CollectorOfMyst

The Last Embers (Dark Steampunk/Fantasy)

As the last dregs of the drug faded away, Oren opened his eyes. The girl hadn't left but at the very least. she had respected his wishes and sat down nearby. She had glanced at him from time to time, but they hadn't said anything to one another for the past... half hour or so? There was no easy way for him to tell how long he'd been here, but that seemed about right. He took a deep breath, before standing, and offering his hand to Fionna to assist in the same.

"We should return before we are missed," he said softly. "Given how fierce your elder sister is, I've little doubt that she might accuse me of trying to kidnap you - something I'd rather avoid."

When she stood and brushed a light layer of snow off of her clothes, he gestured for her to walk beside him as they began to walk back. He slowed his pace so that she could keep up, letting her guide him through the tunnels and towards where he'd be staying. When they reached the rooms, Oren spoke to the girl once more.

"I should be able to find Ziotea on my own from here. No need to follow me this time," he said good-humouredly. He turned to go, but when a thought came to him, looked back. "Fionna... please do not speak of what you saw. I know that your family lives a solitary life, but my method of dealing with my... my illness... isn't quite acceptable, not by others, nor by my own standards. It... extends the illness, in a way. So I would feel more at ease if you gave your word that you wouldn't speak about it or question it." Once more, he made to leave and then twisted back.

"I... thank you for accompanying me. I appreciated it."

Oren inclined his head towards her, before finally moving away. It didn't take long for him to locate the room Ziotea and Rose were in - the heated exchange they were having. It was muffled, but he managed to catch the last of Ziotea's words.

"...of here. Go tend to your nursemaid. If she dies, the choice won't be yours any longer. It'll be mine."

His brow creased in a frown, but he composed his expression and gave a light knock on the door before opening it. He took the scene in briefly, noting the metal shards scattered around the room. Ziotea's power. Rose stood closer to the door, so he could assume that the discussion either hadn't been going on long, or it was more confrontational than Rose would have liked.

"Perhaps it would be best if you went to your grandmother's side, Rose. Whatever the two of you have been talking about, I don't think it goes anywhere desirable."

The young girl opened her mouth to speak, to snap a retort - but Oren held up one hand telling her to be quiet, and with his other, pressed Essa's catalyst into her hands, though he made sure that Ziotea didn't see the latter. Either in rage, confusion or shock, Rose left the room. With that done, he turned to his companion.

"Should I ask what that was about?"

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Scott

Scott skidded to a halt, probably lacerating his feet in the process, but he was more focused on responding to what Ash said. Tossing his gaze back and forth between the scrap she and Colchain were in, to where the presumed slime was presumably coming from. He wanted to help the two lizards, but there wasn't much denying that they could handle it. So he turned, and looked to where the others were. Ash had tossed (or spat, rather) her mana crystal towards Danny, and he could see Ardur and Naji in the air.

Panting, out of breath from his sprint, he nevertheless changed direction, wings beginning to shake as he attempted to fly. He had his qualms about being suspended above the ground, but it would be better in this situation; he had a plan forming in his head.

"You heard her! Ardur, Naji, I think I have an idea! Nobody's seen a slime fly yet, have they?"

The Last Embers (Dark Steampunk/Fantasy)

@shylarah I'm about. Somehow. My attention is being split across multiple things recently, but I can try and get something done over time.

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

*raises hand*

I would like to request that we get that discord up and running before we start doing anything past this point (sans Zetsuko's/Riley's next post if they're planning one), including your next story post. This would be about the time where planning IC and OOC should be picking up, and characters acting independently of one another could cause some difficulty. In other words, coordination is going to become crucial pretty soon.

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

A thought has occurred to me in regards to Riley... I know of a dagger trick that would help if she was forced into a confrontation with a swordsman or sword-appendaged creature. Thing being, I don’t know if Flint would know about it. He certainly hasn’t used it.

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

“So... do we have a deal?”

The words hung in the air for a few moments. Flint looked around at his probable companions. They weren’t your usual group, that was for certain.

The High Aldonian was young, strong, but very likely to draw attention. The girl couldn’t have much experience, might last a few seconds in a melee, but she looked fast, and might be a good scout. As for the third... he had maybe a decade on Flint, and a fair amount of muscle. Capable of large amounts of damage, but only if he could stay standing long enough. Add Flint himself, and with a great deal of cooperation, they might stand more than a chance. They could move swiftly, travel light, and pose enough of a threat that they might make a bandit think twice.

Although that one bandit could just as easily be their downfall. It was a risky balance, one that could fall either way. One a mercenary has to make every time he’s contracted.

Ultimately, it was the weight of his purse - or lack of weight - that made him choose. He stood straight, and placed his hand on the table.

”I can’t tell you if the fool is the one who signs on or the one that walks away. But aye, you have my blade, ser. Flint Ambrose is at your service.”

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

Flint let his eyes wander around the room in favour of looking towards the new arrival, but turned his gaze when the fanciest of the three began to speak. This was the one looking for mercenaries? From the look of him, shouldn’t he have a legion of serfs to do his bidding instead?

Unless you needed somebody to do the dirty work, which this was looking to entail. Flint leaned forward and plucked a single diamond off of the table.

“And what is to stop us from just... taking these and running?” he said, waving the same hand, the small stone held between finger and thumb. His eyes flicked to his bodyguards, then back to Lord Guthbert. “Aside from the obvious, of course. The thing being, m’lord, these stones are Cardinal Gemstones. They’re not exactly common - and thus, worth a lot more. As often as the word ‘mercenary’ can mean ‘soldier’, I’ve seen enough take it for the word ‘bandit’ and turn tail. We’re not exactly meeting in the most regal part of town, are we?”

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Scott

Scott jumped as Colchain let out a loud hiss. He looked around to see that the lizard had moved to the dead goblins, presumably to eat... and it seemed that a bunch of rats had the same intent. And in the split second it took for him to process this, they attacked.

”Colchain!” he cried. He stood frozen, watching.

And then Ash dived into the fray.

"Dire Rats! Three of them! Scott, you want to help, now's the time!"

Help. That’s right. He could help. He began to dash towards the small battle, not knowing how much he could do, but he intended to try. He didn’t know how much mana he had left, but mustering whatever he had, he tried to cast a shield spell on first Colchain, then himself, and then Ash.

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

@Chicken I did tell you I’ve ‘done my research’. Even if I wasn’t actively researching.

The Depths of Blackmire Keep - Dare You Enter?

Flint emerged from the back rooms, exchanging a small nod with the waitress as she passed by. He had arrived the night before, and given its low price and it was the place he heard he was to come, he had rented a key. The bed hadn’t been so comfortable, but it was a roof over his head.

His normal action would usually be to sweep his eyes around the room, but before anything else, his eyes went to a man with pale skin and paler hair. A High Aldonian, it would seem. And to see him here was more than surprising. Then it went to the other two oddities, at the far table. Unusual for an inn, for a table to be empty, but it made it an apt choice for a barricade. Maybe that’s why the girl and the old man were sitting there.

Skirting around the other patrons, he moved towards the table - but not obviously. Instead, he went for the window nearby. Turning his back to the wall and leaning against it, his back was now guarded. He lifted his leg so that his boot created a triangle out of the wall and the floor, in the event he needed to deliver a swift kick. He crossed his arms. Then he began scanning the small crowd for anything out of the ordinary, though he didn’t pick up on anything just yet.