#flderdriu2022

[thyrosus]

exit, pursued by dancers - & team purple

“THIS WAY.”

Time is a luxury neither of them can afford. The splintering of their party is an efficient choice, no matter how hastily made in the moment. Flayn is good company, and in better times they’d surely find the stroll a pleasant one. For now, however, they are locked at a brisk pace, footfalls over the bridge as Lorenz elects to take the lead for them.

It seems only right. For the future of the Alliance, he walks with purpose, at the ready to meet resistance and best those who stand against them.

(Lorenz is truly unsurprised that, when faced with the possibility of capture, Pendrell elected to flee. All his bluster and posturing about the importance of his work, and he cannot even be bothered to stand as any less of a coward than the man they both so thoroughly dressed down in discussion. A shame, really. Under different circumstances—one that didn’t see Lorenz and Flayn running across half of Derdriu—he might even be inclined to admire the man’s brain.)

Roll: 2!
 L12 —> N12!

“I would tread carefully! We know the man had access to a tunnel—of all things!—underneath his abode. If there is one, I would not be surprised if it is one of many.”

↳ @lilyfonded.

[ulirblood]

silverfox - team derdriu

it seems they were right to be suspicious of pendrell. some accusations and a corning of him later, he slips through the tunnel and tries to make an escape. they would not just let him get away like that! she doesn't waste any time, hurrying with the rest of the mission team to chase after him.

roll! 4 L11 > J11

along with farina and forsyth, she makes her way to the bridge with the hopes of catching up to him and stopping him from going any further. it seemed counterproductive to go where everyone else was; then it'd be easier for pendrell to give them the slip.

she looks over the edge of the bridge, wondering if she should just go for it and jump in. their enemy would have to be thinking outside the box wouldn't they..? still she hesitates, reluctant to get all wet just for nothing.

@viridescent-lance and @making-dough

[lilyfonded]

speaking through | team derdriu

The last time Flayn was in Leicester Alliance territory, the events that unfolded had gone completely disarrayed. She likes to think she is more prepared this time-- Stronger, wiser, better equipped. She wishes she could better enjoy the atmosphere that is Derdriu. Why, as she takes in all that the Aquatic Capital has to offer, she can only imagine the fun memories she might make if she were to bring her brother here! Surely he would enjoy it.

Still, the pleasant thoughts must be pushed aside for now. The Agarthans are no enemy to scoff at-- What’s more, Flayn is aware of their abilities, unnerving as it may be. It’s rather unsettling, but she cannot forget it. With the discovery of the personal guard for a noble now deceased and seemingly part of the Agarthans’ plans, there is no choice but to investigate all of their options. They must speak with those who know something.

She finds herself in a rather crowded room accompanied by Python, Forsyth, and Kris. She looks curiously at her group before turning her attention back to the cold and dark door. Flayn stands on her tiptoes to peek through the slit the door provides, speaking calmly and softly to the guard: “Excuse me..? May we enter?” The guard bows in response and moves aside to allow her entrance. As the door opens, she can’t help and realize just how small this room really is. The guard, too, questions the presence of so many people at once.

Perhaps he wonders if they’re all going in. She isn’t going to tell anyone not to enter! That is their personal calls.

Once Flayn walks into the tiny room, the witness seems to smile. Even if slight, it warms her all the same. She knows when a smile is strained and pained-- All Flayn can do now is talk comfortingly while getting the answers they seek. The green-haired girl herself has never been in this kind of specific situation but she understands what it’s like to be on the end of being questioned.

She grins and keeps on a happy demeanor as she speaks: “Hello! I do hope we are not bothering you, um..” A pause. “May we have your name?”  The girl twists her wrists and seems to take in a deep breath. “It’s Noémie,” she says meekly. Noémie.. What kind of stories does she have to tell?

@aimlessarchery @viridescent-lance @unsungblade​

[dameofcrimea]

Team Preparations Screen ⁎ Team Derdriu Open

“Alright, everyone made sure your dorms are secure for your absence? Spare spears go there, swords there, bows and quivers here... Check your personal equipment one more tim— what do you mean you don’t know where your horse is? You over there, don’t just stand around, help him look for it!”

Titania holds back a sigh. Either the fame of the Knights of Seiros is exaggerated, or some of them simply are not taking the mission as seriously as they should be. Or perhaps both. Either way, it makes her wonder.

With that first bit of mess handled at least for the time being, she turns to the group of students and professors she will be accompanying. Even the Archbishop herself is among them, so this might be interesting... but still, not a single familiar face for her.

Oh well, this is no new experience for a mercenary. And so, she smiles as she extends her greeting.

“Ahem. My name is Titania, one of the knights here at Garreg Mach who will be going with you on this mission. It’s an honor to meet you all, and I hope to be of assistance. Let us take a moment to get to know each other and wrap up the final preparations before we set off.”

[aimlessarchery]

// POV you are Pendrell and round 4 just started

[ljosalir]

kill ‘em with kindess - & team 1

          it’s inevitable, their choice.  sharena knew this.  she knew that the choice wouldn’t be easy to take in at first.  but it isn’t the distaste that settles first, it’s the sheer disbelief and fright that sinks into the realization that she had been in the agarthan’s house   —   let alone tunnel.  the arrest isn’t made; pendrell shows nothing but retaliation in his escape.   (   there it is.  the nasty feeling she gets when his name is ever so mentioned.  what is this?   )

          they don’t have the time to race back to the tunnel to follow him   —   even if they did, it’d be a situation similar to walking blind in enemy territory.  so, the group sets off toward the warehouse district of derdriu.  yet it’s clear that sticking together won’t prove to benefit their attempt at lessening the playing field.

          sharena frowns and turns to look at the companions nearest to her; kris and titania,   “   we should keep moving forward.  look, if you want to head a different way, then follow a different person.   ”   but her reaction to her own voice   (   as if the words she spat out where not hers.  shock and uncertainty pulling at the muscles of her face.   )   sharena pauses for a moment before smiling apologetically.   “   but remember to stick to someone!  i don’t want either of you guys getting hurt.  and uh... i’ll be open-minded to possible options in path choosing.   ”

          she shouldn’t be this affected by the obvious threat that pendrell is.  but she’d be lying if she said that she didn’t think about befriended the guy... well, it’s no use mulling over it now.  pendrell isn’t pendrell.

          with a turn of her heel and fingers ready to grab her lance if needed, sharena strides forward.  nervous steps.  small and clearly lacking much confidence.  she steps off the bridge and, hearing nothing, glances back at kris and titania.

          “   make sure to keep up!   ”

for @dameofcrimea & @unsungblade

[prodigyofrenais]

where evil grows | derdriu

Death did little to deter Lute, that was why she volunteered to examine the crime scene. Really, she could have done it all on her own, but they insisted they follow her. So long as they didn’t get in her way, she didn’t really see the harm in it all.

“...Let me get a closer look.” Lute kneels, hands trailing up and down the body as she looks for anything out of the ordinary. “Do you know what happened,” she calls to the guard who escorted them, lifting the arms and checking the back and front. "One of the servants that work over by the Roundtable apparently found some creep hovering over this guy," the guard explains. "Her scream scared 'em off, but we haven't gotten far in trackin' 'em down..."

Interesting. So whoever did this probably didn’t finish the job completely-- perhaps. It wasn’t something she could confirm just yet, but it was a decent conjecture. 

“What would they need to peel his skin off for? They were obviously doing more than just killing him-- it’s like he was being prepared for something.” Standing up, Lute brushes off her skirt before turning to the rest of her group. “He also has either internal injuries, or there was trauma on the inside of his mouth. I couldn’t see without taking a closer look.”

@ashenprofessor @aubins @aurheatum @making-dough 

[viridescent-lance]

Python leans against the entryway of the knight's hall, diligently 'supervising' as his partner bustles about sorting and packing various weaponry and supplies for the trip to Derdriu. It's a bit nostalgic watching him buzz with all that nervous energy before a mission. Just like old times, except they're on a different continent, working for different folks, and have spent a longer time apart lately than they had for nearly their whole lives, give or take about a week ago.

He sighs, eyes turning upward and catching a stray sprig of mistletoe dangling from the archway. One of them dodged the cleanup after the big kissing spree, huh? He smirks, grabbing at Forsyth's arm as he passes and pointing upward.

"Hey, check it out. Looks like we're due for a good luck kiss?" He taps his own cheek expectantly, grinning like a fool.

(🎄, technically ;p)

“Huh?” Forsyth registers the situation just as he has crossed the boundary of no return, mistletoe dangling directly above his head. "Ah. W-well. As we are in Fodlan, we should follow their traditions…”

Forsyth had endured several kisses over the course of the holiday season; technically, they were optional if he was really uncomfortable with it, but it’s just a kiss. You can kiss a hand or even blow a kiss, if so inclined. Python wouldn’t make him do this if he didn’t want to.

That’s the problem though. Forsyth does want to. A little more than he probably should. They’ve never actually kissed before, not mouth-to-mouth–not that Forsyth is planning on doing that, this seems to be a cheek-kiss situation! But still, they rarely have shared hand-kisses or cheek-kisses, even. Casual touch, yes, affectionate touch. But kisses have been a barrier they haven’t breached much.

What are they to each other?

He walks straight up to Python, standing eye to eye. Well, as close as they can, Python’s always had a height advantage. He takes a deep breath, and…

Realizes he is still holding some supplies. This will not do; he excuses himself, places the supplies in their correct containers, and returns. Okay. This time.

Python’s still got that big, doofy grin on his face, though there’s a faint red dusted on his cheeks. Maybe it’s from the laugh he had about Forsyth’s supplies mishap. Maybe it’s the fact that Forsyth is very, very close, and their faces are so close together. And–

Forsyth swallows. He’s stopped just before Python’s cheek. Probably. He hasn’t opened his eyes yet. This is a tradition and Python’s being funny about it why is he making it so awkward. It’s a kiss! It’s a kiss…just do it correctly. But not with too much behind it, it doesn’t need to be any more charged than it already is, Forsyth doesn’t want to push the issue of What They Are. But also he doesn’t want to do it without any emotion at all, that’d just ruin the spirit.