The War for the Rose: Book One Complete

[Whimbrel]

Apologize. Offer to teach him some defense moves against the attacks you pulled on him.

[Iyestorm]

I wanna say something snarky like "If this were a real fight I would have poisoned him before the match began" or "So it's no problem if he clubs me with a log and I get my nose broken? Should I stand still for him next time?"

...but I think we're in enough trouble. Apologizing is the best course of action... but really, you were just trying to help, in your own little way. Sheesh!

[DS Piron]

...I agree with both of the above.

[alexthewhite]

Apologize. Offer to teach him some defense moves against the attacks you pulled on him.

Apologizing is the best course of action... but really, you were just trying to help, in your own little way. Sheesh!

"I'm terribly sorry," you tell Whispering Dune politely. You seize the edges of your surcoat and curtsy slightly. "I am very glad you are not hurt. I only wanted to demonstrate the importance of footwork in a fight. If you would like, I can help you with it in the future...and I promise not to hit you in the nose again." You smile meekly at him.

You've never seen Whispering Dune turn such a lovely shade of crimson, and it isn't just the blood slowly leaking from his nose. "I-it's okay..." he mutters, before averting your gaze.

"Hiding Spire?" Setting Sun's voice has softened, so now it's more like being smacked with blunt the side of the sword instead of being hacked in two with the pointy side.
"I still want you to return to your quarters, and I will still be telling your father."

No surprise there. Once Setting Sun said something, he very rarely went back on it. Walking Pyramid is handed some light green liquid by another healer, and he begins to rub it on Whispering Dune's nose. As you turn to leave the tent, you catch a glimpse of Whispering Dune. He's staring at you in awed silence. Grinning wickedly, you stride out.

It seems that despite his command, Setting Sun is not going to escort you back to your quarters. That means you can go wherever you like. You quickly think of some places you can go.

-The Courtyard (...probably not the best idea.)
-Your Quarters
-Quarters of the Spire Lord (your father Towering Spire will be here.)
-Archery Yard (your older brother Laughing Spire is often here.)
-Armory/Treasury (your cousin and friend Shrinking Spire works here.)
-Chapel of the Airwalker (Your eldest brother Falling Spire spends much of his time here.)
-The Gates (the guards won't let you out, but they're fun to talk to and often have rumors.)

[crash826]

>Head over to the Yard and talk to Laughing Spire. He always enjoys a good story, and this one is a whopper!

[Neopie]

>Head over to the Yard and talk to Laughing Spire. He always enjoys a good story, and this one is a whopper!

And, you could always use practice with a bow, and Laughing Spire IS one of the best archers there.

[alexthewhite]

>Head over to the Yard and talk to Laughing Spire. He always enjoys a good story, and this one is a whopper!

The archery yard is not too far from the courtyard, so without Whispering Dune to lug around, it only takes seven or so minutes to reach the long, narrow field.

There's a few men-at-arms practicing on straw targets, but the best is easily the lithe, sandy blonde young man with the longbow. He fires quickly and accurately, burying arrow after arrow into the painted bullseye and the surrounding circle. After a particularly good shot (he split his previous bullseye shot in two,) the man notices you.

"Hello, little sister!" He shouts gleefully. "Are you here to practice archery, or to finally kill us all like we've been expecting?" He turns the longbow on you, a wide grin on his face. "I will not hesitate to spit you, madwoman, even one as fair as yourself!"

[crash826]

>"Hello yourself, brother! No, I'm not here to kill you; I'm satisfied to maim. But first may I share a rather amusing story?" Grin and draw him in conspiratorially.

[Sputnik]

>"Hello yourself, brother! No, I'm not here to kill you; I'm satisfied to maim. But first may I share a rather amusing story?" Grin and draw him in conspiratorially.

This.

Loving the MC, we're gonna make a badass assassin out of her yet!!!

EDIT: After, return right to your room, you're in enough trouble!

[alexthewhite]

>"Hello yourself, brother! No, I'm not here to kill you; I'm satisfied to maim. But first may I share a rather amusing story?" Grin and draw him in conspiratorially.

Your brother listens intently as you regale the story of your fight with Whispering Dune. When you get to the part about how Dune stared at you as you left the tent, Laughing Spire throws his head backwards, his hand over his mouth.

"Oh, oh dear, what will I tell Father?" he roars. "Our poor friend Whispering Dune is entirely smitten with my little sister-even after she beat him unconscious! What a knight he will make!" Laughing Spire catches his breath, and chews on his fingernail for a moment. "It's just a harmless crush, I suppose. If it wasn't, I'd have to slit his throat for real!" Your brother laughs at his own jest, then briefly drops his mirthfulness.

"In all seriousness, little sister, I would like it if you were not quite so rough on sparring opponents in the future. Flying Dune will most likely be furious when he hears his son was defeated by a girl, and it reflects poorly on both of our families. The oldest son of Dune is no match for a girl four inches his smaller and two years his junior. And the daughter of the House Spire is a vicious hellion who would sooner rip a boy's lips off then kiss them. Of course, I already knew that..." he grins at you again, "but it would be nice if it didn't become common knowledge, especially to the peasantry."

[Iyestorm]

"Hmm... I shall have to publicly thank him for going easy on a girl such as myself. Such a gentleman. A Gentleman can hardly be blamed for chivalry, can he?"

Laughing Spire is right. In fact, it would be a good idea to try and mitigate the blame from this in order to satisfy the public.

[crash826]

"Hmm... I shall have to publicly thank him for going easy on a girl such as myself. Such a gentleman. A Gentleman can hardly be blamed for chivalry, can he?"

Laughing Spire is right. In fact, it would be a good idea to try and mitigate the blame from this in order to satisfy the public.

Agreed.

E: Then go to your room! On the way, tell your father, and apologize personally. Accept whatever punishment he dishes out.

[Sputnik]

Don't forget we gotta get back to our room before that other guy gets mad :V

[alexthewhite]

"Hmm... I shall have to publicly thank him for going easy on a girl such as myself. Such a gentleman. A Gentleman can hardly be blamed for chivalry, can he?"

Laughing Spire is right. In fact, it would be a good idea to try and mitigate the blame from this in order to satisfy the public.

"Not at all, not at all!" Laughing Spire chuckles. "I'd be worried if a squire such as himself was not already chivalrous. If he plans to take your maidenhead, little sister, make sure he marries you first." He pauses. "Unless you've already lost your maidenhood. In which case, do not inform me of how it happened!"

You take that cue to leave with a coy smile on your face. "Little sister, you are a maiden, right?" Laughing Spire calls after you. "...Right?"

You trot off from the Archery Yard. Now, where should you go next?

[Iyestorm]

That made me laugh.

Okay, go to your quarters like Setting Sun instructed, if not to your father to explain what happened and accept responsibility.

[alexthewhite]

That made me laugh.

Okay, go to your quarters like Setting Sun instructed, if not to your father to explain what happened and accept responsibility.

The voices in your head are being unclear. Are they telling you to go straight back to your room, or to your father, then your room?

[crash826]

Go to the father!

[Neopie]

Oh, we ARE insanity, we conflict often. Head to your father to explain.

[alexthewhite]

Go to the father!

Oh, we ARE insanity, we conflict often. Head to your father to explain.

Your father usually dwells at his table at the center of the Keep. There, he entertains any and all sorts of complaints, requests, and on occasion, orders. Your father is a very important man, but not the most important man.

The spear-wielding guard at his door let you in with a bow of the head. That's more out of respect for your birth than your ability, though. You'll change that soon enough.

Your father is hunched over a piece of paper, reading it with bugged out eyes. Standing next to him is his sworn protector Striking Shield. He used to be Striking Sphere, but he forsook his family name to swear his body and soul to your father. Striking Shield is a gentle-eyed brute, with a massive greatsword (a real one, not a wooden stick) and a thick, wooden shield. He is the only man you know who could wield a two-handed sword with one hand. He is bald and dressed in light armor, and on his surcoat, there is your family sigil (a thin tower with a razor sharp point) surrounded by a shield. His eyes twinkle as you walk in, and he strides forward at surprising speed. In a matter of seconds, he's standing in front of you, one hand on his sheathed sword.

"Little one," he says softly. He calls pretty much everyone that isn't an adult that. "Your father is very busy. Unless it's urgent, you'll have to wait."

You glance at your father. He's so engrossed in the sheet of paper that he still hasn't looked up. You doubt he noticed Striking Shield walk across the white-walled office.

[Mirdan]

>"Has...has Setting Sun spoken with you today? Something happened, and...well, he wasn't pleased and I don't know why."

[Sputnik]

>"Has...has Setting Sun spoken with you today? Something happened, and...well, he wasn't pleased and I don't know why."

This. It's better to own up to our own faults than let someone else tell 'em.

[Iyestorm]

Objection! We know perfectly well why! I thought we were trying to be honest!

[alexthewhite]

I should mention that this adventure is now being moved from the Cradle to the Grave...I mean the main Forum Adventure sub-forum. Look for it there.

[alexthewhite]

>"Has...has Setting Sun spoken with you today? Something happened, and...well, he wasn't pleased and I don't know why."

Striking Shield looks at you with calm distrust.

"I have not seen Setting Sun since breakfast," he says without emotion. "If he has something to tell your father, he will tell it. Now, little one, could you please-"

"Striking Shield!" barks your father, sitting up in his chair. The giant turns to look.

"Yes, my lord?"

Your father is breathing heavily, and his jaw is set. "I am ordering a meeting of my advisors. Gather them."

"Yes, my lord." Striking Shield gently pushes you aside and walks through the door. It is only then that your father notices you.

"Hiding Spire? What are you doing here?" Your father relaxes, putting his fingers to his temples and rubbing. "Ugh, never mind that. Go get your brother, he's probably prostrating himself." Your father pauses. "The one that's prostrating before a god, not before a whore." And with that, Towering Spire looks back down at the most troublesome scrap of paper.

[Whimbrel]

Go to where-ever it is that your devout brother can usually be found. A place of prayer, his room, the gardens...?