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"Part three?"

"How are you not tired of this yet?" Tyomas asks, staring at you dispassionately.

You shrug.

"Well, there's not that much compared to other parts. I lose my fighting spirit, so to speak, so I seeked honorable discharge. The war was coming to a close, with the Centaurians at the very least. Then the New Fed was announced and EXO-Lumina was in full retreat, so I was far from frontlines. You know, you grab a rifle, you can't put away a rifle. So I took bodyguarding and merchant protection... but the kid's face kept coming back." Tyomas sighs.

"After 'the' War ended too, well, I came back to my parents. Turns out mom died in shuttle accident and dad, whilst proud, seemed a bit too distant too me. Espousing all this planetary propaganda and stuff I no longer understood. So I took to the stars again, seeking... help? Help is a good word. For the stress. For the flashbacks. For the nightmares, you know. Unfortunately, the New Fed's psychological and psychiatric veteran bonus does not apply to those that didn't fight against EXO-Lumina for at least a year. So I was brushed aside."

"But you require help." Tyomas laughs mockingly.

"Oh, yeah. Don't worry, I did manage to get some help. So they scheduled me a non-priority assignment, its on..." He pulls out a small datapad from the inside of his jumpsuit and thumbs it for a while. "Ah, there. Sixth of Tenth, 1236. Aries Sector, Delta Pavonis II, Cornelius Trade Hub, appointment with Doctor Winston Winsley, Psychiatrist, 1400 Standard Hours." He puts the datapad back in the pocket.

"Until then I was prescribed, well, drugs. But cornycin leaves me weak and tired, and saurococtin knocks me out in half an hour, and I can't get a new prescription until the appointment. So. I travel, alone, delivering cargo just to pass by, somehow."

"You might hurt yourself, though." Tyomas looks at you, silent for a moment.

"Don't worry. I don't like easy ways out. Even if synthol... kinda is one. Still better than alternative. Ten months left. I can manage. I gotta manage. Yeah." He grabs the tank glass and slurps down the mostly melted ice and resultant water.

"I will manage, somehow." He says, and rubs his eyes.

"Thanks for the synthol, it's helping. I think I will hit the sleep pod on my ship now."

"Please come again." Tyomas smiles at you sadly.

"For synthol?"

A) "For synthol."
B) "For stories."
C) "For whatever you feel like."

"I shall send forces at once to beat the Wildmen back!"

The Marshal stands up, cape fluttering behind him.

"My liege! Will you lead us against the brutes like you did lead us against the Tyrant?"

A) "VERILYYYYYYY!"
B) "Not this time, no."

You decide to keep it as it is for now.


"Mercenaries?" You ask as the diplomat of Queen Vigda, from a (more or less) neighbouring, land-locked kingdom of Reval in the south, bows gently.

"Yes, your majesty. Our foces have been depleted by my Queen's father in past year and rampage of a Giant. Now bandits and enemies of the Queen are harassing us at and within our borders. She heard that your army is strong and was main ingredient in your coming to power, so she is offering to take a small part of it to her borders to help restore the situation. It might takes a year, it might take three years, but the Queen has promised in-writing that money will be sent for their services to you every Summer, the final one coming alongside your returning soldiers."

You decide to...

A) Send some soldiers to Reval.
B) Apologize that you have none to spare.

"I accept the apology and the fine gifts! Convey my gratitude to good King Astri!"

It takes half a day to unload all the barges, and there's four score of chests at the very least. Preserved furs, dyed linens, corded flax, ceramics and stoneware, trinkets of copper and bronze and silver even, even some gemstones and golden pieces.

When the Treasurer finishes counting all the gifted items, he is visibly giddy.

"My liege! This is a great gift, and if we sell the bulk of these, we can refill our Treasury somewhat and still adorn ourselves with some choice pieces!" The Advisor coughs and leans to your ear.

"On other hand, think of what your courtiers and people will say if you donate these treasures to them as a sign of your benevolence."

A) "Gifts are meant to be given away! So give these gifts to the people of Surinthomus!"
B) "Sell these away! What worth are fine fabrics and jewelry if we have nothing to buy basic wares with?"

I churn out a lot of low quality doodle yes

>low quality
>full color action/adventure scenes with detailed backgrounds

Cathar, you're selling yourself way too low. These are wonderful artworks.

You quickly rouse some soldiers and able-bodied councilmen and ride out of the castle and down to the pier!

Just in time to see Rychtian soldiers disembarking with the heavy chests on their backs.

"I am King Cyrus, and I demand to know what is happening here, and there better be a good explanation!" You yell from horseback. The soldiers stop for a moment before hurriedly, a pair of men disembarks from the largest barge. One of them wears a robe with crest of Rycht, the other with the same crest Prince Vallurvo had on his cloak.

"Greetings! I am Ulko of Rycht. And this here is Rurik of Ingar." Rurik bows to you when he is introduced by his companion.

"Greetings to you, King Cyrus! On behalf of my master and lord, King Astri, I wish to present you these fine gifts." He snaps his fingers at Rychtian soldiers, who put down two boxes, prying them open. They're both full of dyed linens, orange and grey furs, and strings of copper and silver, and even some jewelry.

"For what reason?"

"King Astri heard of Prince Vallurvo's stay in your palace, especially about his drunken insults and his uncouth behavior towards your wife and queen. He wished to make amends for Prince's behavior, but as our nation does not have access to the Great River, we have asked our neighbours the Rychtans, to lend us some of their barges and soldiers to present these riches with utmost apologies to you, your courtiers, and your wife. We have many more boxes full of trinkets and cloth, and I hope that you accept them along with the apology?" You easily notice that some of your courtiers are craning their necks to peek at the boxes, no doubt laden with similar expensive items.

A) "I accept the apology and the fine gifts! Convey my gratitude to good King Astri!"
B) "You think our honor can be bought this cheap? You better double up on the boxes, or else!"
C) "Nay! In fact, I feel more insulted than I was before!!"

Both space dorf and Syreen were tied so I made a good ol' coin toss and today we go...