King's Mulligan [Interactive Project]

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Courier: Pardon! Trying to get a word in here!

Everyone’s attention immediately turns to the living sword.

Courier: Don’t know if it’s my place to talk, certainly not my dispute to resolve but…

Courier: I really don’t want to fight here.

Xey look directly at Eddie.

Courier: I don’t want to hurt you.

Eddie is immediately staggered, posture softening.

Eddie: I… don’t want to hurt you either.

Courier approaches the mirror, putting a hand through and offering it to him.

Eddie reaches a hand out in return but is reluctant to commit.

Eddie: I don’t know if I can let this go by but I don’t want to drag anyone I care about into this. You, the resistance, even our newcomer here is growing on me quickly…

Eddie: But… at the end of the day I do need to eventually address something he will not.

Eddie looks over at your rabbity ally.

Gallows: You drag up a past I’ve discarded time and time again-

Eddie: You haven’t. You are a liar and I exist as proof it still lingers on you. You may have burned down bridges and kingdoms to get where you are but your feelings on the matter are eating at you, eating at me! Until you do I will hunt you down until a change happens.

Gallows: And I will cut you down everytime.

Eddie: So be it then… for now I will retreat I think…

He turns his attention back to Courier.

Eddie: I’m sorry for being such trouble but…

Courier: I understand.

Eddie: You really meant that right? You still consider me a friend?
Courier: Mm, even if you’re a reflection you’re still welcome in my book.

Eddie: Thank you…

He turns toward you.

Eddie: We just met but I have a good vibe from you…

Eddie: I hope this isn’t strange to say but, you remind me of a good person I once knew.

Eddie: It feels selfish to attach lingering feelings toward you.. But it makes us feel safe.

Eddie: I do hope we become allies for a long time, him especially could do with more good folk.

Eddie ultimately doesn’t take Courier’s hand, retreating back into the darkness of the mirror.

Eddie: Heed one warning, do not dare enter here without something to cling onto.

Eddie: Know yourself, define yourself or you will vanish fade…..

After a pause, Courier lets out a sigh of relief.

Tiles: You made a good call there, how’d you know?

Courier: I just.. Felt it in my gut really. I figured if he’s a reflection it was worth a shot. I’m worried though, to be honest. That’s the worst I’ve seen him, Gallows…

Gallows: It’s… a lot on my shoulders. Courier and Starman know but I… I’d like to wait before I tell you. Though I imagine you already have speculations yourself so I should say sooner rather than later…

Gallows: For now we should scurry along I think, people are waiting. 

Gallows: Any questions before we dive in quickly?

___________

---

Anura: Pick which aspects you wish to define yourself as. They will strengthen you, give you more definition for roleplay, and perhaps give you the strength you need in upcoming battle.


Thing You Fear:

Thing You Love:

Feelings On Party Members:

Favorite Meal:

Emotion you Carry into Combat:

A Fond Childhood Memory:

Questions for the DM:

Questions for your Party:

 

 

[Ignispark]

Thing You Fear: Failure, Collapse. For everything that led to this point to amount to nothing. For every drop of blood shed and every bead of sweat to be meaningless in the end. 

Thing You Love: Protecting what little pieces of safety and comfort exist for others in a world filled with sorrow and strife.

Feelings On Party Members: They all seem like competent and good folk. Hopefully, they'll survive.

Favorite Meal: Something consistent and plain, that can be achieved even when one's far from the familiar.

Emotion you Carry into Combat: Duty and Dread, in equal measure. The need to move forward and the knowledge of what failure entails.

A Fond Childhood Memory: Perhaps something regarding a notable mentor. Maybe something with whoever taught stuff about knighthood?

Questions for the DM: Catch the DM off guard with something only tangentially related to the game: What's the ideal mirror, in general? What's the best possible mirror? What is the epitome of reflection? It's always fun to ask questions to get to know people.

Questions for your Party: Maybe ask something simple. One possibility is to uh, steal that above question in character as well. Or, maybe ask about something a bit calmer to try to lower the stakes from what just happened. How about uh, weirdest dish you've ever made? Or maybe...if you could have any fashion accessory, what would it be?

[King-Clod]

Thing You Fear: Not living up to the title we've taken on. For our family having died in vain.

Thing You Love: Honestly? Piecing our armor and gear back together again, for ourself and others. It's very methodical, but it still takes heart. And it can be a helpful way to unwind after a log day of fighting. It's important to focus on fixing things, rather than just breaking the bad.

Feelings On Party Members: Honestly? They're all cute, for sure, but I haven't gotten a good grip of who they are yet. I'd like to know them more, but we'll see if we get that chance.

Favorite Meal: Sausages, fried mushrooms, and toasted bread. A favorite breakfast of ours.

Emotion you Carry into Combat: Responsibility. While it isn't solely up to us to fight, without us others would get hurt. Things tend to get a lot worse when we aren't fighting.

A Fond Childhood Memory: Playing with our siblings with toy swords in the backyard. Our childhood pet bounding alongside us as we did, trying to be included any way it could. Making paper lanterns at the end of that night, and letting them float away without having to worry of them giving away our position. Living was simpler back then.

Questions for the DM: Hmm. I don't have many questions, besides one. If our character got replaced with her mirror form, how would that affect gameplay? Would that be a "game over?"

Questions for your Party: What sort of folk can we expect to encounter in the mirror realm? Is the environment tricky to make your way around? And... what did Eddie mean about needing something to hold onto?

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Kolita: I got my answers I think-

Anura: Hold them off for in-game, these will do a little for you in just a moment.

Kolita: Oh?

Anura: A chance. Your character is quite weakened and your skillset lacks the fleshing out you’d expect from someone who’s a trained knight, no?

Kolita: A little…

Anura: You’ll see then soon.

Kolita: Do have questions for you specifically though.

Anura: Mm, that’s true.

Kolita: What’s the perfect mirror? Like… what’s the ideal one? And if we get replaced do we get a game over?

Anura: The idea of creating perfect reflection is difficult to give a clear answer on but there’s certainly a detail that you may have noticed. Tutor’s limb is fractured. For a knight of this era, your weapon is your life. To have no arm is to lose your arm, you understand?

Kolita: Absolutely, I wouldn't want to be caught in this situation myself..

Anura: It represents your ability to stand up for others and yourself. To lose such a thing can be massively disheartening, especially when you’ve lost access to a guild that’ll repair or replace it.

Anura:. The mirror world grants an opportunity to draw a new hand. Cast away the old for something refined. What you have is broken weapons, a bit of knowledge, and a magic system. What you lack is skill. This place is where you truly define your playstyle from now on. Do *not* waste your shot.

Kolita: Sure wouldn’t be opposed. Guessing that’s what the prompts were for?

Anura: Absolutely. Now… shall we resume?

Kolita: You didn’t answer that last part…

Anura: For now I’d say avoid being replaced. I doubt it’d happen anytime soon, lest your mirror counterpart become concerned you’d do wrong.

Kolita: I guess so… one last question?

Anura: Oh?

Kolita: Do you like chocolate cake?

Anura:... Any reason?

Kolita: Just checkin in.

Anura: I love any sort of chocolate honestly.. Could do with some.

Kolita: Noted. Guess that’s everything for now.

Anura: Hmm….  Back to the game I suppose.

Kolita: Mm.

---

 

Tiles: I’m just about ready but I have a few questions.

Gallows: We should make it quick, we’ve already been delayed enough.

Tiles: Right so… What’s the ideal mirror? Seems like you were at odds with yours…

Gallows: The ideal mirror is the one that’s not a nuisance. Unfortunately mine is... Yours seems fine thankfully though she seems to have left for now..

Tiles: I do hope she’s okay…

Courier: Sure she is, that world isn’t particularly hostile toward reflections and if she’s a knight like you I imagine she’d hold her own no?

Tiles: Mm..

 

Courier: She does have me worrying about you though…. Overheard your conversation a little.

Tiles: Ah…

Courier: Promise we’ll do everything we can to let you get back at the crown, and we’ll keep you safe.

Tiles: You’ve hardly known me.

Gallows: Aye, but a comrade is a comrade. Starman might be a little hard at first though, they tend to be cautious.

Courier: They’re a kind person at heart but… they won’t let you in without proving you’re someone they can lean on in a pinch.

Tiles: Suppose there’s no issue with being selective during a conflict like ours.

Courier: Almost skewered me early on…

Gallows: To be fair you’re using the body of an enemy, he had more than reason to be cautious…

Courier: Mm… didn’t really choose to be fair. Just ended up thrusted in here.

Gallows: Yeah that’s my bad…

Courier: I got to meet all of you so it’s alright! Anyway, be on your best behavior when we meet them.

Gallows: Mm… Shall we commence?

Tiles: One final thing actually… Eddie said to cling onto something, to risk fading… What goes on in this world?

Gallows: Ah.. he’s absolutely right on that. The mirror world is a haven so long as you don’t let it drag at you too much. Being in there changes you overtime in subtle ways.

Gallows:  Many cases it’s beneficial, but if you spend too much time inside it’ll start warping you, unveiling things in your heart and making them real. Being injured in there may also not strike for lethal the way it would here, but it speeds up the process. It can be reversed but it’s a terrible state to be in.

Gallows: You’ll meet all sorts of folks in there, many just passerbys using the shortcuts like us or those needing retreat from the crown’s grip.

Gallows: Some have become part of that world as if it were their home. They’ll do anything to protect it from harm.

Gallows: We’ll be with you though and we’re just passing by ourselves, you’ll be safe. 

Tiles: Mm..

Gallows: I really do mean it now, we need to go. Shall we?

Courier: I’m set.

Tiles: Mm, same…

Courier goes ahead and gives you a wave as xey jump through. You follow behind, looking back at Gallows who gives you an assuring nod.

You take the plunge.

It’s cold and overwhelming like jumping into a lake in winter.

At first it’s terrifying, every breath fills your lungs with something not quite air. It shocks your body a little…

After a moment you find yourself stabilizing. Your surroundings start to materialize in your eyes..

You’re in the middle of a tight street. A tower in the distance menaces you. There’s all sorts of long black threads connected by poles and metal domes attached to the buildings nearby. You see a large metal beast of a machine in the background crawl across the ground. You’re a little unnerved by it’s howl…

None of your party members seem to be around. Instead facing you is a stranger in a coat.

They’re looking directly at you.

???: Been monitorin’ you and your little friend group’s interactions just now. Seems like you’re new to this place.

???: I staggered their landing in this world, they’ll be here soon enough but I need a few minutes with you.

???: This place will eat you up alive if you aren’t prepared.

??? And no offense, I take it you aren’t at ye best at the moment.

???: I don’t want you getting hurt because you can’t walk on yer own legs.

???: Prove to me you can hold yer own.

???: Keep me at bay til your friends show up and I’ll reward you greatly.

??? Fail and I’ll send you home. How you’d like to settle this is up to you.

???: Your torture ahead  is yours to choose. The lot of you listening can figure it out.

 

 

[Ignispark]

Ah well. This mystery figure has made themselves pretty clear so I guess. Look them in the eyes. Take a couple paces back, draw thy weapon, and ask for their name of course. They seem like someone interesting. Might as well take this test as an opportunity to meet someone new.

[King-Clod]

Let's get into Balanced Stance, then start a conversation if we can.
"Pretty kind of you to look out for newbies. Hope I don't disappoint."

Question to Anura: After that, I have a bit of an odd idea. Things that spend a long time in here have a possibility or warping. Does that extend to our weapons, as an extension of us? If we channel our hopes to prove ourself and make our family proud into our weapon, can we make it change? Or would we need to be in the mirror realm longer for that sort of thing to be able to take effect?

(OOC: By "the lot of you listening," do they mean us? The forum goers? Or am I reading too deep into that?)

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You look the stranger directly in the eye, taking a moment to step back to gain some safe distance, and raise your weapon. 

???: Ah, combat? I suppose that makes sense, a knightly looking person would be good at sparring. 

Tiles: Of course. It’s pretty kind of you to look out for newbies, hope not to disappoint. 

???: Likewise, keep it clean shall we?

Tiles: Mm, may I have a name?

???: Fielder, and you?

Tiles: Tiles.

Fielder: Wear your family name as yours… good. 

Fielder: Loyalty to yourself is a value people don’t appreciate enough I don’t think. Yer interesting for certain.

Fielder: Protect your pride. 

You take up a balanced stance. 

Fielder starts approaching. 

Fielder: Walking is always a free action til you’ve managed yourself in lancing range. Don’t commit your swing without a follow up, lest you wish to be punished fatally. 

Tiles: The principles of fighting. 

Fielder: Exactly. Commence. 
 

---

Your character sheet adjusts to reflect. Your Combat Menu pops up. You may fight in however manner you can freeform but these might help.



STATUS: Healthy/Tired

MAGIC COMMANDS

REINFORCE: Make your body as sturdy as armor, taking hits from physical blows and weapons with your skin. Equips a page of choice, sturdiness varies on said page. Taking too much damage will BURN the PAGE, deleting from inventory.

RETRIBUTION: Slam your body or limbs into a creature with enchanted energy to record them. Successful knockdown will grab you at least 1x Pages associated with the target.

BESTIARY: Able to fend opponent off with a strike emulating a memory of a living creature you’ve encountered. This is channeled through your BUNBUD. The form taking a lethal blow will BURN the PAGE

RECALL: Use a “Memory” Page of an event to buff and/or heal yourself or others. Effectiveness depends on the page used.

BLITZ: Burn any page to slam the target full force with full body invincibility. Can be used in a panic to break walls, doors, or get out of a struggle.

LAUNCHER: Slam your opponent with the blunt of your weapon hard enough to knock them in the air helplessly.

(NEW)
AVANT GARDE: Gain a free REINFORCE buff for one hit when you initiate a fight yourself.



COMBAT INVENTORY

PAGES x 5 (Breakfast Memory, Old Rubbish Pile, Spellbuckler Memory x 3)

BUNBUD: Bastion EQUIPPED (Status: Healthy/Smug)

Crown Lance EQUIPPED (Status: Broken)

Friend’s Sword (Status: Good)

Retribution’s Cookbook EQUIPPED(Status: Worn)

Knight’s Gown EQUIPPED (Status: Okay)

Bookworm Remnant EQUIPPED

It seems by that last command you’re already seeing payoff…. 

You have initiative, you have a free RETRIBUTION armor buff.
 

---

Kolita: Had a bit of a thought.

Anura: Oh?

Kolita: Things go and warp while they’re in this world right? Does that include our weapons? 

Anura: It would! Your character considers her weapon part of her, down to her mirror missing an arm cause her lance broke. Pretty smart catch honestly. This world can accelerate physical growth drastically since it’s hard to become hulked out over a few days or master skills in general. 

Anura: Some of it's good for you, some of it comes at a cost. You know how it is.

Kolita: Is clinging onto family pride something that might change that? 

Anura: You really like that part of the character huh?

Kolita: Little bit… resonates. 

Anura: Not surprised honestly, you look the type. Anyway you’ll see soon enough.

(OOC: I can’t specify)

[skinstealer]

reinforce w/ breakfast memory, bestiary with spellbuckler

[King-Clod]

How many combat commands can we do a turn?
I know the Reinforce command is free because of Avant Garde, maybe we can attack, let them attack, and then hit back with a Retribution? I think we could get some really interesting scraps from this guy.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

OOC: Actions will be sequenced based on suggestions. Multiple people suggesting the same command will increase the likelyhood of it being included.

[Ignispark]

I think I might have an interesting idea for what to do to start off (stealing heavily from previous suggestions)-

AVANT GARDE & REINFORCE w/breakfast memory, then use LAUNCHER to get a clear opening by punting them into the sky, and nail them with RETRIBUTION on the way down.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

 

CW: Blood and Mild Violence.

 

You cast REINFORCE immediately using a breakfast memory. Because of your AVANT GARDE it was free to cast, your page is not compromised for one charge.

Your little buddy of a puppet Bastion is manifested in a new form, appearing as a Spellbuckler. It’s oddly smug about this.

You initiate the first move, swinging hard with the blunt end of your lance.

Fielder manages to back away in time, only to be shoulder tackled into the ground. Your boosted sturdiness from RETRIBUTION makes the impact like being hit by a wall. You gain a page, "MIRROR FRAGMENT."

Your moment of advantage is cut short.

craaaaaaAAAAAACK...

Your ribs are jabbed with enough force to wind you instantly. Some sort of bullet? A throwing knife?

Your mind is blasted with images of your failure, being unable to even get past this first starting portal. 

What hit you? A Poison dart?

You check your wounds.

It’s… a playing die?

You’re staggered pretty hard right now.

Your mind is filled with images of your potential failure.

Every worst case scenario loops over and over.

After a bit you start to regain your senses.

Fielder begins to lumber back onto his feet.

Fielder: Looks like you’ve gotten a terrible roll, your body is cursed right now.

Fielder: Haven’t gotten this lucky in a bit.

He throws a wide kick, you barely managed to block

Fielder: Good, you still have plenty of fight in you.

Your Status is MILDLY DELIRIOUS but otherwise MOSTLY HEALTHY

Your REINFORCE boost is compromised, another hit will shatter it.

Fielder: I don’t want to see any messing around..

Fielder: This may be a spar but I want you to fight with everything.

Fielder: It's honest that way.

The images start to flash even harder..

 You failure to protect your family... 

The fear of dying on the street...

Those who sold you out.

Your heart is inflicted with a terrifying fear.

The kind that'll make you do anything to survive right now.

Make your next turn count.

 

 

[King-Clod]

Take either a tactical or execution stance, I'm not sure.
Recall using Spellbuckler, hoping to buff us or Bastion
Blitz with our last Spellbuckler

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

CW: Mild Violence

 You take the EXECUTION stance. You’ve traded in safety for increased power and lethality.

Your opponent eyes you carefully, anticipating the strike from your weapon.

The tension of the fight in this world makes something feel different, a change coming in…

You mutter your RECALL with the spellbucker memory.

You feel your symptoms lesson and your would heal just a touch..

Your status is UNEASY but otherwise MOSTLY HEALTHY

Your page burns.

Finally you activate one last charge of Spellbucker

Your page burns.

He fires another shot at you, a metal fragment this time.

You see it coming.

You go all out in a powerful BLITZ and slam into your opponent.

Your brief boost of durability rams through his projectile.

He seems genuinely shocked
 

He lets out a scream as he’s headbutted directly and drops into the concrete hard.

He is currently FLOORED. His Status is CONCUSSION.

You worry you’ve overdone it..

He struggles to get back up after that…

Fielder: Big risk taken there, admire that..

Fielder: Wasn’t expecting someone to have a spell like that on hand, certainly not one I’ve seen.

Fielder: But nonetheless applauded.

Fielder: You need guts in this world…

He spits blood onto the ground

Fielder: I need just a moment, this form isn’t quite as durable as I’d like admittedly…

Fielder: Consequence of fighting mortals on their level I suppose..

Fielder: Can ye believe I’m crying? Involuntary response…

Fielder: Just one moment and we can continue…

He looks pretty miserable right now. 
 

 

[King-Clod]

Ah yikes, didn't realize how powerful that would be.

Let's take a Balanced Stance again and back off, asking,
"Ah, sorry, I can get a bit frightful when cornered. You sure you want to keep going?"

If he says yeah, maybe do another Retribution? We're gonna need more pages. Not sure what else, though perhaps it's be wise to hold our blows a bit. Maybe just aim to strike him, not anything too fancy?

Also, question for Anura, can we give Bastion commands just as we can Gallows, or is it a bit too much of a bastard for that?

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

 You back off and give the poor bastard some space.

Tiles: Ah, my apologies. Get a bit frightful when in a pinch.

Fielder: Ye don’t say? Nearly did me in for a moment.

Tiles: Are you sure you want to keep going?

He manages to get back up onto his feet.

Fielder: Difficult to say really. You’ve more than proven you have a sense of fight.

Fielder: Though I suppose that shouldn’t be surprising, it’s quite obvious you’re a knight.

Fielder: Will say, you shouldn't let most opponents recover when they’ve been downed, you wanna close fights but…

Fielder: I respect yer sense of honor.

Fielder: I’ll recover quickly, already regaining my senses as we speak.

Tiles: You took a pretty heavy blow to the head.

Fielder: Not mortal, creation of this world really.

Fielder: Disembodied soul that’s melted with the place. One of many meant to watch over the realm.

Tiles: Do you gatekeep everyone?

Fielder: Not always myself but plenty of us exist. This world is supposed to be magic folk’s sanctuary from government rule.I make sure to keep the upcoming conflict out of here so that they can hide out and travel without going through checkpoints

Fielder: You happening to come in wearing the uniform of a fighter? Absolutely a bit of a concern though..

Fielder: I can tell you’re no dog of the king with that said.

Fielder: You came with two others, no?

Tiles: I did, where are they?

Fielder: Looking for you more than likely, one of them is close by.

Fielder: Can detect presences pretty far in this world, nothing gets past me.

Fielder: On a side note, looks like you’ve already grown some from being here. Outfit’s got that asymmetry thing some folks really like.

Tiles: So I have to ask, how much did you change from being here?

Fielder: Hmm… this certainly isn’t my original form by any means but one I’m pretty comfortable with none the less. Take that as you will.

Fielder: With that said you face a few potential friends and foes up ahead. Lucky for you, time is different here. What might seem like hours is mere minutes out there. Don’t worry about being too slow.

Tiles: I was about to say…

Fielder: And don’t be afraid to get comfortable with this world.. But not too comfortable. Changes that come as a result can be good, but the temptation to stay here and become one with the world is always a concern.

Tiles: Is that what happened to you?

Fielder: Wouldn’t say that. Anyway I suppose I’ll present to you a choice.
 

Fielder: We can continue to spar and you could potentially grow some more…

Fielder: Or you can stop now, take your loot, and I’ll guide you wherever need be.

Fielder: But I don’t want any mercy if we resume, you already gave too much and ye don’t got the resources to keep doing that.

---

---

Kolita: Quick question, Can I give commands to my little buddy here?

Kolita: Seems like a bit of a bastard but I figure if Gallows takes orders it can too?

Anura: Oh, it’s essentially a second party member at any time! Usually weaker but it should be good!

Anura: Command to your heart's content! Just be nice and ask please and thank you!

[Lilium Mortem]

I do not wish you ill, we will stop, lest I do permanent harm. I will not build my strength off of such things as harming anyone but an enemy. Besides, I would not help but give mercy to one who has not wronged me.

to Anura: I get the feeling we could have used any contest in place of this fight, would you have vetoed it if I asked for a duel via a children's card game? just curious.

[King-Clod]

As tempting as that is, I think you mentioned my friends are looking for me? I'd hate to worry them further. I'm sure I'll get another chance to spar here again, be it with you, or someone else on my path. If you'll lead the way, I'll gladly take my leave. I would love the chance to fight you again in the future, if you're up for it.

[Ignispark]

bonus question to Anura: are there any chances in the future where we could potentially determine important plot outcomes with a card game?

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

 Tiles: As much as the offer tempts me, you haven’t wronged me in any way and I have friends to catch up with. I’d hate to worry them further… you have my mercy.



Fielder: Understandable move, ye got your priorities right now. Must say though I wouldn’t mind a rematch at some point.
 Tiles: I’m sure I’ll spar again, whether it be you or someone else on my path… now if you could leave the way I’ll gladly take my leave but I’d love a chance to fight you again in the future.

Fielder: Absolutely, something more formal perhaps. Now allow me to lead.

The two of you make your way out of the tiny corner you brawled in and toward the bigger streets. They were just as perpetually soaked as the ones in your world but with a glossiness akin to oil all across the main roads. Shadows that vaguely resemble people in a crowd casually passed you with little acknowledgment

Fielder: Don’t mind them, just reflections of the surface world.

Tiles: Can they be harmed? Or harm me for that matter?

Fielder: Nah, not the same as the ones you or your friends might encounter of yourselves. They’re merely illusionary until someone steps through the glass.

Tiles: Noted…

Fielder: Your friends are the rabbit and the sword yes?

Tiles: Mmhmm. I take it you’re monitoring them?

Fielder: Monitor everyone, have to keep an eye out for crown business. As I said, place is meant to be a haven for those avoiding the rule above.  They’re just around the corner.

Tiles: That was fast….

Fielder: I didn’t take you that far off from your path. I would’ve bounced you back though if you couldn’t prove to have fight.

Tiles: Mm….

Fielder: I’m gonna send ye off with them. Between you and me I got a few comments on those two.

Tiles: Oh?



Fielder: Both of them are certainly… interesting. Rabbit there? Got some kind of twisted magic to him, gave me a real run for me money. Yer lucky to have him on your side because he’s a bit troublesome when he doesn’t like you.

Fielder: And sword there? Xey managed to get through with wits alone. Don’t always need to fight when you’re good with words ye know? Plus I couldn’t be mean to a face that sweet. Anyway keep them close, got a feeling they might be lucky for ye.

Tiles: I’ll do my best, I really do want to get to know them better.

You see them in the distance ahead. You give them a little wave.

Fielder: Wish you luck in that regard. Now I’m off if that’s fine with you, I’ll be keeping an eye. You’re welcome here.

Tiles: Of course-

As you turn, Fielder has vanished.



Courier: There you are! Who were you talking to just now?

Tiles: The watchmen of this place I think… they’re gone though.



Gallows: Ah, yeah that happens. There’s a few of them around here. Don’t tend to be big fans of me but we respect each other enough.

Tiles: Oh?

Gallows: Is what it is I supposed. You alright? You look a bit different.

Courier: Got a bit of a wardrobe change it’d seem.

Tiles: Happens in this place apparently…

Gallows: Ah… you might’ve discovered the start of some good magic. We can talk about it in a bit, have a secondary objective of sorts here before we meet Starman.

Courier: Do we? I wasn’t told anything.

Gallows: Mm. Have to meet up with a potential ally who could net us a lot of assistance in the effort. She’s on the way to our exit point-

Before he can even get any words out, the rabbit's hit with the sheer impact of a large, fancily dressed woman of an ambiguous species practically tackling him, picking him up and spinning him into a hug as best as she can with a scepter in hand.



 ????: Gallows! I can't believe I happened to run into you! My sweet little-
 She stops her spin as she notices you and Courier, using her scepter to steady both her and Gallows

You give a little wave, not wanting to interrupt the two of them but clearly catching her attention. 
 Gallows: Missed you, really wish you hadn't caught me in the middle of work right now honest...

She can't help but pout a bit, settling for placing a kiss right between his ears.
 ????: I was hoping we could squeeze a date in...

????: But the crown never rests, right?

Gallow: Never does... Might have some free time latter tonight after this job though. You busy yourself? Wouldn't mind you walking with us on the way.

????: Yes please.

????: I'm on my way to my own business with the gang, but when I saw you, they said I could go on ahead and we could rendezvous later.

????: Guess I wouldn't have had time to stick around either, but a girl can dream, right?

Gallows: We'll make up for it soon, been too long really... anyway I've got a new person with me so It'd be good to introduce them properly.

????: I see this...always nice to see you too, Courier. 

????: Forgive my manners, you know how I get around him.

Courier: I know how it is, can't blame you two for being excited. Honestly if we weren't handling something right now I'd say just drop him off later.

????: Oohh, an offer to snatch him away...another time!

????: For now...

She turns to face you, still holding Gallows in a squeeze. 
 ????: I am the almighty Court Wizard! Supposed necromancer, boss of spectral crime, and local lover of particular rabbits!

????: But you're a friend of Gallows, so just Motley will do unless we're in public.

You give a little bow in return. 
 Tiles: The Last Knight of Tiles, Tiles for short.

Motley: A knight?

Motley: Hmmm.

Motley: What's the story there?
 

---

Kolita: Quick question, could I have challenged Fielder to anything else?

Anura: A little.. but it feels right for the character to do a actual spar honestly? So don't feel bad.

Kolita: Huh... and could I have challenged them to a card game?

Anura: If you had thought about it sure, one of your party members sure did. I think you can figure out who! 

Kolita: What a dork.