[center][h3]Tora & Poppi[/h3]
[b]Level 5 Tora[/b] - (15/50) EXP and [b]Level 4 Poppi[/b] - (14/40) EXP 
[b]Location:[/b] hamlet, the Land of Adventure
[b]Word Count: 599[/b] 
[@DracoLunaris][@Stekkmen][/center]

A brief but uncomfortable silence ensued following the pigs' questions. Poppi looked and Tora expectantly, but he said nothing, and neither did Agoston. Bowser ultimately rescued them, however, asking for some sort of drink. The question came out of the blue, making Tora wonder. That phrase typically referred to alcohol, but Bowser didn't seem like the sort of person to be aware of something like that. Regardless, the yellow-haired pig brightened up. “Oh! Thine thirst wouldst be well quenched after a visit to mine storefront. No shop in the Hamlet could boast a better inventory.”

Following that exchange, the Koopa's kid let loose his own barrage of questions. Mayor Truffleston considered each one, rubbing his chin with a trotter. “Whilst thy initial idiom escapeth me, I can tell you that this noble Hamlet hath seen but a few days in these verdant fields. Prior, we lived in a country most dreary and unusual. As for our surroundings, thy eyes hath already lain upon the eastern golden expanse we doth attend. To the south lieth a pristine woodland, shrouded in sublime green. Northeast, if mine memory serveth, featureth a fair basin and sweet-smelling pines before the mountains. East of our esteemed Hamlet thou may discover a vast yellow-green steppe, littered with edged red stone. Beware that place, for a terrifying beast stalketh those hills.”

The other male pig seemed more intent on Junior's last question. “So too did other visitors mention a guild of adventuring, a day and a half gone. We hath no relation to any such institution, yet many are our burdens nonetheless. Thou mayest procure a healthy sum of oincs if thou see fit to lend yon trotters to our aid.”

While the antiquated speech gave him a little trouble at first, Tora knew a quest when he heard one. And of course, he wouldn't be a Nopon if his ears didn't perk up when money was involved.  “Meh meh, if piggypons have quests then Tora and Poppi can help!”

Poppi crossed her arms. “Masterpon on tight schedule. Need to finish quests that already open before get more.”

“Er, yes, meh,” he admitted, scratching his head with a wingtip. “Plus, we need beat evil bosses soon as possible. But still,” he turned an excited smile to Truffleston and his friends. “What you need done? Maybe Tora and friends can help on way.”

The hairy-eared pig beamed. “Mine heart doth soar to hear it! Our greatest trouble be a loathsome pack of diminutive green savages, encamped northward. A sound pummeling wouldst rid the Hamlet of their menace.”

As much as Tora wanted to get paid, even that sounded like a substantial detour. They needed to find some way to hunt baurun and get back to Lumbridge soon. Plus, even Bowser couldn't lug that cart around everywhere the group went. Poppi noticed this too, and chose to voice her thoughts. “Will consider. However, folks did not answer one Junior question. Does Hamlet have any hunting gear we can use?”

The pigs looked between each other, questioning in low tones. The shopkeeper ended up answering. “I fear not. Pig appetites be great, yet compunctions be few. Yet, there resteth in the inn a person who may be the solution to thy problem, a sharp-eyed lady together with a great eagle.”

“That just what Tora wanted to hear!” the Nopon explained. “Maybe we can ask for help. Thanks very much, piggypons!” With that, he sprinted toward the building indicated by the shopkeeper, and Poppi followed behind. The pig guards watched them go disapprovingly, silently bemoaning their lack of restraint and manners.

[center][h3]Pelagic Lake[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Land of Adventure
[@Gentlemanvaultboy] [@Stern Algorithm] [@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN] [@Truthhurts22][/center]

Euden gave Din a nod before picking himself up. Now distant from the fighting, he joined Din as they proceeded back along the shoreline toward the others. His eyes lay upon the fierce duel between Geralt and the pelagic guardian the whole time, watching the brute and the Witcher exchange fierce blows. Even with the man's prowess, the unprepared-for threat and the treacherous arena in which they did battle offered a deadly challenge, but an unexpected miracle presented itself. The very fellow who cowardly fled from the fight to scale the clown house decided to turn back and help, and his intervention from above turned the tide in Geralt's favor. A dropped boat and a thrown shoe paved the way for the eldritch monster's defeat. Euden let out a cheer when he saw the thing fall, hideous even in defeat.

Yet, the battle was not yet won. Whether they had yet to notice or just didn't care, the remaining pelagics fought on. Linkle threw herself into the scrap with bombastic energy. She evaded a fishman's stab before using him as a steppingstone to launch skyward. A deluge of bolts sunk into its scaly skin, eliciting an agonized gurgle before it collapsed. The archeress continued to rain bolts until gravity forced her to land, but her momentum never left her. Gran, meanwhile, fought heroically, yet one look at his fighting style suggested that he typically battled alongside a number of allies. Linkle's help -and distraction- prevented him from being overwhelmed, but already he'd taken a few too many slashes and stabs. His blood flowed freely as he desperately continued to struggle, cutting down pelagic after pelagic.

The situation prompted Din to action. Her magic stretched out across the lake's surface, icing it up, and the wind kicked up by her wings spread the chill even further. Euden, already feeling better from his brief rest, could not afford to hesitate. He leaped from the shore onto the ice, taking a slippery shortcut to reach the frontlines faster. The dancer's Gogoat, meanwhile, returned to her. With a little direction it proved itself an invaluable ally, striking fast with brutally effective attacks before retreating out of range. Enraged strength filled Euden as his blazing sword flashed into pelagic scales, but even then a horrible doubt gnawed at the back of his mind. Even if there weren't that many left, unless he and his allies could annihilate the remaining pelagics [i]now[/i], Gran could take his last blow any second now.

[center][h3]Nero[/h3]
[b]Location:[/b] Charnal Lane, Dead Zone[/center]

The group could continue to make preparations all day, but Nero knew that at some point it would just be avoiding the coming fight. They needed to get into gear before they started losing steam. With that in mind, he led the way back up the stairs toward the cathedral plaza, and without reservation strode straight through the arch and into the vast, open area.

A few moments' walking brought him in line with the cathedral's double doors and the gnarled wooden behemoth hunched before them. He gave it plenty of room at first, but knew that ultimately he'd be more effective in melee range. The others had plenty of time to get themselves ready, be it reloading their weapons, setting up turrets, commandeering some of the captive undead, or warming up. After a short while he cracked his neck, then his knuckles, and started walking forward. “Alright, you stinking stack of firewood. Let's see what you've got.”

As if in response, a low moan echoed through the plaza. Whatever it was, the monster started to move, each jerking motion giving a great wooden crack. The pink mist surrounding it dried it up as it stretched, untangled, and stood. A dire red light glowed in its recesses, and when it turned to face its challengers, the Ent unleashed a roar that shook the air itself.

[center][h3][color=red]Warning! Miniboss discovered![/color][/h3]
[img]https://respawnfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ent-770x515.jpg[/img][/center]

In response to the roar, small round [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiPsyJYXcAY8SIj.jpg]hollows[/url] dug up from underground and ran to the nearest hero, swinging their little weapons. The Ent, meanwhile, slowly raised a leg before smashing it on the ground. A wave of red energy surged toward Nero across the ground. To avoid it he jumped upward, then again off a conjured midair circle, before unleashing a midair Color Up shot. The bullets entered the Ent with a splash of splinters but no resistance, although they barely seemed to do anything. As he landed, Nero sighed. Even without much evasive or defensive ability, this would be a tough hunk of wood to whittle down. 

The Ent lifted its gigantic arms and slammed them down, unleashing a limited-range but omnidirectional wave that rattled the entire plaza.