You and everyone else on the ship watch in horror as the Surewind is engulfed in flames. Well... at least you think that they're watching. You can't see a damn thing but the flames through this fog.

"How in the hell is that an Angel?" The Captian asks. "They're supposed to be-"

"Hot blondes, I know" You say. You'll admit that you were kind of disappointed too. You think you might actually enjoy if you were being hunted by flying hot blondes, even if they did still do the whole 'face beam' thing...

"What would an Angel be doing here?" He asks.
"I'm not sure" You say. "But we have to-"

"We have to leave! That thing sunk the Surewind in two shots!" The Captain says.

"We'd never make it" You say.
"So we fight?" He asks. "Against that?"

You bite your lip. What the hell do you do?

You could blow away this steam so you can assess the situation visually, and maybe try to fight the Angel. You have a bit more experience with that now, even though the arena isn't optimal.

Or you could turn about and try to get away as fast as you can. Your only hope will be to make it far enough away to hide before it notices you're gone.

Both plans are bad... almost embarrassingly so. But they're all you've got. So right now you need to-

>[ ] Run

>[ ] Fight

>>43127461
>[ ] Fight
we cant be run off course so easily now

>>43127461
>[ ] Fight
No way in hell we're making it away

>writing

You pull Kielu's fan out of your cloak, and give it a swing. Where you were using it in the desert to kick up a screen, now you're using it to get rid of one.

The fog swirls and blows, lightening but not disappearing. So you swing the fan again, and again, until you can damn well see.

Before anyone has a chance to look, you've put the fan away. "Much better" You say.
"How did you..." The Captain says.
"Trade secret" You say.

You pull out your spyglass and get a look at the Angel. It looks like it's been through hell. It probably had to climb out of the rubble after you destroyed the cave.

Several of its wings are broken, both of its legs as well as one of its arms are twisted in the wrong direction, most of its 5 wings are in varied states of disrepair, and half of its head is missing. In its only working limb it carries a blade made of blinding light.

When it sees you, it throws its sword in your direction. You're quick to react, drawing your own sword and activating Night's Edge to deflect it. The blade of light dissipates when it comes into contact with your enchanted sword.

The angel lets out another shriek, and flies towards you...

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 14, 11 = 25 (2d20)

>>43128017

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>43128017

>>43128050
well i fucked that up
you want me to delete it smiley?

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>43128017

>writing

As it flies, it generates another sword in its unbroken hand.

You manage to block, but the Angel hits you like a charging ox, knocking you off your feet. It passes you and swoops down for another strike before you can regain your footing, sending you stright back down.

One of the crewmembers looses an arrow at it, drawing the Angel's attention. Its sword flares up, and it raises its arm.

But stops as your enchanted dagger hits it in the thigh... Not what you were aiming for, but it'll do. You activate it, and the dagger's blade grows in length and width just enough to sever the leg. Bot the leg and the dagger fall onto the deck.

The Angel turns back to you, swooping in once more. You deflect it this time, and it flies off the side of the ship.

Over the water, its sword flares up again, and it throws it at you. You deflect it once more, and it explodes. You're sent back to the ground by the force, and you can smell burning.

When you stand and look around, you see bits of the deck have caught fire, and the Angel has another sword...

>[ ] Engage it at range

>[ ] Use Night Shell to make a stepping stone to get near it

>[ ] Other

>>43128565
what are our range options?
how many daggers do we have to throw?
how many enchantments do we have?

>>43128606
You have about 4 daggers with Night's Edge left, which is your best ranged combat option

You have a shitload of mundane daggers, though

>>43128565
>>43128665
>[ ] Engage it at range
well then spam regular daggers and if we get the chance then throw a nights edge

>>43128565
Seconding >>43128695
Throw mundanes until an opening pops up, then Night's edge.

>>43128565
>[ ] Engage it at range
Try to lure it in as well

>writing

The sword in its hand flares up again, and it throws it at you. Instead of deflecting it, you meet it with a thrown dagger. A thrown dagger that expands into a Night Shell, encasing the explosive sword and providing you with cover.

You grab several metal daggers from your cloak, and duck out from behind the black orb to whip each one at the angel in fast succession.

The Angel melts one with its sword and deflect another 2, but a fourth and a fifth manage to hit it in the chest and abdomen. It lets out another shriek, and throws another sword. The sword pings off of your Night Shell and dissipates.

You can see that most of the crew has taken cover in some way, and no one seems willing to come out...

That's fine. You handled the first one all right, you can take this one too. You head out again, deflecting another flying sword before loosing several more daggers. Then you duck back behind the Night Shell before it can counter.

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

You draw several more daggers, but as you turn to leave cover and throw them you find yourself face to half-face with the Angel...

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>43129052

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>43129052

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>43129052

>writing

It stabs at you before you can react, focring you onto the back foot. You just barely manage to deflect its sword, and you feel the heat of it on your arm as you do...

It strikes again, forcing you to take another step back, and then another, and another. You don't hazard a look back, but you're pretty sure that you'll run out of deck in a few moments.

As your foot hits something behind you, you regret thinking that. Your back hits the railing, and another jab from the Angel forces you to fall backwards overboard...

>roll 1d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>43129315

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>43129315
these rolls
feels bad man

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>43129315

>writing

Goddammit, I got here late!

You hit the water and swim up to the surface. Immediately you look for some way back onto the ship.

Before you find it, that ear piercing shriek returns, and the back end of the ship gets blown away. You dip your head below the surface to avoid getting hit by the debris from the blast, and come back up once it's done.

The ship should still float even with that damage, as it's all above the water line. But one good storm, or another hit is all it would take to sink it now...

You grab on to one of the planks that was blown away by the explosion so you can take stock of yourself. You managed to hold on to your sword in the fall, which is good. But otherwise, you're still in a bad position.

The Angel has a definite advantage here, considering that it has an exploding fire sword and your only ground is made of wood.

But this is still doable. You just have to make it back onto the ship...

>[ ] Call out for a rope

>[ ] Throw a grappling hook

>[ ] Get in through the destroyed back end

>[ ] Other

>>43129662
>>[ ] Throw a grappling hook

>>43129662
>[ ] Get in through the destroyed back end

>>43129662
>[ ] Get in through the destroyed back end

>writing

You look towards the back end of the ship to see if you can get back on that way, and you see a dip in the hull that looks just low enough for you to reach up to.

You swim over to it and use a piece of debris to boost you up. You make it just high enough to reach it and pull yourself out of the water. The splintered wood digs into your hand, but you ignore it and pull yourself up to the next handhold.

After that, you pull yourself up onto what's left of the flooring on this level of the ship. You can hear shouts and screams from the deck up above, but you can't see a good way up there. So you head into the ship, towards the center where the stairs are.

You pass your room on the way in, at the edge of the destruction. Looks like it was spared most of the destruction, but only barely. You consider popping in and making sure that Elda is alright, but every second you're not engaging that Angel is a second that she is not going to be alright...

So you head up the stairs, peering up onto the deck to see what happening.

The Angel appears to be occupied with a group of the crewmen who've banded together with their swords and bows. They put up a valiant effort, but it doesn't seem like they'll last long.

The Angel doesn't seem to notice you...

>Attack

>Guard

>Special

>>43130081
>Special
sneak attack

>>43130081
Smiley, how does this system work, again?

>>43130105
Attack>Special>Guard>Attack
Gile's special works best on enemies that aren't aware of him

>>43130081
>>Special
sneak attack!

>>43130081
>Special

>writing

You step up just enough to get a good throw in, and whip 3 Night's Edge enchanted daggers at the Angel.

The first hits it in the back. The second hits what's left of its head. The third grazes its sword arm.

2 out of 3 isn't bad, even if the third was the one you really wanted to hit. You still activate the first 2, causing black blades to impale its chest and cut off most of what's left of its head.

The Angel screams again, and flies at you. You duck down and slash it as it goes past, getting a good slice across its belly.

It flies over the open water once more and flares up its sword, pulling its hand back for another throw...

>Attack

>Guard

>Special

>>43128017
>Guard

>>43130451
Guard

>writing

>>43130451
Shit, hard to tell if this is a special, or an attack...

It throws the sword, and in a split second decision you deflect it. It bounces off your sword and strikes the ship behind you.

Then it explodes, blowing away a decent portion of the deck and knocking you against the wall.

You keel over as the blow knocks the wind out of you, and try to catch your breath.

Then it gets hot, and you throw youself forward as a blade of light comes through the wall you were just resting on.

"Can't I even get a damn break?" You ask.

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

You'll take that as a no...

The Angel then crashes through the wall, sword poised to strike.

>Attack

>Guard

>Special

>>43130785
>Guard

THIS is an attack.

>>43130785
>Guard

>writing

You set your stance and lock blades with it, as you pull out your last Night's Edge dagger. Then you activate the enchantment as you thrust the dagger into its chest and pull it away.

The Angel 'staggers' back, and you close in, getting in another good slash with your sword diagonally down from its shoulder.

It flies up to get away from you, and you manage to get a few daggers off before it goes out of range.

The Angel burns brightly in the sky, like its whole body has caught fire.

Then it descends...

>Attack

>Guard

>Special

>>43131099
>Attack

>>43131099
>Attack

>>43131099
>Attack

>writing

You have a bad feeling about this. You need to stop it, preferably before it hits the ship.

You draw a NIght Shell dagger and throw it up once the Angel is within range. The dagger hits, and the bubble expands around it.

Then the bubble explodes in a brilliant, fiery nova. Bits of broken Night Shell and burning Angel scatter across the sky, raining down on both the sea and the boat.

The Angel is dead. You can take comfort in that fact at least.

You flop down onto the ground, severely out of breath. Your heart is racing from the tension alone.

But it's over now...

After a minute, you sit up and walk around to see what the situation is. The crew seems like they're mostly in one piece, though the encounter didn't end without casualties...

>[ ] Find the Captain

>[ ] See if Elda is okay

>[ ] Other

>>43131577
>>[ ] See if Elda is okay

>>43131577
>[ ] Find the Captain
>[ ] Tell the crew to keep an eye out for more angels.

>>43131577
>>[ ] See if Elda is okay
We gotta little lady to look after

Funny, she said she believed in angels when we first met her.

>>43131577
>[ ] See if Elda is okay
>[ ] Find the Captain

>writing

You walk down the stairs to where your room is. The ceiling was blown off of it when the deck went up the second time, but the door's still locked.

You give it a quick unlock with a pick, and step in. You don't see Elda, well... you do.

You see an Elda sized lump under the bedsheets...
"Elda" You say. "It's safe now, you can come out"

The blankets shift. "Is that you, Tophian?" She asks.

You approximate where her head is, and lift up the blanket there to meet her wide eyed gaze with a smile. "Yes"
Elda ditches the blanket and leaps at you, getting her arms around you and hugging you tightly. You can hear her sobbing quietly.

"There, there" You say, stroking her hair to comfort her. "It's over now"
"Wha... what was that?" She asks.
"An Angel" You say.

"I thought you said they weren't real" She says.
"They are... all too real, unfortunately" You say.
"Why would it attack us?" She asks.

>[ ] I don't know

>[ ] It came for me

>[ ] Other

>>43132045
>>[ ] I don't know

>>43132096
Demons are real, and they can be summoned. I'm not sure how it got here, but, as you can see, they're not nice.

>>43132045
>[ ] It came for me

In my opinion, gents, tellin' this girl we're a devil, or that angels want to kill us, ain't gonna go over too well; others might also be listening in.

>writing

"I'm not sure" You say. "What I'm worried about now is whether there are others out there"
"You think there might be?" She asks.
"It's possible that that was the only one" You say. "But I like to be prepared for the worst"

"Practical" She says.
"I ever there was a word to describe me" You say.

She lets you go and takes a step back. "Are you okay? You smell a little burnt..."
"Do I?" You ask.

You check yourself over. The sleeve of your sword are is a bit singed, your back hurts like hell, and your left hand is bleeding a little, but you're otherwise fine.

"Hair" She says.

You run a hand through your hair and sure enough, she's right. You don't feel any bald patches, but you are missing quite a bit...

"Well damn" You say. "Ah well... I needed a trim anyway"
"Can I?" She asks. "I do mine and Aunta's hair all the time!"
"I guess... maybe once this is all sorted out" You say. "Stay put, okay? I'm going to see if the Captain is alright"

"You came to see me before talking to the captain?" She asks.
"Well... yeah" You say. "I was the one who brought you on this boat. The least I could do is prioritize your safety"

Elda smiles and gives you a kiss. "I'll be here if you need me" She says.

You nod to her, and head out the door...

>[1/2]

Up on deck, you find the Captain. He's soaking wet, and working on getting the remaining crew organized.

"Well hello there, Mr. Tophian!" He says. "What a nice surprise"
"You look like you went for a dip" You say.
"Me, yes. Several of my crew as well" He says. "We pulled out less than we should have"

You nod solemnly. "What's our situation?" You ask.
"Our situation" He says. "Is that we're turning what's left of this fleet around and heading back to Cortela"

You sigh. You expected this. With the Surewind having gone down, and this ship missing most of its deck, there's no way you would make it all the way to Laust...

"A sound plan, if not a little disappointing" You say.
"Sorry. That's our plan" He says. "Not yours"

Your eyes narrow.

"We're not taking you back to Cortela" He says. "'By the gods, I've doomed us all' I believe is what you said when the Angel arrived. Care to elaborate on that?"

"I don't know what you're talking about" You say.
"You calling me a liar, Mr. Tophian?" He asks. "An Angel shows up, and before we can even see the bloody thing, YOU know exactly what it is. Care to explain?"

>What say?

>>43132638
>An old man told me that angels attack people in the desert. I was desperate, and didn't have a choice. Didn't really believe him, until I saw one.

>I thought I lost it in some ruins... I didn't think it would care so much about following me, they're no more intelligent than any predator.

>>43132784
>They CAN die, as I discovered, with a bit of magic... and collapsing part of said ruins on one of them.

>writing

>>43132784
>>43132833
>Seriously, despite the light show, they're not that smart, and I was in the desert for a week and wasn't attacked.

"Okay... when I was travelling the desert on my way to Cortela, I was informed that someone had seen them out there..."

You tell the Captain about your encounter with the Angels, and how it ended.

"I didn't think they'd follow me out here" You say.
"You were clearly wrong" He says. "You know if there are others?"

"There were, but I thought I'd buried them all" You say.
"Then I want you off my ship" He says. "I'm not taking you back so that this can happen to Cortela"

"But-"
"No" He says. "I'll give you a dinghy, there should be one on the Gosian. But after that, you're on your own"

>[ ] Accept

>[ ] Protest

>[ ] Other

>>43133089
offer more gold

>>43133089
>[ ] Protest

can we tell them going back will just fuck us more ??

>>43133089
>>43133129
I'm all for offering, though something tells me that might not work.

If it doesn't
>Accept

>>43133089
>[ ] Protest

He's the one that accepted enough money to hire the whole town, unless he brought all that gold with him he can fuck right off.

>>43133089
>[ ] Accept

>>43133089
If we have to compromise, then get us AT LEAST close enough that we don't have to go too far by dinghy.

Dude, we have money, and we got pull, drop me in Laust, and I'll be there problem.

>writing

"And what of the price I paid for this voyage?" You ask.
"That barely even covers the cost of the Surewind, nevermind the men who went down with her" He says.

"Things will be a lot worse if I don't make it to Laust" You say.
"Then you'd best stop chatting and get to the Gosian" He says. "And be thankful that I'm offering you the dinghy and not making you swim to Laust like I should"

The Gosian pulls up next to your ship, close enough that you could make the jump...

So you give the Captain a dirty look, and leap. You land on the Gosian's deck, and immediately ask after thier Captain.

If you must go the rest of the way on your own, then so be it...

>[1/2]

Cowards

You negotiate with the Gosian's Captain for extra supplies and maps. Thankfully he's a more agreeable fellow, mostly due to the fact that you keep him ignorant as to why you're making the rest of the trip alone...

You manage to secure enough food and water for 3 weeks, which is about the maximum amount of time this journey can take, and the ultimate worst case scenario...

If you add that to your own supplies, you have a month. You pray that it doesn't take that long...

With your boat loaded, they lower it into the water with you on board.

Once you're down, you cast the ropes off and start rowing...

You resign yourself to what is going to be a long trip, when a splash from your old ship's direction catches your attention. You turn to see Elda break the surface and start swimming towards your boat...

"What the hell?" You ask.
Elda comes up next to the boat, and holds on to the side. "Take me with you!" She says.
"What? Why?" You ask.
"You're being kicked off! You'll never make it back to Laust" She says. "I know these waters. I can help you navigate the islands!"

"It's too dangerous" You say. "Go back to Cortela. I'll ship you and your Aunt up once the war is over"

"I can help!" She says. "I'm a good navigator! Just trust me!"

>[ ] Pull her up

>[ ] Send her back

>[ ] Other

>>43133793
>>[ ] Pull her up

I really don't wanna leave her on a boat with angry seamen.

>>43133793
>[ ] Pull her up
would be good to have someone else help rowing

>>43133793
>>[ ] Pull her up

>writing

You can see the determination on her face. She didn't leap off the boat and swim all the way to you to take no for an answer...

So you reach down and grab her arm, pulling her up and into the boat. She falls into you once she gets in, knocking you down and damn near tipping the boat over.

"Watch it" You say.
"Sorry!" She says. "I'm not used to getting into a boat that way"

You smile and lift her off of you, and she settles into one of the benches. The Dinghy is decently sized. It's big enough for both of you, though you doubt you'll be stretching your legs out any time soon...

"So you can navigate?" You ask.
She nods. "I know this place. We're not too far from Cortela" She says. "Get on the oars and take us over that way"

Elda points off towards one of the islands around you, so you pick up the oars and start rowing.

You make slow, steady progress towards the island, while Elda looks over the maps and compass that you got from the Gosian's Captain

>[1/2]

"Where'd you learn to navigate, anyway?" You ask, to make conversation to pass the time.
"My dad used to take me out, remember?" She asks. "I've been all around these islands, so I know my way around them"

"What about the sea?" You ask.
She shakes her head. "Never been past the north island. I've always wanted to go though..." She says. "After my Pa died, I didn't go out on the water anymore. Thought I'd be stuck in Cortela forever"

"Until a dashing young rogue came and swept you off your feet?" You ask.
She gives you a cheeky smile, before turning back to the maps.

After a few more minutes of rowing, the boat suddenly starts moving much faster.

"Good! You can stop rowing now" She says. "This current runs through the islands. It should take us most of the way north"
"How will we know when it stops taking us the way we want to go?" You ask.
"It shifts to the west, out into the open ocean. It's not a subtle shift. We'll know when it happens" She says.

You nod. You're genuinely impressed. This boost in speed should shorten the journey substantially. If it was just you, you'd've been trying to row straight north until you hit Laust.

"Glad you brought me along?" She asks.

>[ ] I am now

>[ ] We still have supplies to worry about

>[ ] You'd've been safer going back

>[ ] Other

>>43134248
>>[ ] I am now
>>[ ] We still have supplies to worry about

>>43134248
>[ ] I am now
But, >[ ] You'd have been safer going back.

And not to be the all options guys but our supply problem is kind of important.

>writing

"Well... before you got on board, I had supplies for a month, which is now reduced to 2 weeks..." You say. "But I get the feeling that bringing you aboard has shaved more than enough time off the trip to make up for it..."

She smiles triumphantly at your praise.

"Still... you would have been safer back in Cortela" You say.
"Screw being safe! If I wanted to be safe I would have stayed there in the first place!" She says. "It's not as comfortable as it was, but the journey's more adventurous now"
"Well, I'm glad you appreciate the adventure at least" You say.

"You don't get on a ship with a dashing young rogue unless you're expecting some sort of adventure" She says. "Soooo...?"

"Yes, I'm glad I brought you along" You say. "Without you, I'd probably spend the next few weeks blindly rowing north. I appreciate your help"

She smiles and moves over to your bench to sit next to you. "Well... there are ways you could show that appreciation..." She says.

The smile she's giving you is absolutely, 100% sexual.

According to her, you shouldn't have to worry about navigation for a while. So you look around to see if there are any ships on the horizon, and then pull her in for a kiss.

After playing tongue tag for a few minutes, you let your hands drift where they will. One goes up her shirt, the other, down her pants...

You don't think you'll be lacking for things to do for the next little while.

>[1/2]

File: Bro.jpg (128 KB, 610x908)

128 KB JPG

>>43134676
>So you look around to see if there are any ships on the horizon, and then pull her in for a kiss.
>After playing tongue tag for a few minutes, you let your hands drift where they will. One goes up her shirt, the other, down her pants...
>You don't think you'll be lacking for things to do for the next little while.

>A little over 2 weeks later...

Going through the islands and sneaking by pirates, as it turns out, was the easy part. Once you hit the Degran sea, the Degran sea hit you back.

A storm set you uncomfortably off course, and it took you longer than you'd like to get back on. But while you are back on course now, you are also out of supplies, and secrets.

Over the last 2 weeks, you and Elda have told each other just about everything there is to know about yourselves. Although, your secrets were much juicier than hers, she had some pretty funny stories herself.

At present, you're searching your cloak for anything etable, while Elda searches the horizon for ships through the looking glass you stole from the Degri lighthouse.

You've got nothing in your cloak, save for the Angel head which is slowly starting to look more and more etable.

"Oh... OH!" Elda says. "There's one! Over there!"
"Flags?" You ask.
"Mmmmm... Yes! I don't recognize it though" She says.
"Here" You say, taking the looking glass from her.

The ship is pretty far away, to the point where you can just barely make the flag out. You let out an exhasperated groan.

"What's wrong?" She asks.
"I can't tell whose flag it is" You say. "Harth and Lausts flags are so friggin similar that they look the same from here"

"What do we do?" She asks.

>[ ] Get closer

>[ ] Signal them

>[ ] Keep moving

>[ ] Other

>>43134872
>[ ] Signal them
If they're our enemy we'll just lie and take over the ship or continue the lie.

>>43134872
>[ ] Other
Pull the telescope we undoubtedly have out of our cloack

>>43134872
>>[ ] Signal them

>writing

You draw an enchanted dagger from your cloak. This one has Blinding Flash on it, a spell that you learned on your journey.

You've added a few new things to your repertoire, and even tried teaching Elda how to enchant. That didn't go well. She'd try, and she'd fail, and she'd get frustrated and give up. You'd try to talk her down and maybe get her to try it again, and then somehow you'd end up having sex...

And you wonder why you ran out of food, when you spent all of that energy on... "entertainment"...

You throw the dagger as high into the air as it'll go, and activate the enchantment. It bursts into a brilliant flash of light, so bright that there's no way in hell that that ship missed it.

Elda gives you a round of applause, and you sit back down.
"Think they saw it?" She asks.
"I think that if they didn't see that, then we might not want to get on that ship" You say.
"Why not?" She asks.
"Because a ship full of the blind is not a comforting prospect" You say.

Elda giggles. "What now?" She asks.
"Well..." You say, picking up the oars. "I guess we meet them halfway"

>[1/2]

Elda watches the ship through the looking glass as it approaches. You managed to confirm that it's a Harth ship, thankfully.

"Huh..." She says once it's a little closer.
"Something wrong?" You ask.
"Here" She says, handing you the glass. "You tell me"

You look through the glass. "Okay, what am I looking for?" You ask.
"Lady in red. Can't miss her" She says.
"Well I'll be damned" You say. You see the lady in red. "That's not just A lady in red... that's MY lady in red"
"It's Lady Disiera?" She asks, taking the glass back. "Well shit. You weren't kidding about how good looking she is"

"I rarely kid" You say.
"Red's a good colour on her" Elda says.
"Red is THE colour on her" You say.

"Think she'll be happy to see you?" She asks.
"I..." You stop.

To you this has been a voyage to get home, one with several deadly delays. To everyone else, you disappeared without a trace in Berhen. On top of that, you have no idea what's happened in your absence. They could be winning the war, or this could be Melissa's ship limping away from a lost battle...

"-guess we'll find out" You say.

The ship closes the rest of the distance, and they take you aboard.

The crewmen have questions as to where you came from, but Melissa doesn't. She just gives you a familiar look. One that says things involving meathooks and testicles if you don't follow her down into the cabin...

>What say?

>>43135309
>cover testicles
>excuse ourself from Elda
>do whatever it takes to not get testicles skewered

>>43135309
>"Have I mentioned how much I hate Cassandra? Because I hate Cassandra."
>... Is everybody okay? Is Selene safe?

>>43135309
Tell her our adventure with Cassandra, the demons, and angels.

>>43135365
>She must realize, deep down, that Giles would never willingly abandon anyone ever again.

>>43135349
On second thought. Bring Elda.
At this point she probably knows the whole story

>>43135388
<Brandish angel head> "I agree, we need to talk."

>>43135424
Don't know that for sure. Smiley, did Giles tell her that he's a devil/master thief/etc.?

>>43135465
Pretty much

>writing

Melissa turns and walks down into the ship. So you signal Elda to follow you, as you follow her. This reminds you of the day that she first arrived in Analask, though that day you had no urgent dealings on hand.

That day, Selene had made you promise to apologize to her. You smile just thinking about how she gave you a not-so-covert thumbs up as you followed Melissa into her ship...

You need to know if she's okay.

You let Elda into the cabin first, then enter yourself and close the door.

Melissa turns, ready to begin whatever tirade she has pent up. But you grab her and hug the absolute shit out of her.

"Gods you have no idea how glad I am to see you" You say.
"Wha-"
"I know you're mad that I disappeared, and I'll explain myself in a bit. But right now I need to know what's going on" You say.

You pull away, and put your hands on her shoulders. "Is everyone okay?"
Melissa looks downcast. "No..." She says.

"What's happened?" You ask.

>[1/2]

"We just got our asses handed to us..." She says. "3 days ago, we were trying to break through Lausts navy and maybe get into the city..."
"Didn't go well?" You ask.
"We were crushed" She says. "Half our ships were sunk, the other half were boarded. This is the only one that made it away. Laura... was on one of the boarded ships..."

"So she's been captured..." You say.
Melissa nods.
"What about the people who were with me? Marcy, Selene, Kuma. Any word from them?" She asks.
"Last word we got from them was that you'd disappeared" She says. "After that, nothing"

You scowl. "What of the land war?" You ask.
"Going well enough..." She says. "We pushed pretty far, but Catisse has had us stuck in a stalemate for the last 2 weeks"

"Damn..." You say. "How many days until the dark night?"
"2" She says. "We have tomorrow, and the day after"

You bite your thumb. If fate's begun to correct its course, then those 2 days are all you have...

If Laura's been captured, then she'll be in the palace. If fate wants to get its way, then Selene will be there as well.

Which means that if you want to win, then that's where you need to be.

You smile, and let out a little chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Elda asks.
"I know that smile" Melissa says. "You have a plan"
"I do" You say.
"Go on" Melissa says.
"Turn us about" You say.
"Back to the palace?" She asks. "Are you mad?"

You smile a little wider.

"Nevermind. Forget I asked" She says. "This plan of yours. Is it a good plan, or a Giles plan?"
"Yes" You say.
"Good enough for me" Melissa says, giving you a quick kiss. "It's good to have you back"
"It's good to be back" You say.

That's all for tonight!

Next thread will likely be on Monday, and it will also be DW. Threads will be nothing but DW until DW is damn well finished.

Man it feels good to have the damn plot back on track. I've learned a lot from Devil's Whim, which will be applied to all future projects. Thank you for taking part in the educational process, and putting up with my meandering thus far.

As always I'll be sticking around for question/suggestion time!

>>43135893
thanks for running
did Elda catch the "Giles plan" thing?

>>43135893
Well slap me thrice, and hand me to me mama... when you said DW'd be approaching its' end, you weren't kiddin'.

Great thread, Smiley! Glad to be along for the ride!

>>43135893
Huh, my comment got deleted...
Great thread, Smiley! Glad to be along for the ride!

>>43135893
How many threads you think there be until it ends?

>>43135893
Well, at least we have a brand new sword to stick up Roderick's ass.

>>43136021
I'm hoping that it won't take more than 2 weeks. If it ends up taking longer than that, I'll probably sprinkle a few BM threads in there.

>>43135928
Elda knows about that by now. 2 weeks is a long time to spend alone on a small boat with someone.