Current
I just can't. This is too much. Berserk was so influential on so many things that I love. Goodbye, Miura. You'll be missed by many.
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4 yrs ago
Migraines ew
5 yrs ago
Welp apparently discord servers are having some pretty bad Latency issues.
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5 yrs ago
Well I just got my mitts on the Links Awakening remake. Excus eme while I disappear for a weak while I relive my childhood
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5 yrs ago
Migraine killed me today. Posts tomorrow.
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Bio
Hello! Welcome to my little bio.
Not much to say, really. Just a horror game protag that likes writing and playing vidya games when I'm not being chased by the cosmic forces of darkness. (I'm a security guard that works night shifts usually).
Oh don't you worry there'll be enough ShogcakesTM for everyone. Even cute little Sam~ Someone has to make sure the incredibly rare male demon is weeellll taken care of~
"Yes, my lord? I've prepared tea and cakes, perhaps you should settle down and have me-ahem-a snack. No? Ahahah who said you get-ahem-Please. I INSIST."
Name: N'ylaatothk
Appearance: A maid. A perfect image of a servant. Demure and pure. Meek and subservient. That of course, is the general first impression Nyla gives off, just like the rest of her people. Of course, this demure and subservient vibe is somewhat contrasted by her appearance - a slimy, tentacled mass of black goo with innumerable eyes hoping to catch a peep of something lewd or entirely focused on looking at her master.
At 5'8", her upper human torso possesses an unnaturally beautiful face, with dusky purple colored skin, eyes with black sclera and pale, luminescent eyes. While perhaps she herself lacks a bit in the chest department, her lower half can take the form of a gelatinous mass of goo or two luscious human legs that, as one might say, are incredibly thicc if the situation calls for more mobility. (Basically, she's bottom heavy in the fun ways)
Race: Shoggoth
Magic/Abilities/Equipment: Nyla's skills primarily rely on her slimy body and impressive strength. While normally she hates fighting directly, much preferring more sultry approaches a good maid knows how to protect their charge from any form of harm whatsoever.
Shapeshifting - A fairly basic skill for a Shoggoth. Not particularly impressive on its own, but she can control her mass, body, as well as her appearance somewhat due to her slime-like nature. She often uses this to assume a more humanoid form to better fit in with human society and indeed, pass herself off as a human. Of course, such a change is merely skin deep and she often takes the appearance of a Dark skinned woman in a maid dress. Any touch of hers would still feel slimy, and any cut would pass through her gelatinous body. Considering her previous line of work, she was fairly good at quickly altering her appearance and is doubly so for how she defends herself.
Material Creation - A skill that's more unique to Shoggoths - the ability to use their body cells, alter them, and create nearly any kind of material possible. Beds, cooking utensils, food, organs, weapons...she could theoretically create anything she desired using her own body mass. Doing so typically is somewhat a bit uncomfortable, and she doesn't necessarily like doing so unless its for her current master, but it is also how she defends herself. Creating any kind of weapon and using them in combat to harm those that would harm her or her master - swords, axes, spears, giant armored tentacles, a giant frying pan to bonk someone with. If course all objects created by her tend to have some...indescribable otherworldly...wrongness to them and she prefers absorbing them back into her body instead of leaving them laying around. She has a tendency to favor putting giant spears at the end of her tentacles.
Slime Physiology- Something of a catchall term for her unique physiology as a Shoggoth. She is mostly immune to mundane weapons, the blades passing through her gooey body, and if she does somehow get injured it doesn't take her long to recover from wounds - either simply by regenerating her body or taking in some fluids or material from the surrounding area to gain more body mass. While perhaps, on average she has no greater strength then the average monster girl, something does need to be said about the fact she could easily use tendrils and her body to grab and restrain someone with dozens of them, or striking with similar force with a single weapon.
Personality: Nyla's personality would initially, be fairly par for the course for Shoggoths. A perfect image of a maid. Demure and pure. Submissive and breedable hard working. She takes care of whoever is deemed her master in a way she sees fits. In a way that she believes to be correct. Feeding them the food she knows they like. Taking care of problems that she knows they have. Comforting them the way she believes they need to be. Doing things the way she believes that is best for her master whether they desire it or not. After all, its a maids duty to determine what their master needs ahead of time whether they even know it or not.
See where this is going? This image of demureness is shattered worse than a mans hips after a passionate night with a Minotaur if one presses the issue, too as she'll have a tendency to get irritated, and perhaps a bit pouty if the target of her affections rejects her attempts at helping even if it would be, theoretically, somewhat detrimental to them. Its taken Kyouko some time to get through to her that she's not always helping. Perhaps this is simply a quirk leftover from her previous line of work where being totally submissive might not have been completely appropriate, so it warped a bit into something else.
Aside from this she tends to be a fairly casual and friendly sort with most, even her current Master, wanting nothing more than to shower people in her affection and to also feed them lots of her special Shogcake. Will often be quite handsy and huggy with those she knows, especially the women. Tentacles will wander. You've been warned.
Background: Nyla's history is something she keeps close to her vest, and really only Lady Kyouko likely knows of it in any complete extent - she used to be something of an assassin. Odd for a Shoggoth, you think? Well, consider that her previous master was a rather shrewd individual that was also of some minor nobility in some kingdom that as against monsters. Consider that they had an agenda, and that when she appeared before them they found the perfect opportunity to help bring down their enemies...and to elevate themselves. Through non-violent means of course - using her unique talents to push things into their favor. The most often of which, happened to be corrupting specific individuals so that her previous master could tip the authorities off.
So because of this perhaps, less than stylish and storied history Nyla herself has some perhaps, unconventional tastes for a monster. While she certainly definitely desires some form of someone being a husband - she 100% has found something that for whatever reason, brings her even greater fun and pleasure - is corrupting other women into being monster girls themselves...like that one time she corrupted an entire convent of nuns by pretending to be a new one.
Fun times.
Also happened to get her caught and nearly killed since she was just supposed to target the Abbess, but details, details.
Of course, she dearly adored her master and they her, for she was the most dutiful and best maid in existence. Why wouldn't she be? But of course, things must come to an end sooner or later. Her masters schemes and herself were discovered. They were caught and executed, she nearly so but managed to slip away just in time, though heavily wounded.
Which is also how she ended up on Kyouko's doorstep and would soon lead her to be employed by the Inari as a maid. After swearing to be a good little shoggo and not doing the whole corrupting thing, of course.
Considering her slightly troublesome personality some might question how much of this story is true...or how much her previous master even had a hand in her actions and whether or not she wasn't the mastermind herself. She'll simply give a demure smile and respond with a quiet giggle.
"Ah, so mean, a subservient little Shoggo like me coming up with grand schemes? Perish the thought~" She'd say, in a definitely unbelievable fashion.
@Dark Cloud Greetings! You've signed up for daily delivery of Shogcakes TM! As per the EULA you absolve all rights relating to suing, being upset, bonking shoggo, or otherwise blaming this cute bundle of hugs and gooey goodness of any ill affects or thoughts of cute cuddly shoggos that Shogcakes may induce.
Nope that's fine. She'll just have to make sure to give Kyouko lots and lots of aggressive...'hugs'...whenever she gets a chance. Also probably aggressively hug everyone else. And feed them her special shogcakesTM which have no Ill affects whatsoever*
*shoggoth is not responsible for any random mutations, hallucinations, insanity, blood worship, thoughts of cuddleble shoggos, being spoon fed by shoggos, comfy shoggos to lay on, that shogcakesTM might induce.
And lo, night fell upon the village where the future would rise. The sound of battle would slowly draw to an end, the monstrosity of slime would fall, a final push from the one who builds the future upon his hammer into the sea below. As it fell, all it could think of was
'why?'
Why, had they slain its mother? Why, had it been killed for the second time? A final, pitiful cry, but perhaps, now it was at peace. As the water would slowly wash away its body on the beach below, only a small skeleton would be left behind. As the heroes would take a moment to respite, the huntress would force the Scholar to hand over the now injured god-child, and when the others learned of this they would immediately begin preparations for what would likely be the final night for the village should they fail.
That night, the group consisting of the future Queen, the Warlord, the Builder, the Skilled one, and the goddess seeking Bastelian would confront the face of the God of Knowledge. Of course, she wasn't going to go down quietly - she would reveal that now that the seal had been appropriately weakened, she just needed only one of the keys...and that Lazhira, was one of these keys herself. Much like their bodies had been created, Lazhira had been a prototype of sorts. The first 'True' homunculus created by him and his mother. This, also was the reason the girl had an affinity for the seal, as well as sought it - the sealed half of the goddess was attempting to use her to get the other key so she could use the two of them to free herself...which was why the Illuminator had a little fox steal the one from the true temple.
She didn't say why she wanted to - only that she was tired of being someone else's puppet, and wanted to do something for herself, for a change.
The ground rumbled, the moon bled, cracking like an egg as the stars would fall into the void left behind. The ancient goddess would descend, eager to give humanity a trial. A trial to see if they were worthy of carrying the worlds future. The Illuminator would return, promise kept. A weapon that should not exist. A weapon of the future. With the explosives the Queen had made, and a bullet of divine origin the weapon roared, splitting the moon in half, the weapon destroying itself in the process from the force of it.
In the end, a new dawn would fall upon the village.
A cheer would ring out.
Perhaps, the humans of this village, had some future after all.
"Hehe, there. I think that's quite done enough."
"...seems rushed."
"Well thank you yes, I am aware."
"Not happy with it, then Del?"
"Well, my little Lottie, perhaps I've grown impatient. I can only hope they had fun with it, and got something out of it in the end."
"Surely you're not going to leave it there, are you?"
"What? Fufu, of course not. Don't worry, they'll get as...proper of a send off as I can manage. After all...my brush is the one which writes the history of this world, and my book is the one which records it all."
"Sometimes, I wonder why I love you."
The heroes would go their separate ways, Four, traveling with the Merchant. Three would head south, across the mountains that had loomed in the distance since their arrival. Their fates, all up to them to determine. Their lives, theirs to determine.
What of the reincarnated warlord, then?
They would eventually reach the merchants homeland, missing only one of their number. Upon reaching the islands to the west, perhaps she'd feel a bit at home here, after so long...both the good, and the bad parts of it. Oni clans roamed the beaches and mountains, the Merchant that had brought her here unable to follow for she did not wish to risk setting foot back in the land she was exiled from. Eventually, she would succeed - the Oni, Human, and Kitsune clans fully united...at least, until an unwelcome face would show itself and pose the greatest challenge to the Warlords rule.
And of the young Scholar? She would go on to make so many advances in the fields of science, agriculture, and civil affairs. Needless to say though, such things made her a target...especially for the troublesome God of Knowledge, that both would occasionally tempt her with things beyond what a mortal should know, as well as prevent her from messing with things he felt that the world should not mess with. Of course, being of Kitsune origin, she would not be able to refrain from being pulled into a century old conflict, in the end...
The bright and curious seeker of skill would stay with the Merchant, training, learning. The Oni and Ninja that she commanded both beating all manner of skills into him, turning him into quite a tool for her to use and as well teaching him the ins and outs of proper business. Eventually they would leave, and the Merchant would take him to see the rest of the world. Across the vast northern plains where primeval monsters dwell. To the eastern seas, where the people lived in a sky-city, worshiping the Goddess of the Dead, to the south where the remnants of humanity cling to ancient ideals and false prophets. But so too, would he eventually return. The Merchant would meet her end here, putting to rest a conflict with her sisters old as she was. She would leave her company, teachings, and everything she had to him.
As for one who sought the Apex of Humanity, he would not stay with the merchant for long. Upon meeting the ice-beast worshiping cult upon the northern ice fields, an accident would split him and Chohei away from the group, where they would become wanderers, eventually taking in many refugees and humans, becoming a wandering band of nomads across the land. Soon though, he would find a pristine city of ice amidst a lake, where he would find an blood-drop shaped artifact with a single red eye gazing out over a city frozen in time. Perhaps, he would make the ultimate sacrifice once more for those who believed in him...
"I'm surprised none of them have met a terrible fate yet."
"How rude. These are supposed to be the heroes of civilizations! The builders that the civilizations from the world are all built on! They're supposed to be triumphant tales of courage, heroism, and feel-good stories!"
"You said that about that one king too, and look how that ended."
"Look sometimes I get a little carried away I can't help it, watching humans struggle and clinging to me for salvation, hehehehe...its all the more sweeter when they hopelessly die."
"...just finish it already before I decide to put you back in the prison I found you in."
"Tch, alright alright!"
The three that had crossed the mountains, would stay together for quite some time. The builder, along with the dwarf companion he had picked up in Dawn. They would first find themselves crossing the mountains, only to fall victim to a raid by the Bastelian peoples. The one scorned by the sun would be taken, ripped from them as the goddess had demanded it...for she had yet to carry through on her oath of killing an Elder beast, and she was getting impatient. So the Goddess would tell her such, and tell her to kill a false sun that was plaguing her peoples. Once done, she would gain the Goddess Favor, and name her the incarnation of the sun - and the one who could lead her peoples.
With a life of building futures and hopes behind him, the one with hammer and blessings of the Oldest God would be given a piece of advice by the Beast of Forests and Winds - if he wished to understand the nature of beasts, demons, and those that had come before, he should first seek a beast guised as a human across the mountains. After learning all he could from this person, he would eventually find his way south to the place where humans of old cling to false prophets. He would soon cast out the lies and false inheritors from the palace, and build a true future for humans upon its corpse...but when one makes a splash within the world, others will notice. And the God he had been worshiping for guidance...would soon be beset by old enemies.
The Queen would soon find herself standing upon the precipice of greatness. After her initial worshiping of the moon back at the very beginning of the temple, whether she wished it or not, the Goddess of the Moon would take interest in her life from that day forward. Eventually, after overcoming several more trials the young monarch would find herself upon an island, just off the coast of the mainland that felt close to home. She would find a final trial upon this land whether she knew it or not. At the end of it all, she would possess a necklace of Divine Tears, that marked her as the true queen of that land and would give her both great wisdom and magical affinity rivaling that of the Goddess herself. Of course...such hardships would never end. The Goddess, after all, desired a good story...in the end, would she overcome the greatest challenge? One designed to ultimately kill her?
"...no."
"What?"
"No killing any of them."
"Awww, come on! What story is fun without a little bit of death! Tragedy! Lemme murder at least one of theeeem!"
"No. Those bodies of theirs are mine. I forbid you from needlessly maiming any of my handiwork."
"Even if I bring you your favorite little treat later?"
"What are you talking about? My favorite treat is already here."
"...oh~ Well I suppose if you're being affectionate for once-"
"...not you, this ice cream I made."
"Guh. Ow. My poor little fragile heart...maybe I'll go write a sad poem..."
Those that had left the village of foundation earlier, would not always stay together either. The young Elvish queen that would bring civilization to those of the Shadow would soon find herself ascending to the throne. The queen, perishing during a ball where a vicious demonic hound would attack her - the Elfs own pup nowhere to be seen and was soon found to be the culprit. In the end, she'd have to either make the decision to put the pup down, or become part demon herself in order to full control the creature...who can say what she ultimately would have done - but the queens words were absolute and final. After stopping Rullphana's plot to resurrect the old Demon as he had instructed them to do in return for his magic, she would ascend and lead them to a brighter future. The one who bore the storm on her shoulders would leave shortly after, receiving a letter from Tamaln...but such a position is always fraught with trouble. In the end, it would not be an enemy that would potentially be her undoing - but an Elf she would have helped raise.
As for the man that would become her right hand, he would learn all he could from Rullphana - and the demon that had nearly flayed him alive? She would eventually become a close friend, too. Well, as close as any demon could be with a human - she would tell him the ins and outs of the red lightning, and that it was really just a single half of a whole...that is, the art of Alchemy. Understanding the natural world and creating something from almost nothing. In the end, the blond haired warrior would ask him to come with her to Tamaln, where they would discover a tragedy most profound, but the warrior woman gaining resolve to finish something she had started many, many, years ago. He would return to the dwarves, where he would earn their respect in settling a caste dispute, but eventually...he would settle back into his old life as a businessman, having a firm grip on the underworld of both those of the Shadow, and those of the Stone.
The wayward traveler, would soon find kindness would be met with hostility and cynicism. The girl would merely use him as a bargaining chip - after all the maids were forbidden from harming those uninvolved with their target, and he was simply a traveler in the wrong place at the wrong time. The witch would leave, making her escape...and of the young warrior that had traveled with him? She'd blame him for letting her get away, in fact, she'd actively accuse him of conspiring with her...as after going back to the village - she found every single one of them dead. Whatever his reasons were at the time, he'd soon find himself in the care of the Maids themselves...where he would meet with the Pale Violet of the underworld. Amidst an ancient gothic city he would finally meet her, and the sage. After a long, arduous journey he would stand at the end of the world, a blade of a God of Travelers and Path-making before him. Would he swing it, allowing him to return to his world? The sage would warn him, however - that there is a rule that every alchemist must follow. That of equivalent exchange - to get something, you must first give something of equal value. Would he give something up, to travel back to his world? All anyone knows, is that day, within the heavens a new star would flicker to life.
"There we go, I think we're done."
"...Hm, seems like it. You're not happy, are you?"
"Heheh...not every story is destined for greatness. Nor are they all destined to be remembered. All I can hope is that someone, somewhere, had fun reading this little venture."
"...Heh, well...knowing you, you'll be trying again soon, won't you?"
"Maybe once I that annoying hag in the underworld isn't out for my blood. I swear, those maids are Scaaary! Especially that Cynthia one! She could have killed me!"
"Well that's what you get for pissing off the other gods constantly."
"I can't help it, its what I do. They shouldn't get offended when I decide to test their little champions! That's literally my job description!"
"Missing the mark as always...haa, for now...how about we just go relax a bit. I've got a surprise for you anyways."
And so, this little project of mine comes to an end. Two years, huh? I hope you all at least, had fun with this little imperfect project of mine. I've wrapped it up, and hopefully given every character as proper a send off as I could have here. I'm sorry for cutting things short, but I've already mentioned in the discord all of my reasons for doing so...but not to fret, after some time to think about everything and give the RP a fresh coat of paint, I'll certainly be restructuring and giving it a second attempt.
Thank you all for being part of this and putting up with my amateurish attempts to tell a story here. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better group of people. Thank you all and stay tuned for the future.
Od tore into the approaching bandits once more, the arrows impacting her flesh but otherwise not being too harmful considering her vitality and the fey blood that seemed to run through her veins. Needless to say, her opponents were both intimidated and completely shocked by the sight of a madwoman with an arrow stuck in her eye tearing them to shreds with ease.
More arrows would lob themselves at the knights and the Militia on the wall as the Bandits still made their advance - only saved by the combined efforts of Lunalel and Fio whose shields would block the volley and who would both launch a massive sword of magic and spear of light towards the trees. In cover as they were, they weren't likely to do much damage - ah.
Fio could sense it before she could see it. A burst of magical power as an arrow sailed through the air, cloaked in a shroud of quick moving air. Once it reached the same height as the spear of light it'd burst open, creating a vortex, sucking in the spear of light and knocking it off course along with her blade. It was hard to tell what exactly magic was used from this distance, but it felt like something similar to a spirit.
The ground shook - causing the entire row of militia atop the wall to stumble, the bandits backing off slightly as they'd too feel the disturbance.
"Fall back! Don't get in the bosses' way!" One of them would shout.
thud
Across the plains was the sound of heavy footfalls, slamming into the ground faster and faster, as if whatever it was, was picking up speed - after a few seconds the knights could see it, coming into view just out of sight from the nearby forest. A massive beast, at least eleven feet tall, a long trunk and a set of four bony tusks protruding from the front of it ready to impale anything it ran into. Its body was covered in a thick, white and blue-streaked fur, and its legs were covered in thick armor while the upper part of its face was covered in what seemed to be hard, crystalline and icy growth. And atop it? A Tuatha man sat in a saddle. Long braided red hair, a cloak of fur being all he wore on his upper torso and in his hands, was a large axe seemed to be made primarily from steel and decorated with some sort of bone.
"Ahaha, you guys put up a pretty good fight!" He'd shout, the gargantuan beast not slowing down. It was making a beeline for the gate! "Means you probably got some pretty good loot in there, huh! Alright break down that gate of theirs, Shabbi!"
It...was a Tuatha man, riding an Elder Beast, that seemed to be leading these brigands.
Breaking away from the field, Ethelred would find himself thankfully mostly left alone by the arrows, whoever was doing the firing being more focused on seemingly preventing either of the spears or the ethereal sword from reaching their intended targets. Upon reaching the treeline, he'd find his targets. About five archers. Initially, they hadn't seen him approach from their flanks. All of them were focused on the job at hand - focused on suppressing the knights and giving them trouble from the sidelines. Didn't seem like they had a trap ready.
"Haa, there he goes." He'd hear her grumble. "If he was just gonna do that anyways we could've stayed at home and get pampered...nnhn? Seshaeal?" Her head would immediately turn in Ethelred's direction, immediately knocking an arrow and firing it in his direction - for such a hastily fired projectile it was fired with nearly uncanny precision and power, tearing some leaves off nearby branches as it whistled through the air.
"Guh, of course we get the scary looking knight guy too!" She'd shout.
The rest of the other archers would immediately turned towards Ethelred, some dropping their bows for axes or a sword.
"Don't suppose I could ask ya to leave nicely and we'll do the same, huh?" The woman would ask with a rather cavalier attitude.
“Alright, alright, we get it.” One would defensively shout. “No funny business!”
“A good hunter knows when not to take on something stronger than them.” Another would say with a shake of his head. “We’ll give him a burial later…” A silence fell as Novak’s words would at least start making them think about the implications of what he was saying. If that was true, then…they were being taken for fools, weren’t they?
“...r-right its uh, over here.” The third would start walking. The torchlight was enough to keep the fog at bay, though the hunters bearing emblems from the illuminator seemed to protect them. Finding their way through it was easy enough thanks to them, too - though as they came upon it one would nearly stumble over the edge of the sinkhole.
“Here. Its there…probably. Don’t have any idea what else this would be.”
Where the temple had been previously, was now a wide, deep hole, the edges of which were rocky and uneven. The only way in seemed to be a jagged slope that was in the direction of the hunters old hideout, it seemed. Probably had been revealed and destroyed when the Kyrnith had ripped the place to shreds.
And what lay at the bottom?
At the bottom of the pit, the floor was smooth carved stone as if someone had taken some form of sandpaper or other tool and cut the entire floor to be smooth, shiny granite or some similar stone. The only blemishes were indentations that seemed to mimic the phases of the moon, starting with what seemed to be a new moon at six o'clock and a full moon at twelve.
In the middle of the dias a stone altar sat. Carved from a blue-tinted stone, a light fog seemed to slowly waft from it, slowly coming from under it. The altar itself seemed to depict a broken moon, two halves held on either side of it by some sort of twisting, spiraling stone. Extending from the bottom of the altar to the engravings of the moon phases, were smooth ridges and carvings seeming to extend to each of them with the one depicting the full moon having eleven gathering in it.
“I don’t like lookin’ at it. Gives me the creeps.” One of the hunters said.
“Its where that fog is coming from, see?”
“That uh, old temple. We were told the Illuminator put it there to sort of…block it? If you say you met the Hag there…she might have been trying to do something to it.”
“...no.” The wolf girl replied with a dismissive, slightly annoyed seeming huff. “Its one of the laws from the Goddess. The Goddess has no power out of the underworld, so her Maids are the ones she sends after those who break her laws.” She’d look out the only window in the cabin. “...if it were any other law, maybe…but I broke that which should not be broken. ‘Do not use the dead to harm the living’. ” That was all she was going to say on the matter, it seemed. She’d get up from the table, half eaten bowl left behind.
“...I’m going out. You stay here.” She’d say, not elaborating on what she was doing. It was getting pretty late. The sun starting to dip over the horizon, painting the wintry dead forest in colors of twilight, the snowy ground being cast in long shadows from the leafless trees. “If I don’t return…well, then the maids probably got me…” There was a very good chance she wanted to be left alone, and there was no telling what would be out there at night and she could probably handle herself.
“...someone has a flair for an entrance.” The fox would snicker, fairly unimpressed with Nomura’s entrance. The display of acrobatics looked less graceful and more like a drunk pelican, but perhaps with a little practice he’d look like the elegant peacock he was desiring to be. “To answer your question though, no he still has it.” She’d huff, tail swishing back and forth in the snow. “Wasn’t much of an opportunity to pilfer it without being seen…”
She’d glance over her shoulder back towards the cliffs and obelisk.
“That place was spooky. Felt like I’d stepped into some sorta…divine realm or something. Like some god was staring right at me.” She’d shake her head, pawing at it with a paw, before she’d end up sniffing the air and turning her attention from the fight that was happening towards Malphas. She’d walk around him, sniffing around him before pouncing on one of his feet.
“You smell like fish. You smell like rare fish. Lemme have it and I might be inclined to help with the slime since I can probably snatch the thing during then.”
“O-oh, the most excited? Hmm…I think its uhm, whenever I’m training with Sorcha.” The elf replied with a bright smile. “O-or maybe when I’m with Uncle…he’s always so busy but he’s the best.” Before she could really respond further, however, the door to the bath would open and a rather perhaps, expected guest would enter. The queen, Tall and lithe with an almost otherworldly appearance and grace would seemingly glide into the changing room, get undressed, and then be at the foot of the bath within the seeming span of barely a minute.
“A-ah! Q-queen Vasserasa!” Leuca, for one, seemed like she hadn’t expected her.
“Your Majesty.” Augusta said, not letting the surprise show on her face. “What an unexpected, if pleasant, surprise to see the Queen in her own bath.” She watched the Queen as she rather rapidly made it to the bath in hardly any time at all, observing the otherworldly beauty that was to be her mother-in-law in the future. “Looking to relax in the waters?” The woman asked with a smile.
“Hmm, just a it.” The queen responded with a sigh, her tall frame just barely sinking into the water up to her shoulders even at the deepest part of the bath. “I also wished to speak to you about our mutual patron.” She’d say with a soft giggle, leaning back in the water. “And this is likely the best place to not be…overheard.”
“Yes… It probably is.” Augusta said with a nod before looking over to Leuca, her thought showing on her face. “I suppose it’d be fine for Leuca to listen in?” She asked, ruffling the girl’s hair and then looking toward the monarch.
“Is there some reason you have to not trust the little one?” The queen replied. “Or do you believe she’ll tell what we speak of to the Storm Bearer? It is fine to be suspicious of others, but if you afford no trust then you will have none.”
“...Uhm, I can keep secrets! Promise!” Leuca responded eagerly.
“See? Nothing to worry about. The child does not lie and any discussion we have here will have no negative consequences on whatever plans you may have.”
The woman was a small bit perplexed as she hadn’t really said anything to want to push her cousin to be out. Sometimes, the less you know, the better. “It’s not as if I told her to leave.” Augusta said with a sigh. “And I wonder what plans I even really have at this point.” She relaxed a bit in the water, looking over the Queen once more. “So, what do we have to discuss?” Her eyes betrayed her interest in the topic of the goddess and the otherworldly queen in general.
“Oh you know, the thing we share. That power of yours and mine, while ultimately different are something of the same thing.” She’d respond. “I was blessed with foresight, like all the queens of my bloodline are. I see future stories that I can not possibly comprehend or take part in. You, are blessed with the ability to see all that a person has been. The story of their life, if you will. Yet such a power is unrefined. I’m certain you realized that after attempting to see what secrets our human friend held.”
“And what a monstrous human she seems to be.” Augusta mentioned, remembering the headache that she had from when she tried to read it. “Of course, I don’t know if that beats the woman that just told me not to try it.” Augusta teased a small bit. “But yes, it is unrefined as you put it, I suppose. It’s not like I’ve had it for all my life or anything of the sort. Well, perhaps I have in one sense…”
“Curious. Powers like ours are often given at birth.” The queen replied with a chuckle. “You are implying that it wasn’t.” She’d give Augusta a small smile. “But I suppose that is neither here nor there. I merely cautioned you, as well as a little bit of mischief on my part. As for what I wish to speak of…I hope to help you perhaps refine it. It will be an asset to you, in the future if you wish to follow the path you have set out for yourself.”
Augusta couldn’t help but return the smile. She felt there was at least a good rapport between the two of them. “Normally, I’d ask what was in it for you… But I believe we’re both far past that point by now. I could almost say that my Mother-in-Law is more a mother to me than my own was.” The woman chuckled a small bit, thinking of her mother. Wondering what exactly her parents were doing or, perhaps, if they cared much that she was gone. It was hard to say. “But, if you would help me ‘refine it’ then I wouldn’t say no. I’ve not fully realized my ‘path’ but it would indeed be an asset.”
“You have not? Yet you are here, intending to take the throne from me.” She’d respond with a airy chuckle. “Perhaps you have and yet you have not realized it yet. Regardless,” The queen would reach a hand out, lightly poking Augusta on the forehead. “Let us converse.” Leuca was sitting opposite the queen, now, seeming a bit confused as to what was being said, but didn’t feel comfortable interrupting the Queen.
“Now then, you may be aware but what you hold is not actually the Goddess’ eye. It is more of a…replica that imparts you part of her own divine authority. That is, to see the entire life and disposition, faults, triumphs, vices, virtues, all of a single person, animal, or anything with some semblance of a consciousness. Do you understand?”
The Queen’s little boop on her forehead pushed her head back a very small bit before she listened intently to the Queen’s words. Her explanation. Then she asked the question of whether it was understood or not. “Yes. Divine Authority. The ability to see the everything of something with a semblance of consciousness. Not, say, a rock or sword. But, not enough authority to see much of something…” She struggled to find the correct words after this. “Something, powerful, perhaps? Or, perhaps, something with a higher blessing?” She asked, thinking back a small bit. “I’ve seen much but I’ve been clouded about a few such people. You, I assume. Sorcha and Rullphana. Not to mention Octavia’s clan name?” She questioned, thinking back on her pup’s information.
“That is it, in part.” The queen replied with a nod. “But, only in part. You have, up until now merely been…attempting to brute force such things. Like looking at a moon with an intensely powerful lens and expecting to see what lies under. A stronger lens would not aid in such a task. You would need something to peel back the layers of the moon. Something that allows you to see what lays within.” She’d sigh. “Although, I will admit. The Storm Bearer is likely to be one you will never be able to read unless she allows. She is an existence near that of a Divinity herself.”
The queen would start washing her hair, long, slender fingers gliding through her white locks with ease as she’d begin bathing and talking.
“I know not much about demons, but if you could not read the pups ‘clan’ name then…well, that is a curiosity you may wish to speak with Rullphana about. I’m surprised she has not already told you, though I suppose you did not ask.” She’d give Augusta a cheeky wink and a soft laugh. “If you wish to experiment, then you may use me if you wish. I should be able to guide you more easily then others.”
Augusta smirked a small bit. “Guide me in experimentation? How forward, Your Majesty.” She giggled a small bit at her joke. “Pardon, you meant with my replica eye.” She cleared her throat. “Yes, if you would allow me, it would be a wonderful chance.” Her eyes showed a small amount of worry.
“Well, then by all means feel free to start.” The Queen replied with a quiet laugh, though the Innuendo went right over Leuca’s head as the women talked. All that remained to be seen was how exactly Augusta would go about this experimentation. She had yet to even attempt to alter the abilities output or otherwise…but surely there was a way, wasn’t there?
Augusta had just let the eye do as it would. She hadn't really considered doing anything else, but her lesson with Rulphana had taught her some things, such as the flow of Mana in her body. Perhaps she could boost the strength of the eye by sustaining it with extra Mana, though she wondered if that would help. Well, for now, she closed her eyes and opened them, focusing on the queen rather intently while directing a flow of Mana to her eye.
Augusta would channel more mana into the eye. A small bit of pressure would start to form. The queen didn’t verbally reply, rather, she’d use whatever method before she used to speak with Augusta.
“Raw power only gets so far. This magic affects others, and thus, you should use it on others.” came the simple reply as the Queen relaxed in the waters. “The Goddess’ gifts are typically for those who prefer creativity and quick-thinking solutions.”
“Uhm…if you’re trying something with magic…maybe I can help?” Leuca chimed in quietly. “Rullphana said its…sort of all about how you direct and shape it. So…uhm…”
Their points were fair, but… Augusta wondered exactly how one shaped and directed a goddess’ eye. She kept her mana channeling and closed her other eye and let her eyelid on the replica lower. She took one deep breath and tried to imagine her vision were a crossbow bolt, attempting to pierce the armor of what she assumed to be the Goddess’s Blessing the Queen had. Then, she focused the eye’s power as best she could and attempted to actually route the mana into such a design, aimed at breaking through the Queen’s defenses.
An arrow, blue and ethereal, looking as though it was made more of space rather than anything of substance. As well, it didn’t seem like Leuca saw it at all. The queen would merely keep a composed expression, quietly washing herself as the arrow would hit…and then nothing.
“Hm, not a bad start. If one was actively attempting to hinder your looking, it would likely have a good effect.” The queen replied. “However…Augusta, dear, you should realize this is not a matter of defense, but rather…simple skill, if I were to put simply. I have no defenses up and am not actively attempting to hinder you. Do it that way again, if you wish…but you need more. Like peeling a fruit.”
“Armor is a matter of defense even when it doesn’t actively do anything.” Augusta commented, grabbing at her temple while studying the Queen’s status. As the monarch said, it didn’t really do anything. She swiped her hand at it, like she were smacking a CRT TV trying to make it work. Her hand there already, she wondered if the menu could even do anything but display. She touched at some of the parts of it that gave her missing content. Perhaps it would do something. She was skeptical of that at the least. Would focusing on it prove fruitful.
And thus, the Queens ‘profile’ would pop up as Augusta requested. She had never really looked at it before, had she? It was definitely some sort of status screen from the looks of it, like what one may find in an old RPG or one of those anime shows that had become popular over the last few years.
Name: Vasserassa Race: Elf (Urutha) Physical Attributes: Weaker than you Magic Attributes: Stronger than you Weakness: - Abilities: - Special attributes: This creature while not actively hindering you, is harder to read.
It seemed unlike their meeting in the throne room, the Queen was being truthful at least - she was not actively tampering with it herself this time. Maybe if the queen could, she could in some manner? Touching it though, seemed…ineffective. Her hands simply going through the menu. It didn’t seem like something she could touch. Nothing physical, like that arrow she had done earlier.
The ‘screen’ itself was of a blue and silver coloration. There didn’t seem ot be anything missing on first investigation, but maybe she could use magic to manipulate it.
At the bottom of the screen was a note.
“Quite the pretty thing, isn’t she? Heheh, maybe you should be more forceful in your affections~”
She hadn’t heard something from the goddess in awhile, but of course she would chime in now of all times.
“Goddess, you’re quite something else…” Augusta said aloud. Maybe she should keep that in mind though… Still, it did look like an old RPG… Maybe she could use her mana to make the window function like a menu from those? Using her mind as the controller, she tried to create a cursor, or light up sections of the window like she were trying to select options. “Vasserassa.” She said, wanting to see her hopeful cursor show up there as she tried to make it do so.
“What do you mean something else? Fine fine, I’ll not say anything more. In fact I’ll help you since you want to rely on me so much~” The note at the bottom would change itself to say. “Do be warned though…I will ask for a favor if you keep it up and I can be veeerrrry greedy. My sweet little Sage knows that all to well, hehe.”
As Augusta would treat the screen just like one of those old RPG stat screens, she’d ‘press’ on the Queens name. Didn’t seem there was anything she was hiding there. At the top of the screen, something odd would happen though. A little chibi version of what looked like a black haired woman in a long, blue flowing robe with bright blue eyes would poke her head out from the top of the screen and wave.
With an impish giggle, the small figure would drop down from the top, fall until it hit the ‘Weaknesses section’. Standing on top of the section under it, she would take out what seemed to be a book, and a three-pronged trident that seemed to have a paintbrush of some sort on one end. With a flurry of motion, the chibi version would start filling in blank areas with black ink.
Name: Vasserassa Race: Elf (Urutha) Physical Attributes: Weaker than you Magic Attributes: Stronger than you Weakness: Because of her advanced age, physical capability is lacking. (Not that she had much to begin with lol) Cute girls (I think she likes you, ask her on a date! She likes it when people are forceful! (Don’t tell her I said this lol)) Is weak to divine magic and holy things, while naturally resistant to demonic taint. (Maybe she knows something about that pup of yours?~ I still say you should murder it~) Abilities: Soul-Weaver Master A magical trait unique to Shadow Elves, taught by the demon which took their wandering tribe in during the Moonless Era. Allows them to manipulate their souls...and the souls of others. Some consider this one of the greatest Taboos. Only the Goddess of Death has any perceived right to manipulate another’s soul. (I don’t get why its a Taboo. That dumbass death goddess and her silly maids, hmph. Maybe you should have asked about that if you didn’t want my help? Although, who doesn’t want my ever so amazing help, fufu~!) Special attributes: Goddess’ Far-seeing A special form of clairvoyance carried by the female members of this persons lineage. Allows one to see all possible future events that may occur from the point one begins looking. Doesn’t need previous knowledge to know. Given by the Moon Goddess, Delpithi (I considered it a bit of a curse myself…how boring it is to know what’s going to happen! Like who’s going to stab you in the back! Who’s going to betray you! To see you’re not going to be the hero any more! Fufu, I think I’m talking too much~)
With its work done, the little chibi would drop to the bottom of the screen, seeming satisfied and pleased with herself as she’d twirl the trident-brush with a smug, ‘praise me’ sort of expression.
Augusta was in a mild state of shock. She didn’t expect that the goddess would help her in such a thing. Not in such a… “Cute…” way. She didn’t know what to exactly expect, but it definitely wasn’t a tiny version of… Was that what the Goddess looked like? Either way, she should probably thank the Goddess. “Umm, thank you Goddess. You’re the best!” She said, praising the out of touch being the best she could at the moment. She should think of something better to say for later if it comes to it. That said, a limited form of communication was possible between them it seemed. Maybe she could ask the goddess to talk later in some capacity.
For now though, she spoke to Queen. “Soul-Weaver Master. Goddess’ Far-seeing…” Augusta mentioned. “That’s quite the weakness you have there, apparently, Your Majesty. Maybe I should act on it.” Augusta teased, looking at the woman with a smile. She’d measure the Queen’s response before saying much more though.
“Heheh, damn right I’m the best!” The text bubble would say. “Bring me some moonflowers later as proper tribute, hm? I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone for now…though mind Leuca-guh!” The Chibi version of the Goddess would look to the side of the screen, flinch a bit with a visible ‘Guh’ in the text box. If Augusta was still looking, she’d see a flash of blue lightning streak across the screen, slamming into the goddess and knocking her out of frame.
Well, whatever that was it seemed she was gone for now.
“Weakness…?” The Queen said with a frown. “Aha…oh, well…I thought that was obvious? I am rather old dear. Getting on in age is not something you’d need that eye of yours to see.”
Augusta’s eyes would show a small amount of surprise as the goddess was blasted off screen. Well, she would be fine. She was the Goddess after all, right? She could pay full attention to Leuca and the Queen for now. “Well, I think the Goddess is just messing with me a small bit, but it has another weakness listed here, well two, but one caught my eye more than the other.” She went silent a second before continuing. “How do you feel about ‘Cute Girls’, Your Majesty?”
“Goddess…? The goddess is ‘messing with you’?” The queen would frown. “Still full of surprises that even I can’t see.” The queen sighed, shaking her head in a mildly resigned fashion. “Be careful not to mention that in such a fashion. It might get you in trouble if someone else hears it…but to answer your question.” She’d smirk. “Well, the goddess has no reason to lie.” She seemed somewhat disappointed as far as things went, but was satisfied enough if she had helped Augusta with helping her perhaps, understand a bit more about this eye of hers.
“But if you’ll excuse me, I’ve done what I came for and I must get back to court.”
“Truthfully, I feel like I’ve failed about as much as I’ve succeeded. But don’t worry, I don’t plan on mentioning any of this business about the goddess to anyone outside this room aside Isidore, at the moment. Maybe when my husband-to-be seems to take an interest in me.” The elf woman gave a small sigh and shrug. “That aside, why don’t you let me wash your back? You look like you could use it before you get out there to the world of being the most beautiful queen.”
“Most beautiful queen, hm? I’m sure many queens out there would say such a thing about themselves.” Vasserasa would reply with a small smile. “But, very well, I can at least allow that much. Leuca, be a dear and grab some soap, would you?”
“O-oh of course!”
Augusta returned the smile as she moved around a bit so she could reach the Queen’s back. “Thank you for allowing me.” The woman said, giving a small giggle. As she got closer, she really did realize just how tall Vasserassa was. Towering wouldn’t be the right word, but there was definitely a feeling like that. She grabbed a nearby wash cloth and got it ready for Leuca to return. “Do you share the bath with others often?” Augusta asked, trying to avoid an awkward silence.
“Hm…? Not particularly often, no. My son often bathes near the waterfall around the lake. Says it helps with his training.” She’d smile, letting Augusta scrub her back. “What about you? From the way you speak I get the impression you do this sort of thing often.” A small, teasing smile as Leuca returned with the soap.
“I use to.” Augusta mentioned as she took the soap from Leuca. “Thank you Leuca.” She started to apply the soap to the cloth as she continued. “It was pretty easy to have a personal bath from my hometown. There was infrastructure for it, believe it or not.” After that, the cloth was ready and she started to wash her soon-to-be mother-in-law’s back. “There were public baths at one point, but those fell out of favor.”
“Public baths, hm? Well, most simply draw water from the lake or one of the various rivers in the city.” The queen hummed quietly. “The water here was taken from the lake. I have my servants drain and refill it every morning. More, if it gets particularly dirty in the day.”
“Tamalns baths are all public.” Leuca mentioned. “Well, they’re more natural springs than baths. They have fairy magic in the water that helps heal and help people recover from fatigue! A lot of warriors and hunters are always there after the day ends. They’re almost never empty, eheh.”
“Well, we didn’t have anything as special as fairy magic in the water. The way it use to be was there were these structures called Aquaducts. They would carry water from further away to a place they were needed. It would help supply drinking water and anything else water was needed for.” Augusta stated as she washed the Queen’s back. She was fine talking about this since she considered this might be helpful in some way to the Queen. “After its arrival in the city, it’d either find itself in a well or put into a system of pipes that would take it through the facilities that would need it. Such as baths or even other wells.”
Augusta stopped midway in a rub down the Queen’s back as she thought about something before continuing. “It might be simple enough to set up a system for your bath here. The sewage system would probably be the more annoying part.” Augusta continued, wiping down one of the Queen’s arms.
“I see…well,” The queen smiled, turning to Augusta. “That’s going to be something for you to figure out soon, isn’t it?” She’d give Augusta a friendly pat on the head before standing and making her way out of the bath. “I do hope your training goes well. I shall be heading back to the throne room now. May the goddess bless you, Augusta.”
Maybe she should work on a plumbing system here in Gloomhaven soon. Perhaps she’d look into it. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Augusta smiled. “And may she bless you as well.” As the Queen made her way out, she looked to Leuca. “Well, I believe we’re both cleaned up, shall we head out?” She asked, getting out ready to finish up her day.
The spell pulsed in Leannah’s hands. The familiar feeling of heat, burning, uncontrolled power forming in her palm. It was already growing considerably, reaching the point it had previously within a manner of seconds and by then it was too late for her to stop its growth. The miniature sun grew and grew, sucking out every last bit of magical energy Leannah had.
The slime screeched in response, shifting its mass to its arms realizing that it likely couldn’t stop the buildup of whatever it was that was happening - so it opted for a defensive measure. Its arms formed a wall in front of it, its defensive, bony plating melding together to form a wall of slime and bone between it and the exploding ball of fire.
The ball of fire was nearly as big as a beachball, now. It was burning Leannah just from holding it, threatening to blind her from the intensity of its light. It had truly become a miniature sun by now, there was no denying it. In fact it was even starting to pull on her and seemingly suck in everything around it as though it had its own gravity wall, insatiably hungry for more magic to feed its mass.
And then she’d lob it towards the slimy creature.
A blinding flash of light. A deafening explosion. Heat that would singe and burn the people near it. The snow on the ground in a roughly 30-yard radius upon impact would nearly instantly vaporize. At 50 yards it melted, turning to water as the heat radiated from the area. A mushroom cloud extended meters into the air. The slime creature shrieked, gurgling as the impact would cause the creature to recoil backwards, the bones on its arms, its slimy defensive wall evaporating in seconds as it would lose its cohesion, boiling away as its body fell to the ground, being pushed so far that its tail would hang off the cliff.
It wasn’t out yet, but it had lost its arms.
Donovan’s hair would be lightly singed if he managed to take cover. Eirhild and Akando took shelter behind the Obelisk, preventing them from being hit from most of the blast.
The creature, would retaliate immediately. Slimy tendrils would grab Leannah by her ankles, lifting her high into the air. The act of making an explosion that big had completely drained her, exhausting any magical supply she had, and thus, was completely unable to resist as she was pulled. If Narkissa or Donovan did not intervene, she was likely to be its next snack.
“Haaa, I suppose you’re right. Sorry, I’m just a bit tired. All of this is really sort of getting to me I guess.” Lazhira replied, shaking her head solemnly. “But thanks for that. I’ll be glad when all of this is over and I can go back to just skipping history lessons from Enli and looking around the forest without worry about getting jumped by some animal-ah-”
It was in all honesty, fast.
A flash of steel from nearby.
Lazhira’s dress would soon be stained red, eyes widening as an arrow stuck out from her stomach. A second arrow would fall upon the fawn, though it wouldn’t hit anything vital, just hitting it in the leg, earning a pained call from the animal as it would stumble to the ground.
“She’ll be coming with me, fox.” It was Soyala, having caught up with them from the battlefield while the others were occupied with the slime. Misaki could feel the sharp edge of steel on her neck, probably a spear or some other sharp, bladed instrument held against it. “Don’t worry, she’s not going to die…yet, at least. The arrows coated in a sort of...lets say poison that'll stop her from bleeding out.”
The bandits, were understandably unprepared completely for such a complete and utterly outmatched assault. Od was the first to engage. The five that had decided to attack what initially appeared to be the only one defending the gate, were soon dispatched in such a quick and efficient method they barely had time to even register what had happened.
Those that had used their number to push past Od, did not fare much better. Fio's blades, fifteen of them would aim for those that had gotten near the gate. Shouts of surprise came as ethereal blades would rip through them, though not all found their targets and not all immediately went down. Those with shields had managed to block a few, and more quick footed among them managed to evade - but what they were not expected was what initially appeared the grass at their feet to simply attack them. Those that were left, would find themselves quickly falling before one bearing the blood of a dragon slayer.
Those that hadn't quite made it yet were not quite safe either. While those at the front were being slaughtered by the combined might of the three knights, a fourth smashed into their flank. A Steed of rime frost tramped into the bandits, most men falling beneath his lance, a few more fortunate ones had the cries of their comrades to warn them of impending danger, dodging out of the way just in time.
In all, of the fifty bandits that had started, barely twenty remained. Those that did, were the furthest back. The ones that hadn't been close enough to fully engage. Of course, the bandits had something to say about the utter defeat they had just faced.
"Kings blood! what sort of monster is that thing!?" One would shout, getting to his feet shakily after just barely managing to avoid Ethelred's horse.
"Forget the demon horse, swords came out of nowhere! Some sort of fey-magic!?"
"That girl with the sword cleaved right through their armor!"
"Bloody stones, I don't think even boss could beat that guy in a fist fight...!"
"We had fifty men, how in the damned gods name did we just lose over half in five seconds to four people!?"
Atop the ramparts near Fio, Vyrell observed the field quietly, narrowing his eyes across the field. Well, no doubt this rabble would swiftly disperse if they didn't decide to suicide themselves against the knights...still, something didn't quite seem right about this. Surely someone wouldn't have attacked a fortified town like this without some sort of further plan? Or was this merely a test for their defenses for another assault later?
Then what about that archer that had almost taken out that sentry?
He'd turn his head towards the forest. There, a subtle movement!
"Knights! Archers in the forest! Someone go take them out!" Vyrell shouted. "Militia, take cover!"
On cue, a number of arrows would home in on the knights position, well aimed shots fired at quick intervals, at each of the knights directly. They would soon be followed by a volley of arrows fired in the general direction of the knights. From the number of arrows, there likely weren't many of them. Just enough to pose a threat if left to keep firing. One among them seemed to have almost pinpoint precision accuracy, however.
"...hit them while the archers have them pinned!" The bandits shouted, starting to run towards the gate and the knights again, emboldened by their perceived ambush.
"...nnhn? Under attack? Who would be so foolish to attack-" Another yawn, and the woman on the bed would stretch, suddenly blinking as she'd realize she was in fact, no, not talking to Vyrell. "Gah! Lady Luna!?" She would sit up, stumbling out of her bed, tripping in a rather spectacular fashion, and fall right on the floor. Not that she'd wait too long before she'd scramble to her feet.
"Ahem," A color of red would color her cheeks as she'd sheepishly laugh. "Sorry, sorry, I was having a really nice dream, mhm." Her gaze would linger on Luna - a fact that was probably not helping Luna as the queen was indeed, still completely naked and didn't seem to mind one bit. Slowly, her gaze would turn harsher as she'd register Luna's words. "Who would be so foolish to attack my city? Luna, thank you." She'd grab the clothes from the night, and start pushing Luna out of her room. "But I should get dressed. Now go help the knights. I swear Vyrell doesn't trust me..." She'd grumble, not giving Luna time to get a word in edge wise as she'd be hastily shoved out of the Queens chambers.
"Oh, and," She'd quietly speak, a somewhat sultry tone. "If you mention annnnything you saw here, the Lightsword family will carry responsibility, yes?~ toodles and good luck, you can do it~!" The door would slam shut behind Luna, though she could hear the queen grumbling about the audacity of bandits attacking this early in the morning and ruining her beauty sleep. She should probably go join the other knights at the North Gate now.
"Hihi~!~ back with a new little guest." Kokoma would greet her companions, though not like they had been gone for too long really. While Eunice and the others started on the fire pit and discussing food, Kokoma was already checked out of the discussion and instead, focused in her own little world. Well, hers and the world of this little cat cub. Aaaah, she wanted to snuggle and cuddle and pet it all over but there would be time enough for that later.
"Oya? Hungry? Alright alright, you can eat something once I get this leg of yours fixed up." She'd say, putting the cub down on the ground, holding him tightly. No doubt this was gonna hurt a bit but well, it'd be fiiiiine. So she'd grab a few pieces of wood just the right size to make a splint...and then actually do the limb setting. "I'd say this wasn't gonna hurt, but its totally gonna hurt just a bit." She'd say with a grin. "Annnd-done!"
It was probably a good think Kokoma was busy with the cub and didn't hear Sefira mention something about needing to wash and change clothes. It was around this time, Tatlliya would return...dragging along behind her in a web, was the Arachne's prey. Her bringing something back was less unsual than what exactly she had brought back.
"O-oh? With as many fish I wonder if me bringing this was even worth it." The Arachne would sheepishly laugh...and what exactly had she hunt, you ask? It was a massive two-headed bird, about three times her size. Its entire body was covered in what seemed to be tough, coarse feathers and its neck seemed to be much longer than it initially appeared, with large talons about the size of your average human. "And if its washing clothes, I can help..."
"Hm? Washing Clothes?" Kokoma would tilt her head, of course having picked up on something her friend was saying. "Who needs clothes washing?" She'd look towards Sefira, seeming mostly unfazed by the Arachnes kill.
“You…think the Hag is behind this whole thing?” Another would question. “We were told if we saw her to kill on sight, but Soyala told us to focus on recovering the orbs and since she’s the one in contact with the Illuminators’ Face…”
“...hey you don’t think with the seal weakened they wouldn’t need both to undo it?” The third remaining one would chime in. What followed was a heavy silence between the group as a concerning realization perhaps, started to fall into place. "Well if we don't know where it is, is, it shouldn't matter right? But then what about the second one?" Didn't seem like the hunters may have any more immediately relevant information unless they were pressed further or had anything else specific they'd want to ask.
"Oh...uh...we could show you two to that pit with the seal in it. That's where you're heading, isn't it?"
“...Necromancy.” Baba replied with a passionless voice. “The faithful of the goddess of death are given the ability and permission to use Necromancy to both punish sinners and use them to protect people.” The younger girl would shake her head. “Most people always found it…repulsive…they just wanted an excuse. The Apostles gave them that.” She’d take a few steps towards Nicholas.
By now a few alarm bells in his head might be going off.
“The maids marked me for death. Even if I run to the furthest lands, they will pursue.” A smile, would form on her lips, slowly turning into a wide, toothy almost excited grin. “So if I’m going to die…I’m going to take as many of them as I can with me, simple, right? They deserve it, just as I do. As for you…” A pale hand would reach out and grab Nicholas by the chin. “I could. Do you want me to?”
Yeah, maybe he should be careful about his words now.
“...You’ve not done anything to insult me. Yet. So you can stay. Until you do. Are you planning to?” She’d release him taking a seat and starting to eat. Well, she didn’t seem like she was going to harm him, but he was getting the sinking feeling the longer he’d stay, the more in danger he’d be if he let his words run completely unchecked.
Send Feet Pics @Cu Chulainn Breathe in. Breathe out. The waves lapped upon the shore, then receded, rhythmic as Nomura’s breathing would slowly become as he meditated upon the shore. He could already direct his mana into a specific part of the body, that was fairly easy to do now and honestly not too taxing as long as he didn’t continuously do it.
Strengthening everything at once though, did seem to put some strain on him.
First his arm again. It was hard to tell how much of an effect it was having as he wasn’t actively applying the force when he was strengthening it, but there was definitely some change. A bit like a coiled spring - tension forming in his muscles perhaps.
Next his legs. As the energy shifted, leaving his arm it’d feel a bit like being drained of energy. Fatigued, a bit. His legs would feel much the same as his arm did. Moving it back to his arm, the fatigue would vanish entirely as it’d resettle into its resting place. It seemed he could roughly keep the strengthening up for about a minute if he focused on one limb, and only thirty seconds if it was two, while enhancing more at a single time seemed completely out of reach for now.
Perhaps, he’d need a way not to just push or test his limits - but find a way to actively break them.
The gentle waves upon the shoreline was broken by the sound of something splashing in the water, though if he looked he’d see nothing immediately unusual.
Skill Evolved: Muscle Reinforcement (lesser) -> Muscle Reinforcement A skill denoting ones ability to reinforce their muscles via magical means, making them temporarily tougher and stronger. Can be used on multiple parts of the body, though as one may expect doing more than one limb at a time causes greater drain on mana reserves. There is an upper limit that exists, dependent on the physical ability of the user.
“Oh? Most warriors don’t care for the process,” The half elf dwarf would say, a tinge of curiosity in his voice. “Well, I’m not one to turn away a lad who wants to learn.” He’d say with a hearty grin. “Alright, Isidore. Asvar. Lets show ya the forge, then. Rael, bring out some of the iron and a suit for Isidore here.”
With a wordless signal of affirmation, Rael would head into the back store room. The Blacksmith, would lead Isidore into the forge, a noticeable shift in temperature from the burning furnace where arms and armor were made. The room itself had all the trappings a blacksmith might need - a large forge where ore was blasted with heat to make them malleable. Anvil, to hammer said ore into shape. A grind stone on which to sharpen the blade to a fine point. Table and materials to make repairs to armor and weapons.
“I’ll assume ye don’t have any knowledge whatsoever, eh Isidore? So we’ll start from the basics.” He’d say, grabbing a nugget of raw Rubell ore in one hand and Iron in another. “The ore itself. Each is different. Each has different strengths and weaknesses. Rubell ore that’s common here in Gloomhollow, soft. Easily worked, but is good at conducting magic. Iron is harder. Needs a firmer hammer and more heat, but sharper and harder than Rubell ore. Knowing what you’re working with, and what you want to create with it is important.”
He’d let Isidore have both of them. The Iron was hard, rough…and well, exactly as he’d expect of Iron. The Rubell, was similar to the previous time he had felt the blade. Sharp, but soft. He could likely break it with his bare hands if he had enough force on it.
“You can add other metals and things to strengthen it. Normally Rubell blades are made with a bit of iron, to make them not so brittle.” He’d move over to the forge, grabbing a hammer as Raelzeth would appear with a box of a few pieces of iron ore and an apron for Isidore to wear. “Put it on lad. Best way to learn is to do. The forging process is simple enough. Once the metal is heated, start by shapin’ the metal into a shape that best fits the tool or weapon you want to make, making sure it stays up to temperature while you hit it.”
A hammer, tongs, and a variety of other tools were laid out near the anvil. Asvar would hand the hammer to Isidore.
“Don’t have to tell me twice lass! I didn’t sign up to get eaten by some sorta slime!” Eirhild would yell back, as she’d hop off the cart. A certain little fox would use this time to flee the scene, heading back into the direction of Mie’s camp.
Donovan would surge forward, divine speed carrying him to his target. He’d leap into the air, intent to smash the creature with a heavy blow to its supposed head. The hunters were still too disorganized to respond properly, the creature though - was already recovered from the blow Soyala herself had just dealt.
Slimy tendrils would latch onto his leg, a hardened bone weapon impaling his shoulder. Pain rippled through the point of impact as it would pull the blade upwards in an attempt to sever Donovan’s arm from the rest of his body.
Leannah’s timely intervention, may be the only reason that it wasn’t. The blast of fire would slam into the ground behind the beast, causing it to recoil forwards - right into Donovans hammer. The sound of glass shattering. A myriad of colors as the creature's head seemed to fracture into multiple fragments. The creature would toss Donovan aside with a pained shriek, he’d land on the ground, a large gash in his right shoulder and bleeding profusely.
It’d lash out at everything in fury, its body starting to lose cohesion as slimy, oily liquid dripped onto the ground along with a number of bones and the weapons it had taken into itself.
“Kkkkrr…gggrrrrk-” Pained, furious gurgles as its body began shrinking. “Mmrttthher…hlllk-hhhrrrst….” Whatever it was communicating was difficult to tell, but though the blow it had been dealt was fairly staggering, it wasn’t completely losing its cohesion just yet - no, instead it would lash out for more of the hunters, grabbing them by their ankles and bodies, pulling them into itself more. Consuming, assimilating as its body would stabilize.
Of course, the water bolts being slung towards the creature would have done more damage - had it not used the bones from the hunters it had recently consumed to create more armor for itself, the bolts of water not able to penetrate it, it appeared. As the chaos settled, the remaining hunters were few in number. The slime’s body bubbled and rippled, morphing and shifting into a larger form as the bodies it had consumed were serving to further its own growth now.
From one side of its lower body, two large slimy hands would form, tipped with bony claws and covered in painful looking spines. Armor made of more bone would form upon its upper body. No doubt getting near this thing was going to be tougher.
Soyala herself, would take this time to bolt from the scene, deeming the ambush lost and the goal at the moment, not mattering as much as making a swift exit. Narkissa would at least be able to note she was fleeing back towards the forest. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to follow her? She was still far enough away from the slime she could flee, but at the same time the thing looked like it wasn’t going to be going down as easily as the others.
Misaki @PKMNB0Y “Right.” Lazhira would exhale, still seeming a bit on edge from the situation. “Be safe, Narkissa.” Lazhira would start making her way back towards the village. It’d probably be safe enough there for now, back at her house. The deer would follow, prancing along beside Misaki seeming awfully pleased that it was able to help in the situation.
“Jeez, i’m not cut out for playing hero, am I?” Lazhira would say, trying to lighten the mood just a bit as they’d walk. “You and Narkissa are really good at this sort of thing, aren’t you? Well…I suppose you didn’t really do much…sorry rambling because I’m nervous.” She’d chuckle sheepishly.
A few moments would pass where Misaki could reply if she wanted.
“Whew…I’m tired after that. Hey…Misaki? Can I use your tail as a pillow to nap on once we get back?” She’d innocently ask, seeming as though she still wanted to get a chance to since she hadn’t really since they’d arrive.
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jjKSxTj.png[/img][/center]
Hello! Welcome to my little bio.
Not much to say, really. Just a horror game protag that likes writing and playing vidya games when I'm not being chased by the cosmic forces of darkness. (I'm a security guard that works night shifts usually).
Have some dancing medjed.
[img]https://i.redd.it/q95hk1tobbv11.gif[/img]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/jjKSxTj.png" /></div><br><br>Hello! Welcome to my little bio.<br><br>Not much to say, really. Just a horror game protag that likes writing and playing vidya games when I'm not being chased by the cosmic forces of darkness. (I'm a security guard that works night shifts usually).<br><br>Have some dancing medjed.<br><br><img src="https://i.redd.it/q95hk1tobbv11.gif" /></div>
Danyel,
datadogie,
The Red Seelie,
rush99999,
Xiro Zean,
Cu Chulainn,
Alfhedil,
Ojiro Mashirao,
Gerlando,
Izurich
