CYOA: Out of Darkness

A, G.

Hmm... My gut tells me B, E. It wouldn't be too wise straying out into the open to target Gerard, while keeping Lindy close, as she could get hit. Instead, use the huts as cover, with Matthew and Thio out front, and Lindy right behind, ready to heal. Let's make these fools come to us, on our terms.

If a tie occurs, I am going to tally the individual options.

Sorry for the wait. Some technical things needed to be handled. I'm also a bit under the weather.

You and Matthew charge to meet the Barbarians, targeting Gerard. The battle is swift and decisive. Matthew impales Gerard on his blade, allowing the Pirate Lord only a surprised grunt before expiring. Both of the other barbarians stare at each other in shock before charging Matthew. You meet them and in a moment, they keel over dead. With the battle over, you are able to hear new sounds. Muffled cries for help sound from many of the huts. You glance back and see Lindy leading a girl with fiery red hair out of one of the closer huts.

It seems like you have some work to do.
---

That battle went very well. I spent my sick time designing the next four or so recruitable characters and the next chapter is almost finalized. I will post post-chapter stats soon.

Chapter 2: Kingdoms
---
??
--
Freeing what remains of the village takes a little under an hour, as many of the villagers were still bound inside their huts, contrary to what Gerard supposedly said. Now the villagers make their way to a large empty space in the middle of the village which you assume to be the square. Most of the villagers give you a wide berth as they pass you.

<i>Nobody likes ghosts, even if said ghost is saving your life</i> you think as you massage your jaw, where a scared young man kicked you as you untied him. <i>And nobody likes strangers either</i>

You stop at the edge of the square, casting a long look over the crowd in the middle, cheering and thanking Matthew and Lindy. Soon they would need to decide what they were going to do next, now that a fair chunk of their village has been burned to the ground, and over two dozen of them, including most of their elders are dead. Probably they will just grind in their heels and rebuild. They are stubborn that way.

Unexpectedly, you are struck by a strong surge of isolation as you are struck by the realization of how you do not belong there, accompanied by a softer pang of loneliness. You should leave, you realize, and fade from these people's lives like the specter you are. You don't belong here, and until you know where you belong, or at least who you even are, people are going to get hurt just because they met you, like these people did.

For some reason, you haven't figured out yet, a band of pirates were willing to go out of there way to find you in the middle of the woods, and get someone to heal you, and for what? Who is worth that much effort? Until you know, those around you aren't safe.

Twirling your lance, you begin to walk away. You look back, and see only one person has seemed to notice you, a girl about Lindy's age, with big brown eyes stares at you as you walk away.

A minute later, your ears pick up the sound of running feet as you prepare to slip into the treeline. You glance back to find the brown eyes girl running after you, her brown braided hair flying behind her as she chases after you.

"Wait!" She calls out, as she gets closer. You consider going on anyway, but she looks persistent enough to chase you into the woods, so you reluctantly wait as she comes to halt in front of you.

"Here," she says, thrusting out a small bag that clinked as she thrust it toward you. You instantly recognize the sound of coins and shake your head.

"I can't take your money miss," you say, "It wouldn't be right after Matthew rescued me from pirates. I should be the one paying you if I had anything of value."

"It isn't mine," she replies hastily. "I found it on one of the bandits you killed. And there were so many others like this, at least a half dozen... I just that the someone should thank you is all."

"Thank you then," you say, taking the small bag of coins. "I should be going now though. I think that it would be better if I wasn't around."

"I don't think so," she says.

"And neither do I," says a second voice. You look up to see Matthew strolling toward you, with a lopsided grin on his face. "If you hadn't shown up back there, I would be dead right now and most of the town would be getting dragged south by pirates right now. The least we can do is let you rest up here for tonight, get you some food in your stomach. We've all had a long day and frankly you look like you could use some rest."

you begin to protest, but the talk of sleep makes you realize just how tired you are and you have to stifle a yawn. And now that he mentioned it, you have no idea how you were going to eat today. Already you notice the first signs of hunger growing stronger.

"You're right, you concede. It would be nice to rest up here for tonight. Do you happen to have a spare hut lying around?"

"No," Matthew frowns. "We just have enough resident huts as it is, but we do have an abundance of reed mats. You could stay with me tonight."

"Or me," the brown eyed girl speaks up, "I'm Rachel by the way. And I don't think that Lindy would mind sharing her cottage with a patient of hers. She's had plenty of her more serious patients in there before. I think that you would count."

"Well..."
---
A. Stay with Matthew tonight (C support)
B. Stay with Rachel tonight (+4 support rank)
C. Stay with Lindy tonight (C support)
D. Sleep outside (Matthew and Lindy C support)
---
Let the shipping wars begin in full.

Lets stick with the new girl B.

Sorry Neo, but I gotta go with B.

You have a blacklist, Neo?

Regardless, I like Lindy, and I don't like this other girl as much based on the first impression, so I'm voting C.