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Unprepared, unknowledgable, and underestimating the world, Karen set forth from a sheltered life. Being a noble, the home she left was well protected. The stone walls that had protected her from the outside environment were now being left behind. Karen, her eyes blinded by the false compliments and praises, would not even have a clue of what was going to happen to her. His father, in his greed, paid his protection very little. He would not even spare her own personal guards the extra sum to keep her safe. A fact that Karen either knew about or did not. Either way she wouldn't have a single inclination as to what money actually meant, she had never possessed any before now. So the bitterness of the warriors walking with her would most likely go unnoticed by her.
Karen, while on her trip, was given a rather safe destination. Made to walk along a road to another noble's house. A rather riskless mission to go and see another noble, announce her desires to see the world, and see how he might contribute to her desires. All the while, everything was taken care of for her. Hunting, firewood, and the watches at night were made only by the guard. The last one carried no bitterness, truly, because they did not trust Karen to do the job well at all. A fact of life Karen was likely truly used to, given her backstory of being spoiled rotten and having no chores nor tasks to perform. Though during the night, Karen would hear the soldiers talk amongst themselves. Their words were lost on her, but even so, their intentions were undoubtedly clear to anyone else.
They wanted to ditch their job, ditch Karen, and find a better way in life now that they had the best leverage ever, the girl herself. They grinned, they conspired, they referenced the map. Together, they decided to take a detour. They were going to leave the path to the other noble's house completely, and instead follow a road that lead to a darker path...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week into travel, and Karen would find that they were supposed to have arrived at the noble's house yesterday. The four guards seemed to pay no mind, and would even tell the half truth as they walked. "We apologize, ma'am. Your father instructed us to take you down... The path of trials." a guard announced, to address any concern before it came up. "You are truly great, ma'am, you truly are." he said sarcastically. "But, the unfortunate truth is that you have not yet laid claim to any trophies or glorious deeds! One such accomplishment awaits you here." he claimed. "Once you have performed the trial ahead, then the noble's estate will be but two hours away! You can go to him and boast your greatness, and he will surely respect you, giving you whatever you ask of him!" he declared.
While still marching forward, the explanation continued. "Milady, you will meet some... Powerful Warriors," the guard said after some thought. "They are the ones who try would-be adventurers, seeing if they have the mettle to be regarded with honor! But, milady, be careful you do not amaze them too well and hurt them! Just follow their instructions, and they will take you to be tested." he said. Despite this apparently being a big thing he was telling Karen, the girl would remember nothing of this from her father. Yet the guards seem to all be together, nodding as if it was an established fact. A female guard walking by her side winked at Karen. "You'll pass their expectations with ease, milady~" she cooed with intent. "Their training is mental as well as physical. They will ask you to do things to test your resolve. Things you never even heard of. Be sure you don't waver, and do everything they say. It's as easy as that for someone as talented as you, my esteemed lady~"
With that being said, Karen was free to talk and comment back as much as she wished. The conversation would continue for a while if need be, but the end destination was at the very last step. Whenever Karen would have nothing to ask or say, they would keep walking and eventually reach... A shabby house, with a scruffy man holding a crossbow sitting on the porch. Seeing the group of five incoming, he'd stand, and address them. "Yer the noble?" he inquired towards Karen. The man looked terribly unclean for a powerful warrior, but the only difference between this man and some of her guards back home was that her guards wore helmets to hide their ugly visages and unshaven faces. So perhaps his deceiving appearance was the first test?
(You can skip right to arriving at the shack if you wish, or interrupt that by speaking to and interacting with the guards beforehand. It's just there to let you decide how to open Karen's story.)
Karen: Fine
HP: 76, PP: 34, EP: 36, TP: 60
HP: 76, PP: 34, EP: 36, TP: 60
Unprepared, unknowledgable, and underestimating the world, Karen set forth from a sheltered life. Being a noble, the home she left was well protected. The stone walls that had protected her from the outside environment were now being left behind. Karen, her eyes blinded by the false compliments and praises, would not even have a clue of what was going to happen to her. His father, in his greed, paid his protection very little. He would not even spare her own personal guards the extra sum to keep her safe. A fact that Karen either knew about or did not. Either way she wouldn't have a single inclination as to what money actually meant, she had never possessed any before now. So the bitterness of the warriors walking with her would most likely go unnoticed by her.
Karen, while on her trip, was given a rather safe destination. Made to walk along a road to another noble's house. A rather riskless mission to go and see another noble, announce her desires to see the world, and see how he might contribute to her desires. All the while, everything was taken care of for her. Hunting, firewood, and the watches at night were made only by the guard. The last one carried no bitterness, truly, because they did not trust Karen to do the job well at all. A fact of life Karen was likely truly used to, given her backstory of being spoiled rotten and having no chores nor tasks to perform. Though during the night, Karen would hear the soldiers talk amongst themselves. Their words were lost on her, but even so, their intentions were undoubtedly clear to anyone else.
They wanted to ditch their job, ditch Karen, and find a better way in life now that they had the best leverage ever, the girl herself. They grinned, they conspired, they referenced the map. Together, they decided to take a detour. They were going to leave the path to the other noble's house completely, and instead follow a road that lead to a darker path...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week into travel, and Karen would find that they were supposed to have arrived at the noble's house yesterday. The four guards seemed to pay no mind, and would even tell the half truth as they walked. "We apologize, ma'am. Your father instructed us to take you down... The path of trials." a guard announced, to address any concern before it came up. "You are truly great, ma'am, you truly are." he said sarcastically. "But, the unfortunate truth is that you have not yet laid claim to any trophies or glorious deeds! One such accomplishment awaits you here." he claimed. "Once you have performed the trial ahead, then the noble's estate will be but two hours away! You can go to him and boast your greatness, and he will surely respect you, giving you whatever you ask of him!" he declared.
While still marching forward, the explanation continued. "Milady, you will meet some... Powerful Warriors," the guard said after some thought. "They are the ones who try would-be adventurers, seeing if they have the mettle to be regarded with honor! But, milady, be careful you do not amaze them too well and hurt them! Just follow their instructions, and they will take you to be tested." he said. Despite this apparently being a big thing he was telling Karen, the girl would remember nothing of this from her father. Yet the guards seem to all be together, nodding as if it was an established fact. A female guard walking by her side winked at Karen. "You'll pass their expectations with ease, milady~" she cooed with intent. "Their training is mental as well as physical. They will ask you to do things to test your resolve. Things you never even heard of. Be sure you don't waver, and do everything they say. It's as easy as that for someone as talented as you, my esteemed lady~"
With that being said, Karen was free to talk and comment back as much as she wished. The conversation would continue for a while if need be, but the end destination was at the very last step. Whenever Karen would have nothing to ask or say, they would keep walking and eventually reach... A shabby house, with a scruffy man holding a crossbow sitting on the porch. Seeing the group of five incoming, he'd stand, and address them. "Yer the noble?" he inquired towards Karen. The man looked terribly unclean for a powerful warrior, but the only difference between this man and some of her guards back home was that her guards wore helmets to hide their ugly visages and unshaven faces. So perhaps his deceiving appearance was the first test?
(You can skip right to arriving at the shack if you wish, or interrupt that by speaking to and interacting with the guards beforehand. It's just there to let you decide how to open Karen's story.)