Xiro Zean

[5E] Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of Escarion

Yeet.

Fate/akashic writhe [A High Casual adventure--Great for people new to the series!]

I exist. No one will expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Pariah Online | Season One

O c h r e

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• Tʜᴇ Dᴜɴɢᴇᴏɴ •

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Dangerous. That was the first thought that crossed through Ochre's mind as his gaze slowly surveyed the room, a hand clenched firmly onto the pommel of his sword. From his place in the middle of the party, the armorsmith couldn't help but liken the space to a transitional stage within a dungeon, where the enemies would begin to rise in strength or the stage for a mini-boss. Orbs of jade glanced to and fro in a slow, methodical fashion as his eyes processed the environment around them. Pillars to use as cover, chains to manipulate and restrain pursuers, an unknown liquid that could or could not be an environmental hazard. It was all to keep down the anxiety that rose from the situation, as well as prepare for any surprises that the dungeon may have in store.

He wasn't a fool to believe that the room had been left empty as a rest point, a brief moment of relief before one continued through the gauntlet. No, this was a trap, and he would need to treat it as such until proven otherwise. As the others continued to be preoccupied with how to go about the advance through the room, the armorsmith began to make his way out of the center, the clink of his bronze armor audible beneath the mutters of his peers. Ochre eventually found himself at the middle of the vanguard, amongst the other tanks and bruisers of the party while his half-lidded gaze glanced between the three doors. "Should move at some point," he offered unhelpfully towards those who had kept the party intact so far. He didn't mean to seem rude, but they really did need to get going. The longer they tarried at this empty room, the faster the groups morale will deteriorate before they could even reach the final boss room.

Even after his announcement, however, not many seemed willing to step forwards. So, with an internal sigh at how bothersome this game had become for him, he took the first step out of formation. Someone had to do it. It was inevitable, and needed to happen at some point. While he was perfectly fine with waiting and being patient, they couldn't waste time. Who knows what was happening above ground, and to be perfectly honest he could only hope a bit of rushing could lead to a period of long, uninterrupted rest. So he took a few steps out towards the blue liquid, his body moved into a crouch next to it as he pulled out one of the ogre teeth he had "gathered" from the ambush a few rooms back. And, with the grace of a scientist hoping that a chemical mixture won't explode in his face, dropped it into the channel of azure. At the very least, if this somehow killed him, he could rationalize that being dead was less troublesome than dealing with this death game.

Explain an Anime Plot Badly

A highschool boy lives an unordinary life as an exorcist while trying to not fuck his kimono.

[5E] Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of Escarion

Here to get absolutely destroyed have an abosolutely fun time.

Pariah Online | Season One

This is when I realize that this is the first post that Ochre's actually spoken in somewhat complete sentences. Huh.

Oh, btw, I posted.

Your Avatar Has A Kid With The Avatar Above

Some small child who has spoopy powers but likes to be in the light. Also, apparently a fan of big, billowing outfits such as coats and capes and the like.

Pariah Online | Season One

O c h r e

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• Tʜᴇ Dᴜɴɢᴇᴏɴ •

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@Superboy@Stern Algorithm

At Altissima's side, Ochre could already see the circumstances changing. With each player that rose from their despair, another would rise and answer the call. Graves had started the flame of determination, but everyone else had fanned it into a roaring fire, their hearts ablaze as they steadied themselves for what was to come. Of course, the fear and desperation wasn't entirely quenched, with each conflagration flickering with hesitation even as they poured out their embers to spark the others into ignition. But it did not matter. As long as they kept their spirits high, reliant on the experiences they've shared as strangers and friends banded together, he was sure it would turn out alright.

Despite the situation, the armorsmith couldn't help but snicker slightly under his breath, totally unbecoming of his usual self as he realized that his entire allegory was caused by a single glance in Redsky's direction when he was observing everyone's rise in morale. Maybe her fixation on fire magic had more bearing than he thought. But he digressed. He was thinking too much again, wasting energy he could be saving for the dungeon. Coming to this conclusion, he instead focused said energy on checking his gear, noting the current state of his armor, weaponry, and the current level of his mana pool, the later more of a feeling rather than something he could see. Everything was in good condition, for now, and thankfully his past self had conserved enough energy that his mana felt hardly dented.

As he finished his check-up, he eventually detected the change of subject, and as he looked up from his sword he caught sight of Graves locking him down with a serious gaze. "Orchid! You and 2Chainz watch our midsection. Keep your eyes peeled for any ambushed from above or below, got it this time?" As the words reached him from across the room, Ochre returned the Blood Knight's stare with his own, half-lidded one. But beneath his drooped eyelids were hints of understanding and determination, his slow, weighted nod caught by the acting commander before the pikesman turned away. Graves did well in this situation, almost as admirably as Rael, who seemed almost entirely unshaken by the event entirely. If it wasn't for the fact that they were all undoubtedly player characters, he would've believed that the latter wanted to be stuck in this death game.

With a shake of his head, he shed his thoughts once more, adjusting his breastplate slightly for maximum protection as the group seemed geared up for the continued exploration. That is... until a voice cut through the air like a knife. "WAIT!..." Ochre didn't think he could ever note a time that his business partner's voice had been as equally loud and forthright as it had been with that single request for a halt... and as equally filled with such distress. "This is suicide. We should stay here, by this gate. At least we'll have our backs to the wall. We can create a chokepoint and wait for the GM's to get their shit together. Sure, they can't log us out right now, but..." By this time, her words had faded into the background for him, merely a cover for what was truly being said. The person he had thought was prepared for whatever came... was just as afraid as the rest of them.

Honestly, despite the shock and fear that came with the administrator's declaration, Ochre had believed that the situation wouldn't have phased the enchanter. Throughout his playthrough of Pariah, Altissima had always been composed and unshakable each time they had met, capable of irritation and frustration when things went wrong, but never to a point of despair. Of course, he should have realized that the difficulties of running a fantasy business were an entirely different plane of field compared to the possibility of death, but before this moment the image of her aloof nature had overidden the signs of her fear. Now, as his mental pedestal of her had been pulled away, he could now see her actions as what they were. Her preparations weren't a sign of bravery, ready for the dangers to come with a stoic duty. They were actions to protect oneself from a world that had changed its meaning within seconds.

But even more surprising than that was to see Graves of all people approach them to console the enchanter. Once again, the social norms he had constructed over each of the members in the party were blindsiding him as they were stripped away by circumstance, leaving him scrambling to reorganize his stances towards each of them. Mentally thanking the Blood Knight for doing what he couldn't, Ochre closed his eyes as a soft, almost inaudible sigh released itself from his lips. There was too much effort being used in comparison to the diminishing returns of his understanding. He was going to have to relearn who everyone truly was before he could spend his time readjusting his ideas of them in his mind.

As his conscious thoughts resurfaced towards the world around him, the armorsmith sluggishly realized that the pikesman had apparently finished his piece, and had moved his attentions from Altissima to him. "Orchid. You keep her safe, okay? And she'll do the same for you." In response, Ochre merely sent him another, resounding nod, almost entirely similar to his agreement to the plan a few seconds before. "Now...we can't afford to stand around here too long, or another ambush is bound to come our way. You're going to be alright, Tess, right? You can do this?" Ochre's helmet creaked slightly as he turned his head towards the woman next to him, his drooped gaze searching her own as he placed a hand on the pommel of his sword, readiness visible underneath the perpetual lethargy in his eyes. "...He's right. Certain death or fight. Can you?" Unlike the concern clearly audible in Graves' question, his own was masked beneath a layer of professionalism, his inner thoughts pulling his inflections from every business deal the two of them had participated in. It was his subconscious way of trying to calm her down, to give her something recognizable in this harrowing situation, as if this was merely another transaction between them both rather than a task that could lead to their doom. He could only hope it worked.

Pariah Online | Season One

@Stern Algorithm

Oh, don't worry, I understood that completely when I was typing out my post. Ochre's fine for now, though her freaking out would definitely puncture his regained calm quite efficiently XD

Pariah Online | Season One

That extra post at the bottom there, below my actual post? That doesn't exist. You see nothing.