The War for the Rose: Book One Complete

[OnBackorder]

Do you HAVE to ally yourself with anyone?

>This is too much bullshit. Get back to your brother.

Helping either side would end in less casualties then helping no side. The Flightless are too incompetent for a skirmish, while Amin seem less able then he puts forward. If he was good, he would have escaped while Dilara was alone. As for finding our brother, they have only been separated one day. They also said to meet at the Keep, but that is quite a ways away and behind heavy guard-posts. Whether of not her companions made it in the city is another gamble.

I agree that this has been a stressful day on the girl. Among the list:
- Almost fell off an airship.
- Woken from sleep at knife-point.
- Alone in a strange city.
- Identity known to a psychotic thief queen.
- Lost quality knives to said queen.
- Killed her first person ever.
- Killed more people.
- Assisted killing some people, including allies.
- Anas broke her heart.
- Lost all her weapons.
- Lost her proof of identification (Inadvertently killed another ally).
- Was fondled inappropriately.
- Hit in the head several times, once being knocked unconscious.
- Possibly fondled while unconscious.
- Saw Amin's wiener.

Anything else happen since we left Tritower?

[alexthewhite]

((The reason I haven't updated is because as it stands, the vote is 1 vote Ten Knives, 1 vote Flightless. MM withdrew his vote with his last post. I'm still waiting for someone to break the tie, because I don't really know what to do from here without a decision being made.))

[Askia]

> go to ten knives side for now

Well my logic says we should escape the city but screw that

[OnBackorder]

Okay, so escape it is then. But what of Dilara? Do we let her go knowing who we are or . . . Amin is just going to stab her before we make a decision isn't he? At least everyone alive in this room has a knife now, right.

[alexthewhite]

> go to ten knives side for now

Okay, so escape it is then. But what of Dilara? Do we let her go knowing who we are or . . . Amin is just going to stab her before we make a decision isn't he? At least everyone alive in this room has a knife now, right.

You are still lacking in weaponry, unfortunately. "Amin," you say. "I'll go with you, but on one condition."

"Oh?" Amin said, his tone softening.

"Let Dilara go. She can warn the Flightless about the coming attack, so that way they'll actually stand a chance."

"Sounds reasonable. Dilara, I am about to let you go. Do not make any sudden motions."

Dilara dropped to the ground and rubbed her neck tenderly. "Hiding Spire, was it?" she says, not looking at you. "Don't think I owe you anything for this."

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for those people up there. I have a job in this city, and I intend to get it done. I can't waste any more time here. I just saved your life after you tried to take mine, Dilara, and you would do well to be gracious."

Dilara paused, then nodded slightly. "Fine. But I don't believe in having debts. What do you want from me?"

"Tell no one who I really am. Tell everyone I was with Ten Knives, and so was Amin. Can you do that?"

Dilara hesitated to answer. "Very well. But if...when we meet again, I'll treat you like I treat everyone who works for Ten Knives." Dilara twirled her knife and grinned savagely.

"Watch her as I get dressed," Amin said quietly. You wait patiently, holding eye contact with Dilara. After what felt like several years, Amin brushes your shoulder. You turn to find that he is fully dressed and holding out your knife.

"This is yours, I believe." You take the blade and sheath it.

"Any idea how we're going to get out?" you ask. "This place is crawling with Flightless."

"I have an idea," says Amin with a grin you aren't very happy about.

* * *

"Anyone makes a move, and I cut her cunt throat!" roars Amin, pressing his axe to your neck.

Several Flightless warriors unsheath their blades, but they hesitate to move as Amin backpedals towards the park entrance.

Arnash runs up, gripping his cleaver with white knuckles. "Lyre!" he shouts.

You say nothing, but you slowly shake your head at Arnash. He gets the message, and lowers his weapon.

"Ready?" whispers Amin in your ear, his beard tickling your cheek slightly. "Okay, run."

He releases you, and the two of you start sprinting from the park as fast as you can. Neither of you look back.

You really hope you made the right choice here.

[OnBackorder]

> And then there were no distractions.

[mellifluousMastermind]

>RUN. Don't forget breathing. BREATHING IS GOOD.

[Miss_Meg]

Can we be the bro now?

> Be the Bro.

But in all seriousness, what has happened to our traveling buddies from the begining?

[OnBackorder]

>RUN. Don't forget breathing. BREATHING IS GOOD.

Forget what I said; this is more important.

[alexthewhite]

> Be the Bro.

Falling Spire is not in Hiding Spire's immediate vicinity, and thus cannot currently be commanded! He will, however, take any commands as polite suggestions and process them within eight to ten weeks.

>RUN. Don't forget breathing. BREATHING IS GOOD.

You do so, and despite your excellent breathing, you soon find yourself holding your knees and panting.

You've been running yourself ragged across this entire city. You haven't eaten in more than a day, and you've only gotten a couple hours of sleep. The adrenaline that's been keeping you moving for so long is beginning to wear off, and all you want to do is rest.

Amin is tired as well, possibly due to the fact he's been running in a heavy set of chainmail. However, he looks more accustomed to hunger and fatigue than you, so he seems fairly aware of his surroundings.

"I think we don't have to worry about Flightless any longer," he murmurs. "We can slow down some."

"Are we almost there yet?" you breathe, wiping your brow of sweat.

"Not quite," said Amin. "Ten Knives is...cautious. There is no there. Our headquarters is wherever she chooses to be."

"So where is Ten Knives now?"

"I don't know," chuckled Amin. "You usually only can meet her by invitation. She has taken an interest on you, but I never had the chance to tell her I had found you. So we have to...schedule a meeting."

"Alright. How do we do that?"

"We'll have to see one of the Forty-Five."

"The Forty-Five?"

"Ten Knives inner circle. There are nine of them, despite the name. They're the only ones who can reliably know where she is. I know how to find two of them."

Amin sits down and points. "This is where we are. The First Knife, a lad a couple years older than you, is here." Amin pointed to a pebble a foot away. "The Fourth Knife, a... temperamental Honitian, she's around here. Of the two, the Fourth is the much better fighter, but she's farther away. We're more likely to have trouble getting there. She's also a bit less likely to be cooperative, in my experience."

[Miss_Meg]

Hmmm... Well, we really probably want to have good fighters on our side because that is always a good thing to ask, but you seem to be directing us to the boy-child.

> Go find the First knife.

Also, Alex you are soooo funny. I would like to input a request for something for Falling to do. Would you like that in triplicate?

[mellifluousMastermind]

>Defer to Amin's judgement on how to proceed.

[OnBackorder]

I have theories for why it's called the forty-five. They are based in pudding at the moment so I'll wait for a sturdier building material.

Although I'm sure the girl has the bigger balls of the pair, I say we go with the young man since he is here now.

> Go with the young guy.

I promise not to flirt with it.

[Miss_Meg]

I promise not to flirt with it.

Lies.

[alexthewhite]

Also, Alex you are soooo funny. I would like to input a request for something for Falling to do. Would you like that in triplicate?

You have no idea who or what is an Alex. Falling Spire will certainly see any requests sent his way, though the decision to act upon them is totally his.

> Go find the First knife.

> Go with the young guy.

"I've had enough travel for one day," you say. "Let's go for the First Knife."

"As you say, my lady." Amin stands up. "He's in charge of a group of scouts on the east end of the Keep. It's late, so he's likely back at their camp, what was once a tavern. Nice place. Good ale."

You follow Amin, taking the best stock you can of your surroundings. This part of the city is in even worse shape than the part you entered in. Many of the buildings are burnt out, and others look simply ransacked. You spot more than a couple corpses on the sides of the road.

You keep walking for about half an hour, desperately trying to keep yourself awake. Finally, Amin stops. "This is it," he says with a sigh of relief.

The tavern is not of extraordinary sign or design. Rather, its only real distinguishing trait is the level of damage it's managed to avoid. The building simply looks old and weathered.

Amin knocks on the door with his stub hand. From behind it, a voice asks "Who is it?"

"Amin."

The voice doesn't respond right away. "Go away. You're supposed to be under cover."

"I know, but-"

"Leave."

Amin shrugs. "I have someone with me that you'll want to meet. Lass, say something."

[OnBackorder]

show spoiler

hide spoiler

I promise not to flirt with it.

Lies.

Don't you see? Hiding Spire needs to be with a young male about her age for it to be a healthy relationship, like that lad with the claymore in the prologue (Whispering Wind?). If that happens, then there is no trauma drama in the relationship. This is for the story's sake, not some ridiculous goal of a madman.

She totally has an Electra complex.

Truths.

Say something...

> "Uh, hello?"

[mellifluousMastermind]

>My crotch is on fire and I need SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TO PUT IT OUT THIS INSTANT

I've got nothing.

[DS Piron]

> "Like what?"

You name is fine too.

[Miss_Meg]

"Hello. I am Ten knives little friend. Please let me in because I need to talk to her and also, Amin's cover was blown. Not my fault by the way."

Or something like that.

show spoiler

hide spoiler

I promise not to flirt with it.

Lies.

Don't you see? Hiding Spire needs to be with a young male about her age for it to be a healthy relationship, like that lad with the claymore in the prologue (Whispering Wind?). If that happens, then there is no trauma drama in the relationship. This is for the story's sake, not some ridiculous goal of a madman.

She totally has an Electra complex.

Truths.

I Still don't beleive you.

[Askia]

show spoiler

hide spoiler

I promise not to flirt with it.

Lies.

Don't you see? Hiding Spire needs to be with a young male about her age for it to be a healthy relationship, like that lad with the claymore in the prologue (Whispering Wind?). If that happens, then there is no trauma drama in the relationship. This is for the story's sake, not some ridiculous goal of a madman.

She totally has an Electra complex.

Truths.

I Still don't beleive you.

Then are you going to hit on Wispering wind if we get back to?

[OnBackorder]

show spoiler

hide spoiler

I promise not to flirt with it.

Lies.

Don't you see? Hiding Spire needs to be with a young male about her age for it to be a healthy relationship, like that lad with the claymore in the prologue (Whispering Wind?). If that happens, then there is no trauma drama in the relationship. This is for the story's sake, not some ridiculous goal of a madman.

She totally has an Electra complex.

Truths.

I Still don't beleive you.

Then are you going to hit on Wispering wind if we get back to?

No, because that would be a socially acceptable application of love.

Seconding Miss_Meg. It is best they know Amin's failure is no way your fault as soon as possible.

[alexthewhite]

"Hello. I am Ten knives little friend. Please let me in because I need to talk to her and also, Amin's cover was blown. Not my fault by the way."

"Some things about that," says Amin hastily. "Firstly, I came across Hiding Spire, the girl Ten Knives wanted to see. Second, she blew my cover-with the Flightless. The Mudmen probably think I was captured or something, which I was."

There was a silence for a second before the door swung open. A solidly built man in a black robe beckons you inside. "Quickly now," he hisses.

The inn has a surprising number of men and women within, perhaps two dozen patrons. They are drinking and eating, many giving you a quick suspicious glance before returning to their food. Each is wearing the same black robes as the doorman. There is some meaty aroma that is making your mouth water. "Zulf is upstairs," says the man.

Amin starts to walk towards the staircase, but the doorman grabs his shoulder. "He's busy," the man says slowly. "Some girl with great big tits he found while scouting."

"Ah. We'll wait then." Amin looks at you. "Hungry?"

You nod vigorously, and Amin sends you to sit at a free table. While he busies himself talking to the one-eyed man behind the counter, a tall bronze-skinned man with a thick accent leans over to you.

"You are the daughter of Stands-Over Spire, yes?"

[Askia]

> "I will only answer that question if im eating something delicious"

And maybe drunk?

[OnBackorder]

What is the alcoholic norm here? Hopefully ages eight and up, like the toys with small pieces. If so, drink hearty.

> "No." If he can't even say your dad's name right, he is not your friend.

Alternatively

> "Do you know my dad? It has been a while since I met a friend of the family." Hugs to steal his belongings.

[Miss_Meg]

What is the alcoholic norm here? Hopefully ages eight and up, like the toys with small pieces. If so, drink hearty.

> "No." If he can't even say your dad's name right, he is not your friend.

Alternatively

> "Do you know my dad? It has been a while since I met a friend of the family." Hugs to steal his belongings.

You would get poor poor Hiding Spire drunk??? You horrible person.

> "... No." He doesn't know your father, or he's pretending to. IGNORE!!!