VitaVitaAR

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

For several moments, Anne was completely silent. She didn't quite know how to respond to Serrica's offer. Certainly, she was an ally character in the game, but at the same time she didn't remember anything quite happening like this. It didn't seem the same.

"Er... thank you," she said, bowing her head as she reached out to accept the handshake. No matter what else was going on, it was quite a generous offer. Even if it didn't feel anything like the way Serrica felt in the game. Maybe it was just the difference between a video game and reality? That could be the case, but some things had seemed exactly the same as the game while others had diverged.

Certainly, part of this had to just be from different actions taking place causing things to change in different ways. But that couldn't be the only explanation for everything, could it?

It felt like everything was becoming even more complicated by the second.

@Pyromania99

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

The bones rattled to that, scattered across the floor under the blows of the knights. But any skeleton that did not suffer major damage to its structure had already begun to rise again, pulling itself together and gripping its weapon to fight once more.

One such undead was greeted with the blade of Fanilly's sword, striking its skull, cutting into the bone and sending it stumbling before a followup with the pommel caved its head inwards, causing it to collapse to the floor once again.

Indeed, for Necromancers, the benefit of skeletal undead was the difficulty with which to permanently disable them. On the other hand, they were also quite easily knocked apart compared to their fleshier counterparts.

The numbers of the initial group of skeletons were dwindling. The burst of wind from Cecilia's arrow had caused many of them to collapse to the ground and tumble apart in pieces, forced to pull themselves together in order to rise once more. This made them easy pickings, and considerably cut the number of those that posed an immediate threat.

Even still, Fanilly found herself knocking another skeleton apart as it raised its rusted sword, cutting into its spine in order to make its attempt at rising just a bit more difficult.

"We're almost through!" she called to the other knights. But even as she spoke, another group of skeletons marched up the steps, brandishing their weapons as their jaws opened soundlessly.

That wasn't all, for alongside them was a large, grotesque figure. It was an undead of some description, but larger then any of the others seen before. Bloated was perhaps the best way to describe it. In one large hand it gripped a hefty, rough-looking black iron hammer, its head obscured entirely by a ragged hood. Aside from pants, it was without any further form of armor, but its bloated form would make it harder to cut apart. Its warped, decaying figure did not appear to be entirely human-like, but its exact nature was difficult to make out.

"Iron Roses!" called Fanilly, "Disable the skeletons and then cut down the giant abomination! Finishing the skeletons can wait until it's been slain!"

If they could disable all the skeletons, then cut down the massive undead, then that would make the followup far easier.

But beyond the skeletons, and the bloated undead, was another very much alive figure. A man clad in leather armor, appearing to be in his late twenties perhaps, several daggers on his waist and a gleaming red gem hanging from his neck. He was eyeing the Roses warily, using the skeletons and the massive undead as a barrier between himself and the knights.

That mush have been one of the other conspirators. It fell in line with what Tili had described!

But without finishing the undead off first, reaching him simply wasn't a possibility.

@Creative Chaos@Rune_Alchemist@Crimson Paladin@Psychic Loser@VahkiDane@HereComesTheSnow@Erode@Conscripts

---

As the knights assembled beyond the door, the Princesses both approached, trying to peer beyond it and see what was going on. The moment that Elisandre caught a glimpse, she swiftly grasped Maletha and covered her eyes.

Whatever was going to happen, she had guessed that it wasn't something she should be watching.

The moment the oils ignited, a hideous shriek seemed to arise from the very air itself. A hazy form appeared above the nem, its shape impossible to fully make out as it warped and twisted in the air. All that could be discerned was two long-fingered hands, wrapped around Tili's throat.

The screeching grew in volume, until the finger seemed to shimmer strangely and finally release the nem's through, leaving her sputtering, coughing, squirming on the ground.

The exorcism had been a success.

The hazy, misty figure was somewhat more distinct now. A skull-like face perched upon a long neck, a hunched, skinless figure exposing bone and sinew, a mane of hair stretching from its head and down its back. It was not much larger then Tili herself, but its hands were as wide as dinner plates and possessed long, thin fingers tipped in sharp nails.

"Then it was a wicked spirit," Adeforth's eyes narrowed, one hand placed on his blade, "It's lucky we had one of the clergy at our disposal. If no-"

The creature sprang into the air, suddenly hurling itself towards the princesses. Was this some sort of backup plan? If it wasn't intercepted in time...!

@Krayzikk@The Otter@Psyker Landshark@Raineh Daze

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

". . ."

She was tired. She was already irritated.

That was enough to make this stupid little fairy's intrusion even more aggravating then it would have been otherwise.

But then the useelie opened her brainless little mouth.

And she spoke.

And the words she said...

Had she come here with a desire for punishment? Was this unseelie a twisted mashochist who wanted to suffer? Perhaps that explained her behavior.

Fio's left eye twitched as she watched the utterly pathetic display of the fae's attempt to curse her. She could barely even detect it, it was such a weak buildup of magic that it might not have even existed. What was it going to do? Turn the tips of her hair purple? Give her a minor cough?

Whatever the case, she wasn't about to give this idiot the satisfaction of a successful curse.

"Moonlit Shine," she said, in a casual, noncommittal manner as she put only the barest amount of mana into applying a ward to herself. It wasn't necessary, really, given how weak the curse would almost certainly be, but it was a perfect demonstration of the distance between the two of them.

The only sign it had been cast was a brief blue-white light that flowed across Fio's body, before she simply reached out to grab the unseelie from the air.

"A child? That's what you called me. A child," she said, wrapping her slender fingers tightly around the tiny fae's small body, "You're not talking to a child, you total idiot!"

Placing her free hand to her chest, Fio continued.

"I am Fio Fan Falisse, and I am going to make you remember that name, you brainless little moron! You absolute fool. Maybe you secretly wanted to be be punished, and that's why you came here?!"

As she spoke, her free hand left her chest and sharply prodded the unseelie's cheek. By this point, the seething fire within her heart had completely overpowered her physical exhaustion. The Sword Witch was utterly livid. This stupid unseelie came here first intending to curse the Queen and then her, and yet she was that week? She was that utterly stupid? And so dumb she thought she was a child on top of that?

She was perfectly mature! Perfectly adult! Who would ever make that mistake!? Only an idiot! That's just how stupid this unseelie was!

"I have not had the best day recently, and lo and behold, a pathetic little ignoramus whose magical power is so low she couldn't curse a frog has decided to volunteer herself to help me let my stress out! If she's stupid enough to call me a child, I can't tell if it's idiocy or masochism that made her decide to help out!"

@Rune_Alchemist

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

Still clutching the pillow tightly to her slim, petite frame, Fio didn't move to prevent Sir Vyrell's departure, instead glaring at a space on the wall irritably as she lay on the bed.

That stupid, stupid Sorcha.

After all that effort she put in, she couldn't even be here...

Under most circumstances, Fio Fan Falisse would never have considered ever falling asleep in Sorcha's bed. Doing so was tantamount to surrender. To allowing all sorts of misfortune to befall her.

It was, to put it simply, placing herself in needless danger.

However, the exhaustion that had overtaken her after the experience in Cethlann's dream was impossible to ignore. As she gripped the pillow tighter, her eyelids began to grow heavier, dropping as her glare became less focused. Indeed, it seemed everything was catching up to the Sword Witch as she lay on the Queen's exquisitely, extremely comfortable bed.

Her resistance to falling asleep was rapidly crumbling.

At least, until something cut through her exhaustion.

She caught sight of the tiny figure fluttering through the window, commenting to herself entirely obliviously as she fluttered over to the plates. Trash queen. Prank.

Fio was certainly angry with Sorcha, but at the same time she was in her service.

This was a matter of pride.

"Sura, spectral swords. Bar the exit."

The blade shimmered into view, and with a wave the window was promptly blocked by the glowing blue form of multiple blades interlocking to create a barrier.

"A prank, unseelie? You were going to prank her?" she commented, placing the pillow to the side and rising to her fee.

Perfect. There was no escape from the room, and she had someone to take her frustration out on.

Someone who unquestionably deserved it.

"I think you're the one who invited a little bit of pranking."

@Rune_Alchemist

Strange Gospel: A Heavily Persona-Inspired Urban Fantasy RP

Shiratori briefly seemed to pause a moment when referred to in such a familiar fashion, but she quickly recovered, giving Nozaki a smile of her own.

"What a coincidence! I'm heading the same way, we can walk together."

Certainly, this reaction would just appear to be a friendly attempt to get to know a fellow student, as Shiratori Naoko approached the boy.

But the timing would certainly feel a little strange, perhaps, if one were to pause and think about it. For someone to approach right out of the blue after something so unusual occurred.

While Shiratori was silent for a few moments, when she next spoke, perhaps it would make the truth obvious. Or perhaps it wouldn't.

"So, um..." she trailed off for a moment, "Have you noticed anything strange going on, lately? I know everyone is talking about that Strange Gospel thing, but that can't be true, right? It's not as if that kind of thing can really happen, right?"

Even as she spoke, she paused for a moment, idly glancing around. It was likely it would appear as a perfectly normal behavior, something any ordinary person might do on a walk.

But Shiratori was checking to make sure no-one was in earshot before she spoke again.

@Bartimaeus

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

So this was the source of the beasts. The location where they had found their entry. It certainly possessed a different feel then the rest of the human town, and the bloodstains indicated that the humans here had been torn apart quite swiftly. Or perhaps that there was more then mere notes being taken in this place. The scent of blood and beasts from deeper inside, towards the room Dragan had entered, perhaps implied the latter possibility.

Given her fellow Lord had chosen to head deeper inside, Aleksiya took it upon herself to instead investigate the scattered notes.

"Meddling in such things... no wonder they brought pain upon their people," she complained with a sigh, "Idiots."

The other people in the village weren't to blame, of course, but whoever was in charge of this place certainly was.

But they'd seemingly reaped their harvest already.

Far more curious was the contents of the notes themselves.

Humans and beasts alike, warped by something deeper in the forest? The fact that whoever had penned the notes concluded a vampire was responsible? The place where one fell...

A smirk crossed the diminutive vampire's lips.

"Ah, perfect timing," she declared when her fellow lord returned, "I'd gathered as much, to be honest. Whatever idiot was in charge here succeeded only in bringing about their own deaths, and the deaths of the underserving. Or rather..."

Aleksiya raised one of the notes.

"That's what I would say, if not for this. Perhaps we can root out the source of these beasts and discover the resting place of another one of our fellows, hmm?"

@Psyker Landshark@Rune_Alchemist

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

@Taka: Yes, we are!

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

In response to the spell woven by Sir Nicomede, a strange noise seemed to come from the very air itself. It was something of a hiss, or a low, short breath, as the pressure on Tili's throat seemed to lessen slightly. Indeed, an incantation tied to the Moon itself, the waters of Mayon, was a powerful weapon against the wicked.

But it could only go so far.

Sir Nicomede's spell had certainly afforded them time. The entity or whatever presence had been called by the foul spell had not been forced to appear physically, but it was clear its efforts to kill the nem had slowed, its attempts to strangle her faltering due to the water knight's efforts.

But be it due to lack of experience with such magic, or the Caster behind the invisible presence's own skill, it failed to fully vanquish Tili's attacker, even if she had precious time bought by the spell.

@Krayzikk@The Otter@Psyker Landshark@Raineh Daze

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"It's the prisoner, she's...!"

It didn't take any further words from Sir Adeforth to clarify what was happening.

The Nem still bound, had fallen to the floor, spasming, struggling to breath, her entire body shuddering and twitching as tears welled in the corners of her eyes. Her legs tightening, her body shaking, the small pale figure was struggling on the floor, almost as if something had pinned her to the ground.

One of the guards had already departed in an effort to fetch the court mage, the other Crown Knight remaining, a desperate look on her face.

"I don't understand, we... how could she..."

"This is no poison," Sir Adeforth asserted immediately, "Look. This is the twisted devilry of a necromancer."

Indeed, there was no misunderstanding it for anything else. Tili's scarred throat was being constricted not by some toxin, but what appeared to be pressure, from an invisible force squeezing at her neck.

Upon understanding this, the remaining Crown Knight immediately moved to attempt to push whatever force was atop the nem away, but her hands found nothing.

"It's no use," continued Sir Adeforth, grimly, "Whatever that is can't be touched by normal means."

Time was short, if the court mage didn't arrive soon, or no other assistance was given, then...

@Psyker Landshark@Raineh Daze@The Otter

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

While the Barukstaedian warrior was certainly skilled, covering the stairs and fighting multiple opponents at once was a challenge for any warrior. While he was preoccupied, the Knight-Captain and the remaining Iron Roses were able to push past him, down the stairway and deeper into the crypt.

There was little time to dwell upon the nature of the place. From the bodies lining the walls, the intricate effigies adorning each tomb, with others represented outside instead. The colorful banners, the celebration of the lives of those interred here.

Thankfully many of them did not seem yet risen.

Fanilly had to guide her knights. She had to act in her role.

As Fanilly prepared to open her mouth, to dispense her own orders as Knight-Captain rather then relying on another, a figure emerged from an alcove.

But this was no dusty, worn, decrepit undead.

Fanilly drew a sharp intake of breath at his appearance. Even with her experience with Tyaethe, it was still something of a shock.

He was alive and breathing, healthy-looking, aside from the deathly pale tone of his skin. The red eyes, the slight point to his ears, and his excellent condition...

One didn't have to be familiar with vampires to recognize one that wasn't attempting to hide himself. This was no raised corpse. When the vampire introduced himself as Damon Cazt, there was no reason not to believe him. But why was he here? Was he the mysterious man Tili had mentioned, that she didn't know much about?

And his behavior was strange, too. He had slipped the note onto the Nem? That would explain some things, but to what end? A rescue? Had he intended for all of this? There was very little time to worry about it, especially given the situation.

Even if she really was still alive, they still didn't have very much time.

Nor did they have many more knights, either. They couldn't afford to lose anyone else, if Serenity chose to face Damon herself.

Fanilly took a deep breath.

"Dame Serenity, if you are to remain here, then the rest of us must move on ahead," she began, her blue eyes once more drifting to the vampire. She was worried. She couldn't help but worry. But remaining would only jeopardize their goal even further. "Iron Rose Knights, any further threat we face, we cannot afford to split up any further. We will cut them down as swiftly as possible before moving deeper."

She took a step forward, leading the knights further down into the crypt. It was there only choice. Lady Veilena's apparent ancestor had no intentions beyond a duel, it seemed, but that didn't mean she was not worried for Dame Serenity's sake.

Especially given the nature of the situation.

"Archers to the center," she declared. While they had few knights left, it was important to try and maintain some kind of formation. Sir Gerard was right, it was obvious that their opponents were peeling away their numbers as much as possible. While she couldn't be certain of Cazt's motivations, it was impossible to ignore the outcome.

But their goal remained.

Rescue the hostage and put and end to this conspiracy.

As soon as Damon Cazt and Serenity disappeared from view, they were greeted with a new sound.

A rattling noise from below, as something ascended the stairway.

And then they appeared. The empty eye sockets and perpetual grins made Fanilly's blood freeze for a moment, her hands tensing.

These undead were older bodies. Their flesh had withered away entirely, and no armor remained. The swords, axes, and spears in their hands were fresher. Fanilly knew little of mechanics of necromancy, but she recalled that skeletons were more difficult to destroy simply because of how little was left.

She raised her sword.

"Just as with the other undead, do everything you can to make them useless!" she declared. "Their heads, their limbs, smash them apart!"

But that wasn't all. Another shadow was proceeding up the stairs, following the pack of skeletons...

@Creative Chaos@Rune_Alchemist@Crimson Paladin@Psychic Loser@VahkiDane@HereComesTheSnow@Erode@Conscripts

---

"Yes, Rozenalt's portrayed as quite threatening," The First Princess agreed, with a nod, "As exciting as most of the novel is, scenes like Rozenalt's Antechamber, or the encounter with the Midnight Hunt, are so chilling."

She smiled after a moment.

"I always have to skip the latter when I'm reading with dear Maletha, she can't stand the description of the Knights of the Hunt and the Siheyar, and the part with the Eyes of the Forest bothers her too," she added, lowering her voice somewhat so as to not disturb her younger sister.

She paused for a moment as she considered Sir Fionn's question. The fact that she was being preoccupied with literature, one of her passions, meant that she was being quite effectively distracted from the situation.

"I'm fond of The Tale of Prince Erion," she replied, "So is Maletha. It's more historical then Fireheart, but not without its embellishments establishing it as a work of fiction. Hmm... ah, you might like The Fabulous Misadventures of Sir Gallenweigh! It's very lighthearted and fanciful, but Lady Sillen's imagination is so extravagant!"

"Elei... oh, you mean like, um..." the Second Princess trailed off for a moment, "Like the Milk Bunny? Um, that's Elei too, isn't it?"

She hummed the tune of the song after a moment, smiling slightly.

"M-maybe Thrinax and Elei could meet some day," she offered, holding Thrinax's stubby forelimbs up with her hands, "I-I'm sure there'd be a lot for them to talk ab-"

Suddenly she heard a thud from beyond the door, and some commotion.

Outside was where the Crown Knights and the failed assassin remained, the Nem bound and kept under careful watch.

The voice of Sir Adeforth could be heard, demanding that the Court Mage be called at once before it's too late.

@Psyker Landshark@Raineh Daze@The Otter