it will be dangerous.


>>41866897
Yeah, how about those scalpers oh wait. We killed them. Honestly Pally is setting this up to be the big issue here on the outside front. We're getting caught up in it regardless.

>>41866878
>They would have very little reason to.
Different anon, if they wouldn't hit us because of that, why would they hit us if we did have it in your argument?

If you say scrying I'll need to strike you about the head and face.

>>41866920
>Except no because no we're going to likely get caught far afield instead of at home where we have a shit ton of wards for defenses.
How the fuck would this make it more likely than otherwise, god your excuses are fucking dumb.

>>41866928
>why would they hit us if we did have it in your argument?
Because in one scenario we have something they want, and in the other we don't. Its pretty simple.

>>41866928
Are you retarded or something? You think having a actual object of value won't lead people looking for it to us?

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Let's all just collectively settle down. There's no need to derail Pally's thread with a salt-chucking contest.

>>41866955
>>41866956
Yes, but how would they *know* is the question.

Scrying is out, because Abjurer, and you've ruled out assuming we have it because we're her old friend by yourself.

So by what mechanism do they find out?

>>41866965
>Scrying is out, because Abjurer
No ward is infallible.

> and you've ruled out assuming we have it because we're her old friend by yourself
No I haven't, the difference is that us being her old friend wouldn't be sufficient reason to risk attacking us, but us actually having what they looking for very well can be.

>>41866965
If Pally wants them to find is and or seek us out about it they will anyway, the question was if Sallazar deliberatly puts a target on the school and the girls for people looking for this object.
And I voted he cares more about them than to risk that for no reason.

>>41866965
If Pally wants to force this subplot on us, he will anyway no matter what decision we made.
I got this one vote to express I don't give a shit about it, and I used it to do that.
They will come for us about this shit anyway, it makes factually no difference.

The mechanism by which they find out is Plot convenience.

>>41866983
Obviously never heard of scorched earth. Remember to most nobles we're an uppity low born wizard. They'd attack/assassinate us in a second if they think they'd get leverage or deny her an ally, regardless of truth.

>>41867032
>Obviously never heard of scorched earth.
Fuck are you stupid. Scorched Earth is when YOU BURN YOUR OWN SHIT TO DENY THE ENEMY RESOURCES.
Stop using terms you don't understand.

>>41867032
Thats not what scorched earth means, and nothing about that gives a reason why we should give bigger incentive to attack us at all.

>>41867032
>>41867032
>Obviously never heard of scorched earth.
I'm not part of this conversation, but scorched earth would be more her killing Sallazar to prevent her opponents from using him against her.
Its when you destroy unsecureable resources of your own (such as land, hence the name) to prevent your opponent from making use of them.

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>>41867032

>scorched earth
>scorched earth
>scorched earth

Holy shit dude you're dumb.

>>41866983
>No ward is infallible.
It doesn't make much sense to me that we can have infallible spells against an effect but not infallible wards against the same effect. Cost-prohibitive, maybe, but not impossible to create.

>actually having what they looking for very well can be.
That doesn't explain how they somehow know whether we have it *only* if we have it, but not if we don't, despite there being no difference between the two scenarios from an external perspective.

>>41867000
Not that related to what I'm saying, but okay, I accept that.

>>41867017
The mechanism by which they find out is they don't. They might attack anyway because it's the closest thing to a lead they have.

What doesn't make sense is saying they wouldn't attack if we don't have the crown but would attack if we do when there's no visible difference between having it or not having it to outsiders.

Which is what this is about to me.

>Subplot
>Implying this isn't the main plot

>>41867032
>Remember to most nobles we're an uppity low born wizard. They'd attack/assassinate us in a second if they think they'd get leverage or deny her an ally, regardless of truth.
You are kinda contradicting yourself here, either we are a shitty wizard that doesn't matter to them, in which case expending resources to assassinate us would be wasted, or we are a potential threat, in which case they would have to think twice to draw our attention to them before they have dealt with her.

>>41867088
>when there's no visible difference between having it or not having it to outsiders
She had the crown, then she met us, and then she didn't have it anymore. There is no ward against basic logic deduction anon.

>>41867107
Because they're definitely scrying on her, her possessions and her movements literally 24/7. There's this huge conspiracy that can employ hundreds, if not thousands, of wizards to do that and she's never used an anti-scrying measure, in spite of Sallazar mentioning she knows magic and fooling Scrying being a mid-level spell, potentially available at lower levels with custom spells.

Seems legit.

>>41867107
Unless they a spy on her and in her pack the second she leaves to them she could have stashed it anywhere.

>>41867088
>Implying this isn't the main plot
I personally was excited about this quest because the pitch, and under my assumptiom the main plot, was raising unusual girls and dungeon adventures.
I assumed any sort of Sallazars past would be a side-plot thing because the priority of the quest should be on the adventurer club and the school.
Though I admit that might have just been me.

>>41867132
>Because they're definitely scrying on her, her possessions and her movements literally 24/7.
They only need to know when she got the crown, and then deduce when she stopped having it.
You don't need 24/7 scrying to do that.

>>41867136
If she met a old friend in the mean time, it would stand to reason for anyone to start looking there.

>>41867137
For what its worth that was my impression too, but it seems clear by now that he is most likely right so you have to deal with how things are.

You let go of the golden band and Tellia pulls it from your grasp, looking...disappointed?

“If you want to stay and meet everyone you can” you say, as the two of you finish getting dressed “but I won't force you.”

“You always were such a gentleman” says Tellia, stuffing the hoop deep into her pack “but I've been away too long, if I'm not seen at the court simpering at some idiot suitors, then the gossips will be after me again. Now I think there was a back entrance to this place....”

Once she is fully dressed and has all her possessions packed she kisses you in a distracted way and leaves, the illusion of 'Tellaric' forming around her. Her spellwork has gotten more precise, you wonder who has been teaching her.

You head down to breakfast once you're ready, preparing to face the questions and jokes of the girls.

By the time you get down there, breakfast is almost over, and only some of the girls are still at the table. Engrossed as they are in their own conversation, your arrival elicits little response other than a few polite greetings.

“And then - boom! - Sets it on fire” says Evrumine, her Torrow accent thickening as she gets into the tale of some of yesterdays fights “giants are so fun and Kittrane is amazing at fighting zem!”

Kittrane tries to look unaffected by this, but she's blushing a bit you think, and sitting up straighter.

“Well uh, everyone did their part and Phoebe was really helpful in saving that one guys life so um, yeah, well done everyone.”

There's a pause, during which you sit down after fetching yourself some porridge.

“So Professor” says Phaysis, leaning in “what happened to that Telric guy?”

“Tellaric had to leave very early” you say casually “tight schedule and all.”

Chame grins “so uh, did he sleep in the stables or something, the inn was pretty full?”

You can feel the gazes of the girls on you “we're old campaign buddies” you say “not the first time we've shared a room.”

“Oh really” says Chame, drawing out the word “how interesting.”

You give her a level look “so have you all thought about what you want to try today? The dungeons are still up, though the main one might be off limits if there are still real ice giants in the areas.”

Most of the girls shake their heads, Phaysis nods “I think it best if we keep mixing up teams” she says earnestly “we still haven't found out who can work well with each other. If we focus on one scenario and different girls, then we can find out.”

“Uh, teams!” says Evrumine, rolling her eyes “no, fighting different monsters and trying different dungeons would be better. You sound like Janrael – she really wants to build a 'good' team.”

“I don't mind being on a good team” says Safire, so quietly you're not certain you heard her say it.

“As you can see Professor” says Anlanesa “we can't decide, what do you think we should do?”

What are the girls doing today, dungeon wise?

>Whatever they like, today is for fun, not training
>Lots of different things, like Evrumine said
>Mix and match some teams, like Phaysis said
>Other (what?)

>>41867182
>Whatever they like, today is for fun, not training

>>41867182
>Whatever they like, today is for fun, not training.

>>41867182
Why is Safire here?
Didn't we just bring Fel Storm + minions?

It makes a difference to what we should do, if everyone is here trying out team smakes more sense.

>>41867182
>>Whatever they like, today is for fun, not training

>>41867182
>Try out different scenarios as different teams

>>41867182
>Whatever they like, today is for fun, not training

>>41867182
>Mix and match some teams, like Phaysis said

>>41867213
You bought the whole club, sorry that wasn't explicit last thread.

>>41867182
>Mix and match some teams, like Phaysis said

>>41867155
It still doesn't make much sense to me that she wouldn't have protection from scrying (from all time tenses) on literally all the time given what she's doing, either through spell or an item.

>>41867137
>>41867168
I'm probably wrong, since that was, you know, a joke. It doesn't seem tenable to have that much focus on things that are unrelated to daughterus.

This is definitely going to be a recurring major plot thread, though.

>>41867259
>It still doesn't make much sense to me that she wouldn't have protection from scrying (from all time tenses) on literally all the time given what she's doing, either through spell or an item.
It still doesn't make much sense to me how you think scrying is literally the only way to gather information.

Sallazar being a fun guy it is, there's much room for all the girls to do what they want

>>41867295
>to do who they want.
FTFY

>>41867259
I'm still unsure what the supposed benefit of us having the crown would be, even if having it would perfectly safe,

>I'm probably wrong
No, you are actually probably right considering how one of the few dungeon adventures we managed to get to got cut off to introduce this plot to us, its fairly clear whats more relevant.

>>41867303

S-shut up, Chame!

>>41867274
Because there doesn't seem to be any way to find out the information your argument requires them to have other than scrying. It's not like the modern methods of tracking people's movements apply to this setting.

>>41867306
Studying it, I guess? I was never arguing for keeping the crown, just being anal about what kind of arguments can be used to not keep the crown.

To be fair, that dungeon was like 98% complete and would've ended right there if it hadn't been for the interference.

>>41867341
>Because there doesn't seem to be any way to find out the information your argument requires
Regular non-magical spying and following.

She wasn't very stealthy if those ice giants she dragged around are any indication.

> It's not like the modern methods of tracking people's movements apply to this setting.
No, old fashioned methods that have worked for millenia do.

>>41867341
>To be fair, that dungeon was like 98% complete and would've ended right there if it hadn't been for the interference.
The princess was still supposed to be evil, I wanted something to come of that, and most likely the reason it was so fast over was because Pally had planned to for that interruption to occur, so the argument doesn't really work.

>>41867341
>Because there doesn't seem to be any way to find out the information your argument requires them to have other than scrying.
Mundane spying and tracking would come to mind.

If Sallazar could be informed by a third party of her being here, clearly someone else could find out too.

>>41867364
>The princess was still supposed to be evil
To be fair, we did get a evil princess.

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>>41867469

Clever

>girls can't decide on what to do and ask for suggestions
>tell them to do what they want to do
Isn't this basically not answering them?

>>41867485
Yes, it is.

>>41867485

No, it isn't.

>>41867485

Can you repeat the question?

>>41867485
>Isn't this basically not answering them?

It might be.

>>41867485
Honestly, I'm not sure.

>>41867354
>Regular non-magical spying and following.
It seems like there would be spells that could shake, fool or detect that, Illusion and Divination in particular come to mind. Following a mage for any significant length of time would probably end swiftly and violently because of that. Also the whole teleporting thing. And the whole "paranoia so I put a redirection down" thing.

>She wasn't very stealthy if those ice giants she dragged around are any indication.
Giants have better stats than humans and they had casters, which means wards. Wards are significantly harder to fool.

>No, old fashioned methods that have worked for millenia do.
None of them would reveal when she had the crown on her and when she stopped having the crown on her. Other than maybe going through her belongings, but you'd have to have a death wish to go through a mage's stuff.

Remember that the old-fashioned methods didn't have to compete with paranoid magic users.

>>41867379
The problem is his argument requires them to have significantly more detailed information. It requires them to know when she ditched a very specific object that she'd be extremely paranoid about, and might not even ditch at all. Or she might ditch a dozen fakes. Or she might ditch a dozen illusory fakes that explode. Wizards.

>>41867565
>It seems like there would be spells that could shake, fool or detect that, Illusion and Divination in particular come to mind.
It seems like there would be spells to negate or circumvent those spells.

>Giants have better stats than humans
base stats maybe, but certainly not higher possible skills

>None of them would reveal when she had the crown on her and when she stopped having the crown on her.
Yes they would, as long as the find out she acquired it here, for which you just have to find out she agitated the ice giants and then proceeded to meet a old friend at a inn.

>Remember that the old-fashioned methods didn't have to compete with paranoid magic users.
Remember that old fashioned method couldn't be augmented by magic users.

>>41867565
>The problem is his argument requires them to have significantly more detailed information.
It doesn't at all.

They only need to know when she had good opportunity to ditch a specific object, such as meeting a old acquintance.

“Not ever day has to be about training” you say, eating your porridge “you're allowed to have fun too. I think the whole club can get to do whatever they want to.”

Your announcement is greeted by grins, smiles, the occasional fist pumped in the air and some yells of “yes!”

XXX

For the rest of the day you mostly just supervise as the whole club tries out the different scenarios the Daves made for the party: attacking places, defending them, facing small hordes of goblins or kobolds, or fighting single powerful monsters.

The snow worm battle is very popular: One giant snake-like monster against as whole team.

You notice in between fights some of the girls spend a lot of time talking to one another, planning their next encounter, switching groups, and in Janraels case, lobbying for the creation of a 'good' team. So far only Safire and Anlanesa seem interested.

Most of the girls seem to be more interested in picking their parties based upon friendships rather than specific abilities. Though you can also see some hints of leadership emerging.

Whether she gets her 'good; team or not, Janrael is good at getting the girls she is in matches with to listen to her, and do what she says.

Lucinda is also a natural leader: easily taking over any group she is included in, though seemingly without upsetting anyone.

For someone that's so laid back, Syphoebeus can bark orders and organise girls like she's being doing it all her life. When someone else wants to lead, she seems happy to let them, but steps up if others don't.

The girls are coming along rapidly in their training and are starting to act more like soldiers or adventurers, rather than schoolchildren.

Well, most of the time.

“Chame pushed me in!” protests Cleya, trying to half-wade, half-crawl through the muddy pit.

Their team is trying a fight on stepping stones above a hazard – in this case, waist high mud.

“Did not!” yells Chame “it was 'Nesa!”

Anlanesa gives Chame a doubtful look, then Safire uncharacteristically lunges at Chame, thrusting her off the stones and into the mud next to Cleya.

Cleya pounces on her, and soon both of them look like mud-golems.

The Daves pick the perfect time to show up.

“Hi Azar” says Dave “just got the ice castle all packed up and- woooah!”

The other Dave is just watching the two girls battle in the mud, grinning and stroking his beard.

“Daves” you say, nodding “thanks for letting us use the spare scenes.”

“Any time” says Dave, watching the show. Then he remembers what he came over for.

“Next week” says Dave “we've got a new dungeon layout we're trying, and we'd like your girls to be in in as extra monsters, we've got three parties booked to run it, one after the other. Figure you might as well meet some new groups, and we can put your girls down for a dungeon run too, or you can I dunno, challenge another club to a match.”

“How does that work?” you ask Dave, as at your feet Cleya and Chame are still battling. Anlanesa jumps in to try and help pull them apart, unsuccessfully.

“Well you can run the dungeon like anyone else” says Dave “but not the girls who helped defend it, would be unfair. You can challenge a club you know, but they get to pick the scenario. Or you could add a team to the random challenge pool.”

“What happens then?” you ask. Lucinda and her three followers are coming over, maybe they can stop the mud-fight.

“Team names get picked from a hat” says Dave, still watching the girls antics “and randomly assigned scenarios, might not be a straight team vs team, might even be a cooperative one with both teams needed to get the objective, and a winner picked on points.”

“Hmm” you say, thinking it over.

What will the girls be doing next weekend?

>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)
>Challenge a club (which? follow-up vote if no clear winner)
>Random challenge pool
>Let the girls pick
>Other (what?)

>>41867621
>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)

>>41867621
>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)

>>41867621
>Random challenge pool

>>41867621
>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)

>>41867621
>Let the girls pick

>>41867621
>Let the girls pick

>>41867621
>>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)

>>41867621
>Let the girls pick
Though I would prefer the regular run.

regular run it is, writing.

>>41867621
>>Run the dungeon, same as the others (excludes evil team)

>>41867587
>It seems like there would be spells to negate or circumvent those spells.
Not too many that wouldn't tip off the mage to the fact that they're being followed, especially in the case of things like Teleport.

>certainly not higher possible skills
Even if they can't (which we don't know for certain), equal skill levels with better stats on one side is in favor of that side, because stats play a part in what your final modifier is.

>Yes they would
Okay, that was some poor phrasing on my part. That would reveal she acquired the crown and had an opportunity to ditch it. That wouldn't tell them the crown was on her the entire time or exactly when she stopped having it on her person. Just an opportunity.

>>41867605
This argument isn't about whether or not they can be aware of the possibility. If anything, them being aware of the possibility works in my favor in this argument.

This started when someone tried to say that they would attack us if we took the crown, but wouldn't if we didn't, by somehow knowing that we didn't take the crown in spite of there not being an outward difference.

So no, they wouldn't just need to know when she had a good opportunity, they'd need to know absolutely whether or not she ditched the crown with us, since that's the only way it would make sense.

As you consider this, Lucinda stops at the edge of the mud-pit, much to Daves obvious disappointment.

She breathes out slowly, and then raises her hands upwards, as she does so Chame levitates slowly into the air and thrashing and protesting, she floats over to where Lucinda is, before being dumped on the grass.

“Hey!” she protests “We were having fun!”

“So were the spectators” points out Eyja, indicating you and the Daves.

“That's half the fun” grouses Chame, as Anlanesa and Cleya pull themselves onto the stepping stones and head off to wash themselves clean.

“The girls can do the same dungeon as the others” you say to the Daves, the three of you wandering away slowly “there's no point in challenging other groups yet.”

“Not even Faith and Steel?” asks Dave innocently, too innocently.

You give him an irritated look “what aren't you telling me?”

“Oh they just tried to have your club banned from official matches, said your girls have unfair advantages plus they might 'corrupt' the other teams or something” says Dave airily “but we know the judges and it got squashed rather than go to a hearing.”

Dave gives you a smug look. You're torn between the desire to smack him, or thank him.

Eventually manners win out “Thank you” you say simply “not for me, but for the girls.”

Daves smug look slips a bit “taking all the fun out of it Azar” he complains.

XXX

Eventually the girls time is up and you herd them all aboard the late train home.

Once the train is rushing down the tracks, and with all the girls in one of the dining coaches, the plates being cleared away, a question you know was coming is raised.

“So um” says Nevyn, during one pause in the conversation “Are we going to vote on Kittrane or Cleya as Team Fell Storm Leader now?”

Suddenly all the girls are listening, and most are talking.

“Vote now!”
“The whole club votes!”
“Only Team Falls Up votes!”
“That's Fell Storm dummy!”
“Vote Now!”
“How about a week to campaign?”
“Vote for my candidate Cleya, the eyes have it!”
“I'll sell my vote, who wants it?”
“Topless Pillow fights decides the leader!”
“Whoever is voting to gag Chame, I'll vote for her.”

What are you going to do about this?

>Vote now
>Vote in a weeks time
>Let Cleya and Kittrane pick
>Other (what?)

There will be follow choices for who gets to cast votes, and if Sallazar wants to support a candidate.

>>41867890
>This argument isn't about whether or not they can be aware of the possibility. If anything, them being aware of the possibility works in my favor in this argument.
No because it only matters if she actually ditched the crown at some point, if she didn't, then they won't think she left it with anyone in particular.
So not taking the crown, means no one will think she left the crown with someone else, on account of still having it, and therefore don't need to investigate who she could have given it.

>>41867932
>Vote now

And if it comes down to Sallazar being asked to vote, politely abstain.

>>41867932
>Vote now

>>41867932
>Let Cleya and Kittrane pick

>>41867890
>So no, they wouldn't just need to know when she had a good opportunity, they'd need to know absolutely whether or not she ditched the crown with us, since that's the only way it would make sense.
No, they would need to know if she left the crown within the timeframe in which she met us.
Which is absolutely a thing they can deduce with mundane methods.

>>41867932
>Let Cleya and Kittrane pick
I wouldn't really know how to pick either. Both made a good showing.

>>41867932
>Topless Pillow fights decides the leader!
The most democratic route.

>>41867932
>Let Cleya and Kittrane pick

>>41867932
>>Vote now

Kitten + Cleya pick, writing.

>>41867938
But how are they keeping tabs on the crown itself other than that she retrieved it? How are they aware of whether or not it's been ditched if there was an opportunity?

>>41867969
Explain to me in intimate detail exactly how they deduce the status of a magical crown that's most likely being stored in a warded, extradimensional sack through mundane means.

“Kittrane and Cleya are running for leader” you say “so they can choose when the vote is held.”

They both look at each other, Kittrane shrugs and says “vote now?”

At the same time Cleya says “campaign for a week?”

They both pause and stare at each other, finally Cleya says “how about a mid-week vote?”

“Sure, I guess” says Kittrane, seemingly not bothered about when the vote will be.

So who is voting?” asks Nevyn “is it just Team Fell Storm?”

“Why would anyone else get to vote?” asks Kittrane.

“Because the leader impacts the rest of the club” says Anlanesa tartly.

“Oh yes, what an unbiased opinion” says Kittrane “I wonder who you might want to vote for? Could it possibly be your girlfr-”

“That's enough!” you snap out “there won't be any negative campaigning or campaigns based on insults. If you do then neither will be the team leader. You can persuade others to vote for you based on your merits, not each others flaws.”

You manage to get everyone's attention. Then Evrumine raises a hand “But ah, Professor, who is voting?”

Who is voting?

>Team Fell Storm only
>Whole club
>Other (what?)

First option includes reserve members by default, but if you want you can restrict it to main team only.

And will you pick a side?

>Don't pick sides, keep quiet on this issue
>Praise both
>Help Kittrane
>Help Cleya
>Other (what?)

Sallazar won't be casting a vote, but he could make a speech in support of one or the other.

>>41868342
>Team Fell Storm only
>Don't pick sides, keep quiet on this issue

>>41868342

>Team Fell Storm only
>Praise both

>>41868342
>Team Fell Storm only
They are the ones who will have to be lead by whoever wins afterall.
>Praise both

>>41868342
>Team Fell Storm only
>Praise both

>>41868342
>>Team Fell Storm only
>Praise both

They both did good.

>>41868342
>Team Fell Storm is voting for their own leader.

>>41868410
Following on, if the others complain, the vote will only be for Team Fell Storm leadership. If another team is formed they will have a leader too.

>>41868447
Meant to quote my post;>>41868426

>>41868447
I'm not sure what you're trying to express here, of course other teams will have their own leader?

>>41868469
As in those outside Fell Storm seem to want to vote.

>>41868469
Yeah. Which Janrael seems to be picking up pretty well for her nascent team. We should start looking for a good fourth candidate for a Good-themed team when we get back.

>>41868504
Paladin/inquisitor horse girl?

>>41868518
She seems to have no interest right now, apparently.
Oddly enough.

>>41868504
>>41868518

This.

Janrael
Phaysis
Safire
Anlanesa

>>41868529
lets talk to her about it.

>>41868542
I'm not gonna vote to coerce anyone into joining Janraels team, Janrael is pretty well spoken, she can convince Phaysis herself is Phaysis has interest.

>>41868529
I thought she was vaguely interested a few threads ago?

>>41868564
She seemed to be, but in the last status report further up it only mentioned Anlanesa and Safire as being interested.
She had reservation before about it being too rushed if I remember right, might be the reason.

>>41868590
Probably best to leave forming the new group until later, possibly when we get back and allow the girls to form the group naturally.

“Since they're going to be led by the winner, only Team Fell Storm get to vote on this” You say.

Kittrane gives Anlanesa a smug look. Lucinda raises a hand “Um, I was hoping to join Team Fell Storm, but I guess not until after the vote.”

Anlanesa, and a few of the other girls perk up, you say “good idea, no one else joins the reserve until after the vote.” Your announcement is taken gracefully by most.

“What if another team picks a leader?” asks Phaysis “do only members vote?”

“If another team has two or more wanting to be leader” you say “then we'll see. So, to sum up, we'll have a team meeting on Fourday night, during which Team Fell Storm will hold a vote for their leader.”

You pause, and then decide to praise both girls, rather than remain silent.

“Cleya saw you through your first challenge, where you beat not one, but five teams. She showed she can remain calm under pressure and deal with complex situations with intelligence and cunning.”

Anlanesa leans over to Kittrane “he's saying your stupid.” Kittranes punch is intercepted by Syphoebeus. The two tall girls lock gazes, but Kittrane looks away first.

“Kittrane” You say loudly “has taken the team to victory in the first match that affects the club score card. Not only has she led fearlessly from the front-”

Chame leans over to Cleya “He's saying you're a cowa-mrph!” A hand is clapped over her mouth.

You give Janrael a nod of thanks and continue “but when the game was interrupted by a real threat she threw herself into danger and saved the life of a rival club, showing not only that she is capable of decisive action, but also great compassion.”

This gets a chorus of “awwwws!”, some clapping, and an embarrassed-looking Kittrane.

“Well uh” she says, looking redder than usual “I couldn't just let Evvys boyfriend die could I?”

The laughter mostly drowns out Evrumines squawk of protest.

With that decided, you nudge the conversation towards what the club is planing to do next week.

“So with an unknown dungeon ahead of us” you say, “and with both Team Fell Storm and another team to go into it, through from opposite ends – Chame, Lucinda stop that, yes we all know what the gestures mean – we need to be ready for any situation and prepared to work hard to win.”

“So um, Sir” says Janrael, looking hopeful “who is going to be going through the dungeon?” The unasked question seems to be, if she has a team, could they do it?

“Who wants to?” You ask.

Most of the arms go up...in fact all the girls apart from Team Fell Storms core members just volunteered.

So who is going?

>If Janrael gets a team, they are
>You'll pick the team (follow-up vote for whom)
>Names from a hat
>Decide later
>Other (what?)

If Janrael fails to get a team, then there will be another vote, if that option wins.

>>41868764
>If Janrael gets a team, they are
Seems practical to me.

>>41868764
>You'll pick the team (follow-up vote for whom)

>>41868764
>If Janrael gets a team, they are

>>41868764
>If Janrael gets a team, they are

>>41868764
>If Janrael gets a team, they are

>>41868764
>>If Janrael gets a team, they are
If not
>Names from a hat

>>41868764
>If Janrael gets a team, they are
Either works for me, Jans team is shaping up to be fairly balanced experience-wise so that isn't a problem.

Angel girl and co. is a go

Lewd elf side-kick is the fourth team member
Joking

>>41868764
>Names from a hat

>>41868913

Every team needs a Chame-type for the bantz.

>>41868764
>>If Janrael gets a team, they are
Suprise the hell out of those god botherers. You thought it was demons? Suprise, angel to the face!

“Well since you've been working hard towards it” you tell Janrael “if you can get a full team together by the weekend, then you'll be going through the dungeon.”

Janrael manages to combine happy and nervous into one expression “We won't let you down sir!” She half-yells, jumping up from her seat to hug you.

“With that in mind” says Syphoebeus dryly “do we have any volunteers for Team Purity?”

As Chame laughs, and hands are raised, Janrael lets go of you and says “We're not calling ourselves Team Purity.”

“Why not?” calls one of the girls “Think of the jokes!”

“I know!” says Janrael, hands on her hips “that's why we're not calling ourselves that, the only thing worse is if we called ourselves Team Virgi-”

“Yes, best name!” yells Chame, pounding four fists on the table “pick that!”

“That rules you out then” says Anlanesa cattily

Safire is nervously raising her hand, and trying to get Janraels attention “I would like to join, um, please?”

Calluna also raises a tentacle “can I join?”

“You can't join” says Evrumine “you're evil.”

“I can't be both good and evil?” asks Calluna, looking puzzled.

“Well, she could be reserve on both teams” says Cleya “but why do Lucinda and Celya have their hands up?”

“Well, we'd like to join” says Lucinda

“But you're a succubus” complains Phaysis “you can't join.”

“There can be good succubus'” claims Lucinda

“Pfft, only in bad erotic literature” counters Phaysis “and didn't you want to join the evil team?”

“Two things” says Lucinda “I didn't know you read that sort of book” as Phaysis' skin darkens in a blush Lucinda continues “and some parts of me what to be evil...and some don't.”

Phaysis recovers “Well anyway Janrael asked me today if I could join and I said I'd think about and I've thought about it and Janrael” she calls out “I'm in, I want to be a paladin and hunt down evil.”

With Janraels team rather over-subscribed, it seems you have your Good team in the making.

Eventually the girls go to bed, still talking about the new team, and who will be the leader for Team Fell Storm.

You head off to bed shortly after them, promising Thunder Drum that you will 'consider' encouraging the formation of an all-bard music-themed team.

As you head to sleep on the rocking train, what are your priorities next week?

Please pick and only 3 from the following list

>Recruit girls
>Tutor Girls
>Recruit Trainers
>Work on school wards
>Make Club-requested items
>Make other magic items
>Other (what?)

Notes
You are already tutoring Janrael and Safire, the *Tutor* option involves picking more

Some options will involve a 5 minute follow-up vote on specifics.

Please label each of the three option 1, 2 or 3. 1 is highest priority, 3 is lowest.

Failing to number your vote will result in the options you picked being included, but you having no input on the priority.

The legal stuff is all ready, you're just awaiting a court date

>>41869298

1 - recruit girls
2 - recruit trainers (paladin)
3 - work on school wards

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 1
>Work on school wards 3
>Make Club-requested items 2

>>41869298
Can we send the 'Prince' a message to stop by sooner next time?
If not;
>Tutor Girls
>Work on school wards
>Make Club-requested items

>>41869298
>Recruit girls 1
>Work on school wards 2
>Make Club-requested items 3

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 1
>Recruit girls 2
>Work on school wards 3

>>41869321
You don't get to preemptively decide which trainer is recruited.

>>41869334
Uh
1
2
3

>>41869334
>Can we send the 'Prince' a message to stop by sooner next time?

Thats allowed, yes.

>>41869298
>Work on school wards
>Make Club-requested items
>Check on everyone's "favorite" Elf

>>41869334
>>41869349
In that case
>Work on school wards 1
>Tutor Girls 2
>Send the 'Prince' a message to stop by sooner next time 3

>>41869298
>1 Tutor Girls
>3 Work on school wards
>2 Make Club-requested items

>>41869298
>Recruit girls
>Recruit girls
>Recruit girls
Seriously, it's going to give me an aneurysm.

>>41869375
That wouldn't take up much time, so its more of a yes/no additional activity

>>41869298
>>Tutor Girls 1
>>Work on school wards2
>>Make Club-requested items3

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 1
>Work on school wards 3
>Make Club-requested items 2

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 1
>Work on school wards 2
>Recruit girls 3

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 2
>Recruit girls 3
>Work on school wards 1

>Tutor Girls 1
>Make Club-requested items 2
>Work on school wards 3

>>41869298
>Tutor Girls 1
>Recruit girls 2
>Work on school wards 3

>>41869298
>>41869435
forgot to link sry

Calling vote here and counting

>deleted votes

Messed up my running count, please be patient

Ok, I'm getting that in order as
Tutor Girls
Work on Wards
Make Magic Items

Whilst I work up the follow-up vote, please vote on the following write-in, which won't take timne away from other activities.

Would you like to invite 'Tellaric' to visit?

>Y/N

5 minute vote

>>41869558
>N

>>41869558
>N
Literally why.

>>41869558
>N
What would be the benefit in that?

>>41869558
>N
For what purpose? Did I miss something?

>>41869558
>N

>>41869590
>What would be the benefit in that?
Booty call, I guess?

>>41869558
>N

>>41869558
>Y

I know I'm probably going to be outvoted but I just want more of the girls to think Sallazar is gay.

>>41869558
>N

>>41869622
>but I just want more of the girls to think Sallazar is gay
He has already said he isn't, from now on they're just gonna believe it or not depending on what they like.

>>41869558
>Y
[Porn Music Intensifies]

Joke vote that is hilarious to me and only me, preemptively telling you to stop being butthurt. You know who you are.

That's a pretty clear result.

As for why, it was a write-in and I thought best to put it to a quick vote.

>>41869637
If you feel the need to be this defensive about your vote, maybe you just shouldn't.

So, which girls will you tutor? (pick 3)

>Anlanesa
>Calluna
>Chame
>Cleya
>Evrumine
>Kittrane
>Lucinda
>Nevyn
>Phaysis
>Syphoebeus

And what items will you make

>Items for Good Team
>Items for Team Fell Storm
>Specific items (what?)

Default is Sallazar talks to the girls and compromises between what they want, what he can make in time, and what he thinks is best for them. Third option is for players to choose specific stuff.

Normal voting time

>>41869676
>Anlanesa
>Cleya
>Calluna
>Items for Good Team

>>41869676
>Anlanesa
>Cleya
>Calluna
>Items for Good Team

>>41869676
>Anlanesa
>Cleya
>Kittrane
>Items for Good Team

>>41869676
>Anlanesa
>Cleya
>Calluna
>Items for Good Team

>>41869676
>>Anlanesa
>>Cleya
>Lucinda
>good team

Again, nice clear vote.

Next update might take a bit longer, got something fun planned.

With the girls all safely back at the school, you get back to the business of teaching, tutoring, and making things for the club.

However on Oneday afternoon you are called from your lesson up to the Headmasters office. You leave your class copying the dispel variations you have outlined on the board and hurry up there.

In the Headmasters office you find three girls: Nevyn, another girl with blue scales and wings, what was her name, ash yes, Tisania and the rather beautiful Nataline you've seen around the school.

“You called for me Headmaster?” you ask. You notice there is another person in the room.

He is a tall and wide person of a species you're not familiar with. He wears a rich-looking robe and his hands are festooned with rings.

He looks like...an orc that has green moss, lichens and drooping vines growing from him instead of hair. He's sat in one of the Headmasters chairs, and looks rather smug.

The girls all look faintly puzzled and the Headmaster....

The Headmaster is very carefully keeping his expression neutral

“Ah Professor Sallazar” he says calmly “please come in, allow me to introduce you to Senior Magister Hoggle.”

“A pleasure” says the plant-orc thing “to meet the man who is going to grant me-”

“Senior Magister Hoggle” says the Headmaster, loudly “is a member of the Tunvarin Mages guild, from the Demi-plane of Silbraxis.”

That sounds familiar, ah yes, they're one of the Extra-planar guilds that the Northern Mages Guild of Shtell has some sort of trade agreement with.

“Senior Magister Hoggle” you say by way of greeting, as the Headmaster continues “girls, back to your classes.”

The three girls rise and Senior Magister Hoggle says “oh no girls you should stay, this concerns you.”

They pause and Headmaster Sarum bares his yellowed teeth “Girls, back to class, now!”

They rush out, and he casts a spell to lock the door...and prevent anyone from listening at it from hearing anything.

“Senior Magister Hoggle” explains the Headmaster, as you sit “claims his guild had some wealthy clients who ordered the creation of several Soulbound” he gestures at a stack of papers on his desk “apparently the contracts stipulated that if the Soulbound where not cooperative they were to be...bred...and the resulting Soulborn was their property.”

“All perfectly legal” says Senior Magister Hoggle, spreading his hands as if to say its not his fault, what can he do?

You restrain yourself from disintegrating him, long enough for the Headmaster to explain at least.

“Now some of the Soulbound” says the Headmaster “remain elusive, but others...well, their children have been located.”

“And thus are the property of our clients” says Senior Magister Hoggle “whose identities I am not at liberty to divulge but whom the Guild represents the interests of in this transactio-”

“Slavery is outlawed here!” snaps Headmaster “legally you don't have a leg to stand on!”

“And would the Northern Shtell Guild really risk a break with Tunvarin?” asks Senior Magister Hoggle calmly.

“We are permitted to examine all proof of trade” says the Headmaster “the guilds agreements specifically allows this.”

“Hence why I have bought the relevant documentation with me” says Senior Magister Hoggle with a condescending smile “saving except of course the identities of our clients, who must remain nameless.”

The Headmaster gives an unpleasant grin “actually no” he says “the Northern Shtell Mages guild has other trade agreements, including with the churches, that specifically forbid trade between the guild and a very small number of entities.”

“Your guild would not be dealing with our clients!” objects Hoggle

“Ultimately we would” argues the Headmaster “without knowing who, we cannot accede to your demands.”

Hoggle glares at the Headmaster, and then draws another document forth from the air, and throws it at you “here!” he says as you catch it “I expect your vaunted legal expert to keep them a secret, else we'll take the fine from his hide!”

“Professor Sallazar is a very busy man” says the Headmaster calmly “he has many duties, it might take him months to read and digest the full complexities of your trade deal, he would have to make reference to the many precedents concerning extra-planar trade, as well as several volumes of deals and agreements between the Northern Shtell Mages Guild and our other partners.”

Hoggle gives the Headmaster an unpleasant look “he has three weeks.” and then he rises to go.

The Headmaster adds, as he's about to leave the room “I let you meet the girls as a courtesy, to confirm their identities, should you attempt to kidnap them you should know I am allowed to deal with kidnappers any way I see fit, good day Senior Magister.” He releases the spell on the door.

As Hoggle opens the door, you notice several skeletons, and Groundskeeper Answick waiting for him.

Once he's gone you slam the document down on the Headmasters desk “Headmaster you can't mean to-”

He holds up a hand to forestall an outburst “no” he says “I don't, but my hands are tied, the Northern Shtell Mages guild would rather hand over three young girls than lose a lucrative trade partner, which is why we're stalling long enough for you to find a way out of this.”

“Oh great” you say sourly “how?”

“Read the documents” says the Headmaster “you have been doing all that pro-bono legal work, surely some of it has stuck? Or find the girls parents, or the wizards that made Nataline Soulbound. Find some way out of this.”

“That will take time” you say “more than three weeks, especially if I'm all over the continent chasing down leads.”

“Hmm yes” says the Headmaster “That is a concern, I'll get you a teleport pass authorised, for you and three others.”

“Three?” you say.

“You'll need to question the girls” says the Headmaster “and they might need to go with you.”

“They'll be happier not knowing” you say

“They'll be happier not being slaves” he counters. He's right you think.

What now?

>Ask the Headmaster questions (what?)
>Read the documents
>Go talk to the girls
>Go to Tunvarin mages guild
>Other (what?)

15 minute vote time limit

>>41870552
>Read the documents
>Go talk to the girls

>>41870552
>Read the documents

>>41870552
>Read the documents

>>41870552
Pally we REALLY need to talk about your misuse of the word "fun"

>>41870552
>Read the documents
>Go talk to the girls

All else fails, slap some sin runes on the girls to prevent scrying from working (expensive as shit mind).
After that its a case of "were sorry, but those girls are not here, they seem to have left after learning of their predicament."

>>41870615
I'm not sure what you expected.

>>41870552
>Read the documents
>Go talk to the girls

>>41870552
>>Read the documents
>>Go talk to the girls

>>41870552
>Read the documents
So, this means that Answick, Taynathil, Thunder Drum and the Hobbit Monk will be in charge of the club?

Who's going to handle our lessons?

>>41870640
Not him, but I certainly didn't have threat of slavery and rape in mind when "fun" is mentioned.

Though I freely admit I should have known better by now.

>>41870721
Where are the not-fun things?

>>41870721
Oh geez, I hope it's not a rape thing

>>41870552
This school is on church land and we are teaching them as citizens so this paper work hasn't got the remit it needs.
>Read the documents
>Go talk to the girls

Just a thought, but if we removed their Soulbound abilities, would the Guild still want them?

>>41870850
We don't even know if the abilities of Soulborn can be removed.
Soulbound, yes, Soulborn probably not.

>>41870850
No

You'll find out why in the update

First solution: Bullrush Grand Shell (TL;DR Epic Spell that is basically an everything-proof barrier over a potentially very large area), create the necessary foci, cast it, cause every mage on this half of the continent to shit themselves because Legendary Spells are called that for a reason, flaunt pretty much total invincibility for the school.

Second solution: Get 5th level magic and the Dominate spell. Dominate Hoggle and make him kill his clients and leave fake evidence indicating his own greed, have him take the fall and be executed.

Third solution: Make ourselves impossible to track then kill him and his clients ourselves, but in a way that deflects suspicion somewhat (e.g. accidents, business rivals, etc). Maybe have an illusory Sallazar teach to provide an alibi.

Fourth solution: Work with Calluna to engineer a thought-plague that causes anyone that self-identifies as a member of the guild Hoggle and his clients hail from to vomit all their organs through their skin. Might be able to fine-tune it to just be anyone that thinks enslaving sapients are okay, or even just enslaving soulborn in particular. Although that might actually widen the number of targets.

Final Solution: Get Calluna to befriend the girls in question before three weeks are up.

Some of these are intended more for humor, but all of them could technically work, with varying odds of success and side effects. Just because I'm posting these doesn't necessarily make any of them a recommendation, this is just where my stream of consciousness went for this update.

Discuss.

>>41870980
fuck off namefag

>>41871032
Piss off kid

>>41871032
You must be new to this quest.
In AA we trust.

>>41870980

First and last are best.

>>41871032
How about just shut up yourself and sit in the corner.

>>41870980
Gotta say, First sollution is fun, but I also like the second one. Think the Hivemind could do the second one?

Last one would also work.

>>41870850
>>41870884
>>41870876

If we dumped all our time into researching a way to remove Soulborn abilities, three weeks might not be enough. Plus, we'd need to ask the girls if they even want the abilities removed.

>>41870980
First one please

>>41871032
Goddamn newfag cancer

>>41870980
As much as I love the fourth solution, I'm afraid its not really viable within three weeks. Though I do fancy any plan that involves the brutal murder or lobotomization of Hoggle and his associates.

>>41870980
Or we ask the girls if they'd like to go instead.

>>41871069
>Think the Hivemind could do the second one?
If we train them for a two weeks nonstop, they might be able to.
Though maybe just getting them to help Sallazar with his own Dominate Person would be faster.

>>41871049
>>41871050
>>41871067
>>41871098
cancer-enablers confirmed

Are we capable of creating our own pocket dimension yet?

>>41871099
Its sad that I honestly can't tell if you are ironic or retarded.

>>41871099
>would you like to be enslaved?
We pretty much figure out the answer to that on our own.

>>41871141
Probably not, though we do have access to a different dimension, just not clear if prolonged stay there is healthy.

Though of course we could also shove Hoggle into it, in which case it doesn't really matter.

>>41871146
Hey, it might not be that bad. They will be taken to good places, where they will receive specialized training.

>>41871178
Well the thought is the school is set up to prevent outsiders just teleporting in etc.

If we get the girls into a private dimension every time hoggy shows up, he can look all he damn well pleases, but if the girls are not in the school, they arnt in the school, and he will have next to no chance of ever entering sal's personal dimension.

>>41871098
>>41871178
Removing Hoggle will solve nothing. It'll cause more problems in the long run.

It needs to be solved by finding a loophole, or their parents.

>>41871205
They are already in a good place where they recieve training, and are not considered objects.

>>41871212
Well, he already knows they are here, so it certainly wouldn't be a permanent solution.

>>41871241
>Removing Hoggle will solve nothing.
That depends on a number of factors about which we don't have information yet.

>It needs to be solved by finding a loophole, or their parents.
I'm only marginally more willing to hand their parents into slavery either.

>>41871241
>Removing Hoggle will solve nothing. It'll cause more problems in the long run.
If people being send for this matter keep suffering unfortunate cases of the mysterious vanishment disease, they might consider it not worth the losses.
Not a ideal solution for several reasons of course.

>>41871242
Indeed, but it might buy us longer than three weeks to figure something out.

Infodump is being written, please wait patiently

>>41871305
Or they will investigate and use force, legal and not.

>>41871273
It won't solve anything, because it will result in a negative response from the organisation he represents, and those this organisation wishes to hand them over to.

Neither am I, but I'd rather them than the girls who are completely innocent of this situation.

>>41871311
I suppose that depends on what he intends to do after those three weeks.
In practice we don't actually have to hide them if we are willing to just outright tell them to fuck-off.
And this is basically that since we could never convince anyone they actually happened to vanish since today.

>>41871146
I'm tempted to Lawful Stupid the whole case.
>Ask kids if they would like to be enslaved?
>Get told no.
>School is on church land so ask church if we can send kids off to be slaves
>Get told no.
>Kids get their family to put in a request to the crown
>Ask Tellia to block any attempt to get the slavery thing allowed.
Also check for a kids made in our land so not under your law loophole first.

>>41871329
>but I'd rather them than the girls who are completely innocent of this situation
We don't know yet if they aren't also innocent of the situation.

>>41871328
>Or they will investigate and use force, legal and not.
They already use legal force, and as had been pointed out in the update, legally they can't do shit because this entire thing relies on the mage guild being willing to circumvent laws to keep trading with them, the mage guild can't actually appeal to any legal authority against us.

>>41871335
We wont tell them that they vanished, just that we gave them a bunch of gold and sent them on their way.
We have Nil obligation to this fucker to play keeper for the girls, so he has no legal right to challenge us or the school.

>>41871368
They can use legal authority to investigate the disappearances.

>>41871363
That won't help, the entire thing is already illegal, what is the issue here isn't actual legal pressure, its potential retribution from the mage guild that sponsors this school to begin with.

>>41871394
>They can use legal authority to investigate the disappearances.
They can feel free to do so, I don't see your point?

I'm fairly confident they won't find shit, unless they want to start scrying the Far Realm.

>>41871398
So we take all the info and make a massive scandal about it all. The Guild either backs the fuck down or ends up with its reputation in the trash.

>>41871434
Eh, that would work except for the fact thst the majority of people whos opinion the guild cares about would probably be okay with this.

>>41871398
>its potential retribution from the mage guild that sponsors this school to begin with.
OK does anyone have a way round this because I was counting on the Guild not kicking up to much of a fuss when the crown starts asking WTF?

>>41871363
>>Ask Tellia to block any attempt to get the slavery thing allowed.
Wrong country.

>>41871434
No one cares about the soulbond/born. They are not considered humans by many either. Most people wouldn't care about them, or would even prefer to get rid of them.

>>41871443

You remember the reaction of the people in the museum?

Yeah, people would be fine with it as long as to send the soul born elsewhere. They are not kids but monsters.

>>41871510
I think you quoted the wrong guy.

>>41871443
The guild has to be publicly acceptable to have its lands and holdings remain were they are, and not to be hunted by holy orders.

Keeping face with the populace is of great importance which ever way you slice it. Not to mention the guild is an entity composed of individuals. Even if the heads give no fucks, what about their subordinates and so on?

>>41871484
Slavery is slavery, all we have to do is spin it so that the rumor is not the guild selling soulborn, but the guild selling young girls.
Then do a media campaign essentially.

If someone brings up a fuss about them being soulborn, we can point to the part angel students and recenter the argument from there.

>>41871475
>OK does anyone have a way round this because I was counting on the Guild not kicking up to much of a fuss when the crown starts asking WTF?
Officially they can't do shit, but we don't know how far they would be willing to go nto pressure the school in this matter.

The solution is simple.

We turn EVERYONE into Soulbound!

>>41871589
>This kills the populace

>>41871589
Obviously the solution is to ask Calluna to make the girls not their parents children anymore.
Reality warping ho!

>>41871543
I'm afraid your ideas a bit too 21st century to have any chance of working here.

Most Holy Orders would give the guild a pat on the back for getting rid of these abominations.

And the closest thing to media trouble we could make is trying leverage fame the school gained through the adventuring club to make it unprofitable and possibly uncomfortable for the guild to harm the school.
But thats assuming a lot.

>>41871543
>we can point to the part angel students
We only have one of those.
And she got issues, to say the least.

>>41871633
Fair enough. I would have imagined the holy orders would happily help us out if we used one of the angel girls as a kind of poster child. but eh. Its all screwy. Someone is going to get blasted.

First you need to read these documents, then you need to talk to the girls.

You spend the rest of the days lessons distractedly giving your class reading assignments, whilst you plough through these stack of legalese.

You are aware of the whispering and looks, but the rumour mill seems to think its something to do with your 'love man' that someone from the club has been talking about.

Indeed by lunch time the girls seem to be talking about you doing all this reading in order to find a way to legalise gay marriage.

You shut them out, and fetch reference tomes from the library. By the end of the day you've done it, you've managed to teach all of your classes, and extract as much information as you can from the documents you've been given. Cross-referencing that to other sources you have extrapolated why certain parties wanted Soulbound created.

Firstly, the Headmaster is correct, legally slavery is outlawed, and the Guild cannot turn the girls over to Tunvarin. But in the real world...you could make a huge fuss and the guild would have to follow the law, the guilds trade deal might disappear, and you and the Headmaster would both be thrown out of the guild. And then whoever replaced you might simply wait a few years for the fuss to die down, and turn the girls over anyway.

Nevyns father wasn't a regular Displacer-Beast Soulbound, he was empowered using something called an Emperor Displacer-Beast. There aren't many references to it, but apparently they are a one in several million amongst normal Displacer-Beasts. They have incredible physical abilities, are highly intelligent (and intractable), can bend time and space around themselves rather than create an illusion of displacement, and can control other displacer beasts over vast areas.

You suspect Nevyns father received some of the beasts legendary stubbornness. Why the Archmage Galvinius wanted such a Soulbound becomes clear when you read up on him.

The Archmage is obsessed with 'improving' various lifeforms, and one of his few major successes was a subspecies of displacer-beasts that grew extremely fast, bred faster than rabbits, and where around four times the size of regular versions.

Apparently he managed to overrun several continents on his home plane with the things, and only then realised he needed a way of controlling them. Also they're ravenously hungry, all the time.

The Guilds records on him indicate he is obsessed, and crazy, but you might be able to bargain with him. Of course its also years since this agreement was made, hopefully one of his experiments ate him.

Tisanias father was made Soulbound using a rather ordinary blue dragon. Ordinary in all respects except that is was a direct descendent of the Legendary Great Wyrm Umsharishta.

Umsharishta cared not what he hoarded, as long as others valued it. He raided dozens of planes, including killing a number of other dragons for their hoards, and lived for thousands of years, before disappearing. The location of his hoard was never discovered, but supposedly he had told one of his few friends, that only one of his own descendants could gain access to his lair.

The Blackhallow Adventurers Guild of Silbraxis ordered a dragon soulbound specifically of Umsharishtas line. That implies that they've found the dragons lair and can't access it. From what you've read this is an extremely mercenary guild that only cares about money. If handled with care they might have no interest in Tisania once she helps them get the hoard.

However they are an extra-planar guild with lots of members, including some legendary wizards and priests. If they decided to push the issue, even your powers wouldn't be much against theirs.

Nataline is a soulbound of some sort on ancient demigod that ruled a far away plane thousands of hears ago. You are unsure exactly how enough of its essence was collected to make her soulbound.

She was created to...oh lovely “and as the blood of the king/god/ruler is spilled upon the lands, life will return, and his last heartbeat will make great the lands of Ansharis-Unketelan.”

Nataline was created so that she could be sacrificed to restore life to a vast desert. Apparently a cult revering the old god survived for thousands of years. Only they aren't the ones who paid. A large consortium of merchants paid for Nataline to be made Soulbound. Maybe they want to sell off parts of the newly fertile land, or just rule it.

Either way you might be able to talk the cult out of killing their god, even if it is a sacred ritual to them or something. But the merchants probably won't listen to reason.

Its evening, and the hunger in your mid-section tells you that you missed dinner. You're off to see the girls, and talk to them about this, but...how much to tell them?

You've also found a few loopholes that 'might' just save the girls, you'll talk about that with them.

How much do you tell the girls?

>Everything, full disclosure
>Tell them about Hoggle and his guild wanting to enslave them, but leave out specifics
>Tell them as little as possible
>Other (what?)

>>41871760
>Everything, full disclosure
>But only tell the specifics of each deal to the girl it concerns

>>41871760
>Everything, full disclosure

>>41871704
But on the topic of holy orders, we should probably talk to the former headmistress.

>>41871760
>Everything, full disclosure
Shit, my favorite of the three has the worst fate.

>>41871760
>Everything, full disclosure

>>41871760
Planning time:

Kill the Merchants. We don't need them.

The Blackhallow will take a bit of work. We might be able to negotiate a deal with them, as in 'She stays here, safe, and learns on her own, then when you find the hoard I will accompany her to ensure her safety. If you don't know where the hoard is, she's not worth the effort anyways.' On top of that, we can negotiate that the hoard legally belongs to her in lieu of another descendant of the dragon, and that if she chooses to donate some of it, it's at her discretion and on her time. They'll win if we force the issue, but we should be able to get them to leave her alone for the most part.

As for the Archmage, honestly, I don't think anyone will really regret him disappearing. It's more a question of HOW to make him disappear, he is a highly skilled archmage.

>>41871913
Hitler tried to kill merchants. Look at what happened.

Show the girls everything it is.

Tell! Tell them everything.

>>41871760
So, we can off the guy who wants Nevyn, I have literally no problem at all handing Tisanias father into slavery, so the only issue is the thing with Nataline.

>>41871933
He actually failed most of the merchant ones.n Which was really his problem.

>>41871913
Lets examining our other options before jumping straight to murdering a bunch of people

>>41871913
>>>41871704
So we just kill all the fucking cultists, that fucking archmage and negotiate for the dragon hoard?
Sounds good to me

>>41871913
>>41871947
I think it might be worth trying to negotiate with the cult.

>>41871977
Thats not going to save the girl

>>41871976
They're not gonna negotiate over the dragon hoard, we have literally nothing to pressure them with.

Our best bet with them is finding Tisanias father and handing him over, and hope they do terrible and painful things to him.

>>41871977
Optimally we can convince them to turn against the merchants.

>>41872002
Except the merchants need the cult to do the ritual to get the thing they want.

>>41871977
>>41872010
>Negotiating with a cult.

That's not how it works.

>>41871977
The cult isn't the issue, the merchants are. The merchants are the one who have the contract. They disappear, the cult will have to get forceful, then we kill them.
>>41872010
It's not about negotiating for the hoard, it's informing them that if they DO force her to give up the hoard, they look like a bunch of interplanar bandits. We might even be able to get some of her relatives on her father's side to help with that, if we go at it from that angle. We're willing to give it to them on our terms is the whole deal.

>>41872026
There is no mention of any specific ritual, for all we know just spilling her blood could suffice.

>>41872039
>they look like a bunch of interplanar bandits
No they don't, and even if they did its explicitly explained they are incredibly mercenary and only care about the money, why would they care?

>>41872051
The part about her last heartbeat not give it away anon?

>>41872039
Except to give it to them we need to bring Tisania to them, at which point they have no reason not to just keep her.

>>41872072
>The part about her last heartbeat not give it away anon?
I don't see how that implies any specific ritual?
It just means she needs to die.

>>41872079
>>41872051
You guys have idea how Mercenary Companies work, do you? Nobody's going to want to do business with them if they just break things and take what they want.

>>41872087
Technically it means her heart needs to stop beating.

So she could become undead or something if it came to the worst.

>>41872087
I thought the point you were making was that it just needs to be a bit of blood.

And it's clearly a ritual. If the cult, the prophetic text quote and the magic weren't a give away I don't know what would be.

>>41872121
>You guys have idea how Mercenary Companies work, do you? Nobody's going to want to do business with them if they just break things and take what they want.
Yes, they work by not giving out charity.

As far as they are concerned, they are in the legal right seizing her.

>>41872140
And I'm sure relatives on her father's side would just adore the idea of having one of their line treated like finely bred cattle.

>>41872121
You have some hilariously wrong notions about how business works, you certainly don't improve your reputation if you let people break contracts with you and re-negotiate shit for no reason.

>>41872121
Again, they have absolutely no reason to not just demand we hand her over.
There is nothing we can offer in this, No company, mercenary or otherwise, makes deals in which they don't win anything.

>>41872178
Anon, maybe you should read the setting paste to find out how the supernatural entities that are being used for soulbinding think about the entire process.
His relatives would want to see her dead if they gave a shit about her.

>>41872194
It's not that they lose everything. It's that they don't just keep her in indefinite prison until they find the hoard, then they let her go.

>>41872178
You realise they would resent her entire existence?

At the very best we can hope they don't demand to kill her.

>>41872241
Why would they let her go? She is still a commodity of value.

The mercs are the easiest to deal with, they only need the descendant to open the bloody thing, after that she is fine. As soon as they send word they found the horde, we can pop over with her, open the gate and feck off back home.

Certainly don't want to hang around to look after a kid. Hell, we could turn the trip into a minor recruitment thing for any of their senior members looking to retire, see if they would be up for some teaching work.

Okay, okay, we've established that negotiating with the Blackhallows won't work. So what is our plan concerning them?

>>41872299
>we can pop over with her, open the gat
Assuming the gate can be opened like that, rather than just letting only the descendant through, which is significantly more likely.

>>41872311
Really the best way to deal with them is just to get Tisanias dad. Everyone gets what they want, nothing of value is lost.

>>41872332
Oh yes, because they want a live, pissed off fucking dragon more than they want the meek half-dragon girl they've already paid for.

>>41872279
Because she isn't worth having to fight an angry wizard-lawyer over?

>>41872311
Its not like it can't work, we just need something to actualy put on the table.

Such as a way to threaten them with revealing the location of the hoard to the big blues relatives or descendants of those he stole from, that won't make them just murder us to be safe.

>>41872352
Her father is not a dragon...

>>41872352
Why are there so many complete retards in tnis thread today?

>>41872352
They paid for a live, pissed off fucking dragon, the only reason they'd get Tisinia is due to a specific clause that becomes invalid if he's present.

>>41872386
I have no idea, you'd think that the basis of how Soulborn are made should penetrated even the thickest skull by now.

>>41872352
First of all he isn't a dragon, second of all THEY WANTED HIM TO BEGIN WITH YOU STUPID FUCK.

What are the laws in Silbraxis concerning slavery? If we can get her recognized as a person with legal rights, ownership of her would be considered illegal in their home plane.

>>41872332
Until we know how the gate opens its empty speculation, we will have to take her there anyway, and in the meantime set up contingency's.

>>41872386
I prefer to think its the same complete retard everytime.

>>41872422
>we will have to take her there anyway,
Actually we don't at all if we find her father to take there instead.

Do we know how to magic nuke? because i would vote to just magic nuke the shits

>>41872422
Did you just miss the entire conversation revolving around the fact that they don't actually need her at all if we can just find the guy they paid for to bgin with?

>>41872477
Which is dependable on if we can actually find him. If hes a dragon then it'll be easy, if hes not then we are just trading one hostage situation for another and lost time as part of the bargin.

>>41872502
>Which is dependable on if we can actually find him.
So we should not pursue the optimal case scenario because of reasons, and rather rely on plans that have way less chance to work and take just as much time to set up?

>>41872502
All the other plans are depending on a mercenary company feeling generous.
So I take my chances with that one.

>>41872547
I think the optimal method is to scry or get someone else to scry for that individual while we do other shit, then we can go and resolve the matter.

I suggest the headmaster, he must have details of her parents.

>>41872592
>I suggest the headmaster, he must have details of her parents.
Of her mother, who is dead obviously, he probably doesn't have any of her father, otherwise he certainly would not be dwelling among the living anymore.