GreenGoat

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Belarence

---

The walk up towards the spring was relatively uneventful so far, if a bit dour in atmosphere. She had thought about two other routes they could take, the main road, and an old road where a dilapidated remains of several houses remained.

The main road would have taken them towards their destination quickly, but it was devoid of shelter. However, they would only have to endure one night of that, then they would reach their destination by the next. A fast route, but one that she surmised would have more raiders on. It was a choice she herself would have made had she been one of the thieves and bandits. The severity of the weather and the hostility of the land would encourage any caravan with any significant amount of goods to seek out the shortest route, to spend less time travelling in the cold.

The old road would be lesser traveled, and route she had taken before. It had several buildings she and the army she was a part of made good use of. It wasn't a route that she would have shirked, for it was a safer bet than the main road, but its location meant they would not make great progress towards the fort. Perhaps the ranger could replenish their supplies, but no one here was one she would really trust should the wagon be damaged enough to impair their travel.

The last, then, was about the same as the second, if not for the spring on it. Ettamri had heard about the spring there, and how miraculous it was. Perhaps she and the group as well, could use some of the water from it. If there was any chance her curse could be healed, she would take it gladly. And after all, it wasn't like she was deviating from their quest now, was it?

The smell of blood in the air alerted her immediately.

"Stay back. Someone guard the wagon." She spoke to the group. "Support me if and when they attack."

"Ah, aren't you glad?" The red skinned child danced around in the snow, the cold never seeming to bother her. "Now you can eat them instead. Honestly, you should just go back and gather the goblins under your command before expanding. With your training and strength, think of what you can achieve, all the things you could just take, the revenge you can get on those people back home."

Ettamri shook her head as the child laughed merrily. A figment of her own imagination, but yet still dangerous. Even now, the words pull at her heart. She yet denied the words, but can feel some of the truth behind the red skinned child's word. All the while during the trip, the red child spoke sweetly in her ears, trying to make her do... unspeakable things. Eating the party and massed torture of abducted men and women was the least of them.

Stepping forwards, Ettamri hefted her iron club on her shoulders, wrapping her arms around it nonchalantly. Inhaling, she shouted, her voice like a thunderclap, disturbing the very air and snow as her powerful lungs projected her voice. Her eyes was already darting around, trying to find where the source of the smell was.

"I CAN SMELL YOU, YOU FLEA RIDDEN CUR! SHOW YOURSELF COWARD!"

A challenge to the hidden observer, a distraction from the reason she stepped forth first.

Fate/Glimmering Oasis (F/GO)

Belorophon

---

@Grey@ItMeGritty@King Cosmos

Belorophon sighed.

"Ah well, then I shall have to suffice."

With that, they zoomed back, moving faster this time.

"Alright, partner, lets do this." Patting Pegasus' flank, Belorophon put on the Bridle on the flying steed. Pegasus was normally a docile creature, but with the Bridle, they can unleash their true power. "Its us against another army. The usual, I suppose."

Bellorophon grinned widely, their blood already boiling for a fight. Water ripped out from the ground, draining from the pipes, homes, and other places where they might have gathered, but as they stopped in front of the army moving towards the church, it was clear the water wasn't what the enemy should be watching for.

"Perish!"

Pegasus' wings beat suddenly, sending enourmous gusts of winds towards the army, shearing through even the ground, ripping apart everything in its way, even as Belorophon's arrows rained on the army.

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Belarence

"Really? Thank you!"

Without hesitation, she accepted the ranger's gift, though she didn't actually eat from it yet. Not with her helm in the way. It was a lazy morning, thus Ettamri sat somewhere to scarf the the entire content of the bag, before she finally returned. Remembering the little thing last night, she looked over its remains and took the small knife it carried. Odd, but the creature might had had some semblance of intelligence. Not wise to plunder from them however. A small knife huh.... who among them could really use a small knife?

"Hey, turnip." Ettamri placed the small knife in her hands. "Here, maybe you can get some use out of this."

Soon, after a bit of sitting around, she deemed it was time to move, and barked orders at everyone to start packing up. First was their belongings, then the drier wood from what was left of the campfire, then some more deadwood to be tied at the side of the wagon. Pulling aside the ranger alone when he came back, she would detail their route, towards a mountain pass where there would be a hot spring to stop by. His mission would be twofold, scout, and get some food. Considering they were now on a fixed path, it would be easier for him to find them, or simply wait at the rendezvous area if he wanted.

Fate/Glimmering Oasis (F/GO)

Belorophon

---

"Hey!" They shouted to the people below. "I can see a church, and what seems to be an army of... golems? They're advancing towards the church."

Flitting down with Pegasus, they landed and offered a hand towards the group. "Anyone wants a ride to battle? I can probably only throw you there and drop you off near the army, but you'd be there quicker."

A sound offer in Rider's mind. A ride to battle quickly, to end it swiftly. Plus they wouldn't be expecting another Servant to be dropped off, and they can fight immediately two man strong instead of just Rider until the rest arrives. Of course, it meant only a Servant confident in their close combat ability should take it; a Caster unskilled in close combat would be overwhelmed by an army after all.

"So? Anyone wants the ride? Or I can go there alone first. I think I can defeat this army by myself, truth be told."

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Belarence

---

"Ah, damn, that's really cold."

She collapsed the low to the ground tent quickly, shaking off the snow from the fur, rolling the two pieces back together before donning the furry cloak she had been using as a blanket. For the moment, while she was a bit aways from the rest of the group and with no one close, she took off her helm.

Damn, been looking out of bars since I was little, and now I have to wear them on my face huh?
It was a refreshing sight, seeing all this without anything obscuring her vision for once. Sighing, she picked up a handful of snow, washing her face with it, along with her horn. Feeling how solid it was, she had a feeling that she could headbutt something with it and really do some damage. An insane urge to headbutt a tree came over her as soon as she thought of that, but she figured she can test that out later on, with no one looking.

Sliding her helm back on, she went back towards the bonfire.

"Oh, you're gutting the rat thing from last night? Is it edible? I'm starving and the stew from last night helped but to only allay my hunger." She considered her words before adding. "No offense to the cook, for it was not about taste, but volume."

Fate/Glimmering Oasis (F/GO)

Belorophon

---

@Grey @ItMeGritty @King Cosmos

"Heeeh... Is that all?" Bellorophon set down near the young man. "I thought there'd be more fight to them. Like hyah! Toh! Kiya! Or something like that, you know? I think I can defeat the culprit alone if this is all they can do."

They pouted the moment it was suggested for someone else to scout, again.

"Hmph. I guess that will have to be me again."

Jumping back on Pegasus, they flew high up into the sky with one powerful flap of Pegasus' wings, the ice arrows scattered about melting, the globs of water following them upwards into the sky.

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Belarence

---

There was naught a sane man that could have held their anger at that. Not after such insult, not after somehow being blamed for their own faults, and certainly not while they were in a rather volatile mood. Perhaps she should have, but for the small priest.

Her blood was beating in her ears, spurring her to war, the red child bared her fangs, urging her to spill blood, to feast on their marrow. She was still hungry and tired, regardless of how she hid those from the party. Ettamri would have just killed Muu right then and there, consequences be damned. Perhaps even the rest too. Maybe the red child was right. Maybe it wasn't really worth it to deal with people.

Were it not for the small priest's words, she would... no, will have acted on those impulses. Those simple words washed over her like cold soothing water. It was the first kind words she had ever received for... hell, when was it? She was supposed to be tough but here she was being comforted by a child. What a disgrace.

Extricating the priest carefully, she set her aside, before replying to Muu.

"Perhaps you should learn to listen better before spouting pointless drivel."

A simple, pointed answer, before she went on her watch.

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Belarence

There was just silence from Ettamri as the Fiend Knight had his outburst. Her opinion of the party was swiftly plummeting.

"Hmm... I see. I suppose you haven't been on many requests or been out with a party much, huh?"

She stared into the fire for a moment before replying to the small priest. "Being nice, doesn't work. Stay behind to save that one flagging teammates, and the entire party perished. Coddle them, and they might see fit to ignore orders asking you to 'trust in them', before failing and getting disastrous results. I've seen it again and again."

"For that matter, never tolerate mindless idiots who cannot think of anything but the best. Fools like those will tell you there are no evidence that this small group of goblins are connected to a larger group while ignoring there are also no concrete evidence to the contrary."

Ah but she was rambling now. It must be the alcohol.

"Hmph. Sorry if you were expecting a happier expedition. I quite despise people who will drag an entire party into needless danger for their own selfish whims. Even more so those who aren't even regretful of their actions or apologetic of it."

Finishing what was in her bowl, Ettamri stood up, going already for the first watch, careful not to look at the campfire lest her night vision be dulled.

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Bellarence

---

@Searat

"You... Are you bloody retarded!? Got your rank by bloody polishing someone's knob!?" No, she was livid now, not just angry. "An entire angry goblin pack based in the area could have just as easily have the resources to do a manhunt across a large area. Your 'skills' will do nothing to a goblin if he slits your throat while you sleep or even if it just stabs you in the back while you're looking away. The river offered us no protection, had just barely enough wood for a small campfire. And even an extra twenty minutes could mean the difference between us having shelter from the wind or not. You were simply lucky there was a snowstorm tonight. Had there been none, you two with your idiocy would have left crystal clear tracks leading to us."

A fit of anger that brought out the slight bit of accent from home she had long suppressed. A hastily caught reaction, before she went over the edge of crimson, where the grinning man awaited. "Hmph. Bloody amateurs. Never underestimate any enemy, not even a goblin. I do not give out orders without reason. And to blatantly disregard it, then brazenly traipse in flaunting it..." She took another drink from the bowl, before passing out the warm bottle of alcohol, pushing away Katya's grabby hands away from it. A strong brew, that will probably knock the little priest out cold if she sipped at it. "Enough for now. There is still tomorrow to get through. You, ranger, take first watch and second, and that other idiot there can take the third and last watch. Pray nothing tries to ambush us."

Altera: Of the Destitute and the Destined

Ettamri Bellarence

---

@Searat

She listened silently to the ranger's report, biting back a retort. There was a certain edge to her anger right now that she didn't feel like crossing.

"Ah, so you found goblins you could have easily avoided, only killed some of them, let the rest escape." She took a sip from the bowl, the firewater energizing her a bit, warming her insides. "Then? What happens if they have a larger group somewhere? Surely a ranger such as yourself would know they might come back in force to get revenge, especially now that they are alerted to our presence. Not only did you ignore my direct order to not fight unless necessary, you also expected the entire party, to wait at the riverbank, exposed to the elements, while you dilly dally your way back. A slow trudging wagon with escorts could surely be overtaken by two swift people without any goods. Had we waited for you, we might not have even gotten in this grove and be forced to camp in the open with barely any wood for a campfire."

"Ah right right," she poured herself another bowl of the drink. "There's also the fact that you might be dead, in a dangerous mission involving trekking through territories that might be filled with enemies. Enemies that might now be alerted after you killed a few goblins."

"This level of competence is unacceptable." There was a sudden burst of vehemence in her voice, loud enough to be heard around the fire, but still low enough that it was just above normal levels of speech. She was classically trained after all, and did study several scripts by generals and soldiers. Her hand was shaking, the red girl was grinning, the grin from within widening ever so slightly as she tried to control her anger. "Not only did you endanger the party, and the entire mission with your recklessness, you also had the gall to push off your faults onto another."