[h2][center]Geralt of Rivia[/center][/h2]
[center]Carcass Isle[/center]
[center]Lvl 7 (111/70) -> Lvl 7 (113/70) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 1,124 words[/center]


Unfortunately for Geralt, it seemed that nobody else had any reserves of food for the group. Junior's meager pile would hardly last them, and though he wasn't terribly hungry after having had something to eat just before the end of their time in the Maw, Geralt found himself nervous about that lack of backup resources. For now, however, he figured that they'd just have to make do. Without the accelerated hunger they experienced on the Maw, as well, they wouldn't be starving just yet. Still, there was a nervous niggling at the back of Geralt's mind that told him the others weren't taking this seriously enough. He put it aside for the moment, and once they'd dealt with the Area's Guardian, he'd bring that logistical issue back up. 

Speaking of logistical issues, Sakura managed to take care of one for them, Geralt noticed out of the corner of his eye, explaining to the recently-freed Mirage exactly what the hell was going on. The Legend would have to come to terms with it all on his own time, however, as not long after Sakura sucker-punched the man, they were given quite the signal to get moving: a lightning bolt striking the highest piece of the Maw's remains. The prospect of sticking around any longer wasn't an attractive one, either, so the Seekers seemed to be in agreement that now was the time to get moving. 

The path up the river was, in a word, unpleasant. They were funneled along by outcroppings of sharp, barnacle-crusted rock, making their path forward a dangerous one. They were grouped up perfectly well for an ambush that never came, much to the Witcher's relief. The village before them was disgusting, being ever-so-slightly submerged under a half a foot of water, and absolutely [i]reeking[/i] of fish. Geralt involuntarily wrinkled his nose at the stench, ironically less accustomed to it than he was that of the decay earlier. That wasn't to say he preferred the rot of death, moreso that he was better able to ignore it.

Moving forward more brought the Seekers past some annoying Sea Maggots, though Geralt merely ignored the ugly creatures, which were content to let him pass so long as he didn't get too close. [i]That[/i] was his kind of monster. 

Moments later, however, their path opened up into the village square, a roughly circular area surrounding a slightly raised stone well. The place was riddled with fishmen, including two absolutely giant ones, and he noticed off to the side the absolute behemoth that was being carved into by the monsters while it still lived. Geralt involuntarily shuddered a bit at that, then narrowed his eyes in anger. It felt wrong to him, to do that to a living creature. At least kill the damn thing before you ate it. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the large group was spotted just about immediately, and the residents of this doomed village turned and attacked, leaving little to the imagination just where their groups stood: enemies. There wouldn't be any talking their way out of this one, much like Geralt's earlier encounter with the similar, but not identical, fishmen in the Land of Adventure. 

Unsheathing his sword, Geralt frowned and paused as the others surged ahead, the Koopa Troop immediately summoning some of their minions and blocking the path into combat. That was annoying, to be quite honest, but Geralt worked with it, instead drawing the plasma pistol Tora had given him (He'd have to thank the kind little engineer), and taking a few shots at the assorted monsters about. He managed to finish off one or two here and there, but mostly his focus was on distracting the ones he could manage. 

As the Troop managed to fell one of the giants, Geralt saw an opening to move. Bella, who'd also been stuck by the admittedly effective defensive formation, surged forward into the fray. 

Geralt, owing to his larger size, had to be more careful not to crush any of the smaller allies the Troop had summoned, but he made it past their lines without any friendly fire incidents. He made his way towards the Eastern side of the battle, where the larger group of enemies congregated, but was interrupted by a wave of new arrivals as the current horde was being mostly cut down. 

A new group of fishmen burst out of the houses across the village, but Geralt's attention was first caught by the Scylla's death knell and the squad of buffed-up monsters that burst forth from its gut, and then the clambering monstrosity that appeared from the well. Trusting the others to handle the group, Geralt moved towards the deeper water, summoning the Ordnance Platform once he was close enough. "Over here!" He called as the Ordnance Platform appeared, the guns trained on the monster as it clacked and clanged its scales. 

He gave a bit of notice to the skeletal pirate who'd appeared and was moving to engage his target, but the Demon Witcher wasted no time in ordering each of the Platform's guns to fire, the thunderous report drowning out the sounds of combat for a moment. Drawing silver, he surged forth and dismissed the Platform, not willing to put himself in its way and not wanting to risk it being damaged. Bringing it back would take more out of him, certainly, but at the moment he needed to focus on taking this thing down. Instead, he made the Sign of Quen to protect himself as he approached for close-quarters battle.

He reached the monster with a swing of his sword, testing its reflexes and defenses with a few probing blows. He kept a wary eye on the interloper, as well, not wanting to risk a knife in the side from assuming the stranger had friendly intentions, ready to move at a sign of treachery. Where possible, he kept the Judicator between himself and these enemies of his enemy, for he wasn't fool enough to call them friend on that merit alone. 

Still, he was careful with his blows, now seeking to bite into flesh instead of merely a test, and tried to avoid unnecessarily harming this other fighter. Even avoiding making a new enemy would be enough of a win in his book. 

The Judicator was actually somewhat skilled at keeping his blade away, but Geralt was a master Witcher, and between the opening salvo of the Ordnance Platform, his superior swordplay, and the assistance of the pirate alongside its Pokémon, they began wearing the thing down. However, much like the Fiends and Relicts from Geralt's world, it would take more than a few solid hits to take this thing down. Keeping this in mind, Geralt went back on the offensive. It couldn't last forever.