Sanguine Rose — Roleplayer Guild

    
In the time since they had arrived back from Era, Ria had spent a good portion of her time away from the others. From the near day and a half of sleep, to simply sitting and pouring over some of her books, the normally social girl had hidden away. She'd come out only to discuss the events - namely surrounding what occurred between herself and Giselle, and what she'd been told by Giselle about what happened when Gwen had gone to deal with the rabble just over a month prior. When she made an appearance in the guildhall, she smiled her usual cheerful smile and made conversation, but she played with her hairband on her wrist and stood further away from others the entire time. My nerves are just still very sensitive, was the claims. 

Kaden, on the other hand, had been much his usual self since the ANP quest. There were no hard feelings with Obsidian Kite, not even the four fools that attacked them. He'd taken another small nothing job the next day, and then again two days later. He'd just come back from that one yesterday. Nice little easy outings but still, they earned money and were things he could talk up at a pub and land another bed mate. Not bad. 

It was on his way to the guild this morning that he ran into a recently elusive guild mate. It was weird being in the guildhall those days he was there without seeing the odd eyed social butterfly that was one of their most reliable waitresses. So to run into her on the street it was even weirder. "Ria?"

Ria blinked, spinning around to see Kaden giving her a quizzical look. A smile blossomed on her face quickly, hands worrying the strap of her satchel for a moment. "Oh, hi, Kaden. Fancy running into you here."

"What are you doing here? That's headed toward a bad part of town."

Ria laughed softly, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh it's fine. I've been there plenty before. I'm just headed to see a customer. He runs a bookshop I was going to get something and deliver some good news that I think I found him a match." She turned to head back off, before stopping and looking back at the black haired mage. "You're welcome to come with me if you are concerned." With that, she headed off on her way again.

Kaden considered the offer for a moment, even almost turned to head toward the guild, before heaving a heavy sigh and following along. "Fine, but I'm only coming to make sure nothing happens because you've been acting weird this week. I'm not carrying anything for you." 

* * *

It was closer to noon that the two finally ended up walking into the guild. Kaden had more than a few books in his arms, to go with the bag full of books hitting against Ria's hip. She sported her usual smile, while he seemed to have died just a little inside. Obviously if he'd managed to be talked into carrying books for her. 

Ria frowned noticing the traces of smoke wafting from the kitchen, but turned her attention to Kaden. "Would you mind bringing those up to my room with me?" She offered him a pretty smile when he looked like he was about to turn her down, but instead she got a huff and a nod in response. She smiled more and lead the way, giving the older mage direction where to place the books before starting to organize them.

Kaden grumbled in response to her thanks before heading back down to the guild proper. "Do one good thing and I miss the fun," he grumbled with a huff and light kick of a bar stool before taking a seat. "Who's trying to burn the guild down without me?"

The Summary

Lifting the Curse Quest

The S-Class quest was about ready to set out, the three had planned out what would happen and were all but out the door when Torys pulled Holly to the side. It was last minute - extremely so as Torys had just received the message - but nothing that would terribly impede the quest. There was no one else she could trust to take on a job of this magnitude, and Holly, while hesitant to not go on the S-Class quest, dutifully accepted the task. A 100 year quest. Few got such honors.

With Holly setting out on a separate quest, the question arose - what of the S-Class quest? The answer to that was simple. With the guild growing and both Gwen and Zenith showing such promise, the quest would be used to see just which one would be the right fit for claiming another S-Class title. 

Upon return, it was clear to Torys that Zenith was the better of the two and promoted him to S-Class.

Quelling The Student Rebellion Job

Akemi, Leon, and Ria set out for Era as planned. Upon meeting with Harvard's Thought Projecting and Leon's "friend" Irene, the group were informed what they were up against - after also seeing the problems they faced. There was the little matter of a weapon of mass destruction - the Thunder Palace - growing closer to being readied to destroy a large population, and a lot of students still on campus at risk of both being casualties to it and being caught in the crossfire of whatever might occur on campus between the council and the Fenixtear mages here to help. With little to offer besides knowledge of the council members, Leon offered to help clear the campus of any loitering students. Irene suggested most had taken to studying in their dorms and off campus housing, and set out with Leon to help make sure the campus would be safe, just in case.

Upon parting to head off in search of Ria's cousin, the girls encountered the first of the student council - Hama Bloomfield - with a hoard of blood puppet students. Ria managed to imprison the students, while Akemi forced Hama into submission with an onslaught of arrows. After securing Hama away as instructed by Harvard, for later punishment, they came face to face with Giselle Kaiser. Ria insisted on talking things out, refusing to allow it to get into a fight. They'd just come to an understanding when two other council members - Kai Haul and Ramiel Dreyar - attacked. Giselle offered to assist against Kai and keep him busy while Ria gave Akemi pointers for dealing with Ramiel. But in seeing they were now fighting the one responsible for the Thunder Palace around the school, Ria turned her sights on the bigger danger. With several water-make pillars in place, Ria used those as stakes to drive the lightning from the spell into after slamming a dome of water into the spheres. Some blow back hit her, but it was minimal compared to the lightning directed into the pillars. That left Zara Fernandes - whom they knew going into it had eye magic, and thus used an obscuring mist in the room Giselle told them she was in; they got the drop on the girl and were able to make quick work in suppressing her ability to use her power, and bring the whole ordeal to an end.

Upon reporting back to Harvard they had neutralized the threat, they were given the reward. Only after all involved - including Harvard - received a lecture from Ria for the poor decisions of all involved. Of course that was laughed off by the 5th wizard saint, but it didn't stop her from doing it. Leon, for his better judgement, decided to remain at Era University to re-enroll in his studies with the use of the scholarship. Akemi requested her offered scholarship be transferred to Irene for the assistance the older girl presented in helping reduce the potential for damage. Ria requested her offered scholarship be transferred to Giselle, after exchanging numbers for the two cousins to remain in contact now that she was aware the other was alive.

And the two girls returned home, to pay Torys the guild cut and report the news of Leon's decided hiatus from guild work.

The Karling Mansion Caretaker Job

The two Koi Fish Guild members collected the mage taking up the job. Bebe and her family left with the two mages. It was a simple job, mostly nothing to think about it. The three nights of the job went quickly enough. Fun cute little games of hide and seek, and tag, and a few other lighthearted games to keep the kid busy when not keeping to a quiet time of reading and making sure Karl did his studies. The housework kept done, and aside from cleaning up a few displaced pots - which may or may not have been because of the games played inside. A few doors slammed unsuspectingly, but that could have been the wind. At one point, Karl had tripped down the last few steps, but Ollie was able to heal the boy right back to proper. But nothing terribly exciting to report when Karlomane returned home.

The job done, they returned to the guild. However, the time spent at the Karling Mansion made Bebe and her brother realize how much they were missing the rest of their family. With the siblings growing homesick despite the wanderlust, the trio from the Star Circus bid the guild master and their compatriots farewell and took leave. Boarding the Green Man, they started the journey back home to rejoin their family in the traveling circus.

The ANP Delivery Job

Wagon finally procured and the team finally underway, it wasn't long before the trio of mages were stopped just outside of town. It should have been a surprise to see the quartet of mages that had stopped them were from Obsidian Kite, a well respected guild, but Kaden wasn't entirely surprised. More burdened. Still, the trio made quick work of the four mages - with Kaden taken on the head of the group, Lavinia dealing with another powerful one, and Asher dealing with two mages that were surprised to be outclassed by an independent guild mage. A minor hiccup on a road of inconvenience thanks to a chatty vending machine. 

Back underway, the group later came across some thugs in the walking path from one town to the next. With Lavinia sitting back offering some magical support to Asher, Kaden simply lounged beside the ANP "to ensure nothing terribly happened, obviously" while the Forge mage took on the three pests. But showing the same ingenuity of the first fight, Asher made short work of the three pests and they were sent packing. After a short break for Asher to recoup, they set off once more. Only to be stopped yet again, with Abeneraaa Harbor finally in sight. The Dark Guild Master was made to regret the decision of stopping the rather grumpy and neigh on the verge of infighting group with Kaden and Lavinia taking the powerful mage on. But like the other fights, the trio came out victorious - if not that much angry for the delays imposed on them.

Finally having arrived, and not before receiving the coordinates of the annoying appliacen's creator Avedis' workshop, they bust in the door to the workshop to confront the man for his rather poor tastes in delivery methods. After a bit of...harsh...negotiations regarding the state the eccentric inventory had left their guild hall and the price for damages, Kaden took claim of the rewards and they finally completed the delivery. The ANP finally offloaded, and inconveniently finding the reward mini-ANP was just as annoying, the smaller device was given to Asher. 

The trio hired out the local Obsidian Kite to bring them back to Crocus rather than walk back (so long as Asher made sure to keep the new annoyance quiet.) Upon return to the guild, Kaden made sure to pay out Torys the guild cut of the job, plus the increase in pay for the property damages. He also gave her the heads up about the run-in the team had with Obsidian Kite just so she was aware. Lavinia, however, didn't bother remaining awake for the actual final division of payout; so the boys split the pot and paid her the next time she was awake around them.

Protecting Magi Mari Job

• A 4-day bodyguard mission of protecting Theatric Actress, Mari from Assassins which she had multiple encounters in the past.

• First Day; Luke, Gerard and Alina had a briefing with Director Stone about the job. Rumors had it that this covert guild could be the rumored infamous God Hand, which grabbed Alina's attention. They have decided that to better protect Mari from her killer, Alina may act as her stunt double/decoy for certain periods.

Luke was officially assigned as Mari's immediate bodyguard because of his calm vibe contrasting Mari's impulsive nature. Gerard is paired as Alina's proxy when dealing with any possible leads about Mari's supposed killer.

The First Day was a slice of life themed activity about the showbiz of Fiore. During backstage, Mari bonded with Alina about how having to put up plenty of facades just to appease her fans and she's insecure about not being herself, Luke being her bodyguard heard what she said too. He internalized about himself as the facades that Mari were upholding struck him, he lost focus and the rest of them had to snap him out.

• Within this period, Director Stone showed them around and his daughter, Brittany who was competitive with Mari and Gerard had verbal skirmish with Brittany, Mari laughed at Gerard's confidence.

Alina condescendingly told Luke to focus on this get to know each other session and can't have him spacing out. Luke understood and laid out a meek reply and expression.

They had an early dinner, Gerard comes back on time. He told them that there's a lack of leads about the rumors but it seemed that there's something off about the Director, whom he caught talking to himself, Alina retorted; he's just crazy.

The day ended with a peaceful dinner.

First Night; Mari was asleep, but it was actually Alina who is disguised as Mari. The Assassins took action, it appears that there was Transformation Mage among the assassins who took form as Luke and attempted to stab the fake Mari (Alina), Gerard who was keeping himself awake saw it and just in time saved Alina.

The two was then led to a chase on the rooftop, theater room.

They face off with the second assassin, who was a Sound Mage. It became a two vs two fight, and it appeared that their strategy was of no luck because the Transformation Mage was confusing them with disguises of constant shift between Alina and Luke but Luke wasn't there.

The Sound Mage bodied both Fenixtear Mages. Gerard use fire magic to stand their ground and protect Alina.

With Luke's fire spreading , the Assassins were in a tight pinch.

The third member who uses shadows bailed them out with Shadow Magic which Gerard countered, Alina told Gerard to let them go as there are more important things to take care of.

The second day started with an immediate meeting, they discussed about their attackers and the good thing is that Mari was safe. Brittany mocked Mari and instead of taking it with stride, Mari had the backbone, as Gerard and her roasted Brittany, and forced her to talk out of the room.

Mari just found out her schedule is packed and she wanted to go out of the zone. Mari pleaded to Alina that if she could pretend to be her for the day, Alina reluctantly agreed.

Mari chose Gerard to bond with while Luke stayed with Alina.

They went to the Funfair, Gerard showed what having fun is like to Mari. 

Mari stressed about not seeing her family and one day she would want to see them. She explained in a more elaborated manner on how cruel the showbiz industry is, with their corrupted way of doing things. Gerard felt pitty and pat her back, he promised that they will get through this.

They got back and the Director reprimanded them, Luke didn't know about any of the switch since Alina didn't tell him..

The third day was a serious no fun rehearsal. Gerard was forbidden to talk to Mari in a friendly way and must act professionally.
The rest were to take their job seriously. 

Mari and Brittany opened up to each other, and felt sorry for her mistreatment.

The show theater went on but in the ending of it, the assassins took action, they were also in disguise.

A fight went on, Luke grabbed Mari away from the scene along with Brittany.

Alina vs Sound Mage, Gerard vs Shadow Mage, Luke vs Transformation Mage.

Alina had problems in hand-to-hand combat but defeated the Sound Mage by using sound against her with theater speaker amplifier. This is where she confirmed that their enemy was indeed God Hand.

Gerard had difficulty because of the superior utility of Shadow Magic that his enemy use. Gerard beat him with fire and used his Shadow Magic as a last resort.

Luke's fight was a matter of psyche warfare, he imagined what would the twins do in a fight between girls, assuming if the Transformation Mage was a girl anyway.

If it was Ria's approach, he'd settle it with words but of it was Gwen's, he best settle it with violence.

Neither, he made his own move and told the girls to strip. Brittany and double Mari, the real Mari didn't strip and so did Brittany, the Assassin did and Luke defeated them.

The mission was a success.

They claimed their rewards and bid farewell.

Without them knowing , Mari was killed by a fourth member of God Hand who struck her down with a knife.

AND SO OUR STORY RESUMES.

It's been 1 week since our newest members (Menzai and Vashya) have arrived and all members have returned to the guild. Everyone has situated themselves, though not entirely easily.

Sanguine Rose Member

The Author: Alexia Wynd

Status

Recent Statuses

Bio

Most Recent Posts