Shard

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

Slowly lowering their lantern to the floor, Shade squinted as he maintained a lingering gaze on the corpse. While neither the first nor the last cadaver he would come across, the boy took a moment to trace his fingertips across the bones. Several bite marks could be seen, clearly strewn across its shape. The head had fallen off, and nothing remained but the very shell of what had once carried a person. “It’s been a while..,” Shade commented, feeling the dry nature of the bones against his dainty fingers, “must have been a sewage worker,” he continued, before managing a soft sigh, “or an adventurer.” This could very well be the fate of all three, killed and forgotten within the disgusting confines of a sewer. It was somewhat fitting, one might add, at least for the assassin. He was born in darkness, and perhaps he would die in it, as well.

With the lantern lighting their surroundings from where Shade had left it upon the floor, the boy stared into ever-growing darkness with streams of light weakly peering through grates above. Clenching his teeth, the Dark Elf was unable to ignore sounds of squeaking, accompanied by the padding of small, filthy feet. Rats were coming. “Archer,” Shade spoke, the word leaving his lips at a rapid pace once the forms of two rats made themselves known.

Large, furry creatures leaped into the circle of light which spread its way around the party, gnashing and gnawing teeth attempting to hungrily dig their way into flesh. Behind them, another two rats charged the group with a lone halberdier tasked to keep them at bay. “Damn, a pincer move,” Shade clenched his teeth. They were rats, but they were also hunters, and they had killed humans, before. A pile of bones next to the party made that abundantly clear.

Shade leaned towards his quick reflexes and dashed aside, avoiding the devastating pounce of a rabid, filthy beast. The boy’s footwork allowed for him to rapidly swing his blade, leaving a trail of blood on the floor, before the sound of a squealing rat filled their ears. It would not allow such a meager wound to slow the beast down, however. Swiping at Shade, the rat pounced forth and managed to knock the assassin into a hard, stone wall. Sharp, rotting teeth attempted to sink their way into his skin, before biting down on the edge of his blade, where he guarded himself against the otherwise finishing blow. He slid the blade out from between his enemy’s teeth, leaving a long cut across the rat’s cheeks, but was yet again standing against a viciously pouncing beast.

“Shit..,” Shade yelped, moments before he was pushed over and hit the floor, a massive rat climbing atop of his small frame. Through pure reflex, the assassin shoved his blade through the rat’s temple only moments before its teeth managed to reach his face. Instead, the beast slumped on his body, deadweight now pushing him down without remorse. “Goblins would..,” he panted, slowly pushing himself out from beneath the monster, “have been better..,” Shade finished.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

Raising a brow at the offer Shade had been given, the gracious gift he found shoved into his hand, a small sigh escaped the boy’s lips. He was an assassin, a lurker of the shadow, someone who used stealth as their primary weapon. Now, he was carrying a light source which handicapped his entire way of fighting and conducting battle. These girls were clueless. However, he could not blame them, too much. They had no way of knowing that the Dark Elf was a shadow warrior, someone who relied on dexterity and finesse rather than brute force.

Holding the lantern with incredible disdain, none of which the assassin displayed, Shade continued to follow his new companions. The armored footsteps of their frontline combatant easily drowned out his own weightless motions, a small echo lingering with each movement. “We’re going to have to patrol the whole place, anyway,” Shade commented, frowning at the light held between his slender fingers, “it doesn’t much matter where we begin.”

The ideal scenario in these circumstances would be to have Shade scout ahead, using his ability to fade into the shadows, which allowed for ease of information. He could mark the location of their enemies, analyze their positions, and finally, conduct a plan of attack with his team. Though, that did not appear to be what the three of them were pursuing. Weighing the positives, however, this was the safest option, even if Shade found himself utterly crippled by the lantern. His dark eyes were quite comfortable in the sewers, but it was a strength the boy was less than willing to share.

He lowered his attention to the damp, wet stone floor beneath their feet. Needless to say, the surface was adequately revolting, with sewage water offering little in terms of scenery. The stench was not as bad as the boy had first expected, though maintained an obvious layer of disgust. Goblin caves shared the feat, and they tended to smell even worse, which was further elevated by death and rotting carcasses found throughout their abodes. Humans were.., quite disgusting, in their own way. They ate like pigs, they smelled of sweat more often than one would like to admit, they were loud, obnoxious, and severely lacking in discipline, but they were at the very least unique from one another. Some humans did, in fact, possess manners. No goblins displayed that ability, and neither did any other monster Shade had come across in his short life.

Absentmindedly twirling his small blade between his fingers, the assassin looked ahead through the darkness, attempting to keep his ears perked for sounds of skittering and movement. Rats, no matter their size, were silent creatures. They attacked from the shadows, and would likely not rush the group through a frontline assault. Even animals knew how to fight, and they knew what would get them killed. Wolves hunted in packs, they used tactics, and cats slowly stalked their prey like assassins on four paws. Underestimating the enemy was a fool’s endeavor, and Shade’s father had repeatedly told the boy to treat every single enemy like a mighty demon. Be careful, be tactical, and most importantly, be precise.

Remaining behind the heavily armored girl, Shade agreed with the positions taken. In an ideal approach, she would warrant attention from the enemy, allowing the archer to nock arrows onto the string of her bow, and give Shade clear shots on enemies with a heavy focus on the armored warrior. ‘In a group, the assassin’s job is to find openings and to act as an opportunist,’ the boy’s father would say, ‘if the knight is fighting another armored opponent, your job is to bypass the armor, while unseen.’ A feat which was difficult to perform amidst the flames of combat, but it was something Shade had been practicing in the same way a swordsman mastered the swing of a heavy blade.

“I think you can just decide every direction we go in,” the Dark Elf stated as he looked towards the halberdier, “the less we talk down here, the less our enemy can hear us.”

[closed]

Tapping slender fingers against the hilt of his sword as they walked, Artemis' tired and most certainly apathetic eyes shifted their gaze towards the sky. A bright, blue layer above their heads, with nary a cloud in sight. It would appear that some of his group had begun interacting, which was a prospect Angelicus condoned. "You should engage in conversation with your team, Artemis," the ghostly knight stated.

Not long after, did the spirit user hear the smallest member of their gathering ask a public question. It warranted a thought. This group of misfits had been haphazardly thrown together and sent into the Battlefield without knowing a single fact about one another. A small chuckle escaped Artemis' lips at the notion. This was a suicide mission, and they were all expendable. The soldier had considered this odd ever since he received the letter which caused this entire scenario to unfold. Was the government trying to get rid of them? Every moment in the Badlands with this group made it seem like little else held any merit.

"I have a hard time dying," Artemis responded, turning his attention to the young gestalt who had introduced themselves as Dawn. "That's about it," the boy managed a small sigh. However, the ability had left Artemis in situations where death spread its miasma around him, leaving the spirit user with the role of sole survivor. Friends, companions, and even a closer relationship had all perished in response to this never-ending war, but Artemis remained.

One would understand that the prospect of his ability colored the boy a recluse. The world withered around him, and yet he remained unscathed. Rather, Artemis would claim it abandonment, where reality passed him by like a flowing lake. All he could do was to sit on a rock watch the stream pass by.

"I'm Artemis," the boy introduced himself, large black eyes turning to view the miniscule creature named Dawn. It felt odd to fight next to a little girl, no matter what resided beneath.

Growing close to others was a mistake. If anything, these people would all die, and perhaps even Artemis himself. He had failed to do that enough times in the past. He gave the girl at his side another look, this time sizing her up with a raised eyebrow. "You ready for this?" Artemis asked. Dawn was a peculiar individual. Someone the swordsman was quite skeptical of.

However, seeing how Aden lit a cigar, Artemis seized the opportunity and reached a hand into his pocket. "It's gonna' get bloody," the boy stated with the same level of monotone apathy he had displayed since meeting the group. He lit the small, paper cylinder in his mouth, and exhaled a long breath.

"Dawn's spirit is in the possession of a powerful ability, Artemis," Angelicus began, the bright specter's attention fixed on Dawn's ghostly companion. "It is useful in a group such as this. Chains would offer quite the advantage.., if a bit dishonorable."

Tilting his head at Angelicus, Artemis puffed the cigarette in his mouth, "a bondage spirit," he stated, "kinky." Again, the boy spoke with the expressed enthusiasm of a broom. "That's what we would call a Utility based power, in my old group," Artemis continued. "Offers tactical advantages, and whatever."

"As well spoken as ever," Angelicus sighed, "at least you're getting along," the spirit finished. It had been difficult for Artemis to move on from the now deceased members of his old squad. However, he was constantly reminded that death walked hand in hand with every soldier. A truth none could escape.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

Wanting to avoid as many interactions as possible, Shade made himself scarce outside the general store where his new ally had begun procuring a light source for herself and the archer. Shade was going to manage well enough without one, and it was becoming more evident with the morning light continuing to hurt his eyes. Growing up in a cave, and conducting most of his active training at night time, Shade had grown far too used to a lack of light. His sense of hearing was quite fantastic, and his ability to see in the dark was outstanding, but this left the boy with a handicap. He felt halfway blind on the bright surface. It was almost shameful to share these senses with something as despicable as goblins. Shade’s father had told him of the vile creatures, and their homes made in darkness.

Indeed, Shade had hunted goblins with his father on more than one occasion, and while the boy lacked much of what could be considered critical information concerning the monsters, he knew of their features. They saw well in obfuscating darkness, they had an amazing sense of smell, and apparently, they were all male, which explained the kidnapping of females. He had always wondered about that, why goblins displayed such a habit in bringing the fairer sex back to their lairs, where they would otherwise simply kill the men. They could evidently breed with any species, and the result was always another goblin.

Be that as it was, Shade shifted his attention back to his current quest. He had an opportunity to fight goblins once more, but it was a quest he had forsaken in favor of this far safer option. Some would perhaps consider it cowardly, but what differentiated an assassin from a knight, was that one of them operated through logic, while the other pursued passion.

Shade picked up his pace and followed the armored girl as the started towards the tavern. It was only when they reached the establishment that confirmations were made. There was indeed a manhole behind the structure, and Shade wasted no time in kneeling down next to the metallic lid. He did find it rather fascinating how human cities had developed so far. Sewers were not of a simple design. They were the underbelly of any city, and they harbored that of which people wanted to disregard and scorn. Considering how elves survived on fruits and vegetables alone, their biology was somewhat different from a human’s. Where eternal elves could indeed survive on a few apples a day, humans would quickly find themselves wanting.

The boy tugged softly at the metallic lid, before he tilted his head. Naturally, the path was locked. Officials would not have wanted anyone to actually slip into the sewers without proper permission. Shade was, however, not quite the law-abiding citizen one might have expected. As if a reflex, the elf produced his lockpicks and began working on the metallic lid possessing a large lock halting their path. A keen observer would have been able to count thirty full seconds before a click was heard, but Shade did not seem to consider the situation appealing. “I need to be able to do that twenty seconds faster,” he sighed. Half a minute on one lock? Unacceptable, but he was still learning. At the very least, he was willing to admit that.

Pulling the metal lid aside, Shade slipped down towards the ladder which led into their designated quest area. His movements were fluid and most certainly agile, and once he felt the moist, damp floor beneath his feet, the boy reached for his short sword and released the weapon from its scabbard.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

One thing was growing abundantly clear in response to the archer's antics. Where Dark Elves as a whole did not represent Shade, neither did this girl spearhead the concept of humanity. Her demeanor, the way she carried herself, and the blatant oddity coating her like a blanket separated this young female from every other human in that establishment. Humans were quite unpredictable in their own right, but this girl was purely odd. Her cultural behavior stretched itself far from what the others were displaying, where she could be considered an obvious minority.

With wide eyes, Shade watched the girl disrobe amongst others, a scene which was performed in public. What the Steppe Archer had spoken of quickly faded into memory, in comparison. Indeed, the sewers were quite horrid, and the scent following their upcoming adventure was nothing a person would prefer. Even so, Shade was now exchanging looks with a girl who had placed herbs in her nose and undressed in front of an audience.

"Thanks..," the Dark Elf had long since halted his advance, and extended a hand to gently pinch the herb between two slender fingers. In regards to his profession, the boy was expected to brave through assignments such as these without sensual aid. He was an assassin, and disgusting venues were going to be frequented. If he couldn't sludge through the confines of a sewer system without sticking two branches into his nose, the boy's father would be sorely disappointed.

Shade slipped the generous gift into his pocket, and resumed a previous stride towards the exit. With a hand on the door, he pushed it open and stepped into the morning light.

A warm, pleasant breeze brushed past the youth's exposed skin, with a small if delighted exhale leaving his lips. Shade had made sure to scout parts of the city before entering the guild, which left the elf with a small headstart. Entering a city mimicked the scenario of stepping through the front door of a home. An assassin was supposed to know of every plausible exit and escape route. Anything could happen at any time, which in itself warranted vigilance.

If the elf recalled correctly, there was a sewer entrance close to one of the taverns. More precisely, behind the establishment, in a back alley. If anything spelled out 'unsavory', it was most certainly the business conducted in these shady corners. "There was a manhole over there, I think," Shade spoke, and pointed away from the guild.

It would have been foolish to claim that an open city such as this, despite its small size, offered any measure of comfort for the Dark Elf. His pointed ears were safely hidden beneath the shape of his hood, but every single inhabitant of this human venue was a possible risk.

With a slight sigh, Shade shook the thought from his mind. So far, things were going well enough, and no one knew of his true heritage yet. Hopefully he could manage this quest together with his party and then make himself scarce before they picked up on anything. He dreaded to think what a discovery would entail. The archer would perhaps not put any emphasis on it, as she appeared rather.., distant from other species. However, the armored girl clearly had elven blood flowing through her veins. That much was certain, after a single look at her ears.

"It's going to be very dark down there," Shade stated, "if you're not used to it, perhaps a torch is advisable." As for him, Shade was more comfortable in the dark, and his eyes found the lack of light soothing. Enough so, for the morning shine to leave a slight irritation in his obsidian orbs.

[closed]

“You best abandon that habit, Artemis,” Angelicus’ voice echoed throughout the boy’s mind, where a pair of slender fingers gently pinched the cigarette between Artemis’ lips. Removing the small, paper cylinder from his mouth, the soldier exhaled a long, smoky breath.

“It’s not like I’ve got my health to worry about,” Artemis returned and rose to his feet. He was an experienced young man, and he had seen war in frequent repetition. This was nothing new for him, but a quick analysis of his team left the young soldier wanting. This was it? One of these aspiring prospects looked like little more than a girl of fourteen winters. Of course, Artemis if anyone, should have known not to judge a book by its cover, as that very philosophy related to himself in high regards. He didn't appear older than a teenager, and was often called out on the fact by his fellow soldiers. 'Little Shit' was a nickname he had grown rather accustomed to.

However, where one of his teammates donned the appearance of a young girl, and another looked like little more than a thug, which Artemis could relate to, a dark-skinned man stood amongst them, as well. Out of the lot, he seemed the most orthodox, a position closely followed by the woman equipped with a scattergun. Two legitimate soldiers and three freaks, then? Artemis could work with that, as long as these misfits, including himself, could work together.

"Your health is of no consequence, Artemis," the spirit continued, "it is a distraction, and you are not on your own," Angelicus stated, appearing in his shape of bright, white light. A celestial knight among men.

Indeed, neither drugs nor alcohol had any effect on the boy's regenerating body, but they offered no advantage whatsoever. This also extended to performance enhancing injections. Artemis' spirit power rendered him immune to both benefits and side effects.

"Fine," the soldier rolled his eyes, and flicked the cigarette into a trashcan following its completion. He strapped the silver-colored round shield to his left forearm, and started towards the unveiled designation.

Loud sounds echoed throughout, with shrieking gates finally opening to reveal a path. One could spin tales about the Badlands and its horrors, but the vast mountains and breathtaking landscape were sights to behold. Indeed, it was as if a breathtaking painting, stretching its frames long and wide.

Even so, dangers roamed across the large, green stretch, and after his many ventures into the Battlefield, Artemis could not ignore previous experiences filling his thoughts in an unfiltered stream. Bloodshed and violence awaited them all. Hopefully this team was prepared for that. "Keep your guard up," Angelicus warned, "even you can be hurt, Artemis."

Stepping across the threshold which separated the city from a world of chaos, Artemis managed a small grin, shaking his head. "It wouldn't be fun otherwise."

"Battle is an exchange of power, and valor, but do not make the mistake of involving bloodlust," the spirit pitched in, his ghostly voice stern and assertive.

"You like seeing demons die as much as I do, Angelicus," the boy snorted, smirking at his spectral ally.

"But seeing you hurt holds no joy, so do not exchange skill for recklessness." Angelicus finished, before the knight vanished from sight. He had been the boy's mentor ever since their bond was sealed, and he would continue to maintain such a position within Artemis' life. A position the boy was thankful for.

[closed]

I have noticed how two characters have physically interacted with their spirit so far, even though you stated that this shouldn't be a possibility, xD.

Just an observation.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

It would appear that either Shade maintained a heavy level of paranoia, where he expected the worst from everyone, and trusted no one, or the newly arrived girl was naive. It was faulty to blame the youthful elf of his disposition, however. He was fully aware that most people very much wanted him dead by virtue of his existence, which clearly bled into other matters, as well. Shade believed that everyone was capable of acting out in gruesome and in this case, unexpected ways. However, noting how his thoughts were discarded in disapproval, the boy decided to remain silent. His eyes still occasionally lingered on the man who had warranted this worry, but eventually, Shade’s attention shifted, and turned its gaze towards the receptionist. They couldn’t just leave, or else no one would know where they were headed, and the quest would not have been recorded.

The Dark Elf was unsure of how this process worked. So far, he had been equipped with minimal knowledge on the matter, and as nearly weightless steps brought the boy closer to the reception, Shade patiently waited for his turn to reveal itself. He decided to linger for a moment, seeing how others were conducting themselves in front of the receptionist and would echo their statements. “Hello,” the elf commented, once none other stood in front of him in the queue. “We’re a group of three,” he thumbed over his shoulder at the two girls joining him for this quest of pest control. Rather, it would be fair to say that they were joining the Archer. “Uhm, we’re accepting the quest to hunt down rats,” he tried.

The receptionist appeared to be a pleasant individual, indeed, and it did not take long for the woman to look over Shade and his two companions. This was what she did on the daily, after all. “Three of you, then?” The receptionist spoke, offering Shade a soft and most reassuring smile, “that seems reasonable,” she continued. “I’ve signed you off on the quest. Good hunting, and be careful!” She finished, revealing a bright smile. There truly were people cut from every cloth within these walls. From the deepest depths of depravity no doubt to saints made flesh.

Starting towards the door, Shade turned to the girls, “I think that’s it,” he stated, “let’s find a sewer entrance.” Not a glamorous job by any stretch of the imagination but there were people working beneath the city, people keeping the sewers clean and running. They were at risk, due to these monstrosities, even if the issue as a whole strayed far beneath the attention of more experienced warriors. Someone needed to deal with the issue, and so far, it seemed to have fallen to an assassin, an archer, and a soldier.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

The girl's words caused Shade to feel a flush of heat washing over his pale cheeks. He smelled like a boy? This was the first time he had come across a human with a notable sense of smell. Raising an arm, Shade took the moment to sample his own supposed scent. A small nose gently tapped against the surface of his pale, smooth skin, but the result left him confused. Shade could not smell anything, much less a difference between himself and those around him, at the current distance.

The elf's gray, short sleeved tunic and black pants were both quite baggy on his scrawny body, and were undoubtedly coated in the scent of travel, with a hood draped over his features. It was attached to a short cloak extending down towards the boy's waistband, with a porcelain pin attached to it in the form of a clip. Anything longer would have hindered dexterous movements by an inconvenient amount.

Fingerless gloves following the theme of Shade's less than creative color-scheme donned the boy's dainty, slender hands. He could smell the handle of his blade on their surface, polished steel tightly gripped in response to danger.

The elf's thoughts would, however, travel elsewhere, and the heat in his cheeks grew all the more prominent. His father had once told him that females could smell their way to adequate prospects, especially during a specific time, each month. Whether this was a joke or not, the master assassin would not say. Many rumors surrounded the mystery that were womenfolk, and Shade knew not the answer to a single one of them. Asking his mother was far too embarrassing.

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, Shade shifted his attention to their new friend. She possessed a porcelain pin, which likely indicated that she had yet to accept any missions, on her own. Additionally, Shade saw her entering the building, and she had not examined the board. "If other adventurers are that hostile in here," he motioned towards the man who had left a memorable impression, now sitting with a mug of ale grasped between his fingers, "it's probably more dangerous outside." Every quest was, after all, a competition, and the reward warranted greed from many. This would not have been the first time experienced warriors preyed on those with less.

Gently tapping a small foot against the floor, Shade maintained a practiced gaze on the steel-ranked adventurer. He was certain that they had not seen the last of him. Shade did not understand the nature of women, but men were quite simple, and pride repeatedly made itself known as the most common of sins. When wounded, anger soon followed, which warranted action. "He might follow us into the sewers, and no one will notice if a group of new adventurers end up dead," Shade warned. Though a morbid disposition, the boy was taught since birth to be paranoid. He was a Dark Elf on human soil, and that in itself was an act of aggression.

"If you don't have a group, you should probably stick with us, until things calm down," the elf continued, his silent, soft voice trickling through a pair of thin, pale lips.

Catching the occasional glare from their previous encounter did not help in easing Shade's mind. Though the two women at the man's side appeared far less sinister than their partner, it merely meant that they possessed an advantage over him. "Those three might want to cash in on us," the boy continued, managing a quiet sigh.

[closed]

Sorry for the late reply.