Shin Ghost Note

Paragraphs: Agents of Death [FernStone & Shin Ghost Note]

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They couldn’t hear the sounds of the Autoknights’ heavy footsteps anymore.

They were deep in the woods.

That red sky was the only thing keeping them company.

Lisa sat down on a fallen tree, and sighed.

”... I think we lost them.”

"Thank Sailor Moon!" Ella sighed dramatically, sitting down next to Lisa. She grimaced, flexing and unflexing her burnt hand. She’d overdone it with the fire… and it didn’t even do anything to them!

"So this place is a hellhole with a monarchy," Saskia frowned, standing in front of them both instead of sitting down. "I prefer the monsters."

”Me too! Because at least you can dissolve them in acid!” Lisa snorted before shaking her head. ”Though… I wonder if we should have gone with them, you know.”

She shrugged before she continued, ”Maybe this ‘King’ knows how to find the Rampage.”

"Maybe…" Saskia rubbed their chin.

"Oh!" Ella jumped up, an idea forming in her mind. A stupid one, probably, but! An idea nonetheless. "We should storm his kingdom and make him tell us where it is! Saskia can even torture the information out of him."

”... We’ll have to find it,” Lisa shrugged, before she hopped off the log and threw her handa up and then said, ”I mean, though, if it's a kingdom… It must be big. So it shouldn’t be hard.”

"Yeah! It it's bigger than the Rampage it'll be much easier to find!" Ella said cheerfully. "I bet if we prepare we can beat those robots too!"

"We could follow one of them..." Saskia suggested.

”They are probably looking for us right now,” Lisa shrugged, ”But how do you suppose we prepare?”

Ella put her hands on her hips as she thought about it. The acid worked… and she'd also made a dent in it when she kicked it. ”Prepare to throw around loads of acid spiders! And I managed to dent one with my kick… maybe we just need to hit them hard enough. Blunt force trauma."

"Maybe if we lure them all together, Ella freezes them with the Ice Scepter or you bind them, then we blood rain them again," Saskia said.

”My acid’s only good against meat,” Lisa shook her head. ”But, they seem slow, and they are loud. So avoiding them shouldn’t be hard. Or running away. Not fighting every twenty seconds would be nice.”

Lisa shrugged… In the distance, they could hear the familiar sound of the robots marching towards them.

"Let's hide and follow them. Quietly." Saskia looked at Ella.

"I can be quiet! I was quiet before!" Ella said, lowering her voice. She looked around, frowning. Where could they hide? She tilted her head and then pointed up a tree.

Spider legs came out of Lisa’s back and she gracefully climbed up into the canopy. ”Get your buttcheeks up here!” Lisa whispered.

The footsteps got louder…

Ella gave Saskia a quick boost to get up into the trees before quickly absorbing a bit of colour to make herself stronger. It made it easy to climb up there, but unlike Saskia and Lisa she… wasn't so good at balancing. She grimaced, clinging onto a tree trunk.

Saskia put a finger on her lips again, a blood tendril coming out of her back and curling round the branch she was on. The squad of robot knights was an entire unit as they marched through the woods in a line, each brandishing a different weapon. Each of the robots stood a few meters from each other, as some of their armor and weapons were eroded, and some were not. They continued through the woods, seemingly past them….

Ella didn’t move, at first, silently watching them. She was worried that if she wasn’t perfectly still she’d rustle some leaves, or something, and alert them. Then they’d just have to fight them again. Saskia watched carefully too, before pointing in the direction they were going, vaguely indicating a path between the close together trees. Then they quietly moved, using the blood tendril they had to get over to the next tree. Lisa faster, and more gracefully, climbed to the next tree-

She came to a stop, looking at Ella, putting her hands together and used Snare to make a message:

SHOULD I MAKE A SPIDER? WE CAN FOLLOW THEM EASIER THAT WAY.

Ella nodded immediately. Of course Lisa should. Anything that would make things easier was good! Ella was already having a hard time, carefully moving along to the next tree… for once her height was a negative. All she had was magical strength! No spider legs or bone lightening or anything. She grimaced as she finally caught up with Lisa and Saskia.

A glowing cocoon appeared that steadily increased in size until it was the size of a sedan. It burst out, equipped with Dragonfly wings, and Lisa dropped down and landed on its back. She looked up at them and gave the spider a few pats.

Saskia carefully pushed herself up onto the spider with her blood tendril, them pulled it back into her body. Ella hopped up right at the back. She then frowned. Weren't the wings quite noisy. She reached round to tap Lisa, pointed at the wings, then shook her head with a finger on her lips.

”That's only if we absolutely need to,” Lisa whispered back with a shrug of her shoulders. ”I’m going to keep distance - from the big ass line they’ve formed, they are probably looking for us.”

Lisa just shrugged, and began following after the robots. Keeping a safe distance, they were kept in earshot….

Then there was the boom of one of their muskets in the distance.

“... Found her!” One of the robots shouted, and all of the robots went in the direction of the musket. There was sounds of fighting - swords clashing, metal slicing, and the robots hitting the ground.

Lisa looked over her shoulder, before speaking at normal volume, ”... Should we investigate?”

"No-"

"Yes!" Ella interrupted. "Maybe whoever it is can tell us how to get to the Rampage!"

”I’ll eat my boot if they know!” Lisa snorted, as extra eyes appeared on her cheeks and forehead. The spider steadily crept forward towards the chaos in the distance. Lisa didn’t get too close, however, the spider stepped over several downed trees. Not just downed trees, but downed robots. Sliced to pieces, somewhat eroded.

”… At least they can be destroyed,” Lisa shrugged.

Eventually they approached a clearing, and witnessed an Autoknight raise its oversized sword overhead. It brought it down towards a figure - which dodged but the figured disappeared in the blink of an eye. Reappearing on the other side of the Autoknight, and a slash appeared on the robot. A deep gash, that constantly eroded as the robot fell forward.

The stranger was a tiny figure, wearing a tattered leather jacket, black cargo pants, and dirty combat boots. Their face was hidden behind an ornate samurai helmet. This person wore a backpack a hip pouch… and a glowing blue katana in hand. The robots were converging on this figure from all sides. The robots with muskets and other firearms were in the back, taking positions, while the robots wielding swords moved in.

Ella frowned. She wanted to help the mostly human shaped person, but what if they were actually a monster too? What if they tried to eat the three of them? "Do we help?!"

"We help, then when they're grateful to us, we kill them too, and eat them," Saskia suggested.

"Okay! Let's do that!" Ella nodded, looking to Lisa to get her agreement.

”I mean there’s a lot of them,” Lisa awkwardly laughed. ”How about we let this just play out - what could we do anyway?!”

Saskia shrugged. "Well, that's the easier option. Then we can easily take the person out."

"Sure! But… just watching is boring," Ella wailed, flopping against Saskia's back, strong enough to push them into Lisa. Ella's arms reached round to hug both her friends and shake them. "I bet we could beat them if we tried!"

”Okay!” Lisa shouted. ”… You go in first!”

"I will!" Ella shouted. She stood up, spinning around dramatically on the spider to magical girl transform before… falling off it and hurtling towards the ground. She spun midair, legs glowing with a rainbow light as she absorbed enough colour to land perfectly! With an amazing magical girl pose! No broken bones, just a dent in the ground.

"Weird, unfashionable robots, your days of evil are over!" Ella shouted. She grabbed the ice scepter with one hand and with the other shot out a blast of snow. Which was as effective as throwing snow at a tank.

However, it was effective at drawing all of their attention. Which the masked figure used to run into the bushes. One of the robots pointed at Ella, then shouted,

“… Open fire!”

”… Blood Rain,” Lisa said, summoning the blood-filled spiders into the sky.

Saskia pointed to the sky, causing the pulsating blood sacks to rapidly expand and explode all over the field. Ella ducked and rolled to the side, acidic blood splashing across her shoulder and side as she crashed into the bushes. The robot were dissolved by the far more potent acid, boring holes into their thick armor, and not just that, when the blood solidified, they were slowed significantly. However, that didn’t stop them from trying, as the robots converged towards Ella.

One of them shakily raised a musket at her, before pulling the trigger. The thunderclap rang out with a flash.

Ella's eyes widened and she jumped to the side. The bullet hit her shoulder, knocking her back and lodging into her muscle. It hurt, it burned, but she raised her other hand, electricity crackling around it and shooting at the one that shot her. Which caused the robot to pause for a moment.

”… Ella!” Lisa shouted, the spider taking flight - but going past Ella. ”… I’m going to do you like Luca!”

Lisa looked around as she casted Snare, creating a thick strand of web that connected Ella to the spider. Which also yanked Ella as the spider took flight.

Ella reached up to hold onto the web, grimacing. As she was yanked into the air she used the momentum to swing forward, trying to slam light enhanced legs into the robots face on the way past.

The spider zipped past them - even took a musket round, however the damage was inconsequential as Lisa healed the wounds on the spider and kept zipping over the woods. Lisa, then shouted (she had to be heard over the spider beating its wings),

”… SHOULD WE KEEP GOING UNTIL WE’RE OUT OF THE FOREST OR SHOULD WE LAND AND LET THEM GO PAST US?!”

"LAND!" Ella shouted back. She still had the bullet in her shoulder, blood ruining her clothes… she didn't have enough pink in reaching distance to heal it. "THIS IS REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE!"

"AGREED, LAND," Saskia said.

”IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE COMFORTABLE YOU’RE - AH NEVERMIND!” Lisa shouted before she landed in a clearing… a yard of a mansion. Lisa looked at Saskia and Ella, then back to the mansion…

… The robots could be heard in the distance, approaching steadily.

”Should we wait for them to pass or…?”

"Spider me!" Ella said first, down on one knee as blood spurted out of the wound in her shoulder. Getting shot sucked! She much preferred getting covered in acid.

”Let's hide in the mansion," Saskia hissed, running over to hook an arm under Ella's arm to help her over towards it.

”Oh, yeah; spiders!” Lisa shouted as she flicked her Healing-Spiders onto Ella. They burrowed their way into her flesh… and then the giant spider began to shrink with a series of loud pops and cracks before it scuttled off. That was when Lisa immediately ran towards the mansion, and when she made it to the door - she immediately summoned a wave of spiders before she opened it. Lisa poked her head in, before gesturing for the other two to come.

The sounds of the robots stomping got louder.

As the healing spiders worked their magic the bullet embedded in Ella's shoulder worked it's way out, clattering onto the ground. She didn't have to lean on Saskia anymore, running into the mansion.

"Stand back!" Ella closed the door behind them, pulling out the Ice Scepter and using it to freeze the door, giving an extra layer of defence.

"Those robots suck," Saskia intoned, looking around the place with narrowed eyes.

”Who are you telling?” Lisa laughed. ”Let’s just find a place to hide, and let them pass… Maybe the basement? I doubt they’d be able to get in there.” Lisa shrugged.

"Oh, I like the sound of that. Maybe there'll be a dungeon down there," Saskia said, smiling slightly.

"Yeah, let's find the basement! Onwards, girls!" And then she practically started marching deeper into the mansion, hunting for the stairs down. Eventually, they found it, and slowly walked down the stairs into the creepy mansion… Then Lisa flipped the switch to reveal massive place that was more of a fancy glorified bar. She smiled, up until she heard the massive crash of the robots breaking into the mansion. Their footsteps rustled dust and debris from the ceiling, as hearing them march overhead was not a good sound.

”Hide behind the bar," Saskia whispered, before reaching out to turn back off the lights.

Ella didn't really understand why because the robots shouldn't be able to find the basement… but better to be safe! She did just as Saskia suggested, Lisa did the same, running over to and hiding behind the bar. Maybe if they were lucky there'd be alcohol there too!

The stomping persisted, implying that the robots searched the mansion for them.

… Even over the stomping overhead, a loud growling could be heard from one of the halls. Then, loud footsteps approached the bar.

”... Oh, you gotta be fucking shitting me!” Lisa hissed underneath her breath.

Saskia silently kicked Ella as her mouth opened to tell Lisa to be quiet… Ella pouted, before holding her breath. Maybe if she didn't breathe whatever it was wouldn't approach them! But at the same time, she pulled the bright colours of her hair accessories to coat her fists. Waiting. Hoping whatever it was wouldn't come behind the bar.

The loud footsteps approached the bar, and Lisa held her breath as a wave of spiders came from the unseen areas behind the bar—it wasn’t a lot, but enough to cover Lisa completely. The creature on the other side paused and loudly sniffed the air. Lisa motioned for her companions to stay quiet. Just as it stepped on the bar counter…

… A loud crash from above drew the creature’s attention away, and it quickly disappeared back into the basement halls.

Ella let out a sigh of relief. They were safe for now… hopefully those robots would leave soon.

"Well, I really need a drink," Saskia intonated quietly, head turning to look around behind the bar. Ella frowned. It was probably a joke. Right? The spiders that were around Lisa quickly deployed to all known entrances to the bar area… they weaved a thick web that blocked them all off. While they were doing their thing, she stood straight up as she said,

”... We shouldn’t go overboard because, you know,” Lisa pointed up at the ceiling, and they could still hear the Autoknights banging overhead.

"We shouldn't have any! You guys get drunk way too quickly!" Ella said as she hopped up and straight over the bar.

”… We need it down here,” Lisa sneered.

Ella looked around with hands on her hips. "I wonder if there's any food in here?"

"Maybe," Saskia shrugged, starting to look through all the cupboards behind the bar. Lisa used her spider legs to climb up to the ceiling, before opening one…

”… Oooooh!” Lisa ecstatically said as she pulled out a box of Cheese-its. She ripped it open before she swallowed it. Dumping many of it onto the floor.

"Don't waste it!" Ella said, staring at all the Cheese-its on the floor in dismay.

"Eat them off the floor… catch," Saskia lobbed something at Ella. She caught it, tilting her head as she looked down at a can of peaches.

"OOOH, peaches- what am I supposed to do with it, I don't have a can opener… why does a bar even have these?"

”Yes.”

"Don't know, don't care, and you have magic," Saskia rolled their eyes, popping back up with a packet of Doritos that they started munching on. Ella shrugged, using a heated beam of light to cut through the metal lid and get inside the peaches, which she practically poured in her mouth.

"Do the taps work?" she asked between eating.

Lisa shrugged, walked over to the sink, and flipped it on. Water came out, and Lisa smiled, nodding her head at Ella… before the water turned red. The smell of metal filled the room as Lisa flipped it back off.

”... No.”

Soon enough, the stomping disappeared, and the army of Autoknights drifted off into the opposite direction in which they came. Lisa sighed in relief, before she turned back to the group,
”... Should we follow them or lay low? I don’t think they’re going to lead us back to their kingdom just yet.”

"I want to find that person they were fighting," Saskia said. "They looked tasty."

"Why do you want to eat them?!" Ella shouted, throwing up her hands.

"We didn't get the chance with Chloe… I just want to see what it's like."

"No!" Ella shook her head, before looking at Lisa. "We should lay low… maybe we can find the kingdom ourselves. Or figure out how to beat those things!"

”Now that I think about it, we shouldn’t have been trying to eat her,” Lisa said as she put her hands together, ”But eat her if you catch my drift.”

The room was silent.

”... I mean, all we have to do is share a space with a weird monster,” Lisa shrugged. ”That mysterious person didn’t have a hard time slicing them to bits but the robots had them pinned down, so...”

"I bet we can take that weird monster easy," Ella said with way more confidence than she actually felt… because everything they'd fought so far had been insane! It all resisted their various attacks! So annoying.

Saskia shrugged. "That person… did you notice the cuts were all sort of rusting? Like, eroding… reminded me of someone."

"Oh, Luca?! But he touched metal and it was completely destroyed! Like, bamn, disintegrated!"

Lisa laughed, ”I still remember that look on his face when I dangled him from a spider!” Lisa wiped a tear away. ”Though… Well…” Lisa shrugged.

”They just have a spicy sword.”

"Well we should find a spicy sword of our own," Saskia shrugged. "Maybe steal theirs."

"They’d use it on us before we could!" Ella gasped, shaking her head. "Let’s just… raid this place, see if there’s anything interesting! Then move on."
”Agreed!”

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

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Interactions: Layla/Luna (@Estylwen).

The House on the Hill.

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After Adora tried to defuse things after Lila (intentionally or not) tried starting shit, the Adoras stood by Lila and the others as she listened to Greenwood. Sloane asked the golden questions, and Ruby was obliged to yap. For once, she listened; well, for most of it, there was a genuineness in Ruby's speech and demeanor. Adora thought Greenwood was legit; she would be all for joining them if she ever decided to get back into magic. Though, things were peaceful, until...

"I can't believe you. All of you. You're harboring a member that's directly responsible for getting our Coven into a fight with the Wolfpack, and causing one of our members to die. And you're acting like that’s ‘no big deal’, like ‘we can talk about it later’, like I'll hush up like a good little bitch and let you just walk this one off! I may not have been there, but I've got the memories of an apparition who’s life was destroyed after what you did. I know how Naomi egged her on, how Alizée was getting ready to leave, before Naomi fired her up and served her up to Wolfpack on a silver platter! Play what you have, spy. Naomi said it herself. Alizée was getting ready to leave. She knew Alizée was easy to anger, she knew Wolfpack was on the way. She knew everyone needed to leave, else suffer. And what did she do?! It's her fault Alizée is dead. Naomi goes, or I refuse to acknowledge this alliance.”

Layla

... This idiot started talking. The Adoras facepalmed, all sympathy she had for Layla evaporating instantly. Going off of the recording, Layla was leaving out a lot, but from what Adora knew Alizee and the testicle were up to no good. How could Layla say an Apparition's life was 'destroyed' when said Apparition was hurting people?

”Layla, Alizee got herself killed. From what Bea- Bianca told me she fucking kidnapped one of their members. If anything they should be pissed at us. Fuck, we all got fucking shot because of her. Thanks, by the way. A bunch more of us would be fucking dead if it wasn't for their healer. So step the fuck back.”

Linqian

And there it was. On the other side of the story that Layla was leaving out, Naomi did mention that Alizee was trying to kill her friend. Greenwood didn't seem like the type of person to start shit; at least, that's what Adora gleaned from them.

”...Layla is not Sycamore. She is associated with the Temple.”

Jack

Wow. Harsh.

Adora thought to herself, noting the sharp pivot Jack took from being all 'We shouldn't get rid of even the traitors' to 'Fuck Layla.' I mean, she's far from sympathetic right now. Adora thought to herself. Adora glanced at Ruby, and the girl looked like she was ready to explode. Okay, it was time to de-escalate things before the Coven dogpiles Layla as they did to Sloane, and the situation got worse.

All three of the Adoras went over to Layla—one wrapped their arms around her shoulder, and the other two gently grabbed her hands. They all smiled at Layla (the best-forced smile Adora could force) as they attempted to maneuver her out of the room before the situation worsened.

All three of them spoke at the same time,

"Heeey! Let's go outside so we can chill out! Okay? Okay!" The Adoras turned their noses up at Luna, though. The girl knew exactly what she was doing when she showed the recording of what Naomi said: she was trying to make a scene to throw attention off herself. Either by throwing their new allies under the bus or letting Layla make an ass of herself!

”Luna, how the fuck can you be all 'Not now' then be all for it?!” The Adoras sharply hissed at Luna, pointing their fingers at her as they led Layla out of the room. "You know exactly what you are doing, you shady bitch!""

Now, they had to get Layla out of there before shit escalated.

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Ruby White.

Interactions: .

The House on the Hill.

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Things were going so well...

"I can't believe you. All of you. You're harboring a member that's directly responsible for getting our Coven into a fight with the Wolfpack, and causing one of our members to die. And you're acting like that’s ‘no big deal’, like ‘we can talk about it later’, like I'll hush up like a good little bitch and let you just walk this one off! I may not have been there, but I've got the memories of an apparition who’s life was destroyed after what you did. I know how Naomi egged her on, how Alizée was getting ready to leave, before Naomi fired her up and served her up to Wolfpack on a silver platter! Play what you have, spy. Naomi said it herself. Alizée was getting ready to leave. She knew Alizée was easy to anger, she knew Wolfpack was on the way. She knew everyone needed to leave, else suffer. And what did she do?! It's her fault Alizée is dead. Naomi goes, or I refuse to acknowledge this alliance.”

Layla

... Then this bitch had to start talking. All earlier suspicions about this girl being Alizee's sister or family member were all but confirmed - only a grieving family member could go through this level of mental gymnastics! As she spoke, Ruby clutched her staff, having to use what little restraint she had to not splatter this bitch. Ruby wanted to talk about it in a private setting, maybe come to a mutual understanding, but when this bitch went on her one-sided rant - even presenting "evidence" that only showed one half of the story - Ruby knew that this bitch was a lost cause. Also, by reading her emotions, Ruby saw the righteous fury in the gal... which meant that she fully believed herself to be the victim. Ruby stepped forward, ready to give this bitch hell...

”The Wolfpack is responsible for her death. The Wolfpack opened fire on her, executed her as they had fully intended to execute everyone present during that incident. Alizeé left Auri’s shop before that incident happened, immediately after we discussed a now-deceased member’s connection to the government. She left because she felt cornered, and Alizeé’s mind went to dangerous places when she did not feel safe.”

”I remember that conversation. What you’re hearing there is Naomi Rodgers talking to me. I had to step in to keep her from attacking. That was right before the Wolfpack arrived. Britney can tell you she wasn’t up to anything great.”

”Thank you. Naomi is entirely innocent regarding the death of Alizeé, as I am certain the House of Card’s spy knows, since she was clearly present. Greenwood, pay no mind to her. Layla is not Sycamore. She is associated with the Temple.”

Jack n' Stormy

Jack and Stormy immediately spoke out against Layla in Greenwood's defense... which was enough to make Ruby step back. She looked at Jack's emotions, he was livid after what Layla said, and that was enough to make Ruby refrain from giving this bitch the tongue-lashing of a lifetime. Though, she would have to talk to Lynette after this... Ruby glanced at Leon for a moment.

”Layla, Alizee got herself killed. From what Bea- Bianca told me she fucking kidnapped one of their members. If anything they should be pissed at us. Fuck, we all got fucking shot because of her. Thanks, by the way. A bunch more of us would be fucking dead if it wasn't for their healer. So step the fuck back.”

Linqian

"... Thank you," Ruby rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but sigh in relief because there were people with some sense in their Coven. Though, Ruby couldn't help but be petty.

”...If anything they should be pissed at us.”

Linqian

"We're not," Ruby said with a shrug. "Simply because she just wasn't one of ya'll, sorry to tell you the truth. Matter fact; she tried throwing ya'll under the bus to protect the people she actually cared about."

Ruby shrugged again before she added, "The fact that she's jumping up and down for someone that clearly doesn't fuck with them is just sad."

Ruby made sure it was loud enough for Layla to hear. She could care less if she caused the alliance to collapse because she would rather die than be allied with a group that has this bitch in them. God. Ruby needed to smoke, and not a cigarette... She broke their agreement to show up to the meeting sober and pulled out a rolled-up joint that she had shoved into her pocket. Ruby slid it into her mouth, pulled out her lighter, and lit it. Ruby took in a deep puff as she wanted to smoke this dumbass bitch away.

However, they were arguing by the time she had finished, but honestly... she could care less.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

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Ruby White.

Interactions: Stormy (@Blizz), Clancy (@Zombiedude101), & Sloane (@Atrophy).

The House on the Hill.

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Zero Tolerance - David Holmes

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”Is there anything we can do to return the favor? You’re going to a lot of trouble by stepping up for us, it’s only fair if we give back.”

Stormy

Based on Stormy's emotional state (and, yes, it was mad intrusive to read everyone's emotions like this), he seems calm and relaxed. This contrasts with everyone else here being worried, concerned, angry, or outright apathetic. Ruby interpreted his question as absolutely legit, and she was wondering if now was a good time for that fancy call to action. Though, in Ruby's eyes, she was helping Greenwood just as much as she was assisting Sycamore - for those concerns she voiced earlier, and that she didn't want to lose Sully. However, she doubted that he, or anyone else in this room, would buy that.

"I would say finally getting rid of assholes like Emily and her cronies is enough but..." Ruby trailed off, glancing at her three maidens, before sighing, then adding, "... There is something. I hate to sour the mood with a sob story, but Greenwood is... minus two."

She shook her head before she continued. "Lyric Brown and Felicia Harvey were murdered by the Das Sonnenrad cult and robbed of their artifacts. Lyric herself was an artificer, and we've been trying to track down her artifacts because hell if we're going to let some skinheads use her hard work to commit hate crimes."

Ruby shook her head. "So, if you can help us find those, then that'd be great—but I don't want to seem like we're doing this for something in return."

"I don't know you people, and you won't know me... this coven stuff is all new to me, but I've taken care of myself long enough to know there's other stuff out there, so I can guess you're here for the right reasons? Not to be assholes?"

Clancy

Then the kid started talking. Ruby gleaned that his emotional state was lost: fear, worry, and, beneath all of it, anger—the type of anger someone would have if they were dealt a raw deal by life and the wounds kept coming one after another.

A dangerous kind of anger.

"I want the asshole who killed Ashley. I can’t rule out that it someone who knew her and everyone else in this room that dealt with the snake years ago. That's the common lead. But while I'm at it, there's some people here that she probably cared about. And 8th Street... that prom queen who runs them is a problem, and she obviously doesn't give a shit who or what she steps on, like uh - bird-lady here. And I'm still not convinced she isn't part of it, or knows more than she's telling about the murders. The others are assholes..."

As the kid spoke, though, Ruby seemed less and less interested and, at some point, stopped listening completely. Talking huge, for what? A twelve-year-old? Ruby thought to herself, rolling her eyes. Despite dismissing this kid, Ruby gave him a courteous response.

"... You're a kid," Ruby sharply answered Clancy. "I don't know what they told you, but did you forget that you walked up, got capped by that Wolfpack bitch, and caused that absolute fuckin' pandemonium? You're not doing anything. Sit your ass down." No wonder he got shot. Ruby thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.

Thankfully, someone with more sense was next to speak.

“Sloane Faris. I have a question. While I am also interested in hearing how you’d want to deal with 8th Street or what else you’d be looking to get out of this alliance, I think it would be nice to learn more about our potential partners before jumping immediately into business with strangers.”

“Oh, they’re not strangers, they—”

“Perhaps this was addressed at the previous meeting, but unfortunately...my schedule is quite full on Sundays. You already seem to have a general idea about Sycamore—our problem with 8th Street, our nasty habit of getting murdered, etcetera—but outside of hearing the name before I don’t really know anything about the Greenwood Coven. How long have you been a coven? Why did you form? Notable accomplishments? Things like that.”

Sloane

As she introduced herself, Sloane was reserved from Ruby's scans of her emotional state, but there was an underlying stress, anxiety, and dread underneath it all. This said a lot about "Sloane Faris," but she was fair in her questioning. She didn't know them, and while Greenwood knew a lot about Sycamore, it was mutual. Maybe Ruby was getting ahead of herself!

"Ah, yes, I'm more than willing to help fill in the gaps," Ruby stepped forward, tapping her staff on the ground. "We've been a Coven for eight years now, but I've known a majority of the membership since childhood. We've formed because after the whole mess with Stiggy, the entire landscape of St. Portwell changed for the worse. Monsters were roaming the streets and woods, and people were going ham trying to fill in the power vacuum. I want to say that, on paper, we formed to protect nature, but in all actuality, we formed as a..."

Ruby hesitated as she searched for the right words. "... As companionship. Survival. We wanted to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes from the shitshow that took place afterward. And over time, we grew stronger, more organized, and more focused - enough to shift our goal from just protecting ourselves to making a difference. We started to take on more responsibilities, like keeping the balance of nature and preventing the misuse of artifacts."

Ruby then scanned the room for their hesitant and skeptical faces. "As for accomplishments, we took out several hostile Covens, Cults, and other magical organizations before they could dig their roots into St. Portwell. We're also a huge pain in the ass for the Elite and Wolfpack - we ruined many of their trade deals and recovered artifacts they were going to buy-sell. But I guess our greatest accomplishment was fighting the Das Sonnenrad Cult. And..."

Ruby turned towards James before she pointed her staff at him, and he put on the biggest shit-eating grin, "... James here killed Kaiser Draeger and put an end to his reign of terror."

"Aw shucks!" James laughed. "It was a team effort, you know!"

"... Yes, a team effort involving you running off on your own to run a fade on one of the most dangerous men in the city." Naomi rolled her eyes.

Then Ruby said, "We've also recently formed alliances with the 317 and the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals. That reminds me, and I can also hook you up with an alliance with the 317. Their leaders love us, and a couple of ya'll are a part of them." Ruby neglected to mention an alliance with the Temple - she figured Leon had that covered.

"If you need me to elaborate, I'll gladly, sweetie," Ruby smiled at Sloane. "If not... then the Sycamore Tree Coven has some blanks I'd like filled. Tell me about ya'll. Your names. What you can do. What you have done."

A farm smile crept across her face.

"... What are ya'll waiting for? Let's get to know each other."

Recollections: The Compendium

ADAM'S.WISDOM
| Adam's Memories | "In times of crisis, channel my strength and wisdom." ORIGINS & CREATIONS: | Commissioned by Adam Blackmore and created by a council of master Orange and Red-Purple Adepts, intended to be a safeguard for his descendants in times of great need | TYPE: | Spell-Granting Amulet | LOCATION: | In the attic of the Blackmore Manor. | NOTABLE OWNERS: | The Blackmore Family. | ABSTRACTION-GRANTING: | No. | .............................................................................	Adam's Wisdom is an artifact within the Blackmore family, conceived by Adam Blackmore himself. Recognizing the possibility of future crises, Adam commissioned this amulet to serve as a lifeline for his descendants. Crafted by a council of master Adepts skilled in Red and Purple Lux, Adam's Wisdom embodies Adam's extensive magical knowledge and capabilities, ensuring his legacy endures through those who bear it. When worn by a Red/Purple Adept, Adam's Wisdom replaces their spell arsenal with Adam's repertoire of spells. Adam, known for his wisdom and versatility, had mastered dozens of spells across his preferred elements of Light, Air, and Water and his favored Purple Lux spells: chronomancy, teleportation, and telekinesis. This immediate and complete substitution provides the wearer with Adam's formidable spellbook while temporarily sealing away their original abilities. These spells are deeply ingrained in the amulet, allowing the wearer to cast them as naturally as they had learned. Another critical feature of Adam's Wisdom is Lux Synchronization. This ability ensures that the amulet can only be wielded by Adepts who possess both Red and Purple Lux. If an Adept has only one of these Lux colors, they can exclusively access Adam's spells of that color. This synchronization ensures the amulet's power is used by those who can fully appreciate and harness its dual Lux nature. Adam's Wisdom also boasts Lux-Memory, a safeguard mechanism that gradually restores the wearer's original spells once the amulet is removed. However, the longer the Adept uses Adam's spells, the longer it will take for their original spellbook to be fully accessible again. This delay balances, ensuring the amulet is used judiciously and encouraging the wielder to rely on their abilities alongside Adam's formidable spells. In times of extreme danger, the amulet can activate Adam's Aegis, a defensive spell that envelops the wearer in a protective barrier of light. This barrier can deflect magical and physical attacks, providing crucial protection while the wearer gathers their strength or prepares a counterattack. The Aegis manifests Adam's mastery over light and his enduring desire to safeguard his family. Lastly, Adam's Wisdom grants an ability that allows the wearer to tap into Adam's vast reservoir of knowledge and experience. Through this connection, the wearer can receive guidance, strategic insights, and even fragments of Adam's memories, aiding them in making crucial decisions during times of crisis.

Recollections: The Compendium

THE.MEMORY.OF.ADAM
| The Blade of Blackmore | "Honor his name." ORIGINS & CREATIONS: | It was created by a mixture of all the Blackmore siblings, Jade West, and Goro, as an alternative to the Apparition Killer if another Stygian Snake-level crisis occurs. | TYPE: | Elemental Sword | LOCATION: | The Blackmore Manor, where it rests in the attic. | NOTABLE OWNERS: | The Blackmore Family. | ABSTRACTION-GRANTING: | No. |	Goro Hatanaka's first ambitious project, The Memory of Adam, was created a few years after the Stygian Snake War as a contingency plan against future crises. This artifact was made from a significant collaboration between the Blackmore siblings, Jade West and Goro Hatanaka, pooling their diverse Lux abilities to forge a weapon of immense power. Though it was not deemed a success, Drake Blackmore kept the blade, which now resides in the attic of the Blackmore Manor. The Memory of Adam is imbued with the ability to command the elements of Light, Wind, and Water—Adam's preferred elements. This elemental mastery, derived from the combined Red and Purple Lux Adepts, allows the wielder to manipulate these forces effortlessly. The sword can unleash blinding light, summon potent gusts of wind, or create torrents of water. One of the blade's most remarkable features is its Energy Absorption capability. The sword can absorb magical and kinetic energy directed at it, storing this energy within its blade. Once absorbed, the power can be released in powerful bursts, amplifying the sword's strikes or creating devastating shockwaves. The Memory of Adam also possesses a Healing Aura, an enchantment infused by Jade West's Green Lux. This ability enables the blade to emit a soothing, regenerative energy that mends wounds and revitalizes the wielder and nearby allies. The healing aura can make the difference between life and death in prolonged battles, allowing the wielder to sustain themselves and their companions through even the most grueling encounters. Another unique ability of The Memory of Adam is its reflective shield. When activated, this power creates a shimmering barrier of light that deflects incoming attacks. The Reflective Shield can bounce projectiles back at attackers and absorb the force of melee strikes, providing an extra layer of protection for the wielder. ...........................................................................................................

Recollections: The Compendium

THE.FORGE
| The Hellish Engine | "The relentless engine of creation and destruction." ORIGINS & CREATIONS: | A coalition of Adepts from the world of Glint created the Forge. It combined the powers of Orange, Red, Yellow, Purple, and Gold Adepts and was originally intended to expand the influence of the League of Luminescence. Cast into the Pit as a result of political intrigue and seen as a threat by the ruling powers, the Forge now stands as a monumental factory producing Autoknights and refining artifacts. | TYPE: | Massive Factory Artifact. | LOCATION: | Currently located in a strategic region within the Pit, drawing power from the very essence of the realm. | NOTABLE OWNERS: | The Forge has been controlled by successive Kings of the Pit, each using its power to enforce their rule. The current King uses it to gather and refine artifacts for unknown purposes. | ABSTRACTION-GRANTING: | No. The Forge does not grant Abstractions but refines artifacts, potentially bestowing powerful Abstractions. | .............................................................................	The Forge is an immense, sprawling factory and a singularly powerful artifact, a marvel of combined magical and industrial might. It is a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of hundreds of Adepts from various Lux colors: Orange, Red, Yellow, Purple, and Gold. Conceived in the world of Glint, it was intended to be a cornerstone of the League of Luminescence’s power, a colossal engine of creation and refinement. Its creators were a coalition of lesser families within the League who pooled their resources and expertise to build what they envisioned as an unstoppable production force. However, the ruling powers saw their efforts as a threat, and the Forge was cast into the Pit. Once in the Pit, the Forge became an even more fearsome entity. Its primary function is the creation of Autoknights, towering coal-powered iron golems that serve as the primary enforcers of the King of the Pit. Beyond its role in producing Autoknights, the Forge can create any weapon imaginable. Its vast halls and chambers are filled with machinery and magical devices that can bring to life the wildest designs. The Forge can produce a simple sword, complex firearm, mystical staff, or devastating cannon. This versatility makes it an invaluable asset, providing the King of the Pit with a virtually limitless arsenal to maintain and expand his rule. The weapons produced by the Forge are numerous and of exceptional quality, each imbued with the magical energy of its creators. One of the most extraordinary aspects of the Forge is its artifact refinement section. Here, artifacts can be enhanced, their powers amplified, and their limitations reduced. This process involves intricate mechanical procedures and powerful magic, drawing on the diverse abilities of the Adepts who created the Forge. The refinement process can turn a simple magical item into a formidable artifact capable of feats far beyond its original design. This ability to refine artifacts makes the Forge not just a factory but a place of alchemical transformation, where the mundane becomes extraordinary. The Forge harnesses a unique ability to convert various types of energy into raw materials or fuel for its operations. This includes traditional forms of energy and emotional and magical energies that permeate the Pit. The despair, anger, and suffering that pervades the Pit are drawn into the Forge, transformed into the power that drives its machinery and fuels its production lines. This energy conversion capability means the Forge can sustain itself indefinitely, feeding off the ambient emotions and magic of the Pit. It also allows Forge to create more potent and effective creations, as the energies it converts imbue its products with enhanced power and resilience. The Forge wields a significant influence over the environment within the Pit, capable of controlling the weather and terrain to suit its needs. The Forge can summon fierce storms to deter intruders, create fog to obscure its operations, or raise barriers of ice or earth to protect itself. The Forge is not just a static construct; it possesses a remarkable ability to self-repair and adapt. Its machinery is imbued with powerful enchantments and intricate engineering, allowing it to detect and mend any damage automatically. When the Forge encounters new challenges or threats, it can reconfigure its internal mechanisms to develop new functions and defenses. This adaptive quality ensures that the Forge remains operational and evolves.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

The.King.of.the.Pit
Unknown | The King | He/Him "..."	Description: The King of the Pit is less a singular individual, and more a title passed down through the ages. Personally selected by the Mother Will, the King is often the most brutal and ruthless inhabitant of the Pit or a child meticulously groomed into the role. Many have held this title for ages, from mere minutes to decades. Each King's rule is marked by varying degrees of brutality, as the Mother Will explicitly encourages the King to act on their darkest impulses. What makes the King capable of exerting control over the Pit is his psychic connection to the legions of Autoknights created by the Forge. The current King's rule began after the previous King met his demise at the hands of the Pale Horse. Immediately, Mother Will selected a new king: a child named Jane Andrews, who had fallen into the Pit. Mother Will found her and turned her into the King, giving her a playground with many toys. This transformation rendered the King wicked, devoid of morality and empathy, with a lust for power. Under the current King's rule, the Pit has become more organized in its chaos. The Autoknights, driven by the King's psychic commands, patrol the Pit more efficiently, hunting down those who defy the King's will. The King's influence extends beyond the physical realm. This King is morbidly obese and physically incapable of leaving his throne, which necessitates the Autoknights physically lifting the throne to move him around. The King's face, like all Kings of the Pit, is hidden behind a mask, with a crown atop his head. His reign primarily focused on gathering artifacts scattered throughout the Pit for unknown purposes. Abstraction: Afflicted - Voices of the Pit. The Voices of the Pit is a potent and sinister Abstraction the Mother Will bestowed upon the King of the Pit. It grants him unparalleled control over the minds of those unfortunate enough to cross his path. This ability manifests as a duality of power: mind manipulation and telepathic communication. At the core of the Voices of the Pit lies the King's ability to implant thoughts, fears, and hallucinations into the minds of others. He can amplify these fears with a whisper, driving individuals to madness or coercing them into submission. Those who encounter the King often find themselves haunted by relentless, tormenting voices that echo their deepest thoughts, pushing them to the brink of insanity. This aspect of the Abstraction is particularly insidious, as it can erode the mental fortitude of even the strongest-willed individuals, leaving them vulnerable to the King's will. Complementing this ability is the King's power of telepathic communication. Within the confines of the Pit, he can establish a psychic link with any being, allowing for instantaneous and silent communication. This telepathic ability is crucial in maintaining control over his legions of Autoknights and other minions. The King can issue commands and coordinate complex maneuvers and strategies.
Autoknights
N/A | N/A | It/Its "Obey the King, or die!"	Description: Autoknights, short for Automatic Knights, are a marvel of engineering forged from the collective work of countless Adepts. Originating from Glint, these mechanical monstrosities were birthed in The Forge, a massive factory created by the lesser families of the League of Luminescence. Intended to expand the League's power, The Forge was deemed an act of rebellion and cast into the Pit. The families responsible were exiled to other worlds, but The Forge remained operational, falling into the hands of the King of the Pit. This massive factory is the cornerstone of the King's power, allowing him to produce legions of Autoknights. Autoknights are towering, coal-powered iron golems, each eight feet tall. Uniform in appearance, they wield various weapons, ranging from massive swords and muskets to cannons and salvaged artifacts, all created by The Forge or scavenged from the Pit. These iron giants are a familiar and terrifying sight in the Pit, representing a formidable challenge to anyone encountering them. Despite their slow speed, Autoknights are organized and individually strong, making them a significant threat. Autoknights operate under a hive-mind control system directed by the King of the Pit. Each unit is connected to the King, allowing him to command entire battalions with a single thought. Abstraction: Abominable - Wretched Automaton. Though Autoknights lack individual Abstractions and Emotional-Fields, they are solid and durable by default. Their metal bodies render many abstractions ineffective against them. However, agile and quick-witted adversaries can exploit their bulky and slow nature.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

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The Greenwood Coven.

^{Featuring a lil Adora & Auri!}

Interactions: Lila/Jasper (@NoriWasHere), Layla/Luna (@Estylwen), & Anya/Luca (@FernStone).

Outside the House on the Hill.

---

---

“This kind of thing happens all the time now,”

Lila

Ruby was expecting a warm welcome...

“Which ‘white-haired bitch’ were you talking about outside?”

Lila

Then this bitch had to start talking.

So, they were spying on the Greenwood Coven right when they walked in, fair. However, it wasn't cool that she immediately aired it out, and Ruby twisted her face at the girl. It was simple as it came; this bitch needed to mind her business - anyone else would have had her tasting the pavement, but Greenwood came in on a mission. If Ruby couldn't read emotions, she definitely would have thought that this girl was trying to start shit. However, she could, and this girl's emotions were neutral and had legitimate curiosity. This is why Ruby wanted to read minds: sometimes, there was a legitimate confusion between their actions and feelings. She resisted the urge to tell her that she wasn't talking to her, but instead, Ruby said nothing. There was enough going on that she didn't even need to respond. However, whether she legitimately intended to start something, she did..

“Is the one named Naomi here…?”

”Not now, Layla. Come on, let me get you a drink. You need it.”

Layla & Luna

Ruby narrowed her eyes at the two white-haired girls. The shorter one looked eerily like Alizee, so much so that Ruby thought it might be her sister. Weird. Lynette never mentioned having a sister, but never spoke with her enough. There was anger in the girl's heart, and Ruby clutched her staff tightly, almost instinctively preparing for a fight. She knew if she was coming for Naomi, she likely had some issue with the whole thing in the parking lot. However, this girl wasn't ready for that conversation because Ruby would straight up tell her that the entire mess that took place at VVV was Alizee's fault - up to her death.

And St. Portwell became a safer place afterward.

However, the other girl came and de-escalated things, and Ruby sighed out of relief. Still, the girl had a problem with them, and tap-dancing around the discussion was not going to end well. So, Ruby said,

"... Can we talk about that later?" Ruby hoped that she heard them.

“Do any of you have a healer. And do y’all have names? I’m Jasper. Jasper Wilde,”

Assper

"Yo, broooooo! We just got here! Give us a moment to put the food down!" Jessica laughed before nodding at Kashmira.

"Oh, yes!" Kashmira said, quickly running over to the two with a smile.

“has anyone ever told you you’d make a fantastic reference for a painting?”

Assper

"Yes, the art-bros can't get enough of me!" Jessica laughed as she put the pizza boxes on the nearest surface - a bar counter. "I'm boutta start charging commission!"

"Greenwood, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you all. The cousin of our former leader was injured and came to us for help. People reacted defensively, and another helped him, hurting himself in the process. Everyone is healing and calming down now.”

Anya

Ruby sighed in relief that it wasn't anything crazy. So, maybe it was just a misunderstanding, and these people don't think that they had something to do with hurting the kid... though, when Ruby looked at Clancy, she immediately recognized him as that dumbass kid that walked up to those bikers and got shot. In Ruby's eyes, the whole fact that they got outed was partially this moron's fault - though, in her head, she ultimately blamed Alizee and the Temple for being the root cause of that mess.

She shrugged.

There's nothing they can do about it now.

”Calming down including not bringing things up from eavesdropping, and ruining the mood further.”

Anya

At least somebody gets it. Ruby thought to herself as the negative points that Sycamore got from Lila opening her mouth.

”... Lila!” Adora ran up... Wait, no, three of them. All three of them were laughing as they grabbed Lila's hand and said in unison, ”Let's not.”

"Oh shit!" Jessica laughed. "When did you learn to clone yourself?!"

”Um...” Adora played with her fingers. ”It's a new thing. I'm working out the kinks right now.”

Then Jess glanced down at Adora's frame.

"... And someone's looking for a boyfriend!" She teased, breaking out in boisterous laughter as Adora's face reddened.

As amusing as that was, they were here for business. Auri Auclair walked up and smiled at her as she said,

"It is great that you made it!" Auri said.

"It's great that you all are having us," Ruby said before she turned to the rest of the Sycamore Tree Coven. There are a lot of different faces here; some she recognized, and others she did not. Ruby wanted to meet these people before she made things official, so it was time to do that. Meet these people. Ruby put a hand on her chest as she said,

"Hello, loves," Ruby began. "I am Ruby White, the Spring Maiden, the leader of the Greenwood Coven."

Then Jess, Pearl, and Amelia took her side, as she continued, "And this is Jessica Rosefey, Amelia Dallon, and Pearl Cho. The Summer, Fall, and Winter Maidens are collectively my second in command."

Then Ruby pointed at the Kashmira, "That is Kashmira Sarai, our very lovely pacifistic healer."

James walked up with a shit-eating grin and threw Shango's Axe over his shoulder while Naomi took his side with a warm smile, "And this is James Carmicheal and Naomi Rodgers, our very own battle couple."

"Aw shucks," James laughed before Naomi jabbed him with an elbow.

Autumn nodded her head, and Ruby introduced her, "And this is Autumn Hayes, a longtime member and friend of mine."

Ruby then walked up to the stage and began her speech, "I know some of you-" Ruby glanced towards Jack before she continued, "-have been very interested in an alliance. Our membership has also been interested in an alliance. I believe we can help each other with our respective issues in St. Portwell."

Ruby nodded, "Not just the 8th St. Coven, but with this serial killer that's after you. Yes, you might be thinking that the murders have nothing to do with us - they do; Sullivan is a target. Not just that, I'd be lying if I didn't think something bigger was going on that would, inevitably, drag us and the rest of St. Portwell into it. So, we're going to be proactive and see what we can help you guys with on that front."

She closed her eyes for a moment, "Any comments, questions, concerns, fuck you's?"

”Sorry, just Luca! I’ve got a ghost attached to me that makes me rot things, so don’t come too close… it’s dormant for now, though.”

Luca

"Don't worry; I got you!" Kashmira clapped her hands, began singing a song in Gujarati, and projected a small green glowing dome around herself in a short radius. Anyone inside of this dome would have their wounds healed.

Paragraphs: Agents of Death [FernStone & Shin Ghost Note]

---

---

The spider slowly descended in a clearing.

Lisa couldn’t hear any of those giants anymore, so they were probably too big to fit into this forest. However, they had to land to get their bearings, and Lisa landed the spider right by a lake. This forest was thick, green, lush, and they landed right by a lake with a river. However, there was still that persuasive scent of death, and the red sky that never seemed to dim…

Lisa hopped off Saskia and sat down on the grass, staring up at the glass.

”… Where should we head next? Lisa thought out loud. ”This place has no rhyme or reason! I’m not sure if we’re even heading in the right direction!”

"I don't know if there even is a right direction," Saskia intoned, frowning. They pulled their wings back in with a grimace, two massive holes left in their jacket and blood staining their clothes.

”Maybe we could follow the river?" Ella suggested, pointing to it.

Saskia shrugged. "I wonder if it's drinkable. Flowing water is most likely to be fresh."

”I mean it's also Pit water,” Lisa shrugged, trying to hide that she was definitely thirsty. ”... Well, only one way to find out.” Lisa said as she walked over to the water, knelt down, and cupped some into her hand. She sucked it up with a loud slurp, then looked over her shoulder.

”... It tastes fine,”

"Normally you don’t taste waterborne diseases," Saskia said, lips pressing together. "You won’t know until it’s too late."

”It can’t be any worse than what we got from Lupe,” Lisa laughed.

"We have magical healing, it’s fine!" Ella shouted, running over to next to Lisa. She bent down, scooping a bunch of water into her mouth, and then more, drinking like she was parched. "Maybe we should wash while we’re here too?"

"We’ve barely made any progress."

"Who knows when we’ll next find a lake!"

”I mean, I don’t feel all that dirty,” Lisa shrugged. ””I agree with Saskia, we sho-

Something burst out of the water, roaring at them with its monstrous frame as it reached for Lisa and Ella to pull them in. Ella screamed, shoving her hands out in front of her to absolutely blast it with fire. Because it was covered in water and slime, it blocked most of the fire.

"Lisa, Ella!" Saskia's blood tendril wrapped around Lisa to pull her back. Lisa grabbed on as she looked to the left and right, desperately for some way out. Out of the ground, a chitinous spear ruptured through the creature’s arm, making it yelp in pain, yet it persisted. The Chitinious spear retracted, only to launch into the creature again and again… but it regenerated each time.

Saskia grimaced, forming a blood whip with their other hand and wrapping it around Ella, falling to their knees to try not to get pulled in too. Ella swapped tactics, bright pinks coating her hands as she punched the creature. Which tanked each hit.

Lisa opened her mouth and vomited spiders directly at the creature - mid-air, they spelled up with her modified stomach acid. They exploded against the beast, loudly and sickeningly sizzling as it roared again, finally letting go. Ella then shot it with a burning beam of light, and it stumbled backward right back into the water…

… Only to dramatically rise out again.

While dealing with that creature, a swarm of strange human-sized butterflies descended from above to snatch them into unknown parts. Ella screamed again, throwing her hands above her head with fire shooting out of them at the butterflies, trying to torch them. The butterflies scattered for a moment, hovering above them.

”Stop screaming; you’re going to attract more monsters!” Lisa screamed.

"You're screaming too!" Ella screamed back.

Saskia's wings burst back out through their back, splattering more flesh and blood around them, and came up to cover the three of them from above. "We need to get out of here."

"No shit!" Ella said, going back to trying to pound the water creature with her fists.

”I have an idea,” Lisa shouted as she turned towards the monster in the water. ”Ella, get back!”

"Okay!" Ella backed away towards Saskia, fire dancing around her fingers in case she needed to shoot it at anything.

Lisa stuck her hand out behind her, and sighed, before a web comprised of thick, pulsating, human-flesh, and then whipped it at the creature. As planned, it got caught in the web, and hopelessly thrashed around as the webs bound to its flesh. Perfect. Then the butterflies grabbed her and she began floating in the air.

Not perfect!

"Lisa!" Ella shouted. She raised her hands to blast it with fire, but Saskia interrupted her.

"I’ve got it, make sure to catch her." With a powerful flap of their wings, Saskia launched themselves into the air, slicing at the wings of the butterfly holding Lisa with sharp blood blades. Lisa descended and Ella caught her, with the Wretched Web still attached to the monster, which was convulsing in pain. The other hitch in her plan came when the monster the web was attached to began retreating into the water - with her still attached..

"Ahhhh!" Ella fell on her ass, holding Lisa tightly. Her feet dug into the ground, trying to get some kind of traction to stop them from being pulled into the water.

Saskia wasn’t much help either, in the air surrounded by butterflies.

”Just… hold… on!” Lisa shouted as the two were about to be dragged into the water - and this idea didn’t seem all that great now! However, the creature fell to its knees, violently convulsing and bubbling, and then it ruptured outwards. It sent blood, guts, and spiders in all directions - however, the spiders were imbued with acid-burst and when they collided with the butterflies they exploded. The butterflies were ripped to shreds by the explosions and then dissolved by the acid, which was such a devestating atttack that it took out a majority of them. The rest of them fled.

The only problem is that the Agents of Death are not immune to acid so it splashed on them.

Saskia's wings were completely taken out by the acid, but mostly protected the rest of them, melting away as goopy flesh spilled to the floor and they were sent hurtling towards the ground. They landed with a crash and nasty crunch, groaning.

Ella's eyes widened and she spun to try and protect Lisa, acid covering a large portion of her body and burning away at her clothes, flesh… everything down to the bone. She fell on her non dissolved side, weakly trying to push them back to land.

"Fuckkk…" Saskia rolled onto their stomach, grasping at their backpack for a potion. "Let's not do that again."

”Hold on!” Lisa shouted as she ran over to Ella and put her hands on… whatever wasn’t dissolved. The Healing Spiders forced their way out of Lisa’s pores and onto Ella, which they began digging into her flesh to heal her. Lisa sighed in relief before she turned to Saskia,

”… Let’s save the potions,” Lisa said as she walked over to them…

"Sure," Saskia groaned, face twisting in pain as their bones started snapping back into place and they pulled their damaged wings back into their body.

"My clothes" Ella sobbed as she got healed enough to react… but she was now practically naked because of the acid burning away most of what she was wearing.

"At least you brought plenty to change into," Saskia said drily.

”There’s no one here to see, Ella! Relax!” Lisa rolled her eyes, as she threw Healing-Spiders at Saskia. Though they were wasting time, the butterflies were probably recuperating and ready to attack again. ”We should find somewhere to take five.”

Then blankly looked at the lake.

”… Away from water, though.”

Saskia nodded tiredly, getting to their feet. Ella dragged herself away from the water, opening her backpack to at least pull on a purple hoodie that covered enough.

"Let's follow the river but keep a safe distance?" Saskia suggested, pointing to where it went into the forest.

”Sounds like a plan!” Lisa shouted, gesturing for them to follow after them. She walked into the forest… this place was honestly kind of beautiful. Like a magical forest in the movies! Every step she took here was gorgeous! Except they’re literally in hell, Lisa sighed as she kept her eyes open. Every cricket chirping could be a monster…

There were footsteps approaching. Loud. Distinct. And odd for this place, mechanical. Lisa quickly gestured towards a downed tree and dove underneath it.

Saskia grabbed Ella and pulled her under it, squeezing in tight beside Lisa. They carefully pulled their knife out of their pants, making a small cut on their thumb, blood just coating their hand. Ella put her hands over her mouth as if to even silence her breathing. While a slick, black exoskeleton covered Lisa… However, she grew extra eyes as she poked her head over the tree branch out of curiosity - a dangerous move she knew.

A group of… robots? Scrolled by… there had to be around a dozen of them as they robotically marched by wielding various weapons. Thankfully, they were gone as fast as they showed up, and Lisa sighed as she sat down.

Saskia pointed up behind them, then held up, mouthing, ‘gone?’ Ella dropped her hands, rolling forward and putting her head on her knees with a heavy sigh. Saskia silently patted her.

Their footsteps were in the distance before they disappeared.

”... I mean, you don’t hear them anymore, do you?” Lisa whispered, laughing as she stood straight up and the exoskeleton disappeared. Lisa gestured for them to follow her and continued down the same path she was going before the weird robot knights appeared. Giving the river a healthy distance, they eventually made it to another lake… and down a path to their left was a cozy looking cabin. Strange down here, yes, but Lisa looked to her comrades and said,

”You all want to take a break there?”

"Beats being outside," Saskia intoned, looking at the cabin with a good deal of suspicion before they shrugged.

"Hopefully there’s somewhere comfy to sit!" Ella said cheerfully, skipping over to the cabin. She paused in front of the door, hesitating a moment before just straight up going to open it…revealing a mess of a place where furniture was tossed all around. However, there were large scratch marks on the walls and floor, and some of the furniture. Other than that, the place looked alright. Lisa walked in and looked to the left and the right,

”Let’s make sure this place is safe before we settle in,” Lisa nodded her head.

Good plan!" Ella ran ahead, starting to search the cabin. Saskia rolled their eyes and followed close behind her as she checked all the other rooms, and properly searched the main one. "All clear! Let’s take a break!"

Ella, somehow full of energy, picked up a few chairs that had been thrown around and righted them. Then she took off her backpack, pulling out a pair of pants and putting them on so she wasn’t just wearing a hoodie.

"We need to find a way to actually navigate," Saskia said as they sat down, frowning.

Lisa sat down next to Saskia… ”Like how? A map?” Lisa scoffed, before she poked her finger onto the table, as if she was navigating on an invisible map. ”Here’s death. And here is death. Here? More death!”

"A direct path to the All-Blade so we can fight less would be nice," Saskia rolled their eyes.

"Maybe we’ll find someone who knows!" Ella said, taking her own seat with a sigh. "This is so tiring! I think I preferred fighting Morningstar and his minions…"

”We haven’t even met another person!” Lisa said, before she clarified, ”.., Other than Chloe.”

Lisa stretched, ”We’re on our own here, I’m afraid. No one is coming to save us.”

"We don’t need saved, anyway, we’re capable by ourselves! Except we don’t know where we’re going… but we’ll figure it out!" Ella said with a grin.

"I think, before we go out again, we should agree on some things," Saskia said. "Hand signals, plans… in case we can’t talk again. It worked last time, but we might get caught out."

”Yes, what should this one mean?” Lisa said, before she flipped off an empty space.

Saskia threw their hands up, looking a bit frustrated. "Fine, we won’t preplan then. Let’s just die."

”I’m just lightening thr mood, re-lax,” Lisa laughed. ”What did you have in mind?”

"Some are obvious, like stop, be quiet and the like," Saskia started, tapping their fingers on their legs. "But others… ‘monster here’, attack, safe. I suppose a thumbs up works for when somethings safe. Really we need a way to coordinate without talking. We-"

"Oh!" Ella jumped up. "We can use cool hand gestures like sailor moon would!"

She posed, pointing forward with her right hand while her left hand crossed in front of her with the middle two fingers down.

"... And what would that mean?"

"Attack, obviously!"

”… That’d throw the monsters for a loop,” Lisa chuckled. ”We definitely need a hand gesture for ‘haul ass.’”

Lisa looked at Ella, ”…One that’s not from Sailor Moon.”

"... Aw," Ella pouted, hanging her head.

Saskia put their hand on their chin as they thought. "What about this?"

They held up their hand, first two fingers up, then rotated it sharply once. "Noticeable enough, not something we’d normally do, not obvious to monsters. Or…"

They chuckled. "We just flip each other off to mean ‘haul ass.’"

”No, we should be flipping the enemy off,” Lisa laughed, before she put up two fingers, ”What about two fingers like deuces!? I mean, you wouldn’t get that, Saskia, beeeeeeeeecause…”

Lisa looked at her.

”... No reason.”

"I get the reason," Saskia laughed, shrugging. "Sure, let’s do that."

"But Sailor Moon is cooler!" Ella shouted.

Saskia ignored her. "What about a sign for ‘I’m about to blast the area with acid get away’?"

”That could- shit, what could that be?” Lisa rubbed her chin, before she raised a finger as an imaginary lightbulb (with spiders, of course) illuminated in that deranged head of hers! She hopped up and threw her hands in the air like it was a surprise. Lisa looked to Saskia and Ella before she did it again, hoping that they would get it.

Saskia narrowed their eyes as they watched, before nodding. "It does look like an explosion. It’ll work."

"It’d be cooler if you spun while doing it and struck a pose at the end!" Ella said.

Saskia rolled their eyes yet again. "We’re not doing this to look cool."

”I mean, while Ella is posing, she can distract the monsters so we can get away!” Lisa laughed before she yawned. ”So, do you all just want to lock this place up and nap for a while?”

"True, it’ll be a necessary sacrifice," Saskia laughed, while Ella pouted. "Yeah, let’s nap while we can. Who knows when we’ll next get the chance?"

"I’ll block the doors!" Ella said, already lifting up furniture to move towards the front door.

Darwin’s Bark spiders came from the hidden corners of the room and began weaving a thick web… around the furniture they placed against the walls and front doors. Some extra on the windows and vents, and once they were done, Lisa summoned a mass of venomous spiders and positioned them around the room, commanded to attack anyone who entered. With that done, the bed was still in one piece, and together, they flipped it over and cuddled.

---

Lisa was peacefully sleeping as the littlest spoon.

A bang on the front door awoke them. Lisa’s eyes shot open.

“... Come out!” They faintly heard the voice. “We have the building surrounded!”

Ella let go of both Saskia and Lisa, sitting bolt upright with wide eyes. She gestured to the door, then held her hands up in a shrug position.

"Go out, set them on fire, cover them in acid, haul ass?" they whispered.

”If they have the building surrounded, that might not work,” Lisa said as she stood straight up and looked to her left and then the right. ”We might need a flying spider, so we can just burst out the ceiling.”
“Come out!” The voice spoke again, sounding oddly metallic. “... Or we’re coming in there.”

"Make the spider," Saskia said, frowning, properly getting up.

"Do we go outside?!" Ella whispered, looking panicked as she got up.

”Yes, we’re going outside… when we fly through the ceiling and escape,” Lisa said as a tiny spider was wrapped in a glowing cocoon with both the hybridization and enlarge spells applied to it. It began slowly growing in size, as Lisa shook in fear. ”Okay, we just need to chill, and we can we just-”

Then it burst through the wall, which was not what Lisa expected. She was expecting a human being, but this thing… this thing… it was some type of robot. It stood over twelve feet tall, had shiny metal armor… and held an oversized musket in both hands.

“By the order of the King,” The robot said. “All magical users must submit to the King’s Rule and join the Kingdom’s armies. Do you accept?”

"What's the army's uniform?" Ella asked immediately.

Yes, stall! Lisa thought to herself as she glanced at the glowing cocoon, which grew bigger and bigger.

“If you comply,” The robot said, “Come with us and we can induct you into the Kingdom.”

”That doesn't answer my question!" Ella said. "What's the uniform like? Is it cute? Or do we have to wear metal suits?"

“There is no uniform,” The Robot answered.

"Oh, so we can wear whatever we want? Like this?" Ella spun, and as she did her clothes magically transformed into her magical girl outfit. She then struck a pose. "Super cute, right?!"

The robot lunged for Ella.

“... We have no time for these games!”

"Awwwww," Ella pouted. Her leg was coated in a rainbow light and she kicked right at the Robot's stomach as it went for her. It left a dent, stumbling backwards, and dropped its musket.

”The Spider’s almost ready!” Lisa shouted as the spider was almost sedan sized…

… Then other robots burst in, brandishing oversized muskets, swords, and even… a fucking cannon.

”Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck, fuck!” Lisa hissed through her teeth as she immediately attempted to use the Chitionious Spear… only for it to bounce off their armor immediately. However, Lisa switched to using Snare which… was just as effective against them.

Ella ran towards the robot with the cannon, going to bring her foot down on the cannon itself. Saskia grimaced, blood tendril forming on their back and lashing out in front of them to try and smack the robots aside.

”Keep the spider safe," they said to Lisa.

”I’m trying here!” Lisa shouted, knocking a sword free with her chitinous spear. ”Nothing is working!” Lisa hissed.

“… Fall back!” One of the robotic knights shouted before funneling through the nearest exit. Lisa was perplexed.

”… Well,” Lisa shrugged. ”That was easy.”

"They barely put up a fight!" Ella shouted, running back over to Saskia and Lisa. Her legs were still surrounded by prismatic lights.

"Maybe they went to get a trebuchet?" Saskia intoned. "We should still leave."

The spider burst out of its cocoon, and Lisa smiled… up until a cannon round blew through the house. The house was lit up by a barrage of musket and cannon fire. Lisa immediately hit the deck, fearing the worst for her spider.

Saskia dropped to the floor, turning their head and frowning. "Close enough to a trebuchet."

"We can't fight guns!" Ella yelled, lying on her stomach and starting to awkwardly army crawl towards the door.

"You have ranged magic. Throw a fireball at them."

"I'll burn the house down!"

”The house is already getting blown to bits!” Lisa shouted, throwing her hands over her head. ”We gotta protect the-”

A cannonball blew The spider in half before her eyes, and it fell over.

Dead.

”... Shit.”

However, the gun and cannon fire stopped, and a few heavy steps from the robots approached...

"Get back!" Ella shouted, getting to her knees. She pushed her hands in front of her, large bursts of fire shooting out of both of them. She spread them to the side to torch the whole area in front of her… burns appearing on her own hands and arms as the flames got larger than normal. The footsteps stopped.

… Then, the sounds of reloading started.

Lisa looked up; the roof was still mostly intact despite the house getting blasted to bits. She had an idea. It's a crazy idea, but it's still leagues better than getting their teeth kicked in by a group of robots. She crawled over to Saskia and said, ”... We need to cast Blood Rain. It’s the only way we’re getting out of this!”

Lisa summoned spiders with pulsating blood sacks in the sky; Saskia had to activate the blood rain part. Then, they hoped the cabin's roof could withstand acid. Saskia held up their hands, expanding the blood sacks in the spiders until they exploded, raining down acidic blood on everything underneath them. There was that sizzling sound as the robots outside were dissolved - and unfortunately, so was the cabin's roof. Lisa screamed in pain as some of the acid hit her in the back. It burned holes in her back, but she was still capable of standing up.

Then, it began binding, which was the entire plan. Lisa looked up at a hole in the wall, climbed to her feet, and immediately darted to it.

”... Run!” Lisa shouted.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Saskia muttered as they jumped up, blood and flesh sliding off their back onto the ground as they ran after Lisa.

"YOU DIDN'T USE THE GESTURE!" Ella screamed as she followed behind, acid coating her shoulders and chest, some splashed on her face. She practically shoved the other two through the hole in the wall, using the ice scepter to fill it with a massive block of ice.

”FUCK THE GESTURE, JUST RUN! Lisa shouted as she hauled ass through the hall and into the woods… she caught sight of the robots and, as planned. They were dissolved in acids, then bound, which immobilized them enough for Lisa and the gang to haul ass into the woods…

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

---

The Greenwood Coven.

Interactions: .

Outside the House on the Hill.

---

---

A breeze traveled through St. Portwell, carrying leaves and foliage, from northern St. Portwell to the south... past the boardwalk, past Melon Collie Hill, and to the House on the Hill. Outside the location, the winds crescendoed and appeared seemingly out of thin air. All the leaves and other pieces of plant life gently fell to the ground. One fell on the shoulder of the leader of the Greenwood Coven, Ruby White... before she turned her head and blew it away. Various members of Greenwood were holding pizza boxes and bags of food - wings, mozzarella sticks, garlic knots, and whatnot - that permeated the area with the alluring scent of food. The first thing that Ruby did was turn to Autumn and ask,

"Autumn, how many Adepts are in there?"

"About thirteen," Autumn quickly answered, holding some pizza boxes - with the Apparition of Al Slaughter beside her also holding some pizza. "The colors are consistent with what we've seen of Sycamore."

Ruby turned towards the rest of the Greenwood Coven and said, "Now, before we go in there, do not bring up that white-haired bitch." Ruby narrowed her eyes. "I sorted all of that out with her people."

"Ain't she their-" Naomi tried to say.

"... No, she ain't," Ruby said. "It's been deaded, we clear?"

All of Greenwood nodded.

"Let's go," Ruby said, walking towards the front door. "We're already an hour late."

"We would have been there already if you didn't tell them you were getting the food!" Naomi snorted, rolling her eyes.

"We already left their meeting with how much pizza?" Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Hey, man! They were giving it away like it was free!" James laughed.

"Look, you all know me," Ruby stopped and turned on her heel. "Someone does good by me, I do good by them."

"You know," Jessica said. "I respect that!"

"We all do," Naomi cracked a grin.

"Aw, you're making me blush," Ruby said as she proceeded up the stairs into the House on the Hill, her pockets stuffed with these business cards for a therapist - a Temple therapist. Ruby knew what Lynette (Richoux) was trying to do, but at the same time, she also knew that pissing her off after she did such a massive favor for them, well...

... That wouldn't be right, shady intentions or not.

So, all she had to do was make up some bullshit and distribute these... business cards. However, Lynette would understand if they wouldn't take them anyway, and Ruby was smart enough not to be aggressive about it, or else she'd ruin this good thing they had. Though, Leon's ass should be there, and he should (key word here) help her out if he was as big of a mother's boy as Ruby knew him as. Ruby sighed as she pushed the doors of the House on the Hill...

"... Have Greenwood betrayed us!?"

An Anime

Ruby rolled her eyes.

"... Sweetie, we just-" Ruby cut herself off when she looked around the room... There was a kid battered and bruised, someone was on the floor unconscious, and everyone looked ready for a fight. Ruby scanned everyone's emotions; there were various mixes of panic, fear, concern, anger... The rest of Greenwood walked in behind her.

"... What happened in here?" Ruby asked nobody in particular.

"Aw shucks," Jessica awkwardly laughed, tugging at her collar. She then raised the three pizza boxes she was carrying in the air. "Um, pizza's here!"