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SolusLupus Since: Apr, 2013
#51: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:18:20 PM

Packing up Breakfast

Iyo nodded towards Rosa. "Indeed I do mother, in fact..." He pulled off the bacon he had just put on none too long ago and placed it on a plate for her. "I was already preparing it. Nice and fresh."

He then proceeded to smile as he provided Mira with sustenance, and eyed the woman feeding her bag with a curious and exasperated expression. He had noticed the woman taking extra food, and figured she probably had her reasons. But, of course if she started taking more than was reasonable... Or if she tracked crumbs inside the tents...

edited 24th Jan '17 9:42:12 PM by SolusLupus

TheRealWren Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or. from I...honestly have no idea. Since: Jan, 2011
Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or.
#52: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:22:12 PM

Trevor nodded in agreement with Suza. "Exactly." He pauses for a moment. "Well, that's if the person we're looking for has unfortunately perished, like the family who's fielded the request, we don't exactly know for sure until we go."

Glancing over at Afar, the young man gave a small nod in agreement.

Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.
wikkit Since: Sep, 2009
#53: Jan 24th 2017 at 9:40:24 PM

Dragon Camp
It only took a sigh for Itellia to recoil in embarrassment, so every word and glance in her direction afterward only managed to make her break down a little bit more. "Of course, s-sorry Commander. Didn't mean it like that..." she shakily explained as she looked down towards her breakfast.

Curses! A blight upon every nation under the sky and every heaven above them! For all the talk of these folk being professional mercenaries, they sure had some issue with morality! Every time she thought she was getting along fine, she'd end up saying something like that, or just trailing off before she finished her sentence...

She wanted to curse them for her failings, but that was probably her own fault.

Well...staring at your food isn't gonna fix it. She had an idea that was probably a terrible one, but she could save face with it. Itellia looked to the Commander and gulped, but suddenly sounded a bit more confident as she said "I'll v-v-volunteer for that last job. I know my way around the wilderness well, and if someone's gonna be looking in the woods for a...person...it won't hurt to have an expert..."

If it was crowds like this that got her acting up, maybe a small group would fix that.

Izshta The Flamebringer from Mor Ardain Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
The Flamebringer
#54: Jan 24th 2017 at 10:05:44 PM

Dragons' Camp
Victoria walked back into the center of camp, continuing with her preternatural ability to know when her input is wanted. She cast a glance around the camp. "I'll take... You, Brand, or Wolfgang, fire stops trolls' regeneration..." She trailed off, thinking about who else. "Beyond that, two or three other volunteers. Safety in numbers, but more than that and numbers will start to hurt rather than help, confined spaces and all." She crossed her arms, deeming that acceptable.

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.
UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#55: Jan 24th 2017 at 11:36:53 PM

Camp, Morning Tea

Soseki calmly sipped his tea, slightly embarrassed at his blunder in calling Talia 'Madam'. Three years of this and he had made that simple mistake again.

"Err, right Commander. Appears I'm still more drowsy than I thought. My apologies."

When Morgana spoke about the lich rumours being nothing but a myth, Soseki took another sip. Of course, he himself knew personally that sometimes a myth really was true.

"Right. How many times does a myth ever come up and never turn out to be true? Better to expect the unexpected than to be caught off-guard."

His face flinched a bit in annoyance at Trevor implying that he wouldn't be up to the job. Yes, he had perhaps not had one of the best awakenings...

"I'll be fine...Trevor, was it? It'll take a lot more than a bad night's rest to keep a Biamonte down. It's nothing. I just miss the proper bed I had at the Manor sometimes."

As he read through the list of jobs, his eyes fell on the missing person report. Of course, he didn't care for how much it was paying, and someone had to do it. As with the commander, he didn't feel easy just outright refusing it.

"I could go look for the girl. After all, how much it pays doesn't really mean much to me. I'd rather do something that would gain the Biamonte name...and the Red Dragons of course, some goodwill. At the very least, it will earn us some goodwill, and it may just pay off in the long run."

Aquatica1000 Since: Oct, 2012
#56: Jan 24th 2017 at 11:47:38 PM

Talking with Barkley

"Apologies, Barkley," Georgia responded, trying to calm. "I hadn't meant to act like it was no big deal. It's just... well, you saw how Talia reacted when she heard that."

Mission time!

"I'll do my best, Miss Natalia," Georgia responded, standing at ready.

GrimHelm Sumanai Man from Somewhere Out There Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Sumanai Man
#57: Jan 24th 2017 at 11:59:56 PM

ISylphid Forest: Camp

The commander smiled as Rouncy, Georgia and Suzu accepted the request.

"Thank you all. I know that this isn't typical mercenary work, but..." she trailed off, not knowing how to phrase her thought.

Thank you for humoring my sentimentality was not something the Commander should say, after all.

When Afar spoke, Natalia nodded.

"If you wish to, Sir. I suppose with you there, we have nothing to fear."

Then, to Itellia, the commander shook her head.

"No. I might be sentimental, but I am unwilling to spend more resources than what's needed on that mission. Itellia, I want you to stay."

"That goes for you too, Soseki."

At Tams's proclamation, Talia frowned.

"I suppose that means that bandits really are raidibg Tria. That might be a job for us. However, Tria is notoriously...reclusive for such a large town."

When Victoria gave her analysis, Talia nodded, a thoughtful frown appearing on her face.

"....Take Wolfgang. He has the most firepower, so to speak and my spells are not something we want to use in a closed area. Besides, Tams and I are needed in town to speak with the merchant."

Then, she turned towards her foster mother.

"Mother, you asked me if I had anything for you....I'd feel a lot better if you backed them up. You can decline, of course."

She spoke to the remaining Dragons. "Two more for the mines! Who wants to hunt trolls?"


Later: Sylphid Forest, the road to Wurd, the seventh hour

The Dragons marched east towards the town of Wurd, some on horses, others on foot.

Among the Dragons's possessions were three large horse-drawn wagons, two of which were for supplies and the third as a makeshift armory of sorts.

Natalia herself road on her beloved mare Lum, a gift from her father. She was a sturdy beast and a beautiful white color.

At that moment, Natalia and Lum at the head of the march suddenly stopped. The commander raised a hand to signal everyone to halt.

Natalia was scowling, and the flickering of her Fire prana glowed red around her.

"Feels like...magic." the commander grit out.

And sure enough, the Spellweavers among the Dragons could feel an ominous mystic cloud around the path, as if weighing them down. There was a feeling of something watching and a strange rotting smell.

Even those who had no affinity for Spellweaving could feel an unnatural chill all around them.

edited 25th Jan '17 12:03:44 AM by GrimHelm

Nothing is what it seems. Master of Shipping and Sadism.
opnerf Since: Sep, 2010
#58: Jan 25th 2017 at 12:41:29 AM

Sylphid Forest: Campsite

"Hallo, sir Wolfgang!" Mira said.

Mira accepted Iyo's rations gracefully. She then sat off by the side nearby, making a genuine effort to absorb food through her "mouth" so as to appear normal and not freak anyone out.

Leaflet in hand, Mira glanced over it and listened as roles were quickly decided.


Sylphid Forest: Road to Wurd

Mira rode atop the first supply wagon. She couldn't ever fall, and she weighed next to nothing. Mira perked up, tearing her eyes away from her book to say something.

"Hey, I've got another joke," she said. "It's a good one this time—"

She stopped and snapped to attention. There was something in the air. Mira hopped down from the wagon and quickly humanized her appearance. You never knew who you could run into on the road to a major town.

"I feel it," Mira said. "Give me a second and I'll find it."

Mira clapped her hands together and cast hygroreception Prana into the water vapor in the air. Soon, she could feel out the shapes of the trees and hopefully whatever was stalking them. Mira whirled around, looking for the source of the ominous feeling, a somewhat nervous grin forming on her face.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are..."

edited 25th Jan '17 7:52:03 AM by opnerf

Insano Mad Pinoy from At my laptop, refusing to waste time Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
Mad Pinoy
#59: Jan 25th 2017 at 6:04:16 AM

Camp

Brand nodded and raised his hand in reply to his leader's request. "I can hunt trolls, if you don't think I'm needed anywhere else."


Road

Brand grimaced at the unnatural smell hanging over them, scanning the area from his horse for anything or anyone targeting the Red Dragons from faraway. If he could get a clear shot, they would get blown away by his long-range magical firepower.

Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...
ctrl_alt_deliiiight Dump Stat from where memes go to die Since: Jan, 2017
Dump Stat
#60: Jan 25th 2017 at 6:38:21 AM

Camp

"Troll hunting, eh? Count me in!" Wolfgang said after he heard the commander mention his name

He then made his way to Mira

"As I vas saying, You've been here a year now. You've been really impressing me vith how fast you've been learning and improving, so I'd like to make a deal. If you impress me like zat during our next deployment,..."

Wolfgang pushes the left side of his cloak away, opens the shoulder-slung bag, and pulls out his special tome

"You can borrow zis. It is a standard-issue Imperial drill book. But zis vun has several decades vorth of notes in ze margins."

Road

Wolfgang felt the ominous presence, and his expression darkened.

"Somevun's lurking here..."

His black stallion, Branton, a bit long in the tooth like his rider, did not have the bravery of most of the horses and riders in the company. He began to panic.

"Whoa zere, Branton. Calm down." Wolfgang said as he patted the old horse on the mane.

edited 25th Jan '17 7:34:43 AM by ctrl_alt_deliiiight

REMOVE SOY LATTE remove soy latte you are worst hipster. you are the hipster idiot you are the hipster smell. return to portlandia.
opnerf Since: Sep, 2010
#61: Jan 25th 2017 at 7:55:27 AM

Sylphid Forest: Campsite

It took a second for Mira to remember she needed to reshape her face to express her reverence of a tome that seemed to give off the smell of knowledge. She might have gone a little too far with the sparkle in her eyes. Mira nodded her head excitedly.

"I'll do my best!" she said.

Mira hurriedly absorbed the last of her food straight through her hand. She stood and saluted Talia.

"Commander Talia!" she said. "I started reading Tactics of the Free Peoples' Army and The Art of Subterfuge—I feel pretty good about my chances! Where do you want my skills?"

guyshane Combat mode, engage Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Combat mode, engage
#62: Jan 25th 2017 at 9:27:59 AM

Road to Wurd

Morgana looked around from her place on the wagon train. "Amateurs. First rule of ambush is not to give yourself away." She said with a scoff. There was a brief darkening around her and a second figure stood next her, looking like Morgana's shadow had stood up off the ground. "Go find them, let's end this quickly." She ordered.

The shadow nodded. Then it leapt into the tree branches nearby, disappearing into the foliage as it began searching for the enemy.

-dramatic music ensues-
UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#63: Jan 25th 2017 at 9:41:07 AM

Dragons Camp

Soseki's face darkened a bit, knowing that he wasn't allowed to take part in the finding of the missing girl. After all, it would have been the most noble thing to do, and money was no object for him for the time being.

"As you wish, Commander. Though if you ever need another person to take up that job, I'm always free."


Road to Wurd

Soseki had been walking along, now dressed in his usual garb, when the telltale signs of something nearby hung in the air. That magical presence...

"I ill like this...this does not bode well..."

Soseki draws Stinger, the blade gleaming with an unearthly light in its master's hand. The Altore noble breaks from the group formation, standing at the very edge of the road, away from everyone else, Stinger in hand. After all, if anyone had to get hurt from an ambush, he had the least to lose. Prana runs over the blade, bathing it in soft, luminous glow as he used the Double Edged Agony enchantment.

FergardStratoavis Bnnuy from Ye Olde Worlde (Less Newbie) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
Bnnuy
#64: Jan 25th 2017 at 10:56:16 AM

Rouncy, Ambush

Even someone with such lacking skills in Spellweaving as Rouncy could feel the energy swirl in the air. It was an energy most foul.

The hand rested comfortably on the handle of his blade. "Yellow bellied cowards." He sneered, looking around the trees. "Shall we call out to them that we know they are here?" He suggested, though an inner voice did suggest to try and leave the premises as soon as possible. The aura of rot didn't feel too comfortable.

Can't be 5'2 if everyone thinks you're over six feet tall-
Izshta The Flamebringer from Mor Ardain Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
The Flamebringer
#65: Jan 25th 2017 at 12:37:48 PM

Sylphid Forest, Dragon's Camp
Victoria nodded. "Fair enough."
Later, Sylphid Forest, Road
Victoria frowned. She wasn't a spellweaver - ironically, she thought, the only one who could say that in the company - but she knew the signs when she saw them. She halted her horse, drawing Phoenix's Talon. "Whatever this is, I have a very bad feeling about this..." She called for quiet, and listened for forest-y sounds. Insects chirping, birds singing, the like. The lack of that was a sure sign of something very, very wrong.

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.
wikkit Since: Sep, 2009
#66: Jan 25th 2017 at 1:14:45 PM

Dragon Camp
"Right. Right..."

Sinking back into the endless pit of despair known as her breakfast, Itellia scarfed it down with the intention of getting out of here as fast as possible. The mission was a failure, time to leave and see if she could find something better on another battlefield.

Itellia never really wondered why she put her own suffering so eloquently, but it probably enhanced the flavor, if that made sense.


Sylphid Forest, with Bad Things ahead
Itellia spent the trip riding on the back of one of the wagons, writing down some brief observations she had on the folk here after her two months of service. Horses aren't good for swamps, or anything other than roads. No point in owning one. She doubted they'd take kindly if they ever got their hands on these words, but what cad reads a lady's journal without her permission?

  • Natalia, the commander. Young. Not sure if impressionable is the right word, but idealistic is. Pays well.
  • Mira, the slime. Exactly what it sounds like. Haven't gotten close enough to study further. Consider bribing with food?
  • Brand, the cur. Gave me a tough time during first week. Said something like vagrant witches aren't cut out to be fighters. Will show him.
  • Wolfgang, the old cripple. Accent's too thick. Can't understand him sometimes. Thinks he's wiser than he is.
  • Rouncy the Eagle, definitely young idiot. Needs a few more years before he can claim titles -

Unfortunately, the sudden bump of the wagon stopping brought her pen wayward, bringing a halt to her personal list of grievances. For now, at least. She'd get back to them sooner or later.

When she finally noticed the oppressive air floating about, she was quick to stuff her book back into the wagon and bring out the same sack from earlier. Drawing it taut and long, it started to change. Its sackcloth surface slowly turning grey and shining, the form shimmered until what she had in her hands was a long sabre, forged in seconds and as good as new. See, there was a reason why this worked well.

Looking up towards the trees as she ambled out to the rest of the party, she mumbled a softly sarcastic "Oh, ooh. Now we're in for it." Rouncy, the aforementioned young idiot, asked if announcing their presence was a wise idea, and she whispered back "If it's someone, they already know we're here. Keep quiet."

TheRealWren Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or. from I...honestly have no idea. Since: Jan, 2011
Omega Overlord. Or superjwren329. Either or.
#67: Jan 25th 2017 at 5:20:25 PM

Slyphid Forest > Road to Wurd.

...Riding a horse wasn't exactly something Trevor had gotten the hang of...although getting around on foot was simple enough as his armor shimmered when the few rays of the sun managed to shine down through the forest's canopy.

Although with everyone stopping and some bleak wind making his cape waver, the young man grabbed Dragon's Tooth and readied the double-ended spear.

"...Indeed, something's definitely here..."

Hope you weren't expecting anything witty here. Maybe some day.
GrimHelm Sumanai Man from Somewhere Out There Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Sumanai Man
#68: Jan 25th 2017 at 7:55:51 PM

Sylphid Forest: Camp

Natalia smiled as Mira approached her. She quite liked the young Protean. Mira was...alive, so to speak. A welcome addition to the Red Dragons.

"Well, if you want to, you can go with Tams and I to speak with the merchant. We might even buy new books for you if he has any interesting ones."


Sylphid Forest: Road to Wurd

Natalia cursed as she began channeling her Prana to her fingers. She looked at her surroundings. They were in a narrow forest road of mud and stone. It was barely wide enough for three horses to ride side by side. On their right was the forest itself, and on their left was a cliffside.

Mira's senses could only find one presence. Up ahead, a little bit northeast from them was a figure that was clearly humanoid, wearing a cloak or shroud.

It was to this figure that Morgana's shadow went. The shadowy servant lanced through the figure...revealing an empty cloak.

At that moment.

The sense of malevolent magic intensified and holes in reality started to appear all around them. Portals made of golden prana materialized on the road and in the forest. Talia could see nine.

And from thos holes emerged twisted, undead things, shambling towards the mercenaries.

A tenth portal appeared just in front of them, which then vanished to reveal a creature larger than the rest.

Now, the Sylphid Forest stretched across the border of Belandi and Altore, which meant....

"Those lich rumors look really fucking convincing right now!" Talia snapped in disgust.

She jumped down from Lum and grabbed hold of two large rocks on the ground. Immediately a magic crest appeared on the two stones.

"Dragons, to battle!"

The abomination roared in response and charged.

Nothing is what it seems. Master of Shipping and Sadism.
Insano Mad Pinoy from At my laptop, refusing to waste time Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
Mad Pinoy
#69: Jan 25th 2017 at 8:11:04 PM

Road to Wurd

In reply to his leader's rallying cry, Brand stood up in his saddle and yelled a warning to those up front and closer to the disgusting undead thing before them.

"Get back! Firing now!" He took in a deep breath and channeled his Prana through his forehead before firing one of his signature Combustion Blasts at the larger monstrosity blocking their way, intending to destroy it quickly and push ahead before they were overwhelmed by its smaller but numerous allies.

Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...
ctrl_alt_deliiiight Dump Stat from where memes go to die Since: Jan, 2017
Dump Stat
#70: Jan 25th 2017 at 9:38:15 PM

Road to Wurd

"KAMPFSTIEFEL!" Wolfgang shouted at the top of his lungs as his fingers glowed with magic power. From each of his fingers shot a thin red beam, each one seeming to aim itself at a different lesser abomination. Trying to take down groups of them while taking extra care not to cause another forest fire, Wolfgang speaks up.

"Anyvone vant a boost!?"

REMOVE SOY LATTE remove soy latte you are worst hipster. you are the hipster idiot you are the hipster smell. return to portlandia.
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#71: Jan 25th 2017 at 10:16:52 PM

"Nah, you're cool." Barkley said in surprise. Shit, her attempt at The Jokes had failed! She held up her hands. "I was joking around. We gotta find faults in the cartridges somehow, after all."


Road to Wurd

Barkley wasn't a fan of roads like this. In the woods like they were, they were fully exposed while anyone targeting them would have tons of cover. When her fears were confirmed, and shit started crawling out of fucking portals, things only got worse. Her ears flattened down and back involuntarily, and the Gone slid off her back into her arms, ready to fire. She sat inside the armoury cart, disguised fairly well amidst the many weapons and arms, with plenty of places to rest the Gone for a steady shot. First though, she popped the rifle's chamber open and gave it a little sump'n sump'n Extra: the Delayed Rupture. Prana flowed into the round, Barkley slid the rifle shut, and popped off a round at the beast, intending to set off the explosive round inside of the abomination directly ahead of them.

Izshta The Flamebringer from Mor Ardain Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
The Flamebringer
#72: Jan 25th 2017 at 10:18:30 PM

Sylphid Forest: Road to Wyrd
Victoria sighed, sheathing Phoenix's Talon and drawing her silver sword as she rode towards one of the undead, hopping off the horse and attempting to bisect the undead as she landed. Steel... well, steel worked against undead, hacking them to pieces eventually took them down, but silver went much faster. What property did silver have that made it so much more effective against fantastic monstrosities? Who knew. Certainly not Victoria. But it did.

She looked up at the portals. Now, she wasn't what you'd call an "expert" in magic, but she'd never seen anything like this before. She was hesitant to call it eternity - nobody'd been born with an eternity affinity in... millennia, probably, as she recalled Talia mentioning once. But if this was a lich they were talking about...

"Natalia! Tell me what you think of the portals!"

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.
opnerf Since: Sep, 2010
#73: Jan 25th 2017 at 10:59:58 PM

Sylphid Forest: Camp

Mira nodded. She promptly changed her appearance and smiled.

"Promise I'll look my best! I always do, don't I?"


Sylphid Forest: Road to Wurd

Mira flinched. The portals sucked water vapor into a golden void, leaving huge temporary gaps in Mira's hygroception that were more than a little uncomfortable. Mira reverted her appearance to conserve Prana and leaped into action.

"Well, he left just as fast as he came," Mira said. "Morgana, did you see it?"

Mira clapped her hands together, then pulled them apart, shaping a cavitation bomb in her hands that she tossed in the direction of the forest-side flanking group of corpses. Mira continued to produce more and more cavitation bombs, creating a minefield of slow-moving bubbles that shambling, half-aware corpses were likely to blunder right into.

guyshane Combat mode, engage Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Combat mode, engage
#74: Jan 25th 2017 at 11:17:05 PM

Forest Road

"It would be more accurate to say I felt them disappear." Morgana replied, letting her double fall away before lashing out with one of her shadow tendrils and pulling herself to a nearby corpse soldier. "You better not be from the lich woman." She whispered harshly as she drew one of her blades and slashed at the creature's arm near it's elbow joint. "I hated looking for her the last time and I refuse to do it again." Her other blade whipped out towards the monster's knee.

-dramatic music ensues-
Imca (Veteran)
#75: Jan 25th 2017 at 11:49:29 PM

Sylphid Forest: Road to Wurd

Suzu was already on edge as from the general sense of dread as the portals on the ground began to appear and the zombies emerge, she reflexively reached for some of her charms but before she could cast them the zombies were already out of the ground and shambling twords them.

"Why were they so doubtful in the first place?" Suzu queried Talia while dropping a the charms she had drawn to the ground, and recoiling for her crossbow instead.


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