VitaVitaAR

The Elder Scrolls IV: Cyrodiil

---Molag Bal.

It's not exactly a name I've never heard. But obviously, Lanessa's familiarity with the topic is far deeper than my own.

Not that it's any shock to me, what she says. It's simply more detailed then what I'd known before. It's hard for me to even begin to understand why anyone would ever consider following such a monster, unless they were just monstrous to begin with.

I guess they kind of person who would become a 'problem necromancer' is already the kind of person who is going to be inclined to worship a monster.

---Speaking of which, she's just beyond, isn't she?

I suck in another deep breath. It's not going to be the first time I've fought and killed a person, not after my escape earlier, but it's certainly going to be more complicated then taking on the simple undead I've fought here so far.

But it's not like I'm going to feel bad when it's the type of person who would happily worship Molag Bal. If someone innocent had been close by, what would she have done to them?

I don't think I even want to think about it.

Bracing myself, I follow Lanessa's line of sight to the curtain and the passage beyond. I'll put and end to this, then, for the sake of anyone who might be endangered by a mad necromancer's evil plots.

Another Life in a Fantasy World (Invite Only)

---

Forest Shrine

---

Thud.

Thud.

Thud thud.

Thud thud thud thud thudthudthudthudthudthudthud---

The heavy pounding of the creature in pursuit was growing louder. The moment they started running, it became clear that its pace had quickened, and now it was only growing louder and more swift.

It wasn't just chasing them. It was gaining on them.

The forest had seemed serene and peaceful before. But now, the light of the sun above seemed to have grown dimmer. Where once the only thing obscuring their vision was the green leaves of the lush foliage, now it seemed far darker. Between the trees was inky blackness, the kind that could normally only be seen on a truly starless, moonless night.

Worse than that was the fact it was now far more difficult to see where they were going.

Behind them, a pair of pale green orbs could now be discerned, emerging from the shadows that consumed the path they left behind.

If they were eyes, whatever they belonged to was far taller than a human being.

It almost seemed as if the shadows themselves were rolling across the earth and through the undergrowth, close to the ground, but this wasn't the case.

No, instead, what crawled along the ground was hundreds upon hundreds of black-red centipedes, their numerous limbs scrabbling through the leaflitter as they moved in unison ahead of their green-eyed pursuer.

A shape of something could almost be discerned now, thundering footfalls growing louder. A ragged, rasping sound seemed to fill the forest, coming from every direction at once.

They had to think quickly of some way to lose the creature chasing them down---!

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Pyromania99@Raineh Daze

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

"..."

Ah---

Her insides had twisted up inside of her like a knot.

All this work, all this effort, and it was just because of a trap for someone else? Did the Grovemasters not care a single bit what was going on beyond their borders?

Did they not care what was happening to people?

Did they not care the threat to their own people?

Clearly they didn't.

Clearly, if they wanted to take down one of the people who was actually putting an effort to try and stop this evil. Clearly, if they were willing to divert their attention from their purpose just for the sake of setting a trap.

It was all quite obvious that this was the acts of people who had no care for anything but themselves.

Robin's hands shook.

Her heart had twisted itself up into a knot.

Her fingers wrapped firmly around the hilt of her spada as she raised it, red flames licking at the corners of her vision.

How dare they?

How dare they shrug off the threat to millions of innocent people just to pursue one person who was actually trying to help? How dare they use this guise of a test to deceive them for that purpose?

What kind monsters, what kind of villains, did such things?

---Ah.

That was it, wasn't it?

No matter what the Grovemaster said, they were the villains. They were the ones standing in the path of the safety of so many innocent people. The ones actively trying to damage the effort to protect millions.

"... You're unforgivable."

The words left her lips as the pointed her sword towards the Grovemaster.

How many wards had she just cast?

Did it matter at this point?

No. Truly, it did not.

Lights danced along the edge of her spada, then flared brighter. This wasn't merely to bind a target. It was extremely unlikely, at best, to do any significant damage to the wards, too.

But at the moment, that didn't really matter.

The light erupted forward, hurtling towards the Grovemaster with a brilliant flash---

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Silence hung in the air for a few moments.

There wasn't a single sound. No birds. Not even the wind. The realm of the Moonlit Queen was dead silent as she acknowledged the confirmation of the manner in which her guardian had been destroyed.

While the growth of her hair had been distracting, there was no way that Fanilly would allow it to pull her attention away from the situation at hand. The next few moments dictated everything, and they were in a place of certain disadvantage. The Fae Realm was entirely under the Moonlit Queen's control, after all.

But there was no real choice if they wanted to negotiate with her.

The silence was practically deafening.

And then---

The Moonlit Queen clapped her hands together, a bright smile lighting up her childish face.

"Really? That's impressive! I thought I did a good job on that one, too," she declared cheerily. Internally, Fanilly found herself letting out a sigh of relief. They were hardly out of the woods yet, but at the same time they had made a step in the right direction, and the Fae did not seem angry.

"I thought it'd have chewed up aaaaaall your guts~" the Moonlit Queen added in a cheerful fashion. Her child-like looks and demeanor only made the situation all the more surreal, "But I guess not~"

She shrugged.

"... Why, though? Do you want to stay with me?"

That last question felt heavier. As if the edge of a knife had just been sharpened.

Fanilly tucked her hair back as best she could and stepped forward. Her heartbeat threatened to rip its way through her breastplate, but now was no time to hesitate.

They had to be clear.

The negotiations had to begin.

"We're here to bargain, Moonlit Queen," she began.

The fae tilted her head, curiously, large, black eyes shimmering.

"Bargain? For what?"

Fanilly took a deep breath. This was the moment that could determine the success or failure of their mission.

The way in which this unpredictable, supernatural being replied to their goal.

"For the return of Duke Thedric's wits."

The silence returned.

This time, however, a small frown had found its way to the Moonlit Queen's lips.

After a few moments, she crossed her arms, and much like a petulant child she looked away.

"No."

The Knight-Captain stared blankly for a few moments. Just an outright no? Immediately?

"Bu---"

Before she could continue speaking, the Moonlit Queen cut her off.

"No! That... big, stupid idiot---!"

A breeze started to rise, now. It rattled the branches of the distant, black trees.

"He doesn't deserve to have them back. Hmph. Acting like he doesn't have time anymore..."

'Acting like he doesn't have time anymore'?

Fanilly took a deep breath. She was hoping that the Moonlit Queen would have been more interesting in the idea of a bargain, but at the same time---

Maybe---

This wasn't unsalvageable?

It seemed as if the Moonlit Queen's reason for taking the Duke's wits had to do with some sort of perceived slight and past relationship, at the very least.

"Moonlit Queen," she began, sucking in a deep breath between words as she attempted to choose them wisely, "I won't waste any further time. What could we offer as a wager to make you consider returning his wits?"

The fae girl didn't reply immediately, letting out another huff, her arms folded over her chest.

When she finally spoke, however---

"There's nothing. After all, you'd have to offer me a wager just as entertaining as watching that big mean dummy prance around without his brains just to get me to think about it. Can any of you even do that?"

She turned to face the knights once more, leaning forward with her hands on her hips.

"What can all of you even do?"

Another Life in a Fantasy World (Invite Only)

---

Ruined Inn

---

Both of them.

It's not just me. Both of these people are from another world. I'm guessing my own world, but I suppose isekai where people come from different universes do exist. But, it's not as if anything they said makes it sound as if they came from anywhere but somewhere like my world, so there's no reason to assume otherwise.

Obviously, we can't just stay here. Even without taking into account the shambling figures who look worryingly like they're some form of undead, it's an abandoned warzone out there. There's smashed up storefronts and palisades, who would ever think this is a good place to settle down?

At the very least, focusing on that is helping me ignore my current situation. If I don't think too hard about every single part of my new body, then I'm probably fine for now.

Maybe.

Probably.

In any case, going out on the streets too fast is a stupid idea.

"I'm Yu---"

I cut myself off abruptly.

No, no way! I'm not letting these people know yet! I can barely face the truth myself, how will I deal with two other people I just met knowing what my situation is?!

Absolutely, absolutely not! I can't use my real name here!

"S-Sephily. Call me Sephily."

Ah, jeez, I hope neither of them have read Elf Mage...

"A-anyway, going out on the streets immediately is a stupid idea," I try to move on quickly, in hope that no-one thinks too hard about how I introduced myself, "This looks like an inn, doesn't it?"

I guess it's not the word spawn point in another world, if you're ending up in a former warzone.

"There's probably lots of supplies here, and maybe even some gear left behind if we're lucky, so we shouldn't just rush out without taking a look first."

That means checking outside before doing anything el---

... Hm.

Was that staff there before...?

I've only just noticed it.

It's probably not made of gold, that would be way too heavy, but it's certainly a gold-colored metal. Smooth and shiny and ornamental, topped with a large blue crystal and resting near a dusty dresser.

No matter how you look at it, that's a mage's staff, isn't it?

---And this outfit...

...

---If I can do magic, that'd at least make up a bit for the situation. A little.

"... L-like this!"

Okay, so I doubt anyone else will be lucky enough to find something of this high quality, but at least it's a sign maybe! The knight guy has armor already, after all!

I reach out, and---

Mage staff, get!

One more thing to help me focus on anything other than my new body!

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Rune_Alchemist@Crimson Paladin

Another Life in a Fantasy World (Invite Only)

---

Forest Shrine

---

As the three newcomers to this world introduced themselves and spoke to one another, very little seemed out of the ordinary. The forest was lush and verdant, so it was only to be expected that it would be filled with life. The chirping birds sang to one another, the light breeze caused the leaves to rustle---

It was a peaceful feeling, and a peaceful location.

A few small birds with red breasts and dark wings alighted where the raven had stood moments ago, peering curiously down at the unusual trio for a few moments. Exactly what went through their minds was hard to guess, of course. But it was clear they were wondering just where these unusual figures had come from, if nothing else.

Something scraped against a tree again, and the birds took off, disappearing into the forest across the clearing just as quickly as they appeared.

It was a little easier to hear it, now. It was certainly something dragging across tree bark.

Perhaps it had come a little closer?

And there it was, once again.

It was definitely closer, now.

Perhaps it would have been easier to miss, before.

But now that the birdsong had suddenly ceased, the scraping was quite audible.

Along with it was another sound. A distinct thud-thud-thud-thud, faint at first but growing louder.

Something was walking through the forest.

And it was getting closer.

@Raineh Daze@FujiwaraPhoenix@Pyromania99

Another Life in a Fantasy World (Invite Only)

---

Ruined Inn

---

Okay.

Calm down.

Take a deep breath.

Think rationally.

This is a fantasy world, and it's not a dream. That much is abundantly clear.

At this point, there's no choice, is there? I thought these sorts of things could only ever happen in fiction, but actually experiencing it before my eyes makes it clear that assumption was wrong.

The only possible explanation is that I did, in fact, die when I fell during the emergency landing. That I was given a new body in a new world.

To put it simply, I've wound up in a genuine isekai situation.

There's not exactly another explanation for it. I clearly remember my original life, and I have no memories of any prior existence in this world. I can remember faces of people I know. I can remember the emergency landing clearly.

Undeniably, this is me. These hands move when I move. Every motion I make, the cute elf girl in my reflection follows. Every little twitch of my facial expression.

Seriously?!

I was isekai'd and I ended up as a girl!? Why?! Why did it have to be the most awkward possible outcome?! How am I supposed to deal with this?! The mere fact that this new form is exactly the sort of girl that I'd like---

Someone just spoke behind me.

Erk.

On one hand, it's probably not for the best to be alone in a potentially dangerous new world when I have no idea what's going on.

On the other, I would really have liked a bit more privacy to come to grips with this new body.

But that's going to have to wait. There's no reason to hesitate any longer, I might as well turn to face the person who just spoke to me.

---

She's not a human. She's certainly made to look like one, but I can see those jointed figures. She's like some sort of moving bisque doll, complete with a frilly, fancy dress. And of course, she's taller than I am by quite a bit.

Is she someone else in my situation? It's not like becoming something not normally considered to be alive is unheard of in isekai. Or is she native? I have no idea. I don't know how to even start asking.

On top of that, someone else just showed up too. He's armored from head to toe, and seems completely lost.

That makes it more likely he's in the same predicament I am, at least.

Well, probably not exactly the same...

This is seriously a fantasy world. I'm seriously a tiny elf girl.

From my slender limbs to my small, frail frame, my pointed ears, my long hair, my smooth skin. This is really me.

I can't have a breakdown. I can't freak out in front of these people. I'd look completely insane. It's not like they know what's going on. It's not like I want them to know what's going on.

"... A-and you're a doll," I manage to stammer, in a dull and useless response towards the. Ugh, I'm totally freaking out. I can't hide it well at all. My hands are shaking. I'm breathing unevenly. My heartbeat is hammering.

I'm trying not to think about every aspect of my new body and how it's different from my old one. I'm failing that task.

I suck in air deeply, and try to clear my head, my gaze briefly drifting out the window.

...

There's a few things I missed before. There's fortifications on the street, some of them having been smashed open. A lot of the buildings have been broken into too. The streets so signs of some overgrowth and disrepair.

But worse then that---

There's bones. Shambling figures and bones.

On top of everything else, of course I couldn't be isekai'd to some kind of peaceful starter town. It's the aftermath of some kind of warzone, and I don't like the look of the wandering shapes out there either.

I take another deep breath as my attention returns to the other two.

I don't know how to answer that question about my identity. Who would ever want to be open about this kind of situation? So I'll put that aside for the moment.

What's going on here?

"A-as for what's going on, I don't know any better than you."

I managed to at least speak a full and coherent sentence that actually contributed to the conversation. Go me. You're doing such a good job.

Erk.

"H-how did you get here?"

It's a blunt question and I can't say I didn't ask it clumsily. But sometimes being blunt is the only option. I can't see any other way to broach the subject.

If they're also from a different world than this one, then at least I'm not the only one. If they're native, then maybe they can tell me what's going on.

And why we're in a place like this.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Rune_Alchemist@Crimson Paladin

---

Forest Shrine

---

Out of everywhere someone could awaken after quite literally dying, a pleasant forest clearing surrounded by nature wasn't exactly the worst. As the trio awakened and got their bearings, they would be continuously serenaded by the song of various birds, and the gentle breeze and warm sunlight would provide them with a rather refreshing environment with which to come to grips with their situation.

To put it simply, it could obviously be worse.

The ruined building was definitely some kind of place of worship, though so long abandoned that it barely resembled a coherent structure at all.

Far above them, one one of the tallest remaining peaks of the ruins, a single raven alighted and peered down at the unusual set of people below with its shiny, dark eyes. It seemed quite curious about these people who just appeared from no-where. It's not as if that happened with any kind of frequency, so perhaps it was only natural for one of the local animals to be confused.

It let out a single, sharp caw, before taking flight and flying off and away from the ruins.

Aside from that, nothing in particular seemed out of the ordinary.

There was a somewhat distant scraping now, like something dragging along a tree, but that was probably just some kind of animal.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Raineh Daze@Pyromania99

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

---It worked.

It had taken so much effort, from all of them working together, but the barrier had shattered and Leviathan's attack had been interrupted.

That was all that mattered. From the very edge of defeat, they'd managed to grasp the strand of hope and hold on, together. They'd managed to give themselves the opportunity to claim victory.

That was it.

Robin couldn't let herself slack off now.

She sucked in a deep breath. She'd tried to blind Leviathan already, and it had worked for a few scant moments. That was clearly what Esben was working off of when he made his request. She'd already been moving before he finished speaking, pouring as much power into her legs as possible to reach her goal as swiftly as she could, light flowing up the edge of her blade.

---Wait, are those grenades?!

Elaine had already acted, using her weapon to smack the explosives right towards Leviathan's face, in hopes of hitting her all the harder. Robin sprang backwards, trying to give herself a bit more room in hopes of avoiding the blast.

Wait, wasn't this a good opportunity?

Raising her spada, feeling magical energy surging over its edge once more, Robin loosened a bolt of light towards Leviathan's face. The moment the smoke from the grenades cleared, she'd get a blast right to her eyes!

Another Life in a Fantasy World (Invite Only)

Ah, jeez...

I wasn't exactly excited about going on a plane ride to the US, but my friends though it'd be a great time for me.

It does make me wonder why they didn't come along too, but right now, I'm pretty glad they didn't.

I'm pretty sure everyone else is going to be okay though. The sound of something going wrong was pretty bad. Probably the scariest experience I've ever had in my life. The oxygen masks dropping down didn't make it any better.

But it turns out our pilot is pretty capable, I guess.

He's gonna land this thing with just one casualty.

I'm not quite sure how it's ended up like this, but this angle that I'm falling towards the wall at is pretty bad. I can't even figure out why I'm so calm.

I don't want to die.

But right now, I don't think there's any other way that this can end.

... Man.

I hope Takeo-san can finish that game he was working on. The version he had me test was already pretty fun. Chisato-chan's already getting some work as an up-and-coming voice actress, too. I bet she'll go pretty far.

There's a lot of things I want to do, still, so I think I'm actually pretty angry.

But---

---

Ruined Inn

---

---My face feels warm.

Huh.

That's not what I was expecting.

What was I expecting? My mind feels a bit jumbled, and I can't really catch up on my own thoughts.

Wait.

That's right. The plane was going down. Even if it looked like everyone else was going to be okay, I sure wasn't. I probably broke my neck or got a fatal head injury or something.

Even if I lived, I don't think I'd be feeling warmth on my face. At least, not consciously.

So was I actually okay?

I open my eyes.

That's sunlight, coming through a nearby window. That must be why my face is so warm, huh.

I lived!

That's pretty awesome, I guess I worried too much about the fall! This must be a hospital bed, then, since I'm sure I still got hurt. It sure doesn't feel like one, though.

In fact, I've got no pain at all. If anything I feel pretty great. Did I dream about a plane crash or something?

But this isn't my room at home. The ceiling's too rundown for that, and it's made of wood. That's definitely not what a hospital ceiling would look like, either.

It's way too shabby.

Come to think of it, the air is incredibly stale in here too. Couldn't someone open a window?

I sit up.

While that's a good sign, it makes the light shine in my eyes even brighter. Ergh...

I shut my eyes to give myself a moment to adjust.

When I reopen them, and look out the window---

Hold it.

I rub my eyes to try and clear them. Maybe I'm imagining things. Maybe I really did hit my head.

But there's no way.

The rooftops outside aren't anything like the ones back home in Japan. And they're not like anything you'd see in America, either.

Those crumbling rooftops look exactly like the sort of architecture you'd expect from a town somewhere in Medieval Europe. It's not like I have first-hand experience, but plenty of games I play have that sort of aesthetic so it's not hard to recognize.

I can feel everything. This isn't a dream, that's for sure, but how... what...?

Wait a second. When I rubbed my eyes, I saw my hand for just a moment---

Did it look different?

I quickly look down.

The outfit I'm in is cute and feminine. A white shirt and a blue skirt with some kind of cape.

Is there some kind of a pervert with a crossdressing fetish around here, attacking people in their sleep?!

To begin with, there's no way I'd look good in girls' clothing. Takeo-san could pull it off, but I'm no-where near feminine enough. I'd look ridiculous. Putting that aside, I'm not interested in crossplay at all!

...

But that's...

That's not what's going on, is it?

I look at my hand again.

This delicate-looking skin.

These slender fingers.

This thin arm.

Is this really my hand? Am I knocked out and dying after the emergency landing?

---I can rule that out almost immediately. Everything is too tangible and too real. I can feel the rough sheets, the soft clothing on my skin.

But why are my arms so small? Why do my thighs look like that, with those white socks clinging to them?

"What's going---"

I freeze.

Then, in a barely conscious action, my hand flies up to my throat.

My neck is thin and smooth.

What just came out of my mouth isn't my voice.

That's the exact kind of voice I'd expect out of some kind of super cute elf mage character. In fact, it's the exact sort of voice I was hoping Sephily from The Elf Mage Doesn't Approve would have once it got an anime adaptation.

I can feel a sinking sensation deep in my stomach.

There's no way, right? Reality doesn't allow for such ridiculous things to happen, right?

I place my hands to my face.

Smooth. Slight features. Soft cheeks.

The closest thing I have to a mirror right now is the nearest window, so I can only barely make out my reflection.

But that's all I need.

The face looking back at me is a cute, pretty blonde-haired girl's, with long pointed ears and blue eyes.

---Ah.

There's no doubt, this is all too real to be a dream.

And yet what I'm looking at is totally, completely impossible. There's absolutely no way something so ridiculous could occur in the real world.

At least, not the one I know.

"EEEEEEEEHHHHHHH?!"

I can't contain myself any longer.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist

---

Forest Shrine

---

Whatever the last world had left them with, where they found themselves now couldn't have been further from it.

The light breeze would wash over their skin, accompanied by the gentle warmth of sunlight shining from above. The clearing was mostly filled with grass and other smaller plants, but their surroundings were fairly thickly forested.

The sounds of birdsong and the rustling of leaves could be heard from all around them, filling their eyes as they awakened. It was a thriving, lively place.

And yet not untouched.

For the structure they awakened within was undeniably not a natural one. Even if the worn rooftop had fallen in, even if the grass and vines had grown up and through it, flowers blossoming within the structure from around them, there was no question that it was once some kind of manmade structure.

Its nature was obscured by its age.

But the worn pedestal and the broken stone statue perhaps indicated some sort of place of worship.

Exactly why they had all awakened in an old, abandoned shrine of some sort in the middle of a dense forest was difficult to explain, but they were all there nonetheless.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Pyromania99@Raineh Daze

The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel

Lisette Faalvar

---

Ugh, the weather here---

I haven't been anywhere so utterly hot and dry before. I've certainly experienced plenty of undesirable conditions, but when it comes to the weather this is definitely an entirely new and an entirely displeasing experience. However, I'm not about to let it stop me from carrying out the duty I have received.

What kind of Follower of Stendarr could I possibly be, if I was dissuaded by unpleasant weather?

---Albeit I still want to complain about it, just a little.

What a strange group this is.

It's hardly common to see a minotaur in a situation like this. I can't even say I'm entirely pleased by it, but if he genuinely wishes to serve and do good then it's difficult to argue with him regardless of his bestial looks. No matter the Empress's eccentricities, I doubt she would have allowed such a being into her service without certainty in his capabilities and his willingness to serve.

A fellow knight, though her origins differ from my own, is a welcome sight to say the least. I hope she isn't foolish, but at least I have some certainty in the idea that she is willing to pursue a just cause. The idea of approaching the Fighter's Guild, or something similar, is quite clearly the best way forward, at least.

"I think it's quite difficult to suggest a better option then pursuing the local fighter's guild, or equivalent thereof," I begin, leaning forward, "Not only can we earn some money---"

Why do we need to have so little in the first place? Hmph.

"---But we can also assist the locals with potential threats. Honestly, you'd have to be a fool to think otherwise."

I do not approve of either of the elves' demeanors, though if I had to select one who stood out to me as less pleasant it would be the Dunmer.

At the very least, her attitude does suit her proposed cover story.

The Dragonguard seems to be an honorable fellow, at least.