[center][h3][u][color=#cbc66d] Roslyn Wicke [/color][/u][/h3][/center][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vzhDyH3.png[/img][/center][center][color=#cbc66d] "I'm going to need a beer after this."[/color][/center][hr][hr][hider=One's Own Worst Enemy][sub]Date: 17th of Velles, Orredes
Time: Spare Period
Location: Mage Hunters' practice range, Ersand'Enise[/sub]

Roslyn inhaled. She drew in the heat from the sunlight resting on her dress, chilling the air around her. Her hazel eyes eyed the hovering disc in front of her. It was practically asking to blown out of the air as it stood no more than three meters from her.  Lifting up her arm, she aimed her pistol at it. Her hesitation kicked in then when she recalled her group's Tan-Zeno's disapproving words.  

[i][color=#497c51]"You've been apart of the Mage Hunters' society for about three weeks. You know how to clean, maintain, and use a gun. Yet, you struggle to hit a still target hovering only three meters in front of you? That is unacceptable, Miss Wicke."[/color][/i] 

Despite her best efforts, Roslyn felt a heat of shame wash over her cheeks. The crack of the weapon echoed in her ears when she pulled the trigger. The bullet dropped and blew past the target. She cursed in Hendlish then made a quick circle motion with her finger. The round, metal ball whipped around as it nicked the disc causing it to wobble. Still it kept going. Roslyn's eyes widened and she jumped back. Clods of dirt scattered as he bullet planting into the ground where she stood earlier. 

She let out a breath of relief at it narrowly missing her foot. With a slightly tremor in her hand, she set down her pistol and pinched between her eyes. Roslyn knew she had already wasted too much of her spare hour on this, but her perfectionist nature kept gnawing at her. Like a rat with a piece of twine, it wore at her insecurities and drove her to continue to practice. The newly formed callouses on her fingers looked ready to pop at this rate.  

[color=#dce8f6]"You're getting better, Roslyn."[/color] She caught Morritz Stiglitz's praise after he approached her. He turned small clay disc in his hands, thoroughly examining it. [color=#dce8f6]"See, right here. You managed to nick it this time."[/color] 

He tilted the right side to reveal a small chunk chipped away at the edge. Roslyn bit her lip, sparing it the smallest glance. She could do better... 

Roslyn became quiet. She averted her eyes and reached to reload the pistol. Morritz sized her up before he spoke again. [color=#dce8f6] "I see you took Tan-Zeno Mendenhoffer's criticisms to heart."[/color] 

Roslyn's grip tightened on the gun before pausing to look at him. [color=#cbc66d] "Is it that obvious?"[/color] 

[color=#dce8f6]"I am afraid so."[/color] He continued with a quick follow up, setting down the disc. [color=#dce8f6]"Being Mendenhoffer's teaching assistant, even I find his words harsher than necessary. But I assure you, he has the best intentions. Especially with the war brewing on the horizon."[/color]

Sizing her up, he then added. [color=#dce8f6]"I suggest taking on a task that does some good. It might make you feel better."[/color] 

Morritz gave her a smile and walked away, leaving Roslyn to her thoughts.[/hider][hider=Preparations]
[sub]Date: 18th of Velles, Lepedes
Time: After Class 
Location: The Groove, Ersand'Enise[/sub]

As Roslyn walked during her shopping, she continued to read the small parchment in her hand. It was a call to arms request for a monster hunt of a violent white thresher and cargo retrieval of the Sant'Agata della Compagnia Rossa. She recalled seeing it a few times and passing it over. It felt too far out of her capabilities, especially for the reward it asked. Stuck at the bounty board, she continued to struggle to find something. Ciro seemed to materialize out of nowhere and inquired about her presence. 

She bit her lip. Truthfully, she had hoped to find a job posting to solve her tuition issues. Ashamed to admit it, she mentioned wanting to do something positive. Ciro gave her a long look before he pointed out this bounty. Roslyn didn't know if he saw through her small lie or not, but gratefully took the suggestion. It felt rude not to despite her feelings. 

[color=#9a88a4] "Uh, Miss? Are you listening? "[/color]

Roslyn's head jerked up to see an older woman staring suspiciously at her. She slipped the parchment into her satchel and inhaled sharply, facing the shop keeper with a smile. [color=#cbc66d] "Uh, yeah. Sorry. I'm looking for skinglue, snowpepper sniffing power, and binding bandages."[/color] 

[color=#9a88a4] "Wait there. "[/color] With heavy steps, the woman slipped behind the counter. She pushed through a small door and into the backroom. Her gruff voice continued to speak through the small gap made by a stone keeping the door open. [color=#9a88a4] "Currently, we are out of binding bandages. We've been out of stock since the Trials and shipments have been delayed. However, you are in luck. We got two skinglues and a snowpepper power left."[/color]

[color=#cbc66d] "Better than I expected. How much? "[/color] Roslyn pulled out her small coin bag, ready to count them out. 

[color=#9a88a4] "Twenty for both skinglue and ten for the sniffing powder."[/color] She aired casually. 

The girl's eyes widened in shock and barely stopped her jaw from dropping. That was nearly double the amount that she recalled from Vossoriya more than a month ago.[color=#cbc66d] "That's more than I remember it being... "[/color] 

[color=#9a88a4] "Blame the rising tensions. Medical supplies are hard to keep on hand since the Trials. At this rate, you'll be lucky if we even got normal bandages to sell." [/color]

Roslyn nodded and thanked the woman. She paid, taking her goods and then departed the shop. Her next stop was Fat Yuri's shop. She purchased one dozen pufferchicken eggs before she got caught up in conversation. It reminded her of the damage they had done before departing though she couldn't change that now. Roslyn bid him good bye and popped home to drop off her goods at home. Her final stop was the Grand Library to borrow some research materials. She needed more information over Threshers before tomorrow. [/hider]
[u]The Hunt [/u]
[sub]Date: 19th of Velles, Victendes
Time: Daytime
Location: Departure Point, Ersand'Enise[/sub]

Roslyn finished packing her things as she recounted the list in her head. Even though she knew she had prepared the best she could be, she still bit her lip. What if it wasn't enough? Her fingers pinched down on her nose as she took a deep breath and pushed out the negativity. No point in delaying anymore. She hoisted the satchel onto her shoulder, slipping on her ring and grabbed her hand cannon on her way out. Last thing she grabbed were the boiled dozen of puffchicken eggs for a quick meal on the run.  

Feeling a bit lost, she worried she had misread the directions. Her braid swayed behind her as she turned in place, her eyes scanning her surroundings. She spotted Ciro's dark, curly head near a collection of students. Her boots hastened across the flagstones as her eyes caught a familiar, pale Revidian. Trypano. Roslyn cursed underneath her breath while her pace slowed and she fell in next to Ciro.  
[hr]Notes: [indent]
[sub][u]Summary:[/u]
[b]One's Own Worst Enemy[/b]- After receiving criticism from her Zeno, Roslyn attempts to improve her aim at the Mage Hunters society range during her spare period. A small conversation occurs with Morritz Stiglitz, the society's head and Mendenhoffer's teaching assistant. He encourages her to seek out a task that does some good to improve her mood before leaving her to her thoughts. 
[b]Preparations-[/b] After stalling at The Groove's bounty boards, she is approached by Ciro who suggested to take on the White Thresher mission. Roslyn accepted and spent a bit of time purchasing supplies and preparing for the trip the next day. 
[b]Then the Hunt-[/b] Roslyn meets up with the others for the hunt only to discover that Trypano is among them. 
Items of note on her person: Smoking Bandit (per-loaded with Rosy Wick- x2 charges), Four-Dimensional Compass of the Seafaring Tribe, Bottle of Whine, Band of the Beggar King, Tusk Bandages x2, Snowpepper sniffing power x2, Skinglue x2  
[b]Purchases this Cycle[/b]
Groove/Yuri Receipt- x2 Skinglue (20), x1 Snowpepper sniffing powder (10), and x1 dozen pufferchicken eggs (10) Total: 40 (budget was 50 left from last auction)   
[u]Tags[/u]: Leon [@Jumbus], Alya [@Ti], Trypano [@A Lowly Wretch], Ciro [@Force and Fury]
[/sub][/indent]
[hr]

[center][h3][u][color=#B8860B] Mahal Agha[/color][/u][/h3][/center][center][color=#B8860B] "Something about this doesn't feel right..."[/color][/center]
[hr][hr]
[u]When Reality and Skepticism Collide [/u]
[sub]Date: 19th of Velles, Victendes
Time: 2nd hour of Shune. 
Location: gazebo on Hedda’s Island, Ersand'Enise[/sub]

Mahal's mind kept returning to the meeting yesterday. She lingered on the High Zeno's words in her head as she tried to make sense of it all.  Her foot dangled over the edge of her bed as she rocked herself. Unable to deal with the hounding suspicion, she gave up fighting and brushed Puno off her. The updog cocked her head then obeyed. Ignoring her companion's disgruntled looks, Mahal moved with purpose. 

She retrieved her small bag  and began filling it up with essentials. Finding the daggers, she wrapped them in cloth and placed them in. She grabbed her waterskin and filled it with the pitcher of fresh water left on her side table. 

Pushing her room door open, Mahal hollered in Palparese down the stairs. Behind her, Lunara briefly stirred before flipping over and returning to sleep. A spark of guilt crossed her expression before she caught the sounds of a pair of feet rushing up the stairs. As Mahal got dress, two servants entered. Pua and Kalani, the two indentured servants her father sent. She gave them quick instructions over how to tend to the animals during her absence. 

They were too small to accompany her and this made them liabilities. Risking their lives was rather pointless at this stage. Hopefully by the time of the next mission, they would be ready.  

During the conversation, she caught the sound of water being sprayed.  Mahal had no doubt Diyablos had heard his name and came to investigate, but she had wasted enough time. Finishing up, Mahal straightened out her clothes then collected her bag. While the servants kept the hounds from following her outside, she rushed for Hedda's Island.  

[center]~***~[/center]
It didn't take long to spot the crowd as Mahal spotted the gazebo's roof ahead. Already a few students had arrived and waited for the portal to be summoned. Her eyes flicked through the crowd, some faces she knew and other were new. The most familiar were Fiske and Ren from her apprentice group. Her teeth gritted at the image of the later as she moved to avoid him. 

She would not let him poke her temper today. Her form stood beside the Eeaiko as she prayed for the delay to be brief.  Unknown to her, a small, reddish tentacle stretched out from underneath the cover. 
[hr]
Notes:
[indent][sub]
[u]Summary:[/u]
[b]When Reality and Skepticism Collide[/b] -Mahal instructs to servants to care for her pets as she prepares for the mission. While she waits for the portal to activate, she didn't spot Diyablos managed to hide away in her bag.
Items of note on her person: Diyablos, x2 Virangish black steel dagger
[b]Purchases this Cycle[/b] None
[u]Tags[/u]: Maura [@Ti], Fiske [@jasbraq], Tku [@dragonpiece], Marz [@Th3King0fChaos], Raffie [@Emeth], Kaureerah [@Force and Fury], Zast[@Jumbus], and Ren [@Suicharte]
[/sub][/indent]