Raineh Daze

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Gisela

The Hundi shrugged, "She's a demon, her nature isn't going to change so easily. If it did, I expect that our contract would be terminated in short order as she aligned herself to newer goals. But the odds of that happening in the next thousand years is vanishingly low."

Although, whether she would still be around a thousand years hence to take advantage of such a thing? That was hard to say. It was quite possible, but at the same time, her specialities could always lead to even more serious trouble if the sentiment against mages turned even more dire for whatever reason. Like a resurgence of the Witch-Queen, as vanishingly unlikely as she was to return from being dead. Rumour had it that the majority of her pupils had escaped unscathed, and were more than capable of causing havoc if the mood so took them.

"Hmm, I don't think you'd like to see any of my friends coming in unannounced. They're not all so friendly as I, and might be quite upset if the food didn't come with a good brawl," the demon laughed, rubbing her chin. And then she bent down to pat the nem's head... which would probably have been more humiliating if not for the gulf in size that meant she could do that to just about anybody here, "But you've got spirit."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Tyaethe

"You realise I'm not in charge, right?" Tyaethe asked, sighing, "We have a captain now. If people want to follow you and you want to go, I'm not able to stop you. If you're asking whether that's a good idea, I don't think it will cause a problem."

All she really needed was a minute to get away and grab her sword, and she would be perfectly confident in addressing anything a necromancer might be able to bring.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Tyaethe

The vampire nodded and pushed the princesses to their feet, giving her room to grow into her clothing once more and gesture for the others to follow through the castle, along with the obligatory escort to make sure that nobody went the wrong way. Soon enough, they had passed out of the royal quarters and into what appeared to be a completely serviceable passage, albeit one that cut off at an archway into the solid rock that lay beneath.

It was this archway that the vampire approached, hand tracing down one side of it to find a socket. Something like this was impossible to keep up the entire time, but as an emergency escape... well, most would choose to power it with magic crystals, or some sort of built up mana storage. Tyaethe? She could just power it directly.

The path opened, the air wavering slightly, to a similar but unlit passage. Once everyone heading to Candaeln was through, the vampire cut the flow of mana and darted through before it cut off. As predicted, they had come out in an unoccupied building westwards in the city, not too far from Candaeln itself. Not a perfect escape route from the castle, but at least one that wouldn't lead you straight into any siege camp like a more direct exit. And it served their purposes fine.

Candaeln was well-lit as normal, and busier than might be expected for this time of night, with the knights not invited interested in hearing how the ball had turned out. Standing in the entrance, Tyaethe turned her attention back to their guests.

"So... are you hungry? Or would you like to visit the baths?" Or maybe they just wanted to sleep, but it would take a little bit to let everyone know to be on guard and work out where the pair should spend the night.

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Gisela

At the price, the demon turned expectantly to look down at the hundi, who only sighed before rifling through her pockets for payment. To be so easily overcharged was galling, especially when she wasn't even the one who was going to be eating it. But the coins were passed over nonetheless, and the massive demon warrior took the pastry and thoughtfully started eating it.

"You don't have to be so afraid. A merchant like you could hardly put up a good fight, so why would I want to bother?" the demon said between bites, offering reassurance in the least reassuring way she could. "This pie's good."

"Oh, good evening, Guillaume," Gisela said, giving a slight curtsy. A mage she might be, but she was still a commoner... and far too many of even the lesser nobility got annoyed if not shown the proper respect. Guillaume seemed to be above that, but why take the chance? "No new injuries to report?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Down in the Mausoleum

"You seem rather... confused," the vampire pointed out, raising an eyebrow. On his end, the fight was remarkably stress free--while the floor was increasingly marked by scorches of flame, the disconnected hand was the only thing that needed to move. His voice carried a note of disappointment, but at the same time, there was an undeniable tinge of amusement to it. "Did you think to challenge a vampire without knowing the bare minimum of our capabilities? My dear, such overconfidence is going to get you killed some day."

His other hand, still holding the crossbow, tapped against the neck, "Decapitation. Fire. Going for the heart. Holy magic or the power of the sun more directly. Those are the things you need to fight us, and many others beside. Anything else is to engage in a battle of attrition, and, why--I can't imagine you haven't seen or heard of the paladin's approach to combat. She has enough of a reputation for myself to have heard of it."

Damon's eyes glanced up towards the roof, paying attention to something just beyond human perception. "Well, I think that's my favour repaid, I'll leave you knights to clear up the infestation."

The flames licking away at his blade intensified, the weapon slamming into the ground between them and sending out a red line that rose into a full wall. "Tell my family that I said hello. And let little Veilena know that I'm very interested to see what she does from here~"

Already darting back from the flame, the vampire slung his handless arm over the demon and--with another purple ripple in the air--they were gone. Demon, vampire, and blood-fuelled flames, leaving only the sabre stabbed into the rocky ground.

And the now-limp hand.

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Gisela

With the camp bustling around her, Gisela felt that there was very little for her to do on a day-to-day basis. Any injuries that a small-sized force such as this might sustain outside of combat were a matter of minutes to address, and once that was done... well, she was a mage, and that meant a level of respected treatment, despite the lack of nobility in her treatment. Powerful mages were in high enough demand to receive consistent payment and be spared the indignities of manual labour, so long as they continued to fulfil the obligations that nobody else could.

Soldiering was seemingly boring enough even with monotonous tasks. Without... well, she couldn't even indulge in games of chance or similar. Nobody wanted to play with the odd suspicious mage, who knew what cheating might happen? None, really, since Gisela couldn't do subtle, but even she couldn't completely discount that something might go wrong. All the sides on dice might come up six... even the ones face down.

So, instead, she had summoned Krysia to have someone to talk to... and also so that the others could at least become accustomed to the towering demon, rather than thinking it was an enemy in the middle of battle.

Not that over eight feet of armoured inhuman muscle was doing her reputation much of a favour.

Who had taken an interest in the goods on sale. Which Gisela would be obliged to pay for, of course, and she gave a sigh as the demon tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"But what if I only want the sweet pastry? The rest doesn't interest me," the red-skinned demon wondered allowed, voice surprisingly melodious--deep, for a woman, but a lot less raspy than someone with a rather loud approach to battle.

@Octo

I Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game, But———?! (Now Accepting)

Elastasia

"Maybe you should keep the, uh..." what had that thing been? She wasn't exactly an expert in the native fauna of this world, but it had looked pretty cheerful. It did bring a name to mind, but Elastasia really wasn't sure it was the right one. The crossover between her previous life's native Japanese and the language of this world could be a little hit and miss, without the benefit that a game had of being able to translate everything. "Wooper? Yeah, you should keep that happy thing, Reggie. You could do with something friendly around."

Terys' thanks were rather excessive and featured much bowing--although the boy had seemed to be largely enjoying the hefty creature's attention, who knows how long it would've been before he was free to do something else with that doing its best to cover every inch of him in friendly slobber. "Um... sister, do you mean the salamander?"

Was that what it was? Oh poo. "I thought those were more lizard like and... fiery?"

"When they're older, but..."

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

<Snipped quote by The Otter>

I, shockingly, don't need your food for thought. I, respectfully, offered a counterargument and solution to Vita. Not you.

If Vita says, my counterargument and offered solution won't work, so be it. Plenty of other ideas. But, trust me, I don't need yours.

@Enkryption

Your counterargument is lazy and doesn't work.

There are no harpies in Akitsushima. It's a distance of over ten thousand miles and two oceans. To boot, the closest thing to an ancestral home for them is actually over the veil, so that's another reduction in the odds any would resettle on literally the opposite side of the world and then traipse back.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Down in the Mausoleum (Lower)

Largely ignored, the shifty figure finally succeeded in smashing the gem occupying his attention as the undead monstrosity went down, releasing an eerie blue light that engulfed his figure... and froze, speaking in a much different tone of voice as he straightened. "No, no, you're just... eugh, is there a single pleasant thought in your head? This won't do at all, I'm not keeping you around."

There was just enough time to see him sprouting a pair of horns before he gave a jaunty wave, a deep purple ripple in the air engulfing him--

And then he was gone.

---

Down in the Mausoleum

Behind Damon, the air turned an unusual shade of purple, depositing a shifty-looking figure that leant against one of the many statues lining the room. "Of all the people you could have supplied the gem to, you had to choose him? He's thoroughly ugly, both outside and inside. Everything about him is all... sneering and gangly. And it's a man, to boot!"

The vampire's attention didn't wavor from his confrontation, although he easily answered, "Alfried and Fierense neither deserved a passenger nor a contest of wills for their own body. And if I had given you to that necromancer, who knows if he would have been gullible enough to use it? You needed a vessel, Reddiel."

The distinctly feminine pout on the other man's features was rather out of place. "But still! You could have told Torranz something. Have him try to throw it at someone. I'm sure these knights would be interesting to watch."

"Yes, just throw the magical, reinforced gem at the less than fully armoured knights and hope it breaks," was the sarcastic reply, "You just wanted a stronger body to start with. You'll fix everything else in short order, my dear. I'm sure you're already working on what little manliness Torranz ever had."

"Hmph. See if I don't leave you here."

---

Tyaethe

"Well, then, maybe we should ask the princesses what they think?" Tyaethe wondered, looking at the pair, "Do you want to stay here tonight, or come with us to Candaeln until it's safe?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Down in the Mausoleum

Serenity's opponent raised an eyebrow at bringing up the house of his birth, but didn't say anything as Serenity finally made her move. The mace was avoided with the unnatural ease that came with magical enhancement, head twitched aside in the space between one blink and the next. His response to the attack on his wrist could be considered... inspired. There was a peculiar foolishness in trying to block it with his wrist, the sword going much deeper than tendons. Almost too easily, the long blade dropping to the ground, still in hand.

But Damon... he didn't seem bothered at all, for all the space he'd suddenly made between them, merely giving a reproachful tut. "That is the classic rookie mistake when fighting against vampires, my dear. Most demons, too. All this sort of crippling injury does is ruin our clothing."

He held up the stump for emphasis. Slowly oozing blood--not nearly as much as such an injury would warrant, but enough to stain the sleeve around it and drip in a thin line to the floor, a trail leading back to the severed hand.

That was the warning before said hand whipped around, a baleful red flame flickering into life along the blade as it made a lunge for Serenity's back. Clearly, all concepts of a normal duel were out, now, the vampire dissuading any rush for his person by firing the now-reloaded crossbow between them.

At this point, it exploding into more of that barely-illuminating flame couldn't be a surprise at all.