ERode

Grimm Noir [Rebooting~]

smh could've used this instead

Grimm Noir [Rebooting~]

There looks to be something broken about that picture you're using for the zeroth post, Ink.

Enter: Into an Isekai World

Ah. Right. Introductions.

The dark-haired man pressed a hand against his chest, feeling for the bump that indicated where his business card holder was, then slipped two fingers inside to retrieve it. There was a quiet click as he opened the container out without bringing it out, before snagging out a simple paper card. It was too dark to make out the details, but there wasn't much to see anyhow. No point in having anything special, when the only people he was going to meet were assholes who cared nothing for decorum and courtesy but whom still expected it out of others. Pinching the corners of the card between his two fingers while squeezing his lunchbox under his right arm, Ohta bowed slightly while offering his card to the long-haired man.

"Kaneko Ohta. I'll be in your care. I don't believe I caught your name either?"

Though he didn't care, really. Unless the fellow in front of him was rich and magnanimous, his name was likely to be forgotten within the hour.

Grimm Noir: A RWBY Story

Are you going to be reworking the lore then? Or, like, specifying what you think Aura/Dust/Semblances should be like?

Grimm Noir: A RWBY Story

Sure, wynaut. Close enough to Honkers to sate my desires anyhow.

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

^{@Rune_Alchemist}

Inventory

Coinage: 8 Silver, 5 Copper

• The (shredded) clothing on his back.
• A fur cloak.
• Untanned boar skin.
• Leather Belt
• Knight's Shield
• Knight's Dagger
• Knight's Longsword
• Dwarf's Polearm
• Rope
• Some preserved food
  Enough for two people to last a few days.
• Roll of what seemed to be a mat of thick fur, likely for sleeping on
  Comfortable, but only one.
• A heavy looking fur/cloth blanket.
  Cozy, warm and heavy. Good for sleeping in colder climates.
• Communication horn
  Made from bone, hollow and likely used for communication.
• A small pot and a ladle
• Frozen canteen of water
• Map of the Under roads.
  A map detailing some routes used by the Dwarves and Shadow Elves to travel in their subterranean homes. Its not entirely complete, but it at least shows the routes to the two most notable settlements and several other places of note. Unless you travel off the paths, you probably won’t get lost.
• Seed of the Demon Flower

Isidore’s lips twitched, a momentary sign of bemusement. Medieval societies did have such brutal methods for punishing thievery, after all, and Raelzeth’s willingness to take this somewhat seriously was all that he could ask for. “Harsh, but reasonable,” he replied. “Your decisiveness is good, Raelzeth.”

He raised his hand smoothly, allowing it to bend at the elbow in a natural, flowing manner, before snapping his fist out into a jab that could’ve broken any man’s nose.

“Presuming equal skill, martial arts always begins faster than magic, and can be executed without any visual telegraph. What defenses can you bring up at a moment’s notice?”

“E-eh?” She seemed momentarily stunned she was getting praised, but a small, confident grin would soon form as she’d reply to Isidore’s question. “Heh, well, I guess I am pretty good at decision making. Uh...” She’d falter a bit, though, as she’d quickly run through what she was capable of. “Something...in an instant? I could...uhm, h-how fast are we talking here? I can probably form a fireball in a few seconds...or paralyze or cause the ground to open under someone, but...uh...that doesn’t sound like what you’re asking for?”

“No, but I suppose I should ask.” Isidore paused. This really was the sort of question that made him feel old, that reminded him that he was an old man in a young body. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Hey, I’m perfectly grown up!” Raezel would reply with a frown. “Rullphana took me as her apprentice since I could stone-sing...and I had a pretty high potential for magic.” The elf would say unsteadily, not sure where Isidore was going with this. “Course I enjoy it. Heheh, magic can do some pretty cool stuff, but all this study and practice stuff she wants me to do is just kinda boring ya know.” She’d shift in a mildly seeming embarrassed manner. “...uhm, don’t tell anyone I said this but uhm, there are some tales of the Sage traveling around the world and stuff...kinda childish and dumb I know but...traveling around and just...seeing all the world has to offer seems fun, doesn’t it? Better than living in this cave...”

Wanderlust had been a rarity in his own era, and to see it now in more than a few people gave Isidore a feeling that he wasn’t so certain of. In a world filled with unknowns, with lands unmapped and dangers at every corner, one would certainly have to be more than just a bit irresponsible to encourage children, especially those not trained in anything so intense as wilderness survival, to strike it off on their own. If it was his own daughter he was talking to, this would certainly be the point where he would be coming to verbal blows with her.

But the half-blood before him had a more impressive repertoire of spells than he had, and was dreaming about the world at an age where most others would’ve dreamed of Youtubing or drug money. He let out a breath. He shouldn’t pretend to be a ‘good’ influence anyhow.

“Then learn three things,” Isidore replied, raising three fingers. “One, improve your awareness of your surroundings. If magic is the substance of creation, feel for that and utilize it to detect all of creation around you. Whether stalked by a predator or marked by a thief, this is how you prevent ambushes.” Bullshit, of course; he had no idea how that could work. “Two, map a specific spell to a physical movement, until you don’t need to think about it to cast it. This spell should be instant, and should be something capable of knocking away an approaching threat.” He drew in a breath and breathed out flame, a burst of scarlet lighting up the blue glow of the mushrooms. “Three, work on your footwork. Outside the mountain, ranged weaponry becomes more prevalent without tunnels offering constant cover, and when you meet something undaunted by your spells, it’ll be your only way out.” Another skill he didn’t particularly have, as his own work didn’t require much chasing or escaping through forests, but he knew someone who would though. “If you can do those three, then you won’t run the risk of dying a violent death, at least.”

A pause, then a grin.

“And if you can self-teach yourself this, then I’ll show you a little trick of mine that even Rullphana can’t do.”

The young elf would listen, seeming a little irritated that he somehow seemed more knowledgeable then her. Perhaps a small blow to her pride, but by the end of it she was looking up at Isidore with a bit of a confused frown.

“E-eh? Can you really do all those things?” Raelzeth would wonder aloud. “A-and what do you mean a trick Rullphana can’t do? She can do anything! C-can’t she?” She’d shake her head. “Wait, wait are you saying I can’t do that stuff?” She’d finally seem to organize her own thoughts a bit, taking what Isidore said a bit seriously. “That sounds like a bet old man! A bet I’ma win cuz I’ma make you show me whatever it is Rullphana can’t!” She’d say proudly, confidently. “It better not be something dumb either. Besides, heh, I should be able to do all that easily. I am her apprentice after all! Ah, I bet I could ask that scary looking lady about using a sword!” She seemed motivated, if nothing else.

“Let’s see how much progress you can make in the next seven days then,” Isidore replied. “But for now, try to get back to the Tower without being robbed, yes?”

“Guh.” Rael would wince at the mention of being robbed again. “That was a fluke. No one will rob me again! And I’ll improve enough to even beat you! You’ll see!” And then she’d run off, back towards the tower. The streets were clearing. It’d probably be a good idea to make his way back towards the palace, unless wished to head somewhere else during the night.

Isidore smiled, massaging the back of his neck as he called out, "And if you need me, I'll be back at the palace."

With that, he strode off as well, humming a little tune under his breath as he counted the minutes until Raelzeth realized he hadn't actually handed off the Demon Seed to her yet and would have to backtrack to find him again. Her vigor was a good point, but that propensity for forgetting what was important while pursuing what was exciting...well, that was something to be temper with experience and experiences.

As for himself? Well, a conversation with Sorcha and the collection of his 'payment' was to come.

Enter: Into an Isekai World

Aaaaand there we go. Any hope from our resident mental health specialist making it, Ink?

Enter: Into an Isekai World

Ohta would rather that gunman get eaten by a bear or something, but he kept his thoughts to himself as he trudged behind the girl. No need to speak up now, after all. They had ground to cover if he was to get any chance of a comfortable sleep today. While she stalled at the statues, glancing over the faded stone as if it held any answers, Ohta swept the area around them instead, his phone’s light catching basically nothing. Sucked. Those statues looked like they were big enough to warrant some sort of plaque or information board, but perhaps they were just as unremarkable as the jizo statues one would find off the side of a road. Nothing more than attractive litter now.

He hunched his own shoulders against the buzzing of a nascent storm. It should be better to be in the treeline by the time the rain came down, and with that in mind, Ohta spoke up again.

“Um, don’t you think we should keep going now? We sorta don’t have any clothes to change out of if we get wet, and if the storm comes in while we’re out in the open…maybe let’s get over there?” It’d be a funny story to tell Tamimi after he worked off the debts and gotten a better job. They could oogle the statues all they wanted then. For now though, Ohta wanted fucking out. Not that he was planning on voicing his thoughts in any manner other than a pensive question.

Enter: Into an Isekai World

Alright, gonna post in two days.

Brilliant Fake Kaleidoscopic Prism

_{@Cu Chulainn@GreenGoat@dragonmancer}

There was something particularly miserable about waking up while the sun was hardly in the sky, a mind-numbing misery that made every step of hers feel just a little bit more shaky. Her breath escaped in cold puffs as she viewed Koto from atop a crest on the road, splitting apart her pork bun and chewing on it thoughtfully. The juicy meat and tender dough did a bit more to wake her up. At least she wouldn’t be heading to the scene empty-stomached. Others had already arrived upon the ice-glazed waters, slaying youkai by the dozens. Masashi was showboating as always, Jun was showing his boat, and the other magical girls were doing actual work. What did Haniwa call this again? The 100 Demon Parade? From her viewpoint, it was definitely more than a hundred, and definitely enough trouble to demand the attention of all magical girls in Tokyo.

Zen sighed. Even if her magical nature allowed her to live out her everyday life without any problems on only six hours of sleep a night, this certainly wasn’t doing her height any favours. All just belly-aching though. She finished the rest of her pork bun, already lukewarm from December’s cold, and turned. Parked on the side was a police vehicle, the speed redundant for a magical girl but the authority it granted very relevant. Officer Nadeshiko sat behind the wheel, the sharply-dressed woman enjoying a hot coffee within the confines of her vehicle. When eye contact was made though, the woman flashed Zen an ‘ok’ sign.

Preparations ready then. Time to meguca.

Twenty-seven beads rattled in the morning air as Zen brought her hands together in consternation.

“Sunrise burn bright! True Heart Zenshin!”

…

【S】【A】【M】【S】【A】【R】【A】☯【S】【P】【L】【I】【T】【S】

The world burns to sin.

Verdure reduces to shadows against the starless black. Dead leaves fall and sea waters rise, cold quagmire drawing the wanderer to the depths. She sinks with every step, vestments muddied by mud that clung like desperate hands.

Mιʂҽɾყ υɳႦσυɳԃ, ʂυϝϝҽɾιɳɠ υɳƚσʅԃ, ʂαʅʋαƚισɳ υɳϝσυɳԃ.

She drowns, slipping into fathoms so crushing her breath could not escape her lips, fathoms so elusive her hands could find no purchase. The cycle of despairs and departures sanctioned deliverance not; a single light within the dark shone merely like a spider’s thread.

And yet, ‘twas a distillation of the Moon. ‘twas a sliver of the reflected Sun. ‘twas her Truth, regalia inescapable, vesture undeniable.

Eყҽʂ ƈʅσʂҽԃ, ƚԋαƚ ʂραɾƙ ɯαʂ ҽʋҽɾ ʂσ Ⴆɾιɠԋƚ.

Sԋҽ ɠɾαʂρʂ ιƚ ƚιɠԋƚ, ԋσʅԃʂ ιƚ ԃҽαɾ, αɳԃ ʅҽƚʂ ιƚ ιɠɳιƚҽ.

Drumbeats ripple within the fathoms. Heartbeats fill the void. Her hair aflame, her heart alight, the wanderer paints the depths anew, burning winds like crimson ribbons.

Scorching rays upon flaxen fields, heady glows of golden days.

Blazing leaves coat callow crags, azure charms above skyward eyes.

Drifting flakes over soundless seas, halcyon bliss in starglazed nights.

Blooming hues from tender shoots, nascent lives beneath icesurge tides.

Mιԃɳιɠԋƚ ʂυɳ Ⴆʅҽɳԃʂ ɯιƚԋ ρσʅαɾ ɳιɠԋƚ, ԃαყႦɾҽαƙ αɳԃ ƚɯιʅιɠԋƚ ɱҽʂɱҽɾιȥҽԃ.

Within this paradise, within artifice, the wanderer brings her hands together twice. For the land she seeks remains out of reach and the world she dreams remains incomplete. And thus, twenty-seven lights pierce her sky, twenty-seven beads weigh her hands, twenty-seven scents remind her of where she stands.

In this insatiable and insufferable world, this world without herself.

Her Pure Land beckons, and yet…

Sanguine eyes open.

【T】【H】【E】☯【A】【R】【H】【A】【T】☯【D】【E】【S】【C】【E】【N】【D】【S】

…

In the parking lot of a Lawson’s, a rudimentary field hospital was set up, large white tents blocking off parking spaces while a quartet of ambulances rumbled, stocked up with supplies and personnel. Police sergeants jabbered on their radios, coordinating with officers on the streets to assist in evacuations around Koto, clearing civilians out of the incursion area as the mahou shoujos did their work. With the flood of more than a hundred youkai and Chiyoda’s Artillery Guardian having passed away a year ago, there were bound to be monsters that slip past the net of magical massacre. The ship in the sky had no cannons after all, while the spice witch’s hot sauce bottles only came in reasonably sized containers.

Which was why Tokyo’s police had gotten so much better with search-and-rescue and evacuations over the last three years. Which was why when large incidents like this came up, Zen helmed the backline, rather than join the vanguard.

A lab coat cloaked her shoulders, and a sarashi masked the light of her golden heart as the flame-haired maiden strode past the men and women, the fabric of her over-long hakama trailing her movements. Despite the winter chill, a pleasant warmth emanated from her pale skin, and her thoughts, guided by mystical enlightenment, remained in-step with her purposeful stride. Nadeshiko followed behind, her main contact and assistant within the force, ready to explain to anyone else who this child was.

It’d been some time since Zen had begun her activities though. Explanations now on the power of her healing fist were unnecessary, and the authorities stepped aside as she seized the radio connected to Koto district’s public address system. She took a breath, organized her words, and spoke clearly, the soothing voice of a juvenile Arhat drifting through the districts.

“Good morning, citizens of Koto and mahou shoujos. This is Shine Heart speaking. We’ve established an aid station at the Lawson’s beside Shinonome Station. If any mahou shoujo sees someone injured, please deliver them to the closest officer or to this station directly. Grand Admiral J, you should see a darkly-dressed magical girl throwing bottles of sauce down on the ice. If you could pick her up, that would be lovely, as her bombardments should compliment your flight. Red Rider, please be on a look out for the Turbo Granny, as you’re the only one who’d be able to match her speed if she arrives. And Masashi, you’re look great today out there! I’ll trust you to make sure that no other yokai leaves the ice and enters the streets.”

She let out a breath. She could do with another pork bun, but inbound sirens wailed, bringing the first patients for the day.

“That’s all, comrades. Let’s have a good one and be done before school starts!”