30% Petrify
At Burger's
"I do apologize. Japanese mythology isn't my strongest suit." Fabiola offered a sheepish sorry in-between indulging in the food. "But yes, it is very good."
"Thank you. I like to think I'm making everybody happy with my craft regardless of where they come from." The waitress smiled at the unlikely party, though then her beautiful elven face wrinkled a little in worry. "Well... except one person..."
She looked at the group, tapped her chin in thought, hummed. Something in her expression lightened, as if she just had an idea. "Are you perhaps looking for a job, Madams and Sir?"
Big Grah
I think I'm a sofa
"Well...if you really don't want to..."
"There are plenty of other places to visit, though!" The Hub attendant chimed in. "Like, are any of you treasure hunters? Try Giant's Rest or Sylvania, just through there! Or if you're want a place to just kick back and relax, Ahoy City is right over there!"
Nowi looked at each of the gates contemplatively, then turned to her new friends. "I dunno. Where do you think we should go?"
"Hey, hey, no pushing!" Henry scraped his shoes against the floor in a futile attempt to resist the guy's shoving.
The rabbit, meanwhile, had stopped for a split second to sniff something on the ground, giving Christine juuuuust enough time to catch it if she was quick.
(holds pool noodle threateningly) Do you want to know what we do to artists?
Rachel- Traveler's Hub
"Oh, What about-"
The bat was interrupted by a slap, courtesy of Rachel
"Ow!"
Acting as if nothing happened, Rachel turned to the green-haired girl.
"I believe there is a simple answer to this. Where do you believe your friend would have gone?"
Rachel personally did not care where the group went, she just wanted to not be standing awkwardly near this booth.
Upon her companions trying to come up with an alternative plan of action, the girl's posture visibly relaxed, her arms dropping back down to her sides. She tilted her head to one side curiously as "Princess" gave one of her companions a smack, but did not comment on that action, instead opting to add her own suggestion to "Princess's."
"Probability of subject's habits being useful for locating subject is 70%. Information on subject's habits requested."
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
For the Horde!
Shantae looked back towards Mikan, thinking for a moment. In her haste to go find Risky Boots, she had forgotten that Mikan couldn't exactly turn into a mermaid. Nor would she be able to swim for very long in the vast ocean. Shantae swam there for a moment, caught off guard by the question, but before she could answer, there was a distant thumping noise. A whoosh of air. Shantae looked out to sea, and her eyes widened.
"HIT THE DECK!" Shantae suddenly shouted at Mikan, diving underwater and swimming out to sea just as a cannonball landed in the water between Shantae and Mikan. The shot came from what looked like a somewhat small, rickety pirate ship came sailing out from the distant seas. The flag was somewhat tattered, but it was light purple with a dark purple skull in the center. Diminutive skeletal creatures
◊ were filling every role on the deck: adjusting the sails, maintaining the cannon, steering at the helm.
Shantae surfaced and glared up at the ship. On the deck, a lithe figure
◊ stepped up from below deck.
"Risky Boots..." Shantae explained to the likely-terrified Mikan.
Risky scoffed and looked down at the mermaid Shantae. "Of course, darling. You don't think a little storm would get you rid of me that easily, do you?" she asked, one hand on her hip and another one near her mouth as she scoffed. She glanced up at the beach towards Mikan. "And who is this?" Shantae glared.
"You leave Mikan out of this! What did you do with the artifact you stole from Uncle Mimic?" Shantae asked firmly. Risky laughed, a boisterous "HO-HO-HO!"
"It's safe and sound in my treasure hold, with the rest of my plunder. Speaking of, this world is strange and vast. It must have some valuable booty to obtain! Who knows! At any rate, I don't have time for you right now, Shantae. Or you, landlubber! Consider that a warning shot! Farewell, darling, until next time!" With that, Risky turned towards the Tinkerbats piloting the ship. "HARD STARBOARD! FULL SPEED AHEAD, LOVELIES!" Risky shouted, as the Tinkerbats turned the ship, and the ramshackle ship started heading down the coast.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
Mikan- Ahoy City, Beach
Whatever thoughts Mikan was gathering were dropped the second a cannonball came right towards her.
"Ah!" She proceeded to "hit the deck", much less suggestively than her other falls.
After getting back up, she saw a pirate ship, docked by a few small figures, and a very pale woman.
T-this must be the pirate girl she mentioned...
And as if on cue, Shantae confirmed this.
Eventually, Risky addressed her... and left. Honestly, she was expected to be held hostage or killed or something worse than being called a landlubber.
Mikan watched the ship go, before turning to Shantae.
"W-what should we do?"
The Wildest of Ronins
Doomguy, paused as Henry continued to resist before just curling his fingers into the back of the mage's robes and lifting him off the ground entirely. Assuming he didn't just slip out or the robes didn't rip. Otherwise, he'd walk on out of the store with Henry in hand, assess what direction the owner and the crazy lady had gone off in, and begin lightly jogging after them.
The owner meanwhile, while not slow, was clearly having difficulties actually closing the distance on Christine. The fact that some of its harder steps resulted in slivers of crystal chipping off its legs, revealed why. Hard repeated impacts against the ground caused by running were not something its physiology was suited to handling.
Click Click Boom Boom
New Rome - At a Place Called "Burgers", or Perhaps in a Place Called "At's Burgers"
"Job? You got a Yoma that needs killing? Because this pie is almost as good as fucking, I'd kill a hundred Yoma if you can just get me a lifetime supply here," Helen said to the waitress through a mouthful of said pie. "Two hundred. No, three - hell, just keep them coming. I'm gonna need a towel to wipe the afterglow off my face after eating this."Trying her best to ignore her partner, Deneve hard swallowed the rest of the pie she had been chewing on as Cagliostro continued to explain herself. "So you make bodies without souls to live forever?" she asked, somewhat rhetorically. "Yoma are able to take over the mind of a human by forcing themselves inside and then overpowering their souls. In more than one case the human has had enough of themselves left after being absorbed by the Yoma to try and fight their control - especially when it involves a mother being absorbed before her children, or a person not wanting to kill their lover. Even then, the Yoma will tend to have the memories of who they killed, and be subjected to emotional outbursts. One could only guess what sort of horrors could be created if a Yoma knew how to find a body without a mind or soul already in it."
For the Horde!
Shantae frowned, swimming to the shore and with a pink flash, transforming back into her half-genie self. She glared in the direction that Risky's boat was traveling.
"We need to follow that ship!" Shantae insisted. "Risky Boots has the artifact that my uncle found on his dig! It might have unknown power, we can't let that kind of power fall into Risky's hands! Let's go!" Shantae exclaimed, starting to run at high speed down the coastline after the ship.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.
It then proceeded to harmlessly bounce off of the Bunbud's backside, landing on the pavement with a soft thud.
"...Wha..."
So mystified was Christine that nobody would have a hard time to catch up to her. Her left eye started to twitch.
"Indeed, if such creatures could spread through soulless vessels, then their danger would increase rather substantially because they won't have any mental barriers that could be used as weaknesses. Many people want to know the knowledge that I do, of being able to do such feats without any danger to their souls. All have failed." Smiling rather sardonically at that, Cagliostro chuckled darkly as she drank her milk tea.
"Still, this is why I say that it is imperative to strengthen the soul. There is a much higher chance of being able to drive out or even control such influences like the Yoma if you are of strong enough will." Wrinkling her nose at the sheer blase attitude of the rather lewdly insinuating companion Claymore, Cagliostro peered at the calmer one with a knowing gaze.
"Likewise, if you could be in full control of your bodies without losing your mental self, that would be a boon. The same energy of a yoma drifts from you people faintly, my alchemist senses tell me." Eyes flashing with lustrous color for a moment as she matched the comparisons of such energy readings as the one gleaned from the encounter of the monsters, Cagliostro continued to observe the woman in question. "It'd be an interesting case study for sure."
Mikan-Ahoy City
"Ah, wait for me!"
Mikan ran to catch up to Shantae
Unknown Power...What exactly is Hope's Peak?
New Rome - Whatever that Burger Place is Called
Deneve's eyes hardened as she glared at Cagliostro. Even Helen craned her neck towards the alchemist. "You mean you can sense Yoki somehow, kid?" Helen inquired."Normally only Claymores such as Helen and myself can detect Yoki," Deneve explained to Cagliostro. "On our world, that is what we call the energy used by Yoma. We have had part of a Yoma implanted in our bodies as children and learned to master it through rigorous training, which allows us the ability to detect Yoki. Aside from being powerful enough to kill a human in the blink of an eye, the common people fear us nearly as much as the monsters we slay for this very reason - they wish to have nothing to do with us. It's also why Helen may seem... enthusiastic at the chance to simply eat at a tavern without having the servants cowering behind the counter and wishing we leave. It is a luxury we are rarely afforded."
"And I'm gonna use this chance to eat all I fucking can before it's too late!" Helen added to the little alchemist, taking another gulp from her tankard. "Den's the weird one for not taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, I mean she hasn't even touched her mead. Try mine." She pressed her tankard towards the other Claymore who, remembering the hassle of turning away the apple pie, simply grabbed it and took a quick drink of it.
"Yes, delicious," Deneve deadpanned, clearly not that thrilled by the drink. "Anyway, if you can detect Yoki while being neither a Yoma nor a Claymore, it also means that Yoma cannot detect you as anything more than a normal human. That is something that the Yoma have no experience with, and which we can use against them."
Breath of the Sun
Bistro
"Job?" Issun jumped up on the table. "Hey, if you need help with something, just ask. Ammy's always there to help people in need."
Amaterasu barked happily and stood up from under the table. The remnants of her spaghetti were still stuck on her face, and her tongue lolled to one side and licked the corner of her mouth clean.
"And I'm sure our... friends," He pointedly looked at the disruptive Claymore, "Would be willing to help too."
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
Ochaco looked slightly stunned at the Claymore's crude, but apparently enthusiastic, reply before pointedly turning away to focus on the elf as she mentally tried to block that part of the conversation out of her memory. "What kind of help do you need?"
"Mm, an alchemist has to be able to discern what is unseen. Being able to sense different energy readings is a must for someone like me otherwise I wouldn't be able to open the door of the unknown." Smugly saying that for a moment, the girl in a red dress became a bit more serious. "Still, like you said, it is a good thing that I can sense this... 'yoki' energy without having any traces of it on me."
And now for the bad downsides. "Though the negative side to this deal is that I'm not specialized in hunting down these creatures so I'll still need your help with anything more intelligent than the rabid creatures earlier. Though I am capable of combat, I'm not a trained meant for the front lines either so we'll need to be able to build up a method of communication that lets us converse from afar otherwise my traveling with you two would make that point moot, since they'd be able to feel you two."
edited 21st Sep '17 8:46:14 AM by Makaioh
30% Petrify
At Burger's - Sidequest On
"Ah no, you probably won't have to kill anyone." The waitress reassured sheepishly (in the meantime, Fabiola shot Helen a dirty look). "It's probably trivial for such a company."
"See, the reason for the quality of the food is because I take it directly from your minds." She smiled at the group. "I picture the look, the taste, its smell and texture, so it is as good as you envision it. If any of you wanted an apple, it would be the best apple you would think of. From there I replicate the food so it fits your expectations."
"And, well... I can't actually cook." She admitted, an embarassed blush on her face. "I can learn, no doubt, but the thing is... my husband's favorite dish involves barely-affordable ingredients and I can't read his mind either. He's immune to such magic."
"So I was wondering if you... could spare some time to hunt for them. I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem for such a formidable group, too."
Big Grah
New Rome - Whatever the Hell the Burger Place is Named
"My apologies, but we already have our own matters to attend-" Deneve started to say, only to be cut off by her companion."We'll do it!" Helen eagerly told the waitress, after sticking out her tongue at Fabiola and giving her a wink.
"Helen, we have to-"
"The best fucking apples, Den. We're stuck wherever the hell this place is, and hell, I'm not too worried if we never get back to that shitstain world we came from. You can at least bet your ass I'm jumping on this. You know how shitty half the apples were in Rabona? Sometimes the villages just had piece of shit crabapples, that's not any goddamn way to live. We're still humans, damn it, not animals! And if you can give us stuff that tastes like anything...." Helen grinned wickedly.
Groaning, Deneve just resumed her conversation with Cagliostro. "That won't be too much of a problem," she told the little alchemist. "Helen and I are able to suppress our Yoki in order to make it undetectable to Yoma. However, because we cannot use our Yoki while doing that, we cannot sense them either. The same also goes for most Yoma. They can hide in the form of a human and suppress their own Yoki, practically invisible to detection, until they choose to strike."
She looked Cal in the eyes. "Our only saving grace, though, is that they cannot do that for long before they are overtaken by their hunger. At which point, it is often too late for their victim."
Unfortunately, it seemed Nowi had to attend to other business and leave the other two to their own devices. As she watched her leave, it at first seemed the girl was about ready to just leave on her own as well. However, after a couple of moments, she simply turned back to "Princess" and tilted her head to one side.
"...Directive?" she asked.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Rachel, Traveller's Hub
"Oh, she walked off." Rachel watched Nowi leave.
"Does this mean that we can go where we want?" Her batpig asks
"... I believe so."
The doll looked like it was about to leave as well, but then asked for a directive.
"Hm... the only direction we have is "New Rome". Might as well take a peek at what it has to offer."
Rachel started heading towards the gate to there.
"...Understood," was the girl's only response. After that she trailed silently after her new companions, although the heavy frown had returned to her face and she was once again hugging herself.
Upon actually stepping through the Gate she tensed up and frantically looked left and right, as if ready to bolt right back into the Gate at any second. However, the sight before her was as usual for New Rome's Central Station. People making their way to and from the subways, talking to attendants, or leaving the station either through the door to the rest of New Rome or through the Traveler's Gate. Nobody seemed to bat an eye at the group, except for some glances that silently questioned the girl's behavior.
After a few moments of this, the girl relaxed slightly, although she still kept looking around.
"Chance of hostiles is 4.65%," she said, "Caution suggested."
After that she'd follow "Princess" and her companions to wherever they wanted to go, although all the while she'd continue to keep observing her surroundings. It was almost as if she expected to be attacked at any moment.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Rachel-New Rome Central
Rachel took some time to take in the sights of the new land. This looked much better than where she usually traveled to. Not that it was that hard. Still not quite her abode, though. Might be because of the people.
"I will be capable of defending myself. You have no need to concern yourself with me." Rachel said.
"You mean your going to have u-" The cat umbrella was shushed with a slap.
"Let us move on."
New Rome Streets
They wandered, eventually passing by a Bistro off the main street, that seemed to have occupants.
"Ah, that would do it then. I can simply tell you where the 'yoki' is coming from and then you get as close as possible while restraining your own aura before explosively acting. We have a plan in the broad strokes at the very least, though there will be some reviews and modifications as we go on since we need to test the waters and learn how to work together, that is common sense after all. Better to be tried and true than untested and new."
Pausing to glance at the waitress with a raised eyebrow, the alchemist rapidly then began to scribble in her notebook as the ability came to light. "How utterly fascinating. Very well, you've intrigued me enough that I will help you out... and these rare ingredients must have some rather interesting properties as well to be so valuable. My researcher's instinct is rearing up, kuhuhuhu..."
The Wildest of Ronins
Henry seemed to have finally given up on resisting Doomguy's non-verbal commands. So he simply left the mage in a random alleyway before heading back after the crazy lady and the exasperated pet store owner. It didn't take him very long to catch up. Though it didn't appear he had to do anything at this point.
"And now you're throwing strange objects at the rabbit. I don't get you." The petstore owner had finally caught up now that the woman and rabbit have paused. While she was staring annoyed at whatever reaction she was looking for not happening, the crystaline being scooped up the rabbit in its hands, and then place the rabbit on its shoulder, where the shoulder slowly morphed into a cage to secure the rabbit for the trip back. It started heading back to its shop now humming a soothing tune to the distressed animal.
Click Click Boom Boom
She quickened the pace up to a full-on sprint, because this rabbit wasn't going to give up and the two people chasing her looked slow as hell. I mean, the armored one barely moved in the first place, so there's no way he could catch up if she went all out!