The Darkest Ages

>>1117424
Step to the side and ready a stab. If it comes in we'll have the advantage, otherwise we aughta go back to sleep.

>>1117424

Second >>1117438

>>1117424
Is there a window? Look outside and examine the situation

If there isn't then I support this:>>1117438

>>1117438
>>1117453
You step to the side of the door, and bring the hilt of the weapon down to your side, pointing the tip at the door. After a few minutes of agonizing silence, several thumps resonate from your door in quick succession. You hear a voice, either speaking or quietly groaning, but it's muffled by the thickness of the door, and you can't make out what was said, if they said anything at all.


>Open it, and stay ready to stab at anything that bursts in.
>Knock on it yourself.
>Continue waiting.

>>1117481
>Continue waiting.
This situation is strange... but its not urgent, its either a legit demon or someone wants our attention in secret.

The worst part is the long wait time, its probably a demon but whatevs

>>1117481
stab through the door

It's definately one of those zombies

>>1117492
Continue to wait

>>1117492
You continue to wait, frowning slightly. Whatever's on the other side begins pounding on the door again, and doesn't stop. You hear the voice again, but it's still muffled, and drowned out by the incessant knocking. You frown more intently, and take another step back, just in case.
After several long moments of non-stop knocking, it stops, and you hear a huff, before the voice speaks up again. You barely catch a long string of insults, before hearing whatever's on the other side shout, "LET ME IN!" The voice is scratchy, as if the speaker just woke up from an unsatisfying nap.

>>1117565

well, let it!

unbolt and open but be ready to stab

>>1117597
Yup

>>1117597
You reach over, and unlatch the door, then take several steps back, still poised to attack. The door flies open, and a red-haired teenager storms into the room, fuming. He slams the door shut, then slaps the tip of your sword away, glaring.
"What the hell took you so long? Did you make yourself a cup of tea before letting me in?" Before you can answer, the boy cuts you off with a chopping gesture. "Nevermind. I don't want to hear your explanation. Don't let it happen again, alright? It's cold out there, and I've probably woken the entire fort by now. And, I've got something important to talk about. First, put your sword down, and then get a fire going. It's colder in here than it is in the hall." The boy pushes past you, and sits on the edge of your bed, staring over at the brazier in the corner. You frown, and set your sword down, before placing a few hunks of firewood in the metal heater, and lighting them up with a nearby match. You look over at your liege, and then down to the rug just in front of the brazier.


>Sit in front of the heater, and invite him to sit with you.
>Sit in front of the heater, and silently wait for him to say what he needs to.
>Sit on the bed beside him, and ask what he needs to talk about.

>>1117720
>Sit in front of the heater, and silently wait for him to say what he needs to.
And question his bloody secrecy

>>1117731
You half-sit, half-collapse in front of the fire with a grunt, and the young man chuckles slightly at your expense. You grumble, and warm your hands in front of the fire, before asking, "Why the secrecy?"
The young noble crosses his legs, frowning.
"I'm beginning to grow suspicious of our hosts. The servants have been whispering more and more frequently, and I don't care for the spreading of rumors, whatever they are. I didn't want any of them to spy me sneaking here in the middle of the night, lest they start to think that there's more to our relationship than what's at face-value."
You nod sagely, still frowning slightly, and stare at the fire.
"But, now I'm sure that everyone in the fort knows, because of your little bout of paranoia forcing me to bust my knuckles on the door."


>Tell him to get on with his important news.
>Apologize.
>Defend yourself.

>>1117809
>Tell him to get on with his important news.
If the fort stands to fall from the inside i need to know

>>1117828
You grumble, then cross your arms.
"Well, get on with your important news. If the fort stands to fall from the inside, I need to know."
"No, the news has nothing to do with the fort. I recieved a letter, earlier today, from a man claiming to be my older brother."
A lump forms in your throat.
"The letter said that he had heard from a traveler that we were here, and that he wanted to meet me in person. He's... The letter was sent from Castle Hiren. It had the royal seal and everything. He said that he had been adopted by a nice little commoner couple, and they raised him to adulthood. Do you think it's a farce, or a trap?... " The young man sounds hopeful, and begins gently rocking back and forth, waiting for your answer.


>"Your brother disappeared under mystrios circumstances before you were born. If he were alive, he would have resurfaced before now."
>"I suppose that it's a possibility, but it's highly unlikely."
>"It's your decision. I'll follow you no matter where you go."

>>1117874
>"I suppose that it's a possibility, but it's highly unlikely."
Aaaaah i see now

>>1117883
"I suppose that it's a possibility, but it's highly unlikely."
The teenager deflates slightly, but nods.
"I figured that you would say as much." He pauses for a moment, thinking.
"Well... if there's any possibility that my brother is alive, and wants to speak to me, I'll take that chance. Will you come with me, Michael?"


>"No, and I'm not letting you go by yourself."
>"Yes. Anywhere you go, I'll be there to protect you."
>"I'll go, but I won't enjoy it."

>>1117874
>"I suppose that it's a possibility, but it's highly unlikely."

>>1117917
>"I'll go, but I won't enjoy it."
Half heartedly in tone however

>>1117917
>"Yes. Anywhere you go, I'll be there to protect you."

>>1117923
>>1117925
Well, porque no los dos?))
You think for a few moments, and look at the young noble out of the corner of your eye. He sits still, now waiting patiently. You look away to hide a slight smile, and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I'll be there to protect you, no matter where you go, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to enjoy it."
"Then we're leaving tomorrow. I already packed my stuff, and you can pack your's in the morning, while I talk with our hosts. You don't mind if I stay in here then, do you? It's a long walk from here to my room, and I'm tiiiiired..."


>"Sure, you can stay in here."
>"Where am I supposed to sleep?"
>"I can walk you back to your room, or carry you, if I need to."

>>1117968
>"Sure, you can stay in here."
But its my bloody room, house rules.

>>1117976
"Sure, you can stay in here, but I get the bed."
"What? What's the point of me staying in here if I don't sleep on the bed? We'll be riding as hard as we can tomorrow, and I don't want a sore back before we even start. I won't take up too much space up here, I promise."
The young noble stares at you, with a pleading expression.
>"Fine, we can both sleep on the bed."
>"I offered to carry you to your room."
>"No. I sleep on the bed, and you can sleep on the rug."

>>1118019
>"I offered to carry you to your room."

You want to start a rumor, or what?

>>1118274
"I told you that I'd carry you to your room. Besides, I thought you were worried about starting rumors."
"Well, I locked my door on the way out. How about you lock your door, too, and we just keep this a secret? I'm sure the servants have juicier secrets to gossip about."
>Frown disapprovingly.
>"Go back to your room."
>"Well, I don't see any harm in it..."

>>1118316
>Frown disapprovingly

"Come, I´ll escort you"


Night night

>>1118510

this

>>1118510
You frown in disapproval, and shake your head.
"No. I'll escort you back to your room."
The young noble matches your frown, seemingly downtrodden, but nods, and slides off of the bed. You walk him back to his room, and usher him inside without saying anything.
>Now go back to sleep.
>Take a walk, and do some thinking.

>>1119542
>>Take a walk, and do some thinking.

sleep is lost, head to the kitchen to grab a bite and plan the trip

>>1119782
You shake your head, and begin making your way down to the kitchen, grumbling. The kitchen is currently empty, and you have a hard time finding anu thing edible. After scouring the cabinets for a few minutes, you hear a chorus of clangs as several pans fall off of a counter across the room. You hear something being dragged across the smooth stones of the floor, and glance around, searching for something to defend yourself with.

>Grab a sack of flour.
>Grab a ladle.
>Grab a frying pan.

>>1120924
Grab a frying pan

>>1120924

frying pan

>>1120947
>>1120973
You silently grab the closest frying pan, and hold it at waist level with both hands, purely out of muscle memory. You hear a wheezing gasp, and a rather large shadow-y figure lurches into a standing position. The shadow's head turns to look at you, then lets out another wheezing noise, and slowly shuffles out of the kitchen, through a side door.


>Chase it down, and attack it.
>Go get your liege, and bail.

>>1121028
>Chase it down, and attack it.
Also possibly call for help

>>1121028
>>Chase it down, and attack it.

>>1121034
>>1121047
You wait until the shadow is out of sight, before shouting at the top of your lungs, "THERE'S A MONSTER IN THE KITCHEN!"
The shadowy figure lets out a warbling cry, as if agreeing with you. You sprint after it, and slam your frying pan into its back when you're close enough. The shadowy figure seem unaffected, and continues shuffling. Even being this close, you can't tell what the creature is.
>Continue attacking.
>Wait for help to arrive.

clockin' out early, fellas, sorry. check back tomorrow.))

>>1121070
Since it seems unaffected, try to harm it in some other way. May I suggest fire?

Thanks Qm

>>1121070
hit it on the head

also, thanks for running