[IC] Spells in the Dark: The Shadow Queen (18+ For dark and suggestive themes)

[Ellion]

....Meanwhile, In the Tavern

Although many of the hunters had left already, fighting for glory rather than money, there were a few left who needed a bit more...inattentive. Abby placed her fingers in her mouth, letting out a rather loud, piercing whistle. Once her tavern was silent, she started speaking. "For those of you still here, the town rate for Gnome heads is 8 gold pieces. Don't abuse the honor system," She paused. "If you aren't interested in battle, well, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here,"

Once the tavern was empty of all living creatures, save Marcus and Abby, she turned to him. "Do you miss it much? Being a hunter?"

Meanwhile...In the Woods

_{[@everyonewhowants to fight somestuff]}

I've met so many young men over the years who have thought they were running at their enemy, when the truth was, they were running to me.~Death, The Book Thief

The wind shifted slightly, washing the smell of the hunters through the entire forest.

"So many of them," spoke Bishop, to no one in particular. "Their numbers have grown considerably since I was last awake. Not as strong as those from before but still,"

A flash of loss, more like a snap as two of his fighters fell. A pity though they had been growing so nicely. "No matter," he spoke again to no one. "No matter," Turning, he head back to where the fighters had fallen, taking only a small team back and sending the masses forward towards the town.

"Those who kill their future brethren will make good additions to the family. Kill the rest,"

[13org]

Emmerich Jaeger

Interacting with: @Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly who went fighting]

From the edge of the forest, many shining eyes began to appear, one after another as they revealed their wicked and twisted bodies.
Screaming and flailing their weapons, the gnomes ran straight to the hunters.
As soon as the first gnome appeared, a black blur jumped, sinking its teeth on the gnome's throat, ripping it apart and breaking its neck, it was the wolf that were sniffing them earlier, it was from the huntress he talked to earlier. He would have to remind himself to congratulate her later for having such a fine beast, It was certainly fit to be another beast's companion.
Laughing as he saw the wolf attacking, he continued
Emmerich ran past Avalon and Kyrso, without even looking to them, his eyes were fixed on the gnomes who appeared.
Still running towards them, Emmerich held his crossbow, pointed to the next one and...
*THUMP*
The goblin fell on the ground, with a big, clean hole on the middle of its forehead.
To his surprise, the twisted creature was still moving, as it tried to get up again.
"Very resilient, aren't vee?" he said, stepping into its throat, and slowly pressing his foot as he watched the creature's enraged cries until with a loud crack, his spine broke under its foot.
Behind him, another creature approached, screaming and holding his weapon above his head, ready to attack him.
A single high kick turned its head back with an audible crack.

The scene that followed could be only described as "beautiful and terrifying".
Powerful high kicks turned the creatures heads back, breaking their necks.
Sweeping kicks throwed on the ground, only for them to be finished by its rapier, piercing their spines, as he watched the creatures contorting on the ground trying to get up and stepping over them as he continued to fight.
His rapier moved in an impossible manner, appearing to fragment itself, extending and contracting, moving some times as a sword, others like a whip as it reflected the moonlight, letting beautiful silver and crimson streaks where it passed.

*whistle*
*clack, clack, clack*

He continued his horrid waltz, as his rapier appeared to dance on between the creatures, slithering around their necks as their heads flew away.

*whistle*
*clack, clack, clack*

The cadenced sound of clacking and whistling that came from his blade mixed itself with the sound of meat being torn apart and bones being broken as he laughed hearing the creature's

*whistle*
*clack, clack, clack*

An nightmarish orchestra broke the night's silence as Emmerich danced around the battlefield, kicking, shooting and slashing. His hands and feet drenched in blood, he laughed as he moved around the battlefield in his blood waltz, hearing the enraged screams the fallen creatures made as he stepped on them, squirming and trying to move, without much success.
"Hahahaha.... Das ist WUNDERBAR! I've haven't felt alive like zis in a long, long time!" he singed, drenched in blood.
"Although zeir blood do smell a little strange... But it doesn't matter..." he said, cleaning his hands from the excess blood that dripped from them as the gnomes kept appearing, more and more.

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

Lusius was quick to join the fray at the edge of town, watching in a mix of awe and terror as the woods seemed to come alive with a wave of the monsters. They were not without number but in the moment it almost seemed like it. With their twisted and mangled bodies, their sharp and blood soaked fangs, and of course their need to maim and kill. They were monsters and the kind he's learn to hunt, kill, and destroy. They didn't scare him, no it was how many their were that did. They were out numbered to be sure, but that didn't mean they would lose.

With Emmerich being the creepy bastard he trully was, dancing in the fields with his razor rapier slashing and whipping through the air, Lusius chose to help him. Drawing Harbinger and charging into the fray. His first target saw him as well and ran straight for Lusius. Just as he raised his blade and the monster raised it's sharp claws the creature vanished in a sure of what looked like black fur. By the time Lusius stopped his charge and looked around he saw the wolf from town tearing at the creature's neck. Making a strange face at the sight he nodded to the wolf as if he'd understand before raising his blade to parry an attacking creature, cutting at it's wrist to sever the hand. From there he threw forth a few extra slashes at the creature until it was missing a hand, an arm, a leg below the knee and finally it's head. Not exactly the most gracceful kill, but it was one of the ccreatures at least.

From tehre Lusius looked around for more seeing two coming at him he drew up his blade and began to fight them, curling his sharp blade under their attacks to cripple them before going for the head. His first swing dipping low under a slash taht he leaped back from, yanking hsi sword up to cut at the creature's arm, then sharply bringing it around to deal with it's friend who too a dive for Lusius' throat. This one was able to take him off guard and kknock him back, only to get a blade in the neck for it's efforts. Throwing that body off the one armed gnome returned for blood leaping at the grounded Lusius who was trying to heave up his blade to strike him and couldn't in time. Instead he raised his left arm to around letting the creature bind into his neck. At that he should've felt the creature's teeth sink into his forearm. Instead he looked up to see the beast gnawing on his silver bracer. First time his chains have served a use like that. Using the moment to gather himself he drew up his blade and hacked at the creature's neck, not severing it's head but sinking deep enough to make it go limp. From there he shoved off that body and finally had enoug time to stand back up.

Looking around he saw that he was in the thick of it, gnomes, Hunters, and that wolf were running all around fighting in what coulld only be described as a true battle of war. Yet he couldn't stand by and let the others fight for him, pulling up his blade he readied for more to come.

[WeepingLiberty]

Avalon & Kyrso

~~~

Leo bounded ahead of the rest of the group, his powerful limbs carrying him forward at a frightening speed. Teeth bared and hackles raised the beast barreled into the approaching group of monsters, snarling as his teeth sank into the flesh of his enemy. Tearing head from body, he cast the decapitated corpse aside before lunging at another target. Joining him swiftly was, much to his surprise, not his own master but one of the other hunters; a man waving what smelled like bone around as one of his weapons. Ignoring the man he continued on with his task, sensing his master's approach at last.

Avalon, much like her beastly companion, leapt into the fray with little hesitation. She moved with such fluidity, side stepping around those that lunged for her, spinning her weapon around to slice up their backs as they passed her by. This particular kind of creature was not one she had ever encountered before so she was quite surprised to discover that they would still get back up even if pierced right through the head. She didn't have much time to rethink strategy as the ones she "injured" turned around for another chance at her head. Exhaling calmly, Avalon began alternating hands, spinning the shaft of her weapon around, eyes closed as she concentrated on the changing balance of her weapon. Raising the weapon to spin above her head, she invited the creatures closer, eyes snapping open as she brought the blade down. Using the speared tip above the curved blade of her scythe, she sliced mostly through the hideous monster's neck, dancing around him to finish the job from the other side.

Dodging and weaving around her attackers she assaulted those before her with the spear tip, using her lower torso to spin the weapon around to slice at those approaching from behind. It was really quite a sight to see, the scythe seemingly moving of it's own accord as she guided it using every inch of her upper body as a base. The blade moved it's quickest, though, as she swung it around with her hands, body bending easily to keep those surrounding her at bay. A few splashes of blood had made it to her face, smearing on her left cheek and forehead, bringing forth a slight feeling of discomfort. It didn't burn, per say, but it didn't feel pleasant either... Not that it was going to distract her from her fight.

Remaining nearby but clear of his sister's blade, Kyrso fought the creatures head on. Aiming for the neck, arms, and legs he buried his blade into the bodies of his foes. Weapon or no, these god-awful creatures seemed determined to tear them apart limb from limb. Kyrso had to kick several away as their advances quickened, earsplitting screeches filling the battlefield. One nearly got him from behind but was stopped short by the talons of a friend. Vivari, his hawk, tore at the face of his attacker, buying him just enough time to hop out of its way and prepare his counter attack. He quickly found he didn't need to though, as the masked man's whip sliced through his target. Leaping out of the way, Kyrso rolled a few feet away, slicing through the legs of another gnome before swinging around to frown at the man. "Oi! Watch where you're swinging that thing you loon." Kyrso rolled his eyes, shook his head and continued on his way hacking through whatever monster threw itself at him.

@Ellion@13org@Deos Morran@shagranoz@Rune_Alchemist[@I THINK I GOT EVERYBODY RIGHT?]

[Noxx]

Hyestia

@13org

Hissy didn’t make a move she didn’t take the child seriously and her mind equated her to being a baby with a temper problem even as that half-baked attacked stopped at her face she didn’t flinch in fact if her eyes were open at the time she would have rolled them. Her reptilian pet slinking away back into its portal after she snapped her fingers to release her, had she known this brat was this insolent she would have killed her when she moved into that cave, thankfully it was a good distance away from her house, but the fact of the matter was that she took up residence in a place that has been a dead wood for centuries.

“Something about you didn’t seem natural and now that think about your little backstory and that first spell you did it confirms it; you’re a manmade witch aren’t you, that would explain your unstable disposition and by all reason you learned so many multi-syllable words despite looking quite stupid” Hissy said out loud taking a step forward, having the strength of a titan boa relative to a human body the pressure barely made much of a difference to her

“Make no mistake little girl I would happily fight you right here and now until one of us is dead because trust me even if my eyes are closed I hate you down to your fake DNA and would much rather be dead” Hissy explained opening her eyes letting out that hypnotic swirl they produced “But I’ll let you leave mainly because I only want you and those hunter gone, allow another hunter to invade this place again because of your incompetence and they won’t be the only thing you have to worry about in your test tube life” She hissed out letting the seconds tick by being that the girl had a deadlock on her eyes she wasn’t exactly going to pass up the opportunity to hypnotize the little one and the closer the girl walked staring the way she did the easier it would be

The next few words Hissy spoke was in a language that mankind spoke in the ancient times but roughly translated to ‘Kill those two hunters’ a subconscious implant that would root its way into her brain if she continued to look.

Samantha Trainer

@Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

A little girl walked into Seren’s Folly from the opposite side during all the chaos right in the middle of the action began to set up a little stand in front of someone’s house. Samantha was a witch that looked completely human as long as she hid the broom which was stashed away behind the house itself inside a bush so now she just looked like a little girl dressed in a purple dress and a large red ribbon in her hair. Putting her backpack down on an empty table she started to set up a station near the exit putting vials and other assortments on the stand. Aside from bashing the door open with her foot, she was being quiet setting up other than the sound of clanking around randomly and liquid splashing randomly. The last thing she did was put a big sign on her little stand that said ‘doctor’ on it in big bold letters completely with a red cross.

“Come one come all let me heal you, medicines from across the world!” she shouted in the loudest voice she could manage “I have the cure for what ails you I can make you stronger, faster, better than any witch; I can heal you of all ailments both internal and external in three minutes so keep you strong and fighting!” She continued with her sales pitch holding up a red and blue vile of the mysterious substance.

In reality, she was lying through her teeth all the ‘medicines’ she was trying to sale was nothing more than water mixed with sugar and a little bit of chemical tampering to change the color, it would do nothing for them except maybe a sugar rush or rotted teeth in the long run.

“I walked for four days and nights without rest with the help of this medicine and I still have the strength to do this!” She shouted balling up her fist and punshing a sizable hole in the house she was selling in front of using earth magic to do most of the work but to the naked eye it just looked like she punched a hole in a building. “Step right up and get a taste of this miracle drug!”

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Celia Mockett~

Arriving at the castle

---

At her usual unhurried pace, Celia made her way back towards the castle. Honestly, she really wanted to be anywhere else but there. Well, save for Seren's Folly. The hunters there were annoying to deal with and more likely than not wanted to stab her with sharp pointy un-fun things. Still, she wasn't looking forward to going back and Rose said she couldn't stop for a nap. She never said she couldn't stop for a little midnight snack. She was hungry after that entire ordeal, more so than usual and some food would do wonders as long as she didn't get carried away. A whole deer, perhaps? Maybe one of those snakes of that unpleasantly annoying woman would taste good. Wouldn't be the first time a serpent had the misfortune of crossing her path when she was hungry if memory served right.

Of course, sass wouldn't get her very far in the not being dead category. She sighed, dragging her feet across the forest floor and ignoring the sounds of wildlife and the distant sounds of hunters. The blood in the air smelled absolutely divine, but she ignored it. There was something...or someone at the castle she could either mooch food off of or take a bite out of.

Eventually, she found her way back to the old structure. Her ears picked up some argument or something from two other witches. Mirai and Nymphadora. Two of her less than favorite people, torturing that little servant of hers for no reason other than to be needlessly cruel. Well, she wasn't going to get involved. She'd rather not end up on their bad side.

So Celia remained quiet, taking a seat on the ground just a little ways inside. Maybe Rose would get distracted and she could get that rest she wanted.

~Phoebe Longhurst~

@WeepingLiberty@Deos Morran@13org@Ellion@shagranoz

---

Phoebe watched Emmerich gallivant off, shaking her head as Lusisus introduced himself. She bowed politely as she returned the favor. "Phoebe Longhurst. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Indeed, 'twould be better to work together than pick fights with our fellow hunters." It seemed the hunt would not wait for them to finish getting a bit better acquainted, however and Lusius dashed off after Emmerich and the other hunters.

The sight when they arrived, was one she had seen many times. A large wolf, likely belonging to one of the hunters was attacking what looked to be some sort of devilish forest creatures. The battle was already in full swing by now, but all Phoebe could do was wonder why someone would even think about bringing a wolf to this little battle. Not important for now. For now, she decided to assist the other hunters. If she could get in good with them, then they would likely share a bit more information and be a bit more amicable.

She entered the fray with the rest of the hunters, her crossbow gripped firmly in her left hand and sword in her right. She dodged and weaved between the gnomes, baiting them into attacking before burying her blade right into their chests. A few Gnomes fell to a bolt from her crossbow, keeping them from getting too close while she dealt with another.

It seemed things were going well. Until she noticed the creatures getting back up, no matter how they were cut or sliced. Undead? No, they were definitely bleeding. The blood covering her cloak was evidence of that. Well, no matter. She had more than a few tricks up her sleeve. As they got up, a bolt followed by three knives found themselves impaling a few of the creatures in the skull, stunning them long enough for her to get a bit of distance between them.

The holy fires of the Lord would see these creatures cleansed.

She reached into her cloak, pulling out a small sphere seemingly made out of some smooth wood.

"May the Lord cleanse these abominations." She tossed the firebomb right in the middle of the group. As soon as the thing landed, a small conflagration of flame exploded outwards, covering the creatures and the ground with a burning substance that was quickly lit by the bomb. It wouldn't spread all that far or damage the woods...hopefully.

Current Tools

Firebomb x5
Holy water x2
Throwing knives x18
Nets x4
Bolts x13
Lavender and Wolfsbane

[shagranoz]

Kalisel was in her element. True, she started off the battle by raising her hand to smite the fiends with holy justice before realizing she couldn't do that anymore, but otherwise, her blade was singing death.

Step, drop the hip, reverse thrust. The gnomes were quick, but small and uncoordinated. Barely a match for a farmer with pitchfork, were it not for one thing- there were dozens of the little bastards! Kalisel took several small hits, but continued weaving through the gnomes with an elegant ease. Still, it would have seemed to anyone with a lick of sense that she could use a little help. Granted, most people with a lick of sense would stay far, far away from a gnome infestation...

[13org]

Emmerich Jaeger

Interacting with: @Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

Many things happening at once, as Emmerich heard someone talking something about him being careful.

"Oi! Watch where you're swinging that thing you loon."

"Come on now! You are dancink zee Valtz of carnage! Miss a step, and all zee intricate, and harmoniously chaotic choreography will be lost! And zee results are alvays zee same." He answered to the other hunter, tipping his hat and making a slight bow, he continued his performance.

The gnomes kept coming, in an endless stream, they flowed out of the forest, like the night itself was bleeding. The twisted little creatures screamed and waved their weapons. Their comrade's bodies piling up on the ground didn't seem to halt their charge, as they ran to their certain death.
Although stupid, one thing was certain: their were starting to overwhelm some of the hunters, as Emmerich turned his head to the blonde woman who were at the bar with his other persona earlier. Overwhelmed himself, Emmerich stepped on one of the gnomes, using it as a platform to jump over the impressive number of creatures that were already surrounding him.

Running to the blonde woman who appeared to be in trouble, he kicked a gnome away from her, as he started moving in the same rhythm as her.

"Vee are in a dance, mein freudin. Be sure to not miss any step, or zee consequences may be dire." he said, shooting his crossbow on another gnome and giving a high kick on the next one. As the loud crack resonated as the bolt pierced the gnome's throat, breaking its spine, he moved away from the blonde woman, continuing his chaotic performance.

“Step right up and get a taste of this miracle drug!” he heard a new young woman yelling. Was she selling things in the middle of a hunt? Was she out of her mind? Ignoring her for now, he danced across the battlefield in the direction of the wolf's owner. The beautiful dark haired woman who was wielding her scythe in such a wonderful performance that immediately caught his attention.
The other hunter, the one who complained with him earlier was nearby her, although far enough to not stay in the way of her blade.

"Excuse-me." he said to him as he danced his way in the woman's direction.
"I have seen many people fightink, but you are zee only one here who moves vis such graceful and coordinated movements!" he said as he dodged her blade, standing back to back with her.
He kept striking other gnomes and dodging her blade, his movements were gradually adapting to her tempo.
"Vould you give me zee pleasure of a dance?" he said, not dodging her blade anymore, as his tempo was exactly matched with hers.
Grabbing one of her hands, he swung her, just as she was about to swing her scythe, giving it more speed and reach.
"Some may sink zat fightink is just swingink their metal pieces around until it hits someone, but you and I know different, don't vee, mein fraulein? Even what looks to be just a chaotic carnage, has its tempo and rhythm." he continued to say as the whistling and clacking noise continued, gnomes falling one after another as his blade pierced and slithered chaotically on the battlefield.
Still holding her hand, he spun around her her blade passing millimeters from his body, just like they were dancing together.
Facing her, he let her swing her scythe, holding her hand high and swinging his rapier, striking the creatures that were on her back, as her scythe simply continued the circular movement, slicing the ones behind him. Ending in a traditional waltz posture, the edge of her scythe almost touching his neck at the end of the movement.
"Vat do you say? Zey are playink my favourite musik zee Valtz of Blood. Vould you honour me vis a dance?" he said with a smooth voice.

"May the Lord cleanse these abominations."

"Oh... Vee even have fireworks!" he said with the explosions. "Zis builds up zee perfekt atmosphere, doesn't it?"

---

Shai

Interacting with: @Noxx @Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

"Yes, I was made by men, but I know far better the arcane than you, uncivilized, brutish creature!" Shai said as the pressure kept rising, now faster and faster.
"You are deeply mistaken if you think that I would hesitate in killing you. Although I hate mindless violence, I don't think I can even treat you even as a human being at all." she kept saying, alternating her stare between her and the hydra.
"The ones I invite into my home are only my business. You have nothing to do with it, or the fact that I wouldn't like killing another human being." Shai said, her eyes bristling with rage as she did
"Oh, and don't be mistaken, I'm not calling you a creature because of your looks, but because of the way you act and treat others." she said, as the pressure kept rising, the leaves started to vibrate as it started to affect the air itself.
"Regardless, I do think that all this competition of power is useless, but mind you that I am far more powerful that I appear to be. We shall part ways, and personally, I don't wish we ever meet again, but If we do, I hope you have learned how to behave yourself like a proper human being." she said, snapping her fingers, cancelling the gravity field, disappeared through the forest.
"Oh my... even looking at her made me nauseated..." she said as she ran to Seren's Folly as fast as she could.

Getting near there, she departed herself with a horrifying view.
Blood, corpses, heads and entrails were spread on the ground as the hunters kept killing more and more of them.
That terrible view sent away every last bit of adrenalin that the meeting with the snake gave her, and she suddenly felt terrified by the view and very nervous for being in a human town without even her hat to hide her ears or a bigger robe to hide her tail.
Using her her tarot cards, she opened a way amongst the bloodshed, to get near the town itself.
Preoccupied with the citizens and even with the merchant who were trying to sell healing potions, she made a barrier with her tarot cards and her dices, protecting the innocent.
"A-are any of you hurt?" she tried to yell, but stumbled on her words out of nervousness of being near so many humans.
"ARE ANY OF YOU HURT?" she yelled again, closing her eyes and forcing herself to calm down.
"Those who are hurt come over the barrier, me and this merchant can help you." she yelled again, visibly nervous.
"I'm here to help, so you wont hurt me... right?" she asked.
Her dices were still moving around the battlefield, punching holes and cutting down the gnomes which they targeted.
Rising her star globe above the battlefield, she started casting a powerful magic. Shining as bright as the sun, it started to slowly spin.
Down on the battlefield, the hunters could feel their movements getting gradually lighter and faster as the globe continued to spun.

[WeepingLiberty]

Mirai & Nymphadora

~~~

Mirai didn't have to turn around to see what had happened, knowing the moment the words left her mouth what would happen. But more so, she could see it in the eyes of the witch standing before her whose eyes shifted to track the movement. Smiling cruelly, the woman turned slowly around to meet Arden's furious gaze head on. "I'm sorry, did I give you my permission to stand?" She asked as she took a few steps toward him, giving him a few moments to respond if he so desired. "Did I say anything or gesture in any way that might have indicated my wish for you to rise?" Mirai continued, closing the distance between them. This time however, she did not allow him a moment to respond before speaking once again, her voice thick with sick glee. "Because I don't quite recall any of that happening either. So why, little worm, is it that I find you standing here glaring at me?" Quick as lightning, the witch's arm lashed out, her fingers wrapping firmly around the boy's throat applying just enough pressure to make things uncomfortable for him. "You shouldn't allow such an insignificant wench cloud your judgement, after all... Life is such a fragile thing, it can disappear in the blink of an eye." She was always amazed at how easy it was to bait the boy by bringing the girl up, however he was just as easily silenced by her as well. A strange, yet amusing concept for the fire witch.

"Now, seeing as you're so very tired of kneeling I will see to it that you'll do nothing but stand for the next day. Until this time tomorrow you will neither sit nor lie unless I tell you otherwise." Mirai's eyes narrowed as she spoke, giving a slight squeeze of her fingers before releasing the boy's neck. "Is your intent to punish him or kill him, because if it is the latter, you're doing a very good job." Nymphadora spoke up, face still as emotionless as ever. "He'll be just fine, isn't that right little worm? Think of it like endurance training. I am technically training him as well, but what good is magic if the body can't keep up with the energy required to cast it?" Nymphadora replied with a sigh, clutching her book to her chest with one arm while her other hand reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose. That's a bunch of bull and you know it.

"Speaking of training... When did you get here?" She asked, turning to face the pale girl sitting in the corner as far from them as could be. Mirai remembered meeting her a few times, recalling the moment when Rose took on an apprentice of her own. It was the very one that Rose had departed a little while earlier to retrieve from some unmentioned trouble. When she got back, however, was a mystery as she was oh so silent when she moved. "Rose ought to tie a bell around your ankle. It's creepy when you just pop up out of nowhere." She growled, linking her arm around Arden's shoulders to use him to support her weight.

@Ellion@Dark Light@Rune_Alchemist

---

Marcus

~~~

The howling outside drew not only the attention of its master, but each of the other hunters were soon to follow suit. A few stayed behind, but it didn't take long for Abigail to clear the room after reminding them of the exchange rate. Some part of him felt relieved that the danger (or at least the one for now) had finally revealed itself, the other was slightly disappointed in how lackluster it turned out to be. Once the last of the bunch had left the room Marcus set to work wiping down the bar with a rag, a small smile emerging as the older woman asked her question. "I won't lie, every time a new job shows up on the board or one of them tells their stories my heart races a little. And for a brief moment I wonder why I ever stopped..." He commented, standing up straight to look at the owner with eyes swimming with sorrow. "But those days are behind me Abby, and I intend on keeping it that way. Ultimately, you either end up dead or just wishing you were. Besides, what would you do without me?" Marcus lightened the heavy mood with a flirtatious wink, his smile wide and quite near genuine as the tavern was filled with the sound of his laughter.

Mia Edition

The small fairy sighed heavily, body drooping midair in defeat. With the forest being so large, and the night being so dark, there was no way she was going to find one person. She wasn't even sure there was anyone out there to be finding. Mia turned, nose pointed toward home when she heard a rather loud gasp and cry of alarm.

"Get back! Stay away!" The voice called out, sounding frightened... and more importantly, in immediate danger. I knew it. Sorry Marcus, but I can't just leave it be. She thought to herself and she zoomed off in the direction of the voice.

"Help!" It called out again, much louder this time. Mia swerved from around the corner, almost barreling right into a tree as she did so. "Just hold on!" She called out in response, buzzing up to the frightened woman to land on her shoulder. Closing her eyes, she raised her hands in front of her directed at the groaning figure. "O great guardian of the forest, I beg that you hear me. Please grant me the power to protect this traveler from the evils at work." The words she uttered seemed to be a mix between a prayer and a spell, her already glowing form glowing just slightly brighter as she spoke. Returning to normal, the ground around the animated corpse began to glow instead as roots from the nearby tree broke through the surface to ensnare the attacker.

Wrapping around the man's torso, the root lifted him into the air and away from the woman while a second root shot up from beside him to knock into the base of his jaw. Lowering her hands, the small fairy turned to the woman, her light seemingly dimmer than before. Panting slightly, Mia tried her best to smile warmly. "I saw the wrecked carriage on the main road, was that yours? Are you alright?" She asked, eyes shifting over to the scary looking man who had been gnawing on the woman's ankle just moments before. Sniffing the air, Mia shrieked and fell backward to a sitting position on the woman's shoulder. "H-he... But, he's dead. What in the name of Oberon is going on, who would do such a horrible thing?" There were witches capable of calling on the power of spirits from beyond, but never before had she witness the reanimation of a person's corpse. It was unnatural in every sense of the word and stood against her very being.

@Whoami

---

Avalon & Kyrso

~~~

Kyrso cringed at the man's overly dramatic sense of the world, though her couldn't really be one to judge. After all, it was more often than not that he didn't take situations as seriously as others preferred. So long as the weird man kept to himself, Kyrso and him wouldn't have any issues; or so he thought. His attention was briefly stolen by a girl shouting something about having miracle medicine and strength enhancing elixirs. "What is it, a full moon?" He asked, eyes casting upward for a moment only to shoot back down with a groan. "So it is." He mumbled under his breath, taking a moment to hop back several paces to catch his breath. "What do you think you're doing?" Kyrso asked, lunging forward to immobilize a gnome that had managed to stray past the lines of hunters. Sparing a glance toward his sister, Kyrso had to concentrate on not letting his jaw drop at the bizarre sight before him.

The woman hadn't bothered staying her blade as the masked man made his approach, just as willing to slice him to ribbons as she was any other creature on the battlefield save for her brother. Much to her surprise, and that of her now staring brother, he managed to maneuver around her strikes to stand back to back with her. By the time he reached her, his movements had become synched with hers allowing him to remain unharmed by her weapon. "One has to be certain of themselves when fighting with a weapon such as this. One misstep and your own life faces more danger than the thing you're up against." She replied curtly, shifting her body for another powerful strike. This time, however, the masked man had snatched up one of her hands wielding her momentum in a way that would cause maximum damage with her strike.

Even as the monsters kept advancing, the man continued talking, all the while maintaining his grasp on her hand. She had to admit he was right, regardless of how much she didn't want to. Avalon wasn't one to trust anyone but her brother in a fight, however there were slight similarities in the way this man thought to her own... without some of the crazier pieces of course, but for now he made sense. There was always a sense of rhythm to an attack, a predictability if it could be called that. One need only play the game long enough to pick up on it. Needless to say, this man was quicker than most. Rather than fighting his grip, she decided to view him as an extension of herself for the time being. Every time he swung her about, her blade was always just barely missing him leaving the pair little room for error; not that either one were worried in the least. Their movements paid off as each was completely confident in their own movements, unconcerned by the movements of their "partner". Scythe and rapier moving in perfect harmony, slashing down any creature that dared approach the bladed twister.

Taking down the last in the immediate area, the man pulled her in to complete his dance that she vaguely recognized as a waltz. For a brief moment the air stood still around them as the creatures hesitated a moment in their attack.

"Vat do you say? Zey are playink my favourite musik zee Valtz of Blood. Vould you honour me vis a dance?" He asked, voice dripping with honey.

Avalon's eyes were continuously drawn to the man's mask, something about it trapping her there in its terrifying grasp. "I think you're completely out of your mind." She stated, tearing her eyes away to look at the carnage all around them and the quickly approaching group of creatures headed their way. "However, it's proven useful for this particular situation. Just this once I am inclined to accept." Avalon responded, grimacing with distaste as an explosion was set off nearby. While the man seemed to enjoy it, she thought it to be a nuisance. Fire was such a hard element to control, burning all in its path indiscriminately. Not to mention the vector used to distribute such an element had the high potential of being a distraction to the other hunters.... And that was something that was never good. Somewhere off to the side she could hear her brother expressing his thoughts on the very subject, leaving her free to focus on the battle at hand. "Shall we?" She asked, popping the vertebrae in her neck in preparation.

Meanwhile, back on Kyrso's side of the field, the poor boy was staring on as fire erupted further out amongst the creatures. "Are you crazy? That could hit one of us!" He griped, though it was doubtful he could be heard from so far away. Kyrso's attention was quickly stolen away as yet another woman... Or girl was more like it, popped up behind him. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me. What are you, like, 12? Go home before you get yourself hurt little missy." He asked, only glancing at her out of the corner of his eye as he defended against another pair of gnomes. Kyrso was noticing a slight increase of creatures able to breakthrough, not a good sign at all. It meant up ahead the others were starting to wear out. It was no wonder, the creepy bastards kept popping up out of nowhere. "Listen you two... If you're going to stick around, you need to stop shouting. You'll draw the attention of the ugly things doing the attacking." He warned, raising his weapon and bring it down once again, adding another snarling body to a pile before him.

@Ellion@13org@Deos Morran@shagranoz@Rune_Alchemist@Bright_Ops[@Anyone in the immediate area of the Seren's Folly battle]

[Dark Light]

Arden

Chapter 1.4
Chores and duties

---

(@ the Fortress )

---

Aden quickly checks himself, realising his predicament as soon as Miria turned and began rhetorically questioning him. What had he gone and done. The sudden realisation and worry was painfully evident on his face.

S, Sorry mistress. I misinterpreted your wishes, i was simply trying to please you by removing myself... he began blurting out in his defence before Miria suddenly cut him short, grabbing him by the throat.
Miria made the threats he knew she would make then described his new punishment.
Arden listened intently being sure to catch every word and not mistake any of her intentions, all whilst trying to remain calm and breath slow difficult breaths.

24 hours of standing, it meant no sleep. It might not be impossible if the timer had started when he first woke, but it had not. It had already been a long day, he was already tired, his legs already aching and his last sleep was not the greatest either. To top things one leg was also wounded. This, this was going to be troublesome test, falling asleep around his Mistress Miria and disobeying an order at the same time was a terribly vulnerable and dangerous situation to put himself in.

That's a bunch of bull and you know it.

It was, and they all knew it but Miria being Miria would have her fun and test Arden's physical and emotional limits regardless. At least that witches straight forward comment caused a slight smile within Arden. One he dare not express or share lest it be quickly removed. He caught a glimpse of the stranger in his peripheral, he just had to see the one who said the things he could not.

As you wish mistress he subserviently replied to Miria. And... thank you. he added with the most sincerest gratitude he could fake.
Although the last bit pained him the most to say, he had to forego any slither of pride he imagined to still hold and hope to incur some level of favour before the test was through, even if to only lighten the load of a later punishment.

When Miria was done with him, his eyes followed hers and he spotted the new witch. The small pale child with long flowing hair. Careful to quickly look away her image puzzled and pulled on his mind. He had surely never seen her before but strangely felt as if he had.

@Rune_Alchemist@WeepingLiberty

[Bright_Ops]

Draco Russ

Currently: In Seren's Folly (Outside)

Interacting: @Noxx @Ellion [@Deos] [@Morran] @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
....................................................................

As strange as it might have seemed to same, Draco didn't jump into the fray the moment the gnomes presented themselves. He had followed the hound and was clearly one of the first to spot the enemy, but once he had seen the threat he had intentionally decided to hold back. Gnomes weren't the most serious threat that the night held, even if they did have a number advantage at the moment. They would be a good chance for the young blood to test themselves against the horrors that could come... while also being in a position to step in if the tide turns or something unexpected manifested itself.

Watching as the hunters waged war on the gnome threat, Draco was actually in a better position then most to watch the arrival of both the potion seller and the... tailed woman that wanted to protect people with what was clearly magic. Ignoring the battle for a moment, he calmly walked over to join both girls before focusing on what was quite clearly a young witch... and standing beside her as something of a bodyguard. "You focus on what you have to do. I'll make sure nothing stops you from protecting anyone." was all he said to her with a respectful nod of his head.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Celia Mockett~

@WeepingLiberty@Dark Light

---

Mirai was spouting utter nonsense. Endurance training? Body not having enough energy to cast spells? Why, that comment was almost funny enough to make her laugh. Her mouth curled upwards in a small smile. While she was no master witch or whatever they were called, she could perform magic well enough, and she did nothing but sleep all day. She remained quiet though. No need to draw-Ah...she had been noticed. And was called creepy, no less.

Celia's grey eyes gazed at Mirai silently, not breaking eye contact. She had never thought of herself as creepy, nor did she think she ever made a particular effort to be silent. Though, it was true that she didn't want to draw the attention of others too much. That would mean she would have less of an ability to hide from Rose and sleep somewhere. Chances were, it'd be enchanted or something as well so she couldn't hide easily and unable to take it off.

"I walked in...Maybe get better ears." Eye contact was broke only by a quiet yawn, refraining from making a direct comment about old people and a lack of hearing. It'd just end up being troublesome for her in the end. She didn't want to particularly get into more trouble than she was already in.

Celia stretched, turning her head silently to the guy Mirai was torturing. She didn't really know him, and hadn't particularly made an effort to. He seemed...flustered or something when he looked at her. Well, maybe he'd do something fun if she kept staring? So keep staring she would.

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

All around was a wicked and cruel battle that continued to rage and flow around Lusius. Some Hunters were struggling to save their own lives, while others still were slaughtering the gnomes in droves. As for Lusius he was holding his own and with three kills already under his belt he ran back out into the thick of the fray, holding his sword ready for a fight.

Meeting more foes pretty quickly he slashed down with his blade at a charging gnome, cutting firmly across the creature's torso to open it's insides to the open air. Then while the creature was caught up in it's own entrails he brought his blade back up and down to decapitate the monster.

Moving on for another he saw three more creatures coming after him. Raising his blade to fight he took a powerful and strong stance, bracing for the charging beasts. As the first reached him he struck like lightning at the monster's neck, making a clean blow through the creature's raised hand and into it's neck, cutting through and making the imp slump down to the ground with one blow. For the next two they came together and this time Lusius was ready to deal with multiple threats. Slashign through the air at one of the creatures he cut deeply into it's arm, pulling his blade back quickly to block teh other with sharp steel, making it's claws split open with a sharp edge. Pulling back once again he slashed hard at teh first creature, cutting deep into it's shoulder and by twisting his body he changed the blade's path inside the creature taking it's head and an arm off. For the next he brought his blade back to block another attack, curving the edge of harbinger around to shove the point into it's neck, pulling almost the entire blade through before twisting his arms and taking the monster's head.

Once again free and ready to continue the fight Lusius ran at another gnome that was singled out from the rest of them. running at teh creature he caught it off guard and with a swift and effective strike he dug his blade deep into the gnome's back, not cutting anything off but cuttin enough to make teh thing slump to the ground, yet it continued to move, clawing with his claws. Until Lusius took a swing at it's head, burying his blade into the creature's skull to make it go limp.

Still yet the fight was on and he looked around for more foes, blood-soaked blade at the ready should any more beasts come for him. However that is when he saw it. Something was casting magic very openly right at the very edge of Seren's Folly, though with Draco by it Lusius knew it must have been... Perhaps not helpful or friendly but at the very least not an immediate threat. Still he was worried about such a force by his home and he couldn't let it slip from his mind. He'd have to make sure. Once he had time.

Yet through all the bloodshed he felt something. Deep inside him he was feeling the fire of rage burning brighter and hotter. The Burning Man was drawing power from something and he was now actively fighting for control. Once he was looking for another target now he was hold his head, trying desperately to beat back the Burning Man's influence. In that moment of pain he looked around for what could be fueling him, seeing teh orb in the sky, throwing it's radiant light and while the others were fueled to fight harder, Lusius was left crippled by the burning rage festering inside him. Even his skin was starting to crackle and smoke as he was losing control.

[Noxx]

Hyestia

Hyestia spit on the ground as Shai finally took her leave, it didn’t seem like her eyes worked or at least it would have taken longer than normal for them to take effect a possible side-effect due to her birth. Nevertheless, she left meaning she didn’t have to deal with the headache of a witch anymore or at least until the little trespasser came back with more hunters to endanger the forest, but that would be an issue for another day, right now she wanted nothing more than to go home, strip naked and continue to bake in the heat in peace. Twisting around on her heels, she began to make her way home shaking her head in frustration cursing at the fact she had just gotten a headache from the day’s events making her a very grumpy old snake. Folding her hands when she got to her door, she remembered something the child said about her being a sensible human being, couldn’t she tell she wasn’t human in the slightest, sure her body was human like but she wasn’t a human in any sense of the word.

“Stupid girl, can’t even see what's right in front of her, ” she muttered to herself shaking her head and going into her home hoping to never be bothered again.

Samantha Trainer

@Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

Samantha kept shouting about her miracles of her potions waking the bottles around talking about a special wartime deal when in fact she was charging ten silvers per bottle when the ingredients themselves, plus the bottle cost a total of one copper per vile, but she wasn’t going to say that.

“Look at the wondrous strength that someone as weak as I can do under the influence of this drug, ” she screamed enthusiastically; punching a nearby gnome using a bit of wind magic to chop its head off, but any witch with a careful eye could probably tell she was faking the entire performance, but hunters weren’t the brightest and the added urgency of a fight just made it more likely she’d get away with a ton of money.

Just when she was about to preform another feat a dome entrapped her alarming the witch until she figured out it was just some young witch trying to do the good things, she probably didn’t understand the way things were but she’d find out soon enough.

“Hey, you lady, ya ruining the act could you shrink this thing to just let me out?” Samantha whispered to Shai only turning her head to smile and wave at the humans reassuring them she had nothing to do with this.

[Viciousmarrow]

---

_{@Ellion@TheDoctor}

“You bastard… I’m going to make you eat those words.” Madeline was absolutely seething at her supposed savior’s condescending words, an expression of hatred dawning across her visage. He didn’t know what she was capable of! She didn’t even know who he was, so it was a fair wager that he wasn’t even all that good with that sword he pranced about with. As he rushed off into battle, Madeline silently wished that he’d trip and be devoured by those horrific looking gnomes. Or at least be cornered and beg for her to save him. Unfortunately, as she watched him, his swordsmanship managed to be adequate enough to slay two of the remaining monstrosities. A snarl crawled up onto her lips as she pledged to outdo him, readying her axe for a fight.

“Oh big deal, so you killed a couple of gnomes. You’re not even good though. Let me show you how a legend does it.” With something to prove on her mind, the young woman charged forward, shield raised, her ginger locks flying behind her in the wind. She rushed into the first gnome that crossed her line of sight, bashing it onto the ground with a mighty slam of her wooden aegis. The creature, by the looks of it, certainly appeared to be dead. Standing triumphantly over her casualty, she briefly turned her head to gloat. “See? I can kill these things just with my shield. I don’t even need my-“ Her sentence was cut off by the sudden sensation of pain lancing through the girl’s lower abdomen. Green orbs went wide, and Madeline turned to face the gnome that she thought was dead. Its claws had easily gotten through her light armor. It was about to press the attack and leap onto her, but the arrogant woman reacted just in time to slay the beast. Scowling, Madeline retaliated with a massive swing of her axe, which sent the gnome’s head flying. The headless cadaver fell onto the ground, most definitely dead now. Despite claiming to be the greatest Hunter alive, she was beginning to show otherwise.

Clutching her wound, she hastily joined rank with the other two Hunters, a sense of shame about her. How could she have almost gone down to a stupid gnome, of all things? The thought perturbed her, but she steeled herself and swore to the heavens that there would be no more mistakes. “Don’t either of you say a damned thing…” the woman glowered. “I don’t know who either of you are, but if you help me get out of this alive, then I’ll make sure history remembers you.” She went from acting like a lone wolf who could take on armies to bartering with these two for safety. Perhaps she was beginning to recognize her own shortcomings…

[13org]

Emmerich Jaeger

Interacting with: @Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

"Shall we?"

"You honour me, mein fraulein." he said, holding her waist and inclining her as a gnome approached, making her kick him away.
"Now our dance vill really begin!" he said as he looked up, as an orb illuminated the entire battlefield.
"Zee spotlight is on us! Lets show zem a spectacle to never be forgotten. Zee battlefield is our stage, lets us paint it with the blood of our enemies!" he said, his face near hers as he talked.
With his body near to hers, he started dancing. In perfect synchrony, the two moved as one.
Moving in graceful and beautiful circular motions, his rapier pierced and slashed, coiling around them as they moved, passing very closely to their bodies, coiling around them and her scythe, using their members and even her own weapon to propel it forward, piercing enemies as her scythe sliced the gnomes' bodies in a bloody waltz, every step was gracefully coordinated. Their own blades intertwined and crossed paths, without tangling on each other even once as them moved around the battlefield. Moving under the orb's light, their blades reflected it, carving bright silvery crimson wounds into the night.
On that dance, there was truly no space for a mistake.

"Power, grace, beauty and technique! You captivated my eyes and heart, mein fraulein! You move with such a wonderful and deadly grace! I've never had a partner who could keep up with my movements as you do. My name is Emmerich, Emmerich Jaeger." he said, bringing her close to him again.
"Vould you give me zee honour of knowink zee name of die schöne Frau and deadly hunter whom am i dancink?" he asked, his eyes were always fixed on his partner as they moved around the battlefield. He had no need to look at her weapon to know her movements... With his body near hers, he could feel her muscles tensing and relaxing, he could clearly know where and how she intended to strike, adapting his movements accordingly.
Although his mask was unnerving, and the way that he laughed and seemed to enjoy the bloodshed, the subtle change on his behavior was noticeable, as he stopped doing overly sadistic and unnecessary kills, torturing and even stopped stepping on the already fallen gnomes.

---

Shai

Interacting with: @Noxx @Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

Shai was doing her best to help the hunters protect the town, as her dices kept flying around on the battlefield, taking out the gnomes that tried to hit other hunters back and crept behind them and her star globe continued to shine, making the hunters feel even lighter and faster, when suddenly, a voice interrupted her.

"You focus on what you have to do. I'll make sure nothing stops you from protecting anyone."

Surprised that another hunter decided to guard her, she didn't know what to say, as he assumed a defensive posture near her
Nodding acquiescingly, she said:
"Thank you, I will make sure your good will won't be wasted." she said as her eyes darted around the battlefield searching for any gnomes threatening the hunters while using her hand to coordinate the dices' movements, punching clean holes through the gnomes arms, spines and legs, breaking bones and tearing members apart, when another voice interrupted her concentration.

“Hey, you lady, ya ruining the act could you shrink this thing to just let me out?”

Without taking her eyes out of the battlefield, she made a brief movement with her hands, making the wall of cards open a retangular hole near the shopkeeper.

"Ok, but i cannot let it open. Not everyone in the town is capable of defending themselves, neither has magical capabilities such as you. Be safe." she said as the passage opened.

As she resumed looking to the battlefield, she saw a hunter who was in what appeared to be a very bad state. His skin appeared to crackle and emit smoke, just like as it was burning. As she was about to call him, two tarot cards came out from the barrier, stopping near her. "Danger" and "Magic" were their meanings.
"Oh no... is he losing control of his magic?" she muttered to herself.
"Hunter, are you wounded? Please come over the barrier!" she yelled to the ellegant man, who appered to be in pain, waving her arms on his direction. "There is something wrong with your magic, i can feel it from here. If its a magic overload, you can be in big problems." she said, still calling for him.
"A hunter... using magic?" she mumbled to herself.
"Surely he has some magic inside of him. I cant seem to find what type of magic, but it feels awfully hot and filled with rage..."She sent some of the cards of the barrier to form a corridor between the man and the barrier, to bring him to safety. Using two of the seven dices to protect the man, they start to spin around him, striking every gnome who tried to approach him.

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

All around Lusius there was pain. Deep inside him the monster inside was trying desperately to escape, lashing out to break free and in some places it did, lighting small fires on his skin that leaped from his clothes, leaving them unburnt, yet the heat could still be felt. Yet for some reason the Burning Man didn't break free. No matter how much the Burning Man yelled, clawed, or exploded within Lusius, he held strong. Still fighting back the demon within he heard a voice calling out, like a broken static in the chaos he heard a soft and kind voice ring through.

Looking around with foggy eyes he couldn't see much without blinking a few times. In the moment that he had a clear set of eyes he saw magic flowing around him and it plagued him like fire does an animal. It was poison for him thanks to the Burning Man. Still through it all he was able to clear his mind enough to focus, seeing what was hurting him and what wasn't. The star above the battlefield was hurting him, the rest was just... there. Taking his cloak from his back he brought it up over his head, using it as a sort of tarp to shield his body from the light. Even if it didn't do anything he still did it for his own sanity.

From there he looked back, following the path to the voice and the rather odd looking girl who called to him. Slowly he fought against the Burning Man and walked back to Seren's Folly along the path laid out before him. Thankfully no Gnome lived near him thanks to the strange girl's magic. Then before long he was with her.. In her little protective bubble.

From there she could very clearly see what was plaguing him though perhaps why wouldn't be clear. His skin was crackling and smoking as if he was a wild fire, even that he was emitting heat as if he was on fire, yet his clothes did not burn. From what could be gleaned from magical sense, he was filled with enough magic that he should be dead a hundred times over, yet it wasn't him who held the magic. Pure rage seeped from his body, yet he was not enraged. And through it all he was holding steady enough to say, "Take it away... Get rid of the magic..."

[Bright_Ops]

Draco Russ

Currently: In Seren's Folly (Outside)

Interacting:@Noxx@Deos Morran@13org@shagranoz
..............................................................

Nodding his head a little as he took the witch with a tail's word, Draco ignored the idiot of a merchant who thought that selling to people while they were being attacked was a good business strategy as he gaze turned to look at his adopted son's current... condition. The fact that he appeared to be struggling so strongly with the creature inside of him was not a good sign; He had been sure to train the boy in emotional control in order to prevent things from spiraling out of control to easily and either Lusius had been neglecting his training or something else was at play here.

Since the witch seemed to be covering his withdrawal from the battle to safety well enough on her own, Draco's gaze briefly left his struggling son to check on the battle at large... before withdrawing his pistol and firing off a single shot to assist a huntress that was going to be overwhelmed otherwise. Happy with his shot, Draco started to reload the pistol while he waited for Lusius to get to safety on his own.

Once the boy had made it to safety, Draco quickly put the pistol away in order to free up his hands to reach under his coat for a water bottle before rushing over to Lusius's side. Experience and common sense told him that touching Lusius while he was in this state was a bad idea, so instead he removed the lid of the bottle in order to start pouring water over the boy's head and body, aiming for the more heavily effected areas to start and sooth the pain a little. "I suggest you let the magic drop." He said as he glanced over at the witch; While he had been polite enough to word it as a request, the look in his eyes reveled that refusing it wasn't an option.

[Bishop]

Skip, skip, skippidy skip, the clown dressed deity danced around the mysterious forest, seemingly eluding the law of gravity. His skipping was light and the falling motion gave the impression that he was moon walking, literally. A clown skipping through a dangerous forest, landing in slow motion after every jump. A strange sight indeed.

Now the reason he visited the forest, sight seeing of course. The Glow Wood was rumored to be one of the most awesome locations in the world. Well he didn't need any rumour for that as he had seen the forest many times in his life and even saw it before it became the wonder that it was today. Still, it wasn't that much of a sight in his opinion, nothing could compare to the sight of a large scale war where blood, body parts and other stuff flew around like party poppers. So the real reason he visited? He sensed a huge ordeal coming, many factions and individuals were on the move, big things were bound to happen and he would burn in hell if he didn't witness them. But for now, he had to gather some snacks in preparation of the show. What would it be...

*Fingersnap*
"SNAKES! Fried, crispy, delicious snakes dipped in deadly venom!"
Now he was effortlessly floating around, close to the ground in a face up lying position, a fantasy bubble "clearly visible" showing him diving in a crispy snake all you can eat ocean. Reaching for the bubble...nope, this harsh reality that separated him from his snackes. Slapping himself with both hands a little, he got out of trance and started working on snake gathering.

Floating face down, very close to the earth and with lightning fast reflexes he catched about a dozen in 2 minutes. Where would be put them? And that question was answered by the conjuring of a bag. 20 more minutes of gathering passed, the job leading him closer and closer to a big den?, it seemed. One thing was for certain, he would soon get in the middle of the largest snake flux part of the forest, and he had hand fried and eaten 2/3 of all the snackes he had gathered.

He really had to stop eating more than gathering.
"Conservation is key in this line of work!"- he talked with a mouthful of crispy snakes.

[Noxx]

Hyestia

@Bishop

Hyestia had just finished undressing when her sentry snakes went ballistic again before being quickly silenced something very odd being that they usually were careful to not be spotted so easily. This gave her the thought that someone had not only come into the forest but was trying their best to avoid being detected and the thought his her that those pawns of a hunter must have told someone who could do something. Cursing under her breath, she slipped her clothes back on and ran outside grabbing a few vials of toxins and blowing a miasma all over her home creating a poisonous cloud, the purple mist was a fairly poisonous mixture to induce paralysis while it causes the body to shut down permanently. Turning around on her heels, she started to run towards the alert in urgency using her powerful legs to rocket herself to the tree tops to maneuver easier without the snow to get in her way. Bending down and snatching mushrooms and leaves, grinding them up and working with what normally would be dangerous to handle with her bare hands mixing the substances then stuffing them into little pouches. Too much had already happened and this forest hasn’t received this many back to back visitors in centuries, were these people not listening to the stories they still tell about this place in the towns near here?

It didn’t take long for her to find the culprit a clown floating around and eating her snakes, she lost contact with so many her little ones now because of him so staying hidden and playing the mind game wasn’t going to get him to stop. Jumping from a nearby tree, letting her mutated physiology flare now at this point, allowing her long reptilian tail sprout from her back as she landed in front of the strange person squinting her eyes, he looked like someone she knew which was near impossible.

“Why have you come to my home, are you with that test tube of a witch or the other two hunters?” she asked taking a step forward staying on guard because if her accusations were true this would be pretty lengthy fight, she didn’t know why but this person or demon put her on edge.

Samantha Trainer

@Ellion @Deos Morran @13org @shagranoz @Rune_Alchemist @WeepingLiberty
[@Every hunter near Seren's Folly]

Sucking her teeth in a little annoyed she was found out, good thing it was just a witch, but this one seemed like a goody good, but hopefully, she wouldn’t get ratted out being that had zero plans on helping the hunters. After selling her wares to the innocent people in the bubble and pulling someone out as a ‘live demonstration’ also to pick his pocket for more money.
“Come hunters witness the power of this potion!” she yelled, trying to get her voice over the sound of metal clashing with one another and shouting, hunters did love to shout for some reason.

With some convincing she talked the villager with no combat experience into punching a random gnome, using some wind magic to slice its head off when his fist met it “Such power!” she shouted with surprise sending the villager into battle but keeping him close so she could easily use these feats. The villager grabbed a gnome, and with earth magic he ‘threw’ it into the air, then jumped to meet it with his fists. “Such grace!” she yelled, putting her hands on her cheeks in surprise, this entire thing looked so fake any witch watching from the sidelines were probably laughing.