Welcome to Hatari Investigations. An interactive story set after the events of Radiant Dawn featuring everyone's favourite characters, Tauroneo and Volug. They team up and investigate crime getting into all sorts of crazy and wacky adventures. This is an entry for Serenes Forest's Scribbles Competition 2016/2017 and it was made using a program called Twine. All you need to do to play is click on the links that appear at the end of each page in order to decide what happens next. It's not a serious story so sit back, relax and enjoy it. [[Start The Story]] [[Ending List]] "The disappearance of Queen Nailah can wait" Tauroneo exclaimed. "Someone could get hurt wearing counterfeit armour." "That's the strange thing" said Volug. "Counterfeit armour seems to be just as sturdy as the regular model, however they've cut costs by not protecting the thighs or crotch." "What! But the crotch is the thing a man much protect most. Who in the world would wear armour that leaves your crotch completely open?" "I confess its strange. Which is why we need to get to the bottom of it." "Well what's our first lead?" "I was thinking we could hit up one of the vendors selling the stuff and find out where they got it. Either that or we head to the local jazz bar and see what the word on the street is." [[Buy Some Armour]] [[Go To A Jazz Bar]] "The armour counterfeiting can wait. The disappearance of the queen seems like a much bigger problem." "Not as big as you'd think" said Volug. "She kind of goes missing all the time. That little expedition to Tellius for example was completely spur of the moment." Tauroneo scratched his chin. "You don't say huh. Hmm. In that case maybe the counterfeit armour stuff is more important." "Make up your mind." [[No, we better check to see if the Queen is okay]] [[Investigate The Counterfeit Armour Manufacturers Instead->Investigate The Counterfeit Armour Manufacturers]] "We'll check out the vendor" said Tauroneo. "I don't know what a Jazz Bar is but it sounds niche." "I'm not sure you're using that word right but I don't care nearly enough to argue." And thus our unlikely duo headed to the market district. It was a really interesting place to look at. Filled to the brim with vivid descriptions and stuff. You really should have been there. Anyway it turns out the vendor selling the armour was Aimee. "I know you" Tauroneo cried. "You were part of that merchant convoy who helped us in those wars!" "Oh no dear, you must be mistaken" Aimee said. "I've never profited off of a war economy." "Yes you have. I remember you. Your name is Aimee." "No, no, no" she said. "I'm Larabel." "You know what" said Volug. "I think you're right. I remember her too." "No. I'm really Larabel. Look, my hair's brown." "That doesn't even make any sense" Tauroneo pointed out. "Whatever" said Volug. "It's rather pointless who she is. We're here for the armour." "I know but..." Tauroneo felt slightly hurt that Aimee, or Larabel as she insisted on being called, was pretending not to know him. He might look strong and stalwart but deep down the old knight was rather sensitive. [[Pursue the issue of Aimee's name]] [[Ask About The Armour]] "We'll head to the bar" said Tauroneo. "I wouldn't be caught dead holding armour with no crotch least of all wearing the stuff." And thus our intrepid pair of detectives went off on their way to a jazz bar to investigate the ring of counterfeit armour. Tauroneo wasn't quite sure what Jazz was when he set out but he soon discovered it was a type of music. After mulling it over for some time he decided he liked it. "So Volug" he said to his wolfish companion. "Which of these colourful characters too diverse to individually describe is the one who has the answers to what we seek?" "Two main guys are said to know what's what and who's who around here. That one" Volug indicated to a transformed parrot laguz sitting by the bar pecking at a long island ice tea. "They call him Slipping Kirby Kriboblesome. The other," Volug indicated to the stage where a large dark skinned man was just finishing a sax solo. "Is Khan Basilio. The first unambiguously black person who made it into The Franchise." "What franchise?" "The Franchise is the name of this bar." "Ah. I see. Well let's try..." [[Talking To Slipping Kirby Kriboblesome]] [[Talking To Khan Basilio]] Volug and Tauroneo both sat on either side of Slipping Kirby. "So Kirbboblesome or whatever your name is" said Volug. "What do you know about a counterfeit armour ring?" "What do you know about a counterfeit armour ring?" squawked the parrot. "I don't know anything" Volug admitted. "That's why I'm asking you." "Squawk. I don't know anything." "Listen here bird" said Volug, getting right up in Kirby's face. "I don't want any playing around. I'm a wolf and wolves eat birds you hear me? So start talking or I'll start dining." "Squawk. Start talking or I'll start dining." The parrot began eating from a bowl of nuts. "Volug, are you sure this is even a laguz? Couldn't he be an ordinary bird." "Parrots aren't this big" Volug said angrily. Tauroneo was a bit surprised at his companion's anger. Then again Volug was a bit of a blank slate to begin with so really he could express any emotion and it would technically wouldn't be out of character for him. "Hmm. Maybe we should give up this line of thinking. Laguz or not, he doesn't seem interested in talking to us." [[Try Talking To Basilio instead->Talking To Khan Basilio]] [[Try A More Lax Approached]] [[Eat Kirby]] "Khan Basilio might not be willing to talk to us" Volug told Tauroneo. "I suggest you stay silent and act like the big tough guy while I do all the talking. Tauroneo laughed lightly. "I never thought I'd be in a position where you do all the talking." Volug looked a little put out by Tauroneo's comment. "Well do you want to do the talking then." [[Have Tauroneo Talk To Basilio]] [[Have Volug Talk To Basilio]] "That's it bird brain. You're finished!" "You're finished" the parrot said in a dismissive tone. Volug screamed. "I'm sick of your playing around." Volug turned into a wolf and leaped onto the parrot. It tried to get away but he had it by the throat. "Damnit man" cried Tauroneo. "Calm down. We'll never get information out of him that way." But Volug was too busy to listen. He proceeded to spend the next fifteen minutes consuming the poor bird while Tauroneo stood there awkwardly. Eventually he finished and transformed back into his human form. "Well" he said. "That was a bit of a dead end. What do you want to try next." At that moment the doors burst open and a group of cops entered the bar. "Where's the wolf?" the lead copper asked. Everyone in the bar turned and looked at Volug. "Bloody tattle tales" Volug muttered. "Come on Tauroneo. Let's split." Volug transformed again and leapt through a nearby window. Feeling incredibly out of his depth, Tauroneo reluctantly followed. They ran down the boulevard with the coppers in tight pursuit. "Slow down" Tauroneo yelled to his friend (though at this point he was seriously beginning to question their relationship). "I can't run as fast as you in all this armour." Volug turned back and looked at his friend. [[Abandon Tauroneo]] [[Stand With Him And Face The Police Head On]] "Alright" said Tauroneo. "I'll try talking to him." Our two unlikely heroes approached Khan Basilio just as he was packing away his things. "Gentlemen" he said. "Did you enjoy the show?" "It was very enjoyable" Tauroneo told him. "Quite enjoyable indeed. There's really nothing like it in my homeland." "Glad to hear it friend. Would you like one of my CDs." "I have no idea what that is" Tauroneo said. "But it sounds outdated." Basilio laughed heartily. "I like this guy. I like him a lot. He dresses strangely but I think he'll fit right in here in The Franchise. A memorable character if ever I saw one. What can I do for you good sir?" "Actually we were looking for the location of a group of counterfeit armour dealers." "I know them well" Basilio said with a strangely large smile. "They're the ones that outfitted me in this warriors gear. It leaves the torso a bit exposed but when you're as ripped as I am that's A-okay." "So, where are they" Volug asked, noticeably annoyed that Tauroneo ruined his routine. "They're at the South District Floating Hotel." "They make armour from a hotel?" Tauroneo said. He found the idea of it rather absurd. "Strange I know but they do a good job." "Well we must be going" Volug muttered as he practically pulled Tauroneo out of the bar. "I'll be back" the knight shouted to Basilio. "You bet on it!" [[Head To The South District Floating Hotel]] Tauroneo laughed again. "No, no it's fine. I just didn't think we'd ever be in this position. By all means, this is your city, you do the talking." The two of them approached Khan Basilio, Tauroneo trying his best to look big and intimidating. "Gentlemen" Basilio said as they approached. "Did you enjoy my performance?" "My friend didn't enjoy it" Volug said in a low voice. "But then again he doesn't enjoy a lot of things. Except cracking skulls, he enjoys that a lot. Tauroneo was a bit upset with that remark. He had liked Basilio's sax solo quite a lot. "Maybe I should speak up" he said to himself. [[Shout Objection!]] [[Let Volug Continue Speaking]] "Objection" Tauroneo shouted in his most intimidating voice. He slammed his fist down on a nearby table. "I enjoyed this man's music immensely. It spoke to me in ways I couldn't even imagine. He has opened my eyes to a whole world of entertainment I knew nothing about! To suggest otherwise is a crime and a travesty I say. A crime and a travesty!" Basilio grabbed Tauroneo's hand and shook it. "I like this guy. I like him a lot. He dresses strangely but I think he'll fit right in here in The Franchise. A memorable character if ever I saw one. What can I do for you good sir?" "Actually we were looking for the location of a group of counterfeit armour dealers." "I know them well" Basilio said with a strangely large smile. "They're the ones that outfitted me in this warrior's gear. It leaves the torso a bit exposed but when you're as ripped as I am that's A-okay." "So, where are they" Volug asked, noticeably annoyed that Tauroneo ruined his routine. "They're at the South District Floating Hotel." "They make armour from a hotel?" Tauroneo said incredulously. "Strange I know but they do a good job." "Well we must be going" Volug muttered as he practically pulled Tauroneo out of the bar. "I'll be back" the knight shouted to Basilio. "You bet on it!" [[Head To The South District Floating Hotel]] (set: $EndingHardRockBasilio to true) Basilio took a cigar out of his pocket and listened calmly as Volug continued to threaten him. "How about we take this outside" he suggested when it looked like Volug was finished. Volug was hesitant. "Eh. Okay" he said with very little confidence. Tauroneo continued to diligently play the role of silent giant. They followed Basilio outside. The bar was situated on a wooden boulevard overlooking the river. The place was pretty packed with people enjoying ice cream (something Tauroneo knew little about but wanted to try) and lining up to get on barges. However, while Tauroneo was distracted, he was suddenly kicked into the water by Basilio. Volug and Basilio then started fighting each other. Basilio was using his saxophone like an axe. It was quite impressive. However Tauroneo was unable to really see it as his armour was quickly filling with water and making him sink like a stone. And that ladies and gentlemen, is where our tale ends. Congratulations. You've reached the "Hard Rock Basilio" ending. Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingLesMiserable to true) "I'm sorry Tauroneo" said Volug. "But it's every man for himself. Good bye my friend. I will always remember you." Volug ran off and was never seen again. Tauroneo found himself sentenced to five years in prison. Unfortunately after four escape attempts the sentence was upped to nineteen years. When he eventually did get out he promptly met a monk, revitalised a rural town and adopted a daughter only for it to all be ruined by the machinations of one crazily dedicated police officer. But that is another story for another time. For now, the tale of Tauroneo and Volug's Interactive Adventure has some to an end. Congratulations. You've reached the "Les Miserable Ending" Try again by going back to [[The Start]]. (set: $EndingMonteVolug to true) Volug walked back to Tauroneo, transformed back into a human and offered his hand. "I'll stand by you, friend." Tauroneo smiled. "Thanks, my brother." They grasped each other's forearm and shook vigorously. "We're in this together." "I'm glad of all the people in Tellius, you are the one by my side" said Volug. "Let's do this." The two heroes turned to face the cops. Both of them took fighting stances but just as the cops reached them, Tauroneo threw down his spear raised his hands and motioned towards Volug. "He's the one you want. I'm innocent I tell you! I didn't do anything!" "Wait what?" Volug looked at Tauroneo dumbstruck but he only had a second to process things before the cops subdued him. Tauroneo was also taken into custody but his story correlated with the witnesses so he was let off without any charge. Volug meanwhile was given thirty years and sent to prison on an island in the middle of the river. However, he eventually managed to escape, somehow found a pile of lost treasure and resolved to exact vengeance on all those who wronged him. That, however, is another story for another time. For now, the tale of Tauroneo and Volug's Interactive Adventure has come to an end. Congratulations. You've reached the "Monte Volug Ending" Try again by going back to [[The Start]]. "How about we buy you a drink" Tauroneo suggested. "How about we buy you a drink" said the bird. "Oh" Tauroneo was a bit taken back. "That's very generous of you." A bartender appeared a placed a long island ice tea in front of Volug and Tauroneo. "We just want some information" said Volug. "Squawk. Some information?" "Yes, yes." Tauroneo nodded vigorously. "We need to know who's making this counterfeit armour." "Counterfeit armour" Kirby said in a thoughtful voice. "Anything at all you might know could be helpful. An address maybe?" Tauroneo said. "An address" Kirby agreed. He picked up a pen and began writing on a beer coaster. When he was done he handed it to Tauroneo. "Hmm" said Volug, looking over Tauroneo's shoulder (in a metaphorical sense. Tauroneo was far too big for Volug actually look over his shoulder. He was more looking from over his elbow) "the South District Floating Hotel." "You know where it is?" Volug nodded. "Only all too well. Let's go." [[Head To The South District Floating Hotel]] The floating hotel lived up to its name. A massive building situated directly on the river, large enough to contain all the adventures the two detectives would surely have inside. "It's impressive" said Tauroneo from the boat they were sitting in. "But structurally it's a very weak building. A single man could send it toppling into the river by knocking down those support posts." "Your single man would be crushed too" Volug observed. "Is that really the kind of tactics you condone?" "It was when I fought for King Ashnard" Tauroneo admitted. "But strangely ever since I've fought in battles where we've miraculously managed to have zero casualties." "Yeah...I can't recall anyone important on our side dying while I fought in Tellius. Yet we always seemed to be at a disadvantage somehow." "Huh. You're right...How odd." "Anyway, what should our plan of assault be on this hotel? The way I see it we have two options. Enter and book a room as if we're guests and then do some investigating." "Sounds wise. What's the second option?" "We storm the place, attack everyone we see and demand they put an end to their racket." [[Do some good old fashioned sleuthing]] [[Storm the place, attack everyone and demand they put an end to their racket]] "Look. There's absolutely no use in denying it" said Tauroneo. "I know for a fact that your name is Larabel." The vendor shook her head vigorously. "No, no, no. My name is Aimee." "Aha!" Tauroneo exclaimed. "So your name is Aimee!" Tauroneo turned to his friend. "See that Volug!? I tricked her. I think I'm cut out for this whole detective stuff after all." "Yeah. Good job Tauroneo" said Volug dryly. "Now about that armour." Aimee was looking very embarrassed. "You just confused me. It doesn't prove anything." She was right of course but her voice was quiet weak. "It proves I'm a damn awesome detective" Tauroneo shouted. He held up his hand hoping Volug would high five it. He was more delighted than he cared to admit when his partner complied. "Alright, alright. My name is Aimee. You got me." "Why were you keeping it a secret?" Volug asked. Aimee turned away to hide her embarrassment. "Soren filed a sexual harassment law suit against me on Ike's behalf. It was all based on a complete misunderstanding but it's sort of ruing my entire life so I've decided to start anew over here in Hatari. I'd appreciate it if you kept the whole thing hushed up, okay?" "You've been charged with sexual harassment and now you're selling crochless armour" Volug pointed out. "Forgive me if I'm not brimming with sympathy for you." "Look, it's not nearly as bad as you're making it out to be" Aimee said as she pulled a piece of armour out from behind the stall. "People wear something under the armour you know. It's not like modesty is actually compromised." "Hmm" said Tauroneo. [[It doesn't actually look all that bad]] [[The entire thing is completely ludicrous. We Must Put a stop to it at once.]] "Okay never mind what you're called" said Tauroneo. "Show us this counterfeit armour." "My armour counterfeit" said the vendor incredulously. "No, no, not at all." "It has no crotch" Volug pointed out. "You're clearly conning people." "It's breezy. It can get really hot out here and it's very uncomfortable wearing armour all the time as I'm sure your big friend here knows." She rummaged around the back of her stall and produced a set of the famed armour. "Having a little air flow at the vitals is absolutely necessary." "Hmm" said Tauroneo. [[It doesn't actually look all that bad]] [[You madam are the devil and should be shot for producing such a thing in my presence]] "It actually doesn't look that bad" Tauroneo confessed. "Maybe we jumped the gun a bit on this one Volug. I mean, is it really counterfeit if the armour is sound?" "It is when you have a client complaining about it" said Volug. "Wait we have a client?" "What? Of course we have a client. We're private detectives. Did you think we were just boycotting an armour design we don't like?" "Well yes actually. A little bit." "Well we do have a client. Though honestly I'd say you're right. The armour probably isn't counterfeit. Most likely our client just wants to cut down the competition." "Wait so we're basically acting as hired thugs." "In a way I suppose we are." "I'm not sure about how I feel about that." "Ahem" said the Aimee (who was starting to feel a little ignored). "If you've got problems with the armour then you don't have to complain to me. I just sell the stuff. I get them from a ship. Has large black sails. It should still be in port." "Well Tauroneo" said Volug. "I won't insist we do something you're not ethically comfortable with." [[Head to the Port]] [[No, we better check to see if the Queen is okay<-Look For the Queen Instead]] "Well I never!" the merchant cried. "If that's the way you're going to talk then you'll get nothing from me. Go away. Shoo, shoo!" Her aggressive shooing was too much for the pair to handle. The quickly found themselves several feet away from the stall and feeling somewhat guilty though they weren't exactly sure why. "Sorry Volug. Guess I messed that one up." "Ah it's okay" said the wolf laguz. "I was about to say the same thing anyway." "So what now?" "Now, I guess we head to that Jazz Bar." And thus our intrepid pair of detectives went off on their way to a jazz bar to investigate the counterfeit armour ring. Tauroneo wasn't quite sure what Jazz was when he set out but he soon discovered it was a type of music. After mulling it over for some time he decided he liked it. "So Volug" he said to his wolfish companion. "Which of these colourful characters too diverse to individually describe is the one who has the answers to what we seek?" "Two main guys are said to know what's what and who's who around here. That one" Volug indicated to a transformed parrot laguz sitting by the bar pecking at a long island ice tea. "They call him Slipping Kirby Kriboblesome. The other," Volug indicated to the stage where a large dark skinned man was just finishing a sax solo. "Is Khan Basilio. The first unambiguously black person who made it into The Franchise." "What franchise?" "The Franchise is the name of this bar." "Ah. I see. Well let's try..." [[Talking To Slipping Kirby Kriboblesome]] [[Talking To Khan Basilio]] "I'm sorry" said Tauroneo. "I just can't abide by it. Something like this simply has no right to exist." "You're not going to put me out of business, are you Tauroneo? Seriously, things are not going well for me this year." "Don't worry" said Volug. "We're not after you. We're after your supplier. Can you tell us where they are?" Aimee had a look of deep reluctance on her face. "Fine. I get them from a ship. Has large black sails. It should still be in port." "Port?" said Tauroneo. "I thought we were in the middle of a swamp surrounded by desert." "The river is big enough to have a port" Volug told his partner. "You really should have noticed by now." "I've only been here a few hours" Tauroneo complained. "Cut me some slack." "Thank you for all your help Aimee" said Volug. "Larabel, it's Larabel remember?" "You know Larabel's still a really conspicuous name" Tauroneo told her. "I would have went with something more plain like Anna." "Anna was my first choice but I got sued for copyright infringement. Turns out there's already a merchant called Anna. Quite a few of them actually." "Really huh? I've never met one." "This idle chitchat is fun and all but we really should check out that ship" Volug insisted. "Ah, you're right. Goodbye Larabel. Hopefully us toppling your supplier won't adversely affect your business too much." "Oh don't worry, it won't" she said. He smile turning from pleasant to very sly as soon as the detectives' backs were turned. "It won't." [[Head to the Port]] (set: $EndingShantyFate to true) The ship that Tauroneo and Volug were looking for wasn't hard to find. It wasn't only the sails that were black. The entire ship was made from dark ebony. The other ships in the port looked kind of plain in comparison. "Our man should be there" Tauroneo said as he pointed towards the ship. He wasn't really sure why he was pointing. Volug was obviously able to see the ship himself. "Do you think we should just walk up the plank and knock on the captain's door?" Volug asked. Tauroneo shaded his eyes against the sun. "Hmm. I can't seem to see anyone out on deck." "So...Is that a yes?" "Eh...I suppose so?" Tauroneo said weakly. Despite their mutual uncertainty, they soon found themselves on the deck of the ship. "Up close those sails look a lot more tattered" Volug observed. "Do you think this thing can even move?" "Oh, ho, ho. She sails, alright" said a booming voice. Tauroneo and Volug suddenly jumped and looked around. "Where did that voice come from?" Volug demanded to know. They looked around but they seemed completely alone. "Has it grown darker?" Tauroneo wondered. "Okay" Volug muttered. "I'm wolf enough to admit when I'm freaked out. Let's blow this joint." Tauroneo nodded. "Agreed." They turned to leave but the plank wasn't there. They couldn't see the port either. An eerie mist seemed to have descended on the entire area. Well since they were on the sea I guess it would be fog. That's the difference, right? "What the hell?" said Volug. "This isn't like any magic I've ever seen." "It's not magic laddie" said the booming voice. "Dis be Shanty Pete's ship and he don't take kindly to intruders." "Shanty Pete!" Tauroneo cried. "Did...did that merchant lie to us?" Volug muttered. The two bunched close together. Tauroneo drew his lance but Volug didn't transform for some reason. Shapes were beginning to appear in the mist, just out of sight. "I think we should jump overboard" Tauroneo suggested to Volug in a whisper. "Can you help me take off my armour? I'll drown with it on." "Screw your armour!" Volug cried. "I'm getting out of here." Volug quickly dashed away and leapt right off the side of the boat. Tauroneo looked on in dismay but a few seconds later he heard a cry from above. He looked up and was surprised to see Volug fall through the fog and land heavily on the deck beside him. "Der be no escaping Shanty Pete's crew" the voice said, followed by a cackling laugh. "Yer here fer eternity. Eeeturnityy hehehe." "No. That's ridiculous" Volug wheezed as he tried to get back to his feet, likely with several broken ribs. "Our story can't just suddenly end like that with no warning. It's outrageous." But unfortunately for our detectives, that's the way ghost pirate contracts work and that's exactly how their story came to an end. They spend the next ten thousand years roaming the world and picking up random souls into servitude without any real purpose or goal in mind. Highlights include Lyndis, Gale from Sword of Seals, Loptyr's original dragon body, the Future Past version of Validar all the unnamed heroes from Magvel, the Rainbow Sage and the conspicuously unnamed king of Aurelis. But all those adventures are tales for another time. For now, our story has come to an end. Congratulations, you've reached the "Shanty Fate Ending". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] "I don't think going in guns blazing is our best option" said Tauroneo. "What are guns?" Volug asked. "You know, like a bowgun crossbow." "Doesn't strike me as the kind of thing that would blaze." "Well it does if you make it out of metal. Anyway I think we should enter the hotel as guests and see what we can do from there. "Rah. Fine. We'll do it the boring way." A few hours later they had booked to beds in a single room. The sun began to set giving Tauroneo a nice view of the city from his window. "So how do we do all this detective stuff anyway?" he asked Volug. "I'm not entirely sure" Volug admitted. "Remind me why we decided to get into this career again." "We thought it would be fun." "Well I suppose it does beat serving Micaiah**" "Tell me about it. She had me pretending to be a dog." "Well you are sort of a dog right?" "I'm a wolf! There's a big difference." "You still have a good sense of smell right?" "Yes but that's hardly-" "No. I mean, could you sniff out where they're making this armour?" "It doesn't work that way." "Damn..." "..." "..." "..." "So...you want to go with that full frontal attack strategy again?" Tauroneo asked. "Yes!" Volug cried. "I'm bored out of my mind here." "Eh...We've paid for the room though. Let's do it tomorrow." "Ahh. Alright. Tomorrow we'll storm the place and get to the bottom of all this." [[Storm the place, attack everyone and demand they put an end to their racket<-Go to sleep]] *That's an innocent jab. The author rather likes Micaiah as a character. (set: $VolugPoisoned to true) Tauroneo and Volug burst through the front doors of the hotel, the latter already in wolf form. "Alright" Volug shouted. "This is a raid. Don't get in our way and I won't be forced to eat you!" The hotel staff at the reception looked dumbfounded at the large man in armour and the giant wolf. Then they started screaming and running. Volug dashed forward and leapt on a porter. He mercilessly began savaging the poor man. "Geez Volug. You're more vicious than I remember" Tauroneo muttered. Feeling a bit awkward and unsure of what he was supposed to do. He had his lance out but he didn't particularly feel like skewering some random hotel worker. "Why are you doing this?" a woman screamed as Volug moved on to his next victim. Tauroneo was beginning to remember all the warnings about Laguz he had been taught growing up in Daein. For some years now he had dismissed it as propaganda but Volug's brutal actions were beginning to make him suspect there might be something to it. Just as he was thinking about laguz, three of them dashed through a set of doors connecting to the dining room. They all transformed into different beasts. A griffon, a scorpion and a snake. "I didn't realise the laguz here were so diverse" Tauroneo shouted to Volug. "Never mind about that" Volug shouted back. "Just attack one of them." [[Have Tauroneo attack the Griffon]] [[Have Tauroneo attack the Scorpion]] [[Have Tauroneo attack the Snake]] Tauroneo rushed forward and slashed at the Griffon. It avoided and counter attacked knocking Tauroneo to the floor. He was a bit dazed but fortunately his armour protected him from the beast's deadly claws. They started to circle each other. "Hmm. Maybe I can" [[Throw my lance]] [[Run Away]] Tauroneo jabbed forward with his lance. He successfully managed to pierce the scorpion in the shoulder. If you could call it a shoulder. I suppose you'd have to call those big pincer things arms to constitute the area where they end to be a shoulder. Moving past that random thought about scorpion physiology, the laguz struck out with its tail at the same time Tauroneo attacked. Fortunately the stinger bounced off of Tauroneo's breast plate. Our hero ripped his lance out and only managed to block a strike from the scorpions opposite pincer. It lashed out with its tail again, this time getting uncomfortably close to Tauroneo's neck. This prompted him to retreat a bit. "At last I face a foe worthy of my capabilities" the scorpion said in a surprisingly heavy voice. "Tell me my most mellifluous enemy, where do thou hail from?" "Wait what word did you just use?" "Do you find my language too prolix? Come, surely one with such fastidious bearing as you possess can understand my perspicacious words." "I'm not sure if you understand your own words." "Alas you are not the nemesis I sought. Turns out you are merely a penurious pedagogue like all the others. Which means you will expire to my eclectic sting, just as they did." "Eh. I'm just going to attack now" Tauroneo told the scorpion. "By all means, try to-" The scorpion's words were cut short as Tauroneo threw his lance directly into its mouth. He ran forward and grabbed his lance as the creature coughed and hacked. It collapsed slightly allowing Tauroneo to clamber onto its back. The scorpion tried to attack with its tail but he was below its range. Thus with amble time to prepare, Tauroneo finished the attack by driving his lance right through the scorpions back. "Ah!" it cried as it felt the death blow. "How...edifying." Taurneo leaped off and glanced at Volug's battle. It seems he was just finishing off his enemies too. "Man I heard that scorpion" Volug said as soon as he was finished. "That guy was really weird." "Indeed" Tauroneo agreed. "Let's never speak of it again." [[Head deeper into the hotel]] Unlike the other two creatures, the snake laguz wasn't all that big. Tauroneo rushed forward and swiped at it with his lance. If darted back and hissed at him. He tried to keep it at the full distance of his lance but that led to a stalemate. Every time he tried to push forward, it avoided his jab and tried to strike forcing him to step back and keep his distance. The snake never made the first move, instead preferring to sit there edging left and right in time with Tauroneo's lance. He wanted to glance back and see how Volug was doing but he didn't dare take his eyes off the snake for a single second. It was a bad position. Volug would be unlikely to defeat both his enemies which meant one of them could be sneaking up on him while he was busy with the snake. "I need to..." [[Attack now and finish the snake off]] [[Bide my time and wait for an opening]] (set: $VolugPoisoned to false) Tauroneo rushed forward and slashed at the snake. It avoided the attack and leapt forward, straight for his head but he grabbed it with his free hand. The snake tried to bite him but the gauntlet on his hand protect him. It struggled furiously but was unable to escape. Tauroneo wasn't quite sure what to do next. He had the creature in his grasp but he wasn't in good position to attack it with his lance or bash its brains out. Instead he turned to see how Volug was doing. He was just in time as he saw the griffon lumbering towards him. Acting on instinct he threw the snake and his enemy. The snake likewise acted on instinct and bit its ally. The griffon stumbled a bit giving Tauroneo the perfect chance to let it fall onto his lance. The snake fell on the ground nearby and was just about to strike at Tauroneo when Volug leapt on it from behind and killed it in a single bite. Tauroneo looked over Volug's shoulder to see the scorpion was also defeated. "Finally some action" Volug said with a grin. Tauroneo nodded, having distinctly more mixed feelings about the affair. "Come on, we better head deeper into the hotel." [[Head deeper into the hotel]] (set: $EndingSnakeBite to true) "I'm fine for the moment. Can't be too rash. One wrong move and it's all over." Tauroneo waited, eagerly hoping the snake would make some sort of mistake as he feinted. Suddenly he heard something approach rapidly and fell forward as the griffon struck him from behind. He rolled over and successfully managed to impale the bird as it tried to finish him off. However while he was busy the snake leapt forward and dived into his armour. He got up and furiously tried to get it out but the snake proceeded to bite his unguarded torso. Tauroneo grunted and danced with the pain as the snake continued to bite. "You alright?" Volug asked, having defeated his opponent and now casually observing Tauroneo. "Of course I'm not" Tauroneo roared. "The snake's in my armour." He stumbled a bit, feeling light headed. "I think it's poison...usss.." Tauroneo slurred his words and collapsed on the ground. Volug walked over to his friend. "Try to crush it while it's in there" he suggested. "Unfortunately you're right though. It is poisonous. There's nothing that can be done. You're a dead man." "What?" "Yep. Sorry about that I suppose. But don't worry. I'll continue the mission." Volug then ambled off leaving Tauroneo to die alone. "Man..." the old knight muttered. "What a dick." And that ladies and gentlemen is where our tale concludes. Congratulations, you've reached the "Snake Bite" ending. try again by going back to [[The Start]] They found the hotel relatively deserted after their initial attack. Another group of soldiers attacked but this time Tauroneo was smart enough to convince Volug to leave one of them alive. From their hostage they learned that the leader of the counterfeit armour ring was staying in the master bedroom on the fourth floor. There was also a small smithy at the back of the hotel that actually produced the armour. "Where should we head first?" Volug asked. [[We need to cut off the hydra's head. To the master bedroom!]] (if: $VolugPoisoned is true)[ [[The armour must be destroyed. To the smithy]] ] (else:)[ [[The armour must be destroyed. To the smithy!]] ] Tauroneo threw his lance. It pierced the beast in the side just like he'd hoped. However, for some reason it wasn't magically returning to his side like it usually did. In fact now that he thought about it the fact that it usually returned to his side like magic was the real strange thing. He didn't have much time to ponder the mystery however as the creature was racing towards him. Tauroneo dodged. Let's use the word deftly to make it seem impressive. Yes, he deftly avoided the beast's charge. As it passed by he tore the lance from its side. It let out a cry and collapsed. It slid a few feet and ended up outside where Tauroneo heard a dull splash. He waited a moment or two to see if it would emerge and when it didn't, he turned to see how Volug was getting on. His friend was struggling trying to fight a scorpion and a snake at the same time. Fortunately with the two laguz distracted, Tauroneo was very easily able to sneak up and skewer the scorpion from behind. This distracted the snake long enough for Volug to finish it off. "What took you so long?" Volug growled. Tauroneo felt a bit put out by the wolf's lack of gratitude but he didn't want to argue. Right now he kind of just wanted this day to be over and done with already. He wasn't having much fun at all. "Let's get moving" he said. [[Head deeper into the hotel]] (set: $EndingStrategicRetreat to true) Tauroneo turned tail and fled right out the door. Turns out he's actually really afraid of griffons. He hoped into his boat and desperately tried to row away. But rowing is actually really hard. If you don't do it right you end up going around in circles. Which is exactly what happened to our...hero. The griffon pursued its target. When it seen Tauroneo helpless in the boat it let out a screeching laugh. With one strike it knocked the boat over, toppling the knight into the water. The water entered his armour and he sank like a stone. "Damn. I guess that's what I get for being such a coward." Thus was the last words of detective Tauroneo. Congratulations, you've reached the "Strategic Retreat" ending. try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingBurningForge1 to true) Volug and Tauroneo headed to the smithy. It was surprisingly well set up for being shoved into the back end of a hotel. Blacksmiths were still there hammering away at their material, unaware of the attack on their operation. However, as they were metal workers and not fighters, they surrendered without much issue. According to Volug they were French...whatever that means. They decided the best way to destroy the forge would be to burn it down. Unfortunately they highly underestimated the power of the blaze and ended up burning down the entire hotel. Our heroes survived however but a few months later the counterfeit armour appeared on the market again. It appears as if all their work was for naught. Congratulations. You've reached the "Burning Forge Ending (1)". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $followTauroneo to false) (set: $followVolug to false) "If we let the ring leader escape now then he'll only continue his foul practise. We head to the master bedroom." "I won't argue with that." The two detectives soon found themselves in a hallway on the fourth floor. A the end of said hallway was the master bedroom, outside it stood a shadowy figure. He loosely held a rope used to summon staff to the room. "That man" cried Volug. "He smells familiar." "Damnit. If only he wasn't so unnecessarily obscured in shadow. "Let's get a closer look." They ran forward but the man pulled the cord he was holding. A trap door opened up beneath them. Volug managed to catch the carpet with his claws and scramble back up but Tauroneo found himself tumbling down into some water below. "Water? But we're on the fourth floor" the knight muttered. Fortunately it was rather shallow. "Well you're probably on the third floor now" Volug unhelpfully pointed out. "Do you want me to help you?" "No. You go after our man. The mission is the more important thing." Which of our two protagonists would you like to follow now after this not at all contrived split up? [[Follow Volug]] [[Follow Tauroneo]] (set: $followVolug to true) The shadow figure retreated into the room. Ignoring Tauroneo, Volug chased after. The sight when he entered the master bedroom was not what he had been expecting. The over powering smell of incense hit him first. After that he noticed the decor. A lot of beaded veils filled the room with strangely shaped windows and cushions on the floor. On the far side of the room was an enormous bed. Sitting on the bed in a reclining position was an equally enormous man. "You" said Volug. "I recognise you. You're..." "Duke Oliver of Tanas" he said in a particularly grating voice. He held out a stubby hand covered in rings as if he expected Volug to kiss it. "We fought alongside each other in Telluis after the goddess turned the world to stone." "Did we? I don't recall seeing a mangy dog like you." Volug desperately wanted to kill this man but didn't fancy eating him. With all the cologne he was wearing, he'd probably taste horrible. Besides, he thought it only fair to give Tauroneo some time to catch up. One the other hand he had just called Volug mangy and it is possible to kill someone without eating them. [[Attack Oliver]] (if: $followTauroneo is true)[ [[Follow Tauroneo<-Wait for Tauroneo]] ] (else:)[ [[Reunion Scene<-Wait for Tauroneo]] ] (set: $followTauroneo to true) Something moved within the water. Tauroneo grew slightly uncomfortable. He reached for his lance only to discover he'd dropped it in the fall. Slowly he bent down and tried to find the weapon. It wasn't an easy task since his gauntlet didn't allow him to easily feel what he was grabbing. He took hold of something slightly bigger than his lance. It seemed rougher too. The light wasn't great in the room so he took the object out of the water and tried to examine it in the shaft of light coming in from the fourth floor. The object was a strange green colour and was longer than he initially thought. He wasn't examining it long before the crocodile that was attached to the tail flipped out and attacked him. This was not something he was expecting. Who ever heard of a rich maniac keeping pet crocodiles? It's like something from a spy movie more than a detective story. Course we haven't really been all that true to the whole detecting genre so far. Anyway, Tauroneo suddenly found himself in a life and death struggle with a massive crocodile about the size of himself. Without his lance he was forced to straight up wrestle the thing. The dark room illuminated only from above and the knee waist deep water made for some pretty striking imagery. Would be great if someone who could draw turned it into an image. That's all I can really say on the subject though since Tauroneo's options are pretty limited. There's not many choices for the reader to pick. Suffice to say Tauroneo eventually found his lance and managed to kill the thing. The whole incident was incredibly cool and afterwards he felt like a total badass. "That might be the single coolest thing I've ever done in my life" he said to himself. "Actually that could be the single coolest thing anyone has ever done." He gave himself about a minute to revel in his accomplishment and get a rest before searching for an exit to reunite with Volug. (if: $followVolug is true)[ Head to the [[Reunion Scene]] ] (else:)[ [[Follow Volug<-See what Volug was up to in the meantime]] Ignore Volug and head straight to the [[Reunion Scene]] ] Tauroneo managed to reach the fourth floor master bedroom again quicker than he expected. "By the goddess" he exclaimed. "Is that duke Oliver of Tanas?" "Yes, yes it is. Get over your surprise" said Volug. "It was all established when you weren't here." "So, you're the ring leader of this counterfeit armour racket." Tauroneo readied his lance. "Tell me, why! Why did you do it!" "Why?" Oliver said as if Tauroneo's question was completely alien to him. "I wouldn't expect someone as filthy as you to understand. Armour without crotches are simply beautiful. Nothing is comparable." "You fiend!" Tauroneo cried. "You've done all this for the sake of design. What about functionality!? What about what's practical!?" Oliver slowly got to his feet. "What about those things? All that matters is that the people get what they want. My armour flies off the shelves. Without me the trade here would have died off years ago." "Is this a metaphor for something?" Volug wondered. "Face it old man" said Oliver. "You're living in a bygone era. People don't care about depth in their armour. What they want is accessibility and cheap thrills. I am no fiend. I am a champion. A champion of beauty, and the future." "I won't allow it!" Tauroneo shouted, his voice ablaze with passion. "Volug, let's put an end to this charade once and for all." Volug growled as he transformed. "I was waiting for you to say that." Oliver reached into a pocket of his gown and grabbed a tome. He opened it and light magic spilled forth. It knocked Volug to the ground. Tauroneo threw his lance but Oliver stepped to the side. He counter attacked with his light magic, bringing Tauroneo to his knees. "You cannot defeat one as blessed as I" Oliver declared. "For I have seen the goddess herself and my weapon has been blessed by her." "Wait, Ike took this joker into the tower of Guidance" Volug muttered as he got back to his feet. "And he left me outside to fight the zombies! I'm ten times the fighter this buffoon is." He leapt at Oliver but the senator's instincts were surprisingly well honed. He blocked with his arm and fell to the ground as Volug gnawed on him. Just when it seemed like the wolf had the upper hand, there was another flash of light and Volug was sent flying. Oliver steadily got back to his feet but as soon as he'd regained his balance, Tauroneo punched him in the face with a mailed fist. While Oliver was dazed, Tauroneo grabbed the light tome and threw it out the window. "I'm not finished yet" Oliver cried. He grabbed a staff from the nearby wall and swung it at Tauroneo. It didn't faze the knight at all. Once again he smacked Oliver in the face, knocking him to the ground. "Your career is over" Volug spat as he got back to his feet. "Maybe so" Oliver muttered. "But I won't let two as ugly as you walk away from this alive either." He jumped to his feet and rang a bell. A very proud look crossed his face. "What does that mean?" Volug asked. "It's just started a chain of reactions that will knock down all the support pillars in this hotel, sending it plummeting into the river" Oliver cried. "We're all going down together. How glorious." He began to laugh but that came to a quick close when Tauroneo punched him on the nose a third time. "Quick Volug. We need to get out of here." (if: $VolugPoisoned is true)[ They raced down the hallway but Volug began to slow. "What's wrong?" Tauroneo asked. "I've been needlessly keeping it a secret from you for dramatic effect but that snake earlier managed to bite me. I've been poisoned all this time." "You mean?" "Yes." Volug collapsed on the ground. "I'm dying Tauroneo." "What a dramatic twist!" "Just go. I'd leave you behind." "That might be true but I'm not sure I can do the same." [[Abandon Volug]] [[Carry Him]] ] (else:)[ [[Get out of here!]] ] (set: $EndingVolugDefeatedByBeauty to true) Volug leapt forward and tried to bite Oliver but the senator was surprisingly swift for an obese man. He rolled off the bed and onto the floor. When he stood up again he had a light tome in his hand. "Ha" he cried. "Take this." There was a flash of light and Volug found himself lying injured on the ground. He tried to get to his feet but Oliver attacked again. The senator was laughing now. "Take this you hideous beast. This is what happens to all who oppose my beauty!" "I can't believe it" Volug muttered. "This clown was really too much for me to handle on my own. Tauroneo...avenge me." And so our story has come to an end. Yes really. Tauroneo is still alive and maybe he can defeat Oliver but you chose to follow Volug and now that he's dead this part of the story is over. Better luck next time eh. Congratulations. You've reached the "Volug Defeated By Beauty" ending. Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingKarmicCowardice to true) "Well Volug" said Tauroneo. "I would like to say it's been fun but you've been a bit of a dick to me in some of these stories. And you went kind of super murdery when we first entered the hotel. So I don't have too many reservations about leaving you here. Bye." "Well that's fair enough. I hope you do manage to get out of here partner." Volug gesture of good will almost made Tauroneo change his mind but in the end he stood firm to his decision and left without Volug. However he died pretty soon afterwards himself. When he reached the exit of the hotel he found his boat missing. He tried to get his armour off and swim to shore but didn't have quite enough time do so and was lost beneath the water alongside his partner. Yes, we have reached the end of our story. Congratulations. You've reached the "Karmic Cowardice" ending. Try again by heading back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingMushyBromance to true) "We're partners Volug. And that means partners stick together." He picked his friend up and together the raced towards the exit. However when they got there they found their boat was missing. "I ran as fast as I could" Tauroneo said, his voice short of breath. "But it looks like this is the end." "You can swim" Volug said weakly. Tauroneo shook his head. "Not in this armour." The water was already at chest height. "Well, at least we die together" Volug muttered. "Well it kind of sucks dying on the first job" Tauroneo admitted. "But if I was to die with anyone I'm glad it's with you." "Ah you're just saying that." Volug coughed rather heavily. "Seriously you are." "Well yes but I was trying to be heartfelt." "I know. I love you Tauroneo." "I love you too Volug." Tauroneo held the wolf tightly in his arms and awaited... The End. Congratulations! You've reached the "Mushy Bromance" ending. Try again by heading back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingBrightFutureForArmour to true) Our heroes raced out of the hotel as fast as they good. In his large armour, Tauroneo was the slower of the two but Volug held back and waited for him. When they reached the second floor, the entire hotel moved suddenly as one of the support pillars were knocked out. Fortunately the way the hotel found itself slanted benefitted the heroes and they found themselves running down hill. All around them hotel staff were jumping out of windows and trying to get to safety. Just like in those old Bond films. Eventually Tauroneo and Volug managed to reach the exit of their hotel. However their boat was missing. "What do we do now?" Tauroneo asked. "I can't swim in this armour. "You're going to have to take it off" Volug said. "I can't do that." However Tauroneo's words were empty. The hotel had already sunk a good deal and the water was slowly climbing up his body. "Quick" cried Volug. "Oh alright. But you'll have to help me." Taking off armour is usually a pretty time consuming process but the two managed to do it just as quickly as the plot demands. The two of them quickly swam to shore and got out on the opposite bank. Volug noticed Tauroneo was surprisingly feeble looking beneath all his armour. Maybe that's why he didn't want to take it off. "It's over" the old knight muttered as he watched the hotel sink into the river. "It sure is" said Volug. "It sure is." Congratulations! You've reached the "Bright Future For Armour" ending. Try again by heading back to [[The Start]] Hatari wasn't at all what Tauroneo had been expecting. Given the fact that it lied beyond the desert, he mostly thought the people whould be living in tents and dressing like nomads but instead the locals walked around in t-shirts and shorts. And instead of being covered in sand, the land was more like a swamp. Though with very good infrastructure and an abundance of palm trees. "I must say, your homeland has really surprised me" Tauroneo said to Volug. "Thank you for inviting me out here." "Well I couldn't just leave you in Daein after you were kicked out of the army for massive corruption." Tauroneo nodded in agreement. "Yes. The people weren't particularly happy with me when it was revealed that I was the one that killed King Pelleas." "I was rather surprised by their reaction. I didn't think anyone liked him at all." "Well he had enough fanatics to run me out of town at least." "Which is a good thing" said Volug. "As I was just looking for a partner to help me clan up the streets Tanzania, which is the capital of Hatari." "It's also very fortunate for you that my wife divorced me and took the children meaning I have absolutely no ties to Tellius whatsoever.** It really was a beacon of light for me from an unexpected place. I didn't even know you could speak the universal tongue of my continent but it turns out everyone in Hatari speaks perfect English." "Indeed. Not knowing how to speak English during the war was all a ruse on my part because I thought it would be amusing." "As I well know. Hmm, does this conversation seem a little expository to you?" "I'm not sure what you mean" Volug said as he lifted a box of trench coats onto the desk. "Ah never mind." Tauroneo walked over to the window of the office and pulled the blinds up. "Working as a private detective out here will sure to be a strange and exciting new era in my life. I wonder what our first case will be." Volug threw a file onto the desk. "We have two options for our first case. The disappearance of Queen Nailah and ring of counterfeit armour manufacturers. Which would you like to investigate?" [[Investigate The Counterfeit Armour Manufacturers]] [[Investigate The Disappearance Of Queen Nailah]] *I didn't make that up. It's actually canon. Here's a list of endings avilable in this story. There are (color: red)[20] endings in total. Try and see if you can find them all. (if: $EndingHardRockBasilio is true)[Hard Rock Basilio](else:)[(color: grey)[Hard Rock Basilio]] (if: $EndingStrategicRetreat is true)[Strategic Retreat](else:)[(color: grey)[Strategic Retreat]] (if: $EndingSnakeBite is true)[Snake Bite](else:)[(color: grey)[Snake Bite]] (if: $EndingBurningForge1 is true)[Burning Forge 1](else:)[(color: grey)[Burning Forge 1]] (if: $EndingBurningForge2 is true)[Burning Forge 2](else:)[(color: grey)[Burning Forge 2]] (if: $EndingVolugDefeatedByBeauty is true)[Volug Defeated By Beauty](else:)[(color: grey)[Volug Defeated By Beauty]] (if: $EndingKarmicCowardice is true)[Karmic Cowardice](else:)[(color: grey)[Karmic Cowardice]] (if: $EndingMushyBromance is true)[Mushy Bromance](else:)[(color: grey)[Mushy Bromance]] (if: $EndingBrightFutureForArmour is true)[Bright Furute For Armour](else:)[(color: grey)[Bright Furute For Armour]] (if: $EndingStoneCold is true)[Stone Cold](else:)[(color: grey)[Stone Cold]] (if: $EndingBlazeOfGlory is true)[Blaze of Glory](else:)[(color: grey)[Blaze of Glory]] (if: $EndingCheatersNeverProsper1 is true)[Cheaters Never Prosper 1](else:)[(color: grey)[Cheaters Never Prosper 1]] (if: $EndingCheatersNeverProsper2 is true)[Cheaters Never Prosper 2](else:)[(color: grey)[Cheaters Never Prosper 2]] (if: $EndingCheatersSometimesProsper is true)[Cheaters Sometimes Prosper](else:)[(color: grey)[Cheaters Sometimes Prosper]] (if: $EndingTooOldForThisBusiness is true)[Too Old For This Business](else:)[(color: grey)[Too Old For This Business]] (if: $EndingAvenger is true)[Avenger](else:)[(color: grey)[Avenger]] (if: $EndingGodSaveTheQueen is true)[God Save The Queen](else:)[(color: grey)[God Save The Queen]] (if: $EndingLesMiserable is true)[Les Miserable](else:)[(color: grey)[Les Miserable]] (if: $EndingMonteVolug is true)[Monte Volug](else:)[(color: grey)[Monte Volug]] (if: $EndingShantyFate is true)[Shanty Fate](else:)[(color: grey)[Shanty Fate]] [[Main Menu->The Start]] (set: $EndingBurningForge2 to true) Volug and Tauroneo headed to the smithy. It was surprisingly well set up for being shoved into the back end of a hotel. Blacksmiths were still there hammering away at their material, unaware of the attack on their operation. However, as they were metal workers and not fighters, they surrendered without much issue. According to Volug they were French...whatever that means. They decided the best way to destroy the forge would be to burn it down. Unfortunately they highly underestimated the power of the blaze and ended up burning down the entire hotel. Tauroneo managed to sucessfully escape but Volug was lost to the flames. A few months later the counterfeit armour appeared on the market again. It appears as if all their work was for naught. Congratulations. You've reached the "Burning Forge Ending (2)". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] Tauroneo and Volug headed to the royal palace. It was a strange white building that stood out from the aesthetic of the rest of Tanzania. It also didn't look like any castle or palace Tauroneo had seen back in Tellius. It was a domed building situated in the center of a large garden. Security seemed tight but Volug was able to walk right in without anyone giving him a second glance. He had quit his job as Queen Nailah's vassal but it seemed he still had the privilege to go where he pleased. Unless the guards simply hadn't been told Volug stopped working here...Tauroneo was also beginning to suspect it possible Volug hadn't bothered to tell Nailah herself that he'd left her service. "So eh, where are we going?" Tauroneo asked Volug. The wolf glanced at his companion. [[The Throne Room]] [[Nailah's Private Quarters]] "We'll check the Throne Room" said Volug. "What do you expect to find there?" Tauroneo asked. Volug shrugged. "I don't know. Lay off. I'm still new to this detective stuff." Tauroneo held up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sorry. Didn't mean to jump down your throat. Everything alright with you? Worried about Nailah?" Volug shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's just focus on this case." They reached the throne room not too long afterwards. It was called the throne room but it looked more like an office. A round, circular office with windows overlooking the property. There was already someone waiting inside. A strange man wearing a blue suit. "Oi, oi" he said. "Wass dis wass dis. Ew do ye dink ye are walsin en te da trone rume loik dis?" "I'm the queens former retainer" Volug told him. "Who are you?" "Capten Lestrade at yer service. Dats capten of de gords off course." "We heard the Queen disappeared" said Tauroneo. "Do you know anything about it?" Lestrade shook his head. "Fraids I don't. Wanted ta luck inta it but the other guys sez she goes missin all the toime and not ta bother. Course I was feelin a bit under utiloized so's I decided ta do sem diggin moiself. Dat'd be de rasin I be in da throne rume moiself." "Well do you mind if we look around?" Tauroneo asked. "I do indeed!" Lestrade said. "Dis be moi investigation. Oim not letten sum outsoiders loike you mess it up. You'll just aff to investigate sumwhere else." Volug looked a bit put out by this. "Well I suppose we should head to her-" "Wass dis!" Lestrade suddenly exclaimed. "A fiendish figure if eva I sawz one." He was looking out the window. Volug went over and looked over Lestrade's shoulder at the figure below. "Suspicious looking indeed. Dressed all in black robes. Tauroneo, come have a look at this." Tauroneo went and had a look at the figure in the garden below. "Huh. You're right. How odd-" "Grab him Tauroneo!" Volug suddenly shouted. "What?" Volug punched Lestrade in the face. "Just grab him!" Reluctantly Tauroneo obeyed. "Watta yer doing!" Lestrade shouted. "Poit mey dowin dis instant!" "Shove him in the clock" Volug ordered as he pointed at a grandfather clock standing next to them. The captain of the guard was quite angry but Tauroneo saw no other option than to obey. Volug locked the clock after Tauroneo had forced the struggling man inside. "Why does the clock even have a lock on the outside?" Tauroneo wondered. "For situations just like these?" Volug suggested. "We don't have time to be standing around though. We need to move." [[Chase the mysterious figure]] "Her private quarters?" Tauroneo said, rather nervously. "Isn't that rather...invasive?" "Is it?" Volug wondered. "She's told me I can come and go as I pleased in the past." "Really...What kind of relationship do you have with Nailah?" "I imagine not too dissimilar to yours and Micaiah's." "Well the Queen never gave me permission to just waltz into her bedchambers whenever I like, that's for sure." Volug shrugged. "Well maybe she just didn't trust you enough." "N..No. That's not the issue." "Never mind. We're here." Volug opened the doors in front of them revealing a rather large bedroom. The walls were covered with furs and skeletons of animals or laguz that Nailah probably killed herself. A few shields and spears were dotted around the place too though they didn't seem to be from Tellius. Aside from the walls, the most noteworthy features were a large four poster bed (Tauroneo reckoned even he could sleep in it twice over with room to spare) and a wide window overlooking the grounds of the mansion. "Okay. Let's do some detecting!" Where do you want to search? [[Search the Bed]] [[Search the Window]] (set: $BoughtLevinSword to false)(set: $BoughtGoddessIcon to false) "Let's check her bed" Volug suggested. "What do you expect to find there?" Tauroneo asked. Volug shrugged. "I don't know. People keep all sorts of stuff near their bed." "Yeah but...I don't think there'll be any clues to her whereabouts." "Well you're wrong. There's a note." "A note?" Tauroneo rushed over to see what was on the note Volug had found. "The Queen has been kidnapped" the wolf read. "If you want her back, come to the docks at midnight." "How long did you say she's been missing?" Tauroneo asked. "A couple of days. Maybe a week." "A week! And nobody has found this ransom letter until now?" "Maybe they were all afraid to enter her bedroom, much like yourself." "But the kidnappers must have been expecting someone to show up days ago. They've probably killed her by now." "I doubt they could" Volug pointed out. "She won't let a bunch of thugs kill her." He looked down at the note again. "There's no ransom demand here" Volug pointed out. "They just say come to the docks." "Huh. You're right. How odd. Well what should we do with this information?" [[Inform the palace guard]] [[Head to the Docks]] "Let's check the window" Tauroneo suggested. "I don't think we'll find any clues there" Volug said while making his way there anyway. "I know but it's best to- oh wait!" "What is it?" "There's a suspicious looking figure running away in the garden." "Let me see." Volug pushed Tauroneo out of the way to get a better look (an action the knight felt was rather unjustified given the size of the window). "Definitely suspicious looking" Volug agreed. The figure seemed to be dressed entirely in black robes. "But do you think he-" "Or she" "Or she, has anything to do with Nailah's disappearance?" "Hard to say but they certainly don't look like they want to be caught. Shall we give chase?" [[Chase the mysterious figure]] [[Ignore the intruder and keep searching the room]] By the time Volug and Tauroneo reached the garden, the mysterious figure had already gone. However, Volug began tracking them by scent and our two heroes once again found themselves in the hustle and bustle of the city. "Gah. There's too many scents here" said Volug. "I can't get a fix on the one we're after. "We could try asking someone" Tauroneo suggested. "Who are we going to ask? There's so many diverse and distinct people here worthy of their own unique and fascinating description. I wouldn't' even know where to begin." "What an odd thing to say" Tauroneo muttered. "Well I'll pick three at random and you choose who we should approach." [[The Blue Haired Swordsman]] [[The Merchant In The Red Cape]] [[The Old Man With The Monocle]] (set: $BoughtLevinSword to false)(set: $BoughtGoddessIcon to false) Tauroneo shook his head. "No. We'd waste too much time if it turns out he's not involved." "He or she." "Why do you keep doing that?" "We can't assume these things" Volug said. "It's only proper." "Eh. I suppose. Anyway we better get back to searching this room." "Let's check her bed" Volug suggested. "What do you expect to find there?" Volug shrugged. "I don't know. People keep all sorts of stuff near their bed." "Yeah but...I don't think there'll be any clues to her whereabouts." "Well you're wrong. There's a note." "A note?" Tauroneo rushed over to see what was on the note Volug has found. "The Queen has been kidnapped" the wolf read. "If you want her back, come to the docks at mid night." "How long did you say she's been missing?" Tauroneo asked. "A couple of days. Maybe a week." "A week! And nobody has found this ransom letter until now?" "Maybe they were all afraid to enter her bedroom, much like yourself." "But the kidnappers must have been expecting someone to show up days ago. They've probably killed her by now." "I doubt they could" Volug pointed out. "She won't let a bunch of thugs kill her." He looked down at the note again. "There's no ransom demand here" Volug pointed out. "They just say come to the docks." "Huh. You're right. How odd. Well what should we do with this information?" [[Inform the palace guard]] [[Head to the Docks]] "Wats go'in on ere then" said the head of the palace guard after Tauroneo and Volug had tracked him down. "What happened to the old guy?" Volug asked. "Eh got eaten by some crocs eh did. Am in charge of the palace guards now. Capten Lestrade at yer service. Now, what ken I do yeh for?" "What's up with his accent?" Tauroneo asked Volug in a whisper. "I'm not sure" Volug replied. "I think he might be exaggerating it." "Am sorry boys but could ye include me in yer conversation?" "Oh, sorry" said Tauroneo. Volug handed him the note. "We found this in Nailah's bedroom." Lestrade whistled. "Mai or mai. We shud ave saws dis one a lot earlier. Welp, shant be a problem. Ahl rally the cavary so's to speak. We'll storms the place and have da queen back in no time." "Hmm" said Volug. "He's weird but I think I like this guy." "Thank ye fer inferming us" Lestrade continued to say. "Wheel call in te ya temerrow te tell ye aow it goes." "What?" said Volug. "No, we're coming too." Lestrade shook his head. "Am afraid dis nay longer cuncerns ye. We'll sort it out from ere. Don't worry. Ye'll get yer paycheck." "Somehow I suspect it'll be less than we deserve" Volug grumbled. Tauroneo placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. The most important thing is that the queen is rescued. How about we follow up that counterfeit armour case?" Volug waved his hand. "I suppose we have no choice. Let's go then." "Ah. So yer investgatin the countfoot armer eh? I got some information on dat case." "Ah, really" said Tauroneo. "That's awfully convenient." Lestrade nodded. "Indeed. Ye can find the gang whoose be makin them in da south district flotin 'otel." "I know the place" said Volug. "Oh well. We better be off." Tauroneo bowed and thanked Lestrade. "Good luck with rescuing the Queen." [[Head To The South District Floating Hotel]] "Wait a second" Tauroneo and Volug looked at each other and spoke in unison. "Blue Haired Swordsman!" They looked back at the figure Tauroneo had randomly picked out of the crowd. "Ike!" they exclaimed. They rushed over to him. "Oh my god it's really him" Tauroneo cried. "We love you Ike" Volug shouted. "Oh, hi guys" Ike said, a slightly dull expression on his face. "I was just buying some spare ribs." Tauroneo and Volug clapped their hands eagerly, a large smile on both their faces. "That is so great" said Volug. "That's the prime reason I love you so much." "Oh gee thanks." Ike rubbed the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "What are you even doing in Hatari?" Tauroneo asked. "Well after killing a goddess Tellius was a bit boring so I decided to go explore some new lands" Ike told them. "I'd some real fun in one place called Smashville but then suddenly everyone there seemed like they were from a variation of Tellius so I decided to move on." Volug nodded his head. "That is so interesting." "Is there anything I can help you guys with?" Ike asked. Tauroneo squealed. "He's just so generous." "I know right?" "Ah well, I've got to get going. These ribs won't eat themselves. Take car." With that Ike disappeared into the crowed. "Wait, we never asked him about the mysterious figure!" Tauroneo realised. "That's true" said Volug. "But I still feel really good about myself. Ike's just so amazing."** "You're right." Tauroneo sighed. "I wish I could be just like him." "Well we have to get back to business. Which of our other two randomly chosen people should we talk to?" [[The Merchant In The Red Cape]] [[The Old Man With The Monocle]] *This is meant to be humorous. The author likes Ike but he's not that amazing. (set: $BoughtGoddessIcon to false) (set: $BoughtLevinSword to false) Volug and Tauroneo approached the merchant wearing the red cape. "Excuse me" said Tauroneo. "Have you seen a suspicious looking figure in black robes pass by here?" The girl smiled brightly. "I did indeed. And I know exactly where he went." "Oh how fortunate" said Tauroneo. "What direction?" The merchant shook her head. "I'm not about to tell you that easily. First you need to buy one of my wares." Volug growled. "That's extortion." She shrugged. "Call it what you want but you won't get a word out of me unless you buy something. Aint no law that says you need to give out information to anyone who asks." "We're detectives" Tauroneo told her. "Let's see a badge then." "Well we're not associated with the pol-" The merchant stepped aside and motioned to her table. The smile on her face widened, Tauroneo sighed. "Looks like we'll need to buy something." [[Buy The Goddess Icon]] [[Buy The Levin Sword]] [[Buy The Vulnerary]] "Excuse me" Tauroneo said as he approached the old man wearing a monocle. "I was wondering if-" "What is it" the man snapped. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" "Oi" said Volug. "Don't talk to my partner like that." "What are you going to do you filthy cur?" the man asked, suddenly brandishing a yellow tome. "I thought you said the people here are more enlightened about the whole racism thing" Tauroneo whispered to Volug. "They are" Volug whispered back. "This guy's just a dick. I think he might be a foreigner." "What are you two whispering about. Talking about me behind my back are we?" He raised his tome and shot a bolt of lightning at Tauroneo. The knight fell flat on his back. "That'll teach you, you no good ruffian. Next time make sure you-" The man's words were lost as Volug suddenly transformed into a wolf and tore out his throat. "What the hell?" Tauroneo shouted as he got to his feet. "You didn't have to kill him!" "Bah" said Volug. "He was clearly up to no good. What self respecting person wears a monocle anyway?" The crowd clearly didn't agree with Volug. They were whispering and pointing. A few had run off to get the authorities. "I think maybe we can discuss this later" said Tauroneo. "For now we should probably get out of here." "There he is" someone from the crowd yelled. "It was that wolf. The old guy in the white armour helped too." "You're right Tauroneo" Volug said calmly. "Let's split." He transformed once again and rushed off. Tauroneo tried to follow but he couldn't run nearly as fast as the wolf while wearing his armour. "Volug, wait!" he cried. Volug turned back and looked at his friend. [[Abandon Tauroneo]] [[Stand With Him And Face The Police Head On]] Tauroneo picked up the Goddess Icon. "Alright. I'll take this I suppose." "Ah" said the vendor. "An excellent choice. That's a real work of art. 8,000 gold pieces." "8,000!" Volug exclaimed. "That's daylight robbery." Tauroneo turned the statue over in his hand. He had to admit it was quite nice looking. "It's an exact replica of the bust of Ashera" the merchant told them. "Even having it on your person is sure to bring you luck." Volug shook his head. "We killed that goddess." "Eh...You what?" Tauroneo leaned in close and whispered in Volug's ear. "How much money do we have. I think I really want this." Volug gave Tauroneo a dirty look. "That depends. Do you want to pay rent this month?" Tauroneo looked down at the statue again. "It's just...I feel like it's special. Like something really good will come out of it if we buy it." Volug threw up his hand. "Alright. Buy the damn thing if it makes you happy. We better solve this case though. Otherwise we'll be sleeping on the streets." "What was that about killing the goddess?" the merchant asked. "I don't think I can buy it when you're acting like this" Tauroneo said. "You're upset, aren't you?" "Gee. What gave it away?" Tauroneo looked at the other wares on display. "Hmm." [[Blow all your funds on the Goddess Icon]] [[Buy The Levin Sword]] [[Buy The Vulnerary]] (set: $BoughtLevinSword to true) Tauroneo picked up the Levin Sword. "Well if we're going to buy something we might as well buy something useful." "Wait, can you even use swords?" Volug asked. Tauroneo scratched his chin. "You know it's funny. I used to use them just as much as I use lances but in recent years I've sort of just forgotten. It shouldn't be too hard to get back into it though I'm sure." "That'll be 1,600 please" the merchant said, her hand ready and waiting to receive the payment. "Eh. How much case we got?" Tauroneo asked Volug. The wolf checked his pouch. "Yeah, we can afford it. But you better use it, you hear me." Tauroneo gave the weapon an experimental swipe. "I will, I will, don't worry." Volug handed the money over to the vendor. "You got your blood money, witch. Now tell us what we want to know." The merchant very slowly, and very deliberately began counting the gold. "The man you're looking for headed towards the docks" she told them. "That's all I know." Volug was tempted to snatch the money right out of her hand as soon as he had the information they needed. But he suspected they'd have to deal with this particular girl again on the many adventures they were sure to have so he restrained himself. "Alright Tauroneo. Let's go." [[Head to the Docks]] "Alright we'll buy the vulnerary" said Tauroneo. "It's the cheapest thing she has." "You don't have to buy the cheapest thing" the woman said slightly snarkly. "We shouldn't have to buy anything at all!" Volug barked. "Now tell us where that mysterious person ran off to." The merchant waved a hand. "Alright, alright. He ran off towards the port. Was muttering something about a ship with black sails. That good enough for ya?" Tauroneo bowed. "Thank you kindly madam. I'm sure your information will be most valuable." "Oh give it up Tauroneo" Volug muttered. "She's a bloody crook. Let's just go before she forces us to buy something else." [[Head to the Port]] "I can smell the queen" Volug announced after they'd been searching the docks for about an hour. "Wait, couldn't you have just traced her from the palace to start with?" Volug shook his head. "No. Her scent is too strong there and I can't distinguish smells if there's too many. Out here things are pretty isolated however. She's in that warehouse there along with about twenty men." "Look. If we climb up those boxes we'll be able to see through the window." They did as Tauroneo suggested....yeah that's not much of an interesting scene transition but...look what's happening now! Our pair of detectives looked through the window. Volug's estimation had been correct. There were about twenty men in the warehouse moving boxes around. At the centre was a large crate, chained shut. It was rocking side to side. Some very nervous looking men were approaching it with a second crate. One of them, a man in large white armour, seemingly their leader, took an axe to the first crate. He made a single split in the wood and hurriedly backed away. A moment later Nailah burst out of the crate and ran straight into the second one they prepared. The men very quickly turned it over so the entrance was facing upwards then closed the doors and began chaining it shut. "There she is" Volug growled. "Don't be too hasty" Tauroneo advised. "We need a plan. There's too many of them down there for us to handle alone." "We free Nailah" Volug said. "She could handle fifty men by herself." "That might be so but from the looks of her temper right about now, she might just as soon turn on us." "Well what do you suggest?" Tauroneo scratched his chin. "Hmm." [[Set the place on fire]] [[Alright. Make a beeline for Nailah's cage]]. (set: $BoughtGoddessIcon to true) Tauroneo shook his head. "I'm sorry Volug but I've simply set my mind on it. I must have this statue. Give the woman her money." Reluctantly Volug handed over the gold though he kept throwing both Tauroneo and the girl dirty looks. She seemed particularly happy to make the sale and immediately told them she saw the mysterious figure run off towards the docklands. "Our next destination is clear then" Tauroneo said. "To the docklands!" "To the docklands" Volug muttered though he sounded noticeably less enthusiastic than Tauroneo." [[Head to the Docks]] Tauroneo clicked his finger. "We'll set the place on fire!" "And kill Nailah in the process?" Volug said dryly. "Oh...Eh. You think fire could kill her?" "She's a beast laguz. Fire can most definitely kill her." "Still, it could provide a good distraction." "I suppose...Alright. Let's do it." With no better fuel in sight, Tauroneo set fire to the boxes they'd been standing on using the matches he had safely stored away that were never mentioned before because there was no need to. With the blaze lit, they quickly ran to the opposite side of the building and waited to hear some reaction. It took slightly longer than they expected but eventually shouts could be heard from within. Men flooded outside to see whether they could stop the fire or flee. Tauroneo and Volug crept inside. Tauroneo looked particularly silly trying to sneak around in his big white armour but nevertheless they managed to successfully reach Nailah's cage. "Okay" Volug whispered. "Open it up." Tauroneo nodded. "Let's hope she's calmed down." (if: $BoughtGoddessIcon is true)[ [[Free Nailah]] ] (else:)[ [[Open the crate]] ] "Nah" said Tauroneo. "I've got nothing. We'll do it your way." A minute later our heroes crashed through the doors of the ware house. Volug didn't even wait to make some sort of snappy line. He ran straight for the crate holding Nailah. Tauroneo followed, though at a much slower pace. It took the kidnappers sometime to register what was going on but eventually they realised this strange armoured man and wolf were raiding the place. Just as Volug reached the crate, one of them shot the laguz with a crossbow. Tauroneo slowed to a stop and cautiously looked around. He was surrounded. He was beginning to think this was not a good idead. "He looks a bit like you boss" said one of the kidnappers. Tauroneo looked at their leader. The underling was right. The man was also garbed in white armour from Tellius much like himself. Although he seemed to be quite a bit younger. "A Tellius man, eh" he said after inspecting Tauroneo in kind. "Where are you from?" Tauroneo griped his lance. They weren't attacking him yet, which was good. "Daein" he answered. "What about you." The man laughed. "Daein. I hail from Crimea. I fought Daein soldiers during the war. Were you a general? You look like a general." "I...sort of fought for Crimea too" Tauroneo admitted. "What do you mean sort of?" "I defected." "So you are a traitor...Wait...Could you be, Tauroneo. One of the four riders?" Tauroneo nodded. "That I am. You have me at a disadvantage now. What is your name?" The man smiled. "I am Ludveck, former duke of Felirae." Volug was slowly recovering from the crossbow strike. "Does the name ring any bells?" he growled. Tauroneo nodded. "Yes. You tried to usurp Queen Elincia. I thought she defeated you." A flash of anger passed over Ludveck's face. "She did. But then she sort of just forgot about me. I managed to make my escape and ended up here." "And now you're kidnapping Queens" said Volug. Ludveck shrugged. "You've got to make a living somehow." Anger passed over his face again. "But nobody's come looking for her ransom. What's wrong with the people in this country." "They're an odd bunch" Tauroneo agreed. "Hey" shouted one of Ludveck's minions. "I'm from Hatari. I take offense at that comment." "Oh quiet you" said another minion. Ludveck removed his gauntlet and threw it down at Tauroneo's foot. "I could kill you right now but I'd like to test myself against a warrior of your renown. What say you Tauroneo of Daein. Would you care for a dual?" [[Accept the dual]] [[Accept and then rush at Ludveck before he has a chance to reach his weapon]] [[Tell Volug to attack him]] (set: $EndingStoneCold to true) Tauroneo opened the crate using his lance. Nailah was waiting for him on the other side, in wolf form, growling. Her single red eye glowing...So brightly...So mesmerizing... Volug watched as Tauroneo turned to stone. Congratulations, you've reached the "Stone Cold Ending". try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingBlazeOfGlory to true) Tauroneo opened the crate using his lance. Before he had even finished, Nailah bounded out, knocking Tauroneo to the ground in the process. She ignored Volug and headed straight outside. Almost immediately there were shouts and screams. Almost apprehensively, our pair of detectives went outside to see what was going on. The fire had flared up much faster than they'd expected. The wind was blowing embers outwards setting nearby buildings alight. At the source of the blaze was Nailah and her kidnappers. It was still the middle of the day but the tall warehouses and fire blazing behind them gave them all very large shadows. The wolf queen was mercilessly tearing into her foes who were caught between her and the flames. "Well, Nailah's free" said Volug. "I say we get the hell out of here before things get any worse." "Eh. What about the fire" Tauroneo asked. "Looks like those guys won't be putting it out any time soon." Volug shrugged. "You can try and be the hero if you want but I'm calling it in for the day." "This seems highly irresponsible." Volug turned and began walking away. "The queens here. She'll take responsibility for it all later." Tauroneo took one last look at the carnage and sighed. "I don't think that's the way ethics work." "If you're worried about our payment then I'll bill Nailah for it later." "Somehow I'm not sure if this is a good ending or not" Tauroneo muttered. Congratulations, you've reached the "Blaze of Glory Ending". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $HP to 10) Tauroneo nodded. "Alright. Let's do this." Ludveck smiled. "Excellent." He readied his axe and began circling Tauroneo. "A tomahawk eh" Tauroneo muttered to himself. "He has an advantage against my lance with that weapon. Plus he can attack at range. This might be more challenging than I expected." [[Get in close->Vantage]] [[Attack from afar]] [[Wait for him to strike]] (set: $EndingCheatersNeverProsper1 to true) "Alrightletsgo" Tauroneo said suddenly. He rushed forward and trusted with his spear. As he had hoped, Ludveck was not prepared. He stumbled backwards to avoid Tauroneo's attack and fell to the ground. Tauroneo twirled his spear and tried to strike again. "Shoot him!" Ludveck cried, evidently abandoning the notion of the dual. On his order the minions raised their crossbows and shot at Tauroneo. "Blast" the old knight muttered. "I really thought that'd work." Congratulations, you've reached the "Cheaters Never Prosper Ending (1)". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingCheatersNeverProsper2 to true) "I would accept" said Tauroneo. "But you see, myfriendhereistherealfighter. Get em Volug!" "Eh, what did you say?" Volug asked. "Go! Attack em!" Ludveck sighed and shook his head. "Enough of this. Kill them." "Ah. Wait, no" said Tauroneo. "It was only a joke. Honest." The crossbow bolts were launched almost simultaneously. Despite Tauroneo's thick armour they pierced him with ease. Volug took this moment of opportunity to swiftly get the hell out of there. "Gah" Tauroneo cried as he fell to the ground, the agony being far worse than he could have imagined. "Never thought it'd end like this." Congratulations, you've reached the "Cheaters Never Prosper Ending (2)". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $HP to $HP-5) Tauroneo rushed forward and tried to strike but Ludveck was quicker. "Vantage, bitch" he cried as he swung his axe. It connected with Tauroneo but wasn't quite strong enough to knock him off his feet. Tauroneo responded by attacking with his lance. His strike rang true but Ludveck wasn't damaged quite as much as Tauroneo. They broke apart and began circling each other again. (if: $HP > 0)[ Damn. I think I came out worse from that one. Let's do this again." [[Attack from afar]] [[Wait for him to strike]] ] (else:)[ "I don't think I can continue" Tauroneo gasped. [[Give Up]] ] (set: $HP to $HP-3) Tauroneo threw his lance but Ludveck managed to step out of the way. He turned and threw his axe in response. Tauroneo also tried to side step it but the tomahawk just managed to graze his shoulder. Ludvick gave yet another satisfied smile. He picked up Tauroneo's spear. "I'll give you your lance back if you give me my axe." (if: $HP > 0)[ [[Trade]] [[Don't Trade]] ] (else:)["I don't think I can continue" Tauroneo gasped. [[Give Up]] ] (set: $EndingTooOldForThisBusiness to true) Ludveck looked slightly disapointed. "Really? I was just beginning to enjoy myself." Tauroneo fell to his knees in defeat. "Volug, Nailah...I'm sorry. Turns out I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm just getting too old for this business" Congratulations, you've reached the "Too Old For This Business Ending". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $HP to $HP-1) Tauroneo took a defensive position and waited for Ludveck to strike. "Not coming after me huh. Well take this!" Ludveck charged forward and brought his axe down on Tauroneo. Before he could connect however, Tauroneo shoved him forward, knocking him off balance. While Ludveck was off balance, our hero swung out with his lance and managed to scratch his enemy. "You're better than I expected" Ludveck muttered as he recovered his stance. "But then this wouldn't be so entertaining otherwise." (if: $HP > 0)[ [[Attack from afar]] [[Get in close]] ] (else:)["I don't think I can continue" Tauroneo gasped. [[Give Up]] ] (set: $HP to $HP-4) Tauroneo rushed forward and struck out with his lance. It caught Ludveck in the side. With a grunt the duke brought his axe down on Tauroneo's shoulder. The armour protected him from most of the blow but it still rattled his arm. (if: $HP < 1)[ "I don't think I can continue" Tauroneo gasped. [[Give Up]] ](elseif: $HP < 5)[Tauroneo twirled around and struck Ludveck a second time. This blow was more decisive, catching his enemy directly in the torso. "How did you move so fast?" Ludveck cried. "I used my resolve" Tauroneo muttered. "I'm not below using my assets too" Ludveck grunted. "Men, attack him!" "That's not fair" Volug growled. "Tauroneo won. You said you'd let the queen go." "I said no such thing" Ludveck roared. "We just agreed to a dual. What are you fools doing standing there? Attack!" Ludveck's men had been enjoying the fight and had let their guard down. At the dukes last command however, they quickly began loading their crossbows. "Taurono!" Volug shouted. "We must free Nailah. Quick. It's our only chance." [[Free Nailah using the lance]] (if: $BoughtLevinSword is true)[ [[Free Nailah using the levin sword]] ] ](else:)[ "Damn. I think I came out worse from that one. Let's do this again." [[Attack from afar]] [[Wait for him to strike]] ] Tauroneo tossed back the axe and Ludveck, true to his word, threw back the lance. "Alright. Let's continue" Tauroneo muttered. [[Get in close]] [[Wait for him to strike]] (set: $EndingCheatersSometimesProsper to true) Tauroneo shook his head. "The axe is the better weapon in this fight. And unfortunately for you, I know how to use one." "Ah" Ludveck muttered. "Well unfortunately I can't use this lance." Ludveck threw the weapon to the ground. "But you know what I can use? My men. Shoot him." "What!? That's not fair!" "And I don't care. Shoot him." The men obeyed and Tauroneo suddenly found himself very easily able to empathise with a pin cushion. Congratulations, you've reached the "Cheaters Sometimes Prosper Ending ". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingAvenger to true) Tauroneo rushed forward. The fight with Ludveck had taken him some distance away from the crate. Volug was already at it trying to free his queen but his strength alone wasn't enough. Tauroneo placed his lance in the gap at the side and tried to use it as a lever to open the crate. He had just about succeeded when he felt his back being pierced by the crossbow bolts. "Gah" he collapsed but with his last ounce of strength he opened the box. The wolf queen leapt out and surveyed the situation. She looked down at the dying forms of Volug and Tauroneo. She raised her head and howled. The minions tried to reload their crossbows but they never stood a chance. Tauroneo and Volug, for what it was worth, were avenged. Congratulations, you've reached the "Avenger Ending ". Try again by going back to [[The Start]] (set: $EndingGodSaveTheQueen to true) Tauroneo was too far away from the crate to reach it on time. He reached for the Levin sword he had bought earlier and raised it above his head. A bolt of lightning came from nowhere and struck the box. There was a pause as everyone waited to see what would happen. A few seconds later Nailah leapt out of the box. The kidnappers shifted their focus from Volug and Tauroneo and instead tried to shoot Nailah but she darted and weaved, evading their attacks. As soon as they realised they weren't winning this battle they dispersed and fled for their lives. Nailah tried to give pursuit but Tauroneo feeling guilty about all the bloodshed, called her back. "You have my thanks, majesty" he said. "You really saved us." Nailah reverted back to her human form. "You saved me Tauroneo. You have my gratitude. I did not expect to see you in Hatari." Tauroneo glanced at Volug. "You never even told her I was coming." The wolf shrugged. "I don't need to tell her everything. We're not married." "Well I am glad you came" said Nailah. "You will be honoured for this, make no mistake about it." "How did they even manage to nab you in the first place?" Volug wondered. Nailah looked down, slightly embarrassed. "They lured me away in a manner I'd much rather not discuses." "Never mind" said Tauroneo. "Alls well that ends well." Together the three of them left the warehouse, feeling pretty good about themselves. Tauroneo was offered a place as head guard in Nailah's palace but he refused, preferring to assist Volug in his detecting duties. Nailah continued to make her little disappearances every now and then but she was never genuinely kidnapped again. That one merchant who sold Tauroneo the Levin Sword opened a Hot Spring. That one mysterious guy they chased after turned out to be completely unrelated to the case and only led them to the docks by happenstance. He went on to join a cult of some sort. And Ludveck, he was once again forgotten about by the protagonists of the story. He survived the injury Tauroneo inflicted on him and managed to get into Super Smash Bros. 5 as DLC because people wanted more Fire Emblem characters. Congratulations, you've reached the "God Save The Queen Ending ". Try again by going back to [[The Start]]