Zool

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Clive's return is literally about to get a bunch of trialled and publicly executed. Also; First person to return from dead... twice.

All feats worthy of Clive the Legend xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

u've done a good job with him. He's the party do-gooder type. James is kinda that too, but with some extra layers and a crazy side. But Adam is strictly, reliably, consistently, plainly Mr Morality. Every party needs one of those.

@Saiyan

Ahem! MacKensie is of high moral character too, thank you very much! ;P

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Hi everyone, that was great writing from everyone. I loved reading the posts. I am so glad to be here and to be part of this group.

@ZoolI will write the idea we discussed ages ago, seems like a good time to get it out in the story.

@Jay009

As it is the end of the week and I wasn't sure if the story is getting pushed forward, I kinda rushed out a lot of conversational dialogue. But I've left lots and lots of gaps for you to insert whatever actions and dialogue you want into it all. And there's a lot of 'ifs' too, in case there's stuff you don't want to use. Please use my post however you want, control my character if needed.

If I messed up in any way, let me know and I'll edit xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

She felt that she'd not got across her point properly. The fact that; without Barracker here, this would not have been possible without another death in the group. Perhaps; victory would have been possible at all. And so when he disappeared through a door, she went after him. He was out of sight pretty quickly and she lost him, so it took her some time to catch up to the room he was in. And what she saw...

"Oh my gosh," she gasped.

She'd only ever seen him properly in full armour. And here he was with so much skin showing, such pale skin with such darkened veins bulging like leeches about to burst. He was shaking uncontrollably. And when he heard her involuntary gasp, she saw the eyes of a monster. A demon.

“MacKensie.”

That voice. That voice brought her from her mental hysterics. He was no monster. He was no demon. He was Barracker, their new comrade and friend. And when the Paladin turned away in shame, she felt shame herself, for even thinking all those bad things about him. And still.... even though her mind changed, her stomach did not. She was sad to admit that she was repulsed by him in this moment, and perhaps that made her overcompensate, because she marched straight up to where he was sat, leaned on his back and wrapped her arms around him.

"It's okay," she whispered frantically. "It's okay." She was terrified, repulsed, ashamed, determined, queezy... so many things, all at once. But she held on tight to him, fighting one set of sensibilities with another set of sensibilities. "It's okay, my friend." She was reassuring herself as much as him. "You are not alone. We are Second Chance. You need not turn away. It's okay."

She wasn't sure how long they spent in this position, but she was glad that he could not see her face, because she'd been white as a ghost for the better part of the pose. Her face would have betrayed her visceral reaction to him. But she calmed down the longer she held him. Any self-demeaning comments from Barracker would be wholly rejected by the Ranger. "You are not a monster. You are a righteous. You are a defender." Anything he said that denoted shame would be answered with equal gusto. "It is not your fault that you carry this affliction. You are no less a Paladin. The gods allow you. A hero who protects the innocent."

Once there was silence - once Barracker had accepted that MacKensie would not abandon him - she finally let him go and sat down beside him. She remained silent for some time, so anything he had to say, she gave him the floor to speak. If he said nothing, then she would sit in silence with him. If he spoke, she would listen intently.

If he had not answered these questions already, then she would pluck up the courage to tentatively ask:

"How did it all begin?"
"Is there a cure?"
"How has it affected your life?"

And finally, at the end of their conversation, she would let him know; "We are from another world. I died in my world. Second Chance really is my second chance at life. At companionship. Please, Barracker... let it be your second chance too."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@SaiyanGet well soon, madlad xD

It seems to me we're in the same boat. I cannot, for the life of me, think of suitable ways to add to MacKensie's abilities that don't involve magic.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@Jay009 Also...

"James Sirius has brought down the power of Mother Iris from the heavens and I, Barracker Kassel, come with The Reaper, Hades, from the depths to meet her," - "And you shall be caught in the middle!"

“For someone so new to battle, you have shown your quality, my lady...”

“...Until then, if I may be excused, captain?”

It is so awesome having the most Paladin-y of all Paladins on the squad lol. Barracker is such a great addition to Second Chance xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Zool: I'll write a short post
Also Zool: writes an engaging, interesting lengthy post exploring MacKensie's feelings towards the other characters

Well done!

@Zapdos

Lol aw shucks, thanks Zapdos. She's just so easy to write, at this point, it just comes out as soon as I paste the nameplate xD

It helps when everyone gives such good material to work with!

Hi everyone, that was great writing from everyone. I loved reading the posts. I am so glad to be here and to be part of this group.

@ZoolI will write the idea we discussed ages ago, seems like a good time to get it out in the story.

@Jay009

Alrighty Jay, I'll try not to disappoint. I'll wait for another player to get a post in, then I'll go. I can already see her reaction. If I get the tone wrong or get carried away, just let me know and I'll come at it from a different angle xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

All their efforts - every weapon Second Chance had brought to bear - all for one last gasp attempt to bring down their target. MacKensie watched hopefully as the final weapons hit their mark - a flashing white/blue anchor and a flaming white/gold greatsword. The damage was clear, but would it be enough? Baited breath and a moment that seemed to last an eternity followed, before the brain-shaking roar and following explosion of wind and energy shook the very temple. MacKensie was frozen in the silence that followed, not daring to celebrate too early. Her spell of statue-like stillness was broken when she turned to the ritual chamber entrance, hearing the cries and shouts of the once-angry cultists that had turned from violent and bloodthirsty to horror and despair.

"It can't be!"

"What have I done!?"

That's when she knew for sure that it was over. They'd won. The breath she'd not realised she'd been holding suddenly exhaled, and she found herself breathing heavy, her head pounding. Hair a mess, she moved a hand over her face and head to tame the unruliness then said a short, silent prayer to the sky. She wanted to cry. This adventuring business was tough. On the body, thrice moreso on the mind, and who knows how badly on the spirit.

She didn't cry though. Instead she forced her tears back and went to see that her friends were okay. The cocky remarks from the party idiot was enough strength to help her smile at Fenna as she approached the other woman. "We did it," she said, meaning only to touch the woman's arm but finding herself going in for a big hug instead. She was glad they were all alive, of course. Even having unique affections for each of them, besides Barracker as he was obviously so very new to the group, but she honestly wouldn't know how long she could go on, in this world, if Fenna was not around. The woman she looked up to, in so many ways, was a constant source of resilience for MacKensie. And so the tightness of her hug said so much more than words ever could. Her repeated words choked a little, but she managed not to cry. "We did it."

For Adam, she gave a slow nod with a relieved hand on her heart, so happy that he was okay, but careful to avoid closing the distance out of awkwardness. The feelings she woken up with had yet to be resolved, if ever, and their dynamic from her side would likely be difficult to navigate until she'd figured things out. Speaking of which, the other man in this awkward situation was approaching. Zell - a man that, along with James, she was perhaps the most buddy-buddy broey-broey with. But that just made things even more awkward and difficult, because the feelings underneath all that banter were clear. Keeping her distance from him looked so obviously weird, she could sense it, but she gave him a nod and an uncharacteristic salute, then quickly moved on.

James she hugged, careful to avoid hurting his inuries. "You saved us all, at the end there," she told him. "A more perfect leader, I could not ask for."

She was about to inquire further about the blessing, but sighted Zell's approach and made herself scarce. "Barracker, you were amazing," she said to the vampire, offering him his own style of embrace; his patented clasp of forearms. "I cannot count the amount of times you carried the way through this mission. You have been a boon to Second Chance, and it is an honour to call you friend."

Adam removed the barricade easily with his magic, another display of his amazing powers, then began dealing with the very apologetic and traumatized people in the corridor, handling them with the care he was known for. She was glad that the Druid was willing to step up and manage things outside. It was likely his own way of dealing with things. As for MacKensie, she decided to hold off on leaving the ritual chamber, wanting to catch her breath and decompress a moment from the arduous journey before dealing with anything else.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Agreed, Zapdos, it was a fantastic finish to the mission xD

I'll try and get a short post in tonight so I'm available for multiple posts this week.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

A palpable energy and tumultuous whispers rode swirls of rushing wind when the box was broken, leaving no doubts in MacKensie that she'd correctly carried out James' directives. Disgusted and alarmed, she recoiled back a step, shaking the foot she'd smashed the phylactery with, trying to rid herself of any stain, in case it stuck to the leather sole of her shoe like a bad smell. As the feelings and sounds dissipated, her focus returned back to the room and the greater threat. The old man - the lich, as James had called him - was now on the floor, struggling to defend himself against the combined efforts of Adam's oak tree and James' light beams. Fenna, Zell and Barracker had chased the Greater Wraith up to the ceiling. The entrance to the chamber was now sufficiently barred and nobody was coming to save their masters. It felt like Second Chance was on the cusp of victory.

But it wasn't over just yet. And whatever nasty surprise the Greater Wraith was charging up was best avoided if at all possible. Off her back foot she sprang with great acceleration, running back to the action. The mechanical double-click sound of the ranger working the bolt-action signalled she was ready to aim as she sprinted. The pop and twang sound signalled a bullet shot, the holy fire enchantment making it look like she was firing golden tracer rounds - a beautiful sight amid the chaos. One wraith she hit was gliding in to engage Fenna and interrupt her concentration, but MacKensie had put an end to that idea with the timely interception. Another wraith she hit actually burned up into nothingness with a dying screech - it had already been injured after crossing blades with Zell.

She arrived on the main battle line with her friends, dodging around the attacking oak tree and letting off a close range shot at the Lich as she lept past him. Had she possessed the Source Crystal back in high school, her Long Jump personal record would have been crushed, such was the massive distance she covered, even managing to pass by Zell with the spear before landing next to Fenna and dipping back into her ammo pouch for more bolts.

From under the Greater Wraith, the magical noise of the charging spell was louder than ever, generating tension within her similar to the feeling she felt when Aurok the Maneater was launching it's final attack. She only prayed that they could kill it while it was defenceless, and so she fired a bolt upwards, launched her dagger with a pirouetting underhand fling, before smoothly reloading and firing again.