VitaVitaAR

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

---Malina-san, Shilage-san.

Both of them are hurt.

Could I have prevented it if I remained closer rather than disengaging to reposition myself?

There's no point in thinking about that now. From here, it would take just as long to return to their side. The best thing I can do to protect them and further our goal is the same objective as I began with.

I don't understand why Shilage-san extended me those kindnesses when I did not treat him that way in return. I don't know why Malina-san doesn't understand my obligation to ensure her safety. But that doesn't change the fact that it is my duty to complete this mission, and that I must ensure that they survive.

I won't allow this Valheim dog to to sew any more pain. I won't allow them to complete their objective.

I won't allow anyone to die here.

The clunky shape is a hindrance, so I normally avoid keeping it directly on my person. It's nearly the size of my torso, so it might not be appropriate to refer to it as something meant to be wielded by hand.

But I haven't shown it to them yet, have I?

The bulky, cylindrical shape is a far cry from some of the other weaponry using this same construction. It's not suitable for anything at close range, nor is it capable of being fired quickly. I had no choice but to make distance between myself and my target.

If I'd seen what had happened to the others first---

No. There's no point in considering that.

This is the best way to help them, now.

I have to brace it against the ground, and my body. Even then, the recoil is sure to knock me flat.

But he won't see it coming, will he?

The ammunition is rough, and heavy. It's completely unrefined, but that's not what matters.

I will only have one shot with which to keep them alive, and to hurt the Valheim dog as much as I can.

---But that's fine.

I align the barrel with the center of his body. I press my finger to the trigger.

The crack of thunder that rings out is louder than the most powerful of the bombs I use, ringing through my ears and leaving the world around me dulled. The flash of fire as the match is struck is easy to forget compared to the explosion from the barrel, stars stabbing through my eyes.

I can feel the air leaving my lungs, my world blurring as the recoil knocks me backwards. I can't even see the aftermath of my shot, but there's no time to stop and breathe.

I have to make it back down to them as soon as possible. Malina-san is bleeding considerably, and Shilage-san isn't much better. I do not have time to simply catch my breath, my fingertips wrapping around my sword as I force my legs to move.

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

Why---

Why is she pulling me even closer?! I'm not some sort of stuffed toy for this weird snake woman to pick up and play with whenever she wants! And what does she mean inadequacies!? I'm more than adequate! I'm definitely, definitely---!

Why did I have to run into these two today?!

It was already annoyingly crowded, with the jobs board nearly impossible to reach because of all those loud idiots blocking the way, so why did I need to be accosted by these two overly-flashy, irritating cows?!

Of course, the lamia is a snake, but she's a cow too!

All I want is to pick out an acceptable job so I can get to my correct rank more quickly, but of course I'm getting harrassed and grabbed like this.

I grip at the lamia's coiled tail again, trying to pull myself free, clenching my teeth in irritation.

"I'm plenty adequate, I'll have you know," I snap in annoyance as I push at the coiled tail again, "Do you treat any other adventurers like this?! Let go already, I'm not your plaything!"

Was it common in lamia culture to just grab people? Did they find that acceptable? Is it just in their nature to be grabby towards complete strangers? To try and make them mad!? Is that just how snakes are?!

Damn it, I just want to take a look at those listings, but after initially picking me up, in addition to every other annoyance she's really just making it harder for me now!

Tch, this is worse then Sister Miralle's clingyness. Though I'm not sure which attitude is more annoying when it comes to it, either way I want to get free already!

Isn't it embarrassing to be clinging to a random stranger for her too?

@Rune_Alchemist@Octo

---

It seemed as if one mage had taken Csenge's unspoken strategy to endear themselves to the guild maids into account. A young man in grey robes, with pale, near-silver blue hair had approached the cordoned off area and taken out a catalyst with a steel-and orichalcum, crescent head. With a few words, he had produced a gently-spinning coil of water using the bucket one of the maids had brought to assist in scrubbing away the bloodstains.

As for the job listings, there were plenty left over even after the initial rush. Of the ones that Abigail had taken with her, a few stood out:

My cows keep getting taken by a hungry griffin! Please help! My farm is south of the capital, if I lose any more cows I don't know what I'm going to do! I think it might belong to someone, so I can't have it killed either!

Missing: 1 Gold Wedding Ring with a large diamond. Last seen 50 years ago in the Abandoned Rocksplitter Mine near Haesting. The mine was closed down due to an infestation of great spiders, so it may be dangerous. If found, return to Varoc Helmbreaker.

From the Venne Mage's College Archaeological Department: We are in search of talented adventurers of Iron Rank or higher to clear the ruins of the Talderian-era Fort Magrial of goblins. The goblins stole equipment and injured several excavation workers, and may be intending to raid nearby towns. Fort Magrial is located North of Walverrest, near the Town of Stonefield.

There have been strange sounds and disturbed earth in the graveyard at Aronsgrove, South of Pelle. We suspect undead may be lurking in one of the mausoleums. Please put these lost dead to rest.

As for the jobs that remained on the board, there were plenty of options there as well. Among them were a number of appropriately-leveled jobs of varying urgency:

Lord Alexander Knightstar Lowell of Venne urgently requests the assistance of all adventurers of Iron Rank or higher. The Lord's beloved griffin stallion, Blackbeak, has gone missing. Despite repeated attempts to locate Blackbeak, he has not yet been found, though there have been sightings south of Venne. Please locate and capture Blackbeak unharmed. His favorite treat is beef hearts, so you may be able to lure him safely by using them as bait.

I live outside of Everett, in Greenleaf. There's been strange noises every night, and mysterious lights out in the woods. One of them even tried to lure my daughter away from town. As a representative of the concerned citizens of Greenleaf, I am requesting aid to drive away whatever presence is inhabiting the forest.

My name is Aldus Fletcher. I'm a farmer living outside of Keelsgraav. Recently, my sheep have been acting strangely, being frightened in the evening and refusing to graze. Some of them have become ill, with a strange black fluid appearing on their faces. Just the other night, one of them disappeared. There's an unclean presence lurking nearby, I'm sure. If you take care of it, I'll give you a worthy reward!

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"Ah! I thought it might be so,"Though I admit, it was mostly a guess. I suppose it would have been embarrassing if I had guessed wrong."

It seemed even raising the possibility was of mild embarrassment to the hundi girl, who let out a somewhat awkward laugh. Perhaps she realized admitting to guessing was embarrassing in and of itself. Despite this, her tail was still wagging.

"I learned your name from letters, correspondence with my dear friend Lady Fio," Lizaela continued, "She is a friend of your First Princess, you see, and hears all sorts of stories! Among them were mentioned a name of a few Iron Rose Knights, and a 'Sir Renar' was among them."

Her sunny smile had completely returned. She was clearly overjoyed to be meeting a member of a storied knightly order, especially one that had so recently engaged in such impressive exploits.

She opened her mouth to continue speaking, but was cut off when Sir Rolan approached. She paused for a moment, scrutinizing him, likely in order to try and correctly guess which of the Knights she was speaking with.

"I don't mind!" she declared brightly, after a moment, "You must be..."

Lizaela paused again for a moment.

"Sir Gerard?"

@Psyker Landshark@Eisenhorn

---

The old man's gaze shifted towards the knights. In that instant, his eyes focused only slightly, and he paused a moment. When his lips parted, his voice was soft, relaxed, but with an underlying sturdiness like a healthy branch on an aged tree.

"Indeed," he responded, after returning the bow himself, "It is not often I am in these lands. For one of my lord's diplomatic endeavors to coincide with such a display of fighting skill---"

He paused for a moment as his gaze drifted out over the field. His speech was slightly slow, and certainly accented, but clear and without difficulty. He was obviously not unfamiliar with the language.

"---What luck."

His gaze remained on the field for the moment, his stance relaxed and easy.

"Takashima Yuichiro is my name."

@Crimson Paladin@HereComesTheSnow

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Valheim's dogs.

That's really all I need to know.

Of course I can infer what they're doing, given the location. Of course I can guess at their motivation. But ultimately, what matters mot is what follows.

That is, destroying them right here and now.

They're focused on the others, so I can take full advantage of their inattention to me. I haven't moved yet, after all.

I step back. There's no particular cover in this location, but for an Asakura Shinobi that is only a fleeting concern.

They won't see me until it is too late. Of that, I'm completely certain.

One step.

I pick my target. He's on the edge of their formation, raising his weapon at the more obvious attackers. He does not see me. He will never see me.

Two steps.

My fingers curl around my sword's hilt. I must admit, I am thankful to Shilage-san for ensuring my access to the smithy. While my tools did most of the work regardless, there was still further access to equipment that ensured my edge was perfectly keen.

Three steps. My free hand reaches into my pack. Simply killing one target isn't enough, I have to inflict as much damage with my surprise attack as possible. This means disrupting their formation as well as killing or injuring the maximum number of targets I am capable of.

Four steps---

My blade flashes. He turns, but his gaze doesn't find me in time. The silver moonlight in my hands reaches him first.

The last sound that leaves his lips is a sharp, sudden gasp as my sword's tip finds the gap in his armor between shoulder and neck, biting through any material in the way, parting flesh, and piercing clear through to the other side.

I plant one foot on his hip as he stumbles. He's going to fall, but allowing him to just die on his own isn't enough. He's going to become a weapon, now, too.

The bomb I drew from my bag ignites in an instant, and as the dying Valheimr gurgles on his own blood I plant it firmly into his armor and push off.

He stumbles, staggers, colliding with another of the butchers as he falls, and---

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

"That's right!"

The new voice I don't fully recognize joining in makes perfect sense. Get a bag! Even if it's not exactly uncommon to see blood when you work with an Adventurer's Guild, it's still terribly uncouth to---

Hey?

Hey hey hey?!

Why is something grabbing my waist what's going on why is the floor so much further way now what why?!

Something's wrapped around me and lifted me up, and now that I have a better view of it it's clearly a tail, attached to a woman. A lamia? I knew there was a lamia here as one of the adventurers but what is she doing?! Why is she doing this?! Why did she think this was okay?!

"H-h-hey!"

Who does this? Who sees someone and just decides they're going to pick them up?! What part of her mind thought this was an acceptable course of action?! I reach down and tug at her tail, pulling at the scaly coils to try and free myself. But from here, with them being what's lifting me fully into the air, it's not like it's easy to get a grip. Damn it---!

"Wh-what are you doing!? Wh-why?!" I cry, unable to connect any chain of reasonable thought in my mind that would make her actions acceptable, "Y-you can't just go picking someone up!"

I'm a Paladin of Reon, too! It's not acceptable to do this to anyone, but I'm sworn to Reon's Justice! Can't you show even a little bit of respect?! That dumb, overly-flashy showoff ingvarr is running her mouth again, too, but it's hard to focus on that when the lamia decided it was okay to pick me up!

---

With a concerned expression, one of the receptionists, a brunette with a short side ponytail tied in a blue ribbon, pointed out the mess that Hrefna's proof of quest completion was making on the floor. Really, they did tend to prefer that anything particularly gruesome was put in a bag to be taken up to the counter. With the other receptionists preoccupied at the moment, it had fallen on her to do something about it.

In this case, that meant letting the other staff know.

The guild staff who handled cleaning and the food and drink were composed of girls in simple dresses and aprons, many of whom lived nearby and sought out a consistent, well-paying job. That being said, some of them were certainly not so happy to be dealing with orc blood, but they couldn't leave it there either. Especially now that one of the receptionists had pointed it out and asked for their assistance.

As such, warm water and other cleaning implements were being applied to the worst spots on the floor. Normally this would wait until the end of the day when business died down, but leaving the blood there was a unsavory prospect.

At the very least, it seemed as if the crowd near the job listings had thinned a little bit. It wouldn't be so hard to take a look, now.

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

Tch, can't anyone take a hint already? Ugh, just because there's all the new jobs on the board doesn't mean---

The scent of iron is something that isn't hard to recognize, when you've smelled even once before. Blood is hard to miss. And right now, it's tainting my nostrils, my fingers unconsciously tightening.

Did some idiot start a fight and draw blood or something---?

Oh.

Ngh, couldn't she put those in a bag or something...?

I've seen this ingvarr woman before. A couple of times, since I signed up as an adventurer. But now she's carrying in severed heads.

The green skin and those features make it clear they're orcs, meaning they were probably part of a job due to their habit of pillaging and attacking people. So it's not like it's a surprise she was out dealing with orcs. Not for an adventurer. But just carrying them around like that---

Aren't their people eating in here? Couldn't she have grabbed a sack or something first?! And that outfit, too, why does it need to be so showy? Why does she need to walk around like that? Well, maybe she'll just get out of here first and---

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

It's not like an accent will defend her from me. Absolutely not. I understand what she just said loud and clear.

"I'm not a child," I say, flatly, crossing my arms over my chest, "If I was a child, I wouldn't even be permitted to go up to the jobs board! You must be blind if you think otherwise!"

Really, how could she even make that mistake? Well, given she's too dumb to pick up a sack so she's not carrying a bunch of orc heads around everywhere, maybe she's just stupid in general!

@Octo

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"Ah!"

It was only a scant few moments since leaving his tent that Sir Renar was suddenly greeted with a voice directed towards him from behind. It was female, light and of a higher pitch, and upon turning its source would be revealed.

The bright blue eyes of a girl, of similar height to the Knight-Captain, looked back at him. Her skin was light, her hair pink, and upon her head perched a pair of canine ears, a tail wagging excitedly behind her. Her body was clad in shiny, clearly just-polished and cared for plate, and her slight features were practically glowing with enthusiasm.

"You must be one of the Iron Rose Knights, aren't you?" The hundi girl asked excitedly, taking a step closer and leaning forward as she did. Her tail seemed only to wag even more quickly.

"My name is Lizaela, of the Beaux family," she introduced herself eagerly, "As you may have guessed, I am here to participate in the glorious Valours tournament! Ah, perhaps I shall even face one of your order on the field?!"

She paused for a moment, as if remembering herself.

"Ah, forgive me, I allowed my excitement to get the best of me," she said with an apologetic smile, "I had been hoping to meet a member of your order. You must be... Sir Renar, I believe?"

Despite her apology, her smile was still glowing.

@Psyker Landshark

---

A short distance away from Sir Gerard and Sir Fleuri, another figure stood silently looking down upon the field. He was an older man, his grey hair thin and features worn. This would perhaps have been unremarkable, simply a member of the audience for the tournament looking down on the field and appreciating its vastness, but he was not unarmed.

A slender, foreign blade was on his hip, in a smooth wooden sheath. Its lightly curved shape, combined with his distinctive unadorned robe, immediately marked him as someone from a foreign land to the east.

There were, after all, diplomatic matters that began at the Valours festival, so this was perhaps not unexpected. While one without much education in foreign countries may have been uncertain from where the older man came, for those with more familiarity it was clear he was from distant Akitsushima.

@Crimson Paladin@HereComesTheSnow

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

The air was warm. There was the sound of children playing in the streets, of dogs barking, and of birds singing. Throngs of people strolled over the cobblestones, stopping to perform deliveries, to buy goods, or for idle chatter.

It was Summer in Venne, and the city's people were taking full advantage of this fact. The mild, pleasant weather made conditions ripe for a variety of activities, both for business and for pleasure. Nobles conducted business and political dealings, merchants sold their wares, farmers tended to their livestock.

But these ideal conditions merely applied to the weather. A perfect world where nothing goes wrong, alas, does not exist.

That is why the Adventurer's Guild was also busy today. Good weather didn't wasn't only beneficial to Estival's citizens, but also to beasts and other creatures that could threaten them. Not only that, but it also meant that the archaeological digs by the Mage College had started up again, which was another avenue of work for Venne's Guild branch.

A tall, sloped roof marked the building itself, the interior quite wide with an arched cieling supported by high beams. The first floor was split into the guild reception area to the right and a recreational tavern meant for the guild's members to the left. Above was the guild's housing, available to any guild members who required it. It was often quite full, mostly due to the convenience of living right above the job board.

Just like the streets, the guild was currently bustling.

A large number of new jobs had been posted recently, for all different levels of adventurer. Taking care of bandits who had step up on the road between Keelsgravv and Pelle, looking for lost livestock, handling pests in the basement of a recently-purchased building, and even a job asking for adventurers to deal with a dragon that had apparently been harassing Dansbell.

---That last job posting may not have been entirely serious in nature. Surely there would have been news of a dragon near one of Estival's cities before a job was posted at the guild branch.

The receptionists at the desk were currently a little swamped. With all the jobs coming in, there were plenty of adventurers accepting them and registering with the guild. Today, the Gold-ranked party lead by Alan the Hawk was present, registering some difficult quest or another

Other adventurers were more relaxed near the bar, ordering food and drinks. The hulking figure of the male ingvarr adventurer Magnus, still clad in his heavy armor, towered above many others even seated as he drank beer after beer with seemingly no sign of stopping.

And yet, some adventurers were in less then fine moods.

---

---Hmph.

It's ridiculous.

Is ridiculous even harsh enough? Maybe it's more like an insult.

After all this hard work, after everything I've done, all the success I've earned, and crushing every single walking corpse in that tomb---

Iron.

The word stares back at me on my guild registration, as if it's trying to taunt me.

How is this fair? How am I only iron-rank?

The fact I've had to earn experience this way was already frustrating. It's not as if there's any problem with adventurers. Plenty of paladins sign on with adventurer's guilds for convenience's sake, and in order to be able to assist the local people on a regular basis. There's no problem with that.

But that's not why I've been made to sign on.

I'm here because despite everything, despite my capabilities and dedication, they think I still need experience.

It wouldn't be so bad, but---

Iron!? Seriously?!

"Hmph!"

I stuff the registration in my bag and cross my arms over my chest. Seriously, how badly mistaken can you possibly be?

Even Steel would be more accurate. I'd have accepted that just fine, but the people in charge of guild evaluation said something about 'lack of experience' and---

Ugh, just thinking about it makes my blood boil.

Fine. If they think I'm just Iron-level, then I'll just have to show them the truth. I'll take on a challenging job, the highest rated job I can possibly accept at this level, and conquer it easily in the name of Reon. That will show them how badly they've underestimated me.

---Nngh, why does it have to be so crowded today?

I can see the backs of various adventurers hanging around the job board, examining the listings. There's not a lot of room to squeeze in, at the moment, and they're all blocking my view.

I lean to the left, putting my weight into one foot as I try to peer around them, clenching my teeth in irritation.

I can't see past the crowd. I stretch with my feet, rising on my toes to try and see if I can peer through any gaps, but it's not enough to make out any of the listings. There's plenty of them, of course, but that doesn't help when there's a bunch of morons blocking the way. Can't they tell I'm trying to see? Are they blind?

There's definitely not any other reason, after all.

There's no point in trying to be patient any longer. If they won't let me in, I'll simply have to let them have it.

"Excuse me!"

---

Corinne and Liliane

Part of the reason for the guild’s excessive business this afternoon could be placed at the feet of one adventurer for fun: after a few rather banal missions, Liliane had finally agreed that her wife was ready to come along to something that actually had a hint of danger and, more importantly, where they didn’t risk paying homeowners to get their basements fixed after a somewhat overzealous fireball. Corinne had decided this was worthy of celebration and, after a few moments’ consideration, declared that all the food and drinks would be on her today.

Nothing pulled adventurers in to hang around like a free meal.

Not that this was the first time; Corinne liked to pick any excuse to shower friends and acquaintances with an impromptu party. It did mean the sycophants would be more annoying for a little while, but it also eased the minds of the local powers that the foreign noble wasn’t really going to be too much of a problem to their interests. Despite ingratiating Corinne to more than enough people that she’d started to actually put down enough roots here to break even…

Quite how such a ditzy girl had managed to effectively make a home away from home to the point the only thing she relied on parental support for was to get nice wine mystified Liliane.

Speaking of nice wine, the mage had of course brought a bottle along from home (and then sent back for another around lunch), which had made her more and more affectionate as time went on, now quite literally cuddled up against her and chattering away about whatever caught her attention in Ithillane.

“Oooh, do you think Magnus is going to set a new record today? He got here pretty early, and he’s so big, he might do it!”

“Maybe…” Liliane sighed, “Can you let me go just for a few minutes? I need to get missions.”

And pick. There was no way that her wife would be any good at judging them.

“Nooooo! You’re cosy…”

Wait for someone to join them it was.

@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist@Animal@The Otter@Octo@Psyker Landshark@ERode@Eisenhorn@HereComesTheSnow

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

After a lot of deliberation and indecision, our final acceptances are:

@Eisenhorn: Accepted!

@HereComesTheSnow: Accepted!

To @vietmyke and @Awesomoman64, I'm sorry you weren't accepted. This was a really hard decision that came down to party makeup, so much so that I ended up delaying the RP multiple days trying to decide who I was going to accept. Genuinely, I had a great lineup of bios here across the board who all brought something interesting to the table.

However, if anyone has to drop out of the RP, the both of you will be the first to know!

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

"..."

It was bad enough. It was bad enough having to listen to all of this. I'd already used my capabilities as a shinobi to retreat to the most distant seat I could in order to try and evade this nonsense, but it has kept reaching out to me and refusing to allow my escape.

It was bad enough to start with.

But now it has become even worse. Matters of a noble marriage? It's not as if I am unfamiliar with such things, given my history in regards to the assassination of those who called themselves nobility. But is now the time for this? Is now really the time?

Perhaps there is a single silver lining to this matter. To this endurance game that I have found myself challenged by.

Shilage-san was nearly entrapped by a siren?

I should not focus on things simply for their humorous value. And indeed, part of me is pleased that it failed. Regardless of my irritation with the current matters, I do believe Shilage-san is a valuable portion of our team, even if he is a man of Edren. I would not wish to see him come to such an end.

But---

---Ah.

Normally I am more composed.

Normally I am more capable of holding myself back.

Perhaps it is frustration with the current situation?

Ah---

It's embarrassing. I raise my hand to cover my mouth.

Even briefly laughing, so suddenly, was not a suitable reaction.

...

Perhaps I should comment.

"A siren?" I question, placing aside my own mild embarrassment, "That sounds quite harrowing, does it not?"

Speaking for my own amusmenet and curiosity is entirely unnecessary, but if I am to wring anything from this wretched scenario, perhaps it will be this.