FE on the Forums: Scarlet Crown [IC]

[rokubiraijuu]

Kris' attack injures the mage, who had spotted a shadow moving out of the nearby trees. They turn to counterattack, their magic buffeting at the girl sharply.

Spoiler

(Kris is going one for the money!)

 

Kris:
Attack: 10
Hit: 100%
Crit: 0%

 

Mage 4:
Attack: 10
Hit: 72%
Crit: 0%

 

Kris' attack, autohit!
Mage 4's counterattack, 41, hit!

 

Kris takes 10 damage!
Mage 4 takes 10 damage!

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Fighter 1 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45) Droppable
Fighter 2 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Fighter 3 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Archer 1 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 2 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 3 : (1/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 4 : (8/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Mercenary 1 : (23/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 2 : (3/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 3 : (11/23) Iron Sword (45/45)

Mage 1: (9/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 2: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 3: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 4: (13/23) Gale (40/40) Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable

Mage 5: (23/23) Gale (40/40)

Soldier 1 : (3/24) Iron Lance (45/45), Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable
Soldier 2 : (14/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 3 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 4 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Knight 1 : (4/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 2 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 3 : (14/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 4 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)

Knight 5 : (6/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 6 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 7 : (12/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 8 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Cleric 1 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)

Cleric 2 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)
Kiba Windamier : (30/30) Rhongomiante (30/30), Flux (40/40) Droppable

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (H10) : (25/25) Wooden Sword (32/50)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Kerr (G8) : (23/23) Slim Lance (24/35)E, Iron Lance (44/45)
Kris (G5) : (10/20) Iron Knife (33/45)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Seymore (H8) : (27/27) Hatchet (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Naomi (J5) : (18/21) Lightning (25/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3)
Michi (G9) : (21/22) Fire (26/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Ceridwen (E8) : (0/24) Slim Lance (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3) Downed 3/3
Fallon (F10) : (21/21) Worm (25/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Dulcibella (E9) : (13/20) Training Bow (32/40)E
Rhian (H9) : (5/25) Wooden Greatbow (29/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3)
Verden (G10) : (18/18) Heal (14/30)E, Vulnerary (3/3)

Johanna (F8) : (14/24) Iron Axe (14/45)E, Hatchet (35/35), Vulnerary (1/3)

 

NPCs: Location, Health, Weapons
Warriors Village 1 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 2 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 3 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 4 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flynn : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flesselles : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)
 
EXP Tracker: 77/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 400

 

[Chevaleresse]

G7 kill Mage 4

[rokubiraijuu]

One bolt from Rhian's bow is enough to knock the distracted mage backwards, impaling their chest and ending their life almost immediately.

Spoiler

(Rhian is affected by charisma!)
(Rhian is wrathful!)
(Rhian was born with a king's heart!)
(Rhian is armoured!)

 

Rhian:
Attack: 15
Hit: 98%
Crit: 39%

 

Mage 4:
Attack: 4
Hit: 77%
Crit: 7%

 

Rhian's attack, 56, hit!

 

Mage 4 is defeated with 15 damage!

(Rhian suffers 2 damage!)

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Fighter 1 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45) Droppable
Fighter 2 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Fighter 3 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Archer 1 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 2 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 3 : (1/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 4 : (8/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Mercenary 1 : (23/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 2 : (3/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 3 : (11/23) Iron Sword (45/45)

Mage 1: (9/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 2: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 3: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 4: (13/23) Gale (40/40) Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable

Mage 5: (23/23) Gale (40/40)

Soldier 1 : (3/24) Iron Lance (45/45), Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable
Soldier 2 : (14/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 3 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 4 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Knight 1 : (4/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 2 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 3 : (14/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 4 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)

Knight 5 : (6/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 6 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 7 : (12/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 8 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Cleric 1 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)

Cleric 2 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)
Kiba Windamier : (30/30) Rhongomiante (30/30), Flux (40/40) Droppable

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (H10) : (25/25) Wooden Sword (32/50)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Kerr (G8) : (23/23) Slim Lance (24/35)E, Iron Lance (44/45)
Kris (G5) : (10/20) Iron Knife (33/45)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Seymore (H8) : (27/27) Hatchet (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Naomi (J5) : (18/21) Lightning (25/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3)
Michi (G9) : (21/22) Fire (26/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Ceridwen (E8) : (0/24) Slim Lance (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3) Downed 3/3
Fallon (F10) : (21/21) Worm (25/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Dulcibella (E9) : (13/20) Training Bow (32/40)E
Rhian (G7) : (3/25) Wooden Greatbow (28/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Verden (G10) : (18/18) Heal (14/30)E, Vulnerary (3/3)

Johanna (F8) : (14/24) Iron Axe (14/45)E, Hatchet (35/35), Vulnerary (1/3)

 

NPCs: Location, Health, Weapons
Warriors Village 1 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 2 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 3 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 4 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flynn : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flesselles : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)
 
EXP Tracker: 82/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 400

 

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Hi there!" Naomi strolls forward, tome held open on one hand. "I was told you are a bad man, that did bad things. So I don't need to hold back. It's too late to regret what you've done now, so here it comes!" As she says that, she raises her left hand to the sky angling her magic into an arc aimed straight at the leader. 

Naomi moves to G6 and crits Kiba

[ElfCollaborator]

 

 "You have been weighed, you have been measured.....and you have been found wanting! Begone!"

Michi heads to H7 and assists in the burning of Kiba

[Powder Miner]

First, a rush of wind hit Ceridwen, cast by one of the escaped prisoner mages, and the sharp wave of wind seeped quickly past the shields and plates of her armor, slicing lines into her and causing blood to run out from beneath the shield at the front of her armor. But she stayed on her dragon, still up, still trying to protect the others -- only to take a javelin to the head from Kiba Windamier. It didn't pierce her skull, but it was enough to send her careening off of her dragon, pain lancing through her head and her gut. Still, after letting out a strangled yelp upon hitting the ground, she saw that she was the only one on it.

"A-ah, okay, see? This time it wasn't anyone else, who... ah..."

[rokubiraijuu]

Two bursts of bright light flash in the dark sky, wounding the general. He manages to retaliate with a blow of his own, doing sizable damage.

Spoiler

(Kiba is armoured!)
(Kiba is in the face of adversity!)
(Naomi will attack twice!)
(Naomi is shining bright!)

 

Naomi:
Attack: 6
Hit: 97%
Crit: 17%

 

Kiba:
Attack: 13
Hit: 58%
Crit: 0%
 
Naomi's attack, 13, hit!
Kiba's counterattack, 16, hit!
Naomi's attack, 75, hit!

 

Kiba takes 12 damage!
Naomi takes 13 damage!
(Shield of Faith activates! +1)

 

As Michi follows up, their fireball landing true, Kiba staggers. The combination of his injuries makes his retaliation weak, and it misses the mage hiding in the brush.

Spoiler

(Kiba is armoured!)
(Kiba is in the face of adversity!)
(Michi will attack twice!)
(Michi is in trees!)

 

Michi:
Attack: 7
Hit: 92%
Crit: 1%

 

Kiba:
Attack: 14
Hit: 45%
Crit: 0%
 
Michi's attack, 31, hit!
Kiba's counterattack, 71, miss!
Naomi's attack, 87, hit!

 

Kiba takes 14 damage!

 

"A bad man... weighted... hmm."

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Fighter 1 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45) Droppable
Fighter 2 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Fighter 3 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Archer 1 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 2 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 3 : (1/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 4 : (8/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Mercenary 1 : (23/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 2 : (3/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 3 : (11/23) Iron Sword (45/45)

Mage 1: (9/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 2: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 3: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 4: (13/23) Gale (40/40) Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable

Mage 5: (23/23) Gale (40/40)

Soldier 1 : (3/24) Iron Lance (45/45), Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable
Soldier 2 : (14/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 3 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 4 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Knight 1 : (4/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 2 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 3 : (14/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 4 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)

Knight 5 : (6/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 6 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 7 : (12/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 8 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Cleric 1 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)

Cleric 2 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)
Kiba Windamier : (4/30) Rhongomiante (30/30), Flux (40/40) Droppable

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (H10) : (25/25) Wooden Sword (32/50)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Kerr (G8) : (23/23) Slim Lance (24/35)E, Iron Lance (44/45)
Kris (G5) : (10/20) Iron Knife (33/45)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Seymore (H8) : (27/27) Hatchet (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Naomi (G6) : (5/21) Lightning (23/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3)
Michi (H7) : (21/22) Fire (24/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Ceridwen (E8) : (0/24) Slim Lance (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3) Downed 3/3
Fallon (F10) : (21/21) Worm (25/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Dulcibella (E9) : (13/20) Training Bow (32/40)E
Rhian (G7) : (3/25) Wooden Greatbow (28/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Verden (G10) : (18/18) Heal (14/30)E, Vulnerary (3/3)

Johanna (F8) : (14/24) Iron Axe (14/45)E, Hatchet (35/35), Vulnerary (1/3)

 

NPCs: Location, Health, Weapons
Warriors Village 1 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 2 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 3 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 4 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flynn : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flesselles : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)
 
EXP Tracker: 86/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 400

 

[krim]

Fallon hesitated for a moment before moving in to take his shot. The leader seemed almost...confused by what Naomi and Michi were saying. But taking a glance back at the warriors' village, he knew that it didn't matter.  "Regardless of your actions up until this point, your orders have caused the deaths of innocents. Any commander who would do so willingly deserves what befalls them!"  he said hostilely as he loosed two bolts of dark energy.

 

F9, Down Kiba

[rokubiraijuu]

As the dark magic enshrouds him, Kiba sinks to his knees, the injuries mounting up and proving too much to persevere through.

Spoiler

(Kiba is armoured!)
(Kiba is in the face of adversity!)
(Fallon will attack twice!)
(Fallon has a commander's intuition!)
(Fallon is affected by charisma!)

 

Fallon:
Attack: 9
Hit: 100%
Crit: 7%

 

Kiba:
Attack: 12
Hit: 50%
Crit: 0%
 
Fallon's attack, autohit!

 

Kiba is defeated with 9 damage!

 

"Sir!" Fraught at seeing their General collapse, the healers rush towards him. The armored knight and the mage still standing also move to take up defensive positions before him, futile as they know it to be in the face of so many standing enemies.

 

Kiba shakes his head and waves the clerics off. Unsure but knowing better than to question, they hesitate.

 

"This is how it should be." 

 

"Don't say that, sir, we can still—"

 

A stare from the General causes the rest of his words to peter out. His arms sag, Rhongomiante falling from his hand and rolling in the trampled grass. "If you can find it in yourselves... let them go. They only... followed me."

 

With that, he's silent. And at that, the remaining escapees falter, lowering their weapons and looking at each other, then down at the ground. It seems there's a lot they want to say to each other, but the gravity of their moment of judgment and their leader's death begets solemnity. They only wait.

 

MAJOR VICTORY!

 

Final Results:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Fighter 1 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45) Droppable
Fighter 2 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Fighter 3 : (25/25) Iron Axe (45/45)
Archer 1 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 2 : (3/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 3 : (1/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Archer 4 : (8/22) Iron Bow (45/45)
Mercenary 1 : (23/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 2 : (3/23) Iron Sword (45/45)
Mercenary 3 : (11/23) Iron Sword (45/45)

Mage 1: (9/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 2: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 3: (8/23) Fire (40/40)

Mage 4: (13/23) Gale (40/40) Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable

Mage 5: (23/23) Gale (40/40)

Soldier 1 : (3/24) Iron Lance (45/45), Vulnerary (3/3) Droppable
Soldier 2 : (14/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 3 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Soldier 4 : (9/24) Iron Lance (45/45)
Knight 1 : (4/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 2 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 3 : (14/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)
Knight 4 : (24/24) Iron Javelin (45/45)

Knight 5 : (6/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 6 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 7 : (12/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Knight 8 : (2/24) Iron Axe (45/45)

Cleric 1 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)

Cleric 2 : (18/18) Heal (30/30)
Kiba Windamier : (4/30) Rhongomiante (30/30), Flux (40/40) Droppable

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (H10) : (25/25) Wooden Sword (32/50)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Kerr (G8) : (23/23) Slim Lance (24/35)E, Iron Lance (44/45)
Kris (G5) : (10/20) Iron Knife (33/45)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Seymore (H8) : (27/27) Hatchet (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Naomi (G6) : (5/21) Lightning (23/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3)
Michi (H7) : (21/22) Fire (24/40)E, Vulnerary (2/3)
Ceridwen (E8) : (0/24) Slim Lance (21/35)E, Vulnerary (1/3), Vulnerary (3/3) Downed 3/3
Fallon (F9) : (21/21) Worm (24/40)E, Flux (40/40), Vulnerary (2/3)
Dulcibella (E9) : (13/20) Training Bow (32/40)E
Rhian (G7) : (3/25) Wooden Greatbow (28/40)E, Vulnerary (3/3), Vulnerary (3/3)
Verden (G10) : (18/18) Heal (14/30)E, Vulnerary (3/3)

Johanna (F8) : (14/24) Iron Axe (14/45)E, Hatchet (35/35), Vulnerary (1/3)

 

NPCs: Location, Health, Weapons
Warriors Village 1 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 2 : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 3 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Warriors Village 4 : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flynn : (1/21) Iron Sword (45/45)

Flesselles : (21/21) Iron Sword (45/45)
 
EXP Tracker: 16/100 Level up!

 

Gold Scavenged: 400

 

"Excuse me!" The sound of footsteps interrupts the heavy atmosphere, and the party turns to see the young boy from the men that were defending the village jogging up to them. Instead of the sword at his hip from earlier, he now carries a bow slung across his shoulder. "I'm glad you all haven't left yet. Our elder wanted to ask if you would stay in the village, at least for the night. You may be outsiders, but you did help us, and we can't just let that go. So... won't you come? They're preparing space for you now."

 

After a moment of thought, Johanna nods and steps forward, having dismounted from Idriss after Kiba had fallen. "We'll take you up on that offer. Thank you very much. My guards are injured as well, and we wouldn't mind someplace to regain our bearings."

 

"Great! Oh— and the elder said to give you this, as thanks."

 

Received Pure Water!

 

"Are they...?" He looks towards the remaining prisoners still standing.

 

"They're in our custody for now," Johanna replies. "We'll bring them in, too, and decide what to do with them. They won't be of any more harm to your village, we swear."

 

As they are, the Allied Guard follow behind Fless into the Warriors Village with the convicts in tow, arms bound and weapons confiscated. They show no resistance, resigned to whatever may come of them. As they proceed past the front "gate", little more than a wooden structure erected at the entrance, they enter into a world few have ever seen for themselves. It's not as strange as one might expect from a culture so removed from the rest of the world. The houses, simple log buildings with thatched roofs, look similar to cabins one might have seen in the wilderness, if their roofs, slanted up on all four sides into a steep and pointed peak, are a little oddly shaped. The densely forested ground has been leveled out into soft meadows, and the tended grass feels like a cushion beneath the Guards' weary feet. The houses are widely spaced apart, giving the village an open, breathable feeling. Another dwelling, larger than the others, sits on a rocky incline near the rear of the village.

 

Luckily, none of the attacking prisoners had managed to break past the entrance thanks to the warriors' strong defense, so the interior remains untouched by the battle. In the darkness of nighttime, few are out and about, but the Guard can see some animals scattered around: some from the nearby wilderness moving around, some of them work animals in stables or tied to fences either asleep or grazing.

 

"The places you'll stay are still being prepared," Flynn says, leading them over to an open, roofed shelter, "so you can wait here until that's ready. Um, will whoever's in charge come with me? The elder wants to see you."

 

"That would be me," Johanna says, stepping forward.

 

Flynn seems awestruck by this, though whether it's from her or Idriss' massive size is unclear. "Wow... so... you're really the leader...?" 

 

Choosing to ignore the comment, Johanna turns to the others. "While I'm gone, I would like you all to discuss what should be done with the remaining prisoners. I would like to hear what your consensus is by the time I return. Thank you all for fighting bravely today."

[Chevaleresse]

"Well, I wanna hear what the bastards have to say for themselves. They basically threw themselves onto our swords, they've gotta have some reason for this level of idiocy."

[Aurorix]

Argos hadn't really been paying attention to past few things that had been happening. Apparently they were victorious. They're also in the town now, neato but is he really worthy of being here? For once he's just kinda kept quite, blindly following along with the group. His mind lost in his own thoughts before he suddenly pulled himself out of his mind to hear them start talking about what to do with the prisoners.

 

"Well, it's not like they've gone anywhere. Let's go right now and ask."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Answer is easy right? They are bad people. Bad people need to be put down." Naomi shrugged. "What matters is that Team Magic totally saved the day! When do we get rewarded for our bravery? Like a medal or something?"

[rokubiraijuu]

Since being brought in, the prisoners have remained silent. They've stuck together in a small group, the remaining four of them, but say nothing. The knight walks at the forefront, having shed most of his armor that'd been dented during the battle. The mage follows behind him, as well as one of the clerics. The other, who seems to be young, around Naomi's age, trails behind some steps, though the other cleric glances back over his shoulder at her once in a while.

 

Once under the shelter, they keep a bit of distance from the Guard, standing in a cluster in a corner, well within eyesight, not that they're doing much. When approached, it's the mage who turns to look at them. 

 

And when asked for their reasons, she opens her mouth—

 

"What does it matter? Do you need to know our reasons to decide what to do with us?"

 

Only to be cut off by the male cleric, who looks less than happy about this whole situation. The girl stands behind him, avoiding looking at anyone else directly.

 

The mage's jaw clenches in frustration, but she ignores his remark, instead choosing to answer the question. "We broke out of Soniere several days ago because that place is worse than hell. I don't know what your orders were, but we were going to make for Kuluk, then take a boat up to Jowston. Try to make some living there. We knew there was no way we weren't going to be hunted down if we stayed in Caliss."

 

"All this, just for fighting on the wrong side." The knight lets out a sigh, folding his arms back behind his head.

 

"We all had our reasons," the mage replies sharply before looking back levelly at the Guard. "But that's then. What's your decision?"

[Chevaleresse]

"My orders were to help bring in a bunch of brigands and tyrant-supporting scum. Curious as to what part of making a quiet getaway involved storming a village and killing people for the crime of being around." She let the statement stand as her question. "Bit more than fighting on the wrong side, there."

[Aurorix]

"I mean I don't expect prison to be all rainbows and sunshine but what exactly happened in there to make you all want to leave this badly? Well, besides the fact that it is indeed a prison." Argos doesn't really know what he expects from this question. If anything they could just embellish the truth making it seem worse than it actually is.

[ElfCollaborator]

 

 "Last I heard, fighting on the wrong side had nothing to do with attacking a random village out of your way.  And don't all people believe they aren't worth prison? What makes your case so different that the lives of others ought to be beneath yours?"

[rokubiraijuu]

"Brigands and tyrant-supporting scum?" the knight chimes in, still reclining. His tone is tinged with ironic mirth. "Well, guess I'm not surprised. They started calling people that well before our Hero of Caliss toted around his banner."

 

"This isn't the time or place to get into old politics," the mage chides. She shakes her head. "As for attacking the village... all I can say is that we are ex-convicts. We were lucky enough to get out of Soniere with the clothes on our backs and scrounge some gear up along the way. Past that, we had no supplies left. A few of our number already succumbed to exposure and starvation. I'm making no excuse, and I can't say I'm proud of the decision, but it was what the General chose in the end. Our survival."

 

"Well, I'm proud of it," the male cleric pipes up again bitterly. "Whatever it takes to not end up like those poor fucking sods in Soniere's Ward." His hand tightens a bit where it holds onto the girl's behind him, prompting her to look up at him questioningly, though he doesn't notice. "General did the right thing. Damn it, he did the right thing for us. That's what matters."

 

"Pretty passionate speech for someone at judgment day," the knight quips.

 

"Can't all be flippant assholes like you."

 

"Is that enough to explain our situation?" The mage continues to address the Guard, ignoring her fellows behind her. "In the end, we can't understand each other. Just make your choice."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Hmm..." Naomi crossed her arms, eyes closed. "Guilty." She declared. "They seem like bad men, and they've broken out once. I think we should get rid of them for good, and the world will be better for it." 

[ElfCollaborator]

 

 "They should face justice, but not by our hand. Their actions were dishonorable, but it does not make it our place to dishonor ourselves as a result, and in any case, killing them will not undo their misdeeds. Of course, it is not my decision."

•  

[Aurorix]

"I mean I would consider letting you all go but you did attack this village... maybe we can send them to a.. better... nicer.... prison? Do those exist? I don't think we should kill them though, or at least if they'd rather die I don't want to be their executioner."

[Sentient Bowtie]

 

“I can’t claim to understand you,” Dulcie replies to the mage. “For some reason you all ended up in that prison. Maybe I don’t want to know what that reason is. You escaped with General Kiba and ended up here, forced to attack and steal from others to survive. But now that we’ve defeated you and you might be executed, you seem resigned to it. Content with it, even.”

 

”I can’t claim to understand you, but I still pity you.”

 

She turns to the other Guards. “We should let them go on to Jowston. Killing them wouldn’t bring anyone back and if we sent them to another prison they would just try the same thing again.”

[Chevaleresse]

"Let them go for what?" She turned back to the man. "You know what a brigand is? Then you should know why I called you one. Killing people to make off with their goods - sure, you did it to live, but I went through rough times and never stooped so low." 

"So I gotta ask. Why? You're gonna tell me 'honorable' men went for that option? There's something else going on in there. And whatever that something else is, is gonna be what decides what happens to you."

[Sentient Bowtie]

”...That is a good question. What’s that place like? Why is it so horrible that you would throw away your sense of honor instead of staying there any more?”

[rokubiraijuu]

"You're seriously asking why we wouldn't just want to hang around in prison?" The knight seems amused by Dulcibella's question, a wry smile curving his mouth. "How old were all of you when the Liberation War ended? The first thing all the winners wanted was to lock up every single last loser in Caliss for life. Keeps the country safe from all the toxic Imperialists, you know?"

 

"How can you just— talk about—"

 

"Look," the knight sighs, sitting up fully to frown at the cleric. "None of us could stomach it. It's like slowly losing air in there. We were soldiers for the Imperial Army, all of us. No shame in admitting that," he says, shooting a look at the mage. "And cause we ended up on the losing side, we got thrown in a place where the animals got better treatment. Miss," he addresses Rhian now, though without looking at her, "if you've never had to stoop so low to keep going, I'm happy for you. If this is still about what honorable people should've done, then, well, the choice is yours."

 

There's a moment of silence.

 

"... What a relief, to hear you be serious for once," the mage says quietly with a small smile.

 

At the same time, the cleric grumbles under his breath. "That's just sad... explaining... groveling ourselves to some folks who think they're so high and mighty."

 

The knight laughs at the first comment, then shrugs nonchalantly at the second one. He says nothing more, waiting with idle expectation for whatever comes.

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian leaned back for a moment. This was hard. Killing people on the battlefield, fine, it was life or death out there and she'd said as much. I don't know that I'm the right person for this. This was. . . different. They didn't seem like bad people. Maybe not necessarily good people, but she could understand being in a place that felt suffocating, after everything had come crashing down around you.

"The way I see it, there's three choices here. One, we ship you back to prison. Two, we kill you, here and now. Something tells me you'd prefer that to number one. I would. And, three. . . Say I was feeling extra merciful. How am I supposed to know you're not going to go bandit or try to stage some kind of prison break?"