Rune_Alchemist

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

Sarah shrugged, allowing Luna to head off with her maid as she’d run back over to the other group of elves, giving a friendly toast to what she was now calling a ‘victory’ on her end that Luna could very clearly hear her bragging about. The elf was certainly…embellishing the events of the duel just slightly.

“Yes.” Sucaria replied simply, motioning for Luna to sit in front of her. The half Fomorian would pull a small box full of a fragrant herbal paste from her satchel of supplies. She’d place it near her, before grabbing Luna’s hair and pulling it back, tying it into a braid and keeping any errant strands from her forehead. “I can’t…explain it. Well.” She’d lather up her hands in the herbal remedy, gently starting to massage Luna’s forehead. “Don’t want to…tire you.”

The decision seemed to be left up to Luna, as it stood, though it seemed Sucaria was still feeling uneasy; she didn’t want to make Luna travel just because she was feeling a bit ill.

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall, Forest
@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise

---

The branches coiled around Ethelred. Breaking them once frozen, was not terribly difficult with his own strength and a helping hand from Elnith’s own blade. The Black Knight used her blade to keep more branches off Ethelred, cutting them with the range her weapon had as the Frozen Knight impaled his lance into the ground.

The tree jerked to a halt, its roots frozen and impaled in place, while Luana had successfully managed to sink her claws into its bark…its…surprisingly fleshy feeling bark. Lugh wasn’t far behind, having chased after the tree, using his superior agility to run a bit of the ways up its trunk, trying to slash more of the branches that were trying to widen the crack in its trunk.

“Tree…?”

Words. Coming from the tree. Understandable, this time.

“Tree. Yes. I’m a tree now. A pretty little tree!” Laughter, the bark rumbling as Lugh lost his grip on his footholds, jumping away from the creature as it pulled harder, bark creaking and cracking as it ripped itself more and more. Lugh landed on the ground, taking a few quick steps back.

“Do you want to be a tree too? We’ll be such good friends. A lovely little wintry tree~” The tree would state. The party would become quite aware that now there were about two dozen or so of those small, plant-like imp things that had now surrounded them, watching them from various places from the trees, to the underbrush. It stopped pulling now, and instead, seeing that escape was going to be more trouble than it was worth, immediately turned around and lunged at the group, using its mighty weight to simply try and crush the four combatants.

Location:
Airedale Forests
@Guy0fV4lor

---

“Hmph, I was in fact, heading there myself. I don’t need a babysitter, though.” She replied with a dismissive huff, though it’d quickly turn into a mildly embarrassed seeming sigh. “...Raella. Raella Norinth. Student of the Great Witch Morgan. If I am to go with you, you shall show me the proper respect I am afforded.” She’d grip her staff a bit tightly before giving another humph and starting to walk off towards Airedale.

“Also I can find lodgings myself! I don’t need any help don’t even think I do!” She’d say quickly…there was probably a story behind that, but she didn’t seem like she wanted to share given how quickly she was running off. "...but you could point me in the direction of the keep I have business in the castle!"

Queens Quarters
@VitaVitaAR

---

While it could be said that she had indeed, muffled her voice, there was an audible ‘pfft’ noise from Vyrell as he went about cleaning up the room and he was for some reason, making sure to keep his back to Fio for a few moments before he’d finally turn back around wearing a smile full of levity.

“Well, while I can’t say what she is up to, Fio,” He’d say. “I can see that you’re fairly tired from that. I’ll leave you be for now, I’m sure the queen won’t mind you staying in here for a bit. Maybe she’ll be embarrassed enough not to pull a stunt like this again anytime soon.” Vyrell offered her a small smile as he finished up doing some small bits of cleaning. “If there’s nothing you want to report to me, though, I must get back to my own duties. With her highness gone I need to make sure no one else stumbles in here…haa…”

Assuming Fio didn’t stop him, he’d do just that, allowing Fio to stay in the Queens quarters for now.

The luxurious room was likely the largest bedroom in the keep, as expected. Shelves full of books. Many of the Queens belongings were within easy reach, if she was perhaps to be curious about it…but surely Fio wouldn’t be the snooping type. As the time drug on though, she’d find the room fairly peaceful, perfect for taking a nap in. In fact the bed was extremely comfortable. Unreasonably so almost.

At least until she’d become aware of a small fairy fluttering in through the balcony.

“Whew, finally managed to get away from that cat. Ugh, dumb feline…” The fairy grumbled. “Hmm…so this is that Queens room, huh? Pfft, what kinda queen leaves her trash all over the place…” The fairy, not seeing Fio, fluttered over to the small pile of plates and began observing the rest of the mess in the room. “Is she so poor she doesn’t have servants? Or maybe she just likes living in a trash pile…trash queen? Ahaha, she’s a trash queen of garbage, ahahah~! Ohoho, maybe I should do a little prank…”

The Maids Guide to Demon Hunting

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours
@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

---

Lyssa jumped, body going stiff and giving a little squeal as she’d feel Katherine’s hand smack her butt.

“Nyep-Hey save that kinda stuff for the bedroom.” She’d giggle a bit, a coy smile given towards Katherine. “Oooor bribe me with something sweet and cold if you wanna do that sorta thing in public.” She’d rub her butt just a bit where she was smacked before turning towards her would be assailant. “So kitty cat, what’s your name and are we gonna get a room oooor are you just gonna leave me hanging?”

The small girl in the red dress responded with a frown, glancing warily towards Lyssa and Katherine before looking up at Polina and Lucrecia.

“...I-I…uhm…y-yes…” She’d quietly reply. “A-akantha…my name. Akantha…”

“My my, aren’t you all quite rowdy this evening.” A voice, familiar to the maids would interrupt their conversation as the resident nurse and long range fighter would make herself available, stepping out of the ships lower deck and onto the main deck. “Hmm…oh, it seems we have a new guest, too.” The white haired maid offered Akantha a smile. “Lyssa, I believe your mother requested a checkup by me before anything else, yes?”

“Aww, but I wanna do other things.” She’d pout.

“Not until I check you for injuries.” Viatrix grabbed the pink haired maid by the wrist. “Is the little one in need of some medical attention as well?” She’d ask Polina and Lucrecia.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Location:
Human Village
@Psyker Landshark@Asuras@VitaVitaAR

---

Running into the building that had the door violently ripped open from the inside - it became clear this wasn’t just your average building. Bookshelves lined the walls, and a number of instruments of alchemical and scientific nature had been scattered on the floor. Ripped pages from books. Medical diagrams that showed of all things, what seemed to be dissected beasts.

Aleksiya, peeking inside and following just behind Dragan would notice a bit more than he would have. A few pages referencing the source of these creatures. Something about humans and beasts both being warped by something further in the forest - possibly a vampire being the cause of it.

More, was research about various notable vampire lords, but the pages were ruined, caked with blood and torn in some areas. The only notable thing she could make out ‘The forest is likely where one fell, but who, I can’t say.’

Dragan, rushing in and heading further back, would see a second room full of cages.

All had been opened, some smashed open…but in some were carcasses of beasts from above, but he wouldn’t be able to observe the room for much longer. In the room was a large, beastly looking creature pinned to the floor. Thick, heavy chains were keeping it locked down, stakes drove into its claws and arms in several places were keeping its arms locked to the ground, with similar treatment for its legs. Its head had a large, thick shackled collar around its neck.

Part of its back had been surgically tore open, revealing its bone structure as well as its beating heart and other still functioning organs.

A blindfold over its eyes, a nose that had been stitched shut, ears plugged with spikes, mouth muzzled and gagged. It hadn’t noticed him yet, but no doubt it would notice him if he got closer.

Behind it, off to the side seemed to be a small ladder leading upwards to the surface. A hole had been dug, quite recently.

Well, they had found the source of the beasts.

Location:
Human Village, Riverside
@Pyromania99@Click This

---

“Damn it, the only other door…” Well, she had boarded it up. Didn’t want anyone else escaping. A perhaps reckless and short sighted decision in the end. Had she been over confident? Julene’s expression softened only somewhat as the smoke became thicker, the crackling of fire filling her ears. Well…perhaps this was fitting in the end.

“What’s the matter, creature?” She’d say to the gorebat as it’d chitter in an annoyed fashion. “Shoo or you’ll get burned, too-ah?” The bat forcefully grabbed her head, turning it in the direction that Akyasha and Giselle were attempting to pry open a hole in the weakened, thin walls of the building.

“...tch, that lady is crazy.” Still, if it was a way out of this alive, then she’d take it. Normally the bolt would probably be too weak to blow a hole in the wall, but if nothing else, it could help. Her head was starting to get dizzy from the smoke inhalation anyways. “Ack-ngh-cough-Move you-cough-!”

She aimed the bolt, and loosed it towards the wall.

Another explosion.

The wall split open, with thankfully Giselles’ reinforcement holding the rest of the wall and building around Julene up just enough for the blow not to bring down the rest of the building down around her. And a hole, just big enough for Julene to be pulled through.

The human fell forwards, crawling on the ground as she’d move towards the hole, the gorebat tugging on her sleeve as she’d soon manage to get through the opening.

“...you…are a crazy woman…but thanks…” Julene sputtered out, needing help standing currently. She was covered in mostly superficial wounds. A few light cuts and scrapes, a few burns and was singed in a few places but she was otherwise mostly fine.

Location:
Pirates End
@crimson Paladin

---

Ignition.

Flame.

It would leave the captain feeling a bit weakened, but it’d be enough. Fire alighted on the large, makeshift harpoon. It was incomparable in size to the creature that was gazing at them with a heavy, imperious gaze, but it was the only weapon they had for now. As it sailed through the air, Cynthia pulled herself up next to Fellborn.

And slowly, she’d lower just one side of her blindfold, revealing beneath a single eye the color of clearest blue. It lacked any pupil, iris - it was just a completely, blue sphere in her eye socket - but it was only the briefest of glances for the captain, for just as quickly as she had revealed it, she’d recoil in pain, clutching the side of her head.

Whatever she had done, if anything, was not something Argus could see. All he’d see was the result.

As the titanic creature rose its tendril from the sea in order to crush them, the bowspirit slammed into the watery wall that served as its armor, but it did not stop. It pierced through the armor, and right through to what was presumably the beasts flesh. An explosion rocked the beast, sending it swaying to the side, and sending its tendril sinking back into the water as the beast itself closed its eye, a sing-song like voice shuddering with what seemed like pain and annoyance.

“Nngh…I hate to ask this but…land…carry me…” He’d feel Cynthia’s hand on his wrist. “While its stunned. Can’t hurt us there…”

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

---

Now why had she gone to a crypt again?

This place was ill-suited for an archer like her, wasn’t it? Cramped hallways, poor vision…but even so, her mind was elsewhere. She had been put in well, not a bad mood but certainly one of mild brooding. Part of her felt relieved at seeing her again, but on the other hand another part of her wished she hadn’t. She wanted to put that whole thing behind her, after all, and getting involved with them again wouldn’t be any good.

“What’s the matter Cecil? Do I need to give you a kiss or something to cheer you up?”

“For once, I’m the one that feels annoyed by such a comment.”

“Tsk, did meeting her really put you in that bad of a mood? You should have stayed behind if it was going to bother you that much.”
“And do what, Shael? Introduce myself as a wanted fugitive and traitor like the rest of my family?”

“What would they do, hm? I’d rip that entire palace to shreds with a storm if they tried to harm a pretty little hair on your head.”

“...you can be surprisingly overprotective sometimes, can’t you?”
“Tsk. You say that like Im the reason you haven’t died an ignoble death yet.”

She didn’t respond, Serenity’s shout pulling the archer from her thoughts. Despite the instructions and the clear, commanding voice of Serenity’s though, Cecil was a bit too late to react. She hadn’t drawn her bow yet, nor even knocked an arrow or even started flinging any spells by the time the others had engaged. She had been far too focused on her own thoughts, distracted and in the following seconds it took her to prepare herself the other undead had swiftly been dealt with.

It was a good thing she had collected herself enough by the time this large, hulking mass of a man appeared wielding what seemed to be an enchanted axe of some sort.

“I’ll help escort the captain further down!” Cecil shouted. Her arrows wouldn’t be particularly effective here, either. Too cramped. Too many people. Still, she could at least help provide some form of distraction for this behemoth of a man and make it a bit easier to push past him.

—-----------
@Conscripts

Steffen engaged the man first, weapons mightily clanging against each other as they made a contest of strength out of it. As Steffen pulled himself back out of retaliatory strike range, the armored man didn’t so much as flinch or allow himself to slow down. With nothing more than a battle cry, he charged towards Steffan, the runic axe glowing with arcane power as it swung towards Steffan.

As it made contact with either his opponent, the ground again, or another blade, a powerful explosion would send anything flying if not outright severely injuring an opponent.

I Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game, But———?! (Now Accepting)

Mella

@AThousandCurses@PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze

---

Quite the rambunctious critters, weren't they? Unfortunately for them, they could not escape a talented maids quick hands! She may not have had special powers or magic like Elastasia, but she was no less capable! As the critters were funneled towards them, Mella honed in on the more exotic looking ones and went specifically for those. A lizard like creature that vaguely reminded her of an axolotl was easily dealt with after snatching it from the ground before it could slip through Reginalds feet while he...oh, was that some sort of...holy bird or something?

Her eyes lingered on Reginalds prize for a few moments before she'd tear her eyes away.

She had and wanted nothing to do with such things. They'd only just get her in trouble. It was a good thing, then, something else else needed her intervention.

"Humph," As the kitten leapt towards Elastasia, it would instead be finding itself face planting right into Mella's bosom as she put herself between the kitten and the mage. "Its rather impolite to leap at a lady's face." She'd scold the kitten, using a free arm to pin it against her body in case it tried struggling.

The Maids Guide to Demon Hunting

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours
@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

---

Being handed a bag of macaron, Lyssa gave a fist pump and a chuckle as she’d snatch it eagerly. The rookie maid would proceed to well, start quickly stuffing her face with the pastries, listening to the exchange between Myrilla and Polina. The pink haired instructor, in turn, merely took a long drag on her cigarette, listening to Polina make her case.

“I should have expected the maid that didn’t know her place was the one I’d have to beat more training into.” She responded gruffly. “You think this was a ‘critical success’? You not only put the whole mission in jeopardy fighting a high demon when you’re mere rookies that could barely fight these common animals.” She’d snarl. “Not only that, you didn’t even manage to save a single member of the recon team aside from Lyssa. And did you even see if you could find anything that happened? No, you just went in shot every demon you saw and didn’t use your bloody brain to figure out-”

“Moooom we get it you were worried about them!”

“Bwehf!?” A quite uncharacteristic choking noise came from Myrilla as she’d cough up cigarette smoke. “L-lyssa?!”

“Ehehe,” Lyssa bounced over, giving Polina a playful wink and a smirk as she hugged her mom, nuzzling the top of her head against the older womans arm. “C’mon, stop being so grouchy. I’m fine! Not a scratch on me! I got some good field time, too! And now I’m just hungry…fighting makes me really hungry, ugh…”

“A-ahem, w-well,” Myrilla, cleared her throat, turning on her heels and walking away from the group. “Lyssa, go have Viatrix give you a checkup. The rest of you…well, you have free time until we return to the Maison. Dismissed!”

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

“...Ah.” Sarah smiled as she’d remove herself from Luna, kneeling on the ground next to her with a small smile. “Thank you, but if I allow you to heal me more, I think the elf you brought along would murder me.”

True as she said, Sucaria, though her face betrayed not much emotion…there was a subtle, small narrowing of her eyes. A glare pointed right towards Sarah as she’d quickly move over, nearly knocking the other elf over as she’d pull Luna to her feet, wrapping her hands around Luna’s arms.

“Lady Luna,” Sucaria quietly began. “...hm…your head really is…hard.” She’d comment, starting to address some bruises on the knights head. “I have some healing salve with me…it should help some.”

“Ahaha, you know what works more?” Sarah smiled, grabbing Luna by the shoulder and dragging her back to the group of elves. “Drink, Dancing, and a bit of storytelling! Come, I’ll tell you about that demon I slew!”

“Lady Luna has had enough of this drink and dancing…we should be returning to Airedale.” Sucaria interjected.

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall, Forest
@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise

---

Luana’s spear began growing, much like the roots that were trying to bind its owner. Coiling around the tree, attempting to bind it and restrain it with its own roots, entangling and fighting it. This, only slowed it down so much, restraining it just enough for the roots above that had formed into an oddly shaped human fist to be slowed enough for Elnith to deflect the incoming blow, swinging her blade, cutting deep through the wood and severing several small branches and twigs.

In the same instant, Lugh would make a movement to disengage slightly from the tree - only to immediately have his face sprayed with skunk.

“Bweh!? W-wha Luana why!” He’d shout, being distracted just long enough to feel a root wrap around his ankle, pulling him up into the air and promptly aimed to smash the young Tuatha into the ground. Thankfully the youth was a bit more reactive than that, taking a short blade from its sheath and cutting the roots holding him, landing on his feet.
But then, all of a sudden, there was silence.

The tree would briefly cease its movements as the cracking and breaking of wood could be heard. Luana’s spear was trying to hold the tree in place, fighting for control of its own roots while Ethelred was simultaneously trying to split the thing's interior open.

And split, it would.

The trees movements would resume, starting to get more frantic. A heavy grouping of branches struck towards Ethelred, trying to envelop the frozen knight, trying to stop his movement while its second ‘hand’ grabbed a hold of the crack that had formed and started to pull on it, trying to pull the crack wider and further apart.

…and then it tried to, of all things, flee

It ceased using its roots to defend itself, and instead tried to drag itself away from the group of knights, using its roots to pull and drag itself along the ground.

Queens Quarters
@VitaVitaAR

---

Vyrell let Fio vent her frustrations as he’d merely sigh, starting to take note of the absolute messy and chaotic state of the queens bedchambers. The bed itself was a mess. While they were well taken care of, they hadn’t been made and left in a state of disarray. What seemed to be plates of food had been left a bit carelessly out, several books, half read lay open on a desk, and a few training blades had been left where the queen had simply likely used them last. There was also the issue of her common clothes just liberally being laid in a pile, though the more fancy clothing she wore at least were put up neatly in a closet.

“You would think she would be a little more aware of her position.” Vyrell soon would reply with a sigh. “She’s made a habit of disappearing like this if I’m not watching her every five seconds and nothing she deems important is going on.” The knight frowned, glancing out of the open balcony door. “I don’t know if it's trust in us or carelessness on her part. I do not doubt her majesty can take care of herself, but leaving without letting anyone know where she is is rather careless.”

Vyrell started collecting the leftover plates of food.

“If nothing else, I’d like to know what she’s doing.”

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Location:
Human Village
@Psyker Landshark@Asuras@VitaVitaAR

---

“I-I uh…w-well yes okay…! T-thank you!”

Being spoken to at least, seemed to help the villagers regain their senses if only a little. The child with them couldn’t help but to look back at Aleksiya as she was swiftly pulled away by what was presumably her parents as the vampires disappeared further into the tunnels, the sounds of the vampires swift assault soon echoing through the cavern system…

Dragan’s hammer tore into the undead attempting to breach a barricaded house, smashing the skull of an antlered beast and sending it to the ground. Retaliation was slow, as it’d attempt scrambling back to its feet, only to them have the undead beast slam into the crowd from the side again, completely clearing them from the barricade and scattering them in the confusion. The undead beast tore into the other creatures, biting, clawing, ripping and tearing.

A particularly large beast lunged towards Dragan, attempting to knock him over with its size.

Aleksiya wasn’t far behind. Dragan’s magic worked to resurrect the fallen villagers as zombies, the beasts that had been feasting on them were in quite for the nasty surprise as the corpses began clawing and biting, ripping and tearing back. It was a gruesome, macabre sight as the beasts still in a feeding frenzy continued trying to eat and devour the corpses while the zombies themselves did much the same. It was perhaps, a fairly ingenious strategy. Though it’d take quite a lot of focus to raise so much, the beasts, if they did happen to kill one only lessened the burden after quite a fight leaving Dragan able to focus more on his own battle.

The zombies, though, at least had Aleksiya’s magic to hinder the beasts too. Unseen bullets of ice pierced numerous beasts hide and heads, if not killing them outright, making them easy pickings for the zombies.

Now that they were in the area proper, they could see something perhaps a bit odd and out of place.

One of the houses looked as though it had a wooden barricade or door or some such, ripped off from the inside.

Location:
Human Village, Riverside
@Pyromania99@Click This

---

The creature’s cannon did not need much charge time it seemed. Only a mere few seconds. As a small orb of light appeared at the end of the canon, Akyasha managed to move out of the way, quickly stepping…and having a bit of help from an unlikely ally. Six shots rang out, all slamming into the undead fishman, throwing its aim off balance.

The canon fired in the same instance Akyasha’s weapon met its face once more. It tried to grab her, but it was too late as it fell back to the ground. A blast of highly dense magical energy launched off into the air as it fell to the ground, it soon exploding into the sky somewhere above.

The beast didn’t move again.

The gorebat atop Giselle’s head chittered grumpily before flicking its ears towards the house and hissing…

Inside the burning building, Julene deflected another blow, but the smoke was growing thicker and the flames had completely engulfed the building now. A swing of her blade, managing to crack open the skull of a nearby undead.

And there was the sound of wings flapping, and a small chitter.

“...A beast!”

Julene quickly turned, brandishing her blade and aiming to attack whatever it was…only to have the Gorebat latch right onto her face and chitter a bit irritably.

“What…the blazes are you!?” She’d shout, grabbing the thing and pulling it off her face before roughly throwing it to the ground. “Tch, some new beastie crawled out of the woodworks…didn’t that weird lady…bah, whatever.”

The gorebat hissed in pain as it slammed into the floor. Oh it didn’t like this human. It was going to complain to Akyasha about this.

Julene made to leave, but something heavy fell to the ground outside, and the ensuing shockwave rattled the building, collapsing the front door of the building.

“Geh, just my luck!”

Location:
Pirates End
@crimson Paladin

---

Cynthia hesitated for only a moment, briefly glancing back to the figure looming over the both of them. It truly was gargantuan in size, water draining from the shoreline as though an oncoming tsunami was rushing towards the land as it rose higher and higher into the darkened sky. Ancient shipwrecks clinging to the water as though it was using them for makeshift armor. She’d pry the wooden shrapnel from her shoulder, the wound miraculously closing in seconds as she’d use her free hand to grab hold of the bowspirit.

“Captain Fellborn, on my mark, swing this bowspirit around and hurl it towards the beast and infuse as much of whatever spell you want into it as you can!” Cynthia shouted, deftly pulling herself up onto the bowspirit, running atop it as an expert tightrope walker may.

From the depths of the watery visage, a single, vertical eye opened, dwarfing even a ship in size.

A single melodic, sing-song voice was heard. What could only be another part of the beasts body began rising from the sea next to it.

“Now Fellborn!”

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

Something in Luna’s psyche was telling her to fight more. To push harder. To burn every ounce of strength she had to defeat this elf in front of her, even if she wasn’t quite aware of it herself.

“Guh-another headbutt-!” Sarah complained, head reeling again from the second impact, likely earning a small concussion now and losing her footing. It was perhaps, quite an inelegant fight that they were having, but the fomorian and elvish spectators seemed to enjoy the spectacle regardless as Luna would lunge towards Sarah, body crashing into hers, the two of them falling to the ground.

Yet, it was not Sarah that would end up pinned.

A swift motion as they fell. Luna would feel Sarah’s hands gripping her armor, pivoting with one of her feet as she’d catch the humans lunge using the momentum to spin them around and slam Luna’s back into the ground.

“My my,” Thus, Luna would end up with Sarah on top of her, straddling the other knight with one hand pressed firmly into the ground next to Luna’s head. “Its rare a human can even match an elvish warrior, let alone even hope to defeat one.” Sarah would say, smiling confidently. “You’re lucky that your head is unusually hard. Shall we consider this a draw, Miss Luna?”

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall
@Crimson Paladin

---

And smack into the trunk it would.

A solid, wooden thunk as the wooden implement impaled itself on the trunk as Ethelred soon followed, driving his lance into the base of the tree, ice blooming from the wound. Elnith followed suit, the crimson blade shimmering as she’d swing horizontally, space warping and distorting along the length of the tree before it sharply snapped back into place.

It seemed to have some effect. The sound of wood cracking and twisting as a large crack appeared in the trees bark, starting at where Ethelred had impaled it with his lance and all the way up to where Luana’s spear had embedded itself in the side of the tree.

“...Ah! Wait! Everyone move!” Lugh shouted, forgetting that Luana was ear plugged.

A sickly sweet smell emanated from the crack, making all present feel tired and sluggish…and then the tree moved. The branches above twisted and swayed in the wind, the ground beneath them rumbling as earth was ripped beneath their feet, malignant roots whipping from the ground and lashing out towards Luana and Ethelred. Some would wrap around Ethelreds’ torso, though they’d quickly freeze. Another root would grab hold of Luana’s ankle, more quickly aiming towards her.

The branches above twisted and turned, almost taking the shape of a wooden hands as a group would attempt to slam itself into Elnith.

The singing was getting louder. Urgent. Gleeful sounding as the groups strength seemed to slowly be sapped by the music and whatever scent was coming from within the tree.

Airedale Prison
@VitaVitaAR

---

“...was I just…ignored…” Cethlann seemed particularly offended by that, falling silent as Vyrell offered Fio the spare change of clothes while she’d get dressed. The fomorian would earn a cold glare from Vyrell, who’d pull out some spare strips of cloth. He’d walk over to their prisoner just as Fio would start to leave. “Sad, leaving so soon miss witch? Careful you don’t get mud on your clothes on the way out migh-” Cethlann would say as Vyrell started gagging her again, cutting off whatever other words she was going to say as they’d soon be muffled from the cloth.

As the pair would leave the prison, Vyrell would offer Fio a small cup of tea after having apparently asked a servant to prepare some for later, escorting her up to the queens chamber and knocking on the door.

Only to receive no response.

“...My lady? Queen Sorcha?” Another knock from Vyrell. After receiving another few long seconds of silence, Vyrell tossed open the door to an empty, if somewhat still messy room. A balcony on the other side of the room had its doors slightly ajar, but a quick check would also soon reveal no sign of the Queen either.

“...She’s…not here.” Vyrell frowned. “...once that gluttonous, lazy, fool returns…” Vyrell held onto one of the bed posts, knuckles going white as he’d mumble some other not so nice things that he would do to the queen, like burying her in paper work or making her clean up her room by herself.

“I apologize Fio. it seems her majesty is currently out of the building and has not informed anyone.” Vyrell would turn back to the mage after a few seconds of regaining his composure. “I’ll take full responsibility as her personal attendant for losing her.”

The Maids Guide to Demon Hunting

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours

---

@Click This@AzureKnight

“Ahaha, luck didn’t have anything to do with it.” Lyssa replied with a giggle, with a somewhat dopey, happy smile as she detached herself from Lucrecia, managing to stand mostly on her own and didn’t seem too bothered by what was likely a few broken bones now. “They just couldn’t handle my cuteness-ah, Macarons~!”

She’d gratefully take the treat, smile never fading as she’d proceed to completely ignore Polina’s instruction about not eating them all at once, stuffing one in her mouth and nearly eating the whole thing in a single bite.

“Eheh, oh, I almost didn’t see the cute little girl.” Lyssa said, walking around Polina to look at the girl clinging to her back. “Oh, I think I saw her earlier…she was running with her family. Hey hey, little girl, its okay you’re all safe now.” The girl was none too enthused, burying her head in Polina’s back and ignoring the pink haired maid.

She otherwise seemed fine, aside from trauma she’d likely need to work through after this.

“Eeeh….I think I’m scaring her.” Though Lyssa seemed to do nothing but laugh about that, nibbling on another Macaron as she’d walk up to Lucrecia and proceed to present her with a few out of her own bag. If Lucrecia would let her, Lyssa would proceed to feed the other maid the sweet.

Regardless though, it was likely a good idea for the trio to make it back to camp sooner rather than later. They had the only survivor of the forward operating unit and the rest of the maids would likely be sent in to help with cleanup, along with certain members of the church.

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@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

“I’m of the same opinion, Katherine.” Leoniya replied to the fellow maid, earning a chuckle from Sir S.

“Well, then with your permission I shall be off.” He’d bow, a deep, formal bow. “We shall likely run into each other again at some point, do stay safe until then.” And with that, he’d walk away from the pair, off into the distance before disappearing behind some rubble not to far away. Thankfully Leoniya and Katherine would not have to wait too long for the others to show up. Now that the main demonic threats had been taken care of, there was nothing left to do except make sure the LZ was secure and wait for extraction.

Lyssa would spend the time tending to her wounds and eating the rest of the macarons. Leoniya repaired her tank, and the little girl mostly kept to herself, though seemed to avoid Lyssa and cling close to Polina. After an hour or so of getting the radios back up and working from Bernadette, the maids would find themselves receiving extraction orders as another squad would be soon arriving to secure the area now that the place had been mostly taken care of.

The Clemantis would land just on the outskirts of town, just on the eastern end near the evac zone. Lyssa wasted no time in running ahead of the others, seemingly totally fine now from her injuries as she’d bound up the gangplank, quickly arriving on the deck of the airship.

“Mom~!” A certain foul tempered maid was there to greet them - and was giving all of them a glare as they arrived, but her stern visage was soon shattered by the sight of her daughter it seemed who proceeded to just…tackle her, burying her face in Myrilla’s chest and wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Bweh-lyssa!” Myrilla coughed, her cigarette falling to the ships deck. “Not while on duty!” She’d hiss, though she couldn't help but to sigh and soften her voice a little. “I was worried sick, you know. Are you hurt?”

“Nope. A demon smacked me around a bit but its all dead now and I’ve had worse during training.” She’d giggle in response, pulling away from the hug.

“Good, good…” Her stern visage returned, looking at the other maids that had returned. Leoniya, Polina, Lucrecia and Katherine. “...I’m assuming there were no other survivors from the squad?” Lyssa walked back over to Polina, giving her a somewhat expectant look. “...actually, before that. Just who in their right minds,” Myrilla interjected before either could answer. “Thought it was a tactically sound decision, to draw every single demon in the vicinity to the Landing Zone!? Do you have any idea how foolish and stupid that was? You’re lucky you didn’t end up as that High Demons plaything for eternity!” She’d snarl.

“Got any more? Please? I’ll give you hugs…or something else!” Lyssa whispered to Polina, a somewhat sly smile painted on her lips.

The little girl was clinging to Polina’s legs now, trying to hide from the others. Leoniya was directing some other maids onto the ground.