@Rockin Strings And Ashara has no way of knowing what Gromgard is thinking or believes. To her, the Cult Leader and the Death Tree are both exuding auras of power that're (in her eyes) impossible to not notice.
Hence why she finds Gromgard to be a stoopdiz. :P
EDIT:
Morgan gonna be piiiiiiiiissed... Again, I'm so glad none of my girls are there to get snuffed.
Given that Ainz (who is primarily a caster) took a head-on blow from a troll and didn't even flinch, I somehow doubt Light could actually gouge out Morgan's eyes... Plus, dying Mamoru-clone put a sack on her head anyway...
What I don't get it is...
She's down on the ground! Everyone! Run up to and start kicking her while she's down! THAT'LL WORK FOR SURE!
The two girls shopping was a peaceful thing. The two did however learn that while minor healing potions weren't too expensive, actual and effective antidotes cost quite a bit. Then again, Palisade Town didn't have many skilled pharmacists or alchemists to begin with, given it's relative small size, and there were a lot of other adventurers around that also wanted their pultices, so it was understandable. Still, they'd managed to scrape toegther the things Big Red had asked for, and Druid Girl had insisted on buying a length of durable rope - though she hadn't said why.
Done with their shopping, the duo were now casually strolling through the slowly awakening streets of the town, enjoying the morning sun. As they walked, Steppe Archer piped up with a question, and some background as to her own reasons for coming here and wanting to be an adventurer. Druid Girl smiled and happed her chin, looking up at the sky above, her eyes looking a bit daydreamy.
"I grew up on a farm." She finally said. "I did the same old thing everyday. Endless repetition, day in and day out. But whenever I got some spare time, I'd go out into the wilds around my home. I loved walking the forest paths, watching the animals and finding caves and meadows and glades..." She stated, looking back to her companion with a sweet expression. "I always longed to do and see things beyond my home, beyond monotony. So, I guess-" She laughed and scratched the back of her head. "-I became one because I'm just selfish. I don't have a goal or dream to achieve, I just like walking outdoors and seeing new things, new places and new people... I, I guess that's kind of silly, huh?" She said, looking a bit sheepish and scratching her arm.
While their lizardman friend had not specified a place to regroup, Druid Girl had made the suggestion that they should head for the East Gate and meet up with the client for the escort quest there. After all, the man probably wouldn't come to the Guild to fetch his own bodyguards, and Big Red likely wasn't going to sit on his scaly butt and wait for them to come back either. Thus, the caramel-skinned girl unilateraly decided to pull her acher-friend along.
Once reaching the gates though, they were greeted by a sad sight. The first was the wagon, a shoddy and splintery thing, looking like it'd been put together by an amateur hobbyist. The second was the horse - an old, scraggy and tired-looking mare with listless eyes and saggy features. The last one was the man - a middle aged fellow with a balding head, mutton chops and sun-tanned leathery skin. He wore a grey tunic, grey wool pants and a pair of mudcaked and weatherworn boots. He was chewing on something as he stood next to his cart, leaning against the rough, uneven surface of it. The entire ensemble looked, in a single word, shabby. The man picked at his nose, withdrew the finger, looked at the contents and then flicked it casually away onto the street.
Druid Girl stood frozen for a bit, taking in the sight, before turning to look at Steppe Archer.
"W... Well! He looks... Rustic." She said, a nervous, unconvincing smile on her lips.
Charme had met Kath at the base of the mountain, just as agreed. Next to her was a simple carriage, fashioned from mostly wood. It was reminscent of a small stage coach, and even had a chauffeur sitting atop it, holding the reins to a horse which had been borrowed from the Beast Pens - after much agonizing declines to what the vampires suggested as 'better' mounts... The cochman looked fairly drab, dressed in unassuming clothes and his face had a blank, empty look it, as did his eyes. It was clear that this was a homunculus created by the alchmist to serve merely one purpose, and not engage in anything else.
Once both were aboard, the wagon began to roll. The inside wasn't anything special, but at least they didn't need to walk. The time in the carriage though was mostly spent by Charme going through and over the cipher made by Kath, asking her questions and doing impromptu quizzes and tests, back and forth, to get them more accustomed and familiar with the script of the natives. It was a rather simple feat, seeing as how both Kath and Charme were quick learners, studuious and very intelligent women. When they took breaks from their little study-sessiosn, they either chatted idly or focused on their own little things.
The trip was uneventful, no interception by bandits or highwaymen, no random monster attacks and no wheels breaking or flying off the carriage. Charme paid almost no attention to the outside that rolled them by, caring little for the flora, fauna and enviroment at large. After all, she was an indoor-person, and it wasn't like she'd ever go outside and search for herbs or reagents on her own time - that's what they had their little servants for.
Still, once they arrived in the city and got off the wagon, Charme's first impression settled on her face quickly. A slight frown and narrowed eyes. She was not impressed, unlike Kath. The town was full of dirty-looking people, the streets were dirty, the buildings were dirty, there was a plethora of mostly unpleasant smells and many passer-by's were giving her leering looks. The latter-most couldn't be helped of course, Charme knew this, but the former issues were a greater problem. Being a bit of a pedantic neat-freak, Charme loathed uncleanliness and unsanitary enviroments... And this place... Well..
"What a cesspool..." She said under her breath, shutting the door to the carriage behind her.
As soon as she and Kath were off and out of the wagon, the coachman flicked the reins again, and began his trip back towards the Chateau. He would travel to the base of the mountain, leave the carriage and lead the equine back up to the beast pens. Whereafter both he and the carriage would collapse into a heap of raw materials. Charme always did put timers on her minions and creations that were only meant to exist for a brief period, after all.
"Well then, kitten." She said, looking at Kath, her unpleasant expression gone and replaced by her practicied smile. "Let's get to it. Rodias wanted us to visit the local library, so let's start there, yes?" She said, rather than actually asked.
Grabbing a scruffy local by the shoulder, Charme sweetly inquired as to where the library was. After being told where it was, and politely turning down an offer to get a drink later - twice - she and her companion began their trek. The two ladies received looks as they passed on, Kath more so for her draconic heritage and features, while Charme received looks for... Other.. Reasons... It didn't help that her regular walk had a bit of swing to her hips, causing the tight-fitting dress she wore to showcase her voluptuous figure with each step. Perhaps she should've gone with a different outfit for this outing...
At the library, both of the women passed the litteracy test with ease, being allowed access to the texts and tomes of this strange new world. A trivial success, but a success nontheless. For now, they would need to learn what they could, before setting their sights on Rodias' second goal: Finding a way to make local money.
"So, which topics would you like to read about, dear?" The woman turned her head to kath and asked. "I really don't mind either way, so choose whatever you want and I'll pick something different so we can cover as much information in as short a time as possible." Charme explained. ~ Later, at a most mediocre inn, during the night ~
Charme was sitting in a poorly made wooden chair in her and Kath's room. The place was a dreary setting, full of cheap furniture and shabby decorations. The beds didn't look particularly inviting either, just some frames with hay, covered by a ratty sheet with a lumpy mess for covers... But, given that they weren't familiar with the costs and typical going-rate for things when it came to local prices, the two had thought it best to be frugal for now.
As they sat there in the dim light of a few wax candles, the sudden sound of Graft's voice echoed in Charme's head, causing her to jolt up and look around. She soon calmed down and realized it was just the baron using one of his oh-so-pleasant-and-invasive skills. However, his message was even more alarming.
"Charme here." She replied when asked to reply to being present.
The following moments were a mess, and after both the loud sound, from two points in the mental conversation, followed by Graft''s shouting and growling, it was clear something major was going on. In a sense, Charme was happy that she wasn't actually back at the Chateau - she wasn't a combatant and had no desire to partake in whatever defenses and stratgeies were employed in order to take down this supposed superior foe. On the other hand, she did worry for her allies, and in particular Rodias. Even if she couldn't offer much in the way of combat might, she could've at least supported them with her dances or brews.
But, as it was, she and Kath could do absolutely, positively nothing. Nothing except sit and listen, while their comrades words and actions resonated in their heads like a radio drama. Charme folded her hands infront of herself on a table and rested her chin in them, a stern and serious look crossing her face.
"Rodias, how're you fairing?" Charme asked, as she hadn't heard the voice of her Lord since after the commotion broke out. "If you need to, please remember how you and the other Lords and Ladies handled enemies like this." She continued calmly. "Not by meeting and greeting them head on. But by making use of the Chateau, and its residents."
Hopefully, her words would help the Sable Lord formulate some kind of plan, or at least bring him back to his senses. But in truth, this wasn't the first time that the Chateau had been assailed by a stronger threat - it just happned to be the first time there was only one Bandersnatch-member present to deal with it. But even if that was the case, tried and true tactics might just still save the day... Or at least serve as a nuisance for their 'guest'.
Ashara could do nothing but stare in abject disgust at the amalgation that was the tree of bones and body-parts. So repulsive was it that the fox had to consciously repress the urge caused by Lord Chompy's blessing to just outright start flinging attacks at the awful, wretched thing. It didn't help that the apparent sire of this abomination was present and seemed to be some kind of nervous wreck... Or perhaps he just had a stutter?
Regardless, before either the cat or fox could act, Gromgard stepped forward - and did something utterly, utterly beyond foolish. Not only did he disarm himself and approach their target, standing out of range of his own weapon, but he also attempted to converse and offer aid to it. Ashara was dumbfounded. She wasn't smart, that much she knew herself, but Gromgard? Was he an imbecille? Their Sable Lord had given them orders to destroy and dispatch all members of this supposed cult, and here they were face-to-face with what most likely either their leader, or at least their greatest champion, and her ally was asking if they could help him?
If this was a play at trying to deceive the cultist, it went way over Ashara's head. She simply couldn't grasp why or for what reason the supposed Military General of the Chateau, would take an absurd action like this? Even though the fluctuations in the abominable treant made it diddifuclt to accurately determine it's strength, the cultist himself seemed to be on par in power with Rodias - which would normally be an enormous challenge, but the fact that there were three of them here, all being of not too far-behind in terms of strength, meant that they simply had to work together to bring this enemy down.
The remaining cultist mooks who had rallied and gathered in the shrubs and underbrush, watching and waiting for what to do next, posed no concern. All that remained to clear their objective was to deal with the man beforehand, and his horrid creation.
But then, Graft's voice resonated in her head. Ashara blinked in surprise and her tails flailed wildly.
She didn't respond. Anything she said could possibly provoke the target before them into action. Instead, she merely listened to the chaotic conversation between her fellow residents, the noise and the dire news of injuries and possible losses. She had never felt a greater desire to turn around and head back to her home, to rush to the aid and side of her friends and family. So great was it, that the fox actually trembled slightly. But, despite this overwhelming urge, she stayed. She stood fast. She had orders, given to her by her Lord, and he had not called for her to return to his side. No matter the pain she felt from hearing the voices of her peers in danger, she had a mission of her own to do. But Gromgard's way and the new situation left the woman with no choice.
Swiftly raising her arm up and opening her palm, aiming it at the cult leader, she spoke in a clear, commanding voice.
"[Spirit Bullet]!" At once, a black, swirlign sphere, the size of your average soft ball, materailized infront of her open palm. A purple, uncanny aura surrounded the orb and with incredible speed, it shot forward, towards the tree-tending cultist. She repeated this spell several times, launching a veritable barrage of these bullets at the enemy.
The spell was a relatively cheap and simple one. On impact, ti caused a purple explosion, and dealt a small deal of magic damage. It however also destroyed a bit of the target's current MP, and delivered a debuff - that lasted only for a few seconds - which stunted mana regeneration. While the debuff didn't stack or get longer with successive hits, it did refresh the timer. Hopefully, her initial attack would chew through some of the enemy's mana and leave him an easier target for Lord Chompy to deal with.
I'd rather you all wait to post until OwO's had a chance to add something, if possible. Don't wanna leave the mountain-man lagging behind too much.
For the time being, you guys have the first move, so to speak. Due to Annabell's random appearance, Krenna and Hawklen are both momentarily confused, so you have the upper hand. If any of the enemies attack you, I'll contact you with a PM so you can respond in turn.
And no, you guys can't see their levels. Your guys don't even know what "levels" are. Levels are just a measurement system from OO, to denote how strong and experienced enemies are in comparison to yourselves. :)
At Cecilia's comment, Hawklen would simply wag his finger and let out a series of 'tsk'-sounds, as if the young lady was a small child who had just done something naughty. With a sweeping motion of his hand, he pointed at Krenna's club.
"Now, you see here, milady. My dear ally here has neither strap nor hook with which to hang her weapon. I mean, look at her, she's barely wearing anything at all!" Which was undeniably true. "Where's she supposed to put her equipment if there's nowhere to put it? Surely you don't mean to say she should drop it, like you've pretended to do with your spear?" The man said, turning to Cecilia with a smile, thougyh his eyes glinted dangerously. "And honestly, if you're gonna make up lies at least make them believable. There's no way our horse-riding maiden is a merchant. Such people would never set foot inside of here." The bard stated matter-of-factly. It seemed he was a bit more shrewd than he let on.
"But, if it'll make you feel better... Glum, could you come here?" He called. The Wizard said nothing, but began to walk, slowly, towards his two allies. Hawklenm's head then turned to look around the ruined plaza, only top stop momentarily and glare at the tower with the hole in. He turned back to look at Cecilia with a sheepish smile. "As for your other request, weeeeeeeell... I think Norbe's gone and gotten some of that explorer's thirst you spoke of."
At this point, it became very clear where Norbe was. The black-armored man was already scaling the tower, using climbing spikes. Amazingly, despite his rather square and stocky build, he was scaling the structure with practiced and steady pace - not fast mind you, but he was contineously moving upwards. Before anyone could do or say anything else though, Glum raised a hand and pointed, past the three nobles and to an alley behind them. Hawklen raised an eyebrow, squinted and peered in the direction. He turned back to Glum, who made a motion like drawing a line with his index-finger over his eyes. Hawklen's smile vanished, and he turned back to the trio.
"I see... So you had a fourth friend hiding over there... And invisible, no less." His voice was now devoid of any friendliness or warmth that it had had before. "It seeems you lot can't be trusted, trying to disarm us, lying to us and not even introducing all of yourselves. Deal's off, I'm afraid." The man said plainly.
Of course, before anyone did anything else, there was a sound from underground. Then a brief explosion and rising of dust. Hawklen and Krenna let out surprised squawks, while Glum merely wlaked backwards, as apparently unphased as always. From the new hole in the street, a woman emerged. Followed by some strange, red... Globular... Thing(?)... And, as she stood between the two gruops that had previously been mere eye-battings from going at one another, she just smiled. She had short hblack hair and was almost as skantily dressed as Krenna, perhaps even more so.
If there had been crickets in the Forgotten Ruins, they would be chirping right about now.
[list][*]I don't use social media, discord or google docs.
[*]I suffer from [b]Retinitis Pigmentosa[/b] and use a text-reading software to get through other peoples' posts.
[*]I'm rude, short-tempered and unserious. I'll likely say things that'll upset, offend, annoy and/or infuriate you.
[*]I make dumb jokes, have dark humor and enjoy beating the dead horse with a stick.
[*]I'm a hopeless, unabashed and unapologetic perv. I like my lewd.
[*]I consider roleplaying a hobby and a pass-time, not art.
[*]I do anime-roleplay and [b]only[/b] anime-roleplay.
[*]If you've never roleplayed with me earlier or never spoken to me through a topic before, please don't send me PMs.
[/list]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><ul class="bb-list" style="white-space: normal;"><li>I don't use social media, discord or google docs.</li><li>I suffer from <span class="bb-b">Retinitis Pigmentosa</span> and use a text-reading software to get through other peoples' posts.</li><li>I'm rude, short-tempered and unserious. I'll likely say things that'll upset, offend, annoy and/or infuriate you.</li><li>I make dumb jokes, have dark humor and enjoy beating the dead horse with a stick.</li><li>I'm a hopeless, unabashed and unapologetic perv. I like my lewd.</li><li>I consider roleplaying a hobby and a pass-time, not art.</li><li>I do anime-roleplay and <span class="bb-b">only</span> anime-roleplay.</li><li>If you've never roleplayed with me earlier or never spoken to me through a topic before, please don't send me PMs.</li></ul></div>
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