VitaVitaAR

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

@LucidRain: Well, you need a solid character concept to start with.

Maybe a hundi who's distant from his family and ended up pursuing a trickier, more rogueish lifestyle.

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Heir to the Konpaku

The moment the door to the smaller structure opens, I wrinkle my nose. There's a strange scent, acrid and chemical, assaulting my senses immediately. It's not intolerable, but it's certainly not pleasant.

As I follow Fujiwara-san inside, I can see why immediately.

On a large table, a corpse has been stretched. It's a young man, his body looking withered but without decay. I don't know much about these things, but I guess he's probably been preserved in some way.

That's only a small solace, given the fact that his entire torso has been cut open, dry flesh pinned aside, to reveal his completely emptied insides.

I can't help but step back, recoiling from the sight. It's not as if the use of corpses is surprising given it's Kaku Seiga, but I can't help but feel a wave of nausea, my stomach turning.

"Ergh, it's---" I place a hand over my mouth and try to clear my head, taking a deep breath. Whatever preservative agent is in the dead body has at least eliminated whatever scent it would be putting off. The chemical smell isn't pleasant, but it's better then the smell of death.

Aside from the obvious sight of the corpse, there's a number of other items in the chinese Necromancer's workshop. A large jar, with some faint sounds coming from inside and the top tightly sealed. A large number of scrolls and books neatly stacked on counterspace around the center. A collection of rods of wood and steel, with a faint light surrounding their tips, leaning off to one side. A large sack that looks as if it's filled with coins.

And---

I take another step back. I'd been distracted by the vivisected corpse, but there's something even more ominous than that here.

Surrounded by a few talismans is a perfect sphere that appears to be made out of a pitch-black glass. Looking at it sends a chill up my spin, my phantom half twitching back and forth beside me.

It's not simply that all these items are stolen, because there's no doubt in my mind that someone was wicked as Kaku Seiga has spent plenty of time stealing since she arrived here.

It's that there's a heavy sense of malignancy hanging in the air all around me.

And the darkest point is that head-sized jewel.

"... This is..." I trail off, "Maybe I should have expected something like this..."

@Raineh Daze@FujiwaraPhoenix

---

The Wandering Cat

The blue-haired woman had been uncharacteristically quiet and withdrawn in the presence of one of Sanae's gods. However, the moment she disappeared, she stepped forward once more.

"I'm a little queasy, that curse was certainly unpleasant," she began, with a casual wave of her hand. If she was in more pain then she appeared, it was difficult to tell.

"But I'm quite alright, now," she continued with a friendly smile, "There's no need to be concerned. Mmm, but I should properly introduce myself, shouldn't I..."

The somewhat ethereal-seeming woman bowed.

"While Qing'e is my name, that miko would know me far better as Kaku Seiga," she began as she rose to her feet, "I am ahermit who follows the Tao, and the one responsible for your victory. I expect thanks, you know~"

The smirk she flashed towards Sanae was something she could never have managed in the presence of Yasaka Kanako, but with the god's departure she felt perfectly confident in doing so.

In the moments after the oiran ghost's defeat, their surroundings had shifted once more. This time, there was no longer any fire, nor any signs of an open street. If anything, it felt rather cool.

Instead, it was a dusty, dark basement. Perhaps that was what had always been there, in reality.

The gory mess that had been left behind by the ghost's defeat had disappeared completely, as well, without a trace.

"... Mmm, unfortunate, it's as if her presence has been pulled away elsewhere," commented Seiga, frowning, now, "Harnessing the abilities of such a powerful ghost would have been a lovely reward for our public service in her removal."

She let out a sigh.

"Oh well. I'm sure whoever has her bound is happy to have her back. Now then---"

The needle between her right forefinger and thumb gleamed.

"Kochiya still seems a little bit unsteady. I can help clear the remains of the curse more quickly, you know, though we'll have to return to my Senkai. It won't take long, and I'm sure a mage like yourself must be curious what a 'Senkai' is, are you not, Rayne?"

Exactly how a quick return would be possible was something of a mystery, at least until Seiga dragged the tip of her needle in a circular motion against the nearest wall.

In an instant, the solid wood and stone disappeared, a hole appearing immediately to form a passage through the earth.

"Come along~"

@DracoLunaris@FujiwaraPhoenix

---

The Scarlet Devil

---Tch.

Rotten. Everything here is rotten. Even these bull-beasts, despite looking fairly intact, have a faint rotten odor coming from them and no audible breath or beating heart. At this point, I'd have taken the chance if they were still alive despite their inhuman nature.

But I'd never allow rotten blood to pass my lips.

The tarnished silver of a halberd's blade comes hurtling towards me.

Right now, I don't have the power to block. As frustrating as it is, I don't have any choice but move.

The air rushes past me, cut by the edge of the undead bull-beast's weapon as I throw myself backwards. If I were properly fed, I have no doubt I'd overpower these creatures if I had to resort to using my bare hands.

But I'm hardly interested in touching them, even putting aside the fact that I don't have the energy to do it without being injured.

But feeding on that Hourai Immortal did give me enough power for something like this.

I stretch out my right arm as my feet hit the ground, channeling heat down through it and into my palm.

It won't be its true splendor. It won't be the weapon worthy of the Scarlet Devil. But it'll be enough for this much, at least.

A crimson light emerges from my palm, twisting and curling itself inwards before pushing back out into a single, needle-like point.

With a flick of my wrist I send it hurtling through the air with a crack and a scent of iron. It illuminates the tunnel for a few moments, casting everything in a red glow before striking the foremost of the undead minotaurs in the right shoulder. Living flesh can't possibly resist it, so dead flesh certainly can't.

It tears free, blowing through skin and muscle and bone and emerging from the other side, the weight of the muscular limb tearing through the tiny strands of flesh that remain and sending it falling to the ground with a full thud.

---I'd have liked to hit the head, but for now this is good enough. I'll just take---Behind?

Hmph, this person really is a coward!"

I turn on my heel. My acting maid is concealing the young fairy girl with her body as a blackened ooze flies through the air towards her.

Is everything down here about being dark and ugly and mouldy and foul?!

I channel red light through my arm and into my palm again, releasing it as swiftly as possible and sending it through the dark muck, scattering it across the stone floor.

I'm not about to let any harm come to the ones fighting alongside me, not if I can help it. And I'm certainly not going to let that girl get hurt.

What kind of self-respecting noble would slack off so much as to be unable to help?

"A big, stupid coward!"

I can't help but complain.

"Sending corpses after us, attacking from behind---And this completely rotten sense of style! I hate it, I hate all of it!"

Before they die, I'll give them a piece of my mind when we find them.

@Drifting Pollen@Lugubrious@Rezod92

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

It was impossible not to be frustrated. The fact that Lady Neve couldn't join them was already one layer of annoyance on top of many others, but far more frustrating was how two of the Grovemasters appeared to have no intention of listening to them properly from the very start. While heroes frequently faced unexpected setbacks, Robin couldn't deny that actually facing such stubborn opposition to the very people who were intending to help them had taken her off-guard.

But---

One of the Grovemasters really did believe them, or at least was willing to give them a chance. That was what she would hold on to.

After all, Heroes did sometimes face unexpected and frustrating setbacks on their quests. And she felt confident she could face this Trial of Tides down and overcome it alongside the others.

And then she'd be able to prove to even the most stubborn of the three that they were really there to help!

...

What was the Trial of Tides, anyway? It wasn't anything Robin had ever heard of, off the top of her head.

"... Does anyone have a guess at what this Trial might be?" she found herself suddenly musing aloud. The swordswoman hadn't exactly intended to say what she was thinking so loudly, but she couldn't help her curiosity. As frustrating as it was, the 'Trial of Tides' was something of a legendary-seeming name. So, it was likely it had some kind of history, even if she'd never heard of it before.

At least, that's what Robin would have expected. If nothing else, it was possible one of the others might have heard of it before. And, they might be able to give some idea of what they should expect.

If not, well, it didn't really hurt to ask anyway, did it?

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

It was true, her training didn't exactly prepare her for negotiating with the fae, especially a powerful unseelie. They were so very unpredictable, and possessed abilities that were difficult to understand at the best of times.

Allowing Sir Fionn to do a lot of the work here was probably their best path to victory.

"You're right, Sir Fionn's experience here is probably one of our greatest tools," she responded with a nod. Lady Fiadh as proof, after all.

"Oh, I don't know for sure, but if you want to sneak in to talk you don't need someone important! Someone important would be nicest, they could do it all on their own, but if you get enough of the local fae, they could get us in! I help to do that sometimes, it's fun to set up surprises," the green figure said with an authoritative nod, "Or you could break in! But that would be hard. You need a special spell for it, otherwise you'd be aiming, and all you'd do is make a hole in the forest."

"I don't think I need to elaborate much, but she's right," Arken added, "A strong enough mage can penetrate a fae realm, but that kind of aggressive action might ruin our chance of regaining the Duke's wits."

He let out a heavy sigh.

"Fae are so very difficult to deal with. If it truly comes to it, the full might of the college might be required, but for now I'll place faith on negotiations."

The path forward was relatively clear, as far as Fanilly was concerned. Something that she was thankful for, when it came to dealing with such bizarre circumstances. They needed to seek the assistance of either many local fae, or a single powerful one, in order to enter the Moonlit Queen's fae realm and treat with her. Ideally, they would find some path to regaining the Duke's wits without any kind of fight.

But there was one more thing they needed first.

"Lady Fiadh, Lord Arken," Fanilly began, "Can you help us pinpoint the location of the fae realm?"

---

The answer was, of course, yes.

Fiadh was a niyar, so she was at relatively low-risk navigating a forest on her own, that much was true. And Lord Arken was the court mage.

But it still made little sense to simply abandon them to whatever could be roaming in the deeper Brennan Forest regardless.

The change in scenery from the friendly surroundings of the town to the darker, deeper portions of the forest was rather stark. Here the trees grew taller, and in the slowly-decreasingly light the shadows were growing longer and deeper. The branches above stretched overhead, forming a ceiling of leaf and wood that obscured all but the bare minimum view of Reon's light.

It was a somewhat unsettling atmosphere. Tales of headless riders who hunted travelers were a favorite amount the various stories told about the deeper parts of Brennan Forest. Strange disappearances, unfriendly spirits, and all manner of creatures were said to dwell within such places.

But as Knight-Captain, Fanilly could not, would not, allow old ghost stories to influence her heart.

They had a duty to the crown to fulfill.

It was by Lady Fiadh's guidance they'd come this far, with Lord Arken's assistance to verify her direction. With Sir Gerard's party scouting a different locale, this allowed them to cover a considerable area. Given that the Moonlit Queen was apparently a 'neighbor' or some sort it was somewhat hopeful that the fae realm they sought would not be even deeper and more distant in the forest.

She took a deep breath.

The atmosphere had only grown stranger since they entered. Something about this place was making a tingle run up and down the Knight-Captain's spine that couldn't be attributed to simple unease. The trees seemed to grow more twisted and gnarled, here. And---

Fanilly paused.

"Close formation. Form a barrier around Lady Fiadh and Lord Arken," she ordered, her right hand wrapping its fingers around the hilt of her sword.

It wasn't just a trick of the fading light. It wasn't just the atmosphere getting her.

It was typical to start seeing patterns where they were not when one was uneasy.

But the gnarled faces upon the nearby trees were more than that.

This sensation of being watched wasn't merely the symptoms of an anxious heart.

"And here I thought I was the only one who felt it, but it looks like you don't need my warning," commented Arken, raising his hand. As he spoke, his bag opened, and the black shape that emerged unfurled into a orichalcum-tipped rod of wood.

The air itself had already become heavier.

Something else was here.

---

Despite Dame Yael's misgigivings, the walk to Thomlin's rest was uneventful.

The white tree that had stood since Duke Thomlin's heroic death remained, tall and resilient, marking the location. It was otherwise somewhat sparse, but the aessyr(still devouring the pastry) pointed just beyond it, deeper into the forest.

It was here that shadows began to grow longer, but given the place was apparently frequented by the miniscule fae, it was unlikely it was normally so very dangerous.

However---

Past Thomlin's Rest, the forest's atmosphere seemed to shift. At first, as the knights passed back into the denser foliage, it was merely a heaviness. An additional weight upon their shoulders, as if the air itself had grown thicker.

But it wasn't just that, now. The denseness of the air was being accompanied by a deepening of the shadows. While the light was fading, yes, it was not yet dark.

Yet, the shadows now seemed almost pitch black, stretching light groping hands outwards. By this point, the uneasy aessyr who had been leading the way now drifted back, getting closer to Sir Gerard and growing increasingly silent.

The thick darkness only grew thicker. The weight of the air only grew heavier.

But now, there was a new sensation. A strange, gnawing feeling, an emptiness that permeated the forest.

It was as if the air itself was hungry.

"... H-here..."

The aessyr had now situated herself on Sir Gerard's shoulder, huddled as close as she could.

Fae homes were unusual. While fae realms could only be created by the most powerful of fairies, something similar could occur with the weaker forms as well.

Particularly, in the creation of their housing. A large and old tree, for example, could become a home for aessyr. Despite no construction taking place, a space could be created inside with an entrance visible only when desired, furnished with items of interest to the diminutive fairies.

That appeared to be the case here, if this tree represented the aessyr's home.

But one of its largest branches had been torn, ripping bark and wood free and casting it to the ground. Some of the bark appeared withered and dry, despite the fact the damage had to have occurred recently. A number of shining coins, a thimble, a ring, several shiny stones, and many other items lay scattered across the ground nearby. They were surrounded by patches of blackened, wilted plants and dead grass.

While no home was visible, it was clear this was where the aessyr had lived.

It was the site of the attack.

"... Whatever it was, it was strong," Sir Caulder mused, grimly, approaching the limb, "This is an old tree, but the branch was torn down so easily. And this atmosphere..."

The aessyr was hugging herself tightly, now.

"Th-that's... it's just like when it came, everything feels hungry..." she half-murmured, "And then it swallowed up Enfys, and... and---"

She cut herself off and froze when the leaves above rustled.

Something was moving above. As it moved, brown, dead leaves drifted to the ground.

It was descending.

The shape that emerged was far larger then even a huge horse, at least in overall length and height. But its black body was emaciated, excessively thin, ribcage visible through its stretched flesh. Its long, grasping limbs navigated down the tree, bark drying and dying with its touch as if the life was being drained away from it. The further it descended, the more it became clear just how long the creature was, with at least five pairs of lengthy, grasping limbs lining its body and more likely further up in the withering tree.

Its head was elongated and broad, its mouth unnaturally wide to an almost absurd degree, with small white eyes near the very tip of its upper jaw.

As it approached the knights, its maw gaped open. It was lined with thousands of tiny, needle-like teeth, but aside from that was its jaw stretched wider and wider all that could be seen was darkness.

That gnawing, desperate hunger in the dark atmosphere suddenly made sense.

A monster of gluttony was here, an unnatural and twisted creature that always hungered and could never be satisfied.

From its open maw, shadow, human-like hands began to emerge, perched on spindly black arms. They stretched towards the knights and the panicked aessyr.

The Gannek's drive to devour was unceasing.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

Well, she's right, but who aside from the Septims could lay claim to that capability in these modern times? It's not as if there's any Dragonborn running around willy-nilly at the moment---

It's mostly just a brief history/theology lesson. I guess whoever this elf is, she's really into that sort of thing. At least she's not trying to take the Amulet from me.

But, is she really suggesting... chosen? No, there's absolutely no way. It's by pure chance that I was there at the right time. Despite that, I have to fulfill the duty given to me. The stakes are so high I can barely wrap my mind around them, after all.

"I-I'm not that we-"

It's at this very moment that my stomach chooses to growl.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

I knew there was no point in trying to hide it.

Not with this strange elf seemingly knowing everything. I can't help but sigh a little to myself, though. I'd hoped that I could have kept it concealed, but there's really no hope of that with this lady, is there?

"Wh---"

Before I can speak, she asks a question that comes completely out of left field.

Putting it on?

Why would I ever try that? It's not as if I'm anything close to related to the Emperor. I don't even know who my parents were, but they certainly weren't nobility or even close to it. I can tell that much.

What would the point be in me attempting to wear the Amulet of Kings when only Septims can wear it?

"O-of course not," I reply, her question nearly setting me off balance not just mentally, but physically as well, "Why would I bother? Do I look like a Septim to you?"

Really---

Why would I even waste my time on it?

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

Well, it's not as if it wasn't obvious.

The mental image of the Emperor's death scrolls through my mind once more. To be honest, it seems like some sort of terrible illusion then anything. But I witnessed it, no doubt.

The Dragonfires hadn't even entered my mind until now. What's about to happen?

I shake my head, sucking in a deep breath and clearing my thoughts as much as I can manage. My survival---

Is there any point in trying to mislead her? She clearly knows everything that's already happened. Lying to her seems stupid more than anything.

I have to keep the Amulet of Kings safe, but dying here because I refuse to tell the truth doesn't help me do that.

I'm perfectly aware of what will happen if she attacks, but at least I can go down fighting if I have to.

I'd really rather not, though.

"---I... The Emperor's guard entrusted me with something precious. I have to deliver it."

I can't bring myself to be more direct. But at the same time, I'm certain she'll guess what it is that I'm carrying.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

---It wasn't as if she was here from the start. She didn't know the very roots of this situation. But she'd been here long enough to know exactly what would happen if no actions were taken.

Robin took a deep breath.

She'd never been in this sort of situation before. Prior to now, her acts had largely been without any sort of pushback or resistance. Alone, she'd took up the pleas of those in need and struck down bandits and monsters who were at the root of their suffering. Together with this party, she'd fought at the behest of those who needed it most.

But here---

These were the ones who needed that help. Everyone in their nation needed that help. But they were resisting it? Wouldn't such a dire possibility warrant action as swiftly as possible? Wasn't there enough proof already?

"If they're not stopped," she began, "Your people will suffer. So many people are going to die. These beautiful forests---"

The boat ride here had been surrounded with a sort of beauty she'd never experienced before. Surely, she love the natural lands of her home nation, but this was different. The dense jungle filled with exotic cries, with flowers and fruits she'd never set eyes on before, had been nothing short of a wonder.

"---will be razed and destroyed. And it won't stop there, they'd drain everything they can, they'll bleed your nation and its people dry. I can't allow that. I want to draw my sword for your people's sake. So please, heed the words of my companions so we can put a stop to this!"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fanilly took a deep breath.

She couldn't exactly deny Lady Gertrude's words, as frustrating as they were. She was scared. They had to do something, but a fae realm sounded far beyond anything they'd encountered before.

At the same time---

This wasn't a battle. At least, their approach to the fae realm and this 'Moonlit Queen' wouldn't be. It was obvious this had to be approached not with violence, but with diplomacy. They would have to negotiate for the return of the Duke's wits, as opposed to fight for them.

If they tried to approach this in the wrong way, there was no telling what could happen. Stories of dangerous fae told of disappearances, strange transformations, the replacement of memories or simply mass confusion and scattering across the wilds.

None of that could be allowed to happen.

The Knight-Captain took a deep breath.

"We have no choice but to approach this as diplomats," she began, pushing her fears away into the back of her mind, "I agree. Perhaps... Sir Fionn and myself should take the lead in that regard."

While Sir Fionn did not have any sort of diplomatic training, his knowledge and relationships with the fae(exemplified by Lady Fiadh) seemed like a wise choice for some form of negotiation at the very least. As for herself, Fanilly recalled the more diplomatic side of her training fairly well.

Between the two of them, maybe---

"Er..."

Lady Fiadh herself... maybe she could work as diplomat?

"It's... a sort of person who helps one group talk to another so the situation ends favorably for both of groups."

It was the best simple explanation she could think of for the term.

Arken cleared his throat.

"While diplomacy is surely the right course, Sir Renar brings up an excellent point," he began, "The assistance of another fae of somewhat suitable power would be greatly preferred to trying to break into a fae realm on our own."

Of course. The diplomacy hardly mattered if they couldn't get into the fae realm in the first place.

"Of course, that necessitates finding such assistance, and convincing them to help," he continued, "All of which are, of course, incredibly easy tasks."

---

Though the look of concern was plain on Yael's face, she didn't say anything else after the aessyr's insistence.

The fairy paused for a few moments.

"It's... back that way!"

She turned, pointing back over her shoulder, towards the grove that she'd emerged from.

A metallic sigh emanated from beneath Sir Caulder's helmet.

"You may know your way around the forest, aessyr, but we certainly don't," he said. Despite his initial hostile reaction to the fairy's appearance, a hint of a more gentle tone could be heard underlying his somewhat gruff words, "It would help if you could tell us if there were any landmarks nearby, perhaps. Something we might recognize."

The tiny girl blinked, then her gaze drifted downwards.

"Um... u-um..." she fidgeted in the air for a few moments, her wings humming, "Um... o-oh! It's... it's... That Sleep place! Humans call it the sleep place! It's right by there!"

'That sleep place' was probably not particularly helpful.

However, there was a location that wasn't so distant from here that could potentially have been where the aessyr meant. Thomlin's Rest was a well-known location within Brennan Forest, known for it being the resting place of Duke Thomlin, who perished from his wounds after slaying an orc chieftan.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

... It's bright.

It's hard to really explain how bright it is. It's something I hadn't really prepared for after scrambling in the darkness. I'm drenched in sweat, and probably other things as well. I'm sure there's plenty of red stains on my ragged clothing.

---It doesn't really make sense how I got here. That mistake that imprisoned me in the first place was just a mess, to be honest, the sort of thing that never should have happened and yet unfortunately did.

But things have changed so drastically, so quickly.

The Emperor came before me. The Emperor died before me.

And he left it behind, the crimson, warm gem wrapped in cloth. The unmistakable Amulet of Kings.

It doesn't make sense. It truly, truly doesn't.

But I'm here. There's been far too much reality to claim it's a mere dream.

The stains on the edge of my dagger are certainly, abundantly, very real.

And so is this person standing before me. I'm glad she's not one of those assassins, even if I wasn't about to simply let her have her way if she was.

To be honest, she's someone far more worrying then that. I have no idea what kind of elf she is. Half high elf, half dark, maybe? Possibly? But I'm not sure if that even makes sense looking at her now. It feels like she's trying to look through me, too.

---She's definitely not one of the assassins. She's far, far more dangerous than that.

That blade on her hip is something I only vaguely recognize, a weapon far surpassing anything that any warrior I've ever seen could hope to wield. The staff, too, makes it eminently clear that it's not just a blade I'd have to worry about---

If she wants to kill me, it's going to happen. I hate admitting it to myself, but there's no way I'd survive if she wanted to simply end my life.

But she's not doing so.

She's clearly here to meet the Emperor. Well, I have bad news for her if that's the case. Bad news for everyone.

I don't know what to say. I can't exactly just blurt out that the Emperor is dead, can I? I can barely even grasp that fact myself.

"... There's..."

I take a deep breath.

"---Th-the Emperor is... no longer... around."

---Brilliant. Excellent way to try and explain what's going on, Vivienne. Truly, you are a mistress of words, skilled in delivering vital information gently, carefully, and with discretion.