DearTrickster

The Elder Scrolls: Vengeance of the Deep

4th of Second Seed, 4E208 - Skingrad

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Judena wasn’t overly bothered by the days of travel, tired much like everyone else by the time they arrived to Skingrad. Using the promise of a soft bed to give herself something to look forward to. She tried day in and day out to do her best to remain informed while sensitive. Her memory naturally gaped on the events of the Imperial City. Each day she awoke to a heavy heart, unsure why until confirmed with her logs. Eventually her mood would brighten with the rising sun, keeping strides with some of the personalities she had grown fond of in their little group. Their youthful energy, ideas, and thoughts helped the time pass easily.

They even took a moment to wish her happy name day, she was warmed by the acknowledgment and their sharp memories.

Brynja, whom she finally nailed her name reliably, helped her with preparing their evening fires. The nordic healer was stronger than the majority of their group they saved plenty of time with wood collection, able to hold several logs in her strong arms at once. It allowed for Judena to prepare each meal quickly. Meg was patient in reminding her where they were heading or pulling her back if she wondered too far from their troop. Alim’s easy charm and stories were a comfort at the nightly campfire. Even Raeylnn’s company was pleasant, she tried her best to help her feel welcome in their little group. It was difficult to judge how well Raeylnn took Judena’s mistakes in pronouncing her name, having never said a word. They were strange iterations, like trying to get the attention of a Ryon, Riley, and Ragala.

Even Jude wondered how and where such inventive names came from.

She was pleased to travel without the dreary altmer Durantel, but she was concerned for Anifaire and even the stoic Solandil. The young Altmer woman was reserved but at least not outwardly rude, she would have been valuable to speak to for observations notes in regards to the Dwemer. While Solandil was the odd one out, they hadn’t spoken more than two words between each other. She hoped for his safety as well.

In Gaius she shared their woeful feelings of the Imperial City. It was his home and where he had his family. She fell asleep peacefully when he was on watch, trusting the imperial soldier’s vigilance.

Slowly, she approached Daro’Vasora lightly at first and trying not to treat her differently than before. Her empathy renewed each day for her friend. Jude knew she’d resent it if she walked on eggshells around her. She was careful nonetheless, wishing only to give her space to grieve.

Now more strongly than ever did Judena believe in Rhea. She kept her chin up, marched and led them away from the city. It was no easy feat and the argonian did not envy her of her current position, shouldering responsibility for their survival. She held faith in the charismatic imperial woman.

While the dynamics of travelling with the group was sufficient distraction, Jude was pulled back to the letters nestled in her backpack unopened. Curiously lifting them up to the sun to read through the parchment but barely able to read a word. Tempted several times to read them but instead rereading her oldest logbook, revisiting why it would be a bad idea to acknowledge whatever her ex-wife may have written. There was no trusting her seemingly sweet and sincere words. But what would the purpose of bringing the letters with her be even if she still didn’t read them? Valuable space taken up in her pack that could be made for something more important.

Conflicted, the argonian was conflicted. She rarely found herself feeling this way, she believed she had long moved past their separation. The letters were there, threatening to reopen an old and healed scar. She resolved to get an outside opinion on the matter, perhaps she was in need of some perspective.

When they arrived to Skingrad, it was clear they were not the only ones in dire need of a safe haven. The refugee crisis was at the city’s gates. Rhea returned with some options, offering up the chance for others to move on if they so pleased. Judena saw no sense in splitting, she trusted in them.She maintained she did well with them regardless of the danger that seemed to follow them like a bad raincloud. Strangers were far more risky or carrying on alone.

Judena stepped up beside Rhea smiling down at their leader, “I am sticking with this group, I maintain that we are best suited together than apart. I would like to volunteer to resupply our foodstocks. Fishing, looking for vegetation. Unfortunately I would hinder a sneaky attempt into the city, I am difficult to hide.” She held up her pack, “However, I would trust some of my valuables for bribery to the right person. Someone who can haggle. I saved them for just this sort of occasion, it would relieve some of my pack space for more food.”

“I would also ask if someone were to be so kind to accompany me, as you are all aware I am far more reliable with a spotter. If you are weary from the journey please know I do not mind taking up the brunt of the work, all I ask is for your help to keep me on track.”

Her eyes turned to the side, squinting at the strange but unique make up of three tall Altmers heading their way. Solandil, Anifaire and begrudgingly Durantel in tow. Judena grimaced. “It seems we are rejoined by Durantel, Anifaire and Solandil once again. How… wonderful.” Her tone of voice was strange, almost akin to sarcasm.

While she was pleased to see Anifaire and by extension Solandil, she had grown used to being free of Durantel’s sharp tongue and glares.

“Fortune is with us on this day.”

The Elder Scrolls: Vengeance of the Deep

Working on my post! Judena will volunteer to help find supplies and restock but offer some of her valuables to bribe whoever may be trying to get into the city.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 2 (Completed)

7th of Last Seed - Aboard the Kyne’s Tear
_{@Gcold & @Macabrefox & @DearTrickster}

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Maj had found herself below decks when the Kyne’s Tear pulled into the safety of the cove. Unperturbed by the storm, trusting the sailors to their jobs she swung in her hammock trying to grab a few winks of sleep. Claps of thunder followed by the explosive force from the giant jellyfish would knock the strongest of sea legs out from under a sailor, for Maj her hammock swung her clear out of it and to the floor. She landed with a grunt and thud. More calls for an attack from above spread throughout the ship, the dunmer siblings rushed past her she grabbed her cloak climbing the stairs arriving in time to see the ship pierced with chains from the dwemer airship above.

The Golden Slug! She heard rumours, sailors and the Corsair Republic believed the tall tales. More thunder on the back of a roaring undead werewolf landing on one of the sailors. She winced at the sight, terrible luck. Members of the company were upon it ready to fight. The werewolf was accompanied by land dreughs, tall full of piss and vinegar ready to tear into anyone who got close.

Maj decided the airship was the real priority and others agreed taking to climbing the chains, Maj ran from the fight looking for more of what caused the initial explosion. She looked to the water for mines but instead saw giant jellyfish. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Ariane, waving her over.

“Miss Fontaine! The jellyfish, did they cause the explosion?!” She shouted over the rabble of the storm and fight.

Soaking wet with rainwater and seawater, Ariane did not dare wasting her magicka repelling any form of water, not when monsters started dropping down the airship. She was scurrying about the upper deck when Maj Noor finally made her appearance. Ariane waved her assistant to the port side railings, carefully leaning over and pointing to where the jellyfish explosion impact the ship.

“Yes, right there.” Ariane gestured at a dent on the Tear frontal armor. Thankfully, it was just a large dent, without leak. She shifted her hand to point at a reddish blob almost touching the ship’s hull. “You see the color taint? It is an explosion enchantment under a thin film of insulation. It is just like the Golden Slug to magically alter sea life.”

Maj considered the strange properties of the mythical ship, peering down at the jellyfish swiping wet hair from her face.

“Given your past...qualifications, Miss Noor, I believe we can retrieve a few of explosive jellyfishes intact.” Ariane proposed. She turned to face the Redguard, seeing uncertainty on Maj’s features not too different from her own.

A sudden gust of wind scooped up water towards the two of them. Ariane was fully splashed, her hood thrown off and herself nearing falling overboard if not for her assistant catching her in time. The Breton muttered thanks under her breath, then wiped water away from her eyes with the back of her arm. She stood up again, wishing for a warm, toasty fire. Not even five seconds later, she got her wish, in the form of Niernen’s missing fireball.

“Watch out!” Ariane warned. She quickly placed her hand over Maj’s shoulder and ducked them both down. The spell flew over them harmlessly, but it also flew over the dreughs harmlessly.

Having both saved each other’s life, Ariane decided that they had a good bonding experience. She stayed down in a kneeling position to avoid the drawing attention from the monsters, and urged Maj to do the same. She was not a stealthy person, and neither did her assistant look like one. But it never hurt to stay out of harm's way, and keep the gunwale between themselves and the waves.

Crouching down listening to her fellow mage immediately grateful for missing Niernen’s shot, rubbing singed hair between her thumb and forefinger. Maj frowned. Fire magic in the hands of an expert wouldn’t let a storm slow them down.

“As I was saying earlier, these jellyfishes allow our climbers to destroy the Golden Slug’s airship by detonating volatile gases onboard.” Ariane explained, trying to maintain calm in her voice, but a bit of nervousness was unmistakable.

“We need those for catching,” Ariane indicated to several poles with hooks near the mast; they were probably used to manipulate sails, “and nets for transporting, which our lead scout should have, if we can find her.”

After seeing Do’Karth off, Sevine scanned the deck where she spotted the huddled figures of Ariane and Maj. Were they hurt? She crossed the deck unscathed as most of the dreughs were locked in combat with the other mercenaries and sailors. She slid into a crouch beside them.

“Are any of you injured?” Her gaze sweeping over them, but didn’t see any blood.

“No.” Maj said, peering up at Sevine the lead scout. Drenched through as Ariane and Maj were.

“No.” Ariane said as well. She didn’t feel injured, that was until she wiped off her eyes again. Her eyeliner was all smeared up by the water; she should have applied some water-resistant enchantment. She looked at the mix of colors now on her palm, and decided to wipe it off on the back of Sevine’s shirt when she turned her attention to Maj. “Well, kind of. I’m fine now.”

“Do you have the nets? Those that Edith gave you before we left.” Ariane questioned. “We need them now.”

“I do.” She said with a nod, “Why do you need them?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Ariane replied. She didn’t think this Nord would understand anyways.

Sevine frowned, “Well I am worrying about it.” She huffed, but did as asked. She scurried across the deck and down the stairs. She had stashed the nets Edith gave her in a barrel underneath the staircase. She pulled them out, and returned to Maj and Ariane before she was apprehended.

“Here.” She said, her hands moving quickly to unfurl and separate the nets.

“You’re gonna need my help with whatever plan you’re not telling me, especially if you plan on trapping or catching. I did that my whole life growing up. So what are we catching?” She rocked back onto her heels, looking Ariane square in the face.

Ariane stared up puzzly at Sevine, partly because of her insistence and partly because of her complete disregard for her own safety in the middle of a chaotic battle. She sighed, and supposed the Huntress could be of some, if not much, help.

“These.” She stood up and pointed over the railing. Instead of the jellyfish she spotted minutes ago, they were now in a different patch of the lagoon. However, another one was close by. “No, that, the jellyfish, you see it?”

“Aye.”

“We are going to grab some with the hooked poles and load them into nets.” Ariane explained. It would take a long time to convince the simple mind underneath this mess of red hair, which meant, the short and simple answer. “Just make sure you handle the white parts, not the red parts. Bad things happen with the red. Understood?” She explained like she would to a child.

Sevine gave her a long side glance before nodding, “I’m not an idiot.” She stood up, “Let’s do this.”

“Simple enough! Gently bag up some jellyfish and hurl them to the airship. The faster we can incapacitate the Golden Slug the faster we can end this.” Maj said grabbing a pole. “I’ll go first, it’ll be just like catching fish in a barrel.”

“Alright, be careful.” Ariane cautioned Maj. Turning to Sevine, she continued to utter caution. “Observe carefully.”

Easing close to the railing Maj planted her feet, relying on her sure sealegs. Dipping the pole over the edge and into the water, it became increasingly clear how little control she really had over it. She stuck her tongue out, talked herself through it. “I ain’t a fisher or hunter, but how hard could it be to catch something giant, slow and squishy?” She edged closer to the jellyfish, translucent with the red magicka. “What sort of properties does the Golden Slug even possess? My gold is on some ancient dwemer technology mixing with scary big-”

“I’ve read Nord tales stating the Golden Slug is a millennium old sorcerer, and that it supposedly lived on lost islands with infernal machines before taking to the skies of Tamriel.” Conjectured Ariane. Truth be told, the sources themselves were inconsistent. “Some say the Golden Slugs plays with the organs of naughty children...” Ariane let herself trail off, not wanting to distract Maj’s fishing adventure with the gruesome details. In the meantime, she cast a stoneflesh spell on herself, just in case a dreugh gets too close for comfort.

The jellyfish inched a little out of her reach and the pole swung, tugging on a tentacle. “Fuck these slippery bastards.” Maj snarled, continuing her thought as she stared down the jellyfish, “Big soul gems have to be powering that flying contraption. I really want to see for myself-!” Wrapping the pointed hook around a tentacle she tugged excitedly. Too excitedly, the jellyfish came floating far faster than she was prepared for.

“I believe the soul gem theory is just an invention to scare children; misbehave and lose your soul to the flying bogeyman.” Ariane continued her conjecture. At this point, the Kyne’s Tear was being dragged in further, and faster, into the cove. Their floating catch drifted away faster than they liked. “Try hooking the underside, it-”

“No no no no-”

Desperately trying to untangle the jellyfish, it dangerously approached the hull, “No, stop!” Unable to wriggle free Maj threw the pole away into the water in a panic redirecting it in the opposite direction. The weight of the pole slowed it down, coming to a gentle stop. She winced.

“Well, we can now safely assume jellyfish hunting is not in my skill set.”

Not deterred by Maj’s failure, Ariane grabbed a pole and tried it out herself. Eyes narrowed and hands tightening around the pole, Ariane focused on blocking out the uncomfortable downpour. She started the same way Maj did; catching a white tentacle with the metal hook. As expected, the tentacle refused to stay on the hook and quickly slipped off. The Breton shifted her pole to one of her hand, while the other lit up a feather spell. It would make the jellyfish lighter, and requiring less effort drag in. Speaking of dragging in, Ariane somehow knew the bottom was the best place to drag with. It had just enough membrane for the metal to bite and hold onto. So that was what Ariane did.

“See.” She told Maj and Sevine. No doubt Maj would catch on, but it would be better showing the lead scout directly than explaining this intricate maneuver to her.

So far so good; now it was just a matter of reeling in. As Ariane began pulling the pole back, she forgot to account for her own feather spell. What was intended as a short tug became a long yank. The now feathered jellyfish came up and out, and at the same time, its soft underbelly slid further into the hook. Ariane’s face lit up with joy, but a split second later, it turned to shock.

The hook pierced into the red jelly core; the jellyfish exploded.

The resulting explosion cracked the pole in two. Before Ariane could react, explosive force was returning the severed metal hook back to sender. With a gasp and a sharp clink, the hook flew straight into her forehead. Her head rang, wind followed behind her and Ariane fell onto her back, ringing her head a second time from the rear. The other women couldn’t catch her on time, or in Sevine’s case, maybe she didn’t want to. The only thing saving Ariane from a nasty concussion was the stoneskin spell from earlier.

“Uuuhhhh.” Slurred Ariane. She laid there on the cold hard deck, watching the world above dance in a numbing figure eight. “Not in my skill set either...”

Maj turned to Sevine, trying to not laugh. She humbly nodded, “I believe in you. Don’t underestimate them.”

She bent down offering a hand to help Ariane up, “We can be ready to help with the net instead. There’s no messing up throwing that.”

“Ri, right, neck, next, net...” Ariane slowly accepted the hand, rubbing the nasty welt on her forehead the same time.

Sevine stared wide eyed at the two women, mostly Ariane, before shaking her head in disbelief, “You know, I did say that I’ve trapped my whole life.” She stooped to pick up the net, and quickly secured it to the hook on the pole. It would allow her to scoop up the jellyfish. Just a few strips of cloth from her tunic, double knotted, and… presto.

“Watch my back.” Sevine said, glancing over her shoulder at Maj and Ariane one last time, and the lowered the pole into the water.

She had found her mark, a particularly decent sized jellyfish floating in the water. She wasn’t sure if they had eyes, or brains for that matter, but she needed all of the stealth to snag the creature. If others were watching her, they might think her crazy for trying to snag a jellyfish in the midst of a battle. Her focus was elsewhere, not on the noise and chaos behind her. It was the reddish blob in the water. And like a cat hunting fish in a stream, she inched the pole closer, the net billowing and twisting in water. She waited… and waited… and pushed the pole deeper in the water, causing the net to balloon out, and she pushed it deeper ever still.

And then she paused.

Maj watched with anticipation at Sevine’s work, trying her best not to talk or say a word. Not wishing to jinx or break the Nord’s concentration. While Ariane sat back down against gunwale, trying to make her head stop pounding.

Her eyes studied the jellyfish, wondering if it knew that it would be snatched up in a net? Regardless, Sevine inched back from the railing, and angled the pole against the railing so that it acted as a sort of lever. There, ever so carefully, and with a certain degree of grace, she raised the pole up. The net expanded as the water filled out, and as she neared the bottom of the jellyfish, she slowed her pace. She bit her lip hard as she used utmost caution, and brought the net up around the jellyfish. She had it snared! Now just to bring it out of the water without detonating the damned thing. Sevine continued to use the pole against the railing as a lever, to help counteract the sudden weight from the jellyfish, and to steady herself from losing her foot.

Up and up the gelatinous creature rose, until Sevine had it leveled flat with the railing of the ship. Gripping the metal pole, Sevine began the trivial process of bringing the jellyfish onboard. Within seconds, she had the jellyfish hanging in the net, aboard the ship.

“If you want to launch this at the airship, then we ought to find Sagax.” Sevine quipped, she would feel proud later if they didn’t all die first.

“The demolition expert.” Ariane slowly and unsteadily rose to her feet. Her vision flickered wildly with the painful pulsations. “Isn’t that him climbing, the two of him?”

“Fantastic! Using the pole and the net was a great idea.” Maj clapped Sevine on the shoulder, genuinely impressed. “Sagax? The Imperial lad?”

She stiffened at the clap on the shoulder, “Careful! But… yes… scrawny lad. Black hair. Has a knack for getting himself into dangerous situations.”

“I believe Ashav called him ‘suicidal’, ‘having absolutely no regard for self-preservation’ and a ‘genius’.” Ariane added to Sevine’s appraisal. Helping them carry the jellyfish was obviously out of the question, as she might accidentally stumble, fall into it and blow everyone up in the process. Instead, Ariane staggered forward with the support of Sevine’s fishing pole and Maj’s arm. “Didn’t we promote him to a specialist on our last meeting?”

‘And if we don’t die, I’m forcing him to retire from these escapades.’ Sevine thought bitterly.

“...We did.” She sighed. “There’s only one way to do this.” Sevine shifted her gaze to the pole gripped tightly in her hands, and then again to the chains attached to the ship. She could see the scrawny fucker making his climb, and she swore.

“God’s damn us all.” And then she ran. She ran for her life across that rolling deck, past dreugh, past the werewolf, past the sailors and mercenaries to the chain that Sagax was on.

“Sagax!!!” She bellowed up at him. She could see him look down, or at least she imagined he did.

“Blow these bastards up!” And then, she planted her boots firm into the deck, turned at the waist, and threw the entire pole with the jellyfish in the net up at him. It soared high up into the air….

‘We’re fucked.’ She thought, only now remembering that Do’Karth was up there too.

Mass Effect Andromeda: Frontier

Finally moved my nexus posts over to my character sheet for Dex. Now we're all gravy.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

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Time: Fuck-Me-O’Clock
Location: Sherman Square, Lost Haven

Charlie folded her arms as both Nemesis, Fletch and finally Icon scolding them came directed at herself and Pantheon. She scratched at her nose, commenting with a dash of vinegar largely to herself. “Right, I forgot. Can’t have an opinion around super hearing.”

Ready to follow Icon when the distant sound of helicopters caught her attention. She looked up, her jaw popping open as they brought in their deliveries of goddamn mecha units. All around the square swathes of Hounds arrived. The scenes of the University flashing before her on waves of intense fear. Charlie turned on her heel feeling the walls literally closing in, again. Heart rate doubling, she thought briefly if this was enough for heart failure.

She froze, uttering “F-f-f-fuck me.”

Heroes and metahumans alike leapt into action, Pantheon went straight for one of the mecha units. Fliers were targeted by, some sensibly going straight for the big guns. The Hounds on the ground were storming out of their vehicles coming straight for them. In a blink of an eye, their weapons disappeared from their hands stolen away by the pink speedster. Lady Hex bumped up against Charlie and she hardly registered it, seized in a fit of panic. White knuckling her staff, she couldn’t move.

Her breath caught and stuttered, feeling the edges of her vision beginning to blur.

“H-h-hydrogen…”

Lady Hex called and conjured chaos to surround them, brewing a sizeable storm over the square. Claps of thunder and the first few drops of rain splattered on Charlie’s cheeks and her goggles jolting her. It began to pour drenching the Alchemyst through waking her from her panic. Clearly seeing Hounds were closing in on Lady Hex, Charlie was fuelled with energy, her panic burning away into adrenaline. Nobody, not a single one of them would touch Maddi.

Charlie dug into her pockets holding a pair of lithium batteries in her hand, already knowing what to do. She gripped her staff dashing forward to cut them off, balling the batteries in her fist. The carbon fibres encasing the batteries formed up out of her hand, going straight for the first Hound armed with a baton. In her other hand, the butt of her staff changed shape into that of crowbar on her approach.

She was faster and closer, smoothly hooking the Hound operative under his armpit sharply turning him of course breaking their momentum. Charlie took a guess at what the visor was made of gambling on plastic instead of fibreglass. She was rewarded when her fist glided through the plastic protected by the carbon wrapped around her hand making a direct hit on their nose.

She growled, “Helium!”

He fell back with a grunt, the second Hound attacking was ready for Charlie having switched targets. She swung her baton down and Charlie met the attack with her staff, stepping right she hooked under her foot pulling up. The Hound face planted to the wet ground with a splash, Charlie spun her staff cracking her helmet open like an egg.

She opened her hand, rainwater began to vaporize into steam. Waving her hand about like a lunatic she created a thick cloud of steam, the more water she touched the thicker it became. It enveloped both her and Hex, another Hound came through the alchemical fog and was met with Charlie’s ferocious counterattack. They stepped out reach of her crowbar, giving her ground as her attacks found their torso and shoulders battering them away. With every landed hit she recited more of the periodic table. “Lithium! Beryllium! Boron! Carbon!”

Cracking open another helmet she snarled, “Nitrogen!” They were out cold.

She watched Pantheon take down a mech with some difficulty, knowing he’d do better with something other than his own fists. Scraps of the mecha he destroyed littered about.

The fog dissipated quickly with the continued rain, stepping up to Lady Hex. “Stay close! I need to make something for Pantheon! He’s not going anywhere fast fighting these shits barehanded.” She beckoned for her to follow, Lady Hex came with a nod they dashed into certain danger. Charlie meeting any approaching Hounds with a swing of her staff, stripping them of their armour as she went and praying to dodge any debris.

She stopped short of the mess of a mech Pantheon took down, throwing scraps into a pile surrounding the largest piece of steel. A leg. Ducking under a beam, she dried the steel to write on. Accounting for the plastics, copper, iron, fibreglass, and other stray elements Charlie wrote out the alchemical formula to fuse it all together. Rubbing her hands together she flattened her hands against the steel, concentrating. Her hands glowed lightly the sharpie written alchemical formula brightening. Across the pile of debris the alchemical formula snaked covering it in its entirety. A generous mix of old alchemy symbols and modern chemistry equations blended. The metal shifted into itself, pulling with it the wires and broken glass. Her brow furrowed, sweat mixing with the rainwater.

It took the shape of a large spiked bat. 12 feet in length, solid, and adorned with spikes on the end. Wires wrapped for the grip, ready to be used.

Calling to her ridiculous body guard, “Pantheon! Use this!”

She felt the ground rumble and familiar earthen hands shoot up from the ground taking down Hounds and vehicles alike. Seeing Terra Firma make his entrance, she grinned.

“They’re proper fucked now.”

Mass Effect Andromeda: Frontier

Naryxa Kesir and Dexuret Noratus
Learn to Let Go
_{A @Stormflyx & @DearTrickster Collab}

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There were many things that Naryxa had wanted to do on her shore leave. It wasn’t like a real shore leave, seeing as they weren’t on a shore per se, and were instead, suspended in space on a station. Still, it was refreshing to not have to think about the Kett, and to at least have the downtime she had wished she’d had prior to being removed from Cryo and blasted into a mission. She felt at home on a station. The Citadel had been her home during her time in the Milky Way, and in many ways, the Nexus was akin to the Citadel in that it was a hub for the many races. Only now, there was a new race to learn about - the Angara.

The Asari hadn’t done much reading into them yet, she was simply too excited about one area of the Nexus… The Hydroponics Garden. She rushed out of bed that morning, stretched in much too blasé of a fashion that she almost twisted a ligament in her knee as she left her quarters. Nothing was going to bring her down on this day as she bounced with a spring in her step over to the garden, a clipboard and pad in hand.

She observed first the varieties of trees that had thrived in the conditions created. Whomever had designed the garden had done their research well in finding the most appealing flora that added a tranquil ambience to the Nexus. It was like a little slice of heaven in among the chaos. She had heard that it was a Dr Camden who was head of the Hydroponic Sciences. She made a mental note to seek him out at some point for a chat, she would love to know about what they were doing, and perhaps even offer some assistance.

She looked around the trees, practically climbing into their beds to inspect them closely from the roots to the leaves. She was in her element, oblivious to her surroundings, and it cleared her mind entirely to be sat in a fresh bush.

One such fellow patron was returning for a visit. Dex returned to the Gardens in a vain hope to see Khosin. After cooling down significantly she was filled with guilt over how she treated him. She had nothing prepared, just a sincere sorry. The protesters didn’t interest her as they did before, clearly seeing her own problems weren’t so easily sworn off. Bad habits as they are.

Dex circled around one of the flowerbeds, looking over them with mild interest seeing vibrant colours native from all over the milky way galaxy. Unable to recognize any of them. She continued walking to the copse of trees and saw the unfamiliar sight of a blue asari head among the bushes. She squinted recognizing her strange teammate Naryxa Kesir. Literally becoming one with nature. Dex figured she was now practicing being a tree with actual trees.

“You’ll learn from no better mentors how to be a tree from a tree.” She called out. “Thought you did pretty alright on your own though.”

She’d have been lying to say that she knew her teammate was behind her while she ran her thumb over the topsoil, checking for water level. It only slightly took her by surprise. She chuckled softly at the Turian’s words, noticing for the second time that she was a very quick-witted individual. She had liked Dex from the off, she gave off a rebellious aura that settled and simmered down into something soft, warm, and inviting - and funny. The Turian was a package alright.

“Dexuret Noratus, it’s good to hear your voice again.” She wiped her hands down on the leggings she was wearing as she came up for air, smiling brightly at Dex. “I’m beginning to think you’re itching to get your tree on too - I think you do protest too much about them…”

“Besides, I wasn’t pretending to be a tree - I’m checking moisture levels… It’s all rather fascinating what Dr Camden has done out here. I still think he needs to add some more colour though. Not a single flower planted along here - just bush… Oh well, I guess I wasn’t brought here to be a gardener…” her voice trailed off after she heard the voices of the protesters. That noise had always been there, she just hadn’t paid it much attention. It was an awkward kind of din playing out in the distance.

“What brings you out this way anyway? You look like you have a bit of purpose behind that smile…”

Dex laughed, “Call me Dex, please.”

Stepping up to join her, the protester’s noise was distracting. “Gardening looks relaxing, never really had an appreciation for it growing up. My home planet was in it’s megafauna stage so the garden came to you.” She looked around reconfirming what she already knew, “I was hoping to run into Khosin again over here but it looks like he’s not around.” She hummed relief, “Glad I ran into you, instead.”

Up close without her helmet Dex could see the Asari’s facial tattoos, bold reds lining her brows and the same colour on her lips. Dex appreciated facial tattoos on other species, as she’s been told, it’s far more painful procedure on soft tissues than facial plating. For Naryax it accentuated the frame of her face and complimented the colours of her skin. Good choices. From what she remembered reading about her career, she was accomplished with the Asari Commandos - a huntress to boot and mercenary work. Work experience hardly reflected what any one person was truly interested in, in Naryax’s case - she liked gardening.

“Learn more about your teammates out of armour than on the field.” Dex said, an eye on the protesters. “You like gardening and I like live theatre, I heard there’s an improv group that meets once a week. Might check it out while we’re here.” She stretched her arms above her head, loosening her shoulders. “There’s so much to do and squeeze in to just a few days off, I have an itch to scratch - there wasn’t much of a chance even on Prodromos, no privacy.” Relaxing back down she leaned against the tree.

She considered Naryax, Dex hadn’t anything really prepared for talking to Khosin, whether that’d be during shore leave or not. It probably wouldn’t hurt to ask for some wisdom.

“Actually, I was hoping to get some advice. A bit of perspective, if you want to call it that. You’re free to tell me to fuck off, but I think it’s safe of me to think you’re not the type?” Dex ventured.

Naryxa just let her talk, she listened intently to her words, giving a nod every now and then, noting how Dex changed her body language when she mentioned Khosin. She had to think about it for a moment before realising that Khosin was the Batarian. She hadn’t really had a chance to interact with him on Prodromos. She hadn’t really interacted with anyone. Just the Krogan and a human woman. The whole thing felt like it was hazed over to her, she could only just put some of the more prominent details together to form a coherent string of a memory. The mission had been a success, but it hadn’t made Naryxa feel good to think back on it.

“Khosin is the Batarian. I… I only kind of remember him, I’m sorry. Everything is a bit of a blur to me from that mission.”

“You’re always free to ask me some advice… I can’t promise it will be what you want to hear, but you can trust I will be honest. From your tone, I’m thinking that your last run in with Khosin was less than stellar?”

Dex nodded, “Yeah, that’s Khosin. He and I got into it and I lost my temper.” She paused, that was a huge understatement. “... I lost my shit actually. Punched him then screeched in his face.”

She scratched at her facial scar, “Before you ask, I can’t say why I was mad. Not my secret to share.” She folded her arms, “He threw up this wall, his eyes were fogged over. Just couldn’t break through, no matter what I said.”

“How do you deal with someone like that? I’m not well equipped for dealing with trauma or bottomless guilt.” She admitted quietly, searching for the right word, “I react. It never ends well.”

“It’s not your job to deal with him” began the Asari, looking Dex in the eyes as she spoke “it’s not your job. Plain and simple. It sounds like you’re tethered to him for some reason and sometimes the best thing you can do for the both of you is to sever it.” What she knew already of Dex suggested to her that the advice would be unorthodox to her, that it might even anger her for Naryxa to suggest it.

Dex sharply narrowed her eyes at Naryxa, remaining quiet. Her mandibles flattened, arms crossed. She listened regardless.

“I don’t mean to forget him, or stop loving him, but you need to sever this feeling of you being responsible for him. It would do you both good. It’s hard, but... “ she stopped to let out a breath and began to stare off slightly in the distance. Thinking of a time when she had done it herself before she finished what she was saying; “you are letting him leech your spirit and it brings out the worst in you.”

Dex relaxed a little, but the notion of severing herself from Khosin’s problems wasn’t completely ridiculous. Who else would he turn to, what would keep him in check? APEX and the Initiative was the safety net. They weren’t on the Borealis and it really wasn’t her job to keep the crazy contained or pacify them. They were all apart of the militia.

A handful of minutes passed, both Naryxa and Dex were wrapped in their own thoughts. Dex reasoned, “I have some history with Khosin and some of the other members of our team. Back then I fell into this role of reigning in certain people to keep a semblance balance. We’re not a mercenary crew anymore, we’re apart of APEX. So, you’re right… It’s really not my responsibility to deal with Khosin.”

“Thanks Naryxa. There’s not much I can do when he’s not even willing to help himself let alone have anyone else help. I think I know what to do.” She said, smiling then sinking slowly to her butt with a long winded sigh. “I didn’t realize what a relief that’d be to admit something like that.”

“Seems obvious in the big picture.”

“Sometimes you need to hear it from someone else - and want to hear it in the first place. Only then is it obvious.” She had to laugh at her own words, and how truly sage it had sounded. Like a character from one of those Earthly movies. Cheesy, she believed was the word to describe it.

She watched as Dex gave her a nod and continued on her way, and Naryxa held onto the scene for a few more moments, watching once again, people come and go. A feeling of anticipation stirred within her. She had enjoyed her chat with the Turian, and had enjoyed her company for that short while even more so. Andromeda wasn’t just about physically building a home, but it was about creating home in the people that you met and worked with. She realised that the small interaction with Dex was the start of another beautiful friendship in Heleus, and at the thought, she smiled.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 2 (Completed)

Leif will hang back and heal as needed, also help with any emergency situations, I.e, detaching chains, repairing.

I’m not so sure with Sevine? I’m thinking jellyfish or climbing. But there are so many people climbing now. Maybe have her create the distraction for the werewolf? Thoughts are welcome.

@MacabreFox

Sevine’s help with the jellyfish would be great, so far it’s Ariane and Maj, teamwork bby.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 2 (Completed)

Maj will help Ariane with collecting jellyfish, casting nets and tying them off. She’ll attempt to summon a frost atronach to protect their backs while they work.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

<Snipped quote by DearTrickster>

Shouldn't there be 25 (or 24 with a free center space) for a bingo card? ;)

@Dedonus

You have to get those five things in a row or single post to call BINGO, Ded. There's no cheatin'

Honestly given enough thought I could probably fill up a 24 slot bingo card with Odette and the shit she does.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Ambassador Bingo Sheet
If an Ambassador posts has all five of these things, it is Bingo

1. Parisian Tourist Spot
2. She Opens a Portal
3. Odette Patronizes Someone or Makes an Ominous Threat
4. Fey Shenanigans
5. Affectionately regards Mandate