Time: Morning Location: River Port Beach Interactions: Annya @princess , Saorise @Potter Raven @Tae, Ismael @Th3King0fChaos Equipment: Cobalt Saber, Cobalt Half Plate, 1490 Amas, Map of Avalia, Lantern, Water Flask, 3x Torch, x10 Travel Rations, Washing Brush.
Breakfast came and went, Kharne stayed off to the side with his hands clasped behind his head. Which unconsciously flexed his upper body. It was probably why his armor was open in the front, that much bulk couldn't be contained without ruining armor or being uncomfortable. Things were discussed, plans were made, the party was most definitely going to grow, his job was probably going to get harder. But it was said they'd get to watch or participate in Slime Day. Granted he felt all the humans should, but it was supposed to be a fun thing.
At the beach the town had set up the 'kill zone' for the slimes. Ismael nudged the behemoth, making him raise an eyebrow. "I'm in the spirit of easy cash. So lets kill as many as we can." He rumbled his reply before the gong was sounded. People blitzed, others meandered, Kharne walked off to a spot further away from the other participants. That gigantic blade was drawn and swung in one motion. A wave of sand and slime was swept away from him, the poor slimes blasted into mist from the flat of his blade striking them.
Who needed a mallet? Just give him room and he got to work bludgeoning the simple creatures with his blades wide side. After a bit of time he couldn't find any really clustered slimes, so his sword was sheathed. Stretching his wings flared out, the joints cracking from not being stretched enough, then they came down like a pair of great arms. Those claws at the joint mincing a pair of slimes. It looked like every part of Kharne had been weaponized, his hands came down in great slaps, his wings with powerful thooms, and his tail swept through whatever slime was within his reach.
It wasn't long before the giant reptilian man became a whirling dervish of slime destruction that zipped between other participants.
River port was blessed with an Azure type ocean that sparkled in the morning light. The waves were calm, a necessary and welcome feature to any port. Probably the barrier reefs guarded the shore from the strongest of the waves making the area closes to land perfect swimming and diving spots. No doubt, at this very moment Rue, the princess and others from her party were enjoying the sun and salty air. Bowyn had decided to forego the slime day evolution, though if this was to spend more time with the winter fairy lass or to avoid Arn was not too sure.
During the awkward breakfast, the soldier dwarf had stolen a glance or two but decided that probably meeting her eyes would be uncomfortable for both. Her more than anything as she was trying to repair her relationship with her village buddy. The young medic gripped the wooden mallet and choked on the handle as if trying to use it for support.
The wooden mallet felt good in his hand. Every dwarf had molded their hands to both weapons and tankards. Though Arn often bypassed and tried to avoid any sort of violent encounter with sentient and intelligent beings, slime hunting would not be against his personal code of ethics. The gelatinous goo was little more than slug. Besides, there were many emotions that the dwarf needed to let loose. As luck would have it, these poor oozing practice dummies would be recipients of those pent up frustrations.
He smirked as he saw the curly haired elf spring forth with gusto. A few people to his left was the unmistakable form of the lizard brute, though the sharp eyes that beheld the mass of slimes move towards them betrayed that behind the brutish façade, Kharne was any thing but. The demi human who had introduced himself as Ismael seemed to be on friendly terms with the big dragon kin. This only made Arn feel more fired up. Following after Kaleb, though in a more structured pace, he picked out his first target.
The tangerine colored ooze boinged towards him with no regards or care. Arn swung with a back hand motion, allowing the shaft to slide gaining range as the heavy head followed the path of motion. The dwarf missed! The mallet head was an inch too short to impact the slime. The medic’s eyes went wide as he side stepped and tripped. Analyzing his mistake the soldier figured his muscle memory had expected a heavier weapon not the light wood of the mallet. Feeling embarrassed at his rookie mistake he did not even look around though from his peripheral he could see the almost graceful motions of the attacking draconic mercenary.
Grunting low in his throat he charged after the tangerine slime, as if wanting revenge. This time, he jumped slightly and came down on the unsuspecting ooze with abandon. The hammer easily broke through the surface tension of the slime’s outer body and the slime exploded in all directions. There was a sense of accomplishment and release as the hammer plowed into the sand. The young soldier breathed out and a felt a sudden rush through his body. He enjoyed combat, and the din of battle but he often repressed it.
He may not be the blood son of Thur Hammer hand but he still bore the same ability and enjoyment of battle. Or was it because he was the son of the King of Ironhold and through his veins ran the royal delight in war? Arn decided not to dwell too much on this philosophical inquiry and instead allowed himself to enjoy swinging this mallet around. There was a familiarity with the weapon that could be plainly seen by any skilled in combat.
His strikes and poses betrayed his training. Low stances, efficient movements, and strong weapon control allowed him to efficiently claim slime after slime. More than once his path crossed that of the curly elf. Probably because the self assured man was weaving and waving without a seemingly rhyme or reason. Arn smirked as he saw that the other man’s wild swings had carry the evidence of his kills on his face and body.
The dwarf himself was methodical in his direction of hunting and dispatching of the slimes. He was glad that he was using the mallet provided instead of his own mace or weapons. Slime clean up was tedious work. Due to the acidic nature of the slimes, if not cleaned properly, armor and weapons would rust. Also, being made of bodily fluids, a rancid smell would also develop. Using the entire length of the wooden shaft, which was meant fore regular sized humans, it allowed Arn to keep the splatter to a minimum.
Once, when Arn was within ear shot, he called after Kaleb. “Make sure to wipe off the slime every now and then. If allowed to stay too long, it may cause a rash.” The acidic properties were probably not as strong on newly formed slimes such as these which were basically new born babes, but it would still cause discomfort. Something caught the dwarf’s eye. Was that fire on the curly elve’s mallet? He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
No, others had seen it too and were stopping their hunting activities to stare. Kaleb tried to explain it away but the tone of his voice did not even seem like he was sure of that explanation. An inquisitive look formed on the young medic’s face but when a slime bumped into him he decided to perhaps address that later.
Instead, he walked close to Kaleb. “If you don’t mind, I will take care of any slime getting too close to you and you can take care of the ones down range. These slimes should not be dangerous but we would not want one to bump into you and make you loose an arrow unto an unsuspecting participant.” If anybody truly believed Arn to be a self absorbed and praise seeking bastard, then his offer would almost appear to be an excuse to show up the curly headed elf.
“You are correct. I am not a soldier. I am simply a hunter who wishes to hunt before he is hunted.”
Hot.
“A hunter… respectable. I hunt as well.” Vrexen got uncomfortably close to the dark elf and sniffed before slowly backing away. “Seasoned.” Vrexen didn’t have any qualms with the elf before him. He seemed capable and deliberate in his speech unlike Astra. Perhaps even a replacement for the seemingly amas-addicted woman. Perhaps…
It was then that the accompanying fairy approached Vrexen in an unpredictable manner and pet the top of his head. He narrowed his eyes, feeling belittled and disrespected by the action. His eyes locked on her form now, crazily widened. Astra peeked up at Vrexen's face and took a silent gasp.
"My apologies. Fairies are of the affectionate sort. She will not touch you again." Vrexen had not replied. In fact, he had not even moved. As still as a statue, he stared at the woman who had touched him.
Oh my god please don't…
“I am here to gather information regarding the location of humans. If you have information that could perhaps aid in my task or a similar objective, I would be grateful to hear what you are willing to share.” The silence between the group was barely brief. Astra gulped, feeling a bit too uncomfortable with this kind of tension.
“Humans! Oh those are those creatures that started this whole war stuff, right? An old friend of mine… Well technically he's an ex but not really. It's kind of complicated. Anyway, he told me that these humans are like us, but their magic is on a whole different level. I mean dragon-level shit! Burning whole villages down! Blowing armies away! Raise sea levels that dwarf the legends of Leviathan Kyogar! That type of power... is fucking ridiculous but Lord Vrexen here.” She used her thumb to point at Vrexen beside her. “Can't die. And it's legit so far, y'know. It's the whole reason I think the Sins got called in, right Vrexen?” Astra had tried her hardest to derail the tension with her blabber, but Vrexen still had that terrifying look on his face.
“If that creature strikes me again, I will mutilate her thoroughly before your very eyes. I don't wish to see you beg for death to relieve yourself of the nightmares you might suffer from witnessing the violence I deliver.” Astra suddenly stepped in between the two, facing Maeryn with a smile.
“HUMANS! You know, I think they'd probably be in the east. If we put our ears together, I'd guess they'd be held up in the Sun Elf Kingdom. Probably in some underground chamber learning how to control that dragon-level shit they got. But then again, that's obvious. Too obvious. I'm not a military general or anything but I know enough about logistics and eggs that you don't put them all in one basket.” She nodded with a smug look on her face. “Shit, if I had elf-sized dragons at my disposal, I'd spread them out. If Roshmi and Aldrakh ain't safe, if Sun Elf Kingdom is too obvious, then River Port is a clever spot. Right in the middle.” She raised her arms up and out, indicating her own position between Maeryn and Vrexen.
Breakfast had gone well, Raven had looked at Annya sheepishly when she’d said she was worried and she apologized, leaving it at that for the time being. The group had grown quite a bit from what it was yesterday, but Raven was welcoming to it as each new member seemed friendly enough. Now they had all decided to go down to the beach, some deciding to go kill slime while others decided to relax. While Raven knew she should probably practice fighting, she wasn’t entirely sure if she was ready to jump back into a fighting scenario so she chose to go with the group that was to relax on the beach. She was a little glad Eris had joined them as well, finding that she was growing quite fond of the kind-hearted woman. Eris had even asked if anyone was in need of a swimsuit and offered to purchase one for them. Raven had taken her up on the offer as she wasn’t about to enjoy the beach without spending some time in the water.
Eris had taken whoever wished for a swimsuit to a shop she’d known of that sold them for a decent price. It had also appeared like the woman knew the owner of the shop, exchanging friendly words and even a hug as if they were old friends. After changing into the new swimsuits they proceeded back down to the beach where they now sat watching the others battle the slimes. Eris lounged there, soaking in the rays of the sun happily while Raven sat cross legged on the blanket, staring out at the ocean seeming lost in thought. Someone handing her something pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked down at the pretty little shell before looking over to the winter fairy named Rue. ”Oh! Thank you.” She said as she gave the girl a kind smile, finding her quite adorable.
Eris also smiled at the young fairy girl as she was handed the shell. ”Thank you, darling. You have quite the eye for finding pretty little things. Perhaps we can make some of these shells into necklaces later.” She said sweetly to the girl before glancing back over to the ones fighting, specifically Kaleb as she briefly noticed him glancing back their way. She gave him a smile, unsure if he could even see it, and then nodded at him encouragingly. She then looked back over to Annya, deciding it may be time to speak with the woman.
”So, your Highness, may I ask what your plans are after this? And please, do not feel like you have to give great detail, if any at all, I just merely wish to know what I may be getting myself into as I’ve grown quite fond of Kaleb and I wish to stick with him. If you’ll have me, that is.”
Time: Morning Location: Desert Interactions: @hide on mana Kuroi, @Tae Mikazuki, @Potter Rosaria, @baraquiel Jomari, @13org Nuallán Mentions: Inventory: An old yellow cloak, an old set of clothes, a waterskin, some smoked meats, a set of very old Metal Gauntlets, and an old Spear.
The introductions went surprisingly quickly. Uzul did have questions for Mika but she quickly answered them. He was surprised that these were some of the humans. He thought humans would look more unique, maybe something deserving of the dark elves' hunt. But who knows, they could be holding some kind of odd powers. Uzul would normally advise against traveling through the heart of the desert but time was of the essence. After it was set that they would go through the desert, Uzul pulled from his experience on how much water, the food they might need. With the restriction of 2 camels, they are going to have to rely on an oasis along the way to keep them topped off. The food could also prove to be an issue. He doesn't want to completely overbear the camels as Uzul believes that at least one of the people coming will get injured and require the camel to carry them. Trekking through the desert was a logistical nightmare but it seemed the people coming along were more than capable of handling the planning. Uzul even admits that their ability to quickly plan and gather resources far exceeded his own. Well, all that meant was his true duty was to consult them and guide them to Dugmaghord.
Uzul couldn't help but feel uneasy about who was traveling with them. Both Rosaria and Nuallán were not only light elves but were in the highest social circles of sun elven society. Both seemed well versed in a wide array of subjects but Nuallán worried him on base principle. At the end of the day, Uzul was once a marauder who murdered many sun elves within their lands during the raids. Nuallán was Rosaria's protector and he could see Uzul as a threat because of his past. He hoped it wouldn't come to that but he had to keep it as a possibility. It wasn't long until they gathered the supplies and the group headed into the desert.
Jomari was mildly interesting to Uzul, he wanted to come into the desert when it seemed the rest of the humans were staying. He couldn't tell if he was brave or dumb for that. He had an air of charm he carried and he seemed to have had irritated some of the people here. However, he didn't look like a traditional warrior to Uzul and that worried him. Everyone else here had some confidence in their ability to fight. He looks to be more of a manipulator, someone who fights through less physical means. Those skills were of course useful but unless he can convince a wyvern to turn away with his words, they didn't mean much yet. He could prove useful for tricking more neutral orcs potentially. Uzul will be keeping a close guard on him, monsters like to go after what they perceive to be the easiest meal. Uzul couldn't get a good read on Kuroi as he joined later but Mika seemed confident with him so Uzul won't worry about him as much
Once Mika had finally adjusted to walking on the shifting sands, she asked Uzul a question. Uzul turned to Mika and thought on how to answer her question. The desert may be full of monsters but they only made it harder to survive it. Uzul was speaking to Mika but he made his voice loud enough for others to hear clearly. "The desert is full of monsters to watch out for but even more dangerous are the smaller animals that can bite and poison you. Not only that, it's best to keep your mouth and nose covered. Sand will get into your mouth and dry you out. Conserve your energy the best you can. If you can't walk either me or the camels will carry you." Uzul keeps walking until he can see a scorpion then heading towards it to grab it by the back of its tail. He presents it to the group, "This is a scorpion, they are small bug with a tail long curled tail, the stinger on the ends is sharp and stabs into you to deliver poison into you. Smaller doesn't mean less poisonous. What matters is species, this one will cause some pain, swelling, and labor your breathing. Very few can actually kill you but they make it harder to survive so be wary of them." Uzul kept going over the other dangers of the desert. He kept the actual monsters of the desert to the very end as in his eyes to warriors they are a threat that they can handle but a small insignificant sting from one of them can get you killed.
After giving what he can on how to be safer in the harsh sands, he finally got into how they Will be chartering the desert. Uzul speaks again with little space between his safety instructions, "As everyone knows, time is of the essence and we need to move quickly through the desert. We will be moving through the heart of this land where we can run into some of the worse this place has to offer. Our survival will rest on following what I told you and moving from Oasis to Oasis. These Oasis are almost guaranteed to have dangerous creatures near them. If you feel this is getting too much, please let me know and I'll do my best to take care of all of you. If you see another orc, consider them a threat until it is completely confirmed they are not"
Uzul continued walking in front, keeping them on the right path. He understands how determined they are but he can't help but worry that they aren't prepared to fight in less than ideal conditions. You will never be in top shape while traveling in the desert, that is what the desert does to you. He will do what he can for the princess and her entourage.
Time: Morning Location: Avian City Interactions: Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms, Xavier@Potter Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 107 amas
None of the stories or paintings of the Avian City did it justice; the small islands that floated above Roshmi City were more spectacular than he could’ve imagined. The magic that kept the city aloft was almost palpable in the air and, with reverence, he realized that up here he was now closer to Solaris than he’d ever been before. Closer to the sun, its warmth, its light, served to make the experience feel almost sacred. Orias was grateful that Yuka took the time to pause and let them enjoy the moment. He took the moment to close his eyes and turn his face towards the sun with the hope that channeling the light, closer than ever to its source, would be the spark needed to reignite his fading magic. His hands clumsily formed a small orb of light, a concentrated expression of his magic, that he released as an offering towards the sun, towards the mighty Lord Solaris.
Here the light of the sun was brighter, the magic around him felt stronger, and yet his own magic felt no different. It struggled to shine, an unworthy offering to a god so powerful one had to close their eyes to look in his direction. There was the thought that maybe more time here could leave him more fully restored, that there was some secret to his own magic to be gleaned in this city that floated closer to the heavens than any place below. And, he was here with near strangers, it would be so easy to simply part ways here and focus instead on taking in the magic that settled here and revitalizing his own power. He lingered on that thought, of staying in a place that felt hopeful and sacred.
But he’d been spared in the execution of princes, his fate passed to one who hadn’t deserved it, and to linger here would be an insult to that. Orias couldn’t spend the war thinking of himself while his sisters carried the burden of the fight down below. He wondered how the Avians kept perspective when everything down below looked so insignificant this close to the heavens. Based on the information from Yuka, the Avians were doing all they could to provide aid rather than secluding themselves in their floating sanctuary. Which lead his mind to another option, one that could at least leave them with a bit more time spent amongst the heavens.
“While we’re here, this is as good a place as any to make some allies, Avians have the reputation for being bold and noble, and clearly aren’t so willing to bow down before dark elves.” Orias suggested.
Time: Morning Location: River Port-Beach Interactions: Rus@Potter, Eris and “Valerie”(Raven)@Tae, Annya @princess Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (a bit less than an ounce), rolling papers, and 191 amas.
When given the choice between lounging around the beach and spending the day smashing slime with a mallet, Bowyn had found the choice an easy one. Despite the easy amas, running around getting splattered with slime guts in the sweltering heat was an easy pass. While this left him stuck with an elven princess and her cohorts at least Rue was there as well.
Bowyn had no idea what made the beach so appealing to others; the air had a foul tint of brine and fish, it was hot and even the occasional cool breeze only served to assault him with more of the ocean smell, and then there was the sand that covered everything. The beach was the complete opposite of home. His village where the ground was covered in soft, fluffy, snow, and the air was always crisp and clean. He couldn’t be entirely sure whether the nauseating feeling in his stomach was the foul beach air, the oppressive heat, or his own homesickness. Probably all three, but Rue looked so happy that Bowyn kept all his complaints to himself and managed to contort his face into a smile every now and then. He didn’t even mention the flying squawking rats that Bowyn personally found more of a nuisance than the slime, which was at least quiet.
As the slime day extermination began Bowyn only found himself more sure of his discission. Even from a distance the absolute fervor that swept the crowd as they mindlessly lost themselves in violence was a terrible sight. Sure, the slime was thought to be a mindless creature, but it was also harmless and just trying to follow its own simple nature. Only to be pulverized by others motivated by coin and given permission to unleash unbridled aggression. Most unsettling of all was how much easier the scene was to watch as he imagined the slime to be dark elves instead, and for the ooze to be blood splattering from slashed skin.
Bowyn’s upbringing had been entirely traditional by fae standards, taught to respect all life no matter how simple the creature. When an animal was slaughtered it was out of necessity, for food and survival, but respected even in its death. This was just slaughter for fun and profit, and it only reminded him of how eager he was to do the same to dark elves. Despite the unbearable homesickness that never faded, he knew he no longer belonged in his village. He was no better than those out there smashing slime, worse even, as dark elves were more complex than slime. He was sick, infected with the same rage and appetite for violence as the very race he hated. His home was no longer a place for someone like him.
With every smash of a mallet, he thought of how he would spend the rest of what remained of his life away from his home, far from the only place he wanted to be, and felt a dread so overwhelming it threatened to crush him.
Then there was Rue handing out seashells with a kind smile. He accepted his gift, grateful for a reason to look away from the slime slaughter. Bowyn turned and twisted the shell in his hands, eyes fixed on how it reflected the light of the sun and how at just the right angle the glittering sheen matched the faint lavender in Rue’s hair. Then Eris spoke up asking Annya about her plans, but phrasing it as if it were simply optional to share details with the rest of them.
“Or seeing as how many of us are offering to risk our lives in this elf conflict, feel free, obligated even, to share any grand plans.” He added after Eris had spoken. He had yet to see any evidence of these all-powerful humans the light elves were said to have. If they were following the wrong elf he’d rather know sooner than later.
Time: Morning Location: Myriamor Interactions: @princess Sophie @Mole Aurora @FunnyGuy Slick@Helo Leaf Equipment: A D&D miniature, a blunt, and the clothes he was given
Caelan looked at Leaf and Slick. He wondered why they wouldn’t want to go swimming, but at least Aurora would not be alone. He waved them off. “Have it your way, dudes you need to loosen up.” He said with his speech starting to slur. Caelan turned to Sophie as she spoke to him. He couldn’t believe she was talking to him on her own accord and she seemed much more lively than before. Was she tipsy? He wasn’t going to pass up a chance to see her in a bathing suit. “Of course, you can join. I will see you change. I mean after you change. I am so sorry...” He said before walking away embarrassed to one of the changing stalls Sophie had pointed out, stumbling a little bit as he went. Caelan stripped and put on the swim shorts before gathering his clothes and waited for Sophie.
T I M E : M O R N I N G L O C A T I O N : M Y R I A M O R P L A Z A I N T E R A C T I O N S : C A E L A N , S O P H I E , L E A F , S L I C K T A G S : @Princess, @Alivefalling, @FunnyGuy, @Helo E Q U I P M E N T : W A T E R F L A S K , W A Y F I N D E R , T R A N S M I S S I O N B R A C E L E T
Aurora could hear the twinkling of the water splashes from the pool and its cool ambiance decor. The sound merried with Slick's deep voice. She found it a refreshing sound. Aurora knew how to swim, but like many things, she refrained from certain possibilities only for necessity. Letting out another sigh of a smile. Aurora agilely mused over Alette's comment, which probably meant as much as the drink itself. The elf wished she could offer some comfort to the little creature, but under such conditions, there was really nothing she could do. Alas, her eyes turned towards Slick's glittering aura and voice.
"Only on special occasions do I allow myself to drink. As a spiritual advisor, my mind must have clarity at all times." Aurora's mind considered her actual thoughts of contemplating her dream as she spoke, and in light of this, she wished to remain whimsical in her speech, desiring not to disrupt any of the excitement. However, Aurora unfortunately stumbled into being serious on default. "And despite what dear Sophie has spoken, someone must mind the whole group, especially while under such arrangement. The responsibility has been given to me twice as much, now." Her white eyes cast downward, avoiding the shimmer of the outlaw as she reminded herself to keep her composure.
Her face tilted upwards, again. The smile remaining, "This is a place to be enjoyed, of course. Perhaps, we should accompany our friends to the pool, even if we wish to remain on the perimeter." There were other fun things to do amongst the bustling of Myriamor. However, Aurora believed keeping the group together was wiser.
Ismael chuckled as Kharne spoke, "Easy cash it will be". As Ismael began his charge forward, he knew enough about the idea of slimes to know that they shouldn't be too difficult. Ismael made his way up to the first slime he could get to and there he decided to use the mallet like a sledgehammer. He shifted his feet, brought the mallet to his waist, and swung it back as he smashed the mallet into the gelatinous blob. When he landed his first hit, it was easy to tell that they weren't much of an issue by themselves, as the slime was much more of a blob of viscous mucus rather than anything solid. The only problem Ismael saw was that cleaning would be a hassle, as with this much more close-range hammer strikes makes it much easier to get splashed with slime mucus.
Ismael took a moment to clean off the mucus as he as least knew that slimes are able to break down things they capture in their body. It would only make sense that the mucus they produce would be the thing that would allow them to break down matter. So Ismael started experimenting with styles, changing it up to best keep clean up to a minimum, but nothing he tried worked to make it where he got none on him, so sadly he would be needing to clean himself up after this. However, that would be okay enough, after all, this was actually fun.
Ismael started to get into the groove of this, he was very swift with his strikes, giving just enough force to kill the slime, but not enough to stop his momentum. As Ismael moved forward, he continued his strikes, constantly keeping his feet moving. He was not a master of the mallet, but understanding basic Biomechanical movements allowed him to understand how to swing a basic mallet, and with some efficiency.
Ismael got into his groove until he smelt smoke and wood burning. His head whirled around as he saw the culprit, the elven man who had been at the café. Ismael made his way over to check, but when he heard the explanation, Ismael knew this man was lying. He produced fire from his weapon, while light seems to have a heat to it as Annya's light coated ax burned the Troll but with the intensity needed to spontaneously ignite the wood is intense enough to be unimaginable for a Light Elf to not be able to control their power to that degree.
Ismael wasn't 100% sure on that claim though, as some people legitimately believed Kaleb and his quick exclamation. However, Ismael knew someone who could ignite wood with ease, and not needing intense heat to do so, Shae. Ismael wasn't certain on how Kaleb got here, especially if the Light Elves tried to summon Humans, but it could make sense if they spread out who could summon across the land in case any died, giving them a higher chance to actually getting any assistance from their world.
Ismael was about to make his way over to talk, but he thought for an extra moment and acted like he accepts such a wild explanation. The more people who believe the claim means the fewer people will think that it is wrong, after all, many people think in a pack mentality. If enough people look like they believe what happened, then people will begin to skew their own ideas to best fit what the rest of the pack saw. So Ismael started leaving and began trying to hide Kaleb from the people who saw him. He made conversation with people around him as they fought, giving tips and helping them as he made sly remarks of Kaleb and how he had such little control of his power, like a child. He switched his mannerisms and his approach mattering on the people, as his goal was to hopefully sow a bit of dissidence within what some people try to say, and hopefully make it possible to try and make some people think twice before they hunt Kaleb for being a human.
Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: River Port Beach Interactions: Kharnem Neeson @Kazemitsu, Arn, the Trickster @Omni5876, Saoirse, the Unseen @potter, and Slime Slayer Ismael @Th3King0fChaos. Mentions:
The satisfaction of slime slaying had started to wane on Kaleb. The ease of swinging a mallet was replaced by mediocre archery and the repetitive retrieving of his arrows. The mallet that had been engulfed in flame was now smoldering but it had attracted its fair amount of attention. Fortunately, it’s flames died down quicker than he figured they might thanks to the beach sand constantly being kicked up by nearby and passing participants in the event. He glanced once at the metaphor of his own vigor and let loose a sigh as he readied to string an arrow. On the upside, at least he wouldn’t wind up with rash due to some well-timed advice from none other than Arn. Kaleb briefly thought back to the moment that caused him to question some of the tales he had told of the dwarf.
Moments earlier…
“Make sure to wipe off the slime every now and then. If allowed to stay too long, it may cause a rash.” The words of caution reached Kaleb’s ears after a good downswing of his mallet. He thought he recognized whose voice it was and whipped his head to see none other than…
“Arn.” The dwarf’s presence surprised him. To be approached by the collateral of several lies he told others since last evening was somewhat awkward. And to think that the despicable man he created in the minds of others was selflessly giving him helpful advice. “Wait, you said a rash? Oh… MY FACE!”
And here he was again moments later. Helpful.
“If you don’t mind, I will take care of any slime getting too close to you and you can take care of the ones down range. These slimes should not be dangerous but we would not want one to bump into you and make you loose an arrow unto an unsuspecting participant.”
Kaleb lowered his weapon as he considered what the dwarf presented to him. The guy was nicer than he thought he’d be. A dwarf of kindness he had painted as a devious character. In fact…
… … …
Kaleb furrowed his brows before looking at Arn with squinted eyes and a frown. Arn might notice a subtle heat coming off the young man as if he was standing close to a campfire or fira left open. It seemed as if there was not a visible source to the warmth but if the dwarf had his wits about him, he would know this mysterious heat radiated off none other than Kaleb.
“Do you think I’m stupid?!” He finally addressed Arn with an accusatory tone. A hint of a smile followed. “I’ll give you credit, Arn, you almost fooled me but I’m clever myself! Don’t even try to explain it away. Take your pride and however many ounces of dignity you have and go. Go be an extra and kill slimes over there!” Kaleb quickly pointed towards the other side of the kill zone. He couldn’t believe he almost fell for Arn’s trickery. Bowyn was right. The guy starts off by trying to win you over with kindness and then… He shook his head knowing how manipulative the dwarf truly was. Perhaps his lies were coincidentally spot on. Here was the proof! He thought I would just shoot my stupid arrows “down range” until I ran out! And then I would have to run around the beach to go get them all! Not only would I look like an idiot, but I’d tire myself out and slay way less slime! Kaleb was sure of this belief which helped invigorate him again.
“You wanna compete for the spotlight, Arn? You want to be the star? Well you’re in my wheelhouse now!” He to himself with clenched teeth. Kaleb slung his bow and gripped a single arrow with the tip pointed downward. Kaleb stomped on a blue slime, crushing it beneath his boot. He didn’t need a mallet, a bow, or Arn for that matter! He continued by stabbing the next slime with the arrow in hand.
Time: Morning Location: Aldrakh Interactions: @princess Maeryn Equipment: Outfit, Two short swords, a belt with sheaths, flask, transmission bracelet, small bag with 4 large blue potions
Alaia let Maeryn speak and listened to the dark elf girl attentively taking in everything until she mentioned the demon Vrexen ‘My, my he's unkillable, what fun I could have with something like that I really want to play with him.’ She thought looking at Vrexen with joy in her eyes she was truly happy at this moment.
When Vrexen began threatening her Alaia tilted her head before smiling. “It’s okay there Vrexen everything's going to be okay. Are you really that upset by a head pat?” she giggled standing next to Maeryn. Once the dark elf girl spoke more she looked to Maeryn. “Do we want to go to River Port and see what we can find there? I am sure even if we don’t find them there we may find clues.” She said with a smile looking up at him.
Time: Morning Location: Myriamor-Plaza Interactions: Slick@FunnyGuy, Aurora@Mole, Sophie@princess, Caelen@Alivefalling, Equipment: The clothes on his back and a pouch of amas.
Leaf nodded in agreement as Slick not only spoke highly of the Myriamor mix but went on to add that everything here was tasty. The young cat beamed with pride and his tail swished with excitement to hear Slick speak highly of Myriamor. Leaf held a deep love for the city he called home, it held few flaws, and when compared to anywhere else he’d been Myraimor bested all of them. Sophie and Caelen also seemed to be enjoying the city as well, and Leaf chuckled at Caelen’s slip up. If Alette was still intent on playing matchmaker the little pixie would have a lot more work to do.
“No offense to the elven kingdom but Myriamor is Avalia’s hidden gem, every day spent here is truly a special occasion and reason to celebrate. But if swimming and drinking aren’t your thing then I must also recommend the markets here, stocked with just about anything you can imagine, from shiny trinkets to the rarest of spices. Or The Grand Domed Greenhouse, a botanical wonder, not only a sight to behold but a delight for all the senses. After our friends have cooled off in the swimming hole, of course.” Leaf agreed that it was best not to split up the group too much but offered some suggestions he thought might appeal to the more reserved elf, Aurora.
Riverport, a hub of life and a nexus of trade. As obsidian claws absentmindedly found themselves clicking against a wooden surface, Ashari’s topaz gaze fell to the now empty plate before him. Bread, meat, and a cup of wine, all of which his remaining wealth could afford him. Out of coin and out of luck, yet again. Slowly, a crestfallen and evidently tired demon shifted his attention towards a bounty board effectively situated by the entrance. People, monsters, missing persons, all written onto parchment before nailed to planks in hopes of attention. He had read through what was on offer more than once, and it allowed for a sigh to escape the young infernal’s lips. He preferred to fight abominations, monsters both large and small, but people? Ashari showed little patience with people. They tended to overcomplicate the most simple of transactions, and in a fight between a demon and a beast, no words needed be shared.
“Kid,” came a voice from across the table, an elf as confessed by a passing glance. Pointed ears, pale skin, hair of silk down to slender shoulders, and a grin bridging itself across his lips, “you’ve been staring at that board for a while. Something catch your fancy?”
Ashari’s demonic tail flicked in response, the lad’s spectral eyes turning to meet his newly acquainted conversationalist. Though a moment’s consideration passed the boy, a response was soon to follow. It was true that Ashari had been eying the bounty board for an uncomfortable stretch of time, but the lack of actual monsters to slay dulled the sight something fierce. He did not want to hunt a orc with a price on their head, and neither did he find much interest in locating a lost demi-human who had wandered into the forest at night. Yet, the latter did speak to him on a level surprisingly empathetic. Lost and alone, someone was currently wandering a sea of trees, catching their breath, and looking over their shoulder. Afraid, vulnerable, and with a single desire; to return home.
Home, yes, Ashari had never been ‘home’. The Abyss where demons were spawned, the realm of what some may have considered infinite layers. Indeed, the Blackguard had been told stories by his father, tales of grandeur and the fantastical. He was told of the layer where an infinite war ever raged, the birthplace of Blackguards. A question then begged to be uttered; why did he ever leave? Blackguards live for battle, it is in their blood, in their nature. It is their very being, something starkly contrasted by dainty shapes and pretty faces. An ironic combination, to be sure. ”I might look for the guy who went missing,” a soft voice trickled past ashen lips, spindly arms crossing as Ashari leaned back against an old, wooden chair.
“He’s probably been eaten, by now,” came a rather dismissive response, one accompanied by an equally nonchalant wave of the elf’s hand, “see that other one?” The elven man spoke, motioning towards that elusive board, “fat reward for a thief, I’d be willing to share it with you.”
Sharing rewards wasn’t a concept Ashari was unused to. In fact, he had participated in several hunts, journeys, and expeditions where payment was but a shared fraction. The boy’s seeming inability to demand more did not help the matter. With the lad’s eyes falling shut, Ashari’s thoughts traveled back to that missing demi-human. He had been gone for three days. Surely he couldn’t be dead, yet? However, if one was to follow the description of a ‘city fellow unused to harsh terrain’, the meager payment was only challenged by an equally meager chance of survival.
Rising to his feet, Ashari started towards the door, head shaking in weak refusal. ”Happy hunting,” he offered, earning a faint chuckle in turn.
“Going to risk your life for that pathetic sum?” The elf raised a brow, “who said demons didn’t have hearts, huh?”
Ashari’s father would certainly have disapproved, and yet, the young Blackguard was drawn to acts of empathy far more frequently than he would have wanted. With a sigh, barely noticeable, Ashari swiped that bulletin notice and pushed open the door. Slipping outside into the annoyingly bright sun, he leaned towards the protection of a hood and carried on. Perhaps, the demi-human truly was dead, and Ashari would be reminded that empathy was nothing but a waste of time.
It was much unlike Kuroi to sleep in so late, and much unlike him to be fashionably missing from an important restaurant date. Poor Slick, he could only hope he had found a date. When the Vulpine stirred from his slumber, it had been at an ungodly hour. Sudden fatigue brought upon him by stress had overtaken him to such slothfulness. Blinking, he attempted to remember his dream from the night prior. It had been one of him living a different life - a life where he was a feline, not a fox. A life where he had found himself chasing after the heart of a black and red haired cat woman while he pursued the same aspirations he did in Avalia.
It was a lovely dream. He could only wish his subconscious would allow him to revisit it some time. Ah well, onto the rest of the day...
By the time Princess Mikazuki had come to fetch him, Kuroi was already in a deep, apologetic bow by the time she opened the door to his room. He truly was beyond flustered and shameful for allowing exhaustion to overtake him so. After many apologies and what he deemed were excuses, he followed the princess to rent two camels before setting out on their trip across the dessert.
Although Kuroi had been unaware of the specifics that had happened during his absence, he was well aware of the main events that had transpired up until now. Surrounded by companions, new and old, Kuroi continued to take on the role of protector. The Vulpine dared not stray too far from the princess, doing so would further shame him. For the first few minutes or so, he found himself struggling to walk across the dunes for so long. It was rather annoying but he eventually adapted to the terrain. A small sigh came from him as his eyes looked around at the party. At his side within arm's reach was the princess - the woman whom he was most acquainted with. Not too far from him was an orc who went by the name of Uzul.
Although he had never seen him before, if Mikazuki could place trust in him, then so could he...to some degree. At some point, the Vulpine's eyes locked onto the orc's. Were it not for the fox mask he wore to shield himself from the winds and sand, he likely would have come across as more personable to the strangers. For now, he came off as a faceless fox mask-wearing Vulpine to the many strangers who accompanied him.
Hm. A Vulpine wearing a mask fashioned after a fox. How humorous.
He looked forward to fighting alongside him if the need ever arose. Then, his gaze turned towards Rosaria and her bodyguard. Like any uneducated man would know, royalty was gracing his presence. Accompanied by her bodyguard as all royalty should, no less. He may have not known her personally but to have a politically powerful ally alongside them helped him.
Finally, there was a man who went by the name of Jomari. From what he could reckon, he was another human. The group that originally started out as him, the princess, and Slick had now more than doubled in size. This journey was certain to be an interesting one.
As he had been doing since the beginning of their journey, Kuroi stayed mostly silent throughout. His eyes kept switching between the path before him and his companions. As always, the Vulpine had a watchful eye.
Amas: 819 (800 in Bank | 19 in Pocket)
Gear
⋆ See References in Character Log ⋆ Wakizashi ⋆ Two razor-sharp metal fans (they're quite aesthetically pleasing too) ⋆ Throwing Knives ⋆ Rope Darts
Items
⋆ Drystone (For sharpening weapons) ⋆ Gourd of water * Sleeping Mat * Blanket * Pet Fennec Fox!
The clothes on her back Cutlass Flint and steel 275 amas New outfit hat
Barboda had approached Lizzie and quietly informed her that there were quite a few people below deck, but he didn’t know if they were captives or crew. She briefly wondered how he was able to discern this information, but she supposed that wasn’t important for now. What mattered was getting everyone out of this alive. It was at this moment that the armored man’s last words registered as she realized what he was potentially about to do. Tesoro had been saying something to her, but she missed it entirely as she was turning to Barboda once more. ”Hold o-” She was cut off as Tigerlily was now trying to speak to her, trying to give her some useful information. Lizzie looked between the woman and the bounty hunter for a moment as she processed what had been said.
”Thank you for that, just keep your wits about you for now.” She quickly said to the woman before turning her attention once more to Barboda, opening her mouth to speak to him again. She was too late, however, as the man fired the crossbow bolt right into the female fairy’s face. She stared at the dead woman for a moment before turning back to her murderer.
”For fuck’s sake, Barboda! Next time wait for orders! Best part of ya ran down yer ma’s leg, I swear.” She angrily said to him before beginning to move for cover, ready for all hell to break loose. The sea was becoming more and more agitated as she became angrier. She noticed, then, Helio coming down from the crows nest and throwing some form of magic at the other ship. He seemed annoyed as well, but she was glad he finally decided to join them. Nym had also seemed to move to a cannon and Lizzie found herself deciding to also move towards one while shouting orders. Before that happened, however, shots rang out and an intense burning pain struck her arm. She let out a yell of pain before looking to her left arm and watched as blood began to seep from the wound. This only fueled her anger and her gaze whipped back to the other ship only to notice a large wall of water that had been raised between their ship and the enemy ship.
There was a moment of shock and then she found herself praying that it would collapse over the other ship and not theirs. As if in response to her thoughts, the wall of water turned into a wave that went crashing over the deck of the schooner and Lizzie began to realize that she had caused that to happen, she controlled that wave. She wanted to attempt it again, but she knew she needed to give orders first. ”If any of ya have a ranged attack, give them hell! Tigerlily, stay aboard the ship unless some go overboard. Drown the bastards if they do or rescue them if they’re ours!” She finished making her way to one of the cannons, actually thanking Barboda now for making sure they were loaded. She thought about the people below deck once more, but she couldn’t hesitate for long. If they were crew then blowing holes in their ship might be a blessing and if they weren’t? Well Lizzie could only hope they wouldn’t want to lose their cargo. She looked to Nym and nodded at him before yelling ”Fire!” and the loud boom of a cannon filled the air.
The shot was a nice addition to the morning. To blend in better, Aiko didn't tend to do such things, At some point, it had occured to Aiko that they would be going higher. The sunlight would be brighter and more annoying. Hmn. They didn't normally put themselves in a position where they had to deal with a lot of sunlight, so their skin was extra sensitive. As luck would have it, one of the shops on the street had some of their merchandise on display outside, prices marked. Aiko fished an appropriate amount from his pouch, grabbed one, and slapped his payment down on the counter before running off with his purchase to keep up with his companions. Maybe he would have to find something a little sturdier, this one seemed replaceable. It would do for now.
The ride was pleasant, though they could feel the presence of Solaris grow stronger with the altitude. He was grateful that he got the parasol. Apparently, the next ride would cost? Tsk, if only they weren't trying so hard to blend in. They could just fly on their own power.
Ah well. Upon landing, Aiko spread their parasol, to spare his body the sting of the strong starlight. Yuka was eager to discuss plans for moving on, but Orias made another compelling argument. A find balance between stocky dwarves and beautiful yet magically sensitive river fae.
Not that dwaeves were unattractive, just that... Their conventions were not... conventional. Stuck out like a sore thumb among the races. The thing that threw Aiko the most was the appeal of their bearded women. They were accustomed to beastkin ideas of beauty. It was in the dreams they were surrounded with, and the waking reality in which they lived.
"He's right. Let's make some friends while we're here." Aiko smiled softly, catching a nearby worker gently, "hey, what's the latest, friend? It's good we were able to find our way up here, it's starting to smell mighty dangerous."
Time: Morning Location: Myriamor Plaza- Summer Harvest Festival Interactions: Leaf @Helo, Sophie @princess, Aurora @Mole, Caelan @Alivefalling, Mentions: Alette @princess
Pocket watch Black stetson Hat and Cowl Black Duster Outfit Repeating Crossbow 12 Iron Bolts Champ (Oak Horse) One-horse open sleigh Hunting knife Rope Saddlebag Black neckerchief Tinder box Canteen Matches Two Gold nuggets $40
Slick slightly turned his head towards Sophie as she spoke about how happy she was to be with him and Leaf before sharing her desire to go swim in the fine water. Caelan had a few words as well, a slight slur to them at that.
“Suit yourselves. Watch yourself Caelan. And we won't be far, miss. Don't you worry.” Slick gave a smile and a nod to Sophie before returning to his conversation with the quaint-speaking Aurora and the Myriamor-native, Leaf. “I'd say that kid's a lightweight but this lil' bit is packin'” He pulled away from Aurora and closer to his face to get a look and possibly even a whiff of the stuff. Nothin'.
He was reminded of Floofa and her foul play at the Nest. Getting taken advantage of like downright pissed him off. He'd be sure to settle things with the harlot once the opportunity presented itself.
“Stickin' together does seem reasonable but I got a bone to pick with you natives.” He said as the group started walking towards the swimming area. His tone would become more serious and stern. “You see, I understand not drinkin' to keep yourself sharp and I know you're struck with blindness but the company you keepin' ain't children, lady. We're grown folk, all of us. So just like Caelan said, get loose like a string in the wind… 'cus no one likes a stick in the mud.” Slick took a sip of his drink, something he'd never typically do but he was wary about drinking his second helping of the Myriamor Mix.
“Leaf, how 'bout the gamblin'? I'm fixin' to make some extra… amas.” He caught himself. “I've seen my fair share of shops. I'm lookin' to have some fun!”
Time: Morning Location: River Port Beach Interactions: Annya @princess , Saorise @Potter Raven @Tae, Ismael @Th3King0fChaos Equipment: Cobalt Saber, Cobalt Half Plate, 1490 Amas, Map of Avalia, Lantern, Water Flask, 3x Torch, x10 Travel Rations, Washing Brush.
Kharne was showing a right show of slime carnage. The multi-colored gels were splattered this way and that as he thundered past the groups of people using their mallets and bludgeons. Kaleb set his hammer ablaze, it was wood and wood conducted. Why would you break your only melee weapon? Well the boy was an archer, archers tended to not know how to deal with melee weapons well. As he massacred his way closer to Kaleb and Arn he caught their chat, making him roll his eyes.
"This is for fun but it's also easy cash, so both of you should get as many kills as you can." He rumbled to them while dripping with slime gore. Thankfully it just sloughed off his scales, he wouldn't have to deal with any rashes. But he'd certainly have to clean his armor. With his piece said he went back to turning slimes into puddles while turning into a rainbow. It was obvious melee was his domain, and as wimpy as slimes were this was a battlefield. What he really considered to be home.
