VitaVitaAR

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

It's difficult to have any kind of coherent response after I've managed to walk on water. It wasn't something I'd even considered as a possibility, even when it came to powerful magi. I figured they would just have some other method of crossing bodies of water. I think most of them do, in fact.

Walking on the surface of the water was just something I'd never even begun to consider. And yet, somehow, I did it. Against all odds.

Maybe this isn't necessarily a dream, but some kind of delusion. That would explain so much.

And yet, somehow, not enough.

I don't even question it when the heat suddenly dies down from her magic. That's a parlor trick compared to what I've already seen. It's pretty clear to me that logic has firmly been sent flying out the window and off into the distance, perhaps never to return. I can't help but wonder if it's having a good time, where ever it may have gone.

The inn is a little more normalcy, at least, though the nord woman who confronts us---

Aaah, a necromancer? I...

...

I have something I need to do. I know that much. And my brain is practically scrambled from everything that's been going on. From one surreal, impossible tragedy to a stream of surreal, impossible magic, everything feels a little distant.

"... I... I guess it's not as if a necromancer should be allowed to do whatever they please..."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

The forest was silent, as the Fae woman inclined her head to the side and quietly listened to the words of the Knights before her. Sir Caulder and Dame Yael hadn't quite expected Sir Gerard to take the lead in explaining things, but nevertheless they didn't stop him.

Perhaps they thought he was doing a good job, or perhaps they wanted to gauge the fae woman's reaction before trying to elaborate. Or perhaps it was both.

The only show of any sort of reaction before Sir Gerard and Sir Rolan finished speaking was the slight narrowing of her eyes at the mention of the 'Moonlit Queen'.

It was hard to tell way she allowed their words to hang in the air for quite some time once they were done with their explanation. Perhaps she was deep in through, or perhaps her silence was simply to make them worry. When it came to the fae, it was difficult to tell what their motives could be at times.

After a pause, her lips parted.

"The Moonlit Queen, you say?"

There was the slightest edge to her tone that hadn't been there before.

"Such a title is one favored by many of our kind, Children of Men," she began, "You worship the Lady in the Moon, but for us it is the moonlight itself that we adore. To be illuminated by moonlight, even when its pale face is not visible, is considered by many fae to be a symbol of status."

The resplendent woman leaned forward.

"In this forest, there is only a single fae of the Unseelie Court who has taken such a title. She is the only one who both desires it, and has the power to dissuade any others from trying to assert that they are so illuminated as well. She doesn't approve of those who try to take it for themselves, nor does she approve of many things that do not go her way."

Her sapphire gaze fixed firmly on Sir Gerard's gold, now.

Perhaps it was a prelude to what she was about to say. To gauge the way in which the knight who had taken the role of explaining their cause would react to the words she would speak next.

"This forest's Moonlit Queen is my elder sister, Children of Men."

@HereComesTheSnow@Eisenhorn

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Heir to the Konpaku

That's---

That's not true at all! It was an idea we'd all agreed on! In the first place, it's not as if I feel particularly bad about entering Kaku Seiga's place of residence. Wasn't she stealing it from someone already? Certainly, they were already dead, but that's beside the point! It was still taking ownership of a mausoleum that didn't belong to her in the first place!

---It had been my idea to disable Miyako, but I'd specifically done it in a way that wouldn't harm her. Even if she could be mended from even the worst injuries.

I could have just cut her in half. It's not like that would have killed her, after all. It wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.

---Putting all that aside, there's no way Yuyuko-sama would possibly agree to those conditions! Especially when it's a request from the Wicked Hermit Kaku Seiga!

"Yuyuko-sama would ne---"

Suddenly, the jiangshi has flown ahead of the others. Her talisman has been restored, and she's looking down at Fujiwara-san, Suguru-san, Carol-san, and myself.

"Stay out of the mausoleum!"

Her shout is loud enough to echo off the walls.

"..."

We're already in the mausoleum, though---

... Nevermind.

"Yuyuko-sama would never agree to that!"

I'll assert it firmly. She shouldn't even try it.

---Right?

"So you didn't create that... thing, but instead it came from beneath the city?" Carol comments, looking as if she feels nothing about asserting I was the only one at fault, "That doesn't bode particularly well... hmmm."

@DracoLunaris@FujiwaraPhoenix@Raineh Daze

---

The Scarlet Devil

"Tch---!"

If I hadn't been weakened, that cave-in wouldn't have mattered to me at all! I would have easily broken my way through it! Damn it!

Fists tightly curled at my sides, I can feel my wings flapping lightly, unconsciously, in an expression of my irritation.

Stupid, ugly, unpleasant undead, lurking in a stupid, unstable underground passageway! Whose idea was it to go lurking in such an unsightly place, anyway!?

And if you're going to use undead, at least try and make them aesthetically pleasing!

I hope the dumb idiot who was behind this got themselves crushed. It would serve them right.

"Hmph."

I fold my arms, turning away from the others in annoyance.

"Well, since we obviously can't explore that route anymore, I suppose we'll have to return. It was a really ugly, stupid tunnel anyway."

---Not that the aesthetics necessarily mattered when it came to figuring out what happened, but still!

I don't bother waiting for the others. I'm going to lead the way back to the guild whether they're ready or not.

@Drifting Pollen@Lugubrious@Rezod92

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

"..."

At least I can swim.

Even though she's clearly able to do it, it's not as if I can wrap my head around the idea of doing it myself. Whatever kind of mage she is, I'm certainly not.

To put it simply, I can't say I have confidence in what I'm about to attempt. But it's not like I'm about to drown.

Honestly, getting soaked in lake water would hardly be the most unpleasant fluid I've had all over me recently.

At least I'm going to try, no matter how little confidence I have. I have an idea of what she's trying to describe, it'd be worse if this was my first lesson in magic.

I inhale deeply, and close my eyes---

And take a step.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

The longer they walked, the odder the forest seemed. It was difficult to tell if this was simply a portion of the forest that was particularly affected by fae magics, or if they had, at some point, strayed into one of the very fae realms they had been tasked with trying to infiltrate.

They air seemed odd. A slight tingle on the skin of the assembled knights, though not a wholly unpleasant sensation. Rather, it almost evoked the feeling of the summer sunlight, on a particularly clear and fresh day. The foliage seemed greener, here, but also somewhat strange. It was as if it had grown in an arranged fashion, two rows of tall, white trees flanking their approach as they were lead by the fae hunter.

The trees were broken, now, by figures of equal height to the hunter. They were cloaked in black, standing out in sharp contrast against the white trees surrounding the path. What features they possessed were shrouded, but in their hands they gripped spears that appeared to be hewn from the same darkness as their cloaks.

It was difficult to tell how long the procession of armed fae was.

But at its end was a throne of wood. Not a throne carved from wood, but a throne grown from wood. It was a single, continuous piece, rooted to the spot and adorned with leaves that grew from it naturally.

Most striking was the figure seated upon it.

She had fair skin, and was nearly as tall as the hunter and the cloaked figures, herself. Her near-black hair was straight, pouring down her back, and she was possessed of fine, elegant facial features and blue eyes. Emerging from her forehead and parting her bangs, were a pair of horns that appeared almost as if they were grown from dark wood.

Her body was possessed of a generous figure, clad in flowing, shimmering robes of greens and blues, and she cocked her head lightly at the approach of the hunter, the knights, and the aessyr.

The hunter swiftly knelt.

"Faolan."

The female fae on the throne spoke in a clear, firm voice, addressing the hunter.

"You bring before me children of men. While I bear no ill will towards them, I do wonder what your intention is."

Dame Yael was the first to kneel. Sir Caulder followed quickly after, deferring respect to the fae lady in the throne.

"My lady," Faolan replied, "These children of men slew the Gannek that threatened to devour our little sisters."

A cry of "it's true!" could be heard, from Aithne as she continued to embrace the slowly-recovering Enfys.

"I thought it best to grant their desire to meet you, my lady, in light of their deed."

The fae lady cocked her head once more, bringing her hand to her chin.

"Is that so? How interesting," she commented, "Well then, why did you wish to meet me, children of men? If it is a frivolous desire, I may not appreciate it. Or perhaps, I shall be impressed by your boldness?"

A smirk crossed her lips.

@HereComesTheSnow@Eisenhorn

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

The air itself sizzled.

Sir Fionn's efforts had paid off.

The brilliant light tore across the clearing and cleaved apart the wood that remained in the path of the serpent construct's heart. For a moment, it was exposed, then fully ripped free of its confines. Indeed, the branches composing the serpent had twisted inwards, gripped the throbbing, green mass shaped much like a human heart, and thrown it free from the body in an effort to escape its fate.

But its response was far too slow.

The magical energy hurled forth from Sir Fionn's blade struck it squarely and tore it cleaning in two. For a moment, it was suspended in the air, cut apart by light, as its own energy faded and the emerald tones dulled.

Then it came to pieces, shattering like glass.

The upper half of the massive serpent twisted for a moment, suddenly sharpening into an innumerable number of points and raising upwards---

Only to be blasted open, torn apart by Lady Gertrude's efforts, her Dragonstar shearing through the wooden serpent's flower-like upper body and bringing its final attack to a an explosive halt, splitting open its form and sending its halves bowing sideways.

Fanilly lowered her blade, taking a deep breath.

"... Good work," she said, after a few moments, though she did not yet sheath her sword. While the enormous construct had been defeated, something still felt incredibly strange in the air. She couldn't simply let her guard down, she had to be ready to move, to issue commands, "It appears to be dead, but---"

"The magical energy hasn't faded, you know," Lord Arken interjected, his staff raised "Simply because the construct isn't moving doesn't mean..."

He trailed off, lowering his staff.

The wooden serpent was no longer moving. The green light had left it.

However---

Life hadn't.

Portions of its body had twisted free of the mass, rooting themselves back into the earth as they once had.

Branches that drooped suddenly seemed sturdier, spreading, green leaves sprouting from the split and torn form.

New greenery covered the wicked gouges left behind by their assault, a verdant, living, yet bizarrely-shaped tree now standing before them.

As its branches raised and life returned to them, small buds appeared. Their petals parted all at once, as if the knights were watching the natural spectacle unfold sped up hundreds of times.

The great, strange tree that had moments about been their enemy was now covered in innumerable white blossoms.

"... It's faded," Lord Arken commented, finally, lowering his staff, "At least, insofar as can be expected in a place like this."

It was strange, really. Despite the enormous serpent having been a foe of considerable danger, now it was simply a strange, yet beautiful centerpiece to the clearing that perhaps held the entrance to the Moonlit Queen's realm. To Fanilly's eyes, it almost appeared as if they were looking upon a tree covered in stars. She didn't recognize the flowers. Did they exist anywhere else?

"... Now that the guardian has been dealt with, presuming we've found the location, now all we need to do is find assistance so we can get inside," the Knight-Captain said, after a scant few moments of silence, "Given what's left of the serpent, I don't think we should have a difficult time finding it again."

With that being said, she still wasn't certain about how they'd locate a fae or a group of fae able and willing to let them enter the Moonlit Queen's fae realm.

But they were far closer now then when they'd started.

@Raineh Daze@Psyker Landshark@Crimson Paladin@Octo@The Otter

---

Silence filled the forest, as the tall fae hunter's initial response was merely to silently regard the knights in term. His green gaze traced along their forms swiftly, taking in each knight and lingering somewhat longer upon Sir Gerard's face.

But they lingered longest on the tiny shapes of the two aessyr, Enfys now managing to weakly return the tearful Aithne's embrace.

"---I see. Then I must thank you again, children of men," the fae hunter responded, "For preserving the life of our little sister."

He paused for a moment, clearly to consider Sir Gerard's request. By now, his stance had become casual, the bow still in his hand but held low and at his side.

His eyes narrowed briefly at the mention of a 'Moonlit Queen'.

He was silent for a considerable amount of time.

"While I would have enjoyed the hunt, you actions to bring the abomination to its end warrant consideration," he said, at last, "While I am among this forest's protectors, I am not the one you must speak to."

He turned, beckoning towards the deeper forest with his free hand.

"My lady shall hear your request."

@HereComesTheSnow@Eisenhorn

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"It's been better, but I'm fine," Sir Caulder gave a metallic grunt, one hand to the back of his head. Indeed, he seemed to have righted himself well enough, and didn't appear to be struggling with standing. While his heavy visor made it hard to tell where he was looking, he was definitely facing towards the unconscious aessyr in Sir Rolan's grasp.

Dame Yael let out a sigh of relief, and stepped away to help check their surroundings as quickly as possible.

The awake Aessyr didn't need to be told any more. With the hum of her wings she swiftly left Sir Gerard's shoulder, fluttering towards the prone, tiny figure in Sir Rolan's hands.

Her sings fluttering, she hovered just above the other girl, reaching out towards her.

"Enfys! E-Enfys!"

For a few moments, the unconscious aessyr didn't appear to hear her. Perhaps her condition truly was that severe, due to being trapped inside the Gannek's body.

But then---

A tiny, faint noise, barely audible to the Sir Rolan, came from the prone figure.

"Nnng..."

Enfys slowly opened her eyes. With all the grime still clicking to her body, it made her bright blue irises stand out all the more intensely.

"Enfys---!"

The first aessyr's hands clutched at her chest, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes.

"... I stink..."

Those were the first words out of Enfys's mouth as she stirred slightly, a few faded petals falling from her dress. Without another moment wasted, the first aessyr wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly.

"... Ah... Aithne, you'll stink now too..."

The first aessyr, Aithne, did not appear to think this was a reason to let go. Despite her tiny size, her sobbing was quite clearly audible, now, as she simply held Enfys closer.

"Sir Gerard is right," Dame Yael commented as she approached the nearby foliage to check for any unwanted observers, "It'd be best if we returned swi---"

She was cut off with a gasp of shock as the figure silently stepped from the trees.

He had appeared entirely silently. He had been completely invisible just moments prior.

The figure was tall. Incredibly so, perhaps nearing nine feet. His skin was blue-grey, with darker interweaving patterns running down his shoulders, back, and chest. He wore little clothing, save for a fur hanging from his waits to preserve his modesty, exposing his toned arms, chest, and waist.

His hair was wild, dark, and hung past his waist, framing a slender-featured face with a sharpness that could be described as both handsome and beautiful, his eyes a luminescent green. But his least human features were most certainly the sharp, many-pointed antlers extending from his forehead.

There was no denying the man was fae.

From his shoulder hung a quiver full of black arrows, and in his left hand he clutched a great bow.

"... Children of men," he began, his voice firm and seeming to fill the forest, his eyes cast over the assembled knights, then fell upon the black stain that was all that remained of the Gannek.

He inclined his head slightly towards the knights.

"You have slain the creature I hunted," he continued, "But I do not begrudge your success. It devoured life and sought to feed upon my kin. For this, I thank you, children of men."

@HereComesTheSnow@Eisenhorn

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

I...

Isn't this all too much!?

What kind of day is this!? I've been imprisoned, the Emperor dies in front of me, I have to fight off far too much, and now this elf is telling me that hshe has that thing and we can walk on water because of it?!

Not to mention what I'm carrying---!

Have I woken up in some whole new reality, totally unrelated to the one I went to sleep in? Has the Prince of Madness somehow hopped into my head and twisted my perception of the world around me?

It's just one absurdity after another! So much has happened that the death of the Emperor before my eyes, what I had only just a little while ago thought was the most horrible and surreal thing I'd ever see, now feels almost distant.

I can't help but throw my hands into the air.

"Of course!"

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Robin's blade slowly lowered.

Hard man.

Worse then the rest.

The man who had saved her life---

He couldn't be described in such a way. There was no way he could. He found her struggling, clinging to life, her skin stretched over her bones, and took her in and gave her a future.

Gifted her with the tales of legendary heroes. Filled her with lofty ideals that motivated her whole existence.

The idea of being a hero. Of earning the praise of the masses. Of standing up for the weak and defenseless.

These core concepts formed the very center of her being.

Her grip on the hilt of her spada faltered.

Worse then the rest.

The warm eyes, the gentle voice in which he spoke to her, that took a firm edge when she was training---

That couldn't be.

There was no way.

Despite the fact that she recognized the style. Despite the fact that the timeline added up. Despite the fact that their names were the same---

There was no way such a thing could be true.

Robin's grip on the hilt of her blade grew firm again.

"Y... you're lying," she said, though it was as if she wasn't addressing the bandit directly any longer, "There's no way he was---Worse then the rest? That's... that's a lie, if I've ever heard one!"

... The Old Man had lost an arm. He'd never told her why, he'd lost it before they first met. The Old Man knew how to fight in such depth. He'd never told her why, so she had assumed he had some background as a knight or something like that as she'd grown older.

But she never sought to pry. She thought he'd tell her, in due time.

Worse than the rest.

Her Old Man was a hero. There was no way he could be described like that.

So it had to be a lie. That was the only way, right?

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Dame Tyaethe's flying kick smashed into the great wooden serpent's flank, making its entire body rock. Sir Renar's handiwork was splitting it completely open along its back, revealing fresh green wood deeper inside forming hands attempting to pull its body together and an ethereal glow from even deeper within. For the moment, offensive had ceased, as it became clear whatever constructed intelligence the creature had possessed some sort of understanding of what the knights were doing to it.

Of course, Fanilly couldn't simply stand by. She wouldn't. If her knights were putting in the effort to tear the creature's body apart, than so would she.

"Lord Arken! You heard Sir Fionn, I'll help open it up!" she called, taking a deep breath as she leaned forward. Whatever constructed abomination may face her---

She couldn't allow herself to falter. No matter how her heart beat, she would keep stepping forward. She had to.

Fanilly lunged forward, winding up with her blade and thrusting it deep into the serpent's flank. Already, she could almost see the wood around its entry point starting to bubble, almost rolling and stretching outwards.

Pouring as much strength into her limbs as she could, practically setting the muscles in her arm aflame, the knight-captain dragged the blade sideways. Sir Renar was using such a tactic to great affect, and so she'd split it from the other side.

Together, they'd open up the wooden serpent and create a direct path to its heart!

Arken raised his staff, chanting under his breath for a moment.

"Astral Lance!"

The bolt of magical energy exploded from a magic circle at the head of his staff, searing its way through the air as it hurtled towards the monster's upper body and took out a thin chunk of wood. It wasn't the most damaging spell against such a creature, but at the same time the impact sent it rocking sideways towards Sir Fionn. By now, much of its upper body had come apart, showing green light much like its eyes from within.

And then it ceased to move.

Fanilly paused, yanking her blade from the wood. It had just stopped---?

But why?

With a loud grinding, the noise created by bark grating against bark, the wooden serpent's damaged upper body suddenly raised, the light in its eyes building.

Lady Gertrude and Dame Tyaethe in particular might be able to tell that the heart had suddenly plummeted into its lower body, despite mostly moving around the upper prior.

Lord Arken narrowed his eyes.

There was a build up mana, surging up from the wooden serpent's insides.

And then its entire upper body split apart, tearing open not only along the seams that had been rent through its frame but splitting elsewhere, almost like the blossom of an immense flower, the green light from within building up more and more brightly---

And then spewing into the air as several dozen spheres of emerald light, arcing before they began to descend.

The knight-captain did not need some kind of expertise in magic to understand what this was, immediately springing back and away from the enormous wooden construct the moment the orbs began to hurtle downwards. She could almost feel the air thrumming around her, on her skin, even through her armor.

They'd done so much damage, but it wasn't quite enough to stop its attack. Still, they had to press on---!

Fanilly's shouted order for those in the radius of the ranged attack to move was hardly necessary, for it was clear being struck directly would spell disaster.

While the creature's tactics had changed, there was still plenty of damage done all across its wooden form. The heart had moved downwards, but perhaps it would still be possible to strike it.

@Raineh Daze@Psyker Landshark@Crimson Paladin@Octo@The Otter