Heartwood Ventures (HW-VN) is a laid back RP-PvE Free Company described best as an Adventurer's Guild. We encourage member RP plots along FC story arcs, OOC socials and friendships and we try to accommodate multiple RP types, characters and players. This is a place for all to feel welcome and comfortable, make friends and enjoy their time in Eorzea!
Heartwood travels to the east to deal what the locals believe to be an evil spirit inhabiting a cherry blossom tree. Upon discovery of the beast, it ends up being no more than a greedy leshy that has been sustaining itself by draining the local plant life of its aether.
S'era Rarku: "This is where Bending Reed was born. This is far across poison waters, no?"
Nanvi Redmara: "Poision waters? You mean the ocean?"
Leo Veldha: "Bending Reed?"
S'era Rarku: "Oh-shen..."
S'era Rarku: "That was man who teach me way of blade."
Nanvi Redmara: "Think a lake or pond, but filled with a salty water that isn't good to drink"
S'era Rarku tapped the hilt of her katana.
Leo Veldha: "Oh..."
Nanvi Redmara: "and really really big"
Leo Veldha gazes upon Nanvi Redmara in deep reflection.
Xha AmariyoGoblin stared up at the gates and mountains, eyes wide with amazement. Her tail swished behind her. "This beauty... and this *edifice...* was this trrruly carved by the hands of man? This place puts the woods to shame! This place puts my wildest *drrreams* to shame!"
Leo Veldha: "The big water you crossed to get here."
Leo Veldha explains everything to S'era Rarku.
Xha AmariyoGoblin tugged her bandana down, mouth agape.
S'era Rarku: "Oh-shen."
S'era Rarku: "Too salty to drink."
Karaleo Palaleo gazes upon S'era Rarku in deep reflection.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "The world is rrreally this big...!"
Nanvi Redmara: "I swear to llymlaen I will teach you all to be passible sailors one of these days."
Nanvi Redmara shook her head in dismay
Karaleo Palaleo: "You know, didn't we have to cross one to get here? I thought we did...I was asleep the whole time, I'm not sure."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "How are none of you awestruck as I am?!"
Rising Lotus Rising was looking over the rice paddy as everyone started to congregate around her. āHmm. Surprised some of you made it out this far.āshe looked between Sāera and Xha in particular. āAnyway, welcome to Doma, only really been here once anā was jusā passinā through to get to the Steppes, so donāt really know where Iām goinā, but some of the locals here said what weāre after sort of leaves a trail. Big olā foot prints anā also dead plants in its wake.ā
Leo Veldha laughs at Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Rising Lotus she looked up the hill. āSaid there should be a place for us to start lookinā up there.ā she motioned to the winding path up the mountain side.
Xha AmariyoGoblin blinked at Leo, ears drooping.
Leo Veldha: "It can be overwhelming. I came here a long time ago. Have to say though, it tires me out to travel so far."
S'era Rarku: "It is nice... but not Azeyma's chosen land. Thanalan will always be best. This is known."
Nanvi Redmara: "I used to sail to doma and back
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Thanalan is the place that woman says is desolate because its people disrrrespected the land, yes? It sounds... odd."
Leo Veldha nods to Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Leo Veldha: "The land of lalafells."
Nanvi Redmara shudders
Leo Veldha: "...well, that may be how S'era thinks of it."
Leo Veldha shrugs.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Hey, I'm surprised to see you here. You're usually with the kids and stuff."
Xha AmariyoGoblin took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Ah. Yes. Lalafells. Tall one, we seek large prrrey? Do we know what it is?"
Karaleo Palaleo gazes upon Leo Veldha in deep reflection.
S'era Rarku: "Hardship breeds excellence. Too many in Heartwood grow fat and lazy in comfy forest."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "The forest is not comfy."
Leo Veldha nods to Karaleo Palaleo.
S'era Rarku gazes upon you in deep reflection.
Nanvi Redmara: "I have to trek accross Eorzea to get to the FC house from my own
Leo Veldha: "We're in a tight spot with the cult and I know people need money. So I wanted to come along and try to keep people from getting hurt."
Karaleo Palaleo nods to Leo Veldha.
Rising Lotus: "Locals say it's some sort of evil spirit that possesed on of them pink trees 'round here. Other folks say it's jus' some seedkin. Either way we're here to find out an' put a stop to it."
S'era Rarku: "It will fall to my blade. This is known."
Karaleo Palaleo: "Ah, yeah...I'm not too thrilled to be here myself, but I came since Ziv hired me on as a retainer in his place. I'm not sure if I'm up to this honestly but I'm glad you're here to keep us safe.." he turned his attention back to the group and the conversation at hand.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "A trrree? Good. We can set it alight."
Leo Veldha gazes upon Karaleo Palaleo in deep reflection.
Leo Veldha: "I hope Ziv's alright... but you'll be fine Pal."
Leo Veldha agrees wholeheartedly with Karaleo Palaleo.
Karaleo Palaleo smiles weakly at Leo Veldha.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Thanks..hope so."
Rising Lotus paused. "...why do you have that thing with us?" she narrowed her eyes at the Mandragora "They were just trouble before."
Nanvi Redmara gently pats the Garlic Jester.
Nanvi Redmara: "He seems perfectly fine. Don't you, lil guy!"
Xha AmariyoGoblin smirked down at the mandragora. "Maybe it can rrreason with the trrree."
Karaleo Palaleo: "Huh? Oh...don't worry, he's super helpful. I need him for one of my attacks. Don't worry, I'll keep it under control! Who knows, the best way to fight a seedkin might be our own."
S'era Rarku: "Seedkin fall to fire. I was smart to come."
Nanvi Redmara gasped! "You wouldn't dare!"
S'era Rarku agrees wholeheartedly.
Leo Veldha is taken aback by Nanvi Redmara.
Nanvi Redmara: "look at him, he's so small and cute!"
Karaleo Palaleo nods to Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha: "Oh, Heartwood was keeping the Mandragora around because Ziv thought they could be a strong fighting force."
Leo Veldha ponders over the Garlic Jester.
Karaleo Palaleo: "All he wants to do is spin and dance around. He won't hurt a fly...until the time comes to use him of course *grins*."
Leo Veldha: "Gotta say I've never quite liked them. I don't know why... they seemed... pushy? That eggplant knight in particular."
Nanvi Redmara picks up the mandragor
Rising Lotus "An' then they were jus' a huge pain in the arse." she rolled her eyes. "Whatever not worth the trip takin' him back with ya now." she walked past everyone, starting on the trail. "Let's get movin'. Don't want it to get dark in a place I have no idea where things are."
Karaleo Palaleo: "Ah, well they have their own power structure that keeps the whole social structure together. Some of them have more difficult personalities. But the jester is a good one! You'll see."
S'era Rarku remained quiet as everyone talked, her ears perked and listening for anything unusual, while her eyes scanned the area around them.
Nanvi Redmara pulled out her Astrolabe, trying to see if she could pick up any aetherical disturbances
Karaleo Palaleo beams at Nanvi Redmara.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Ohh you're an astrololologian? Coool..."
Nanvi Redmara: "Hm? Oh. Yeah, knowing the starts helps immensly in navigating the seas!"
Leo Veldha smiles at Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha: "I've always thought Astrologists were interesting. Coco has been wanting to learn about it for some time now..."
Karaleo Palaleo lights up with interest as he stares at Nanvi's globe. "I always thought it was awesome. Do you think...it's hard to learn how to do?"
Rising Lotus as they ascended the hillside, they eventually hit a rice paddy where a good swath of it had dead crops. There were still plants alive in the water, but near the edge it almost looked like they were sucked completely dry of their life. There was also disturbed mud near the shore, big footprints left by their target no doubt.
Nanvi Redmara: "If you have the knack for aether and a head for astral charting, then you can muddle your way through. Hardest for me was learning how to focus my aether through the cards"
Rising Lotus: also it is scary raining out))
Karaleo Palaleo: "Hmm...it's probably too hard for me to learn then."
Nanvi Redmara: "not a maps person?"
Karaleo Palaleo shrugs at Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha seems lost in thought.
S'era Rarku looks around.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Just not that smart! You'll see..."
Leo Veldha stayed a few steps away from the lifeless pond... and scooted back a bit more.
Nanvi Redmara shrugs. "If it makes you feel any better, I can read an astral chart better than any map. I'm terrible with directions."
Rising Lotus: "Must of been one of the places it...I dunno. Attacked. Ate?" she moved closer to the shore, kneeling down and poking one of the dried up rice plants, watching it crumble into the water.
Karaleo Palaleo quietly maintained the hope he might one day learn to read the charts as his glazed over eyes stared at the dead swampy surroundings.
Nanvi Redmara: It looks like it sucked it dry of nutrients
Leo Veldha moved in to get a better look. "Devestating..."
Rising Lotus continued along the shoreline to where the footprints were, it looked like something had dug up into the pond a bit as well. "Maybe that's what this is." she motioned to said hole.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: did i miss anything important?
S'era Rarku remains silent, keeping a hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Well... seedkin need water. It makes sense it would target the... plant... pools."
Rising Lotus as they ascended the hillside, they eventually hit a rice paddy where a good swath of it had dead crops. There were still plants alive in the water, but near the edge it almost looked like they were sucked completely dry of their life. There was also disturbed mud near the shore, big footprints left by their target no doubt.
Rising Lotus: whoops, meant to whisper that to Rhesh, but repost of it))
Nanvi Redmara: "Rice fields. Some of the most tempermental grain you can harvest. I can see why we were called."
Leo Veldha nods.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Gonna take a while for this to recover naturally. Looks pretty damaged."
Xha AmariyoGoblin cracked her neck. "Hm. Seems to me like it was trrrying to drrrink the water, and wound up suffocating the other plants."
Leo Veldha: "They'll lose all their crops at this rate."
S'era Rarku tries hard to concentrate.
Rising Lotus | As they continued along the paddy, they would see the dragging footfalls of what snacked on the field presumably heading up the mountain. "Well left us a pretty good trail to track it at least."
Leo Veldha seems lost in thought.
Leo Veldha: "Is it normal for seedkin to feed on plants like this?"
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Not very smart if it's let itself be trrracked so easily."
Nanvi Redmara disagrees.
Nanvi Redmara: I don't think so. The mandragora i had as a kid lived off water, sunlight, and slept in a small planter
Rising Lotus shrugged "I mean animals eat other animals, probably seedkin eat other seedkin. 'Less it's an' evil spirit like they think an it...I dunno, ate the rice's soul..?"
Karaleo Palaleo nods to Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha seems lost in thought.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Same goes for this one and his cousins. Guess this one we're hunting is a cannibal? Eugh."
Leo Veldha nods to Karaleo Palaleo.
Nanvi Redmara: Or one twisted my magic
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "... I strrruggle to believe that rrrice has a soul."
Rising Lotus: "Anyway lets continue on." She waved everyone forward.
Xha AmariyoGoblin gasped at the sight of the Dairyu Moon Gates. "I-Incrrredible...!"
Leo Veldha smiles at Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "It's like they carved the face of the Goddess rrright into a mountain!"
Nanvi Redmara: "During the occupation, the Garleans supposedly put a Magitek field in to prevent access to the sea. I guess that's what those ugly metal spires are"
Xha AmariyoGoblin clasped her hands to her mouth. "I-I feel like I should be making an offerrring rrright now..."
Rising Lotus | They'd continue to see the foot falls of their for a bit longer before whatever it was seemed to get a bit lighter on its feet. The last hint of of the tracks lead them to a cliffside clearing, two trees and a few rocks all there was in the area.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "These people must be the grrreatest artisans in the world!"
Nanvi Redmara: "Now, if i were a seedkin, where would i be?"
Xha AmariyoGoblin began to quietly pray.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Hmm....could've burrowed."
Karaleo Palaleo looks around.
Rising Lotus hummed as she looked around. "Guess the thing can fly...or it's one of them trees." she looked between the large green leafed tree an the cherryblossom a few yalms from it. "...I guess it could've down that too, don't see signs of any holes though."
Leo Veldha glanced at Nanvi, then slowly turned his head to the trees and rocks. "Maybe behind them?"
Nanvi Redmara: Lore question: can a regular astrologian manipulate gravity, or is it just a fancy spell name?
Nanvi Redmara shouted at the top of her lungs. "HEY MISTER SEEDKIN, GET YOUR LEAFY REAR OUT HERE!"
S'era Rarku: Not entirely sure but my headcanon is astrologians use gravity magic to hoist their globes in their hands so it would make sense if they could do it to other things
Rising Lotus: probably not manipulate like make them selves weightless, but to like increase it on people to bring them down or something
S'era Rarku: "It is hiding. Be alert."
Leo Veldha: gravity is a traditional final fantasy spell. So maybe it's the spell and not the ability?
Nanvi Redmara: I was thinking of just trying to "uproot" the thing is why i was asking
Xha AmariyoGoblin finished her prayer and looked at Rising Lotus. "You said the locals think it possessed a pink trrree, rrright? Shouldn't we check the pink trrree?"
Leo Veldha seems lost in thought.
Leo Veldha: "Want me to throw something at it?"
Nanvi Redmara: "....Is walking up to it such a good idea?"
Nanvi Redmara: "....Is walking up to it such a good idea?"
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Let's thrrrow a rrrock at it first."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "If it moves, we have our prrrey."
Leo Veldha nods to Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Karaleo Palaleo: "How about an arrow?"
Rising Lotus: "Aye, unless it's diguising itself or somethin' to be green. Probably that pink one though, someone throw somethin' at it."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Depends. Can you set your arrrow alight?"
Leo Veldha called on the elements to gather a stones in front of him and then unleashed a barrage of stones at the tree.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "That'd save us ti-"
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Karaleo Palaleo pulls back an arrow and launches it, also aiming for the trunk of the tree.
Nanvi Redmara nanvi prepares
Rising Lotus between the rocks and arrow, the tree was hit by some of the barrage. At first nothing happened, but afew moments more and it started to stir, ground shaking as it uprooted part of its trunk to reaveal a leg, and then another! It let out a groaning roar as it lowered its arms from the petals and leaves sprouting out from it, thrashing them against the ground to toss a barrage of dirt and stone at the group!
Rising Lotus: everyone roll))
Random! You roll a 333.
Random! Xha AmariyoGoblin rolls a 234.
Rising Lotus: Xha and rising are buffeted by the barage and lose their next attack, everyone else is fine
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Rising Lotus: Also boss is in general event discussion!
Nanvi Redmara begins weaving a barrier around the members of the party
S'era Rarku ducked low under a flying rock, her eyes and ears fixed on her prey. Her hand gripped her hilt as she lunged forward, closing the distance in three or four steps before unsheathing her blade in a torrent of flame!
Xha AmariyoGoblin recoiled, staggering backwards. "Damn it. Caught me off guard. Won't happen again." She swiftly pulled her bandana back up over her face and drew her knives.
Leo Veldha looked at the tree. It lookeed almost like a man...? He took aĀ few steps to the side and began to focus his aether, keeping an eye on it's moves. He compressed the air, making it thinner and thinner, the aether more compact until at last he pointed his staff and unleashed a blade of aether at the wood creature's arm.
Rising Lotus brought her arms to shield her face from the attack, but still got some dirt in her eyes. She cursed as she held back to clear her vision before heading into the fray
Karaleo Palaleo beckons the Garlic Jester to follow as he runs into a better position. Quickly thinking on his feet, he fastens a string around a fire shard and attaches it the arrow. "Coming in hot!" releasing the bowstring, the arrow flings at the seedkin with a whistle, aiming for the pink canopy flowery up top.
Nanvi Redmara: noooo my boy
S'era Rarku: Might be too far away to see people's emotes lolz
Leo Veldha: did you see mine?
Rising Lotus: Oh I missed Nanvi's post, once sec
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked the yokai over. "If it's anything like a rrregular trrree... the spots where the trrrunk splits should be the weakest."
Rising Lotus: Nanvi's shield gives everyone +100 to their next defensive roll!))
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Xha AmariyoGoblin >> what emote is that?))
Rising Lotus As the rampager let out low pitched cry as it was struck by Sāera sword, her katana cleaving into it deeply in its leg as it started to catch flame. It then stumbled backwards from the shot of wind from leo while Karaās arrow, while not hitting anything solid enough to stick, did light some cherry blossoms along the way. Its body thrashed as it was ablaze in two locations, but with sudden whip of its trunk-likeā¦or trunk arms>
Rising Lotus A burst of blossom petals swarmed over its form, the gust from the attack extinguishing the flame. With an angry rumble, it turned to Sāere and brought its arm around to smack her, picking up speed surprisingly quick!
Rising Lotus: defense roll from S'era))
Rising Lotus: And she's fine!))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
S'era Rarku: Damn right she's fine
Leo Veldha: can Leo do a charge attack and attack next turn after two rolls?
Karaleo Palaleo quickly ties another fire shard to an arrow, this time recruitingg the Garlic Jester with a whistle. "Gimme a boost with your Aero!" he commanded, knocking back the arrow and flinging it forward with increased velocity as the Jester held up its tiny arms to conjure a wind that would help guide the arrow toward the cherry blossoms. "Gotta start a bigger fire somehow!"
Nanvi Redmara began to weave magics to increase the weight of the monstrocity, trying to slow it down
Rising Lotus grit her teeth as she could finally see again, drawing her axe and heading into the fray. She rushed around to the opposite side of S'era, armed with the perfect weapon for dealing with a tree! She gave the heavy axe a swing, aiming for its leg!
Random! You roll a 143.
S'era Rarku danced around the swing, twirling to the side of it while sheathing her sword back into its scabbard. When she drew it again, the fire returned, and she launched herself at its head in an attempt to lop it off!
Rising Lotus: Sure but if you don't save a defensive roll he'll lose the opportunity
Leo Veldha: okay~
Leo Veldha placed his staff on the ground and closed his eyes. Placing it on the ground he focused his aether, digging in from below and becoming one with the ground. One may feel a slight tremor in the ground as he focused, calling to the elementals.
Xha AmariyoGoblin swiftly ran at the yokai, her body low to the ground to make her a smaller target. As soon as she got close to her foe, she leapt up, trying to kick off of its knee and get at its neck, where she would, *ideally,* try to scrape off the bark where its trunks connected to its body.
Random! Xha AmariyoGoblin rolls a 265.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: first combat event on xha, off to a good start B)
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Rising Lotus Karaās shot again missed anything hard, just pruning off more blossoms, though Nanvi did manage to weigh it down a bit though. All the melee attacks against it, while making contact, barely broke through the back, it must be some strong old wood! As Sāeraās attack set it ablaze once more, it brought its arms into its chest, petals starting to swirl around it until it unleashed them all in a flurry of pink! The entire group would be assaulted by the flowers spinning about the area!
Rising Lotus: everyone roll))
Random! You roll a 991.
Random! Xha AmariyoGoblin rolls a 372.
Nanvi Redmara: WHY CAN'T I ROLL THAT GOOD FOR LOOT IN DUNGEONS
S'era Rarku: fucc
S'era Rarku: Nanvi you stole my rolls!
Nanvi Redmara: Yeah, i think you have mine, lol. I don't think we can switch
Rising Lotus: Leo and Xha gets hit and has petals in his eyes, reducing his next attack by 100, But also leo was charging so his concentration is broken and he looses his attack. S'era gets caught mid air and nearly gets swept off the cliff, looses her turn and -100 to next attack))
Xha AmariyoGoblin: wait so does xha have petals in *her* eyes?))
Rising Lotus: yes
Xha AmariyoGoblin: kk))
Leo Veldha: so Leo loses the charge but still has an attack this turn? ))
Rising Lotus: well actually))
Rising Lotus: no one's ever rolled a 999 defense before so we get to break out this rule))
Rising Lotus: Nanvi not +100 to their next attack due to countering it, but also negates all other damage that would've been done by it))
Rising Lotus: *not only gets +100
Rising Lotus: So everyone is actually good!))
Nanvi Redmara: fugyeah
S'era Rarku: S'ERA IS BACK IN THE GAME BABY
Leo Veldha: whoo!
Rising Lotus: Type up something epic Nanvi about how you countered and then we'll continue!))
Xha AmariyoGoblin: oh woo!))
Nanvi Redmara: oh boy p r e s s u r e
Rising Lotus: Feel free to add your next attack into it too!
Nanvi Redmara Sensing the impending danger, Nanvi draws deep from within herself, and blasts the area with a forceful wave, which passes through the party. "I AM NANVI OF THE MALESTROM PRIVATEERS, AND YOU WILL DO AS I SAY."
Nanvi Redmara She follows up the wave by doubling down on her Gravity spell. "AND I COMMAND YOU TO KNEEL!"
Nanvi Redmara: Should i roll again?
Rising Lotus: yeah sure!
Leo Veldha: hahahahaha
Rising Lotus: jesus
Rising Lotus: what are the odds of that
Nanvi Redmara: Thanks for the rolls S'era!
Leo Veldha: Nanvi murdering treemen
Karaleo Palaleo: :O
Rising Lotus | Nanvi not only brings the seedkin down to a knee, but causes all of its petals from the attack to drop like lead flies, saving everyone from getting hit and smelling good.
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Rising Lotus: Also Leo your channeling thing is fine now))
Karaleo Palaleo yelps and cowers as the swarm of pink petals flies toward him, only for Nanvi to blast them away with her own incredible counter. Kara lowered his arms with a sigh of relief, quickly searching for his next move. Knocking another arrow, he aimed not for the seedkin, but for a nearby lightning sprite, hoping to make it surge or explode with electricity!
Leo Veldha: ye! Thanks Rising! ))
Leo Veldha opened his eyes, he had gathered enough aether. Thanks to Nanvi for protecting him and buying enough time. He raised his staff and pulled it slowly from the ground. As he did, an enormous earth pillar shot up from the ground with a sharp tip, aiming at the center of the cowled seedkin to split it in two!
Xha AmariyoGoblin saw her chance. The seedkin was weakened and within her reach! With a powerful leap into the air, she brought both her knives down on the yokai's neck with *brutal* force.
Random! Xha AmariyoGoblin rolls a 391.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: k i l lĀ m e
Rising Lotus was prepared to shield herself once again as the petals started whipping up, but instead watched them all plummet to the ground! She reeled her axe back before hoisting it up high, and then bringing it down hard on one of the beast's joints!
Random! You roll a 243.
S'era Rarku was swept up by the petals-- but Nanvi's surge stopped her from being tossed toward the cliffs. As soon as her feet touched the ground she rushed her prey again, leaping into the air with a double-front-flip as she tried to bury her burning blade deep into its head!
S'era Rarku: SECOND WIND LET'S GOOOOO
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Xha AmariyoGoblin: oh god of random numbers please tale pity on this poor catgirl and give her some non-failing rolls this event amen
Rising Lotus Leoās pillar of earth hits it on the mark, toppling it over further as pieces of bark fall from its form. Rising and Xhaās attacks chip away at the bark as well, but still arenāt hitting deep enough. Sāeraās on the other hand manages to dig her sword deep into the creatureās head thanks to the heat of her weaponā¦though it doesnāt kill it outright and just damages it like any other strike. And then there was Kara attackā¦
Rising Lotus While the burst of sparks did hit the tree, it also zapped everyone in melee range as well! While they were dealing with the shock, the rampager managed to lob a mass of petals at Leo, Nanvi and Kara!
Xha AmariyoGoblin: I HAVE FAILED EVERY ROLL FOR THE PAST TWO EVENTS
Xha AmariyoGoblin: COME ON
Rising Lotus: Oh know what you might have to do?
Leo Veldha: your luck's saving up for something huge. I can feel it!
Rising Lotus: git gud
Xha AmariyoGoblin: T_T
Xha AmariyoGoblin: it better be saving up for something really good...
Rising Lotus: anyway, Kara gets walloped by the petals and loses his turn. Rising ets a light shock but is alright, and Xha gets a worse shot and is stunned for next round and loses her turn
Rising Lotus: *shock))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Xha AmariyoGoblin dropped her knives as she was straight up fucking electrocuted. Yeowch.
Karaleo Palaleo is knocked to the ground with an "oof," getting thrown off and completely disoriented as the rush of petals overtakes him and throws him to the ground.
Nanvi Redmara Nanvi maintains her concentration, trying to keep the beast down while the others work on attacking
Rising Lotus tensed up a she was shocked for a spell, imediately turning around with a curse as she glared at Kara, only to find him on the ground covered in cherry blossoms. She would chew him out later and returned to the fray, dashing forward to prune at the branches with its leaves and blossoms, trying ot chop on of the limbs of with a mighty strike!
Random! You roll a 737.
Leo Veldha takes note of Pal and Xha. He begains to move closer to them. Not before he finishes one more cast though. With the creature ont he ground and the metal pillar looming over it, he calls on the elementals again and allow the huge pillar to fall on top of it, hoping to further damage it and add some "weight" to Nanvi's gravity magic.
Leo Veldha: *stone pillar ))
S'era Rarku rips her blade from the beast and leaps high into the air with a delayed backflip. Upon descending back down, the flames on her sword extinguish, giving way to earth-aspected aether-- moments before she brings it back down onto the desecrated spirit's head like a guillotine!
Dornniblyss Unsyn had a hard time getting though customs. What do you mean the many varietals of Gridanian seeds she carries on her at all times are invasive species here? Arriving on the scene, she asserted herself as an expert "Some winter weather will surely subdue it, right?" though Dornn visibly winced at Rising and Sera's strikes. "I'm sure that can be grafted back on..." As she raised her staff to further weight down the monster's limbs with ice.
Dornniblyss Unsyn: maybe it cant be grafted back on
Rising Lotus: Okay so my spreadsheet was missing a formula, so this thing has been dead since like last turn xD We'll give it one more turn anyway though!))
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Karaleo Palaleo: i'm not surprised, there's been some high rolls
Leo Veldha: ^
S'era Rarku: Only ONE BAD ROLL from my murder hobo and I couldn't be prouder
Nanvi Redmara: Nanvi's gonna pass out from exerting so much mana
Nanvi Redmara: XD
Rising Lotus The efforts of Leo, Nanvi, and Dorn has succeeded in keeping the rampager from getting up, leaving it quite open to Sāeraās and Risingās attacks. Rising managed to lob off one of the branches that held its leaves, where Sāere flat out cut off part of its head! It groaned slowly as its body slowed..but not before one more desperate attack! It suddenly dug its arms into the ground, and a few moments later roots burst forth, whipping about the whole area around it!
Rising Lotus: everyone in melee roll except for Rhesh))
Leo Veldha: am I close enough to be considered melee?
Rising Lotus: yeah you ran up to Rhesh right?))
Random! You roll a 274.
S'era Rarku: Uuugh spoke too soon
Leo Veldha: kinda, he's hovering in the middle, lol
Rising Lotus: Sera and Rising get whipped and lose their turns, Leo dodges!))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Nanvi Redmara: "Just burn the whole area at this point!"
Xha AmariyoGoblin took a deep breath as she regained control of her limbs. She crouched down to recover her knives, then leapt at the tree one more time. Desparation writ in her movements, she once more tried to guillotine the yokai's neck.
Random! Xha AmariyoGoblin rolls a 783.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: FINALLY
Xha AmariyoGoblin: AHHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHA
Karaleo Palaleo crawls out from under the petal pile and barely reaches his bow. He tries to knock an arrow one last time but ends up lazily falling sideways to the ground, feeling the exhaustion take its toll. The Garlic Jester runs over to him casts petty cures over the panting archer.
Leo Veldha finally makes it between everyone and then focuses again. A green glow can be seen from him as the wind picks up around him. A pleasent scent fills the air, a breath of fresh air as a healing wind covers the others, soothing and mending any wounds they may have.
Karaleo Palaleo: no attack)
Leo Veldha: Leo casting Medica II.
Dornniblyss Unsyn pleaded with Heartwood, "Let's subdue, please! You've all done enough damage, right? Wouldn't this be a lovely specimen for study?" Dornn looked aghast at Nanvi "Burn?" was all she echoed before reflexively raising her staff to bring snow over the area, trying to snuff out fires before they formed and continue her seasonal agenda.
Nanvi Redmara looked slightly pale "I can't keep this up for much longer, and there's sprouts of it now!"
Rising Lotus was raising her axe to stike once more when the ground erupted with roots, one of the lashing apendages smacking her right across her arse. She let out an embarresing yelp as she hopped forward, weapon dropped and red in the face.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: rising nooooooooooooo xD
Leo Veldha: rofl XD
S'era Rarku 's instinct was to assume those roots were snakes, causing the Miqo'te to leap ten fulms into the air in shock!
Rising Lotus: oh wait everyone rolled
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Rising Lotus With its roots embedded in the ground, the group would start to see the grass and plants around it start to slowly wilt as the parasitic seed kin made a last ditch effort to mend itself. Unfortunately for it, between Xhaās strike and the snow freezing its exposed roots, it was the end for it. It groaned once more as its eyes dimmed, nothing more than firewood now.
S'era Rarku: "Victory for Azeyma."
S'era Rarku takes a moment of silence.
Nanvi Redmara dropped down, looking out of breath
Leo Veldha sheathes his weapon.
Leo Veldha looks around.
Karaleo Palaleo lifts himself to his feet, breathing a sigh of relief as Leo's medica spell sinks into him and refreshes his spirit. "Ahh...and it smells good!~"
Nanvi Redmara replied between breaths "I'm fine, just need a minute."
Leo Veldha smiles at Nanvi Redmara.
Rising Lotus was releaved Leo's healing spell seemed to ease the sting on her reddened cheeks as she collected her axe. "I'm good here thanks." she looked the dead seedkin over. "Guess it was jus' a seedkin in the end, not some evil spirit or nothin'."
Leo Veldha nods to you.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Well! Whatever it was, it's dead now."
Leo Veldha: "Are you okay Xha?"
S'era Rarku: "Seedkin means no heart..."
Dornniblyss Unsyn approached the slain foe with gardening shear aloft, "I didn't come all this way for nothing! Don't burn it Nanvi I swear to..." she trailed off.
S'era Rarku wallows in self-pity.
Leo Veldha smiles at S'era Rarku.
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked at Leo. "Yes. I am fine. I won the day."
Leo Veldha motions joyfully to Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Leo Veldha: "As long as you're not injured anywhere."
Karaleo Palaleo: "Uugh...I'm beat. All this fighting and action is tiring."
Rising Lotus: "Yeah take as much as you wants, villagers didn't say anythin' 'bout wantin' the body or nothin'. If anythin' leavin' it here can return the aether to where it belongs."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "I have several small cuts frrrom stones, and I feel unsteady on my feet frrrom that explosion of levin."
Xha AmariyoGoblin shot Karaleo a glare. "Otherwise, I am fine."
Leo Veldha nods to Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Leo Veldha: "A little bit never hurts then~"
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Hm. Thanks."
Leo Veldha nods to Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Leo Veldha looks around.
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked to Karaleo. "You settled on archery, then?"
Karaleo Palaleo shrugs at Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Dornniblyss Unsyn: "So it's really alright to take these? You don't carry a grudge against these roots, Rising? Just a snip or two, I agree the rest should probably stay put."
S'era Rarku ponders over Nanvi Redmara.
S'era Rarku: "Injured?"
Karaleo Palaleo: "Oh I dunno, it's just what I've been doing. But it's kinda lame, I think I need something more."
Nanvi Redmara shook her head.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "I told you. You will only get better if you keep at it."
Karaleo Palaleo gazes upon Xha AmariyoGoblin in deep reflection.
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Changing your mind constantly will make you very poor at many things, rrrather than very good at one."
Nanvi Redmara: "Just a little winded. I'm not used to wielding magic like that, and it took more out of me than i realized."
Karaleo Palaleo: "Youre right. Maybe I should look into the stars like Nanvi does. She looked pretty strong out here.."
Leo Veldha smiles at Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha: "You really saved the day. Thanks Nanvi."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "That is not what I meant."
Rising Lotus "Go for it. Maybe we should take some of them petals too, smell sort of nice." she looked the foilage on the dead seedkin over. "Wonder if this thing just wandered from somewhere else or somethin'. If it's just a seedkin there's probably more right?"
Karaleo Palaleo gazes upon Xha AmariyoGoblin in deep reflection.
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked him over. "You did not addrrress me in the bar the other night. I assume because of that woman's horrible cooking, rrrather than a conscious decision to ignore me."
Nanvi Redmara blushed, and nodded while looking at the ground. "Thanks"
Dornniblyss Unsyn leapt to her feet, "There's probably more?" her eyes glittered.
Karaleo Palaleo: "Huh? I'm sorry, I was probably distracted by that gross pudding..."
Karaleo Palaleo fails to understand Xha AmariyoGoblin.
Leo Veldha: "Well... I guess it's time to head on back then. I need to make a stop in Kugane first."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Good. That is what I thought. I would hate to think you'd forgotten out conversation so quickly."
Rising Lotus shrugged. "It didn't seem like some evil spirit to me. So probably. Wouldn't have any idea where though."
Karaleo Palaleo: "That stuff she served shouldn't be legal.."
S'era Rarku: "Surprised tree survived beheading. Nobody survives that. This is known."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "She will face her punishment when the time comes."
Leo Veldha nods to S'era Rarku.
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked over at S'era. "It is a trrree. They can survive much."
Nanvi Redmara: "Maybe it was a fake head?"
S'era Rarku ponders over Nanvi Redmara.
Leo Veldha: "Trees don't have heads..."
The sight of Xha AmariyoGoblin springs a question to S'era Rarku's mind.
Karaleo Palaleo gazes upon Leo Veldha in deep reflection.
S'era Rarku: "This one did..."
Rising Lotus: I'll post the actual info later, but heads up next hunt is in Thavnir!
Leo Veldha: "Did it?"
Xha AmariyoGoblin: ... guess i've really gotta speed up my levelling ^^;
S'era Rarku: "Under branches. It had eyes and everything."
Karaleo Palaleo yawns. "I'm tired...I'm just gonna curl up by that tree over there."
Leo Veldha ponders over S'era Rarku.
Leo Veldha stretches.
S'era Rarku: "I cleave in two and it still fights. I need that strength... but trees don't have hearts."
Dornniblyss Unsyn pondered, then shrugged, "I suppose I wouldn't know either. You have a bit of a flower presser's eye, you know that Miss Rising? Lucky for the both of us, I am always prepared to collect petals." she whipped out a handkerchief and began shuffling vibrant blooms into a bundle.
Karaleo Palaleo: getting super sleepy, goodnight yall!
Leo Veldha: night!
Karaleo Palaleo: thanks for the RPs
Xha AmariyoGoblin: night
Dornniblyss Unsyn: night!! o/
Leo Veldha: "Well.. I need to be getting going. I'll see you later Era!"
Leo Veldha bids farewell to S'era Rarku.
S'era Rarku nods to Leo Veldha.
Xha AmariyoGoblin looked at Dornn. "You. The one who feels nothing in particular about my sister. You should speak with that nameless woman, once she is rrrecovered. She loves flowers."
Nanvi Redmara stretch motion
Rising Lotus shrugged. "Well that's mostly from hangin' out with my gobfriend, he really likes plants and flowers. Gave me all the ones I have in my room." Rising rolled her eyes. "She means Riylli."
Leo Veldha: ty for the rp all!
Nanvi Redmara: "I think i'm going to head off as well. Kugane has a hotspring bath that just sounds so good right now."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "I do."
S'era Rarku: "I am going to hunt. Something with a heart, hopefully."
Nanvi Redmara: "Will everyone be safe without healing?"
S'era Rarku: "I am not injured."
Rising Lotus: "I should make it back fine, maybe I'll stop in Kugane myself to enjoy them springs, or one of the smaller ones with less folks in it."
Dornniblyss Unsyn turned to Xha in puzzlement, before clarity entered the picture. "Oh, Riylli and I talk about flowers at times, I would love to press some for her. And you'll have to gift some to this friend of yours too!"
S'era Rarku performs an Eastern bow before Nanvi Redmara.
Dornniblyss Unsyn: "Ah, I meant the gobfriend. What an excellent suggestion Miss Rising, I should locate some local cuisine myself. Take care Rising!"
Dornniblyss Unsyn: "Take care too Xha."
Rising Lotus: "Nah, Growtix is more of a live flower type of guy, don't think we can grow anythin' wform this...an' if we could they wouldn't like it in Idyllshire."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "... Hm. How do I get home?"
Rising Lotus: "Jus' aetheryte back, or take the way you came."
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "... You are all very cavalier about wandering alone in such a distant land."
Dornniblyss Unsyn: "What's the worst that could happen?"
Xha AmariyoGoblin: "Death."
Rising Lotus: "That's cause we get out of the Shroud once in a while. Anyway see ya'll back there." she waved as she started on her back to town.
Ziv gasps at the setup, marveling at the little alchemy stations. "Ohh how lovely..."
Leo looks around. "It looks cozy."
Ziv nods. "Potions class could not have come sooner..." he grumbles with ginger pat to his side. "I am very eager to learn how to brew a good potion. The timing is...well timed."
Leo ponders over Ziv Zorasch.
Silaena: ..Why do you need potions, exactly?
Aislinn blinks owlishly and looks up from the cup of coffee in her hands as people begin to arrive. Clearly, wandering out from the maze of her thoughts, Aislinn gives her head a shake and waves people in. āGrab a spot at any of the tables. Weāll double up and share as need be.ā She explains, her low, soft-spoken voice stretching in an attempt to reach across the room.
Leo: "Is it because you have something odd going on with you and you can't take healing magic right now?"
Nonoli looks around. "There's no stools...!"
Ziv: "Potions, they help with the pain of injuries, you see..."
Leo walks up to a spot and then starts to browse through things, looking at the bottles. and things on the table.
Ziv: "The tables are short enough, I think you'll do fine."
Leo nods to Ziv Zorasch. "It should be okay Noli."
Aislinn goes and sets her coffee down on the counter as she waits for people to settle in. To Nonoli's point, she tilts her head, considering. "If you need, I can go and grab one from downstairs."
Rising Lotus had already set herself up at a table, eyes looking over all the ingredients she sort of just wanted to, dump all together haphazardly. She was able to fight the urge for now though. "...isn't this jus' like cookin' but for shite you can't exactly eat some times?"
Nonoli furrows her brow.
Riylli waves eagerly to Aislinn as she enters the classroom. "Hey! I got a Starlight present for ya! I was gonna give it to you at G'lewra's but I guess y'couldn't make it? Ill wait 'till after the class though! Dont wanna disrupt the teacher."
Ziv: "Or just jump -on- the table." Ziv shrugs at Nonoli Noli.
Nonoli is frustrated with Ziv .
Leo smiles at Ziv.
Nonoli : "And block the love of science with my rump!? I don't think so!"
Leo: "That may not be a great idea. Want me to go find you a stool Noli?"
Aislinn eyes Rising as she takes in the ingredients and decides leaving the room might not be the best idea. She looks to Leo āAye, if you wouldnāt mind popping downstairs and grabbing a stool. Then we can get started.ā
Turning to Rising, she tilts her head. "Aye, it's a little like cooking. Except supposing if you get creative in the kitchen and add too much salt it probably won't hurt you."
Silaena: Hm. Mind terribly being my station partner, Ziv?
Ziv nods to Silaena. "Not at all, by all means feel free."
M'shara approaches a table and begins going over the supplies on it.
Nonoli seems lost in thought. "I should probably get a stool from downstairs... I'll be right back."
Leo Veldha ponders over Nonoli Noli.
Silaena runs her hands over the little station, clearly familiarizing herself with the contents. "Fair warning, every time I've tried to learn alchemy, it's exploded horribly."
Ziv: "Oh dear, well at least there will be healers nearby in case a flask explodes or something.."
Leo tilted his head as he examined the contents on the table. "Some of these look familiar. Do you recognize what they are Noli? Admittedly my time in Sillfane Glade was... well, rushed. So this is one of those holes I'd like to work on filling in."
Nonoli nods to Leo. "Of course! You're looking at the third best alchemist in Heartwood you know!"
Leo smiles at Nonoli. "I thought you'd at least be the best or second best. Who has you beat? Aislinn? She does know her stuff!"
Nonoli nods to Leo.
Rising Lotus: "Well hopefully we won't be makin' anythin' too complicated then. Every time I've cooked more than jus' puttin' meat over a fire I get pretty free form with the measurements."
Clearing her throat, Aislinn turns now, her assessing gaze sweeping over the room. Most of those gathered she knew. One of two, she didn't recognize. That didn't come as a surprise to her. She regularly had her head down involved in some project or other that she lost focus of everything else, eating, for instance. Let alone poking her head out of the clinic or workshop to *meet* people.Ā She takes a breath and addresses the room "Alright, let's get started." ....
M'shara: "Quiet down please."
Ziv motions joyfully to Aislinn.
Aislinn: "For those that don't know me, I'm Aislinn. I work in the clinic with Lewra and in the workshop on various technological projects. I'm also an alchemist which is why Lewra asked me to teach this class. She sends her apologies but is...occupied elsewhere." There was a minor hitch over that last detail but she has a great poker face and quickly moves on. ...
Nonoli ponders over Aislinn.
Aislinn: "Alchemy is basically, the creation of potions. Good and bad." She gives a half shrug. "Like cooking but more exacting. A little foxglove can strengthen a weak heart. Too much can cause a heart attack. You gotta understand and adhere to the rules before you go getting creative and experimenting." She explains. "But today we're going to make a basic healing potion. Nothing so dire but it should give you good practice with the basics."
Riylli raises her hand, then asks her question out loud anyways. "Can we make potions that give me lots of muscles?"
Ziv swishes his tail back and forth excitedly. "Healing potions, perfect! Maybe now I won't have to pilfer from Noli's stashes..."
Leo gazes upon Aislinn in deep reflection. "I see...Ā so it's an art of precision."
M'shara simply pretends she hears none of this.
Nonoli senses something amiss with Ziv .
Odile rushes into the room.
Aislinn eyes Riylli with faint amusement. "You can conjure golems from the earth. How much more force do you need at your disposal?"
Leo looked at the equipment in front of him with a newfound respect. It must have been a perilous art to develop.
Rising Lotus: "If you want to be strong like me you have to earn it the true way, not cheatin' with potions and magic."
Aislinn flicks her attention briefly to Ziv and raises a brow
Leo ponders over Nonoli. "Are you okay Noli?" He had missed Ziv's comment.
Aislinn: "Anyone here have any alchemical experience?" She ventures. Basically she wants to know who she can maybe not have to watch so closely in favor of who might possibly cause an explosion. Just in case.
Riylli: "I need enough to carry Mana around when she's old obviously!"
Nonoli: "I think I just discovered why my potions keep going missing..."
Leo is taken aback by Nonoli.
Nonoli: "I do! I do!"
Silaena: ..Do you have a potion addiction, Ziv? I know -how- alchemy works, but..Yeah, practical experience is explosive at best.
Aislinn nods to Nonoli and gives the lalafell a subtle smile. "Good to know."
Ziv is taken aback by Silaena.
Leo: "I learned to brew them before, but it was a -really- long time ago. I can't remember anything about it, so I figured it best to start from scratch."
Nonoli smiles in warm satisfaction before Aislinn.
Ziv: "A what?! Of course not--potions are merely useful to a warrior such as myself who does not easily take to healing magic."
Silaena furrows her brow at Ziv Zorasch.
Odile: "But healing magic is gentler than potion recovery Ziv."
Aislinn: "Alright. A basic healing potion is good knowledge for any mercenary to have. It ain't going to miraculously patch up a bullet wound but it'll shore up stores of depleted aether in the body and buy you some time until you can get to a medic of some stripe."
Rising Lotus shook her head. "I've only ever have bought or get that sort of stuff from folk. Seems complicated with all that measurin' an' all."
Ziv frowns at Odile. It couldn't be helped. He offered a slight shrug and returned his attention to the head of the classroom.
Aislinn tilts her head to Rising. "It can be, aye. But we're gonna go through this one step by step." And hopefully minimize any sort of surprises.
Aislinn "So." She begins and motions to the contents on the tables before them. She draws close to Rising and Riylli's table. "A basic healing potion consists of distilled water, mistletoe, a powdered mushroom called a chanterelle and powdered water and lightning crystals." All of which she holds up one by one off the table as she introduces them. "The first thing we're going to do is pour the distilled water into the crucible and turn on the flame. There's a switch under the pot to get it going."
Riylli: "We're gonna... drink the crystals? Ain't that dangerous?"
M'shara reaches forward to turn on the crucible then picking up the distilled water and carefully pouring it out into the pot.
Ziv nods. "Sounds simple enough." He begins by adding the distilled water to the pot. "I figured the crystals added extra flavor or bubbles," he said to Riylli's comment as he flipped on the burner.
Nonoli had to use all her willpower to stop herself from starting an "Ackshually" prompt after Ziv's comment.
Leo smiles at Nonoli. "I guess we're starting then? Should probably check the quantities."
Rising Lotus looks over the reagents, shrugging as she dumped an unmeasured amount of water into the pot before turning up the flame way too hot. "There's some soup they used to serve in Drybone that was cold, but then they served it to you with a fire crystal to heat it up. Never got sick or nothin' from it... well you didn't eat the crystal in it of course. Jus' the stew 'round it."
Nonoli: "Turn on the burner. I'll get the water set up!"
Leo nods to Nonoli .
Aislinn shakes her head at Riylli "They'll be regents to cause a chemical reaction imperative to the potion's creation later."
Leo did as was requested and turned on the burner. At the same time, he glanced through the recipe on the page. Seemed simple enough.
Riylli: "...Ah. Yes, of course." Riylli nods along like she knows what any of those words mean. "Er, are we supposed to be starting already?"
Odile climbed up the side of the table to add the pieces of the potion into the pot.
Aislinn eyes Rising's pot. "That's gonna boil fast. You need to watch it. The minute it does, lower the flame to let it simmer." She instructs the woman.
Ziv: "Oh...I wonder if our flame is too high also."
Aislinn: "You all seem to be able to boil water. Good." If she sounds sardonic, it's not on purpose. She has seen people explode boiling water. "Once the water is boiling, add three mistletoe berries. That should be all you have on the table, and lower the flame until the water is simmering."
Odile sets the flame to medium, to boil it faster.
Rising Lotus: "Uh, right." she started to watch her pot, wondering how hot simmer is. "Alright Riylli add them berries, and I'll figure out how much to turn it down by."
Aislinn: "This is the first part of precision. Boil it too hot and the berries are ruined. Too low and the toxins in the berries won't boil out."
Odile turns down the Heat and adds the berries one by one.
Leo nods to Aislinn.
Ziv drops the three berries into the pot and keeps the flame at its current setting. The fire is on the low side, causing the water to bubble slightly as it simmered the berries.
Riylli nods and pops each berry into the cauldron. "I guess I've done somethin' like this before when I'm makin' my syrup... Y'don't wanna burn out the colour!"
M'shara watches Odile, nodding in approval.
Aislinn nods to Riylli in agreement
Leo took a look at the water. "Oh, I don't think it will be long... hey, where are the berrie Noli?" He looked around the table for them.
Nonoli: "They're right in front of you..."
While they work, Aislinn takes a moment and carefully watches the room.
Rising Lotus watches the water start to bubble, giving it a few moments before she cranked it down some. "I guess if it stops bubblin' 'we'll jus' turn it back up 'til we hit the sweet spot. Also what does color have to do with a healin' potion?"
Leo grabbed the three berries in the bowl and then watched as the bubble started to come up steadily in the cauldron. "Thank you." He dropped them in and then lowered the flame.
Odile: "Red for blood. For easier identification. in case of a rushed scenerio."
Nonoli closed her eyes and sniffed at the air. "Ah, the sweet smell of science." Nonoli smiles in warm satisfaction.
Riylli: "Vibes, Rising. Vibes. The red health potions taste the best! And, I don't know, maybe it'll mess with the ingredients too."
Silaena tilts her head. "Well. It -seems- to be working out, so far."
Aislinn: āIt should end up smelling almost sweet. The liquid should turn a pale yellow color as the berries cook. If it goes dark or brown or smells sharp and acridā¦.well, you burned it. It happens.ā
Aislinn: āThatās when you toss it out and start over. But so far, Iām not picking up any weird smells so, good on you!ā
Ziv stares at the lightly simmering pot, barely beginning to turn a colored hue as the berries softened up. He adjusts the fire, turning it up just a little, because he couldn't fight the urge there was something wrong.
Nonoli nods to Aislinn.
Aislinn: āAlright! Next, add one level scoop of powdered mushroom using the small metal scoop on the table and mix it slowly into the liquidĀ youāve got simmering. Again, be patient. Donāt just go dumping it in and whisking it to death.ā
Aislinn's definitely not looking at Rising out of the corner of her eye when she says this.
Rising Lotus "I've mostly had the blue flavored ones. Wonder how we get to blue from these red berries...that turn the water yellowish?" she snapped her fingers. "Oh wait, water crystals are blue!"
Nonoli: "I'll handle this one, Leo!"
Leo nods to Nonoli.
Nonoli carefully pushed a measuring cup into the bag of powdered fungi and slow-dripped it into the simmering water.
Riylli eyes the powdered mushroom "Mm... Chanterelle... Hey Aislinn, do we need to use ALL of it in our potions?"
Leo took a step back, "All yours Noli, show me how it's done!" He watched closely as his tail swayed back and forth.
Ziv steps back for this part, looking intimidated by the more sophisticated ingredients. "Why don't you, Silaena?"
Odile takes the measuring spoon scoops up a good amount of powdered mushroom fungi powder and uses a gloved finger to scrape out the excess and keep it measured.
Aislinn tips her head to Riylli. "No, if you do, you'll ruin it. This is where you get to practice precision."
Riylli: "Good!" Riylli declares, dipping her finger into powder and sticking it in her mouth
Odile picks up the whisk and stirs gently.
Aislinn huffs out a soft laugh of amusement at Riylli
Rising Lotus finally seemed to have a good simmery pot going, and she was about to give it a big ol' scoop of mushroom dust when Riylli tasted some. "...What's it taste like?"
Aislinn nods in approval as Nonoli levels off her scoop of mushroom powder
Silaena nods, veery carefully leveling out a scoop, before stirring the whisk. Probably a little -too- slow.
Riylli: "You've never had it? It's a pretty regular part of the keeper diet. Try some!"
Nonoli: "... don't eat the reagents, Leo."
Odile: "Likely tasting like a spore sponge."
Leo laughs at Nonoli. "I wasn't planning to Noli. Have you ever eaten the ingredients when making potions before though?"
Ziv raises the flame a little, thinking it will help somehow. The cauldron boils steadily, producing some steam.
Nonoli: "It's smart to taste them, if they're edible. But that's just to make sure they haven't gone bad."
Leo nods to Nonoli Noli. "Makes sense to me."
Rising Lotus "Hmm....no. Maybe if it wasn't dust an' a mushroom still." She scoops some of the powered, shaking off the extra but still probably a pinch to much. "Get to stirrin'." she held the spoon out to Riylli.
Riylli frowns. "Y'should level off your measuring cups with your finger, that's what Mana always does when she bakes." She explains and begins to stir carefully. "But a little extra probably wont hurt! Im betting these are mostly here for the flavour anyroad"
Leo: "You know, I am a little surprised that you don't taste more stuff though."
Nonoli ponders over Leo. "Most of this stuff is toxic before it's brewed!"
Leo: "Yeah, but I just think about all the cookie batter you steal when Coco bakes cookies."
Leo winks at Nonoli.
Ziv looks at Nonoli in surprise. "How can something that heals you be toxic?"
Rising Lotus: "That wasn't a cup though it was a spoon."
Ziv: "I don't understand it..."
Nonoli looks at Leo in surprise. "I-I do no such thing!"
Leo beams with delight at Nonoli .
M'shara: "You've clearly never been healed by me before."
Riylli: "Same thing!"
Nonoli: "It's not toxic when you drink it!"
Riylli: "They got all sorts of cups and spoons when you're bakin', and Twelve help you if you mix up a tablespoon with a teaspoon"
Silaena: Most alchemical ingredients balance out the toxicity with each other. It's a science, like that. Or how they're prepared, too.
Ziv: "I see..."
Silaena: Some of them are even only in something to make it not poisonous, too.
Aislinn: āSo now youāve got all the ingredients for a proper healing potion. And youāve simmered them long enough for them to integrate. Which is a nice soup. Now we need a strong chemical reaction to flash it into something more.ā She inhales a breath as if bracing herself. āThis is one parts water crystal and two parts lighting crystal mixed and added to the bunsen flame beneath your crucibles. Thatās one small spoon.ā She holds up the smallest spoon that hardly looks like it could hold anything of substance. āOf blue crystals and two spoons of purple. There are wards of shielding written into the tables and if something goes wrong just step back. Quickly. Please remember the estate was just rebuilt and I donāt want to have to go through that again.ā
Leo is taken aback by Aislinn. "It goes into the flame?"
Aislinn nods to Leo. "Into the flame. This creates a quick, small flash of high heat needed to transform the ingredients into a proper potion."
Rising Lotus wiped her hands on her apron. "See this is why I don't cook 'sides from jus' puttin' things over a fire. Too much work. Or at least with cookin' you can jus' like, eyeball spices an' then choke it down if it's bad." she glanced to Linn as she gave the next explanation, looking much more excited for this one. "One of blue two of purple!"
Leo: "Okay..." He grabbed a small bowl and then the blue and purple crystals. "Let's see, one part blue, two purple..."
M'shara looks to Odile, "Did you get that?"
Ziv picks up the blue crystal. "Adding crystals to fire? It's certainly not what I expected but okay. I will add this one if you'd take care of the purples."
Riylli: "My turn!" Riylli declares, proudly taking each scoop and measuring them off with her finger. Into the fire each of them goes with a quick pop of energy, leaving Riylli with a little bit of purple residue on her finger. She looks at it. She stares at it. She contemplates it. Ultimately her intrusive thoughts win through and she carefully pokes the residue with her tongue to see what it tastes like. Just a little bit!
Nonoli: "You can do it!"
Nonoli strikes a triumphantābut not too triumphantāpose for Leo Veldha.
Leo motions joyfully to Nonoli.
Odile nodded. she looks to the crystals. She uses her aether to hover one blue, and two purple.
Leo: "Yes ma'am." he laughs.
Silaena nods once again, moving to measure out the purple crystal dust. The moment her hands come close to it, though, there is prompt little explosion of levin.
Leo carefully measured out the crystals. One teaspoon of blue and two teaspoons of purple. He tried not to pull any more than he needed and put them in as equal quantities. After giving them a good mix, he shrugged and added them to the flame. "Well, here goes."
Ziv looks surprised!
Rising Lotus scoffed as Riylli got to do the cool fire throwing part. She flicked a few more grains of purple in when Riylli was tasting the crushed crystal.
Odile adds the first portion of purple, then the blue, then adds the last portion of purple.
Ziv: "Well there goes our purple--!"
Silaena: ..Yep. Sorry about that. Should've let you do it.
Ziv: "It's' okay. We should try again, with two new crystals."
Ziv: "This health potion -needs- to turn out! I'm really starting to feel it now..."
Leo: "Look good?"
Nonoli seems lost in thought. "So far so good!"
Odile looks stumped.
Aislinn: āRiylli!ā She catches the sight of the Keeper putting a finger of crystals in her mouth. Nymeia help her. Sheās drawn next by the sound of the small explosion at Zivās table. Not enough to trigger the ward. āAlright, there?ā She asks.
Silaena nods. "No injuries. Just a little explosion when I touched the lightning."
Ziv: "Umm...well...no. Yes, I think we just need to simply try again. Though I'm not sure why your touch would cause an explosion like that."
Ziv gazes upon Silaena in deep reflection.
Riylli smacks her tongue a few times. "Tastes like... tingling. Like there are bubbles popping on my tongue! They should put this stuff in candy..."
Aislinn hums in thought as she looks Silaena over. "Does...that usually happen when you interact with aspected aether?"
Silaena tilts her head. "Sometimes. Most times, really."
Ziv continues to fuss over their pot, stirring it steadily to prevent it from boiling over.
Aislinn quickly tosses over her shoulder, "Riylli, stop eating the crystals. Do you want aether sickness?"
Rising Lotus jumped a bit at the explosion, bumping some of their blue crystal dust onto the table. Her attention returns to Riylli as she describes the taste, flicking more blue dust into the flame. "Guess that makes sense, purple is lightning. Guess blue would taste wet then..." her hand got close to the blue powder when Linn called Riylli out, slowly pulling her hand back.
Aislinn returns her attention to Silaena. "Hmm. Try switching. Ziv, add the lightning crystals, let Silaena handle the water crystal."
Riylli: "Quit addin' more crystal!"
Silaena hums, nodding again. "Sure. Ready, Ziv?"
Ziv nods, exchanging the water crystal for the two lightning ones. "Yes, let's see if this way does better."
Silaena moves to measure out the water crystal. And, not a hint of explosion, it seems, as it goes into the fire.
Ziv drops the crystals into the flame like two ice cubes into a glass of water.
Rising Lotus: "Psh, it was like, hardly anymore than we needed." she went to give their pot a few stirs as she looked at the so far unremarkable hue.
Riylli: "No causin' trouble for the teacher! We gotta be EXACT! Otherwise the cookies will end up super salty! I mean, potions."
In the wake of the expected flash of heat, Aislinn studies Silaena with open curiosity. "Right, then. " As quiet as she is, she raises her voice over the room. "Your potion should now be blue in color and clear. Go ahead and pour it carefully into an empty flask using the funnel on the table to check it for color and clarity." She explains.
Leo gazes upon Nonoli in deep reflection. "Hey Noli, do you think Nolas may like this kind of thing?"
Odile: "Maybe, Leo."
Aislinn: "If it's purple. You added too much lightning and burned it. If it's still pale, it's fine to drink but I doubt it's gonna do you any good when you need it. If it smells bad...well, this is not a potion that should smell bad. Don't drink it." She ticks off the common problems found with making this potion.
Nonoli gently stirred their ingredients, glancing up at Leo before raising a brow. "I don't think kids like anything they can't eat. Potions are usually rather bitter too."
Ziv places the funnel over the flask and slowly begins to ladle the light blue concoction. Steam fills up the glass beaker as the hot liquid is poured into it. "This was not so difficult at all. With enough mistletoe and ground mushrooms this will be easy to make in my own room."
Silaena taps her chin. "Really not selling the lack of potion addiction there, buddy."
Rising Lotus gave it a few more stirs, wasn't quite as blue as ones she had purchased before, but it was a tone of blue at least. "Alrighty, guess we ought to dish it out. Get the bottle ready." she lowered the heat and went for the ladel. "...I guess we can add some blue to it to make it more blue..." she eyed those crystals again.
Leo closed his eyes. "Mm... I'd like him to try a lot of things to see if he has a hobby he likes. I guess you're right though, maybe I'll wait until he's older..." His ears perked up at Odile's words as he gave her a small smile. "Thanks Odile." He took a glance at the color of the potion. Looked blue to him!
M'shara: "Simply try not to blow up the house if you have a lab in your room."
Aislinn nods to Ziv as she eyes the color of the liquid he's pouring into the flask. "I think you've got the hang of this, Ziv."
Leo looks at M'shara in shock! "Good point... definitely when he's older..."
Ziv motions joyfully.
Riylli: "We added enough!" Riylli scolds while getting the bottle ready
Ziv: "It feels good to have the approval of a learned professional. Excellent! Perhaps next I can work on adding a grape flavor..."
M'shara checks carefully over the potion in the cauldron.
Silaena: ..Why grape, specifically?
Odile looks shocked.
Aislinn sidles up to Rising and Riylli's table and removes the vials of powdered aether. Definitely not because she overheard the plan to add more to the drink.
Riylli looks sad as her purple candy is taken away.
Ziv: "For flavor of course! Is there another fruit flavor that sounds more appealing?"
Nonoli: "I was creating alchemy fire in my room a summer ago, when Zoronado and I would go on our adventures. Napalm really saved our skins in more than a few pinches."
Aislinn gives Nonoli a look of approval. Nothing wrong with weaponizing what you need for defense.
Silaena taps her chin. "Blackberry."
Leo ponders over Nonoli. "What's napalm do?"
Nonoli: "It's like... an extremely hot liquid that ignites anything it touches. If you got it on your clothes you could leap into a lake and it would still burn!"
Leo is taken aback by Nonoli Noli.
Silaena Naellenar: Well, that's a marginally terrifying thing to be making in your room.
Leo Veldha bit his lower lip. "I think it's best Nolas stay far away from alchemy then. At least until he's much older." He cleared his throat. "Well all that aside, it does sound very useful." His ears perked at Silaena's words. "And terrifying, yes."
Nonoli: "I used every precaution!"
Ziv: "Oh...well that's a good idea as well. I will have to engineer a blackberry flavor as well."
Rising Lotus rolled her eyes at Riylli, trying to look all innocent as their crystals were confiscated. She gave the concoction one more stir before scooping some up and pouring it into the beaker until it was almost full. "How's it look. Blue enough?" she bent down some to inspect it a bit closer.
Nonoli: "There's all sorts of neat stuff you can make, with the right reagents."
Odile takes a beaker, a funnel, and ladle to fill the potion into the beaker.
Leo smiles at Nonoli.
Silaena: I think I'll stick with weapons and trinkets, myself. Alchemy clearly doesn't like me much.
Nonoli: "Potions of invisibility, elixirs of night vision, giantstride tonics. Potions of strength."
Aislinn: "Anyone have any questions regarding the state of their potion or about the recipe in general?" She asks as she sets the vials of aether on the counter and begins circulating the room, handing out papers "I have copies of the instructions here for you. Lewra and I will leave the set up here for you all to practice if you want. The clinic should have enough ingredients stored if you need."
Nonoli smiles at Aislinn.
Leo motions joyfully to Aislinn.
Riylli raises her hand again. "Is ours okay? It's not super blue"
Leo: "Thank you Aislinn."
Nonoli continued to stir the beaker to make sure nothing burned on the bottom of the glass.
Ziv takes a swig of their potion, happily accepting a leaflet. "Indeed, many thanks. This will be a skill I use most often, rest assured. No more bothering the clinic for simple potions."
Aislinn smiles and gives a nod to Leo before turning to Riylli's question. "Hmm. Let's see it?"
Leo: "Hey Noli, do you mind if I practice making some potions with you sometime? As a healer I feel like I should know more about them and, you know, not rely on my magic as much as I do."
Nonoli nods to Leo.
Leo smiles in warm satisfaction before Nonoli. "Thank you."
Rising Lotus "Yeah I've seen bluer. I'm tellin' ya it needs more blue." she eyed the crushed water crystals on the counter on the opposite side of the room as she was handed the paper.
Nonoli: "Of course! I don't... want to make anything in your house, though. Your beastly boy gets his greedy little hands into everything!"
Nonoli is frustrated with Leo.
Leo laughs at Nonoli.
Riylli nudges the bottle in AIslinn's direction. "I think we mighta just burned out the colour!" Riylli says, repeating the same phrase from earlier. She's clearly learned a new fun fact.
Leo: "He's a handful isn't he? But that's part of what makes him so fun. If you'd like we can move some things around in our old room here in Heartwood."
M'shara eyes the potion on her table. "A well crafted product if I can say."
Odile: "Indeed."
Nonoli: "Oh we still have our old room. Well... half of it. When we remodeled we had to fix the entire back end..."
Leo nods to Nonoli.
Aislinn carefully takes up the flask, eyes it and then gives it a sniff. She tilts her head, considering. "It's a little weak. Most likely boiled the mistletoe too hot." She hands the flask back. "It might be a little less potent than normal but it won't do you any harm ifĀ you drink it." She stares up at Rising over the rim of her spectacles. "It does not need more āblueā." She states definitively. Giving them a taste of powdered crystals may have been a mistake.Ā
Nonoli: "All my potions... gone... gone!" Nonoli clutches her head.
Leo turned his gaze to Ziv for a moment as he smiled at Noli. "I'll help where I can..."
Riylli: "Ha! Told you!" Riylli is a teachers pet. "Y'should be the one to drink it though. How's your wound doin'?"
Ziv looks over to Odile and M'shara's table with hopeful eyes. "Are you two going to finish that? The potion?"
Nonoli: "I'm just glad I was in the clinic when it all went down... if I was snoozing in my room I'd be a pancake!"
M'shara: "What do you mean finish?"
Odile: "Yes and you are not getting one lick of it."
Ziv is taken aback by Odile .
Leo let out a sigh. "That was rough. I nearly lost it when Coco was caught up in that. It was all I could do to stop myself from slamming my body against that door instead of holding that... thing down."
Aislinn hands copies of the recipe out to Ziv and Silaena
Rising Lotus: "It's not my fault no one taught me what a simmer is." she took the potion from Aislinn, temperature testing it by tapping the side a few times. "An' it's gettin' better, should be gettin' the bandages off soon anyway. Ain't hurt as much to move." she swirled the potion a few times before throwing it back, letting out a light cough as it was a tad too hot for chugging but she managed it anyway.
Ziv: "Denying a wounded man treatment, that is cruel..."
Riylli: "...How is it? Feelin' healed?"
Odile: I had to lock up the potion cabinets after your little raid in the Med Ward."
Aislinn glances at Odile and Shara's flask and nods
Ziv shows Odile his utter disappointment. "Yes and it was not very appreciated--! I have suffered greatly..."
M'shara eyebrows slant downward in concern. "Are you stealing potions from people?"
Odile: "You are wounded mentally, not physically."
Ziv disagrees with Odile. "Supplies from the clinic were out, I was merely redirecting."
Rising Lotus smacks her lips. "I guess I feel sort of less sore, not the same kick as a normal potion though." it needed more blue.
Aislinn: "Thank you all for coming and learning a bit about alchemy. I'm thinking all of these potions turned out fairly well. Nice job." She nods
Odile: "You need a shrink, not a potion."
Ziv looks at Odile in surprise.
Riylli : "Thanks for teachin' us!"
Aislinn gives Riylli a slanted smile of appreciation
Ziv: "Oh it's nothing like that...Thank you professor Aislinn for teaching us, yes! It is good to learn self-sufficiency."
Rising Lotus nodded "Aye, thank ya. Probably will still rely on others for it, but it's fun to know what I can do with crushed crystals an' fire now!"
Silaena nods. "Mm. Thank you for the lesson. Sorry for blowing up your crystals, too."
Nonoli smiles at Aislinn.
Odile: "Ms. North I would suggest locking up all alchemy equipment from Ziv until he takes a psych test."
Nonoli: "Alchemy should be a mandatory course for any mercenary! A quick sip of a potion can be far more reliable than a proper heal!"
Leo ponders over Nonoli .
Ziv agrees wholeheartedly with Nonoli .
Ziv looks at Odile and buries his face in disbelief.
Leo: "If you say so."
M'shara clears her throat. "We can discuss those matters in private."
Aislinn turns her attention to Odile, her brow lifting. She catches Shara's reply before she can move to question the lalafell's statement and instead shares a look with the other officer. "Duly noted." She replies neutrally to Odile.
Rising Lotus rubs her chin. "Maybe I should teach a fishin' course or somethin' for folks...not that it's hard. But some of the finer details, an' how to know what fish you should eat or somethin'."
Leo: "But regardless, thank you for teaching us Aislinn."
Riylli: "Can we go volcano fishin' again?"
Ziv: "Why I've never heard such nonsense in my life. If you'll excuse me, I have much practice to do with my alembic."
Silaena: Good luck? Try not to get too into drinking the potions, I guess?
Silaena fails to understand Ziv Zorasch.
Rising Lotus: " I mean, /we/ can, but if I'm gonna teach a class or somethin' it probably would be more pratical an' like, survival trainin' an' all."
Ziv: "Oh do not listen to those overblown reactions. There is nothing wrong with taking medicine."
Riylli: "Volcanoes need survival training the most!"
Leo expresses his worry with Ziv .
Odile: "If the cleaning crew and I go into your room Ziv, tell me we would not find used potion bottles everywhere in there. We got rich last time just from bottle returns."
Silaena : Hard disagree. Too much is a dependency, Ziv. Those are a weakness folks can exploit.
Leo: "Ziv, I don't know what's going on lately, but you should take care of yourself."
Silaena: But you're a grown man. So it's not really like anyone can stop you, either. Just be careful?
Rising Lotus: "How often do we end up there though? The one time we went fishin', an' then when we returned for that hunt? Probably more practical to have like...cold places trainin'."
Riylli: "THEY'RE COOLER THOUGH! Y'gotta go somewhere cool to get students interested!"
Ziv turns a bit red from all the fuss over him. "Yes yes, I agree, a grown man indeed. There is no need to worry so much over nothing.."
Ziv looks stumped.
Odile: "We fuss, because we worry."
Leo nods to Odile .
Rising Lotus: "I mean this was pretty simple an' we were invested right?"
Ziv hurries off with his leaflet before someone tries to tell him he can't brew any potions. "Why thank you, that is very sweet. But humbly I must point to my track record. In any case, goodnight to all--I have important matters to attend."
Ziv bids farewell.
Riylli: "That's 'cuz Aislinn is cool." Riylli says, before something dawns on her. "Oh! Gotta go grab my gift for her! Be right back!"
Leo : "Are you about ready to head home Noli?"
M'shara hums along to the music.
Nonoli nods to Leo.
Leo: "Let's get going then, I'm sure Zoro and Coco are waiting."
Riylli rushes back in and right up to Aislinn, holding a clear jar full of purple stuff in her hands. It kind of looks like a potion with how purple it is, fittingly enough. "Here! This is a syrup I made outta my very own home grown sweet violets! Y'can basically use it in any cookin' you do that needs sugar if you want a bit more unique of a flavor. Mana likes it in her tea!"
Nonoli: "Let's go see what this 'cleansing ritual' your wife mentioned is all about."
Odile gives Riylli a big hug.
Leo expresses his worry with Nonoli. "It's not fun..."
Nonoli ponders over Leo.
Rising Lotus looks over the paper she was handed, trying to see any recipes that would catch her eye to try this again when Riylli came running back with the present. Something then dawned on her when she heard Nonoli mention the cleansing ritual. "Oh right. Hey Lin an' M'shara. There's a little voidsent named Zilmat that'll be workin' in the library."
M'shara: "A what now?"
Aislinn looks up from her thoughts of Ziv as Riylli returns. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise at the jar. "Oh!" Something warm lights behind her eyes. "Violets. I get it. Can't say I've ever had the privilege of trying violet syrup." She says as she takes the jar. "Thank you! I'll have to try it in tea like Gāmanafa, then."
Aislinn stops and blinks at Rising. "I'm sorry, what? A voidsent?" Talk about whiplash.
Riylli grins proudly. "Good! The sweet violets are special violets because they're sweet, so they make a really good syrup!" Riylli states simply, before turning to Rising. "And don't you worry, you'll get my next batch whenever its grown, okay? Can only make so much at once, especially now that its winter." She explains, then moves off to the side to let Rising deal with the voidsent fallout
M'shara: "Are you entered into a pact with this voidsent or something that can control it?"
Aislinn hugs the jar close to her as she stares at Rising, her lips forming a thin, hard line. She's not thrilled.
Rising Lotus "Aw, thank ya. I'll find ya somethin' nice...but it'll be harder since it can't jus' be fish related..anyway!" she returned back to the other matter. "Long story short, Riylli, I, an' some others went to where that tomestone lead." she motioned to Linn "Was Jackal's hideout, an' with the tone of money he said I could have, half of which went to here to fix the place up, there was a little eye voidsent fellow that has to listen to me now."
Riylli: "I told her it was a terrible idea..." Riylli mumbles from off on the side
M'shara raised a brow at the last part. "It has to or -must-?"
Rising Lotus: "I think he has to. That's what the letter said anyway. He's pretty harmless an' a huge coward, think Jackal mostly jus' fucked with him most of the time, so things should be fine. Kept a good track of all of that bastard's books, an' liked readin' so seemed like a good fit."
Aislinn shifts slightly, clearly uncomfortable. She hated anything having to do with the void. Having one occupying space under the same roof wasnāt ideal. āAlright.ā It was not alright. āBut why does it have to live -here-?ā
M'shara draws in a deep breath then exhales slowly through her nose.
Rising Lotus: " 'Cause that's where the library is. Doesn't really leave it 'less I come get him, an' still sort of jus' hides when folks go in there. Still workin' on that, wouldn't make much of a librarian if he ain't helpin' folks."
M'shara: "What it is eating?"
M'shara: "Are you feeding it?"
Rising Lotus: "He said Jackal used to feed him scraps, when we found him he was eatin' coffee beans. So jus' normal food for his size. Nysc gave him some aether wine once."
Riylli looks back and forth between them, then starts scooting towards the door. She did not want to get involved in this well deserved scolding. "Alright, I'm, uh, off for now. Happy Starlight all!" She says, then poofs
M'shara was a hard woman to read but the way she ran her fingers through her hair was telling enough. "Well then. I suppose it will have to be taken up with her."
Aislinn lets go a perturbed sound in the back of her throat, wordlessly but vocally backing up Shara's questions. "So Nyscera knows." She shakes her head, annoyed, among other things. "Fine. I'll add some wards to the lab. The workshop. The clinic." She murmurs under her breath. So much for stepping foot in the library again.Ā
M'shara: "I can assist with your warding."
Aislinn tips her head gratefully to Shara. "Not exactly my specialty. You're probably better at it than I."
Rising Lotus let out pfft and a dismissive wave of her hand. "You're worryin' 'bout nothin'. I'll let ya meet him sometime, he's too small to do any damage an' too cowardly to try. Plus feel bad for the thing, Jackal was an arse to him all the time, bastard wasn't ever there for me an' left me an' my ma." she shrugged lightly.
M'shara nods her head. "Yes, I understand how you feel about it but smaller more cowardly voidsent also tend to be opportunist who will consume something larger than them at the first chance."
Aislinn: "So you're saying the thing has a reason to hold a grudge against people, considering how it's been treated." She points out.
Aislinn lets go a breath "I can't say I understand your reasoning, Rising. And I trust you but I also..." She trails off and decides against explaining her reticence. "There's nothing good about the void. I've seen that much."
Rising Lotus scratched the back of her head as she pondered what was being brought forth. "I don't think so. Seems happy jus' to be able to read mostly. Didn't have much stories back in cave after all. In the off chance he does try somethin' I think he'll be squashed pretty quick, but that ain't gonna happen."
M'shara: "Well, it'll get taken up with Nyscera I suppose. In the meantime we do have wards."
Rising Lotus: "Things will be fine." she assured them once more. "I mean, I used to think nothin' good came out of Garlemald, but then I went there an' there were good folk. I'm sure the void has to be the same then...jus' probably much lesser. But there are them voidsent that work for the saucer an' all, so there ya go."
M'shara: "Yes, well, I'd be more at ease if it was bound by contract like those at the saucer."
Rising Lotus: "I think the contract was given to me when he died, I can get you the letter to be sure, an' calls me master an' all, well did 'til I told him to stop."
M'shara: "Certainly. In the meantime I'll help Aislinn with some wards. Then I need to go get my beauty sleep."
Aislinn nods distantly, casting her gaze across the room. "Aye, that'll have to do." Inhales slowly, her thoughts retreating back behind a quiet, closed door expression. "Aye, I'm going to go ahead and start cleaning up and get back to work. Thank you both for coming."
Rising Lotus "Sure thing, thanks for teachin'. I'll drag him out of there soon so you can get a good look at 'em!" she grinned before giving them a wave and heading out the door.
While Heartwood prepares to face fiends unknown in Deathās Head Valley, another threat has started to make itself known in the Southern Shroud. While very few ever really venture to Urthās Gift, the occasional wanderers to the remote location have heard strange whispers, utterances of combat and challenges. Those who were brave enough to stick around after the mutterings, that have returned anyway, report of some incredibly fast fiend striking them, though no one has been able to describe what it is. If such rumors are true, such a beast canāt be allowed to wander into The Shroud proper to search for challengers. Journey to Urthās Gift to investigateā¦
Rising Lotus Stood in front of the cave entrance, staring down the passage as everyone caught up. āWhat is Urthās gift anyway?ā she figured sheād ask before going headlong into it to fight a manner of fiend no less. āThe few times Iām over this way they jusā say to stay away from it, but whatās so dangerous ābout it?ā she rolled her shoulders a few times before starting to do a few more light stretches, it was her first mission back after all >
Ziv Zorasch looks surprised!
Rising Lotus so she had a little apprehension about how this would go down.
Ziv Zorasch: "Why would anyone need to do that anyway--?"
Rhesh Amariyo: "Oh, you don't know about Urth's Gift? It's where Lady Urth sealed Odin. They say he still prowls the area."
Augusta Aventurine seems lost in thought.
Ziv Zorasch is deep in thought.
Reille Halleina: "Urth's Gift is a cave system and an especially favored spot of the elementals. It's a sacred place to the conjurers."
Augusta Aventurine: "Odin... Odin... oh, I think there's a scary primal that goes by that name. Or is it a monster?"
Augusta Aventurine seems lost in thought.
Zoronado Tatanado adjusted his belt and tapped his toes against the ground. Heavy armor is love. Heavy armor is life.
Rhesh Amariyo: "It's a primal. They call him the Dark Divinity. Dressed as him for All Saints' Wake a few years ago."
Augusta Aventurine ponders over Rhesh Amariyo.
Rising Lotus: "Well she didn't do a great job if he is wanderin' 'round The Shroud here an' there. With any luck he won't be in the area while we hunt for whatever is lurkin' in there."
Augusta Aventurine: "A primal... one again so soon? I sure hope we don't run into that."
Ziv Zorasch: "We aren't going after a primal are we?"
Ziv Zorasch looks surprised!
Rhesh Amariyo: "He's a man in black armour, riding an enormous beast of some kind, carrying a sharp blade."
Augusta Aventurine ponders over Ziv Zorasch.
Rhesh Amariyo: "If we're going after a primal, I'm demanding a raise."
Augusta Aventurine: "Are you sure they don't just mistake him for Ziv riding his Chocobo around the shroud?"
Augusta Aventurine laughs.
Ziv Zorasch laughs.
Reille Halleina: "Some say Odin is a cursed duskwright."
Zoronado Tatanado smiles at Ziv Zorasch.
Rising Lotus: "Didn't say anythin' 'bout a primal, jus' somethin' fast. Which I guess could be a primal, but if it is we ain't gonna fight it. Don't have the right gear for somethin' like that."
Ziv Zorasch: "Carmilla in her armor can be a bit frightening, though I doubt it was us."
Rhesh Amariyo: "I've always heard he was a hyur, myself."
Augusta Aventurine smiles at Ziv Zorasch.
Ziv Zorasch: "Whew...Yes, combating a primal would be far from sensible."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Ziv Zorasch.
Zoronado Tatanado: "Weeelp... I suppose that means I need to take point."
Zoronado Tatanado stretches his muscles.
Rhesh Amariyo: "Well... we probably don't have to worry about him. They say that when he's on the prowl, everyone in the Shroud can feel it."
Augusta Aventurine: "I'll go with you Zoro~"
Reille Halleina: the model is duskwright :D because my husband made us farm it for the gear and he spawns without his helm in the trial :D))
Zoronado Tatanado: Dirty stinkin gelmorrans we should have known
Rhesh Amariyo: neat! i'm still standing by what rhesh said, if only because she's allowed to be wrong))
Ziv Zorasch: "I shall watch out from the rear then."
Ziv Zorasch agrees wholeheartedly.
Augusta Aventurine: I know in the world he changes to the last one who killed him. ))
Rhesh Amariyo: yeah, whoever gets the killing blow
Rising Lotus "We're all goin' in." she corrected Gusta as she waved everyone to follow along. "So keep your wits 'bout you, don't want to get ambushed by whatever this is."
Reille Halleina: it makes sense for everyone to have conflicting stories. he's shroud urban legend or cryptid))
Ziv Zorasch stretches.
Ziv Zorasch: "Ready for action!"
Augusta Aventurine: yeah, and the fact he's a sword that takes over someone makes these inconsistencies all the more canon XD ))
Rhesh Amariyo: "Honestly, we've probably got more to worry about from the giant boars and flies that hang around the wetland through there."
Rising Lotus: theoretically he should be gone from the shroud, from when we fought him in carteneau))
Rising Lotus: Since the sword would've been left there))
Rhesh Amariyo stretched out a little.
Zoronado Tatanado draws his weapon.
Reille Halleina: "Look out bats. Watch where you step."
Rising Lotus looked out at the open area as the exited the cave. "Gods how is it still dark out here, think it was actually brighter in the cave." she glanced back to do some comparissons. "Not even a road or nothin' out here eh?"
Rhesh Amariyo breathed in the forest air. Her tail swished behind her. Though she was reserved, she seemed to be enjoying herself. "There's nothing through here but a spring, and there's so much dangerous wildlife it's not exactly easy to get to. Plus there's the Dark Divinity. Not many people come here."
Zoronado Tatanado seems lost in thought.
Ziv Zorasch takes in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air of this wildly overgrown area. "A place untouched by human activities. I like it."
Augusta Aventurine: "The air here is nice..."
Augusta Aventurine noticed a hog off in the distance. It seemed quite a bit bigger and livelier than what she'd imagined.
Rising Lotus | As the group looked around, they would hear branches clatter in the canopy briefly.
Reille Halleina breaths in deeply and listens to the singing of the elementals for a while. "There used to be some antelope paths around, maybe we can follow them further into the glade."
Augusta Aventurine 's ears perk up as she looks above her.
Zoronado Tatanado: "I believe this place is under some sort of spell. It shouldn't look like this otherwise. We should be on our guard for any particularly strange magick."
Rhesh Amariyo: "I can sniff around for antelopes, if you want."
Augusta Aventurine pulls her helmet out of her bag and puts it on. Always use protection!
Rising Lotus was looking at a big ol' hog in the distance when she picked up on the noise. "Hm. I think we should be fine...looked at a map before hand an' as long as we find that stream it should lead us further in right?"
Ziv Zorasch shrugs.
Rising Lotus: "Be ready though, with trees all 'round us wouldn't be hard for whatever this is to get the jump on us."
Rhesh Amariyo nodded to Rising. "Yeah, shouldn't be hard to get around, once we find the water."
Augusta Aventurine nods.
Augusta Aventurine ponders over Ziv Zorasch.
Augusta Aventurine: "Hey Zivvy, can you feel anything with your um... dark thingies?"
Ziv Zorasch gazes upon Augusta Aventurine in deep reflection.
Reille Halleina: "I believe I see an old altar on the far side of the glade."
Rhesh Amariyo: "... Huh. Weird. Didn't think too many people came here."
Rhesh Amariyo shrugged. "Well, on your guard, I guess. The place is crawling with beasts."
Reille Halleina proceeds to wander off into the glade.
Rising Lotus: "Let's keep movin'. Watch out for these boars too, look like they'd be pretty nasty if we got in a scuffle."
Zoronado Tatanado keeps a watchful eye over his surroundings.
Reille Halleina: "Ooooh, it's so sweet."
Augusta Aventurine looks around.
Rhesh Amariyo: "... Hm. This *is* old."
Rhesh Amariyo: "Wonder who made it."
Rising Lotus stared at the stones. "..It's some rocks."
Ziv Zorasch: "A grave of some sort?"
Reille Halleina looks horrified at Rising. "These are special rocks, can't you feel the earth aether?"
Augusta Aventurine held back the urge to poke the rocks with her axe.
Rhesh Amariyo: "I'd bet a grave. Too tall and curved to be any use for laying offerings on."
Rhesh Amariyo: "Maybe it's Lady Urth's?"
Rising Lotus "Nah don't think so." she held her hand near it, expecting it to be much more apparent then it was. "If it is a grave though we ought to leave it alone, bad luck to mess with 'em."
Rhesh Amariyo nodded. "Doubt it's got anything to do with our job."
Augusta Aventurine nods to you.
Rising Lotus | There were more sounds coming from the brush around them, scuttling over fallen stick and leaves. Everyone would really get the feeling they were being watched.
Rhesh Amariyo sniffed the air. "We should find the water if we head east."
Augusta Aventurine 's ears perk up again as she looks around. "Was that a boar?"
Reille Halleina gives the boulders and ferns a final moment of reverence. Then she starts to feel the creeping senstation of being watched.
Ziv Zorasch: "The darkness is everpresent here. If there is evil here, it will find no shortage of hiding places..."
Zoronado Tatanado: "I don't think so... they seem a bit spooked..."
Augusta Aventurine expresses her worry with Zoronado Tatanado.
Rhesh Amariyo twitched her ears, listening.
Rhesh Amariyo: "... Let's hurry up."
Rising Lotus even picked up on the noise. "You an' Rhesh would probably have a better feel on it than I do. " she squinted off into one of the treelines, not making anything distinct out.
Reille Halleina: "Shall we head further in?"
Rising Lotus nodded. "Aye, move on."
Rhesh Amariyo: "Well, here's the water. Urth's Fount should be across it and up that hill."
Rising Lotus hopped over the stream, looking into it afterwards. "Wonder if there are any rare fish in here? I mean if no one ever comes in here...probably lots of ones no one knows 'bout."
Augusta Aventurine gazes upon you in deep reflection.
Ziv Zorasch: "It is beautiful here. I would rather live nowhere else than the Shroud."
Augusta Aventurine: "the shroud is really pretty. And the air is always so fresh"
Rhesh Amariyo shrugged. "It comes at a cost."
Zoronado Tatanado looks at Phaia in surprise.
Ziv Zorasch: "Indeed...always replete in danger it seems.
Augusta Aventurine's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Phaia.
Zoronado Tatanado: "That's the biggest boar I've ever seen!!!"
Augusta Aventurine: "I bet we could eat for three moons off that one!"
Rhesh Amariyo: "... Count me out."
Rising Lotus | More noises, closer this time. Though their orgins were still muddled, as if they couldn't quite be pin pointed from one place to another.
Ziv Zorasch: "We should note this location for another time."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Ziv Zorasch.
Augusta Aventurine heard the noises but she was too mesmorized by the big boar to pay them any mind.
Rhesh Amariyo closed her eyes and listened closely, trying to discern anything she could about the noises' origin.
Rising Lotus looked around cautiously. "Leave the damn boars alone, come on...looked like it opened up near the top of them small falls...better than bein' in a more cramped area like this.
Rising Lotus: give me a roll Rhesh))
Reille Halleina becomes too discomforted by the unsettling sensation of being watched and the scampering through the forest, completely undetered by the giant boar. She reaches out with her senses through the aether to see if the elementals will warn her what is coming.
>> Rhesh Amariyo: You can hear the sounds a bit better, though still cannot pin point them.
Rising Lotus: Give me a roll Reille))
Augusta Aventurine is deep in thought.
>> Reille Halleina: You get no held in that department!
Rhesh Amariyo frowned and muttered "Too loud here..."
Rising Lotus: that's the fate music))
Reille Halleina senses the elementals are displeased with her for some reason today.
Augusta Aventurine: "I dunno... how much are we getting paid again Ziv? Maybe it would beĀ more profitable to bring that big boar home.
Augusta Aventurine laughs.
Ziv Zorasch gazes upon Phaia in deep reflection.
Zoronado Tatanado squinted his eyes and tried to find this anomaly himself.
Rising Lotus claps her hands before Gusta to get her attention. "Leave the boars alone!"
Augusta Aventurine scoffs at you.
Ziv Zorasch begins running calculations in his head over whether it was worth it to rush the boar--stopping short once Rising gave the order. "Nevermind."
Augusta Aventurine: "Oh fine~"
Reille Halleina: lol Rising))
>> Zoronado Tatanado: You'd catch a glimpse of something darting between the trees, though can't make it out at all))
Rhesh Amariyo: "Don't kill the boars. I'd rather our company not piss off the Wailers any more than we already have."
Zoronado Tatanado glanced up and almost saw a silhouette in the canopy. "It's above us...! Maybe we should move away from these beasts before it attacks?"
Rhesh Amariyo looked to Zoronado. "It should open up at the spring. Less cover for it."
Rising Lotus: "Aye, head up the ridge!" she started getting people moving, tailing the group once their boar gawking was over.
Reille Halleina lets out a happy sigh when they crest the last of boulders and see the fountain. "This view is almost all the payment I need."
Rising Lotus | As the group quickly made their way up the bend, they'd find the area completely empty, as if whatever used to be here was driven away by force or otherwise. "Hrm..it's quiet here...in a unsettlin' way." she stared down at the crystal at the center of the spring.
Augusta Aventurine looks around.
Reille Halleina: "I suppose those are unusually copious amount of water aether crystals."
Zoronado Tatanado: Insects these large would never survive the purging in real life
Zoronado Tatanado: *this large
Rhesh Amariyo: "They say those crystals are where Lady Urth sealed the Dark Divinity."
Rising Lotus: one sec gotta change my spreadsheet now))
Rosen Lafayette: (okay! heading there now)
Rhesh Amariyo: "Supposedly they're all connected underground."
Rosen Lafayette: (where is everyone exactly?)
Augusta Aventurine: South Shroud ( 32.5Ā , 23.7 )
Reille Halleina: South Shroud ( 32.5Ā , 23.7 )
Rosen Lafayette: (gotcha!)
Reille Halleina: jinx!))
Augusta Aventurine seems lost in thought.
Ziv Zorasch remains vigilant of the upper canopy--his eyes searching for any hidden threats.
Augusta Aventurine: "I'm learning all kinds of things today... who's Lady Urth?"
Rhesh Amariyo: "No clue. Just know she was a Lady who sealed away the Dark Divinity."
Augusta Aventurine may have been asking questions but her eyes were wandering through the area, her attention focused.
Reille Halleina steps down to the water, removes her shoes, and dips her toes into the fountain.
Rhesh Amariyo: "Now this place is named for her."
Rising Lotus drew her spear as she looked around, the sound of the water muffling any other noises they would have been hearing. " Damn waterfall..." she grumbled as her eyes looked to the canopy, then to over the ridge and back, scanning the area.
Zoronado Tatanado tries hard to concentrate.
Rising Lotus: "...why are your damn shoes off?!?"
Reille Halleina splashes her feet in the water. "It just looked so inviting, I couldn't help myself. It's nice and cool after the walk here."
Zoronado Tatanado senses something amiss with Reille Halleina.
Rising Lotus narrowed her eyes. "Well stop it? Here to kill somethin' not relax! Been followin' us since we got here!"
Augusta Aventurine seems lost in thought.
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Reille Halleina pitter patters her feet in the water some more, "Then it had better show itself. I might be able to get a swim in before the sunsets."
Rhesh Amariyo: "The fact that it's been following us, even though we're a large group, suggests to me that it's either afraid of us... or making a calculated decision to stalk us."
Ziv Zorasch: "The water does look somewhat fun to go play in..."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Ziv Zorasch.
Rosen Lafayette strolls quietly up the hill once he spots a band of people up ahead. He pauses briefly in his step, careful not to make a sound, that is until he heard someone shouting. It's then that the dragoon decides to make himself known. "I knew something was off, but even I didn't can't see what hunts you."
Augusta Aventurine: "Maybe if we come back for the boar, we can have some fun in the water~"
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Ziv Zorasch.
Ziv Zorasch nods to Augusta Aventurine.
Reille Halleina: "Mmm, there's a dragoon following us."
Augusta Aventurine is taken aback.
Augusta Aventurine: "Is it someone I know!?"
Augusta Aventurine looks around.
Rhesh Amariyo: "I don't suppose *you're* the one who's been following us?"
Ziv Zorasch looks at Rosen Lafayette in surprise.
Augusta Aventurine: "Hello!"
Augusta Aventurine waves to Rosen Lafayette.
Ziv Zorasch: "Our target approaches?!"
Rosen Lafayette: "Target?" The surprise in his tone is telling. "Hardly, but if you're so quick to brandish steel--"
Rosen Lafayette: "Then lets have a contest of might!"
Augusta Aventurine: "Oh don't be silly you... we're not after a dragoon."
Augusta Aventurine laughs at Rosen Lafayette.
Ziv Zorasch concentrates on Rosen Lafayette.
Rhesh Amariyo drew her sword. "Is everyone here in a rush to get themselves killed?"
Rosen Lafayette: "Death waits for no one, but my intention here wasn't to battle you folks."
Ziv Zorasch: "Oh...well if that's the case my apologies. I thought you were our hunt mark."
Ziv Zorasch looks stumped.
Ziv Zorasch: "Where -is- our target then?"
Rosen Lafayette is a bit hestitant to lower his lance. However, he makes no move to strike. "We hunt the same quarry." He explains before relaxing just a little. "However, neither of us seem to know how to find it."
Rosen Lafayette: "Laughable."
Augusta Aventurine is taken aback by Rosen Lafayette.
Augusta Aventurine: "Ah! But he's our mark!"
Augusta Aventurine questions Rosen Lafayette.
Rhesh Amariyo: "You're a dragoon, aren't you? It's in the trees. Jump up there and look for it."
Rhesh Amariyo shot Augusta a glare.
Rosen Lafayette: "Not according to me." He quickly retrots before giving the woman in red glance. "Is it?" He casts his gaze upward. "Ah..."
Zoronado Tatanado did his best to ignore the chatter, focusing on the trees in case it swooped down and carried him off.
Rising Lotus: So yeah you're going ot have to assume Reille is still sitting in my intro since it was taking to account what was happening when I pinged party the first time))
Rising Lotus: If I ping the party:
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Rising Lotus: Keep it to banter please and nothing too major))
Rhesh Amariyo nodded to him. "That's why we're here, where the trees are scarce. Force it to come to us."
Rising Lotus | There was a faint rustling in the canopy that slowly grew lounder, until there was a burst of branches! The droning of large wings could be heard as something flew from the tree tops to land right before Reille, water splashing onto the woman. Once she would get her sight back, she would be met face to face with a large vilekin looking creature, its large bug eyes staring Reille down as its teeth chattered.
Rising Lotus The creature was bigger than all present, hunched over but still standing somewhat like a man as it wielded a large blade. āC-C-Challenge! Challenge me!ā it spat in the elzenās face as it readied its blade. āProve to Odin! Worthy challenge! I am a worthy challengeā It had a very manic way of speaking, and it quickly swung its blade at Reille!
Rising Lotus: Give me a defense roll Reille))
Augusta Aventurine , being completely oblivious to any glares, quickly turned around and then drew her axe.
Ziv Zorasch looks surprised!
Rhesh Amariyo: "Hm. That solves that."
Rosen Lafayette: "Smart move." The dragoon mutters while keeping his gaze focused above. "But what shall you do once it--there!" He quickly grabs his lance once more.
Rising Lotus: Hunt in general discussion by the way!))
Rising Lotus: And unless someone defense Reille, she's going to really regret taking her shoes off))
Augusta Aventurine: can Augi try and defense roll for her?
Rising Lotus: yeah normal defense rules apply, you lose your next attack))
Reille Halleina: gonna start this fight with murrrrder))
Augusta Aventurine: that's k ))
Rising Lotus: Gusta manages to save Reille, but her shoes are not spared xD They get tossed about for now))
Augusta Aventurine was quick enough to react, quickly reaching Reille's side and pulling her back, away from the beast and out of the water.
Rising Lotus | The giant ked feinted back after the swing, using its wings to dash about quickly over the water. "Easy p-prey! Offering to Odin! Offering for challenge!"
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Reille Halleina gets dragged back and frowns as her boots get slashed in half. "Ack, where did this ugly fellow come from."
Rising Lotus: Gusta and Reile lose their attacks this turn!))
Augusta Aventurine may have reacted quick enough, however she was on one knee and couldn't react to the beast's speed. For now she could only brace herself and watch. (no roll)
Rhesh Amariyo: "Hmph, never seen a ked use a sword before. Didn't know they were smart enough to."
Zoronado Tatanado wasn't about to be dead weight this time. Immediately after it started to dart around, he dashed forward, keeping his eyes just above his shield in case the vilekin attacked him before he was close enough to swing his sword. Arm raised and heart racing, he brought his blade down with an overhead swing, going for the delicate-looking wings!
Ziv Zorasch dashes forward, making an agile leap over Reille and Augusta, swinging at the bug's upper right wing as he came down in attempt to hamper its flight capabilities.
Reille Halleina is too overcome at the loss of her fine boots from Idylshire craftspeople that she lays on the ground mourning their loss.
Rhesh Amariyo ran forward into the water, then paused and closed her eyes. Listening intently, she waited for the voidsent to get close before striking out at it, trying to anticipate its next movement.
Rising Lotus jumped back as the fiendĀ made its landing before Reille, nearly cleaving her in twain. She took the slightest moment to feel justified in her little popoff before, especially since Reille was unharmed, and then lept into battle. Dashing forward, she moved to thrust her spear into the beast's body!
Random! You roll a 516.
Rising Lotus: Gonna be honest Reille, it was gonna be a /random to see who it was going for first, but Reille was such a literal sitting duck I couldn't not go with it xD))
Reille Halleina: :D ))
Rosen Lafayette quickly rushes towards the rear of the fiend as the others decide to attack. He swings his lance towards the massive insect's thorax in hopes of egregiously wounding it. The icy spear he wields leaves a thin sheet of ice over the creatureās body that may momentarily slow its movements. Rosen then attempts to strike at the monsterās legs in hopes of causing it to stumble.
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Reille Halleina: these bugs sound like a vacuum cleaner))
Rising Lotus: let me get a roll from all of melee please (minus gusta since she's back some) ))
Random! You roll a 845.
Rising Lotus: wait
Rising Lotus: yeah do that I guess
Rising Lotus: got to get back in the grove of hunts
Rising Lotus Everyone manages to make contact with the voidsent, however it was able to parry the majority of the strikes with incredible speed. One wouldnāt think a creature with a body like that was capable of such sword play, and yet it stood with its wings unharmed and only a knick or two over its hard chitinous body. Hissing it feinted back further before zipping into the air, flight as erratic and zig-zaggy as an actual fly!
Rising LotusĀ It looked as if it was going to strike one person but would speedily dash away, the rumors of the fiend being quick were not understated! It finally would swing itās great blade with ease at Zoro, then Rosen, and lastly Ziv!
Rising Lotus: Ziv, Zoro, and Rosen defense roll please!))
Rising Lotus: Rosen manages to not get hit! Ziv and Zoro do however, Zoro worse than Ziv, and they both lose their next attack!))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Augusta Aventurine back on both legs with axe in hand, tries to wait for the right time to attack. Aiming for when the bug would strike, she timed her hit, jumping in the air and smashing her axe down on it, hoping to penetrate that tough torse and maybe even make it lose a leg or two!
Zoronado Tatanado barely saw the blurry foe in the corner of his eye, and raised his shield to defend himself; but the quick little vilekin struck around his shield and got him in the thigh, causing him to drop to his knee. "Aaaoough....!!!"
Zoronado Tatanado clenches his teeth in pain.
Rhesh Amariyo once again closed her eyes and waited. She knew she couldn't outspeed the voidsent, but might be able to predict its movements if she paid close enough attention. Eyes closed, she waited for it to move in close, then struck out with her sword, slashing at it.
Augusta Aventurine: "Zoro!? Are you okay?"
Reille Halleina rolls over and belly crawls back to the water's edge. She places both hands in the water and begins to conjure the water. She waits for opportune momement nad when Augusta smashes her axe into the sword swinging Ked she attempts to encase it in a bubble of water.
Zoronado Tatanado: "C-careful... blade... serrated...! Hurts a lot...!"
Rising Lotus had her lance raised to parry an attack that never came, grunting as the voidsent was pretty damn slippery. "Are you two alright?!" she called between Ziv and Zoro before her spear charged up with wind aether. It probably wasn't the right element for the fight, but there was no changing it now! She swung her spear downwards, hoping that the gust of wind following her attack would help ground the beast!
Random! You roll a 732.
Rosen Lafayette manages to dodge the incoming strike by jumping over its blade with ease. After all, he is a dragoon. He manages to flip onto the creature's back, before attempting to pierce it with his spear. It seems the dragoon wasn't kidding about taking this quarry on. He did claim this was *his* mark. If his lance is sharp enough to pierce through the monster's thick hide, then that would be a win.
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Ziv Zorasch struggles to follow the bug's erratic movements, taken aback as it brazenly flailed its blade in his direction and slashed his wrist. Ziv cursed and ripped his hand away, dropping his weapon and holding his wrist as it dripped and reddened the water with blood.
Rising Lotus: Oh shoot sorry forgot to wait for Ziv's post))
Ziv Zorasch: all good, didn't have an attack or anything!)
Random! You roll a 6 (out of 7).
Random! You roll a 6 (out of 6).
Rising Lotus | Risingās strike didnāt quite hit the mark, but it did cause Cystadloid to falter in the air. Rheshās strike manage to put another scratch on its left thigh, while the combination of Reille and Gustaās attack wouldāve cleaved its head in two if not for the quick block with its blade. The impact from the strike did shatter one of the creatureās horns though.
Rising Lotus As it weathered the blow, Rosen had the perfect opportunity for the back strike, managing to chip away at most of its shell before the pair of wings flapped quickly enough to blow the man off. With that loud hum of its wings once more, it flew into the surrounding trees. Everyone could hear that droning sound around, them, until it quickly dashed towards Rhesh to strike!
Rising Lotus: defense roll Rhesh!
Rising Lotus ā¦but it didnāt follow through with the strike, quickly feinting to slash wide at Rosen!
Rising Lotus: Rosen defense roll! ))
Rhesh Amariyo had yet to open her eyes. As she heard the ked turn away from her before she managed to strike it again, she snarled at her quarry.
Rising Lotus: Rhesh is obviously fine, and Rosen saw through the original feint as well and dodged or parried the attack!)))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Augusta Aventurine grit her teeth, the bug was certainly quick. She had to strike when it was focused on attacking, otherwise there's no way she could catch it in this heavy armor! She once again waited for hit to attack, making a wide horizontal slash between Rosen and Rhesh!
Rhesh Amariyo saw no reason to change her strategy at this point. Eyes closed, she listened closely to the voidsent's movements, then slashed out when it got close.
Zoronado Tatanado rose back to his feet and worked through the pain, keeping his shield arm low as he tried to swipe at the vilekin when it darted within his reach!
Ziv Zorasch growls through the pain of his bleeding wrist, pulling his sleeve down over the cut. He grips his gunblade in both hands and springs upward in a spiraling cut, attempting to carve out a chunk of the insect's back!
Reille Halleina: there really isn't a point to healing mid combat since we don't have hit points XD ))
Rhesh Amariyo: i mean, there's an rp purpose to it))
Rosen Lafayette manages to stab his spear right through the fiend's back, using his lance to pin it down for the time being. However, he doesn't stay there for a long since the others are coming to hack away at the beast. He leaves his spear there for the time being, willing to leave the icy lance as an anchor of some sort to keep the fiend from moving for now.
Rising Lotus was prepared to strike again when the voidsent took off, her head darting around as she looked from tree side to side trying to pin point where it was going come from. She readied her spear as she saw it fly toward Rhesh, about to try and impale it's midsection when she quickly haulted as it instead twisted and slashed toward Rosen. "Crafty thing for a damn bug!" she growled, wind whipping around her spear once more. She released the aether as she slashed toward the ground, popping herself >
Reille Halleina: I guess, I just worry combat takes longer if I am not dealing damage))
Zoronado Tatanado: Sounds like 10 year old me playing pokemon silver. Why bother with status effects when health bars go brrrrr
Rising Lotus into the air and over the bug, trying to slash at one of the wings on the opposite side of where she started.
Random! You roll a 362.
Rising Lotus: Yeah there's definitely an rp prespective to it, if you wanna heal go right ahead! Don't worry about effecting the time or anything, if that's what your character would do then do it!))
Reille Halleina pushes up to her feet and wades over to Ziv. She reaches out and grasps his wrist. She uses the water aether to speed up his natural healing processes and the wounds in his wrist close up almost as healthy as he was at the start of the fight. She winks at him "Don't drop that gunblade again or I might lose more than my shoes."
Rising Lotus: And you can use it for defensive rolls as well!))
Rosen Lafayette: ((wait, do we need to roll?))
Rising Lotus: Like Zoro will frequently taunt things we fight!))
Rising Lotus: Yeah the attack will count as the ice's effect slowing it down))
Ziv Zorasch exhales a sigh of relief as Reille's soothing magic closed his wound, leaving only the stain of red on his sleeve as proof he was hurt in the first place. "Thank you greatly! Rest assured, it won't escape my grip again!"
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Ziv Zorasch smiles weakly at Reille Halleina.
Rising Lotus The icy spear in the voidsentās back managed to slow down its wing beats a bit, enough where everyone else was able to get some more strikes upon it. Rising managed to put a notch in its upper right wing, though it wouldnāt affect its ability to fly too much. Ziv nicked a few more pieces out of the shell that Rosen had carved, but also caused the spear to fall loose.
Rising Lotus Zoro managed to hit one of the flyās spindly arms hard enough at the right time to nearly cut through it, Gustaās wide swing finishing it off and severing the voidsentās right hand. āAhhah!ā it hissed in pain before using itās wings to buffed the group away and dash baskwards.
Rising Lotus Head twitching from side to side and gross bug teeth chattering, with a moment's notice it picked up a ton of speed and dashed around the area. It would attempt to strike everyone with its sword as it flew!
Rising Lotus: Everyone defensive roll!
Random! You roll a 987.
Zoronado Tatanado: I should just stop bringing a shield to these events on Zoro
Augusta Aventurine: poor Zoro...
Rising Lotus: Zoro takes critical damage and loses his turn. Ziv, Reille, and Rhesh get his and lose their turns. Rosen takes a glancing blow but is alright. Gusta and Rising take no damage and have +100 to their next attacks
Zoronado Tatanado plays dead.
Rosen Lafayette: ((a glancing blow?))
Rising Lotus: a light hit but it's not gonna slow you down))
Rosen Lafayette: ((gotcha))
Rising Lotus: I'm gonna try and defend Zoro!
Random! You roll a 986.
Rising Lotus: yo
Rising Lotus: 987 thne 986
Rising Lotus: Before we get back to attacking did either of you want to defend?))
Ziv Zorasch is overwhelmed by the speed of the rampaging bug, flung to the side and into the water. Landing flat on his back with a big splash around him, Ziv groaned and sat up, his hand clutching at a newly opened wound on his right side.
Augusta Aventurine: huh, I had a 988. go figure, lol
Rhesh Amariyo recoiled, her tunic now slightly redder. She'd broken her concentration, and in a moment of fear, failed to regain it, clutching at her wound.
Rising Lotus: alright then! Zoro is not dead and Rising defends him from the strike!))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Rosen Lafayette knows he's a sitting duck out here without his lance, but there's very little can do about that now. The icy spear is deeply lodged through the insect's body, wedged in there tightly as a thin sheet of ice spreads from the wound. During the frenzy, Rosen is briefly glazed by the fiend's sword, but barely. The cuts he suffered upon his arms will heal, but the fiend's injury won't.(1/2)
Rosen Lafayette || Rosen chases after the overgrown Ked in hopes of wrenching his lance free.(2/2)
Zoronado Tatanado tosses his worthless shield away and grips his fanged wolf sword with both hands. "Never AGAIN!" He shouted, lunging at where the ked is -going- to be with a upward thrust!
Augusta Aventurine gave Rising and Zoro a small smile when she sees Zoro saved from an otherwise lethal blow. She halts her momentem on the ground and then jumps into the air. Spinning with wind aether, she stops and tries to slam her axe down on the damned vilekin's head, adding all her built up momentum to th eblow.
Rising Lotus tried for a moment to track where the bug was going, but the moving as fast as it was it was a tall order. Catching Zoro out of the corner of her eye, she quickly stood in front of him, her large stature drawing both her and his attack! With what could only be called luck, she managed to block both of the strikes with her spear, nearly falling to a knee from the strengthe of the second attack. She grit her teeth as she saw the others that had taken hits however.
Rising Lotus: Actually Rosen's spear fell out from Ziv's strike!))
Zoronado Tatanado: Zoro could literally just fight underneath Rising
Rosen Lafayette: ((it did? yay! he's gonna go grab it))
Reille Halleina recevies a slash across her shoulders and stumbles back and falls into the water. She can tell a wound is opened up across her shoulders and she bleeding into the water. She should have asked for the elemental's grace this morning. She lets herself slide further into the water and uses the water aether to summon a damage shielding veil of rain water on the party. She hopes the water aether coating them will turn in insect's blade just a little.
Rising Lotus: yeah, Ziv jostled it loose from his attack. You can use your roll for a more attacky post if you want!))
Rosen Lafayette: gotcha!))
Rising Lotus: Hmm, give me a roll for that shield Reille))
Rising Lotus: +100 for all defense, though for next time getting hit and losing your turn does also apply to healing actions!))
Rising Lotus: Also did Cassidy want to join earlier?))
Ziv Zorasch: dunno i invited him to though
Rising Lotus: Yeah I don't recall seeing him say something))
Rosen Lafayette breathes a slight sigh of relief once he lance is wedged free. He wastes no time snatching out from the shallow pools in favor of stabbing its icy blade into the Ked's side. He slashes his way through the beast, albeit sloppily. He's a little unbalanced at his point, probably because his boots are sliding across the slippery rocks.
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Random! You roll a 3 (out of 4).
Rising Lotus | Zoro does managed to hit the voidsent, but he only really cuts off one of its toes, while Gustaās mighty strike doesnāt hit its mark, it does leave a nastyĀ gash on the beastās thorax. āN-No! No NO no NO!ā it shouted and thrashed for a few moments, leaving it open to a few scratches to its shell from Rosen. Dashing backwards, it readies its great blade, balancing part of it on its now stump of an arm.
Rising Lotus After crouching for a few moments, it blasts forward! Blade poised for a mighty and swift strike, it was making a beeline (flyline) straight towards Zoro!
Rising Lotus: Give me a roll Zoro))
Zoronado Tatanado: Back in the game babyyyyy
Rising Lotus: Thank god xD))
Rising Lotus: It is one hell of a strike, but you come away unharmed from it ))
Rising Lotus: <se.4> !!![Attack Resume!]!!!
Ziv Zorasch uses the crystal for support to lift himself out of the water and moves over intending to provide some cover for Reille. With his gunblade in one hand and the other over a red spot on his coat, Ziv aimed, flipped a switch, and pulled the trigger. A slender crystal spike left the chamber with a 'thunk!', flying straight toward the bug's bulbous eye.
Augusta Aventurine furrowed her brow, she was tired of this vilekin trying to hit her favorite lalafell. "Hey you ugly bug, over here!" she taunted as she threw a mighty strike at it, getting in between it and Zoro., taking a more defensive stance.
Zoronado Tatanado was able to parry the strike now that he wasn't encumbered with his heavy shield. He sidestepped just in time to use the ked's momentum against itself, before trying to riposte with an upward slash.
Reille Halleina rises to her feet and raises her arms feebly wincing from the wound in her back. She summons ambient aether in the air to create a blinding flash of light in the Ked's many eyes.
Rising Lotus was preparing to launch herself at the ked before it could strike, but alas she was outmatched by it's speed. She clenched up as she saw the best dash towards Zoro, relaxing just a tad as he came out unharmed, the strike probably seconds from hitting the little mad. "Quick finish it off!" wind wipped around her spear and she thrust forward, giving her extra speed as she aimed for the crack in its shell that Rosen started!
Random! You roll a 526.
Rhesh Amariyo finally opened her eyes, just in time to see Augusta draw the voidsent in close. With a shout, she sprinted forward and leapt into the air, trying to stab at its head.
Rosen Lafayette decides to follow Ziv's lead and strike at the insect's other eye in hopes of blinding it. He arches backward as he throws his spear right towards its eye. While it's a longshot whether or not he'll be successful, but perhaps blinding this annoying pest would be the best way to hinder it.
Rising Lotus: <se.1> !!![Something is happening! Please keep to banter!]!!!
Rising Lotus | While the Kedās attack was strong and fast, not hitting its mark directly caused it to stammer after Zoroās riposte, his blade slashing the underside of the giant flyās chin. Everyone else was able to press the advantage here as well, finally getting solid strikes on the foul fiend as it was impaled, slashed, blinded and finally one of its eyes burst from Zivs shot.
Rising Lotus It slumped down before them all, limbs started to curl up as it attempted to grab its fallen weapon. āN-Noā¦I mustā¦challengeā¦Odinā¦ā and with that it lay still for a few moments before itās aether dispersed, the only thing left of the best being the sword, and the injuries inflicted on everyone.
Rhesh Amariyo sheathed her sword and clutched her chest, groaning. "Fucking... voidsent..."
Rising Lotus panted, with the speed of that damn thing it was quite the work out keeping up. She quickly stowed her spear, and looked between the party, quickly trying to assess the state of the injured.
Augusta Aventurine breaths a long breath as she puts her axe away. She turns her head. "Zoro, are you okay?"
Rhesh Amariyo: "Sound off, who's dead?"
Zoronado Tatanado ran his hand on his side and pulled it back to see his fingers soaked in blood. "Getting lightheaded and a little dizzy..."
Augusta Aventurine expresses her worry with Zoronado Tatanado.
Rhesh Amariyo: "Oh, shit."
Ziv Zorasch presses a button to fold up his gunblade Duality into compact size. "He's bleeding. Rather heavily, too. Reille, are you alright?"
Augusta Aventurine took off her helmet and then turned to Reille. "Miss Reille, can you help him?"
Rosen Lafayette: "No one seems to be dead, not yet..." He mutters before glancing over his shoulder.
Augusta Aventurine expresses her worry with Reille Halleina.
Augusta Aventurine: "Is Miss Reille okay?"
Reille Halleina shakes herself and casts a large healing spell over the party. Not enough to bring them back up to full strength but enough to stave off any light headedness and pain from their wounds.
Ziv Zorasch smiles weakly at Reille Halleina.
Rhesh Amariyo frowned at Zoronado with obvious concern. "Hey, you fought well."
Zoronado Tatanado looks disgusted.
Zoronado Tatanado: "No... no I did not."
Augusta Aventurine reached into her satchel and pulled out a couple of healing potions. "Zoro... you did. Here, take this." She said handing one over to him.
Reille Halleina sighs "This has been a wonderful lesson in hubris. For me in any case."
Augusta Aventurine hands over something to Zoronado Tatanado.
Zoronado Tatanado: "Maybe I should hang up my sword and retire to a life of leisurely fishing..."
Rising Lotus grimaced as it seemed Zoro had again taken the worst of it. "Aye, if you're alright enough can you see to the injured, or yourself first." she sighed as thankfully she was well enough to the task. "Hopefully that'll be enough to get us home." she turned away for a moment before looking back to Reille. "Aye! Don't you do anythin' like that again on a mission! Nearly lost your damn!"
Rosen Lafayette watches momentarily as the others gather around to congratulate each other. A faint smile crosses his lips briefly before he makes his way towards the sword. He stares down at the massive blade, his keen eyes looking for any signs that the voidsent still exists.
Augusta Aventurine kneels before Zoronado Tatanado.
Ziv Zorasch tries at cracking a joke to lighten the mood. "I suppose our victory means we earned get our own crack at Odi--" his trap shut quickly at Rising's reprimand and he casually slid out of the way from her ire, a sweat bead falling from the back of his head.
Rhesh Amariyo looked at Zoronado. "You're your own worst critic, you know."
Reille Halleina sighsn and waves her hand dismissively, "It's just a pair of shoes Rising calm down."
Augusta Aventurine: "Zoro... you did all you could. That's not the lalafell I know. Don't be down on yourself!"
Zoronado Tatanado lifted up the healing potion and cracked open a cold one with the boys.
Reille Halleina: lol))
Rising Lotus | The voidsent was long gone thankfully, though with that particularly nasty one out of the way, the lessers would surely be peeking their head back to their normal stomping grounds.
Augusta Aventurine looks around.
Augusta Aventurine: "Ziv, are you okay?"
Ziv Zorasch nods to Augusta Aventurine.
Zoronado Tatanado smiles weakly at Rhesh Amariyo.
Augusta Aventurine smiles at Ziv Zorasch.
Reille Halleina: "Any one else need healing before I take care of my shoulders?"
Ziv Zorasch: "I suffered a few blows from the bug's wild swings. Reille's healing has taken care of it, just about. For Zoro, I am still concerned..."
Rosen Lafayette: "It seems all is well and good here." He mutters before reaching down to pick up the sword. He weighs it within his hands, briefly studying it before deciding to take the blade as evidence of his kill. "That was a rather invigorating fight, but I'm taking this." He announces.
Ziv Zorasch gazes upon Zoronado Tatanado in deep reflection.
Augusta Aventurine nods to Ziv Zorasch.
Rhesh Amariyo reached out and very gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "You're better at fighting with a sword than I am. And you're definitely braver than me. Every blow you take is one that someone else *doesn't,* and the fact that you're still standing is a testament to your strength. Stop selling yourself short."
Rhesh Amariyo looked back at Rosen, then to Rising Lotus.
Rising Lotus took a breath in, face reddening as she held it for a moment, clearly none too enthused with Reille's answer. Her gaze shot to Rosen as they started with the sword. "No you're not, don't even know who the hells you are. "Plus the sword was like as big as Rising.
Zoronado Tatanado: "I used to be untouchable, you know... I would slay scores of risen zombies, grapple with giant goobbues, even butted heads with a chimera once. Now I'm a glorified training dummy these monsters distract themselves with."
Zoronado Tatanado: "Heh heh... selling myself short. I get it!"
Zoronado Tatanado laughs.
Rosen Lafayette will drag it halfway across the Shroud if necessary. He's trying to get paid here. "Introductions come after I've been paid." He states sternly.
Rhesh Amariyo frowned at Zoronado. "It wasn't a joke!"
Zoronado Tatanado beams with delight at Rhesh Amariyo.
Zoronado Tatanado: "It's quite alright.... I don't get hung up about that sort of thing like Leleni does."
Augusta Aventurine gazes upon Zoronado Tatanado in deep reflection.
Rhesh Amariyo: "And? It'd still be rude. That aside, if you're feeling that bad about all this... I'll train with you, if it'll make you feel better. I'm no good with a sword, anyroad."
Reille Halleina plops too hands on either side of Zoro's head and squishes his widdle cheeks, "Buttered the heads of a chimera, that's crazy." Then she heals his wounds.
Zoronado Tatanado ponders over Reille Halleina.
Augusta Aventurine looks at Reille Halleina in shock!
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Reille Halleina.
Zoronado Tatanado: "Butted, not buttered. I headbutt it with my big noggin."
Ziv Zorasch: "Mmm...buttered chimera heads..."
Augusta Aventurine: "Be careful Reille, pinching lalacheeks can only end badly."
Augusta Aventurine laughs.
Rising Lotus approached Rosen, putting her foot on the flat of the blade to pin it in place. " I'm not lettin' some stranger sweep in an' take what's ours. We'll split it but you ain't taken all of it when you didn't do all the work."
Zoronado Tatanado: "I don't think chimera meat is... edible."
Ziv Zorasch fails to understand Zoronado Tatanado.
Rhesh Amariyo: "... See, rude like *that* was rude."
Zoronado Tatanado looks around.
Zoronado Tatanado plucked his discarded shield up and set it on his back.
Reille Halleina isn't pinching, only squishing. Satisfied Zoro is mostly back to full strength she removes her hands and stands off to the side to stand in place to knit the wound on her back togther. It's a very itchy and uncomfortable sensation as the wound closes up.
Zoronado Tatanado: "I do need to train more... though I should get my side checked at the clinic, to make sure I don't have any surprises."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Zoronado Tatanado.
Reille Halleina: OH MY GOODNESS THUNDER. ODIN))
Rosen Lafayette lets out a huff once the overgrown woman stops him from carting off with his prize. He glares at her from beneath his helmet, clearly displeased judging from the visible frown upon his lips. "Very well, although I suggest a 70/30 split." He says with a smirk. "After all, it was my lance that pierced this fiend long enough to render it inable to move."
Ziv Zorasch: "More training? Allow me to help!"
Ziv Zorasch motions joyfully to Zoronado Tatanado.
Zoronado Tatanado: Homeboy is NOT happy we killed his bug boi
Augusta Aventurine: "Don't forget I'll train with you anytime too silly... but I didn't know you went -all- the way to the churning mists! That's why you were never at the Bed when I came!"
Rising Lotus: Nah Odin is pressure or something xD))
Augusta Aventurine questions Zoronado Tatanado.
Zoronado Tatanado nods to Augusta Aventurine.
Zoronado Tatanado: "Duty called! And I must answer!"
Augusta Aventurine's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Zoronado Tatanado.
Augusta Aventurine: "Oo! Oh! What was the duty? Did you have an adventure witih Leni!?"
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Zoronado Tatanado.
Rhesh Amariyo stood up and stretched out, careful not to move the gash on her chest, and looked back at Rosen. "We did all the work. You only killed it because we all kept it focused on us. We fought and bled for this, we're getting paid."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Rhesh Amariyo.
Augusta Aventurine: "It's our mark."
Reille Halleina gasps at the sound of thunder. "We should return to Heartwood or at least the caves. It isn't safe to get caught in a storm up here. Just bring the dragoon back with us and we can discuss splitting the payment from the Adders later."
Rosen Lafayette: "That's not how I remember the battle. Not at all." He's a little on the defensive now.
Rhesh Amariyo: "We'll be fine. The levin's nowhere near us."
Rising Lotus kept her weight on the blade. "You'll be gettin' what's fairly owned to everyone involved." she seemed unbothered by the thunder. "An' if you have a problem with that then I 'spose you have six of us to take it up with. Here anyway."
Reille Halleina: "I'm more worried about lightening strikes that primals."
Reille Halleina: than*
Augusta Aventurine seems lost in thought.
Zoronado Tatanado ponders over Rosen Lafayette.
Augusta Aventurine: "We... probably should get back."
Zoronado Tatanado nods to Augusta Aventurine.
Augusta Aventurine: "You'll have to tell me -all- about it later Zoro!"
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Zoronado Tatanado.
Zoronado Tatanado: "Blood attracts those ked thingies..."
Rhesh Amariyo: "... Primals?"
Ziv Zorasch: "That's quite an ominous storm brewing."
Ziv Zorasch looks around.
Zoronado Tatanado ponders over Augusta Aventurine.
Zoronado Tatanado: "All about what...?"
Augusta Aventurine: "Your duty in the churning mists! I wanna know were you there on a mission? Or was it an adventure! I wanna know!"
Rosen Lafayette lets out a long suffering sigh. While he has no intention on fighting them, the notion alone is tempting at least. However, he's not dumb enough to realize he's outnumbered. That's why he lets go of the massive blade for now. "Very well. Though, I won't be leaving your estate until I'm paid."
Reille Halleina: did y'all just see that ninja))
Rosen Lafayette: WHERE?!
Ziv Zorasch: i did i saw a little creeper there
Rosen Lafayette: WTF
Rhesh Amariyo shrugged. "You did work, you get paid. We're not so greedy as to deny you that... right?"
Rosen Lafayette: "I will curse all of your descendants if you dare try." He grumbles bitterly.
Ziv Zorasch: "You will enjoy it there! We have cookies at the estate."
Augusta Aventurine nods to Ziv Zorasch.
Augusta Aventurine: "Coco bakes the best!"
Ziv Zorasch motions joyfully to Augusta Aventurine.
Rising Lotus: "I'll make sure to pay you the moment we get there then." she went for the sword handle, hefting the big thing up over her shoulders. She could carry it but it would be awkward in some places with the length of the damn thing. "Alright, we good to move." She looked over her group, seeing Rhesh's wound on her last inspection. "You alright Rhesh?"
Rosen Lafayette: "...How charming."
Ziv Zorasch: "I hope there's still some left! I want mine with extra sprinkles and warm milk~"
Augusta Aventurine smiles at Ziv Zorasch.
Rhesh Amariyo barked out a laugh. "Yes, all my descendants. I'm fine. Hurting, but I've hurt worse, and that woman healed it a bit. Not as bad as it was."
Reille Halleina: how many fc's use <hv-rp>?))
Rosen Lafayette: ((...um..none that I know of!))
Rising Lotus: what is that?))
Augusta Aventurine: "Let's head on back! Cookies and milk await! You too Mister Dragoon! Um... what's your name?"
Augusta Aventurine ponders over Rosen Lafayette.
Ziv Zorasch motions joyfully to Augusta Aventurine.
Rosen Lafayette: "Rosen d'Lafayette, of House Lafayette. We're pledged to the High House of Durendaire."
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Rosen Lafayette.
Rising Lotus let out a sigh of relief. "Well good..." her attention was draw back to Reille. "Reille, you're helping me carry this thing." It was clear she could carry it on her own, and surely the burely Ziv would be a better choice. She stepped behind the eleze and put the back of the blade across Reille's good shoulder. "Alright let's go."
Augusta Aventurine: "Nice to meet you Mister... or um, Ser Rosen?"
Rosen Lafayette: "Ser Rosen, shall do."
Augusta Aventurine motions joyfully to Rosen Lafayette.
Ziv Zorasch seems lost in thought.
Reille Halleina 's ears twitch when she hears house Durendaire. But she marches over to Rhesh and plants two hands on her cheeks. "You were hurt and didn't say anything?"
Rhesh Amariyo stared at Reille. "... Don't touch me."
Ziv Zorasch: "Yes, and my apologies for mistaking you as our enemy at first. The help was appreciated."
Augusta Aventurine is taken aback by Rhesh Amariyo.
Rhesh Amariyo frowned, her hair frizzing up.
Rosen Lafayette: "You are forgiven." Rosen smiles. "After all, it's my fault for sneaking up on you and the others. You fight well, sir."
Ziv Zorasch is positively beaming.
Rosen Lafayette: "Honestly, most of you...fight rather well."
Reille Halleina rolls her eyes at Rhesh and heals her wounds then releases her.
Augusta Aventurine smiles at Rosen Lafayette.
Rhesh Amariyo immediately put some distance between herself and Reille, seeming quite perturbed.
Augusta Aventurine: "It's been a long time since I've used an axe. I didn't want to forget how to. That'd be awful... anyways, time for home!"
Zoronado Tatanado knew this stranger was referring to him when he said "mostly".
Rising Lotus wait a few moments before giving Reille half the sword to carry. "Come on, jus' probably need to get to quarry mill with this thing."
Reille Halleina: "ooof."
Ziv Zorasch: nini yall thank you :>
Rhesh Amariyo crossed her arms tight across her chest, seeming extremely uncomfortable.
Augusta Aventurine: nini~
Rosen Lafayette watches the healer with a hint of curiosity. It seems something is amidst here. "What is wrong?" He asks Reille.
Reille Halleina balances her half of the sword RIsing dropped on her, on top of her shoulder, "No wonder this thing tore us apart it weights a ton."
Rising Lotus was definitely still carying most of the weight, but Reille would be putting in work as well. "Probably a pain all barefoot an' all. But I mean, come on Reille, they're jus' shoes." she parroted with a snicker asĀ the two headed off.
Reille Halleina: "Of course you did this as I was trying to run away, Rising."
Rosen Lafayette utterly refuses to carry that massive sword. After all, they made such a fuss about him taking it in the irst place. They can carry it, hmph. "Put your backs into it."
Rhesh Amariyo: "What a charming man."
Reille Halleina lifts the sword higher, "Yes, I guess you'll have to listen to me complain about my poor feet the whole way home."
Rosen Lafayette: "If I can drown out the complaints and gripes of my fellow knights, I can surely ignore you."
Rosen Lafayette: "Now come."
Rising Lotus: "Already had to deal with an arse like him for a long while, hopin' he'll scram once he gets his money. I'll see you back home Rhesh, get that cut looked at some more, looks like Reille did a bit but best to be safe." and with that she started heading to Quarrymill with the barefoot Elezen.
Reille Halleina: "Did the bug crawl up his ass instead of dying?"
Rhesh Amariyo: "No, I think he's just like that."
Reille Halleina: "Oh fun."
Rosen Lafayette: "Less chatter, and more walking."
Rising Lotus: Thanks for the rps all!))
Reille Halleina: ty for rp!!))
Rosen Lafayette: Likewise lol
Rhesh Amariyo: <3
Rosen Lafayette: ((The worst part is, this jerk won't leave))
After hearing the news of merchants going missing there is one merchant out there with a clear enough mind that will be able to help Heartwood. Wellā¦as clear as you can get. He's not all there, if you know what I mean, and it wasn't caused by the incident he witnessed.
Vovocani Hohocani and his assistant Ayayate Ayate are here to help Heartwood find the answers they're looking for! Or so everyone hopes!
A'gusta Aventurine ponders over Nonoli Noli. A'gusta Aventurine: "Rika!" Rika Angura: "Ohey Augi." A'gusta Aventurine: "Um... are you Rika
Heartwood got a visit from the Twin Adders, Lt. Delacroix and Lt. S'vaso offered the company a job to look into rumors of missing merchants and see the cause of all this mess.
A'gusta Aventurine looks around. Ziv Zorasch expresses his worry with Rising Lotus. Ziv Zorasch: "Are you sure you are well enough to be h
Leleni and Zoronado didn't take their eyes off their surroundings after that ambush. They avoided flying too close to the bottom of the islands as well, lest they fly too close to another nest. Now it was just bright empty skies from here on out, circling back toward Camp Cloudtop to prevent getting lost out here. It wasn't until a bell or two later did Leleni realize her big hat was missing, lost during the evasive maneuvers Zoronado performed back there. Not that it mattered; the sun would set soon anyroad.
"What is thatā¦?" Zoronado muttered out loud. Leleni shifted to the other side of the ship to see what he was looking at. Instead of some new and dangerous cloudkin swooping down to attack them again, she saw twinkling lights on the side of a floating island; she pulled out her binoculars to get a better look, and her heart fluttered in her throat!
"Waoā¦!" She yelped, tapping Zoronado on the shoulder excitedly. "That's it! The Amu Amu flower!!!" He didn't need to be toldā he tapped the accelerator and steered the airship around, getting close enough to the island to scrape the paint off. Leleni pulled out her shears and snatched half a dozen flowers, dropping them onto the seat. "I get it nowā¦" She whispered while they sped back to the safety of the open sky. "We couldn't find any yesterday because they only bloom at nightā¦ and way up here, no less!"
"Good thing I decided to surprise you with this ship thenā¦!" Zoronado smiled, his chest swelling with pride. Leleni was elated, finding some seeds amongst her harvest that would prove handy with the special soil back at Heartwood. She placed her hands on his shoulder and leaned around him, planting a wet smooch on his perfectly round cheek.
"My heroā¦!" She beamed, watching him turn as red as Dalamud again. His heart pounded against his chest from his reward, and he couldnāt stop smiling. In just a summer and a half they went from respectable friends to inseparable partners, growing closer and closer to each other with every passing day. It was a far cry from when they first started exploring Eorzea togetherā just two foreigners with an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Zoronado remembered those days well; he was polite, courteous and, most of all, he kept his distance and they respected each otherās personal space. They may be close together now, even considered lovers, but the truth is Zoronado has always felt this way.
From the first time he laid eyes upon her maiden face during his coronation into becoming a fully recognized Bulwark Knight, he knew she was all he would ever yearn for: her soft, plump, and reddening cheeks, with golden locks cascading down the sides of her round face, and eyes shimmering brighter than polished jade. He was smitten instantlyā an infatuation of the woman he was being sworn in to protect that only grew stronger and harder to contain. Zoronado was torn between his duty as her champion knight and his love only a man could harbor for a woman. Acting as her shadow and being her sword and shield back on Kolādin was harder than he ever imagined, not because of the dangers beyond, but the struggles within. His heart would flutter every time she called his name, his knees would grow weak and weary whenever she gazed into his eyes, and when she would place his hand on his shoulder as they walked, he swore he would burst into flame.
Being hopelessly in love with Princess Leleni Nar Leni was agony. It was an acute misery that was difficult to describe, and even more difficult to ascertain. Deep in the depths of his soul he knew he couldnāt live without seeing her smile, without her relying on him for protection. It didnāt take long for him to decide to forgo retirement in forty summersā that would mean an arranged marriage with a woman he didnāt know and couldnāt possibly treat right, for his heart already belonged to someone else. Walking Leleni down the aisle to an arranged marriage of her own was a special solemn sadness, especially with the knowledge of what would happen next. When Zoronado was guarding the bed chambers as the princess and her new husband consummated their marriage, he was enduring a desperate and helpless loneliness he wouldnāt wish on his worst enemies.Ā
That was then, and this is now. If Leleni could contact her mother and get her father, King Fafasasho, to void her wedding vows, perhaps Zoronado would have a chance at true happiness. He wanted nothing more to be there for her in her every hour of need, with a devotion to her safety that transcended the bounds of his training. He was a swirl of emotions most of the timeā from guilt to greed, lust to shame, love to repulsion. Every fiber of his being told him not to pursue Leleni, for he was trained to close his heart to her, lest he succumb to his desires and bring dishonor to his name and position. However that was when he was a Bulwark Knight; now he was just a man.
āLove is the death of duty.āĀ
Truer words have never repeated in his head as many times as these. Yet even though he has been stripped of his titles and achievements, and Leleni stripped of her birthright and claim to the throne, he could not, would not, take her to bed. Every time his carnal urges came creeping up in the back of his mind, he felt only disgust and shame for it. He was a man with needs, that much is plain, but Leleni was more than that. She deserved better than that. He may no longer be a Bulwark Knight but he couldnāt shake all of his conditioning; he couldnāt allow himself to succumb to such weakness, not until they were married, not unless they were married. For now they would justā¦ remain closeā and that would be the end of it.
The ship was on its way back to Camp Cloudtop, taking the scenic route at the top of the world. The sun had vanished beneath the canopy of the clouds by now, plunging the sky into darkness until the moon revealed herself, with all of the stars to keep her company. āZoronadoā¦ā Leleni finally spoke after they flew in silence for so long. Zoronado blinked when she lifted up his arm from the steering lever and crawled into his lap. He was stunned and speechless, watching her with wide eyes and a pounding heart.
āI donāt know where Iād be if I hadnāt chosen you as my champion.ā Leleni settled into his lap and smiled warmly, staring deep into his eyes with a blushing face steeped in still moonlight. āThank you for always being there for meā¦ you really are my closest and best friendā¦ā His heart split in half and he half-blinked a few times. In just a single day he went from being precious, to hero, back down to friend. Friendā¦ thatās all he was to her, in the end. Perhaps that was for the best. āAnd I know I can be really difficult to be around, especially when Iāmā¦ wellā¦ angry and accusatory. But I wanted to let you know thatā¦ wellā¦ Iām really glad you got to see my face first, before Nonobiraā¦ with one word I could have had you executed for breaking one of our most sacred traditions butā¦ Iām really, truly glad I didnāt. Youāre a good man, Zoronado. The best man I could ever hope for.ā
Zoronado couldnāt breathe. He could feel the heat radiating from his face at her words, and once again he was getting blindsided by a mixture of emotions. He opened his mouth to speak but the words snagged in his throat. Fear of offense or ruining the moment constricted his neck and forced him to just stare awkwardly at her, but neither dared look away. Leleni didnāt say anything else for what felt like ages, her face completely red from embarrassment, with her eyes occasionally dropping down to his lips. āZoronadoā¦ā She whispered, gently cradling his cheeks in her hands.Ā
Then she closed her eyes, leaned forward, and pressed her warm lips against his own. Zoronado felt like he was suddenly engulfed in fire as time slowed to a standstill. He felt his stomach rising up into his chest, adrift in this moment he so desperately wanted to last forever. It wasnāt until the wind began to howl did both Leleni and Zoronado open their eyes to realize the airship was falling!Ā
āOuuughā¦!!!ā She broke their tender kiss to cling to him helplessly, while he scrambled to grab the steering levers and pull them toward him, leveling out the airship once again. Both Lalafells exchanged shameful glances at each other amidst their laborious breathing, with Leleni eventually slipping from his lap to settle behind him once again.
They didnāt say anything else for the rest of their journey home.
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