Zool

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Loksfjoer@Saiyan@Zool@Teyao

This post is for the ones with a mundane weapon. Barracker is going to choose Fenna once he realises she has a spear, as it takes much less oil to coat a spear tip rather than a longsword or a anchor or crossbow bolts or arrows. Fenna will be able to have a certain number of hits against enemies who can't be hit by non-elemental attacks.

@Jay009

Oh I see how it is - playing favourites. You better tell Barracker to watch his back. Would be a real shame if he got hit by an 'accidental' stray crossbow bolt!

Lmao honestly though, nice thinking Jay. This way Xenon has to give you more combat rounds of the oil bonus. Good choice xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"Think about what I want to happen, in my head..." Zell muttered Adam's teachings to himself. "...and apply magical energy."

The swordsman was with his best buds, James and MacKensie, just outside the city walls on the fallow fields of a farm, just by the river. Valhiem's western gate was in sight from the spot they'd chosen to test some of their abilities, and Paladins could be seen patrolling the walls. Zell was getting fustrated as he failed, yet again, to activate his Teleportation power.

"Fuck's sake." He shook his head. "This magic stuff is hard work."

At Zell's words, James couldn't help but comment.

"It ain't that hard, like, I think your problem might be visualization?" A shrug "I can't speak for the others but I just think about a bookshelf with every book being a different spell, then when I want to cast one I just 'open' the one I want and the chant comes to the top of my head"

MacKensie looked from one man to another as she stood with a hand on her hip. She'd never considered asking how everyone makes their abilities work - the details of their technique. James' visuallization was very interesting and elaborate. Clarissa Shields, the director at the Academy, had been doing some kind of finger movements. Perhaps it is different for each class? Or maybe dependant on personality?

Another shrug from James and then he turned to face MacKenzie "Alright, I will use the Blessing now, please tell me if you notice anything different" They had talked about that for a bit before, he was sure the blessing was some sort of disguise but he was not sure how it worked.

MacKensie put away her thoughts for now, and nodded. "Okay."

Like a bookshelf. Hmmm. Zell thought about it for a second. "Not too fond of books," he muttered while the others talked.

Taking a deep breath James started chanting.

"Lady Sillagy, mistress of deceit and persuasion, hear my plea for your blessing, let my flesh become my disguise and for no one to realize"

She gasped when he transformed, a hand covering her mouth. Sudden feelings of dizziness and sickness came over her as her brain struggled to get used to the jarring sight of HER OWN SELF!!! stood in front of her.

The results of James' new blessing were astonishing. Zell's eyebrows shot up, his mouth falling open as his Mexican friend became a Frenchwoman. Zell blinked twice, making sure his eyes weren't decieving him. "Wow," was all he could say for a second.

James felt the change immediately, as if he had blinked and suddenly was a little bit shorter, quickly rummaging through his pockets he pulled the mirror he had prepared beforehand and saw the usually smiling face of MacKenzie staring back at him with his usual grimace. Looking back at the real MacKenzie he couldn't help but let out a "Wha-!? Even the voice!?" Well at least it seemed like the disguise was thorough.

"Oh my," were her words of dismay as she began to recover. "That is... quite the spell. It looks so real." She hesitated a step before going up to him and touching his (her? his) hair.

As MacKensie inspected the illusion, Zell rubbed the top of his head. His brain was hurting.

"It feels real too. Mistress of deceit indeed."

"James, you are bewitchingly beautiful. Drop-dead gorgeous," he told him. MacKensie felt herself blush brightly as she looked at James. She was determined not to show Zell. Then Zell looked at MacKensie. "For a man, at least."

Now she span around to him, furious! She took her shoe off and threw it at his head.

"Haha-ugh!" The shoe hit Zell square between the eyes, he slipped on a stone and fell on his back.

"Oh shit! friendly fire!" Saying so he put his(?) arms on the air on the universal signal for surrender as MacKensie turned towards him. "Please Mac! Don't do anything that you will regret! I will help you cover the body, just please don't hurt me!"

MacKensie pointed at the Cleric. "I have another shoe and I'm not afraid to use it," she joked. The feeling of the earth under her bare foot was quite nice, but it was barely a background thought due to the weirdness of looking at the illusion. "So, you can become anyone? Of your choosing?" This could be useful. So far they'd only fought against rabid monsters, but a foe with any kind of intelligence might be fooled with the right disguise in the right situation.

"I mean, kinda?" James grimaced and dropped his arms.

"It may be possible to drastically change your size or shape."

"There is something of a feedback when I casted it, it felt like, how do I say it?" He rolled the words in his mind until he decided on the most accurate ones "Like if I was being 'compressed', it is not painful per se but cetainly noticeable, I can guess it would probably become a problem if I was compressed too much, same with the contrary as that would 'stretch' me beyond what I can manage"

MacKensie frowned at the idea of being compressed or stretched by magical means. "Ooh, that sounds awful."

James shrugged. "It feels like it would outright fail to trigger with anything not human-shaped though, that feels like a requirement for it to activate"

"Well..." she awkwardly stared at herself (James) for a moment. "This new power of yours may be useful in the future. Somehow."

She looked down as she retrieved two apples from her satchel. It was time to test a power out of her own. She needed targets to practice against, and what better targets than the classic - apples. She'd brought half a dozen. Admiring their shine for a moment, she tossed them to James and then grabbed two more and turned, throwing two to Zell.

Zell threw MacKensie her shoe as the apples came through the air towards him, then caught the fruit, one in each hand. Wait, what was she going to do?

"If you would kindly hold the apples out in your hands please. Mind your fingers aren't covering them." She instructed as she put her shoe back on. Since yesterday, doubts had plagued her regarding her abilities as a Ranger, but one thing she could be sure of, at least, was her accuracy aganst simple, stationary targets. The only question was; how fast could she fire accurate shots? She walked twenty paces away from the two men, keeping her back to them, and stood with an apple in each of her own hands.

Hold up the apples? What!? "Are you sure about this?" Zell asked, concerned to say the least. As the swordsman held out the apples, he couldn't help but squint as if bracing himself for a punch to the face. This was not a good idea.

James shared Zell's enthusiasm, he trusted Mackenzie to have perfect accuracy but that didn't mean he couldn't be a little bitch about it. Still, there was no reason to go through with this in a stupid manner, letting the apples rest on the palms of his hands he extended each arm to his sides as far as he could -which was less than usual.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready? Er... yeah... okay." Not okay.

"Ready too!"

Eyes closed, MacKensie inhaled and exhaled slowly. In her mind, she pushed aside her growing confidence issues (something that was fairly easy when around James and Zell,) then she willed her Deadly Flurry to activate, feeling the Source flow down her arms to the tips of her fingers. Blue flames danced along her hands.

She opened her eyes.

After throwing her apples over her head, towards James and Zell, everything around her may aswell have been in slow-motion. She moved with blurry speed, grabbing a handful of bolts from her pouch with her left hand, and spinning around to let them all go, into the air in front of her. For a split second, it was almost like the bolts were floating before her - six of them - in a slightly arching row.

With her right hand, she had already drawn the one-handed crossbow off the small of her back and now whipped it across herself in a horizontal sweep, to catch each of the six bolts side-on, one after another, in the firing mechanism of her crossbow - rapid-firing each one as her crossbow-sights swept from right to left.

Three seconds - from the moment she opened her eyes to the moment the last apple fell to the ground with a bolt through it.

Zell, who was stood holding the apples out like a scarecrow, was stunned by the speed as MacKensie practically turned into a blue whirlwind in front of him. He could barely see her movements as the crossbow came to point his way, but he heard the twang of her weapon as it fired 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

The faintest flicker of a grey flash and Zell was gone, instantly appearing ten feet to the right of where he was before.

...6

All six apples hit the floor as Zell breathed heavily, his hands briefly checking he hadn't been shot. Then he realised what he'd done and it clicked in his brain. "Ohhhh, I get it now," he said to himself. There was a short pause for a mental celebration in his mind, before he walked a few steps towards his friends. "That is one helluva move," he complimented MacKensie. " Think you could combine that with your grapplehook thingy?"

MacKensie hid her concerns about being able to use the grapplehook effectively. "Perhaps," she said at the bright idea.

"You'd make a killing at the circus."

The Cleric let out a snort at Zell's words "Somehow I knew our destiny was becoming a circus, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon" MacKensie chuckled as James looked towards her. "Hey Mac, you think you could make it with more bolts or are 6 your limit?

She thought about it. Just how far could she push this? "It is certainly worth trying out," she said. "Though I did not bring enough apples." Another chuckle.

Still hell of a move either way, you are practically a revolver now"

"Thank you, I am excited to try it out on our next contract."

Excited to try it out? The more mature side of her warned that she should be taking this more seriously but it was hard not be starry-eyed at these superhuman powers when her friends were egging her on.

"I see that you managed to teleport again," she said to Zell. "Have you figured it out now?"

"Yeah," Zell replied proudly. "Just clicked in my head." He teleported behind them and gave them a finger-point and a wink, then teleported back in front of them, MacKensie and James turning their heads to try and follow him. It was remarkable. He tried to teleport again and it failed. "Huh?" He tried again. And again. "Maybe there's a limit on it of some kind."

MacKensie's brow furrowed at Zell's postulation, but her eyes were dragged back to James involuntarily, unnerved by the perfect illusion of herself looking back at her. "Do you mind turning back to yourself now James? It is a little weird for me, seeing myself without the glass of a mirror between."

Zell disagreed. "I dunno. You can never have too much Mac to look at it, in my opinion."

He braced himself to dodge the next shoe.

"Will you behave, Zell Brooks," MacKensie reprimanded the cheeky swordsman, having to put effort into not smiling. She wasn't sure why she bothered telling him off - it only seemed to encourage him.

"While I agree with the sentiment I don't want to be another Mac" A pause "No offense" Turning her attention to James, she did give a small smile and nodded, showing no offense taken, and also resisting the urge to take her other shoe off and throw it at James (herself) for joining in with Zell. James closed his eyes and reached to the blessing in question, searching for some way to end the blessing effect earlier. He found none.

Scrounging his face in irritation he searched faster, spinning and pulling at his mental image of the blessing intent on finding something relevant to the termination of it. Incidentally finding the cost for casting the blessing itself. "Well shit" Opening his eyes he looked towards his friends "Okay good news? I found out what is it that I am paying for pulling this off, bad news...?

MacKensie was frozen in anticiptation on what the bad news would be...

You got the most uncomfortable twin for the next 24 hours, sorry Mac, I can't turn this off"

...it was pretty bad. "Seriously?" MacKensie blinked a few times, getting ahold of herself before taking breath. "Okay. Well, I suppose we..." she looked at Zell as she echoed the words he'd told her the other day. "...should not stress over that which is beyond our control." Then she looked at herself James and forced a smile. "Clerics are really something."

Zell burst out laughing, his wide reach giving each of the twin MacKensie's a consolation-pat on the shoulder in tandem.

James smiled (the expression much more MacKensie-like than his usual grimace), seeing both of his friends interact always felt relaxing "Well, I don't know you guys but I think I could use lunch back at the inn, I have been slowly convincing Frederick to let me use the kitchen and I want to try my hand in making some food from back home if you are interested" MacKensie had only had an apple for breakfast, and it wasn't like Zell was ever going to say 'no' to the prospect of more food.

"I have never had Mexican cuisine before," MacKensie said, as excited as she was hungry now. "May I be your kitchen assistant?"

James started walking back to the Mended Drum, at a calm pace, with Zell and MacKensie on either flank. Despite everything that had happened the last days it felt good knowing he had good people to rely on. And the other two felt the same.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Bump.

"Ow."

Knock.

"Perhaps if I..."

Dink.

"Rrrrgh."

MacKensie Trydant moodily tried to rearrange the furniture in the tiny room so she had enough floor space to do her stretching exercises. Spolier alert: It would not help.

Creak. Scrape.

...a few moments later...

Thud.

"Sacre bleu! I give up!"

After donning the leggings and undershirt of her Ranger gear, she slipped on her shoes and she marched out of her room with a face like thunder. Thankfully she didn't bump into anyone. After waking up in a foul mood due to unpleasant dreams, only to be trolled by the deceptive dimensions of the rented room, it was probably for the best that she take a walk outside and get some early-morning air.

The empty streets and cooler air did in fact help. As she walked along, one elastic band between her teeth while another was used to tie up her hair, her eyes shifted left to the magical gauntlet on her forearm and narrowed with disdain. The gauntlet looked like the embodiment of her problems right now - the cause of her bad dreams the night before. But really it was bigger than the gauntlet. Nonetheless, she'd brought it with her this morning. To start the process of conquering it, and thereby conquering her fears and misgivings.

She was on her way to find a nice spot by the river where she could do her streches, but found herself checking out the trees lining the roadside of the avenue she walked along. One tree coming up, with sturdy looking limbs, finally got her approval and she'd built up enough courage to point and fire up at it.

The blue beam shot out, the grapplehook connected, and she flew... Get ready! Look where your hands are landing! Tuck your- "Waagh!"

She caught the tree branch all wrong, banged her chest and elbows, her legs flailing before she unceremoniously fell from the tree into the bush below. It took her a second to clamber out of the bushes, flustered from the pain and embarassment. First she checked the street to make sure no one saw her, then quickly brushed herself down.

This was going to take some work.

On the next street, she was forced to slow down and wait for the few citizens around to get about their business and disappear, before she ran at the side of single-floor building, jumped and wall-kicked herself straight up to catch the roof and pull herself up to her feet. Then she walked quickly along the very edge, testing her balance.

Be careful. Heel to toe. Arms adjusting to center of gravity.

She almost fell several times. Such a simple test. What has happened to me?

As the early hours progressed and the sun gave a little more light, the streets became busier and MacKensie's little experiments were no longer appropriate (if parkour in public spaces was ever appropriate, at all.) She found her way to riverside and ended up in a nice spot - a clean stretch of grassy riverbank behind a warehouse, out of sight of the main road. There she spent an hour stretching her muscles and focusing on her breathing in a somewhat meditative process. It was relaxing enough that her tension slowly dissipated and the heavy focus solely on inhaling and exhaling had quietened her mind of negativity.

A barge floated down the river past her, manned by a portly blue tiefling (she'd learned the name of that race yesterday.) "Good morning there!"

MacKensie was in the splits pose, reaching to grab her toes as she smiled and waved. "Good morning to you sir! How are you today?"

"Doing just fine and dandy, miss. Just come in from up west with our wares," he explained in a rather short summary as the barge was floating by and he was now moving away from her. "Hope the Bazaar's buzzing!"

"I hope so too! Good luck!" the volume on both of them was rising as the distance grew.

"Have a good day!"

"You too!"

MacKensie smiled to herself, glad to be rid of the dark cloud she'd woken up with. It would be back at some point, for certain, especially now that she was even more unconfident about her balance and agility. But she was determined not to be defeated. She just needed to figure out what had gone wrong. Until then, extreme caution would be required.

When she was finished, she went back to the Mended Drum, stopping by a fruit stall to purchase some apples. She bought seven and ate one on the way back to the inn. The rest were not for eating.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

<Snipped quote by Zool>

If you want people kicked out for vacations I'll have to leave too, I've been on a few trips this year and am planning another one :P

@Zapdos

You heard him @Xenon... get rid!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"And you're right about Fenna also. She was so brave yesterday. She could've ran from that wolf, but chose to charge at it anyway. Braver than I am."

"We were all extremely brave in that labyrinth," MacKensie said firmly, holding Adam's gaze. She would not abide any argument to that. If he was about to persist down this road of self-blame and self-pity, then the frenchwoman was ready to have the conversation she'd initially tried to avoid. But judging by her instinctive and immediate response just now, she knew it would be a bad idea. Fortunately, he said,

"and I hope you can see your family again also."

And she smiled, inhaling a sharp breath that she hoped he did not identify as relief. "I appreciate you saying so, Adam," she said. She didn't hold out much hope for herself. In spite of the vivid flash of a memory of her last seconds on that plane before the crash, she bobbed her head in gratitude. "I wish the same for you."

It hurt that she was forced to admit to herself that she was in no mental state to be a true friend to Adam and handle his confidence issues with the kind of care and kid-gloves he required. She would, right now, be too tough with him. Firm. Harsh maybe. And not because she didn't know how to be anything else. But because whatever words she had for him would be words for herself too. For her own confidence issues that were growing in her own mind. "We will find a way home. All of us. Even if I have to grapplehook us all the way across the universe," she added with a chuckle.

I am sorry, Adam. I am failing you.

When Zell arrived with their new recruit, MacKensie stood up from her seat to return Barracker's salute with a short curtsy. "How do you do?"

The four of them shared amiable conversation through to the evening and Barracker proved to be a very interesting person. He talked very formally and properly, which MacKensie liked very much. He was polite, very calm and measured, and not least of all, seemed like a quite capable addition to the party in terms of fighting ability. As James, Fenna and Lillianna returned, another table was dragged over to connect with the original, creating more room for chairs so anyone who wanted to could sit down. Overall, it was a nice and relaxing evening.

When Barracker took his leave, MacKensie decided to get up and follow him out of the building. "Barracker," she called as she got outside. She went up to him. "I just wanted to say again; thank you. For lending us your experience and skill. It might not seem it, but you've really turned up in our hour of need." She bowed her head slightly, then lightened the mood. "You are one of us now. I hope the world is ready," she smirked and arched a cocky eyebrow. "Sleep well."

Back indoors, she stayed for a little longer, finished her glass of mead then bid everyone that was still at the table goodnight. "Sleep well. See you tomorrow."

In bed, she was bothered by 'ifs' 'ands' and 'buts' for a while, but eventually sleep took her.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Jay009Good timing Jay! And when isn't that man on holiday smh kick him out Xenon xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

I was going to hang on for Zell and Barracker to enter the inn but I'll get a quick post done tonight (hype!) xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"You too, MacKensie."

MacKensie pursed her lips in an encouraging smile, happy enough to get that out and hear his response. Moreover she was delighted to hear of his day, noting with amusement that here she was worrying about him possibly being in his room all day and yet he'd been more productive than her. When he complimented her top, her energy stepped up a notch. "Thank you so much," was her bright response. "I fell in love with it as soon as I put it on. Very-much my kind of style, back in our world." At his approval of her decision to acquire new clothes, she shook her head. "I think you made smarter use of your time, learning new things from your Druid friend. Honestly, I simply needed to waste a day, to reinvigorate myself." In this context, MacKensie knew she might need several weeks, let alone one day, to get over the events of the Mazy Hillocks, but she would not admit this to Adam. "I will be more studious tomorrow - in preparation for our mission as adventurers. I am so very desperate to find out what that message is in our Source Comm. It has occured to me that this message is, without a doubt, connected to our arrival here in this world. How can it not be?" She crossed her legs and leaned forward, an elbow on the table as she prognosticated. "Lucy said it herself; how can there be a message waiting for a party that has not yet even been registered? But furthermore; even if there was someway to track an unregistered party - we had only been in Mytheria for two days... who would know of our presence, in order to send such a message? It has to be the one who brought us here. A powerful wizard perhaps?"

Or the Witch Queen herself. But that was best left unsaid.

MacKensie sat back once more, a shake of her head to signify her lack of answers to these questions. "I must know if there is at least a way to get those of us home who didn't die in our world. Like Fenna. She has two children who must be devastated right now." She sighed at the thought of what the role-model of a woman must be going through mentally. "She is so strong. She has endured all of this with such dignity and resiliance."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Had there been a window in the room, MacKensie might've stayed put a while longer, but there was only so long she could sit and stare at herself in the mirror. The problems and obstacles in her mind could not be willed away, but she would not be defeated by them. The only path was forward, and right now; that forward path involved going downstairs and sitting with her friends ere the four walls of her room started shrinking to form a prison.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up and left.

She'd been a while upstairs, but had come down just in time to see James take his leave. "Leaving so soon James? My, you have been busy today." When she learned that he was setting off to buy some things for the misson, she chuckled. "I should have probably been doing the same, today, instead of purchasing outfits." She took some money from her purse and handed it to the Cleric. "If you see any special kinds of crossbow bolts on your route, perhaps you could get them for me? Just anything that might be more effective than ordinary ammunition. I trust your judgement. Thank you, James."

When he left, she said goodbye and sat down at the table with Adam.

"How was your day, Adam? Did you do anything interesting?" She was honestly just hoping to hear that he hadn't been in his room all day, but judging by the book he was reading, he'd likely been somewhere to acquire it. His mood appeared to be much improved also, which was good to see. She didn't want to reopen any wounds as much as she wanted to ask about how he was feeling in regards to his words after the battle in the Mazy Hillocks - perhaps there would be a more suitable time for such a conversation - but she had to say something.

"I am grateful you are still with us, Adam," she suddenly said, after listening to him talk about his day. "I am honestly not sure what I would do without you all."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

When Lillianna had brought up the Church of Iris, MacKensie had immediately remembered the wizard's persistance at the Adventurer's Guild. She should've guessed that this was the place she'd wanted to visit, but the frenchwoman was wrapped up in her own self-involved mission of trying to mentally get away from the madness for just a day. Lillianna's desire to repay the debt of honour to the ghost who'd helped them was admirable, which made MacKensie feel even worse.

In the quiet walk through the city streets, MacKensie felt the build-up of stress, tears and racing thoughts that had visited her in every quiet moment she'd had since her first day in this world. The build-up was slow, so she managed to take action before it hit the surface.

"Oh, these bags," she moaned as they got to the city gates, grabbing the attention of her friends as she slowed down and fussed with her grip. "They are so cumbersome and I am wearing thin." It felt bad to lie, but she had to get away. "I will take them back to the Mended Drum. I am so sorry I cannot come with you. Here; let me take your things back for you."

She kept it short, took any bags they wanted to hand her and gave each of them a quick hug with a friendly (and pretentiously posh) air-kiss. "I hope you find the answers you are looking for, Lillianna."

And she was gone. Down the road, taking two corners to make sure she was alone, she sat down on a convenient street bench and burst into tears.

The trauma of her own terrifying death and radical change of destiny - the idea she'd never see anyone she ever knew ever again? These things were not even top of the list of what haunted the back of her mind anymore. Clive and Arthur - two men she didn't even know in any real sense - seemed to hang in the air over her, and knowing that it was probably the same for everyone else in the party, didn't make her feel any better. How painful and tragic it must've been for them to experience death yet again - to have been ripped from a second world in a matter of days. Lillianna had almost joined them too. Even with Zell almost killing himself to save her, had James made a single mistake, wasted a single second, she would've surely bled out.

And this led her thoughts from the traumas of the last few days, to the terrifying prospect of what was to come in the future. All any of them needed to do was be a little slow... a little late... make a single mistake... and it would be over for them. It might be over for all of them at once - their mistakes would affect the whole party. What was she thinking, flying around with her magical gauntlet like that!? Barely any practice at all and she was taking to the heights of the tops of trees, executing acrobatics off of instinct, relying on inhuman coordination and perception. What was she thinking, shooting that crossbow bolt right by Zell's ear in their first battle!? She could rely on her accuracy with a stationary target, sure, but what if he'd moved a muscle or even flinched?

She would have to be more careful. Anything beyond her shooting accuracy, she would have to be so very sure of her actions. And the grapplehook was too out of control. She wasn't sure she could bring herself to make much use of it anymore. She was also one of the ones who'd pushed the party to take the gold contract. Any deaths on this next mission would be on her conscience.

She cried, despaired and wallowed for maybe a halfhour. Then she wiped her eyes and went back to the Mended Drum.............

"Hiiii," was her overly cheery greeting from across the room. She was far enough away from Adam and James that she could beam a smile at them and head upstairs without them noticing anything was wrong.

After she put any shopping bags in the appropriate rooms, she went and washed her face, then sat in front of the mirror in her own room.
She tried out the new face cream she'd bought, and then spent an inordinate amount of time combing her hair while she mentally recovered and re-strengthened herself back to her usual upbeat and positive form.

"Stiff upper lip, Mac," she whispered at herself in the mirror. "You are fine. You are strong." She gave herself a reassuring smile. "You are a Trydant."