#thread: mission

[jehannandancer]

» i said brrr

non-mission task board: By mid-winter, the students at the academy are getting restless from being cooped inside for so long. The remaining faculty have decided to spice up the monotony by employing a few of the students to help them chip blocks of ice out of the pond. But there’s a twist: one participant will stand in the middle of the pond and work toward the outer edges while their partner works on the outside. Plan your blocks strategically so that the ice doesn’t give out and your partner plunges into frigid water. Didn’t expect a trust-building exercise, did you? [Grants Authority +1] 

As someone that grew up in the desert, the cold of winter is both a welcomed changed and a nuisance. She’s so used to the freedom of movement from her usual garbs, but if she does so now, especially when outside, she’d turn into a popsicle.

“Are you quite alright over there?” Tethys calls out to her partner in middle of the pond, hoping they’re not too careless. They’ve been at it for a while, and she’s safely by the edges, even she feels nervous as she chips through the ice. “Perhaps it’s time for a short break, would you like to--”

It was faint, but she definitely heard it, a crack of a whip in the near distance. She grows wary and takes a quick look around, searching for the source but falls short, too late to notice the cracks that have formed all around the pond. They were so small, but with enough cracks, the whole thing crumbles, and Tethys watches in horror as her partners soon falls from where they’re standing. 

She drops what she’s carrying and makes a run for it, hoping to reach them in time and assist, only to hear that sound again, only this time, it was much louder, nearer... And as she took another step forward, Tethys feels the ground beneath her fall, foot plunging down first, followed by the rest of her as she’s immediately greeted by the freezing waters. “--!!”

[sweettoothforhire]

» consumed by power

starter for: @muspellheim

Mission Task Board: The monastery is a flurry of activity as faculty hustle to finish cleaning and preparing for the flood of new students. Students who have arrived early, however, have been roped in to help and you’ve found yourself scrubbing walls and chopping wood while a professor watches. What’s more, there’s a rumor floating about that some deviants are spreading muck across newly cleaned surfaces… [ Axe +1 ] 

Not gonna lie, the power was overwhelming.

It started off as a joke, with him relieving one of the professors from their duties so they can take a hour long break, while he takes their place. It was plain silly in his head, boss around some kids, play professor, and boss some kids around some more.

The power was consuming him. 

It’s the defiance in their eyes, their voice, and their body language that amuses him. When he tells the ones gossiping to pick up the pace and scrub the walls a second time around or they missed a spot, they grunted, quietly gossiped about him, but followed him anyway. Right after, just as the first half finished, he asked them to get him some iced tea. They can’t say no, and a few minutes later, he received a questionable glass of iced tea, but hey! He got it!

“Just another half hour, huh? Who can I bug...” The gossips already went away and successfully escaped after the errand, but there were other students to pester. One in particular had the oddest hair he’s ever since. A faded out green for the most part, and right at the center, an even fainter yellow. It looked just like... 

“You there, Mangohead! Mango!” Imported mango, but mango all the same. She looked strong enough, she’ll probably be fine. “Too many folks are already scrubbing walls, the wood won’t split by themselves. Come on, chop chop.”

[forlornwyvernrider]

» to tame fire

starter for @dearmissmaribelle

mission board: The village where your unit is staying suddenly erupts into flames, but as if circumstances can’t get any worse, water poured over the fire dissipates ineffectually into steam. One of the villagers points out a hooded figure wearing the characteristic mask of a dark mage moments before he disappears into the shadows. You have a choice: go after the arsonist, or seek out someone familiar with Reason magic to figure out a way to stop the fires. [Grants Reason +1]

Ignoring your instructors, regardless of what history you may have had with them might not be the best course of action.

Together with a few others, Gerome ventured elsewhere, to a village he was not familiar with, for what they thought would be an ordinary mission. It was uneventful-- thankfully so-- until the flames erupted and nothing he nor the villagers and other students did seemed to work. 

Magic, he can only assume. An area he was not well-versed in. At times like these, it was best not to jump to conclusions and seek aid from those more knowledgeable in the subject. 

His co-students had run off ahead. Last he’s seen and heard of them, he heard them talking to another villager about a masked man. He’d follow, but there was still the fire to worry about. They came with staff and knights that could possible know better, one of which he knew. He finds her soon enough, among villagers that were hurt by the fire. As she tends to them with her healing magic, Gerome approaches the blonde and reports.

“Professor--” Addressing their former allies in war as instructors felt odd... but he follows through, “--the fire is spreading as we speak. Water does not seem to work.”

From a distance, cries of those trying to put out the fire can be heard, some still trying to insist they need more water, some prioritizing salvaging what they could. Gerome lets out a small ‘tch’, before continuing, “Some are already pursuing a possible culprit but the possibility of the village burning down before then is too high. We cannot ignore the fire.”

[sweettoothforhire]

» peguwus

starter for: @fortuitousflowers @lareinacordelia

Mission Task Board: Spring is here, and so are baby pegasi! The pegasus foals are equal parts playful and skittish on their spindly legs, and they need to be trained to be groomed and led early. Their wings are too soft and downy to fly yet, but they’re still cute! [ Flying +1 ]

Spring... bah. Spring made him sneeze a lot. A bad nose meant you don’t get to enjoy food as much... so Gaius had to be extra careful not to get any sniffles. Stay away from any allergy triggering areas, maintain social distancing-- at least, that was the plan until he got his hands tied with ‘duties’. One ear pulled by the the Mother Hen, heart pulled by the Mother of Pegasi, Gaius found himself in between the pegasi the Ylissean besties. Sometimes, when it’s just the both of them and they’re not in the middle of a damn war, the two looked like giddy school girls when they’re together. He’s like that third friend to balance out their mushy sweetness-- all while eating actual sweets.

He bumps Sumia, hip to hip, keeping it casual, discussions meant for another time saved for later. For now, this would do. “Psst, Stumbles. I thought you already came here with like, a hoard of these buggers, why’s there a bunch mo-- ouch, OI!” One of those said buggers bit his hand just as he tried to offer it a sugar cube. The hell’s their problem?! He’s being generous! He retreats his hand and puts himself behind Sumia, bitten hand waved around as if it will actually heal it. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

“Keep that one away from me, ‘delia, I swear to Seiros its out for blood!” He points at the culprit, eyes squinting as they meet eye to eye. You don’t want my sugar cubes? FINE. Defiantly, he threw the cube to his mouth and ate it for himself. That’ll show em.

[jehannandancer]

» mystic

open starter

Mission Task Board: A recent theory from the scholars at Fhirdiad’s School of Sorcery suggests that a person’s innate elemental affinity influences what spells they learn, should they follow the path of Reason magic. Faculty and students intrigued by the idea have gathered together to host an extracurricular period for the purpose of putting said theory to the test—even the less magically inclined are welcome to attend if curiosity permits. Fire, thunder, wind, ice, light, dark… Which one dwells within? [ Reason +1 ]

Magic has always been a curious topic to tackle for Tethys. She doesn’t have the book knowledge to back it up like Saleh, or Ewan, but it intrigued her. So much so that she attempts to learn what she can from watching them and trying to apply them herself through her own means.

Past experiences have proved she has very little affinity to it, but perhaps she was simply doing it wrong? 

The theory from the School of Sorcery makes her further curious as to what she could further improve on. And as a believer of fates, of destiny, and of spirits, she wants to know if she’s bound to one kind of magic. She feels silly standing among more learned individuals, faculty, students, and knights, but it matters not. She’s here to learn, just like all of them.

“I do admit... I’m a tad curious.” She starts idle conversation with a fellow interested soul. “I’ve always associated myself with fire, but it would be interesting to know if that was actually true.”

[jehannandancer]

» the damsel and the knight

starter for: @thelanceofzofia

Mission Task Board: If you’ve ridden one land-bound quadruped, you’ve basically ridden them all, right? A number of less conventional occupants have been boarded in the Academy stables; they look like they’d be more suited for a farm… or perhaps a petting zoo? Nevertheless, there is fitted tack hung up by their stalls, so they must be good to ride! Show off your riding prowess with a friend in a low-stakes race! [ Riding +1 ]

Horses were popular from her home country. It’s undeniable. Most were on horseback and when you weren’t, you were simply at a disadvantage. Tethys, being a non-combatant and solely there for morale and cheer, often found herself rescued by the many cavalries of the restoration duo’s army back in the war. 

Which brings her wonder... what if she learned it for herself?

She recalls Mercedes and her grace as she flew up in the sky. She both attacked and protected those around them and continued to be so mobile and flexible to what they needed to do. That image was ingrained in her head despite the blurred images that came before and after.

“But where do I begin...” She ponders aloud as news of more steeds reached her ears and she finds herself in the stables. They certainly looked different than the war horses she’s used to seeing, but certainly, they served the same purpose? One in particular was incredibly fluffy and hardly looked like one fit for war. Like her, she relates. 

Soft, white fur, a bit of a long neck, and an adorable grin that seems to further invite Tethys to give them a chance... oh, how can she say no? She stared at the equipment by their stall and hoped to put it on, but simply didn’t know how. “One moment, dear.”

“Oh, if only there was someone out there that can aid me.” It was mostly meant as a dramatic joke, the back of her hand even by her forehead. But as she turns to look around, she sees a dashing man, complete with blond hair, kind blue eyes, and an a demeanor that screamed knight. Tethys smiles to herself before rushing to him, eyes pleading as they looked up at him, “Sir! Sir Knight! Oh, you’re just who I need. Would you happen to know anything about mounts? I’m afraid I don’t know much, but I’ve been wanting to try it out, you see...”

[forlornwyvernrider]

» teetering on the edge

mission board: By mid-winter, the students at the academy are getting restless from being cooped inside for so long. The remaining faculty have decided to spice up the monotony by employing a few of the students to help them chip blocks of ice out of the pond. But there’s a twist: one participant will stand in the middle of the pond and work toward the outer edges while their partner works on the outside. Plan your blocks strategically so that the ice doesn’t give out and your partner plunges into frigid water. Didn’t expect a trust-building exercise, did you? [Grants Authority +1]

Gerome never minded the monotony of winter so long as he can still visit and care for Minerva. The wyvern seems to have adjusted well to life in the monastery and it helped there were other wyverns with her. Her rider, however, didn’t have much luck fraternizing. Apart from meeting with his old peers from Ylisse, the only times he bothers conversing with others was for assignments.

Now wasn’t any different.

He stared into the frozen pond, a flat line formed as he fears for the worst. He wasn’t particularly heavy, but he wasn’t the lightest fellow, either. Whoever would be tasked to be in the middle of the pond had a high risk of falling, regardless of how careful one would be.

He turns towards his companion and then back to the icy pond. It was either them or him.

“I’ll take the middle.” He declares, not asks, seemingly calm despite his worries. “I trust you can handle the edges?”

[sweettoothforhire]

» a crabby situation

starter for @keen-kin

Mission Task Board: It began with a crab with a knife. Monday night’s seafood surprise took a bit of a twist when crabs broke free of their bindings, picked up arms — kitchen knives, forks, utensils of all degrees of pointiness — and began a crustacean revolution that spilled out into the mess hall. Will you fight them back and restore order to the kitchens? Or will you lead them to glorious freedom? [ Sword +1 ]

All Gaius wanted was a nice snack from the kitchen. Normally he’d be ale to sneak out a pie or two, but what greets him is the sound of panic. He’s confused since there’s no fire. What other disaster in the kitchen could be worst than a fire? All those burnt pies and melted chocolate... it’d be a tragedy. 

Instead, what he sees are people hiding behind the kitchen counters, fleeing personnel, and... armed crabs ready to stab at anyone that went within 5 inches of them.

Gaius had to pinch himself a couple of times to make sure he wasn’t having a fucked up dream after falling asleep right after snacking. It’s the third pinch that confirmed that it was impossible and he hasn’t actually eaten yet. This crab revolution... was actually real.

“...right. I have nothing to do with this.” He’s about to turn away when one of the crabs braved the front lines and raised a fork against him ‘menacingly’. The loudest snort he could ever muster immediately follows and Gaius couldn’t resist crouching down to give the little fella a better look. “Well ain’t ya brave?”

He reaches over to poke it, but the crab quickly retaliates and throws the fork forward. Gaius swerves to the side, dodging as the fork passes by hitting -- or almost hitting -- a poor unfortunate soul right behind him.