[table] [row][cell][h2] [color=palegoldenrod]L O R A L I E[/color] & [color=darkorange]S H A R O D[/color] [/h2][/cell] [cell][right] [sub]pre[/sub]6 days, 20 hours and 26 minutes and counting to floor collapse [sub]post[/sub]6 days, 19 hours and 42 minutes and counting to floor collapse Floor 1 Viewers: 0 | Followers: 0 | Favorites: 0 [/right][/cell][/row] [/table] [hr] These five spiders are the toughest they’ve faced yet. Loralie and Sharod work to rinse and repeat their technique. It’s only partially successful- two of the skating arachnids bowl over the top of Loralie’s shield. The other three have just enough time to divert their paths. Two go around either side of the shield and the last stops in front of the shield. It lets out a low hissing sound. Sharod is ready to intercept the spider on the right of the shield. Loralie attempts to intercept the left with her machete. She cleaves one of the skates from its body before it’s on her. [color=palegoldenrod]”We might be taking out the top team here.”[/color] [color=darkorange]”Now there’s definitely going to be a bigger fish.”[/color] Sharod’s blood cools at the image of Obi-Wan Kenobi sitting in an underwater transport being chased by a bigger fish, to only be saved by the appetite of an even bigger fish. He shivers. It feels like his life- running from the injustices of his entire life, upon his family, upon his people. Only to be eaten by the bigger, more devastating and disgusting alien media empire. It’s disgust that powers his punch to the spider’s face. The blade of his knuckles cleaves it in two. Crack- just like a crab leg, the exoskeleton splits. Its internals are pierced immediately and the spider emits a kind of squeal, falling dead. On his left, Loralie is hacking limbs from spiders as they approach. The pair use her shield to cover them from one side of combat. It takes a few minutes- and some minor wounds, but they survive. [color=darkorange]“It’s weird you haven’t keeled over yet.”[/color] Back in Harrisburg Loralie would sometimes sneeze and feel faint. It had to be an aggressive one, but it’d happened enough that the effort from her body was entirely unexpected. Loralie had noticed, and forced it down into a box. What if it was just a good heart day? Could she have good heart days? Horror- what if the dungeon didn’t kill her at all. What if her disease did? Suddenly the thing that brought her so much sadness shifted inside her. It coiled up and snapped like a snake. Turning to Sharod- [color=palegoldenrod]”If I do that takes Hannah out too- right? You’re an asshole by the way.”[/color] Loralie knocks into him before digging into another rollerskate for the spider’s inventory. Not much to work with, but the experience they gain is nearly enough to get them to Level 3. Nearly. [color=darkorange]”For what, pointing out the elephant in the dungeon? Loralie- I carried your ass up the stairs for a month after you fell and busted your head open on the stairs. I think out of everybody-”[/color] A pointed look- [color=darkorange]”that at least gives me the license to acknowledge it.”[/color] A skate flies through the air, falling short of his shins. Loralie’s strength is infinitesimal from her lack of being able to consistently exercise. [color=darkorange]”Okay- that’s crazy. You’re not acting right.”[/color] Sharod approaches Loralie like she’s a scared animal. [color=palegoldenrod]”You don’t have license for anything just-because you took care of me. Are you hearing yourself?[/color] She stalks up to him and shoves a finger into his chest. [color=darkorange]”Are you hearing me?- Lor I’m asking about your health because I don’t know what is going on in this place either!”[/color] Sharod’s voice raises to meet her where she’s at. [color=darkorange]”You forget, I can’t read your mind Lor! I only know what you tell me here, so tell me. Is this space magic keeping you upright, or are we going to have to be prepped for you to lie in bed for an extended amount of time tomorrow.”[/color] His eyebrows are drawn together, and his chest is rising slightly faster than normal. His statements momentarily stun her. But when she returns to her body, she launches herself at him. Loralie attempts to knock him to the floor, but he catches her wrists and shakes her. [color=darkorange]”Man if you don’t get it together- right now.”[/color] Sharod presses a button in his HUD, and a healing spell is applied to his friend. It doesn’t seem to have an immediate impact until her eyes well with tears. [color=palegoldenrod]”We, k-k”[/color] she gets stuck on the ‘K’, shivering for a moment. [color=palegoldenrod]”killed somebody Shar. How are you keeping it together right now?[/color] He releases one wrist and pulls her into a hug. [color=darkorange]”Because for it to mean anything, we have to survive Lor. For anyone to remember her, we have to live.”[/color] She sobs quietly for a moment, and then when he releases her she’s stopped. The bottom water lines of her eyes are blood red when she fixes her gaze on him after. [color=palegoldenrod]”No. I don’t think my heart is going to be a problem for me anymore.”[/color] It’s quite, and Sharod only nods in response. [color=palegoldenrod]”Okay- lets work on that level three then.”[/color] She sounds resigned, the foreign burst of anger coming from a well she never knew she had. The look on Sharod’s face when she threw the skate sticks with her. It’s not that it was Sharod that is making her feel this next thing. As she unwraps the bubble wrap on this new source of anger, she’s surprised to find that it makes her feel secure in her ability to be taken seriously. That maybe- she should be a little more angry. Under her breath she says something that she maybe eventually would come to regret- [color=palegoldenrod]”If they’re going to kill me- it’s going to mean something.”[/color] That nail in the coffin didn’t feel so sharp then- but in the future. It would. [hr] Sharod keeps them moving. He spots a Wingsnob in the distance. Shouldn’t that be- Wingstop? Maybe it’s a dungeon thing. [color=darkorange]”Didn’t think we’d have boneless chicken wings for cafeteria food down here.”[/color] The blonde saddles up to the counter and just blinks at the creature behind it. It’s a gnome? Sort of? He introduces himself as Maxlo, begrudgingly explains the deal with the saferoom. They sit in the cafeteria and eat for a moment in relative silence. Sharod gets some soda named “Squarberry Squish”, while she gets “Bzarker Cola” which she runs back to poor out pretty much immediately. It’s enough trying new stuff for her for now- so she settles on water. When they finish up- they rent and pop into their rental hall room they rent. Sharod jumps out of his skin when Igva is waiting on the other side of the door. [color=gold]”Certainly took your time, you missed the other girls by just a few minutes. Let’s get through your boxes- and then you’re right back out there.”[/color] [table] [row] [cell] New ACHIEVEMENT! – Loralie Last Limb Standing [hr] You cleaved a skate clean off a spider mid-charge. That's either very skilled or very lucky. We're leaning lucky. REWARD! Silver Butcher's Box Contents: 1x Cleaver (upgrade from machete — slightly heavier, slightly more satisfying), 1x health potion [/cell] [cell] New ACHIEVEMENT! – Loralie Riot. [hr] Five of them. Hollywood Undead. You survived the mosh pit. Did you even like this song before today? Reward: Gold Mosh Pit Box Contents: 1x Setlist Bracelet — Passive: When you take damage from 3 or more enemies in a single combat, gain +1 to Strength for the remainder of that fight. Stacks twice. [/cell] [cell] New ACHIEVEMENT! – Sharod Qui-gon was right. [hr] There's always a bigger fish, Obi-Sharod Kenobi. Trust the force, you should. Reward: Silver There's Always A Bigger Fish Box Contents: 1x Sonar Ping (consumable — reveals all enemies in a 100ft radius for 30 seconds. Single use.), 1x health potion [/cell] [/row] [/table]