VitaVitaAR

Paths Unwound — A Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner

Alien Facility

---

The sensation of being transported is weightless, my vision obscured only to reemerge in---

Ah.

The sight of a forest is not unusual. Far from it, but the sky is something different compared to the simulated skies of the Xianzhou fleet. It's not as if I have no experience with ordinary skies, though I am not normally able to leave the Luofu and the fleet as a whole, but it is still a less common site for me as far as experiencing it in person.

'Earth' then. A planet I had never heard of, likely from a branch of the Imaginary Tree far removed from our own, plagued by invaders. The atmosphere feels far less stilted then the timeless world we just departed from, and despite the unfamiliarity it feels normal, for the moment.

But that moment is unspeakably brief.

Indeed, the faint glow is an immediate sign of a potential threat, and therefore---

I stretch out my senses, a dull throb running through my forehead as the omniscia responds. It is an ache I am entirely accustomed to.

I'll stretch my vision to the future, raising my hands as I place my fingers together gently. Of course, in this situation I am unable to see great distances into what is to come. But I will be able to see the approaching figures' next movements with perfect clarity, and thus plan accordingly.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Rune_Alchemist

---

Ruins

---

After passing through the portal, the trio arrived in what appeared to be an almost idyllic scene.

Birds could be heard calling loudly to one another. The floor was composed of thick, soft grass, which grew sparser out from the center as taller plants extended upwards, ferns and shrubs of various sorts. There was the sound of running water nearby, and dew clung to leaves and various surfaces. The air was pleasant, not cold but slightly cool in the same manner as an early morning on a day promising to be an ideal temperature.

Perhaps at first glance, it would be difficult to believe that such a location could possibly have been the site of some great cataclysm that wiped out nearly all of the human population.

But the very borders of the clearing, past the taller, thicker vegetation, were strange. A flat, sheer surface covered in vines and moss, dripping with moisture and continuing upwards towards a large opening through which the sunlight poured.

It was some sort of enormous, destroyed structure, though its exact nature was difficult to discern from within it. there was a gap through the thick, clingy foliage, through which more light could be glimpsed. Thus, it was likely that this was some form of exit.

From outside, there was a heavy, thudding sound, but apparently this was not enough of a disturbance to disrupt the calling birds.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Cmmelody@Raineh Daze

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

---I was still unhappy.

Of course, my feelings hardly matter to the mission. Overall, the outcome of retreat from that decorated fiend was enough to ensure continued progress towards out goal.

But it meant that twisted thing, with a presence that made my stomach turn, had yet to be destroyed. I'd hoped we would kill it before it escaped, but...

It fled before we could do anything.

---But that's not it.

I knew I'd sensed a similar presence from Sagramore-san. Or, I suppose, his true name... Shilage. It explains some things I had yet to question, though I admittedly had not been immediately concerned for them. While I have a dislike for the men of Edren, if he contributed to our overall goal it was not my place to voice further opposition. And, so far, he had.

But this---

This is something I didn't expect. I knew I'd detected an unpleasantness to him that went beyond my initial enmity with the people of his homeland. But I had no ability to place it, and as his performance in service of our duty was worthwhile, I had not chosen to pursue my misgivings further.

But now...

How is it that Izayoi-dono has remained unbothered? I can't understand it. Knowing the true source of this presence that has licked at the corner of my senses has only made it worse.

---But he has still performed well and done his best to serve our shared goal.

He---

I open my mouth, and slowly shut it.

He is wrong. I know that. To do such things simply for one's own selfish reasons, to invite a demon into your body, is not something I could ever considerable to be the correct path.

But his contributions also cannot be ignored. Accomplishing the goal of the mission at all costs is an ideal that has been ingrained into me for nearly my entire life, and using his past mistake in order to forge ahead is certainly the definition of 'all costs'.

"..."

My own discomfort, too, should not interfere with the mission.

But---

...

I avert my eyes from Shilage-san for a few moments, cast downwards, my teeth clenched.

Slowly, I relax my jaw, my gaze raising once more.

This has been the situation from the very beginning, since I was assigned this task. This truth, no matter how discomforting I may find it, does not change the objective.

"... I do not like it."

I am almost surprised by my own words. Expressing such things when they could disrupt our objective---

What am I thinking? I nearly clamp my jaw shut, and force myself not to speak.

"However, you have used this mistake to reach towards our goal. That, at least---"

I avert my gaze once more.

"---Is something worthwhile."

Paths Unwound — A Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner

???

---

Curious. The summary provided by Wynn is as Qingque notes, rather comparable to Abominations of Abundance. Ravaging, all-taking creatures who embrace the curses of the Plagues Author, abominable and twisted creatures warped by the overflow of the Abundance. It's hardly unfamiliar, but given what we have already been told---

Could it really be Abominations of Abundance? Or perhaps it is some new threat entirely, simply parallel to such beings?

"These conquerors may be something entirely unfamiliar to us, Qingque," I say, glancing towards my subordinate, "We cannot rely on prior knowledge when entering this new world, regardless of how familiar a story it may be. To assume otherwise would be to walk blinded by our own prejudgements, especially given the nature of this space prevents successful divination."

I pause for a moment, my attention turning towards the girl named Kohinata. By her admission, she cannot fight, and while my typical role is not in direct battle that means I am still far more suited to it then she is.

"Given the situation, I would accept such assistance."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

A dark shape, approaching fast. The rush of air and sound.

My body tenses, and my legs move, pushing back and away from the ground. I can feel something as sharp as the edge of a blade path skin, bite through flesh, and draw blood---

But no deeper.

My left arm trails faint streams of red, and sensation of a thousand gnashing needle-teeth stabs into my nerves, but the damage isn't serious. I can check on it when the fight is over.

For now---

I draw a kunai, raising my katana to intercept any potential second attack in the same motion, flames leaping from its edge. The head rushes to my fingertips once more, flowing from them and to the smaller blade, washing over it and rapidly causing the temperature to raise. It builds swiftly, steel going from cool silver-grey to white hot in a matter of seconds.

I aim for the center of the gaudy demon's mass and let it loose, aiming to detonate the thrown kunai the moment it reaches its flesh.

The Metian Institute: Project Gungnir

The machinery within this location is falling firmly within my expectations given what has been observed within the site so far. Nor is the state unexpected, given the fact that this area has been dealing with an extended mana leak. The corrosion is exactly what I would anticipate from the kind of leak that we've already seen taking place. With that being said, that is certainly not a reason for disappointment. Rather, it affirms the conclusions that I had reached to begin with.

Still, I want to see far more exciting things then this. Why else would I be here?

In any case---

"Reactivating an ancient machine? Well, I can't deny that should be intriguing."

The obvious solution is a simple one. Not something that takes a genius intellect, but alas.

"Leave it to me."

I raise my staff once more.

Directly compressing the damage won't do. While I can certainly use such methods offensively, all that would do is result in even greater damage to the leaking tube when the duration of my command included.

Rather, as with many things, simple thoughtless brute force isn't sufficient.

The threads of myself reach out once again. This time, they're not pushing anything away, but rather wrapping around it. An invisible cube around the damaged tube, not the entire tube but rather the spot where the damage is specifically. But I'm not grasping the tube with the threads of me.

I'm clutching the space around it. It is, I suppose, still somewhat akin to brute force, but still a far more refined way of utilizing it.

"Compress."

The threads of myself become like fingers, a squeezing vice the instant the word leaves my lips. From all angles, they push, collapsing the space where the damage located. And, with a grinding, grating sound, the leak is beginning to be squeezed shut, the pressure being exerted upon it causing the gash to become tighter and tighter, with less and less space for the gaseous mana to escape.

Paths Unwound — A Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner

???

---

I cannot say that I am pleased by the sparseness of the rooms, but they are hardly poor accommodations at the same time. Given the situation, being dissatisfied with the decorations is not exactly a valid complaint to make.

Still, I do have a few requests. To begin with, this situation is far too important to permit a certain subordinate of mine any time with which to neglect anything they should be doing.

Which is to say, I can't allow Qingque to slack off.

That's not my only reason for my current thought process, however.

"Qingque, you and I both originate from the same branch of the tree," I begin, turning to face her, "In the event that something happens, I think it is pertinent to keep this fact in mind. Besides, you will take any opportunity to shirk duties assigned to you. We'll be sharing a room."

Paths Unwound — A Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner

???

---

The number of questions only grows. What sort of catastrophes could these worlds have faced that would result in them being pruned, as a gardened would trim a real tree? Was that the threat that faced the universes each of us originated from?

Certainly, it does not take a genius intellect to come to that conclusion. How does such a place come to exist? How does a position such as the one held by this Wynn come about?

I suppose there will be time for further questions, though I cannot deny my impatience. The least that our host could have done was explain a little more.

Hmph.

---In any case.

"As Qingque has already mentioned, I am the Master Diviner of the Xianzhou Luofu's Divination Commission. It is my duty to sift through the disparate threads of the future and select the choices that will guide the Xianzhou to the most beneficial outcome," I explain, scanning the others as I speak, "The great sea of stars would be impossibly treacherous without the divination commission's guidance."

I cross my arms over my chest.

"It is just as well that whatever method of placing a universe in stasis is in play, as I cannot leave the Luofu under normal circumstances."

It is difficult to wrap my mind around the idea of freezing an entire universe, a feat that not even an Aeon has been said to accomplish. If it had not been carried out...

My disappearance would assuredly have resulted in chaos. It is not blind pride that informs my conclusion, though I certainly see no reason not to be proud of my efforts, but simple logic.

---Are those girls still flirting with one another? Are they shameless?! Even while introducing themselves---!

... Ah, there's no need to get distracted. Nor is their any need to focus on the insects crawling over the shinobi's body, no matter how unpleasant it may seem. How can one stand the legs?

"While the presence of the Matrix of Prescience is required for more insightful and long-term divination," I continue, in part to explain my capabilities and in part to distract myself, "I am still able to peer into the future in order to guide our strategies in the coming tasks. After all, a branch must bend rather then break in face of the oncoming wind."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

---Gaudy.

This thing's very appearance and existence is gaudy. Excess. I suppose it's impossible to describe a living thing in such terms, or whatever you would describe this being as.

But nevertheless, that is how it feels to me. I recall performances in theater, once when I was assigned to slay a criminal and a handful of other times. The exaggerated costumes of kabuki performers is a vivid image in my mind.

This creature's body and appearance are reminiscent of those plays.

I did not dislike those performances, of what I witnessed of them, but laying eyes upon this creature inspires an entirely different sensation.

I want it to disappear from this world. The faster it is gone, the better. Just laying eyes upon it almost makes me feel ill.

But that won't hinder my own performance.

I wrap my fingers around my sword, drawing it smoothly and bringing to fingers to its edge. I run them along the blade, heat rushing down to my fingertips and springing to life as flame along my weapon, the red-orange light flickering across the features of my allies.

Once again, Caradoc-san's advice is not ill-informed. My free hand reaches into my pouch as I step forward, and as I bring one of my explosives out of it I swiftly flick it against my blazing katana, igniting the fuse.

"Stay clear!"

And with that, I take aim and hurl it forward, aiming to destroy the vile thing's shadowy refuge and open it up to the light as much as possible.

Sword and Dungeon: An Adventurer's Guild-based Fantasy RP

Greenleaf was not a large town. Even on approach, it was easy to spot the two largest buildings in the entire area over the many small houses: The peaked roof of the town hall, and the more distant manor of the local lord. One could perhaps question why he had not become involved in solving this problem, but in reality there were a myriad of reasons. Perhaps it simply had not become hazardous enough to warrant attempting to send his soldiers to seek out the source of the strange lights.

Or, perhaps, he was too concerned about their true nature to go poking around unless absolutely necessary.

Whatever the case may be, it couldn't be said that Greenleaf was lacking in activity, either. The simply-dressed locals bustled about, heading to and from the market, wagons carrying wheat and other various goods moving towards the town's center. The buildings were mostly quite simple, peaked roofs and white wood and plaster walls and mostly one or two floors. Taller the closer to town center, but otherwise rather similar.

However, there was something of an unease in the air. Notably, children were only seen close to their homes, with adults nearby, rather then any playing out on their own. A few, a young girl and what was presumably her little brother, paused to gawk at the adventurers as they entered town, but a dark-haired, simply-dressed woman who was presumably their mother swiftly reminded them to follow her.

While it could not be said the town was in the grips of terror, or anything so dramatic as that, it was clear the people were ill at ease as the slowly-sinking sun filtered in through the trees that surrounded their homes.

From here, there were few options. The adventurers could ask the townsfolk for any further information, or pay a visit to the town hall or the lord in hopes of learning more about what was occurring. Or, alternatively, they could start searching the nearby forest. With the sun already setting, it wouldn't be long before the mysterious lights made themselves known.

@Pyromania99@Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze@The Otter

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

I was not about to let my personal feelings show. While I would normally be quite willing to accept punishment by Izayoi-dono, I am not certain it was necessary here.

---Still, I have no intention of complaining. She obviously judged it to be necessary, and I should in turn defer to that judgement.

But rather---

I am certainly well-versed in infiltration, and spotting those who do the same. As such, I cannot believe I was nearly incapable of spotting her until now.

The moment Izayoi-dono moves, I wrap my fingers around the hilt of my blade and begin to rise. If someone has infiltrated here, then I must assume they are an enemy before all else.

Therefore, I shall strike them down as swiftly as possible. Their skill in infiltration is staggering, but it is my only option in order to fulfill my duties.

---But it's not an enemy at all.

My grip on the blade at the back of my hip loosens as I straighten. This is undeniably someone who could have easily killed someone at this table. Perhaps not myself or Izayoi-dono, but the fact remains she escaped notice, and I can tell as much simply by looking upon her.

But she has not.

That is not why she is here.

The Spymaster of Skael.

No wonder she is so capable.

And she wants our assistance?

The matter is in the defeat of the Valheimr. As it is my mission, I have no qualms with cooperating. In fact, it further expediates the remainder of our duty but making our entrance into the country far more smooth, and the target is our destination to begin with.

"As it relates to the defeat of Valheim's dogs and is our destination to begin with, I have no qualms with this request."

There is no reason not to accept.

Finally, we can leave this place.