>>5129996
First. Gunpowder is the main character, and Vlad is just an equipable weapon.

>>5130008
>implying Vlad isn't the horn to Gunpower's unicorn

>>5130010
Fool. The only reason Vlad rolls so good is because Gunpowder lets him.

File: FJcMtPtX0Ago_Ra.jpg (234 KB, 1427x1073)

234 KB JPG

>>5129996
After fighting with Guts and trying to figure out the origins of your powers with him, learning a bit more about elves as well as the earthly spirits that walk this earth, the mercenary from The Band Of The Falcons uncharacteristically declared his exit from Griffith's army.
"Where are you going?" You try to get out of bed as Guts leaves the room, but the strain on your body from gifting him your life energy proves to be exhausting, seeing as you managed to heal his light and moderate wounds at the cost of your own life force.

"...Away. I appreciate you healing my wounds, would have made the walk downstairs a lot harder on me, I even considered waiting a few days to get better, but thanks to you that won't be the case. Griffith and the Band don't really need me anymore, so I think it's time for me to leave. Pursue a dream of my own, one that would make him proud, and see me as his equal."

"What?" You stare confusedly at the man leaning at the door of his room. For what reason would he want to abandon the group at the height of not only his, but all of the kingdom's history?

"Surely you've noticed how focused Griffith is on his dream, right? I've overhead his conversations with the princess a few times. He said something about how he can't consider us friends since we have no bigger dreams to accomplish in life. And that's when I came to realise that I... never lived for another reason than not wanting to die. It has been a long time coming, but I need some time for myself. To re-evaluate my life from this point since. Maybe then this feeling of always being beneath him would go away, and we would finally be comrades."

Guts seems very motivated in figuring his life out, improving on his mental state, but he seems to really underestimate his value on the team, surely if he just left without warning people would not only miss him, but grow angry at his sudden disappearance in Griffith's victory march into noblehood.

>What made you come to this decision?
>Are you leaving right now?
>Why is Griffith's opinion of you so important?
>Is there anything I could do to help you on your journey?
>Maybe you should reconsider.
>Write-in.

>>5129996
based, keep going

>>5130022
>What made you come to this decision?
>Is there anything I could do to help you on your journey?
>Just make sure you let the others know why your doing this.

>>5130022
>>5130033
Sure I'll back dis

>>5130022
Griffith didn't accomplish his goals alone, you could do the same with the Band of the Hawk for yourself

>>5130033
backing this up as well +1

>>5130022
>Are you leaving right now?

anons voting for Guts to reconsider will make the Eclipse more sorrowful for him but yeah lets build up that more :')

I'm not gonna vote this time. My brain is too smooth at the moment, so I dont trust myself to make a vote I can agree with later.

File: GutsVsDream.png (152 KB, 832x976)

152 KB PNG

>>5130033
"What made you come to this decision?" You ask quizically, a guy like Guts leaving the band surely was no last minute decision, let alone when he's cherished by his friends and his leader.

"Griffith's dream was to earn his own kingdom. It was a long, arduous journey that he surely didn't do by himself, but the fact that he managed to get this far after how many years of trial and error shows that he not only managed to motivate himself, but also help countless others along the way. That includes me, a man who had no purpose in life before meeting him."

"I admit that I hated him for including me in a dream I had no part of. But his drive, the warmth of finally participating in a greater mission, something that would be more glorious than being a mere mercenary taking heads to earn his money until the day he died. I was feeling merit to my actions, but I also grew aware that if it wasn't for Griffith's guidance... I would live a life with no purpose. The one I looked up to would always look down on me, for not finding value in myself." Guts speaks the truth of his heart as he recollects on how his life has been nothing but mindless fighting for a dream that was not even his.

You never would've guessed that someone seen as such an undefeatable beacon of strength in the Falcons would be struggling deeply inside his own head.
"I see. You've more than deserved a good time for yourself then, just make sure you let the others know why you're doing this." You give him some words of advice.

"Of course, Corkus and Judeau were planning on going to a tavern with me in a bit, should be plenty of time to explain myself to them and say my goodbyes." Guts prepares to leave you in his room until you ask him one more question.

"Is there anything I could do to help you on your journey?"
"...Nothing at the moment." Guts closes the door as he gets lost in his own thoughts, leaving you to wonder what the world would throw onto his path.

>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.
>Take it easy and rest on his bed.

>>5130064
The sadder he gets the stronger he becomes. Such is the nature of the struggler. Would it then be wrong to wish upon him the greatest of pains so that he may accomplish the most noble of goals?

Perhaps our choices, too, are predetermined. If so then why think at all? Simply live as you must. And fuck big booty tomboy bitches.

>>5130085
>>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.
One last drink with the boys come hell or highwater it must be done.

>>5130085
>Take it easy and rest on his bed
Let's not make the first thing Vlad does is go to a Bar he needs to be better now

>>5130085
>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.

>>5130085
>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.

Some final drinks among buds is a nice way to send him off.

>>5130094
>Simply live as you must. And fuck big booty tomboy bitches.

Support, Vlad need to get his dick wet again.

>>5130105
Paying for drinks. The highest of courtesies.

>>5130109
The good shit too. Send Guts out in style!

>>5130085
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.
we shouldn't intrude.

>>5130085
>>Take it easy and rest on his bed.

>>5130112
we are a connoisseur of alcohol after all

>>5130085
>>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.

>>5130085
>>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.

>>5130085
>Try to get up and follow him to the bar.

>>5130085
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.
Time to hitch a ride. Assuming we can't just call for Gunpowder over distances with some Od bullcrap

>>5130085
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.

>>5130085
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.
I'm a little late to the party but here's my vote.

File: Bvsplash-011.jpg (9 KB, 290x220)

9 KB JPG

>>5130103
>>5130105
>>5130276
>>5130279
>>5130281
And to the bar we go!
But remember, Vlad just got done fighting Guts and exhausted himself healing him with magic, it should be hard for him to stand up and follow him all the way to a tavern by himself so give me a few rolls to see if Vlad won't just tumble down the stairs

>>5130085
Well, he made up his mind.
>See if there's anyone nearby that could help you get home.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>5130403
That was just poor timing lmao.
>>5130402
D100, right?

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5130402
shit forgot to link my roll , long time lurker here , and just wann say the qst is bomb qm

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>5130402
Last one

File: j9ppj3uo7o861.png (697 KB, 1100x860)

697 KB PNG

>>5130407
Thanks, no problem. I'll count it in anyway
>>5130404
>>5130405
>>5130409
The need for alcohol is strong, writing

File: GutsBar.png (483 KB, 594x736)

483 KB PNG

>>5130404
>>5130405
>>5130409
It does take a few attempts to stand up by shoving your upper body forward with your arms, but you've built enough pain tolerance climbing mountains to endure a few sore spots if you take your time, slowly exiting the building and following Guts around with your eyes from afar. Thankfully Casca stopped him before the entrance for a talk and the streets were empty enough for you to know where he was going at all times. After stopping short before the door to take a breather, you meet a good portion of Griffith's soldiers chatting and drinking their worries away, with Corkus, Judeau and Guts being in a table next to the windows.

"Well, if it ain't Mr knight in training himself... Thought you would forget about your humble origins when got your promotion." Judeau lifts his mug and gives you a cheer.
"Took you a while to get out of Guts' room, didn't it? What, did you get a crush on him? Hah!" Corkus chuckles from the other end of the table before catching sight of a cute waitress on the bar, tugging at her arm midway through an order to see if he could flirt with her.

"Try to ease up on the drinks, will you? Drunk and tired is not a good combination." Guts worries about your wellbeing before cutting himself a piece of cheese from the block.

>I'm not drinking, but some food would be nice.
>Well, I did come to a tavern...
>I'm trying to stay sober, at least until the training ends.
>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.
>I'm just here for a good talk.

>>5130439
>I'm not drinking, but some food would be nice.
>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.

>>5130439
>I'm not drinking, but some food would be nice.
>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.
>I'm just here for a good talk.

>>5130442
Support

>>5130439
>>I'm not drinking, but some food would be nice.
>>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.
>>I'm just here for a good talk.

A couple not all, we aren t a charity

>>5130439
>I'm not drinking, but some food would be nice.
>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.
>I'm just here for a good talk.

>>5130439
>I'm trying to stay sober, at least until the training ends.
Discipline and spine, that's what makes a knight

We can get semi-trashed in trusted company when we celebrate getting knighted.

>>5130439
>I wont drink, but I want to buy everyone a couple rounds.

File: Corkus.png (284 KB, 404x599)

284 KB PNG

"I'm not drinking, just here for a good talk. But some food will be nice. Miss, could you please serve me a good portion of the soup they're having?" You ask the woman being targeted by Corkus, to which she replies by flicking his hand away and bowing with a smile.

"Yes, Sir. Is there anything else you would like to order?"

"I want to give these guys here a couple rounds, compensate for me not being able to drink with them."
"Fine by me." Corkus smiles.
"I appreciate it, Vlad." Judeau returns the favor by offering you a seat next to Guts, who was contemplaying on how to best explain his leave from the band.

"Hey, if Guts ain't taking it, there's no problem with giving some to me, right?"
"Yeah, me too! I've been in the band for a while, can you be a buddy ang give me a drink too?"
"Seems like you've underestimated how many people from our group love to drink!" Judeau laughs as a group of men pressure you into paying a few more drinks than you should've, but given the overall festive mood, you don't want to be the one to ruin their night.

>Your generosity came at the cost of being the clientele's paypiggy, and though 2 silver coins is nothing compared to your vast fortune, you can't shake the feeling that they took advantage of your patronage. Total Earnings: 149 Gold Coins. 28 silver coins.

"Didn't think you were this good at partying, buddy. You got more energy than the folks I knew from my old bandit group." Corkus chugs down on his last mug of beer.
"This isn't the first time I hang out in lower class establishments, they have a bit of a cozy charm to them. In a way it makes it feel safer than drinking at a wine cellar. You reply to Corkus, recollecting on your past memories in places like these. Despite him being a prick sometimes, you feel like he has an appreciation for the simple things in life, which you can respect.

"So why are you leaving? Are you dissatisfied with something?" Judeau inquires Guts on his motives, seems like they initiaded the topic while you were busy fumbling with your money.

"Why would I be? This group has given a wandering mercenary like me a sense of comradery for 3 years. It's been fun. No way I'm dissatisfied, I just want to--"

"What more could you want in life than this?" Corkus slams his feet at the table. You can get anything for free in Wyndham if you say you're a commander of the band. Go to any bar, inn or weaponsmith! They love us here! We're heroes of the damn kingdom! Just give the old king some time to mourn and we'll be living in the court for the rest of our lives. We finally made it! After all those days of nearly getting beheaded. All those sleepless knights getting ready to die, we've made it! And you want to throw it all away? For what stupid reason you would do that?"

>Not everyone wants to live the same life.
>It should be easier to find a goal in life when you have money and power.
>Why are you upset? It's his choice to make.
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.
>Write-in.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.
Guts is a big boy. He knows his wishes best and how to articulate them to other people. He doesn't need us to tell others what he wants. He needs to learn how to fight his own battles.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.

>>5130472
>Griffith once said to me that everyman should have a dream to follow. Guts just wants to find his own.

>>5130472
>It should be easier to find a goal in life when you have money and power.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.
Guts hardly needs us to speak for him.
Besides, not Vlad's place to say anything here.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.

>>5130472
>Don't interfere. Let Guts defend himself.

File: Gats.png (151 KB, 387x309)

151 KB PNG

>>5130475
>>5130476
>>5130479
>>5130486
>>5130502
>>5130523
"I'm not interested in growing in ranks or classes, if I did I would have been the commander of the Falcons a lot earlier in my career." Guts began his counter-argument, but Corkus wasn't done venting his frustrations.

"And who do you think you own that to? Griffith is special, someone that commoners like we were could only hope to be like. All of this was possible because of Griffith!"

"And that's exactly why I need to leave. I have been fighting this entire time for the sake of another man's dream, when I could be fighting my own battles, earning something for myself."

"And that's exactly why you're a BRAT!" Corkus angrily kicks his chair away as he stands up and slams both hands on the table, knocking some of his food on it. "Do you really think you can find something for yourself that's better than what we have? If it were that easy, no one would suffer for wanting to be happy! Wake the hell up, only a handful of people get to be winners in life, and the rest have to come to terms with their reality and make do with their battered wishes! Having a dream means nothing when you're a weakling who can't face the facts! If you lived this long and still haven't thought of any dreams for yourself, whatever goal you can come up with is meant to be broken!"

"...You seem to be talking from experience here. Does that mean that you don't have something like that to push you forward?" Those two simple sentences were enough to destroy Corkus and his monologue, making him angry enough to leave the tavern.

"To hell with this. I'm done for the night, Judeau, have fun with this big baby while he's still here. Bartender! put the bill on my tab!"

File: tumblr_556bdc2ee0e5165d28(...).jpg (82 KB, 450x619)

82 KB JPG

>>5130528
The desk is silent for a while before Judeau tries to lift the mood after the argument.

"Your guess got to him, Guts. Corkus ran a bandit group of around 10 men in the slums, most of them didn't make it until Griffith recruited him and a few of his pals. And given how you ended up killing one of his friends during your entrance here. It's only natural he has some pent up resentment."

"No hard feelings. Maybe there was something he wanted to earn for himself too, I guess he was trying to warn me of the consequences in his own way."

"There's not a single person in the band that didn't want anything. Just look at me for instance, since I knew I wasn't the best at anything I did, I just thought it would be good to support someone above me. I'm pretty happy with where I am right now, but I wonder if I would have found a dream of my own out there, or spent my whole life chasing it..." Judeau admits in contemplation.

"Well, guess I've rattled for long enough here. Time to hit the road." Guts lost the mood to celebrate after that whole debacle, which Judeau and yourself can surely understand.

Judeau helps you move out of the tavern, seeing how you were having trouble keeping up with their speed and adapting the stride into a slower walk, making the most out of the situation to see if he could get a reaction out of Guts.

"Hey Vlad. What do you think of Casca?"
Casca? This came out of left field, but so far you havent thought much of the female commander, most likely due to not interacting with her a lot, but trick question or not, women are always a fun topic to discuss.

>I respect her as much as any of you, flanking an enemy castle is no easy task.
>She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith.
>I don't know enough about her to have a strong opinion.
>She's a bit too muscular for my liking. Each to their own, I suppose.
>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

>>5130534
>>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

>>5130534
>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

>>5130534
>She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith.
Let Guts have his girl. They're literally made for each other.

>>5130534
First let's start with
>I respect her as much as any of you, flanking an enemy castle is no easy task.
Then
>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

Let's hope Guts doesn't go ape shit unless Casca is around to calm him down

>>5130534
>I respect her as much as any of you, flanking an enemy castle is no easy task.
>She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith.

we are gonna be a questing knight right why not go a long with guts for adventure

>>5130561
We still have to finish our training.

>>5130534
>I don't know enough about her to have a strong opinion
But
>She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith.

>>5130534
>I don't know enough about her to have a strong opinion.

>>5130558
+ 1

>>5130534
>She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith.

>>5130534
>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

I also support >>5130557's way of handling this.

>>5130557
>>Well, I did come to a tavern...
Supporting, i want to see guts´s reaction

>>5130534
>She's a cutie. Is she taken?

She's a babe Guts, I'm surprised you didn't try to tap that ass man...

File: Guts and Judeau.png (276 KB, 838x317)

276 KB PNG

>>5130538
>>5130548
>>5130556
>>5130557
>>5130558
>>5130568
"I respect her as much as any of you, flanking an enemy castle is no easy task." You acknowledge her prowess as a fighter, this is the first time you've seen a woman in the battlefield too, so watching her be toe to toe with the other two strong commanders of the Falcons is nothing to scoff at. "She seems to care a lot about Guts and Griffith though. I assume she's taken?"

"Well she might as well be." Judeau laughs. "Even the other chicks at the ball were ogling her."
"No surprise there, she's a total cutie."
"Pretty sure half of the band and the kingdom would agree with you on that."

"It's hard to find a woman you can trust to watch your back on the battlefield, but I see her as a comrade more than a woman." Guts speaks up, only to correct himself. "No... That's not it. It's more that she only has her eyes on Griffith. If I want to be any good for her, I need to sort myself out."
So he does have a crush on her, but will she even wait for him?

"I do think you have hopes with Casca. Deep down she knows she's out of league against Princess Charlotte. There's nothing Casca can offer politically to him, and she knows her feelings are irrelevant to his kingdom." Judeau ponders if Casca even has a place in Griffith's heart when Charlotte seems to be a match for him.

"I doubt she could live happily longing for a man she can't have. Her feelings go beyond mere love or attraction. Being saved by him and given a new life, she worships him more than anything else. But she's a fine woman. No doubt better than the noble girls that only know how to play dress up."
No doubt he could take her with him if he asked to, but with his hands tied on finding a goal for himself, it's better to leave her safely here and not put her in danger.

Approaching the front gate of Wyndham the sun soon starts to rise again as the two approach the outskirts of the city, with Guts not returning with Judeau.
"You sure you want to go all the way out? You've been with me for the entire night." Guts asks, worrying if you can go far in the snowy mountains and make your way back as you are now.

While you've rested enough on the bench to go there, you do remember that you'll have a full day of training to welcome you when you return to your estate, so saving your energies could do you well.

>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau.

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.
Let's not risk gimping our training gains with not resting

>>5130618
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau
Just borrow a little energy from someone. Maybe find a begger, give them a silver, and touch their hand. Maybe get a little bit of energy from Judeau?

>>5130618
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau

>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau.
judea is our friend, and so is guts. also epic fight and we might be able to save some of the falcon

>>5130618
Supporting
>>5130626

>>5130618
>>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.
Let's not kill our gains.

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.
We are already tired from healing Guts and had to roll to go to the tavern, better to rest for now to not screw up our training.

>>5130618
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau.

>>5130618
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau
We didn't climb walls all day to puss out now.

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey
Vlad only met Guts relatively recently, this is as far as we need to go for now.

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.
W still have much more training to do tomorrow and if we aren't at full strength we might come to regret.

Just joined in. I would like to point out we are like just one man (or 5 ,if counting outr parents and servants at home). But we have large income,own some lands and is a noble.
Which brings in an important point. Midland has blackpowder weapons. Since like Guts was 8 or something. So Vlad should invest in manufacturing in his area to make guns,blackpowder and weapons. Also other stuff like agricultural goods and well, stuff needed for war preparations of the future.

>>5130618
>>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.

"If you are near my home, you will be welcome"

Time to return to our days if training and study

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.

>>5130618
>So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey.

>>5130618
>Yeah, I want to see you leaving along with Judeau.
>Besides, I need to toughen my body up. If I can't handle this much in a moment of peace, then I wouldn't be worth a damn if I had to use 'that' in a fight. You understand, right?

>>5130619
>>5130635
>>5130638
>>5130643
>>5130649
>>5130661
>>5130667
>>5130680
"Yeah, you're right. I might be going stronger, but my body doesn't run on infinite energy. Suppose I should take it easy and rest until my training. So long, Guts. I wish you the best on your journey." You stop before the gate and say your goodbyes.

"Same to you, partner. If we met at an earlier point in our lives, I have no doubt you would have been a good comander for the band. Maybe even taking our goals in consideration, you seem to be looking for something deep within yourself too. Maybe that's the closest to an equal I could have between the nobles for now."

These words struck deep meaning within you. Should you have taken more action in your life before this point, would your fate have been different? Could you really see yourself among these band of soldiers in any other way aside from an extreme situation like your parents being kidnapped by enemy forces? If the strongest of them seems to be in a similar spot in life as you are, maybe the difference in class you have has less meaning when you share the same problems in different contexts.

"I know you don't want to live here for now, but I'd gladly welcome you in my home. You've more than earned a place to stay after all your fights."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Especially after you helped me consider my options." Guts parts ways with you as he climbs towards the hills, where his group of friends seems to be waiting for their warm farewells.

If anything, him promising to better himself only motivated you further in finishing the remaining year of training you still have to become a royal knight, so after taking a quick nap when going home, Gallahad wakes you up and explains how the rest of your training will go.

"Now that you're in your second month, I want you to keep focusing on your physical training, you already have great results as is, but that's not a reason to fall behind. Training unarmed combat and how to hold a sword is essential, even if you don't plan on using that sort of weapon, it's good to have something to use when your primary option is unavailable. Being an all rounder is tough, but so is being a one trick pony."

"When you've mastered all those 3 aspects by your fourth month, we shall teach you all the political background of our land for 2 more months while you train in isolation in the military camp. Once half a year has passsed, that's when you'll go on your pilgrimage, to prove you can survive on your own. Try to come back with something of worth to our land or the king, the waiting period is between 6 months to a year, if you come back with nothing to prove, or don't come back at all, the counsel will revoke your status as a knight. Any questions?"

>What should I look for in my pilgrimage?
>How did you pass the exam?
>What can I learn from studying in the camp?
>Are there any urgent missions the King needs to solve?
>How often do nobles turn into royal knights?

>>5130654
would bullets do anything to apostople or dragons? a canon ball might hurt but they are fast enough to avoid them. a Group of trolls tough? yeah i can see it

>>5130696
>How did you pass the exam?
>Can you tell me anything about the other Royal Knights? And what they did on their pilgramages?

>>5130699
supportan

>What should I look for in my pilgrimage?
>How did you pass the exam?
>Are there any urgent missions the King needs to solve?
These might be the most important.

>>5130696
>What should I look for in my pilgrimage?
>How did you pass the exam?
>Are there any urgent missions the King needs to solve?

>>5130696
We should make a note to take some books on economics, trading, and farming as reading materials on our travels. Learning how farming works could help us figure out what we need to get the farmers that live on our lands, and trading is always a good "trade skill" to learn. Bartering and haggling too.

>>5130703
Support

>>5130721
i am with you in the trade skill, but no way does learning about farming help us, we are about to become a knight not some filthy peasant working in the fields

File: Charlotte.jpg (80 KB, 640x823)

80 KB JPG

>>5130699
>>5130703
>>5130709
"What should I look for in my pilgrimage? Do all knights have to come back with something big?"

"I'd say so. It doesnt have to be anything specific, maybe you've taken down an evil viscount, found some treasurable values and offered them to the King, saved a village from a group of enemies, anything that gives you weight and a vote of confidence by a large group of people, or someone of leverage. Alternatively, you could partake in a mission with the Holy See, or with some other mission the King might want you to take care of in private should he trust you enough for it."

"Is that how you passed on your exam?"
"Sort of, I've lived most of my life as a lumberjack, going day to day knocking down trees with my axe, it wasn't until I've had a little accident in a swamp that I got noticed by the Holy See. That's how I met your parents and served them for a while, they were approaching the infested swamp of the occultists to take down the dark magicians that lived there, and I managed to help them escape as they laid a curse on the spell to ward off intruders. After I served you people for a few years, I applied for a place at the king's castle, but it was hard to think of something to stand out at this day and age, I might be all brawn, but my old raggedy face is a good way to scare anyone I offer my help."

"So what did you do?"
"Well, when my waiting period was about to end, I got news that the royal family needed protection from a group of pirates during a visit at the docs, and the damn looters sure weren't kidding around. Dozens of them came in with ships and all, started pillageing the place and taking all the women and children. Most of the other soldiers lost their heads, but that's when I came in and started turning the tides, until I noticed the pirates aiming a cannon ball right at poor little Charlotte!"

>>5130699
Oh this sounds good, support

File: ShipBG.png (703 KB, 800x600)

703 KB PNG

>>5130744
"So you got the knight role by saving her from the cannon?"
"Hell no! That would have been too easy! I stopped the cannon ball myself. With my bare hands!" Gallahad put his hands above his body and mimicks the motion he did to stop the iron ball way back when. "Even managed to save a building from being destroyed back there."
"What? No way!"
"I'm serious! Broke just about every bone I had in my ribcage though, but that wasn't nearly the end of it. I knew I could stop 10 more of those and it wouldn't stop them pirates from attacking elsewhere, so I entered one of the ships myself and started taking out them from the inside!"
"But how did you fight the pirates in that state?"

"I took most of the blows, but the fun part about getting impaled by weapons, is that the weight of the blade becomes much lighter when you chop off the part that's not stuck to your body. I had a few cutlasses going over me by the time I was finished, by I managed to kill every pirate on that ship, and use the cannon they had there to destroy the others, gave them a taste of their own medicine. By the time my vision was blurry, only one of the pirate's ship was left ashore, fleeing and cursing me for taking them out singlehandedly. And from that day forward, I was known by the royal family as Gallahad The Unmoving. I don't like the nickname myself, makes me look like I did nothing on that fight, but I guess when you stop a cannon ball from hitting the princess by yourself, that's going to stick in the eyes of the crowd. My lower back sure moved a ton when that sonuvabitch hit me... It's why I can't take too many blows to the chest nowadays."


Amazing! How did Gallahad not die from all of that? He must have been training his body to the absolute limit if your training is anything to go by. If that's the body he has after over a century of doing these trials, the King sure knows how to pick the best of the best to protect him, and even if Gallahad is past his prime, you would hate to be the one to fight against him.

>Tell me more about the swamp of the occultists.
>How's the pay from being a royal knight?
>Did you have any other encounters with pirates?
>Do you know any other knights from the royal guard?
>I hope I can do something as cool as that.

>>5130768
>Tell me more about the swamp of the occultists.
>Do you know any other knights from the royal guard?
>I hope I can do something as cool as that.
Based grandpa, hope we get to save people as badass as him

>>5130776
supportarino buckaroo +1

>>5130768
>Do you know any other knights from the royal guard?

>"So you got the knight role by saving her from the cannon?"
>"Hell no! That would have been too easy! I stopped the cannon ball myself. With my bare hands!"
...Gallahad what the hell man, there's a limit to how metal a man can be

>>5130768
>Do you know any other knights from the royal guard?
>Can you tell me anything about the other Royal Knights? And what they did on their pilgramages?

>>5130744
>Alternatively, you could partake in a mission with the Holy See
Maybe we should consider doing this on our pilgrimage. It would be a good way to garner favor with the Holy See and also has a good possibility of running into Farnese?

>>5130735
A wise ruler knows what plights may befall their subjects. And the common folk eat that shit up when their liege actually knows even a little bit about the layman's work. It's not like anon is suggesting we actually nut up and start our own farm. Just know the basics to understand it better and how to leverage it better.

>>5130768
>>Tell me more about the swamp of the occultists.
>>Do you know any other knights from the royal guard?
What the fuck is he made out of, stone? Damn dude

>>5130792
why do you want to be with that crazy one? only time she becomes decent character is after gut´s stuff. before that its going to be her trying to kill us

>>5130776
>support

>>5130800
Some dudes like the danger. Personally I say fuck the See. We don't need the Church to tell us how to hold God in our hearts. We already got him and anime on our side we don't need their shitty instructions to know how to pray.

>>5130800
Hey man, what can I say? I just really love annoying Farnese any way possible, like what happened at the ball lmao. Plus Vlad might as well try to build relations with her family through her and also build up a relationship with the Holy See at the same time since they are both super powerful.

Also I think her craziness makes her kinda more hot.

>>5130820
>Also I think her craziness makes her kinda more hot.
You know it's really something when the chick is blonde but you can still call her a firecrotch.

Please try not to get our dick burned off.

>>5130804
ah well, i for one don't want or care for waifus. i would prefer if we get to be a knight and so for the duration of peace we will have (before the world goes to shit). and like i said, firevich only becomes decent after she meets mindbroken casca

>>5130826
There was plenty of discussion about the (de)merits of Farnesse in the last thread. She could still be useful to at least be friendly with in the political sense. Despite her being practically worthless in that way on her own, her family is still someone to have on your side. They'd be trying to take advantage of the positive relationship just as much as we would, though.

File: 1641569446689.jpg (905 KB, 900x1270)

905 KB JPG

Does the Vishnu worships the same God as Midland? We could do a raid into their lands if we want to earn the good side of the church or we could patrol the countryside and gain the hearts of the peasants

I say we wander among the people for the first few months of the waiting period and only take a mission from the See at the end. It'll probably be wisest to keep our options open and leave the leadership with some question about our loyalty/amenability to their cause, especially after what happened to our parents. We'll probably collect a few great feats, the See'll just be a feather in the cap.

>>5130776
+1

>>5130697
They can dodge a ball, but what if you can do a volley of it? Like about 30 going off combined with blunderbuss and matchlocks peasant army. Also having every peasant have a hunting gun and industrial output of blackpowder.
So people can kill bad things from a distance and have explosives.

File: 5763be1a0678829804223249b(...).jpg (80 KB, 661x882)

80 KB JPG

Honestly making a professional army for Vlad's family and his lands would extremely help us after the Eclipse and keeping our people safe

>>5130856
It won't help with the apostles or the really scary demons but having an actually properly trained and equipped force would definitely make it easier to survive and fend off lesser demon and monster attacks.

Something like the troll army wouldn't have a good time running into a handful of culverins or carronades behind a wall of pikes and muskets. Even if we aren't leaning into powder weapons, the discipline alone matters a lot. A cohesive fighting force is a much more effective fighting force.

>>5130820
your opinions is yours anon so its fair what you want, i just don't want to waifu her. farnese right now is shit tier and trying to build anything with her family would just put us on their shit list.

>>5130776
Support
Based Gallahad, a great mentor.

>>5130851
it won't help them as much when magic comes back, and they can evade and fly those balls. lets not forget most of them are thick enough that mortal blades cant pierce their skin. so it's fair to say, if you want to use black powder you either mix it with magic so they bullets can pierce their hides or you use canon balls. which should enough firepower to hurt them

File: b0de4862811ab231a58e795f5(...).jpg (50 KB, 500x718)

50 KB JPG

>>5130871
If we can't go full muskets I'm thinking Tercios and handguns for the cavalry for hits-and-runs

>>5130887
You'd be surprised how hard musket hits. A hell of a lot more than a person trying to stab someone.

>>5130895
>>5130887
Also cannons, lots of cannons

File: Locus_Manga.jpg (454 KB, 1000x1490)

454 KB JPG

>>5130776
>>5130787
>>5130789
>>5130792
>>5130797
"I sure hope I can do something as cool as that. I doubt anyone would have believed you if Charlotte wasn't there." You congratulate your teacher, albeit backhandedly so.
"Heh, You're not that far off, kid. Give it a few years and maybe you can try something similar." Gallahad playfully implies you can have a moment of glory for yourself, but given how the last time you fought went, your fights will be anything but regular if your pattern is anything to go by.

"Can you tell me anything about the other Royal Knights? What did the others do on their pilgrimage?"
"I don't think any of them went as ax-crazy with their feats as me. Although there is one warrior who no doubt could take me down in my prime. Do you know about Locus, The Moonlight Knight?"
"The mightiest knight of Midland? You've met him personally?" You're surprised to hear that the King has even the unbeatable knight of the kingdom under his feet.
"Only once, I had to lead him to the swamp of the occultists to see if he could fight the last of the Silver Eyed Clan. He's a man that never lost a single battle in his lifetime, so I thought it would be an honor to see him fight a demonic creature like the one on the swamp, but can you believe me that he looked at me dead in the eye when we arrived there, and told me that he wouldn't fight the occultist?"

"This is not my fight to win. The sorcerer that lies within this forest is waiting for her own knight to fight. We must not interfere in her ritual, or their fated encounters." Gallahad repeats word for word what Locus told him, before he abandoned the lumberjack to fight for another master.

"So he just left without even trying to fight? That's disappointing..."
"If you ask me, he was probably scared of losing a fight too big for him, damn coward. I've seen what those cursed occultists do, but if the king tells you to take care of them, the least you could do is try to enter the swamp."

File: Background3.png (1.74 MB, 1442x1080)

1.74 MB PNG

>>5130904
"Anyway, I hear he fought in countless duels and contests to make a name for himself during his pilgrimage, so you can imagine how pissed off I was for missing out on the one time I could see him fight there."

"What's so special about this swamp, anyway? Why are there occultists there?"
"It happened a little bit after you were born, I suppose the Iron Chain Knights are trying to keep this a secret from the public, but a clan of nomad occultists from Tudor started entering Midland and lodged themselves in that swamp. They're known for practicing witchcraft and having grey, silver eyes. Your father and I tried to invade that swamp and stop their blasphemous ways, but just when we thought we had them, one of them made a spell that turned the entire place into a pool of red gush. The trees turned into flesh and every one of them turned into a blob of skin and guts. Anyone that got close to them would turn into a similar fleshy monster, a mere drop of blood dropping on your nose would be enough to corrupt you. It was a horrible sight, seeing all those husks of human beings being turned into a pile of orifices... I don't know how your father and I managed to escape in one piece."

Blobs of flesh, red pools of blood... This is not unlike the visions you've saw every now and then. Could it be that they're related...?

"Every turn of the year, the flesh creatures from the swamp grow larger in size and stronger in numbers, The See has tried to send several of their soldires there to try and neutralize the thread, but so far they've had no luck. Some tell that one single occultist still lives there and tries to keep the flesh alive, using the defeated knights' souls as sacrifices to feed the foul creature. The last of the silver eyed clan goes by the name of Merlina. Were I still young, I would personally go there myself and try to put an end to that wench's plans, but time is not kind to us old folks."

Merlina... The name does not ring a bell, but it does sound like the type of threat that would come from outside the physical capabilities of a regular human. You wonder if you could investigate the place personally.

"Well, that's enough chit-chat for today. Let's start with your training for today! What will it be? Want to learn how to fight with a sword or with your fists first?"
Right, you've talked long enough with Gallahad. Any more prying and he'll start to think that you're stalling for more resting hours.

>Sword.
>Fists.

>>5130915
>Sword.
First break our blade before we break our hands.

>>5130915
>>Fists.
Nothing says tough bones like having to punch rocks for two hours straight.

>>5130915
>Sword.
It's important that we know how to use our sidearm for when our polearm inevitably gets sundered.

>>5130915
>Fists.
we will always have our fists, maybe not always have a sword. Best to improve what we will always carry with us.

>>5130915
>>Fists.
Seems like a good foundation to build other martial skills off of.

>>5130923
We're not poor.

>>5130915
>Sword
Well, I guess we found what we need to do to gain our knighthood.

>>5130927
And a street urchin can still snatch up your sword and bolt, what's your point?

Also, Gallahad said "first". He's teaching us both in the end. Unless something happens, I guess.

>>5130915
Sword

>>5130851

Men can win, but is a difficult battle with so many monsters, demons and what not. Like dragons being a thing for example, or other mythological creatures.

There needs to be some reorganization for survive or even win fights, not only for the military but even social and economical. A good&disciplined fighting force than can stand ground and make the enemy bleed both in range and melee, is certainly valuable but .... with feudal lands and settlements of all kinds all around, and with a lot of wild terrain (forests ecc) it becomes difficult to keep up against this foes for defend our people. The economy of the world will also take a hit, making trade/travel more costly and many lords and states will be more preoccupied with keeping their authority and lands, while defending themselves from this new enemy.

>>5130904
>w-we must not interfere in her ritual !
Of course


>>5130915
>Sword.
The cutting steel of every knight !
Nice that he gives us lessons on both of them. Spear, Blade and unarmed. Thats pretty good for us honestly.

>>5130927
You can still be disarmed in battle, or your weapons can be somewhere else presuming we get captured one day somehow. There are a 1000 ways to lose a sword, Its a lot harder to lose ones hands than swords.

>>5130915
>Fists.

File: b9586fdc3081db49308a47607(...).jpg (65 KB, 386x800)

65 KB JPG

>>5130915
>Sword
You don't see Guts killing apostle with his fist and while cqc is useful you can end a fight with frontal kick to the knees or palm strike to neck

I know this is irrelevant and a pointless argument since we are going to train both, but fists aren't so powerful and useful in the middle of a fight, remember what happened when we tried to punch Judeau in the spar?
Fist are only really going to matter in a situation where we are unarmed to begin with and going into a brawl, or to protect yourself in case of getting disarmed while going to get another weapon or retreating.

>>5130964
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgq-Grv4xtw

>>5130915
>Fists.

>>5130934
anon you can't win
there are 4 angels of incredible power. the only living place is falconia which is controlled by one of those angels

>>5130964
>but fists aren't so powerful and useful in the middle of a fight,
Against a human? It sure as hell is. You can put people to sleep if you connect properly. And even if you don't, getting your bell rung will fuck you up anyway. It's also faster than drawing a sword if someone gets up close very suddenly.

Never underestimate the power of a steel clad fist.

File: sZ-Z4HCx_400x400.jpg (13 KB, 392x392)

13 KB JPG

>>5130993
>Don't care keep Struggling

File: Windmill_punch.png (909 KB, 618x994)

909 KB PNG

>>5130961
We are gonna be fighting more varied enemies than just apostles, with any luck we are gonna end up fighting humans at some point and cqc is pretty effective. And plus Vlad doesn't even know any frontal kicks or palm strikes/Martial arts so he cant really use that.

>>5130915
Easy. Throw a ton of fire bombs until the swamp is ash.
>Fist

>>5130998
you aren't guts. you don't need to struggle when your magical bloodline gives you a chance to resist. normal humans with shitty guns won't do shit

>>5130964
I think it's less about what is more optimal in a fight and more about what provides a better foundation and has more transferable skills. I'm no expert, but I assume learning to fight bare handed first will help prevent us from developing bad habits or relying too much on weapons... since fists are the only weapon that can't be separated from us without also maiming us.

It also might be a good branching point for more Od shenanigans.

>>5131000
We will be an expert with the Spear and won't be using heavy armor, plus with something like a short sword Vlad will be a walking tank in medieval times

>>5131008
>It also might be a good branching point for more Od shenanigans.
Hadouken?

>>5131011
And what about the times when we are off the battlefield? Assassination of nobles unarmed and unarmored in their homes aren't uncommon in this part of the story.

>>5130931
>>5130940
You don't prepare so you can face the worst possible circumstance, you prepare so you can avoid it.
We're training both swords and hand to hand, but should we also train to fight with one arm?
It's entirely possible that we could lose an arm, so why not focus on training one armed fighting to do better in that circumstance?
It's also possible that our legs could be broken, so perhaps we should start walking on crutches in preparation?
I'm not opposed to hand to hand training, I just think your reasoning is flawed.

>>5131018
Don't see why not. Would depend on what QM was willing to let fly and how we choose to develop Vlad.

>>5131006
>Don't care will keep struggling

File: 5b467ce5664cbae036d724ae1(...).jpg (19 KB, 236x356)

19 KB JPG

>>5131022
Who would tho Vlad doesn't have enemies with sufficient money to pay a professional hitman, we currently have royal favour and the most powerful nobles won't make moves against us unless we stir the pot harshly, as for assassination attempt they won't attack Vlad the dude is a trained knight, the only way is for poison and he can solve that with a someone that will taste the foods he ates beforehand

>>5131022
We're literally magic.
We can sense people.
>>5131008
This is really retarded, weapons are much more reliable than fists.

>>5130993
We must fight at least, for Midland. Monsters need to die

>>5131006
That's entire plot of Berserk, struggle against destiny, saying only Guts can do that is just a weak argument

>>5131025
>You don't prepare so you can face the worst possible circumstance, you prepare so you can avoid it.
But that's the thing non, you don't get to decide what you do and do not get to avoid sometimes. Sometimes there's just no avoiding something, like the inevitability that we are gonna get caught with our pants down at atleast one point, unarmed.

>>5131025
>but should we also train to fight with one arm?
If you train properly with something that doesn't require two arms to work then you know how to fight with one arm. That point kind of flounders.

>so perhaps we should start walking on crutches in preparation?
That's a much better point. So yes we should start training with crutches. I keep one of those windshield breaker/seatbelt cutters in my car. I live in the desert. I still want it in case there is a flash flood and my car gets swept away into a newly formed lake or something. Just because something is unlikely, or even borderline impossible doesn't mean it is foolish or irresponsible to prepare for it. It may not be ideal but it is in no way to be frowned upon. It's why you buy earthquake insurance even when you aren't on a fault line. Or wear a helmet when you ride a bike.

Call it silly, but never call it stupid.

>>5131038
Only addresses half the point: which has more transferable skills and a better foundation to build additional martial skills off of?

>>5130915
>Fists.
In the event we do get disarmed, we probably won't have enough time to draw our sword without taking some serious damage.

>>5131038
How is being magic gonna help you when your in your house unarmed? knowing someone is standing outside and just about to bust in your room aren't gonna help much. Might buy you a few mins at most.

>>5130915
>Sword.

File: images (2).jpg (9 KB, 225x225)

9 KB JPG

>>5130918
>>5130921
>>5130929
>>5130933
>>5130934
>>5130961
Looks like the vote is tied so we'll be training both at the cost of another month of time skips. No biggie.
2d100. First one for the sword, 2nd for the fists, we'll let the dice decide on who's the better weapon. Now give me the rolls!

File: 9a986b645e162a3cfc1538fe2(...).jpg (67 KB, 640x941)

67 KB JPG

>>5130961
Changing my vote to
>Fist
For the sweet combination of martial art and Spear' fighting

>>5131038
Also our od range is still limited to a relatively close field so we might not even sense the guy until he,s too close for us to do anything meaningful about it.

Rolled 44, 5 = 49 (2d100)

>>5131061

Rolled 81, 5 = 86 (2d100)

>>5131061

Rolled 39, 42 = 81 (2d100)

>>5131061
Rolling

Rolled 27, 11 = 38 (2d100)

>>5131061
BIG MONEY BABYYYYYYYYY

The dice speaketh swords beat fists

>>5131067
>>5131066
>two 5s on fists
wew

>>5131066
>>5131067
>>5131068
Dice confirms that fist are shit.

>>5131006
Were there even any competent leaders around post-eclipse in canon?
Having a powerful leader could make things less one-sided.
>>5131043
>>5131046
My point is that if we're ever in a situation where we have no weapons, our priority should be on getting our hands on one instead of trying to beat down whatever armed people/demons/wizards are threatening us.
Basically, unless we're fighting total mooks it's not going to help much.
>>5131047
weapons
>>5131052
that's literally all you need to not get ganked

>>5131066
>>5131067
>>5131068
Fists eternally btfo

Rolled 75, 4 = 79 (2d100)

>>5131061
I'm late, but I will roll a one to make everyone feel better about themselves.

Also, why would anyone assume we need hand-to-hand to develop martial magic?
We already use magic with weapons.

>>5131067
>>5131066
Jesus changing my vote didn't matter kek

File: download.jpg (9 KB, 275x183)

9 KB JPG

>Me when the rolls for the fists

Rolled 50, 26 = 76 (2d100)

>>5131061

Rolled 60, 91 = 151 (2d100)

>>5131061
fists can't roll like shit for this many posts... right?

>>5131075
My point is life comes at you fast. And plans don't always work how you want. It is inevitable. We will have to bludgeon a squid demon to death with our bare hands. This I have seen.

>>5131093
Finally.

>>5131094
When the squid demon appears we will slice it to pieces with our sword just like our marlin ancestors did before us.

>>5131094
Just fence it with our penis, it should count as either a spear or a sword.

>>5131089
kek

File: kokou-no-hito-10.jpg.jpg (287 KB, 500x619)

287 KB JPG

>>5131066
>>5131067
>>5131068
Looks like Vlad is more suited to Agility and Wisdom than Strength and Constitution, god I feel bad for his poor fists as I write the next update.

>>5131100
>not turning your hand into a spear so that you can use spear techniques empty handed
Natural weapons, son.

>>5131102
That would still technically fall under "unarmed". So we'd need to pick up the proper feat so we didn't proc a ton of AoO.

>>5131115
Nothing that a daily meal of red meat can t resolve ! I am sure we can do something about it, Unless is like a problem of our body, then idk

>>5131131
The good news is the more you break your bones the stronger they become. Gonna have some strong hands after this.

File: SPEAR.jpg (6 KB, 250x141)

6 KB JPG

>>5131128

>>5131139
That's more like it. The hand a sword, the foot a spear, the dick a club. Karate wishes it was 1/10th as cool as Doppo makes it.

>>5131115
lmao just keep punching things until the bones in his hands harden, like those Thai bone strengthening techniques.

>>5131135
Well i guess if something hit us, we still gain that. But personally i am not too scared by this resutls.
The diet of a knight is one for the martial elite. And they where quite active, be in fighting or out of them. So our strength and constitution should raise by simply being a knight or with fighting/training if that makes sense,

>>5131164
Historical knights were absolute units.
It's all the wealth and connections of nobility filtered into making someone into the pinnacle of physical prowess.

File: GriffithLeaf.png (356 KB, 397x439)

356 KB PNG

>>5131066
>>5131067
>>5131068
The second month of training went down smoothly, fighting with a sword seems to be a lot easier for striking hits compared to the lances. Instead of only piercing with the tip of the weapon while using the pole for blocking, swatting or for acrobatics, the blade of the sword sacrifices range and precision for slashing power and for your strikes to still be lethal even if you swing instead of thrusting. It's a weapon that requires less precision, but the weight of it feels unnatural compared to a lance. You're already too comfortable to change your main weapon, but perhaps you could practice with a bardiche instead? Slashing does seem very useful...

The third month of training was everything but successful. It was as if Gallahad wanted to train you to stop cannon balls on the daily. The first thing he did was bring you to a nearby forest and tell you to punch a tree trunk until you managed to snap the tree down. Punch after punch after punch, your hands only managed to bleed and get hurt by several splinters as the oak trees only shook with your hits. You tried doing more push-ups, enhancing your wrist strength, and even punching with gauntlets, nothing seemed to take the tree down.

"Maybe your body's just built for the acrobatics. Here, let me show you how it's done." With a few stretches, a staredown between Gallahad and the tree trunk, and a roar of "TIIMBEEER!" The royal knight managed to punch the tree down in a single, focused punch.
"Still got it! Don't recommend doing this for actual lumber work, there's a big chance you lose some of the wood from the fall."

Since you were better with your legs, you suggested training your kicks with him while fighting one on one in unarmed combat. Terrible idea. Your hits on him were more like light taps on a brick wall while his punches felt more like a mace being bludgeoned on your body. That month of training felt more like you were waking up just to get beaten into a pulp by him, and you couldn't wait for it to be over.
"You can't win 'em all, kid. Look on the bright side, you didn't break any bones. Got some resistance training done even if your own punches don't do much. If anything, just stick to your weapons, so long as you draw first, you'll be fine."
Yeah, right...

On one afternoon, going home early from another unproductive training session, you were greeted by an unusual visitor in your estate, observing the flowers being watered by your garden servants and admiring the tapestry from the outside.

"Good afternoon, Vlad. I was hoping we could catch up on our affairs. It sure has been a while since we've last met."

>Of course, come on in.
>How do you like the garden?
>Griffith! How have you been holding up?
>Sorry, I suppose training took a lot of my free time away.

>>5131257
>Of course, come on in.
>How do you like the garden?
Remember to stop him if he starts talking about dreams.

>>5131257
>>Of course, come on in.
>>How do you like the garden?
Don't eat the shrubbery, Griffith.

>>5131257
>How do you like the garden?

>>5131257
Maybe we just need to scream TIMBERR as well no ?


>>Of course, come on in.
>>How do you like the garden?

What an unexpected visit, well we just need to avoid the evil talisman and talk about other things.

>>5131257
>>Of course, come on in.
>>How do you like the garden?

>>5131257
>Of course, come on in.
>How do you like the garden?
He's our guest and old technically commander. Play the part of courteous host and ask a servant friend if they can fetch some tea and scones, please. If Griffith would like a snack.

File: BTCG-Griffith_Holding_Sabre-OI.png (280 KB, 300x434)

280 KB PNG

>>5131267
>>5131280
>>5131281
>>5131292
>>5131303
"Of course Griffith, come on in!" You invite your former ally into your home, taking it slow so he could have his fun observing the flora around the garden. "How do you like the place?"

"The outside is surprisingly spaceous, even if your house is already very wide in size. Have you ever thought of building other foundations outside of the garden?"

"The garden was smaller before I was born, the chapel had to be reduced in size since my dad wanted me to go outside more often when he was traveling. Seeing all the different colors helped me calm down when I was a child, but now that I dont have much use for it anymore, they've been thinking of making a guest house for visitors."

"What an amusing family balance. Religion, Business, and Chivalry. All three pillars of our society, neatly represented by the members of the Santana family... Even when classes divide us, there are a lot of options to take in one's life. It really seems to be impossible to live the same life twice, or two completely substitute one's place." Griffith ponders on your current bearings after walking around the house, taking a stop at the dining table where the servants were preparing your dinner.

"I managed to talk with your parents before you arrived. They really seem to be doing better than ever after our victory. I bet seeing you come to your own must have been the highlight of their lives, even if it's not the same field of work they have."
"I only have their patience to thank for. I was a big brat for most of my teenage years, mostly from lack of communication, but now that I found something to strive for, it's been turning my whole life around in more ways than one."

"Is that so...? Griffith helps himself to a glass of water left on the dining hall. "And what do you plan to do when you become a knight? Are you doing it for the prestige, or do you have a particular mission in mind? Perhaps the title should give you some status to elevate your name to an even higher plane than your parents, but what do you plan to do after that?"

>I'd like to travel around, get to know the world for a bit.
>Sit back and relax. The title alone should let me live comfortable so long as I do my job.
>Investing in my mother's marketplace could be useful for the kingdom.
>I would like to establish a better relationship between Vritannis and the Holy See with the Santana family.
>Have you heard of the Silver Eyed Occultist Merlina? I think taking her down would ease the king's worries on witchcraft.

>>5131374
>I simply want to make the worst a better place
Offer tea and snacks if Griffith would like to stay for a bit longer.

>>5131374
>There are many things that hide in the darkness of our world, Griffith. And I plan to banish that darkness so that no child ever need fear what lies in it. Unconscionable acts and senseless violence have no place in the world of man - though I admit that violence will be necessary to rid the world of such things. Lofty, no?

>>5131374
>I want to help other and the kingdom. I realized during the siege that peace can't be reached through inaction, if Midland is to prosper, we all must do our parts.
>But I think I will also try to learn from my mother and father, I have a duty to help the Santana's name and prosperity as much as our kingdom.
>And I think i will do it by taking down the Silver Eyed Merlina, she is both a Tudor and my family has a bad history with her.

>>5131374
>>I'd like to travel around, get to know the world for a bit.
>>Have you heard of the Silver Eyed Occultist Merlina? I think taking her down would ease the king's worries on witchcraft.
Wouldn't really suggest bearing our souls to Griffith--the necklace of doom gives Vlad plenty of reasons not to trust him with his inner thoughts and motivations--and whether or not we actually wind up hunting down the occultist it'll serve to put him off our scent for a bit.

>>5131374
>Im sure I can be of much use to my parents and the kingdom, doing business, diplomacy and other such things and I'd be happy to do so. Lord knows I owe it to them but... I dream of traveling the world, getting to know it. I feel the need for adventure, to risk my life in it's pursuit. Strange isn't it? When I found that I had something worth fighting for, the moments closest to death were the ones I felt most alive, most at peace. Excuse my rambling Griffith, a future king such as you shouldn't listen to that.
Scratching my writing itch.

>>5131374
>I'd like to travel around, get to know the world for a bit.
>Investing in my mother's marketplace could be useful for the kingdom.
>I would like to establish a better relationship between Vritannis and the Holy See with the Santana family.
>Have you heard of the Silver Eyed Occultist Merlina? I think taking her down would ease the king's worries on witchcraft.

>>5131383
+1

>>5131374
>>5131402
Supporting this.

File: GriffithAngry.png (353 KB, 540x540)

353 KB PNG

>>5131383
>>5131390
>>5131397
>>5131402
>>5131427
>>5131430
"I simply want to make the world a better place, Griffith. There are many things that hide in the darkness of our world, fear mongering children and creating senseless violence. And though I don't like to be violent myself, I realized during the siege that peace can't be reached through inaction, if Midland is to prosper, we all must do our parts. And my part will be to take down the Silver Eyed Merlina. After that, maybe I could find peace in traveling around the land, finding more adventures along the way and grow with the people I meet. Excuse my rambling Griffith, a future king such as you shouldn't listen to such lofty, elaborate plans for the future."

"By all means, the more complex they are, the more you'll yearn to see them bear fruit." Griffith sits down as a servant offers you both some cups of tea. "I'm surprised you already see me as the king. Our majesty hasn't even made a proper announcement yet... The only kingdom I can conquer is the ones at chessboards."

"Chess, huh? I haven't played much, but I know the rules."
"Were you to choose one piece that fit the most with you, who would it be?"
"Have you seen how I ride Gunpowder? Of course I'm the knight."
"Ah yes, the knight. A powerful piece no game can begin without. The chessboard needs to be filled for both parties to play equally. However, if we were to start a game with you, I would unfortunately have to point out your lack of sportsmanship. Given how you've taken away the knight from my side of the board."

It takes you a few sips of your tea to realize what Griffith meant by that statement. A simple look at his expression when you put down your teacup shows that he's shifted into a more aggressive stance, holding his hands next to his scabbard as he leans towards your face.

He thinks you're somehow related with Guts leaving the Falcons. And given how you're the one that spent the most time with him before he left, he suspects you might have been sabotaging his relationships from inside.

"Initially, I was estatic to see a noble who had a dream in development, maybe I could find someone to be my equal. But what I didn't realize about having equals, is that they might want to climb above you while you're left to pick up the pieces. And that's when equals... become competitors."

Your next few words could greatly shift Griffith's opinion of you, if not make him furious to the point of attacking you in your own estate.

>I didn't take Guts away from the band. He left of his own accord.
>I thought you parted ways amicably?
>No need for violence, Griffith. I'm on your side.
>Shout for your guards.
>Disarm Griffith.

>>5131499
>"Guts wishes to become your equal, to be able to truly name himself your friend. He told me as such, I was as surprised as you were he'd leave your side, but his reasons were sound"

>>5131505
+1

>>5131505
+1

>>5131505
This but mention that Guts was quoting Griffith directly, specifically the "they need to have their own dream" part

>>5131499
>If you want to know about Guts, I had no hand in that, I've never been one to play politics. Guts only told it to me after our spar, the same day he left.
>He told me the same thing he told Judeau and Corkus, that he wants to find his own dream to follow. He gave me the same speech you gave me when we met.

>>5131505
>>5131523
+1

Changing my vote
> the fact of the matter is grifith is that what you think you want in a friend and what you actually want are two different things. Guts was what you actually wanted as a friend and he thought he was that. However when he heard what you said he left to become your equal and thus your friend. That is why he left

>>5131499
>I didn't take Guts away from the band. He left of his own accord.
>I thought you parted ways amicably?

>>5131532
You should probably link your posts mr. dynamic ip.

>>5131505
>>5131523
+1

>>5131499
>>5131505
+1

File: rook.jpg (155 KB, 1024x1024)

155 KB JPG

>>5131499
Griffith is definitely the rook.

>>5131505
+1

File: original.jpg (297 KB, 1036x1107)

297 KB JPG

>>5131505
"Guts wished to become your equal, Griffith. He told me as such. I was surprised as you were to hear that he'd leave your side, but his reasons were sound." You calmly explain what happened between you and Guts. "He left of his own accord. I thought it was you who said that for someone to be your equal, they should strive to have a dream of their own--"

"I KNOW WHAT I SAID!" Griffith raises his voice as his emotions reached a boiling point. It was very out of character to see a man so calculating, reduced to such childish outbursts. "Had I been aware that he was there hearing my conversation with Charlotte, I would have worded things differently. Should Guts find a dream of his own... Should he aspire to be my equal, he would never come back to the place he was previously..."

"How can you be so sure?" You ask while the leader laments on his loss of what should be a mere soldier of countless of his.
"Guts is different from the others. I've known that since the start. He... I... For all these years..." Griffith stumbles through his words as twin streams of tears fall from his cheeks, his hands moving away from his sword and covering his face, not wishing to be seen in such a pitiful state.
"He was the only one that ever made me waver, reconsider my dream, and even forget it entirely. I know what the pursue of dreams does to men like me. All the paranoia, the weight of all your losses, the corpses piling up on your every step... I was merely protecting him... all of them from having to carry that burden. It's not a weight every man is born to carry, and that is why I wanted him to be mine forever. I couldnt stand the thought of him leaving!"

Surely you were expecting a fierce confrontation from Griffith, maybe for him to keep shifting the blame to you. Hell, even for a fight to break out. But for him to break under pressure so easily... It must have been something that's been eating away at him for the past two months. Had he not have a noble acquaintance to speak this out to, you can only wonder of what he would have done to sabotage himself with his isolation of his own creation.

>Slowly take his sword away from him.
>Did you see Guts as more than a friend to you?
>Does this really matter when your dream is so nearly in sight? Only a few more days and the king will announce your ceremony with Charlotte.
>You should be proud of serving as his motivator. Not lamenting his leave.
>Have faith in him. Surely he'll come back to visit.

>>5131576
>There is a saying in the Santana family, Lord Griffith. A caged bird will dream of the freedom of the sky, but the loyal hawk will always return to its roost no matter how far it may wander

>>5131576
>Did you see Guts as more than a friend to you?
>You should be proud of serving as his motivator. Not lamenting his leave.
>Have faith in him. Surely he'll come back to visit.

I just realized that we could add saving Princess Charlotte as one of our long term goals.

>>5131576
>You should be proud of serving as his motivator. Not lamenting his leave.

>>5131576
Clasp his shoulder, say nothing for a long moment. Then: >>5131578
Might just feed his crazy, but ehhhh. We aren't a fucking therapist.

>>5131576
>Guts is a simple man. He'll find a simple dream. He won't become a monster or lose his heart in pursuit of whatever it may be he settles on. And he'll return to you ready to receive your praises on becoming a fine man all his own. The least you could do is have as much faith in him as he has in you.
Shiiiiet man we need a drink.

>>5131576
>Have faith in him. Surely he'll come back to visit.
I can have messanger find him every few months, but I can assure you without a doubt he will come back. I think the sole reason he wants to be your equal, is because he believes that's the best way to get closer to you as friends. Reiterating what I just said, you can be absolutely sure he'll come back, because he values your friendship that much.
Apologize for the grief, ask if he would like to continue talks with us ever once in a while if he needs to get something off his chest.

>>5131576
Guts didn't listen to us about explaining himself and now his boyfriend is crying.
>>5131578
>>5131581
+1, seems like a cool thing to say

>>5131587
+1 Ask what Guts said to Griffith, and clarify things.

>>5131590
Clearly not much if Griffith walked into this conversation thinking we made him leave as a power play.

>>5131581
+1

>>5131576
>>5131581
++.

>>5130887
If one eyed guys with a short cannon in his prosthetics that uses like 50 grams of powder and solid iron ball with low muzzle velocity can one shot kill apostles some of the time and bigger mob monsters. Imagine a proper cannon with grapeshots can do. And there is more of them.

Oh, and before I forget lads- since we can transfer Od to heal others, couldn't we do the same to heal us in a pinch? It would improve our training gains certainly, and we only need to sap some Od from trees and other plants to arrive back at peak condition to yet again beat ourselves into a bloody pulp.

>>5131578
>>5131581
>>5131583
>Support all 3 like the indecisive piece of shit I am.

>>5131671
>https://youtu.be/mEKfnpMnUjA?t=132
>vlad after getting his ass kicked for an hour straight by a platinum blonde twink
2:13 if I can't get it to embed properly

>>5131578
>>5131581
>>5131583
+1

>>5131682
I prefer to not kill the plant life, but we can if necessary. Also, life drain meshes well with fisticuffs, so I want to go though hell training again just to get our fist skills in order.

>>5131581
>>5131587
>>5131590
>>5131594
>>5131606
>>5131606
>>5131672
>>5131698
>>5131698
But, why touch his shoulder?

>>5131702
I mean I really doubt plants have enough juice in them to properly heal a full grown man without dying in the process. We almost knocked ourself unconscious just fixing some nicks and bruises on Guts. It would have to be a pretty tough fucking plant.

>>5131715
uh

do you want to grab his balls instead?

I don't really want to touch him either. Maybe give his arm a pat but full on squeezy his shoulder is a bit much to me.

>>5131578
>>5131587
>>5131590
I'll just, support these so Griffifth doesn't decapitate Vlad with his sword.

>>5131042
>>5131041
i am not saying not to fight, just not waste time trying to invent pistol when the best we will get will be flintook and shit. canons work, and make people who already know this kind of stuff do it. i was arguing with someone who wanted to make this into an uplift quest, with a character who never showed any sign of being the genius needed to create anything. i just want to be a magic knight and kill demons and evil gods, is it so hard to ask?

>>5131715
>>5131720
whats with touching shoulders anons?

>>5131751
*wrong

>>5131751
insecure men can't
accept being close with another man. griffith wont jump our cock like he would do guts.
>>5131581
Supporting

>>5131751
Nothing. If you know the person. We kinda don't. This is in fact the only time we've ever been alone with him. And probably the longest conversation we've ever had as well. At least with Guts we got to know him through the ritual known as beating the snot out of each other. You have to take your relationships in steps, anon.

>>5131747
Cannons already exist. Cannons also work well as fuck. If it can bring down five feet of stone it can take down something whose skin is still able to be cut with blades. Why wouldn't we try to shoot the ten foot tall goats with one?

>>5131765
because apostle cant be cut by blades, gut´s is special in that his blade was drenched in blood from magical beings and weights more than a canon ball. still i keep saying canons work but flint pistols wont. they dont have enough power to penetrate apostle skin, it might work for things like trolls and so but not for the big stuff wich can solo armies. that is why i want vlad to become a magic knigth so he can solo those monsters

>>5131576
>There is a saying in the Santana family, Lord Griffith. A caged bird will dream of the freedom of the sky, but the loyal hawk will always return to its roost no matter how far it may wander
>Ask what Guts said to Griffith, clarify if you can and you think it will help.
Physical contact strikes me as to much, also do not forget about the egg of the king people, I am still worried Vlad astrally wounded himself when he spent a fraction of a section checking if Griffith died from that poison.
I think we derailed things a bit? We must be past the point Griffith bangs the princess a good deal so assuming we are successful in calming him down the god hand will have to go to plan B, Guessing they might tug at possibility or order a apostle knight to make sure the assassinations Griffith ordered suddenly get revealed at the worst moment to make sure he gets that torture vacation, the eclipse needs to happen at a specific time if I remember right so they need to act soon.

>>5131770
Not all apostles are created equal. And we have seen apostles get killed by mundane weapons before. Notably the bitch who kills Corkus gets a new breathing hole for her brain from Guts' cannon.

So yes, I do think cannons are a great idea. Also we see that Guts' crossbow can annoy or even inflict light damage on apostles. That shitty little tiny repeater crossbow. Repeater crossbows which are notoriously weaker than regular ones, and at that size likely has a piss poor draw weight manages to harass apostles.

Not every apostle is Grunbeld, man. It's more likely that the apostles will show up in human form anyway and attack when any local forces have their guard down. So if we do have muskets in universe, or arquebus, or any number of early era firearms I will propose we use them.

>>5131765
supporting your arguement. much of the damages is resulted from bandits, kushian terror units, smaller monsters and wandering minor apostles.
I was thinking more statecraft where we use money and resources to open up more jobs.
So lets say we need an army with large caliber muskets.
We need to order from blacksmiths who needs more resources and manpower to produce the needed armaments,we also need the alchemists and niter farmers to make gunpowder, we need loads of cattle for the urine and wastes, thus we need to hire more people.
By having more job openings in every step of production,we lower possibility of people turning to crime. we also need people in the army, so it is a jobs ,jobs and more jobs.
which in turn create more jobs as more farmers are needed to grow food,more craftsmen to build stuff, more merchants to supply demands, more of every job brewer to baker, shepherd to butcher, copers (horse dealer) to coopers (barrel makers).
It is an all round dwarf fortress economy to solidify our holdings as we go heroing and chivalry with our home guard of well armed men with large gauge double barrel matchlocks that can blast down a full grown grizzly bear.
It is not just us but our serfs,peasants,citizens and tax payers safety. And if a peasant can kill atleast 5 goblins with a home hunting gun,you got yourself a ready defensive militia.

Also,have y'all noticed something wrong?
Coffee,Chocolate,Rum all seem like out of place goods.
Even if there is goods like these, they can be very expensive. Except rum because it can be locally made distilled liquor. Also after noticing some of the words,I can safely say that Vlad has partial isekaitis.

>>5131576
>Although I might not know what Guts means to you, I will say this. Is him leaving so horrible? because of you, he has a goal that is more than surviving day to day on the battlefield. He may not return the man he was, but he will be better for it.
>If I could recommend it, perhaps tell him what he means to before he goes? It would at least get it off your chest
This guy who is supposed to be a commander who we met maybe twice is crying in front of us and acting oddly aggressive. I don't know if I would want to get near him

>>5131794
>this nigga wants to kickstart the entire fucking war economy
Pretty based. I dunno about becoming the de facto military industrial complex of midland but I wouldn't mind picking up an artisan or two that can make Vlad his own sweet ass guns. Pistol brace? Pistol brace.

We could invent whiskey.

>>5131800
He also still has his sword and is quite nimble.

>>5131802
anything to not have entire commoner raped and killed by brigands, monsters and monster brigands.
Distilling spirits for medicines and extracting oil from plants is very good idea. Pine sap has many properties.

>>5131808
Honey is also surprisingly slightly antibacterial and a great preservative. But ain't no fucking way I'm voting for starting an apiary anywhere near us. Not running the risk of demon bees no nuh uh.

>>5131793
but you only need one of those durable for pistol or rifles to not work, and your army is fucked.
And you are forgetting apostle are smart enough to use their superpowers in a way that lets them kill armies, either durability and tank shit or super velocity to avoid the attacks. guts is a special case in which he has enough willpower to fight through the worst, a normal soldier won't be able to face apostles no matter what they use. a fooking peasent wont be able to do anything but shit their pants. so instead of wasting life´s of peasants we raise our armies with cannons if you want, but for the love of the holy see dont go on this quest as if uplifting the technology would solve anything

>>5131810
that one is up to the peasants,we can invest some cash to have some shares of the profit in honey,mead and coin.

>>5131815
It increases survival odds should shit and guts hit the windmill blades.
If it really gets bad, a general evacuation is needed. But atleast the peasants can hold on their own on smaller numeroues beasties.
Also the barrels of powder can be use as a final "See you in hell demon." suicide bombs should the monsters swarm into the village/town/place.

>>5131824
no anon, it wont increase shit. its wasted money for people who at the first sign of danger run like bitches, remember that trolls can be hurt by sword just fine but the peasants let their women be kidnapped and raped. stop thinking berserk world is something like warhammer, it has some similarities but vlad won't be sigmar or magnus.

>>5131815
Dude, the apostles aren't the godhand. If they get caught out and eat an entire fucking volley of musket fire they're swiss cheese. Most of them cannot take that kind of heat. Only the notably tough and strong ones could actually honestly fight a properly armed and prepared army. Even then you don't see them walking around with their dicks out, Zodd excluded because he's a fucking chad.

Yes, the thing that makes apostles truly scary is their hax ass abilities. But then having guns or not doesn't make a difference so your argument is completely pointless. Why have any soldiers at all when one apostle can shit in the dirt and have ten million demon ants eat our soldiers alive in their sleep?

It's better to have the best you can because they're gonna get their shit rocked regardless but maybe, just maybe one of them can get lucky. And a regular ass peasant with a pitchfork just trying to defend his home isn't going to get lucky. This is what training is for. And if you're going to train them then you need to give them the tools they learned how to use in their training.

>>5131830
because in canon that is what happening to the world, no nation is faring good, the only nation which is peaceful is falconia because griffith is using an apostle armie. and anon you are thinking that most apostle can't shrug off bullets? after every apostle show in the manga has been demonstrated to have durability,speed and strength that makes them able to kill dozens of people.

You are thinking we would have ar-15 with anti tank rounds after spending a thousand gold anon? because that is the type of guns which would work against them, volleys of flint rifle won't do shit to them.

Bah, to stop this pointless debate lets ask qm, becchi, can you put your word in this? do apostle can be harmed by some flint pistol or revolver? not counting canons, those are proven to work

>>5131835
*flint pistol or rifle

>>5131826
then we have to be it anyway. the reason why those peasants let their women and food be taken is because it is a shocking event for them.
You expected wolves and bad humans to hurt your village. Not rapey monsters and tall things and other bad shit. They shat their pants when magic critters started ruining their normal lives of working,eating,drinking,shagging and dying.
Vlad is part of the Holy See as of now right? Perhaps form his own knight order of specially trained men (and women) for snipe hunts.
Probably has to put some zeal of god in them so they do not falter when faced with monsters,but severe hate and anger.

So yeah, have to train the peasants to stand their ground with propaganda and stuff. Good thing about medieval feudal times is you can go full ham North Korea or Reich Germany or Stalinium and people think you are heroic.