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//Night 2 | Location: Nameless Forest - Lakeside
@Vertigo@baraquiel@AThousandCurses@Nakushita@Yankee
If Asahi’s declaration had caused conversation, Oros’s declaration was one that sparked silence.
There had been some hope, perhaps, that she had regained some of her normalcy, but it was clear now that she was the same as she had been yesterday, a lunatic unhinged and unfettered by past failures. The only difference from today and yesterday was that she had done what no one else had.
She had brought Shun back from the brink of death, and in doing so, had lead them all to a veritable mountain of food. Masato may have thought that the amount of food they had would only last a while, but the two hulk-phants were massive creatures, their combined biomass dwarfing the chalk-turtle that he himself had brought in. If it was just a matter of staying in place and waiting for rescuers, what Oros and Shun had done was allow their classmates to focus exclusively on building up their camp and their shelter for at least another two or so weeks. Balanced nutrition was a long term problem, but the more time they had, the more they could learn about the world and the more they could arm themselves.
Yes, the difference now was that Oros had built some good will.
The first to speak up was Tsubasa, the portly schoolgirl casting a critical eye towards Oros. “There’s nothing wrong with just staying in place and waiting for rescue though. I know no one’s thought too much about it yet, but by this point, the school and our parents have definitely filed reports, right? And with the bus itself gone without a trace…”
“Optimistically,” Hiroshi said, “we’d only have to survive two weeks of this. Presuming that they recognize this as a case involving the Otherside.” Kuroshio was in the boonies, after all. It was hard to judge just how much of a priority this case of disappearances would be.
Tsubasa nodded, grateful for the information. It was optimistic, but if they all worked together, they could certainly survive, right?
“Thought we discussed last night,” Daisuke said, setting down his bowl of broth, “that we’d try to scout out this place properly? This could work as a base camp, but I mean, what if we could just come across another portal? If we could just all walk out and get home, that has to be better.”
“Are you stupid?” Ayano snapped. “This place basically has everything! Do we even know if there’s anywhere else that doesn’t have monsters everywhere? Just look at Shun, she didn’t last a day out in the forest!”
And the night that they spent in the forest, not knowing whether or not they’d be ambushed by those unnatural monstrosities, had been awful, sleepless. Fujita squeezed her hand, and Ayano took in a breath to calm herself. “And, like, how’re we going to carry everything we have? I don’t th-”
“I can build a new tower.” Rin interrupted her, her face completely neutral throughout all the discussion. “Building a new shelter wouldn’t be hard too.” She clenched her fist, spirals of razor-sharp energy emerging around her forearm. “I’ll be fully recharged tomorrow, and I know how to do it better too.”
Sasuke looked thoughtful (though he always did). “We could split into two different groups. One who stays here, and another that goes with Ayana and Asahi out to explore.”
“I’ll help with exploration,” Hana said. Juro nodded with her.
“But that’s exactly what Ayana told us not to do,” Ayane replied, trying to pull things back. “Maybe she’s a bit loopy, but who was the one that rescued Shun, when no one else had any clue where they went? If we’re going to do something, we should do it together.”
Akito grunted, rubbing his throat. He remembered what happened as a direct result of the last time they just left half the Awakened alone to their own devices.
“We don’t need to decide immediately anyways.” Mayumi said. She narrowed her eyes at Ayana. “Even if some of us are really trying to push us to it.”
“Kumi.” Sohei turned towards their head chef, who was busy trying to block out all this serious talk. She started at his voice, then turned around as he asked, “How long would it take to preserve all this meat anyways?”
“Uh…maybe two or three days? If I was just cooking it normally.”
“Then we can just figure that out until then.” The older of the Ito twins nodded at that. The younger of the Ito twins picked his nose and flicked a booger into the flames.
“Like, whether Masato or Ayana’s gonna be the boss?” Maki said.
“I, huh.” Sohei thought about it for a moment. “Guess this’ll be like some sorta election then.”
Mayumi sighed. “God that sounds stupid.” But she didn't veto it. A sense of normalcy was a good thing, after all.
Masami stood up then, swivelling so everyone can see her flabbergasted expression. “Meanwhile, what, we just ignore the whole thing about Asahi wanting to go by himself right now, immediately, to that mountain who-knows-how far away?” She raised a brow. They were missing the core issue here, and in that moment, the entire group fell into silence.
Oh…
Can’t wait for Alto to yeet us all while the in-fighting is happening and then gaslight us about how his Personal Barrier wasn’t actually broken.
Expedition to Isekai should've ended by now, but alas, maybe it will next year. Happy anniversary either way, y'all. I don't want to be isekai'd with any of you, especially not in the wilderness I made, but RPing it out has been fun, at least.
@Yankee Masato functions as the straight man for every situation, especially so as everyone else only gets more and more loopy. Shame that all his efforts only cause people to be driven further away from him, but woo, at least he has his Facsimile now, after a whole ass year!
@Nakushita Ayana is nutso in a way that definitely wasn't cleared with me beforehand, and it's even funnier when I had to DM Broken asking if you were his alt, but regardless, she adds some spice to a cast that is otherwise just a bit too normal. Her cult shenanigans would've worked better if more people died on Night 1, but alassss.
@AThousandCurses Shun was cute with Yuudai. Occasionally, I imagine how it'd be if I didn't squash him, especially since I can't get romance hijinks from Rin now...but it be what it be! Hopefully this coming year gives her positive character development and the ability to cherish her life, or she's really just gonna die for real.
@baraquiel Of all the seeds of romance that were sowed, I gotta thank ya for Asahi x Sasuke having actual tangible shenanigans happen. Super interesting to see too that it's Asahi, the high CHR lad, whose now pushing for solo scouting. Looking forward to manipulation shenanigans coming up, in the threeway power struggle! The world would be a different place if he mind-blasted Oros immediately hehehehe.
@Vertigo I still take psychic damage from a Japanese middle schooler calling someone 'babe', but iz nice to see the delinquent go through a buncha the delinquent tropes. The ultimate question, of course, is whether or not he'll be able to keep his shrinking group of unpowered fighter-friends alive in future rounds...
Happy to be GMing with y'all anyhow. I'll try to keep it going even through the imminent graduation and job hunt.
@Yankee Masato functions as the straight man for every situation, especially so as everyone else only gets more and more loopy. Shame that all his efforts only cause people to be driven further away from him, but woo, at least he has his Facsimile now, after a whole ass year!
@Nakushita Ayana is nutso in a way that definitely wasn't cleared with me beforehand, and it's even funnier when I had to DM Broken asking if you were his alt, but regardless, she adds some spice to a cast that is otherwise just a bit too normal. Her cult shenanigans would've worked better if more people died on Night 1, but alassss.
@AThousandCurses Shun was cute with Yuudai. Occasionally, I imagine how it'd be if I didn't squash him, especially since I can't get romance hijinks from Rin now...but it be what it be! Hopefully this coming year gives her positive character development and the ability to cherish her life, or she's really just gonna die for real.
@baraquiel Of all the seeds of romance that were sowed, I gotta thank ya for Asahi x Sasuke having actual tangible shenanigans happen. Super interesting to see too that it's Asahi, the high CHR lad, whose now pushing for solo scouting. Looking forward to manipulation shenanigans coming up, in the threeway power struggle! The world would be a different place if he mind-blasted Oros immediately hehehehe.
@Vertigo I still take psychic damage from a Japanese middle schooler calling someone 'babe', but iz nice to see the delinquent go through a buncha the delinquent tropes. The ultimate question, of course, is whether or not he'll be able to keep his shrinking group of unpowered fighter-friends alive in future rounds...
Happy to be GMing with y'all anyhow. I'll try to keep it going even through the imminent graduation and job hunt.
Lmao, they're both like "ain't no way Imma let Chloe get the last hit here".
Tbh, they're not even in the same dimension as each other. Freddy's 4'10, while Elys is 5'5. Literally more than half a foot's worth of difference between the two.
Though both of them would look like children when placed in a room full off these types of dudes.
Though both of them would look like children when placed in a room full off these types of dudes.
In case it wasn't clear, Est, you can do whatever you want with the dude.
//O11 - Deserted Backstreets
“B-boss, we’re surrounded!”
“Damn, who knew there’d be so many after this one mark!”
“Shut up, you oafs…”
The halfling’s eyes flashed dangerously.
“And you shut up too!”
Voi had kept calm under incredible stress. Certainly, his defiance was worthy of respect, the fair-faced youth possessing courage that others lacked in the same scenario. Perhaps it was a matter of his elevated soul. Perhaps he had already faced true death before, and was numb to lesser threats such as these. Perhaps, however, he had simply forgotten that just because the trio of thugs surrounding him were outnumbered didn’t mean that his own situation had improved all that much.
Which, perhaps, was why Voi didn’t realize that his balls were in jeopardy until the halfling’s fist had already finished an uppercut that sent stars flying up from his testes to his eyes. The Ichor-Blessed of Souls immediately felt the air expel from his lungs, felt the accompanying nausea that caused him to double over. Small hands slapped all over his body, before a triumphant cry sounded as the halfling’s fists closed over one of sewn pockets in Voi’s shirt. Snicker-snack went the blade, and with it, a part of Gareth’s bounty was ripped out from his clothes.
“Damn, yer loaded! Bob, send ‘im!”
“Aye!” Thick hands seized Voi next, the blob of a Bob grabbing him by neck and waistband, before summarily hurling him towards the scaly brawler who had a big voice and little of anything else. She had struck a more heroic adventurer-look compared to that gang of five. With any luck, the lizard-maid would be too busy fumbling with a hot new master to immediately pursue them, which meant…
“CHARGEEEEEEE!”
Oratorio was a rough-and-tumble kinda city, after all. The kind of city where you could never run forever. And in narrow alleyways like these? A gang of six didn’t necessarily all that much more compared to a triad of three! Slender-lad sprinted first in, hurling sachets of powder at the frontmost of Talia’s men, clouds of dust bursting out to obscure the surroundings, before Bob the Wrecking Ball would undoubtedly follow suit, ready to wreck at their boss’s behest.
Now it was just a question…
Between the trio, who had a bit of money stolen, and the dragon-girl, who had all the rest of the money (as well as Voi himself) tossed at her, how much would Talia’s crew invest in handling these ruffians, compared to handling two Ichor-Blessed?
@OwO@Theyra@Izurich
//O8 - Underpass
The Underpass was enough to get you drunk.
Spilled alcohol, rotting food, and the perfumed waste water of the Royal Road all settled in the Underpass, flowing off the pipes and the sides of walls before making it into sluggish ditches that gradually spilled into sewage grates. Canvas along the sides formed rudimentary tents for those forced to live down below, while the rattling of pans sounded like the falling of raindrops. Amidst that metallic ‘rain’ were other sounds too. Ramblings infused with delusion, the clattering of bone-dice against stone, and the occasional groan or rasping breath of ones not long for the world.
Adventurers passed on without notice. Merchants too, merchants who could not afford a pass through the Royal Road, held up perfumed handkerchiefs and rode on. It was the way of the world, after all. Everyone was out for themselves, and if they were not careful, if they were not diligent, they too would end up in the Underpass, sifting through refuse, licking the dirt off another’s boots for the chance at receiving a copper penny.
And sometimes, it wasn’t even a matter of laziness or ineptitude that landed one here.
Sometimes, it was just the misfortune of one’s birth.
There was a child. Couldn’t have been even ten years old, unless it was simply a cause of malnutrition. Her eyes were large, bloodshot with dark irises. A dress, ragged and dirtied, but showing a rare flash of color that implied it was once something prettier. Her hair, too-long for the Outer Layer, dragged against the ground as she walked back and forth, trying to draw the attention of those who passed by. There was a plea there, a plea from a throat too dry to do anything more than whisper it out.
But if one did not have the ability to scream, how could one hope to be heard?
A man with a weapon that was too brutish to be described as a sword knocked her aside with the back of his hand. He was accustomed to pickpockets who played at being helpless brats and strode on without remorse as the child felt her mouth and watched as a fragment of a tooth fell out.
It clattered like bone dice, settled.
She looked up, and her gaze met Ananta’s.
But she was just one child, out of many. It would be better to remain focused. Better not to take a detour.
@Kero
//O3 - The Pallid Mermaid
There was a girthiness that occupied the mass before her, a heft that reminded her of bears, but the musk in the tavern was more indicative of the clients and the owner than anything her blessed sense could tell her. Stale beer and gamey meat. Hard bread, cracking beneath teeth. Heavy wooden mugs, slapping against the ground. The stench of tobacco and other herbs, forming a hazy fog overhead. This was no place for women or children, and in the eyes of these men, she was both.
A mug slid towards her, the sound something that she could react to well enough. A sip to be courteous, or chugging to establish some credentials; no matter how Elys chose to drink, she’d find that it was neither beer, nor mead, nor wine, nor water.
It was milk. Lukewarm and slightly sour.
“Monster slayer, hm?” A gravelly voice from the bartender. She could hear something rustling. Perhaps the beard moving with the breath. There was no sense of judgment in his tone, no overt mockery, but a couple snickers from the other patrons could be heard nonetheless.
“Couple o’ rats in the cellar for ya, girlie. Ain’t no good end fer kiddos playin’ at heroes though. Run ‘long home ‘fore yer old man finds you took his sword.”
Elys could sense another approach, their center of gravity swaying, before a meaty hand slammed in the counter beside her.
“Aye, Crag, relax. She ain’t that young.” A burp, and then that fat hand pressed against her shoulder, squeezing possessively. “If the girl wants to learn how to handle a ‘sword’, well, I’ll be happy to oblige, hehehe..."
@Estylwen
//O4 - Main Streets
Ignorant of the divinities he had wronged within the span of but a few moments, Camille smiled guilelessly at Firenze. “I must confess, Firenze, that I’ve not heard of Despina before. Please, tell me of your homeland. The merchants, alas, are more predisposed to selling stories to better sell their wares, while the adventurers are of a rougher stock, either taciturn or prone to flights of fancy.”
The young master smiled at Meisa as well, but outside of simply noticing her clean clothes, her unblemished skin, her pointed ears peeking out from her blonde tresses, there were no words exchanged between them as he lead the two elven ladies (who were both older than Oratorio itself) across the streets and past the entranceway into the Royal Road.
Not past, of course, in that they passed through it, but rather past in that they passed by it.
The trio passed by the next possible entrance as well, the guards shooting a steely-eyed gaze towards Camille as he strode on, entirely or intentionally oblivious to the ill intent of those uniformed men. Rather, the destination that the young master brought them towards remained within the Outer Layer still. This close to the Royal Road, it couldn’t be said to be a place of abject poverty and despair, but the two story building, constructed of brick and wood with clay tiles for roofing, could only charitably be considered cozy.
“Please, come on in.” A twist of the key, and immediately, there was the smell of drying paint, a fresh stench made overbearing by concentration. He noticed their expressions, of course, and smiled apologetically. “I’ve few opportunities to air this place out, madams. One can’t trust an open window in these parts, even when one has nothing worth stealing.”
And indeed, there wasn’t much at all on the ground floor. It was the atelier of a painter, filled with stacked canvas upon a dirt floor. A stove holding embers laid in one corner, while easels of different sizes stood around the open space. The young artist (downgraded from master, because he was clearly no master of anything) gestured for the two to make themselves comfortable as he walked around the building, opening up windows to let in both air and light.
A ladder provided access to the second floor, but Camille did not climb up there.
“Would you two like some tea to refresh yourselves before I begin? Ah, and if your companion enjoys reading, Madame Firenze, I’ve a few books too for her to peruse, though honestly, they’re dusty tomes compared to what’s popular amongst those of the Road.”
@Asuras@Click This
Ashley didn’t need to hold the weretiger off for long.
Estelle had landed behind Lorenzo. A whispered chant, lost to both the Knight of Tomorrow and the weretiger’s ears amidst their mutual struggle, and then, her foot flashed with a brilliant light.
She stomped on the back of the monster’s knee, the concussive impact of light energy surging out from her heel. Simultaneously, sacred prohibitions censured the usage of mana, the archaic sigils racing up Lorenzo’s leg and devouring the mana within, further weakening that limb. With an attack from behind, one that crippled a leg and weakened him overall, there was no doubt that he would have to respond.
And, knowing what she knew about experienced Espers, the Witch Hunter understood that the leader of the operation wouldn’t let such an opportunity go unnoticed.
So, in order to not get caught in the crossfire, Estelle swivelled to the side rather than continued her offensive, trusting Ashley had it from there. If Ashley didn't have it from there though? Well, that'd be kinda disappointing, really, but Mika was still doing her own thing, so they had some time still to spend.
@SilverPaw
Right, so first off, you got a couple of options here.
1. Vampires existed as a race before the Thousand-Faced God died. They were a long-lived species that drank blood, sorta existing in the same vibe-check as elves did. They, of course, did not turn others into vampires, because magic (and subsequently curses) were not a thing before the Thousand-Faced died. Theodore's dad did some crazy magic in order to become similar to a vampire, using pre-existing ones as a template. Main deal being that that means that dude was maybe 200 years old, rather than being 'ancient'.
2. Vampires exist as monsters after the Thousand-Faced God died. Same pathway for his dad to follow, though once again, dude ain't all that immortal. Just good at being old.
Anyhow, I'm more or less fine with all that ya got. Probably don't get too accustomed to writing small profiles for all your followers, or it'll be a lotta work in the future. Main thing to note is that Theodore's situation in regards to his capabilities is probably a 'big fish, small pond' sorta deal until he gets to Oratorio, in order to justify his backstory antics. Mostly just to prevent min-maxing shenanigans stemming from one's race. With that in mind, he'll mostly be human, but with an extended lifespan, the ability to digest blood, and a slight increase in physical ability compared to like-sized humans.
Otherwise, iz fine to toss into the tab.
Right, so first off, you got a couple of options here.
1. Vampires existed as a race before the Thousand-Faced God died. They were a long-lived species that drank blood, sorta existing in the same vibe-check as elves did. They, of course, did not turn others into vampires, because magic (and subsequently curses) were not a thing before the Thousand-Faced died. Theodore's dad did some crazy magic in order to become similar to a vampire, using pre-existing ones as a template. Main deal being that that means that dude was maybe 200 years old, rather than being 'ancient'.
2. Vampires exist as monsters after the Thousand-Faced God died. Same pathway for his dad to follow, though once again, dude ain't all that immortal. Just good at being old.
Anyhow, I'm more or less fine with all that ya got. Probably don't get too accustomed to writing small profiles for all your followers, or it'll be a lotta work in the future. Main thing to note is that Theodore's situation in regards to his capabilities is probably a 'big fish, small pond' sorta deal until he gets to Oratorio, in order to justify his backstory antics. Mostly just to prevent min-maxing shenanigans stemming from one's race. With that in mind, he'll mostly be human, but with an extended lifespan, the ability to digest blood, and a slight increase in physical ability compared to like-sized humans.
Otherwise, iz fine to toss into the tab.
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