Fantasy &nbsp; RedStone

Aloha Loha · Jun 29, 2019

Lexie M. Norwood, Sheriff
Location: Pastural Outskirts of Pichetbury

“Woo-oooah thar.” drawled out Lexie M. Norwood as she took stock of the scene. The nearby plains, which in usual circumstances would’ve been idyllic sections of soft rolling hills, vibrant grass-lands with many a species of grass that towered high, were clearly torched. The various shades of greens, blues, and other floral colors were replaced with a rather desolate and low standing browns, blacks and a few yellows which barely managed to survive. Surely the scene could be described as just a local wild fire around the area but the reports regarding bandits, notorious bastards, indicated that these fires would be man made and simply spread beyond the village itself. Of course the Sheriff did not manage to investigate any scorched buildings in town to confirm that claim or not; nor did it really matter at the end of the day.

No what mattered was someone’s cattle, at least what parts remained after an assault of bandits, was clearly out of its natural state. The scene at which our Sheriff was involved in was the noticing of a hog. Of course she was traversing through the plains slowly, as to not disturb too much foliage to catch the pig’s attention. The hog was fairly runty; however it was clearly not a piglet due to the size. It probably wasn’t able to eat too well as noted by a good lack of musculature around it, leaving a fairly sinewy frame. As to whether or not that was due to multiple attacks effecting grain silos, or the nearby pastures as noted by Lexie, thus changing how much the pig could consume was unclear. However what was clear is that the pig was indeed someone’s.

There was a distinctive cattle-brand of ‘W.S.’ upon the posterior of the pig. As Lex’s spurs, jingle jangled, the pig slowly lifted its head up and began to look around. There was a drop of sweat pouring down Lexie’s temple as she waited patiently, and eyed some partially burned and frayed rope next to her feet.

Perfect. She now had a plan of attack.

As the pig lowered its snout back down it continued to greedily graze upon the few pieces of grass that remained. She began to fashion the rope into a proper lasso and began swinging it. “C’mon y’little critter, jus’ keep eatin’.” Fortunately for Lexie the creature, despite probably not hearing the utterance, continued to be blissfully unaware of the situation.

And with that the Sheriff threw her lasso onto the pig, hitting the mark and catching onto the pig. At this new development the pig began squealing as it desperately tried to flee. “Y’AINT FLEEIN NOW FELLER!” shouted out Lexie as she began to pull on the rope and drag the creature back to her. As soon as the pig was close enough, Lex got down and proceeded to turn the pig around and proceed to hog-tie em with the rope to keep the beast from escaping further. With loud cries the pig tried to kick, but to no avail, as Sheriff Lex smirked and tipped her had.

Rolling her shoulders back around Lexie proceeded to haul the hog up and head towards the village gate. “Stiiiiill got it, an’ reckon whichever folk will be plum-happy that thar critter can be return’d t’em.”

Zeebruh · Jun 29, 2019

Zanian Carter
Location: Outside of Abringen
Razed Fields - Rank D

In the early hours of the day, Carter sat on a hill overlooking the village of Abringen. As the embers of a small campfire grew cold he took a moment to appreciate the gentle breeze and the swaying of the tall grass in the fields below. Having arrived a couple of days ago he decided to post up here to wait for his fellow hunters to arrive and observe the comings and goings of the village, after all, it would be rude to claim this bounty without giving his guildmates a chance. Leaning against a tree he took his knife to a small block of green-tinged wood slowly chipping away at it "This place sure is quiet, hard to believe there's rabid bird-bug flying around. Guess every place has got its problems." As his project began to take form he scanned the open fields surrounding the village and slightly shuddered "I don't understand how people can live out in the open like this, there's nothing preventing something from just walking up to the village." After giving a disapproving humph he went back to his task.

As the hours passed and the day warmed Carter spotted a small figure moving outside of the village, taking a deep breath he willed the magic residing in his soul up through his body and into his eyes magnifying his vision. What he saw was a young and rather attractive woman who was looking around nervously, well Carter would be too if he knew what the hell an Eagle-Wasp was. "Look like she's waiting for someone, well I've waited long enough." Carter placed the carving of a Green Stag at the base of the tree and after a silent prayer of luck and protection for the hunt gathered his things into a small bag and tied it to a long curved stick. Slinging the stick over his shoulder Carter walked down to the road and followed it to the waiting figure giving a wave as he approached.

SachiGrl · Jun 29, 2019

Location: Aether Guild, behind the bar on a shelf

The light, playful tapping against a wired container was practically equivalent to silence in the boisterous, bustling, infamous guild, Aether, located in Verasia. The crisp, white, cylindrical container was on a shelf behind the bar; it held a small fairy about the size of a hand; she drummed on the bars of her imprisonment. Did she expect to get out? Not really, but she hoped with enough pounding, she could tip her prison over and free herself at last by rolling away. The cage was moving at a snail-pace with her beatings. Nonetheless, Hridi went on. Occasionally, her iridescent wings would flicker irritably or she would tug on her tattered, green, old skirt as it would rise with her wild motions. She didn't plan on giving up; she simply took minor breaks to catch her breath. After a break or two, she would flutter her wings and zip towards the bars facing the edge of the shelf. Perhaps that sound would provide a small yet audible thud; it also gave her a good centimeter or two closer to the edge. Well, guess she's back to beating it belligerently with her flailing arms.

Since she has been a prisoner to the Aether, she has made sure to be a thorn to their side. Hridi would laugh at the memory when they first placed her in the storage facility like she was some sort of magical item they can store and forget about. Luckily with her ability, she was able to sense many Ramalite caches they stored along with her. The fairy did not think too thoroughly of her plan to escape. She simply thought... Yes... with the Ram here.. I can shatter my cage and fly free.. It was not the most thought out plan. She indeed shattered her cage along with slicing her own body, basically incapacitating herself in the process. The bloody fairy was fortunate the humans rushed quickly to the storage facility and nursed her back to health. Did she feel grateful towards the humans for her recovered health? No. Not in the slightest. If anything, they simply repaired a damaged item.

Of course, the fairy has learned her lesson (mildly). The humans were more cautious of her positioning throughout the year. They couldn't have her too close to their fellow Shard Hunters for some carried shards of Ramalite in their belongings, and the instant she felt a Ramalite in her presence, she'd seek it out. If she was more or less out of harms way, she'd burst their shards to bits, giving them splinters in their thighs or backs. It could be said that she got a good kick out of that. Let's say, Hridi can't be out of sight nor too close.

Now, since she's a tad occupied trying to make her escape, the Ramalites presence did not stir her as much as before. In fact, she stopped giving hunters' splinters months ago. As most should know, if a Ramalite shard was within her radius of detection, Hridi's wings would vibrate rapidly giving off a buzzing sound. The metallic prison painted white was about 2 inches over the edge and its diameter was about 14 inches. Simply said, she had a long way to go.

EMIYAman · Jun 29, 2019

Created by:

EMIYAman
Location: The path to Pichetbury
Current Mission: Village Defense- Rank C

Alvis "Al" Godfried

It was 10:00 a.m. as Alvis made his way past the plains, rivers and forests of the Webtu province. It was quite humid, and the onset of summer did little to help that fact. Alvis had traveled to Webtu through paths and rarely went off into the untamed wilderness. Originally Alvis had planned to take a train to Webtu but he was tight on funds and apparently the Guild didn't pay for the entire transportation fee so he was on his own. Due to the mountain range blocking off the majority of Webtu from easy access Alvis had to go around. First starting out in Virasia, then Yerusia, then his home province of Amidia before cutting through a couple more provinces he couldn't quite name at the moment. It had taken Alvis two and a half weeks, give or take a few days, to travel all the way to Webtu for his first mission. He had only applied to the Shard Hunter Guild Aether shortly before going on this mission. Then soon after finishing his paperwork, tests, and full application process he threw himself out onto a mission. The guild member in charge of mission acceptance warned him of the length of the journey, and that to start questing so soon after joining was a bad idea until he got acclimated. Of course Alvis hadn't listened, and now here he was tired and spent from his long journey but still determined to help these people. At least if he could be in any condition to help by the time he arrived.

Alvis stopped his walk feeling the full weight of his fatigue. I don't think I can do this anymore. He thought, as he wiped the sweat from his brow and begrudgingly set up camp on the side of the road. He lit the firewood he used for camping and took a seat next to a tree. He pulled out the last of his dwindling rations which were only enough for the way there, as he reasoned he could resupply at the village after helping them with their bandit problem. He grit his teeth as he thought about his mission, feeling a flash of guilt for his predicament. To think as the village is struggling for survival I am here resting. Alvis glared at the fire. I need to focus, with the village in danger I can't afford to take breaks like this. With this flash of rebellion against his tired body he wolfs down the rest of his food, cleans up camp, and once again sets off. Not soon after he continues his journey his body once again voices it's discomfort with his continued activity, though not as bad as it did before he had eaten and rested for a little while. As he walked his weapon and rest of his supplies felt heavy on his back but he continued anyway. To take his mind off his aching body Alvis decided to think about his mission and what to expect. I remember being told that others had taken this mission and that we would be assisting each other but I have yet to meet anyone else. Alvis continued to ponder on this until he came to a uncomfortable realization. What if they took transportation to Webtu? If they did that would mean I could already be too late to assist them. Alvis quietly wondered how likely this occurrence was, he reasoned that his travel time had been rather long and the mission had been accepted by the guild shortly before he first arrived in Aether. So there has been plenty of time for someone else to be working on it, but to my knowledge it was an Aether only mission. So anyone else had to travel the same distance I did; our arrival times can't be all that different right? Alvis hoped this was the case, but he couldn't be sure until he was at the village. Now that I think about it how close am I to the village?

Alvis stopped and finally gave a look at his surroundings only to find himself surrounded by scorched vegetation and what looks to be buildings in the distance. Alvis paused, thought for a moment then immediately took off in a sprint ignoring his fatigue once again. I'm right here, I'm right here and I didn't even realize! All this scorched earth must be from the bandits burning the village, then it must have spread from there. I need to get there as fast as possible! Alvis continued his sprint towards the village hoping that he wasn't too late, and that the people could still be saved. He clutched his weapon on his back in anxiety and prepared himself for what may come.

Mitch Conner · Jun 29, 2019

"...And it looks like we'll have to take a southward turn here, which will put us somewhere in the Red Reaches...", Lorelei muttered, marking a small arrow on the paper before her with a stylus

"Seems a bit wide, for a detour. Can't you just take them through the canyon?", A fierce-looking old man asked as he pored over his own share of the papers, scratching his beard. This man was none other than the legendary Osric, of the Iron Hand- though, as he often said himself, those glory days were far behind him.

"Normally, yes, but it's thunderbird mating season right now and we can't afford getting caught up in the- oh, Mappy! Do be a dear and bring those over, would you? I'm finalizing the route right now."

Lorelei beckoned Torin over to her table, a surprisingly modern little folding number that she had recently purchased from a traveling salesman, littered with paperweighted maps and survey charts that fluttered gently in the breeze. Both she and her companion sat perched upon a large stump in the sun-dappled shade of the roadside, each holding a clay saucer filled with a mysterious sweet-smelling liquid in their off-hands. Osric paused periodically to chug his liquor with gusto; Lorelei alternately allowed her serpent to lap at her dish and took her drink in slow, measured sips. The two had obviously been there for quite a while, and Lorelei's staff, stabbed into the dirt, was being used to prop up a large slate reading:

NORNED WOODS DUNGEONEERING EXPEDITION
EXPLORATION PARTY MEET HERE

Zerohex

Heathestus · Jun 29, 2019

Arkose Aquincum

Location: Road to Abringen
Mission: Razed Fields

Arkose Aquincum surveyed the serene countryside as he walked down the dusty trail, admiring the vibrant fields of crops that grew all around him. He recognized the majority of them. A couple kinds of wheat, some patches of carrots, and of course, cabbage patches, the staple to any farmers diet. Taking in a deep breath, he let out a long sigh of relief, letting the stresses of his journey leave him. This place gave him the bittersweet memory of his own home, reinvigorating him with energy. He hadn't the money to take a train to Abringen, or wherever the closest station was for that matter, so he had settled on taking a carriage most of the way. He never did like to haggle with the guild's talented administration team. All the better I hadn't he thought to himself happily. His journey, while relatively long, had been a much needed escape from city life.

Looking ahead of him in the distance, he noticed a woman standing off to the side of the road. She appeared to be fidgeting with her dress and looking around nervously, giving Arkose a sense of unease. She might just be the contact he thought to himself sheepishly as he expelled the idea of bandit ambush from his mind. Given the circumstances, it made sense for people to be scared here. Besides, most bandits would be holed up by towns that produced Ramalite, not potatoes and onions.

Looking up into the sky, he began to loosen the spear that was strapped onto his pack. The day was turning out to be beautiful, with only a few pillowy clouds in sight. Despite this, he knew he should be careful. The creature could be anywhere, and he didn't know what exactly it was capable of. Adjusting the straps to his modest leather chest piece and kneepads, he made his way closer to the woman.

As he neared her, he let loose his best superhero grin and waved towards her, a somewhat strange sight considering how tall he was. He was never exactly self conscious about his looks, though his height had been known to cause children to shy away from him. This time in particular however, he felt like he had just told a joke at a funeral. His energetic greeting did not mix well with the air of unease he suddenly felt around him. Lowering his arm, he realised that she was not alone. A classic ranger type seemed to have joined her. Standing slightly shorter than himself and covered in hides, he seemed, if anything, fierce, like a lion or a wolf. Joining the two figures, he felt a little safer. "Good afternoon! My name is Arkose. I'm a Shard Hunter, and I'm here to help!" He said with all the authority a rank E Hunter with little actual hunting experience could muster.

Remembrance · Jun 29, 2019

Ezekiel Weignheart
Location: Alela - Aether Guild Hall
Mission: Dungeon Exploration

Wandering the semi-arid plains that seemed to stretch for miles was becoming a chore to Ezekiel. He had crossed numerous landmarks and outposts, even scouting making sure the sun was moving the right direction. Although the sun's bright glimmers didn't quite help. Walking forth, he raised his parched and drained head and saw his destination. Alela, the city of stone. A city made to withstand not only time but the many cultural changes from within. Ezekiel loved the city and upon sight of it, his day brightened up.

The city of stone portrayed the many cultures of the people living there. Murals, statues, even artists doing their craft in the middle of the streets to attract attention. It was a city of many sights and Ezekiel took them all in. Although he had a mission, even a job, he still wanted to get some sight-seeing in before he had to turn himself in to the Guild. Despite having been to Alela before, he was still perplexed to it's layout, buildings had moved around seemingly in just one year. Maps that detailed the city were usually outdated or didn't show every available path. After looking at a few maps posted on some boards, it suddenly dawned on him that he might be lost. As he got more and more deeper into the city, he stumbled upon more maps, some more helpful than others.

Constantly moving forward, he was going in circles at the rate he was going. Murals and designated landmarks kept reappearing. Soon enough, he got to a straight inclined path that lead up. It seemed safe enough and it wouldn't hurt to change up the constant circles he was moving in. Up the path, he found a familiar building. Ezekiel screamed in excitement, he had found the fabled guild hall and without trouble, not like he was willing to admit he had any.

Upon reaching a more flat path, he not only found Torin, the exploration and information broker but what appeared to be a member of the group he'd be going with. Approaching the group, he greeted Torin as he would and introduced himself to the other member. Ezekiel sat down against one of the buildings, taking a deep breathe in as examined everything, after looking at a few buildings, his eyes landed on the group member present. I might have to carry that young girl into where we're going, otherwise that snake better be able to defend for her. Ezekiel didn't want to be harsh towards his guildmates, but was she really qualified to venture into a dungeon? She seemed more akin to Torin than actually going out into scouted locations.

Ezekiel lowered his head. He let his mind wander off from the subject, he didn't want to ruin this experience in one thought.

Mitch Conner

dragonsfire · Jun 30, 2019

Dorian Leesis

Mission:Village Defense
Location:Fields of Pichetbary

There wasn't much likelihood of the village still standing was there, regardless, taking out some bandits would be an interesting challenge, especially ones who found a reliance on giant weaponry. Having just come from Boulia, it was a relief to have a break from the penetrating smell of fish, especially after being stationed in the hut of a paranoid angler. Even so, taking a map would've been a good idea, simply trying to cover ground until he found the town was wasteful, and the forest was only entertaining for so long. He'd begun to passively try and keep his hands busy, grabbing two of his weapons and tossing them around.

Dorian recoiled as he felt the light sting, his arm had immediately began to draw blood, in retrospect, treading through the forest while juggling knives was indeed the bad idea he thought it was. Instinctually putting his mouth to the wound, softly sucking, he reached down to his waist, pulling out a tiny cloth from the bundle of needles and thread that rested in his pocket. Groaning to himself, Dorian sheathed the knives and continued on, his busy hands securing the cloth on and pinching the skin.

While walking, Dorian made note of the small carvings he saw on the trees, various arrows and symbols scraped into the bark, remarking "Bandits' Cant?" it couldn't have been absurdly far from the village, so it was a fair guess, assuming the village children had no need for secrecy. Lacking a means to decode it left it with little use, however it could still find some purpose. Unhooking a small axe from his belt and hardening his grip, Dorian began carving at the tree, going in an inch or two before striking diagonally, eventually able to remove the symbol from the tree, detached onto a messy piece of bark. Continuing at this for a little longer, he stared around at a few more trees, before harvesting around six more before cleaning his arms of the residue and brushing off the swarm of bugs that had crawled onto him.

After another hour or two, Dorian had eventually gotten out of the forest, laying eyes upon the wide-stretching plains in front of him, clearly blackened by burning. Finding the set of buildings that edged the fields, framed by a wall that surely lead towards the gates. Dorian began scanning the burnt field for any bodies that may have been missed, and began making his way towards the gates, relived to have a start.

Ennuis · Jun 30, 2019

Location: Pichetbury Outskirts

"Ah, this really is the perfect day for a trip, isn't it driver?" Sebastian was sitting comfortably in the back of a stagecoach, and once again he was bothering the coachman, who now knew better than to answer immediately. "Truly flawless weather for what I am about to do. The bright sun will ensure that the peasants and the other hunters see me in all my glory." As if to let the driver know he was finished speaking for a moment, Sebastian then took a sip from his hip flask. "Yeah, I guess so. You know, I've heard that those bandits are real nasty, you sure you want to do this?"

"Oh driver. Driver, driver, driver." The coachman couldn't help but feel annoyed by Sebastian's condescending tone, but decided against saying anything. After all, he was charging the man twice his usual rates while telling him he was giving him a deal. "Of course I want to do this, it sounds like the perfect adventure for a man of my caliber." The coachman was at a loss for words after hearing something so incredibly out of touch with reality and sought to change the subject to anything else. Fortunately the strange young man ahead of the stagecoach gave him the perfect opportunity. "Hey, is that guy working with you?"

"Well driver, based on my past experiences, if he happens to be dressed in an odd attire then the chances are high that he is. Pull up alongside him and slow down, I wish to speak to him." As the stagecoach drew closer to the young man running down the road, Sebastian poked his head out of the window and called out to him. "Good day to you! I am Sebastian Castell, Adventurer Extraordinaire! But enough about me, if you're in such a hurry why are you traveling on foot? Are you perhaps a little touched in the head?"

Huntertabbysandshark3 · Jun 30, 2019

Mission: Razed Fields
harloteck
location:Road to Abringen interactions:

Zeebruh

for many a strange sight would be currently walking down the road, a titanic lizard creature followed by a smaller, both beast carried large backpacks the reason for these two being here, the answer is simple, they were looking for something, partially something to eat, the largest of the two had heard of the monstrous creature that had stalked this town. it and its lacky continued to walk disregarding the confused and slightly terrified looks they were both given by the villagers. they both stopped after another minute of walking the largest one sniffed the air, there was something... different... new smells not that of peasants but of people that had...sparks... they had with them something harloteck desired. it didn't matter right now he could collect it afterwards. there were three people, two of them smelled different. they must be the not peasants so harloteck instead walked toward them likely they were the ones he was looking for.

"greetings humans...i hear you have a bug problem..."

he said with a slight smile in his toothy maw, the smaller lizard staying behind harloteck carrying setting down the bag next to itself.

Pao · Jun 30, 2019

Razed Fields
Balder Cahra

Three pairs of spindly legs ambled along the surface of exposed human flesh. It grazed into the divot of skin between two knuckles, while the thin hairs on its stylet searched for a vein to prod. The insect was slightly too hasty in its movements however, as its prey was alerted of its presence-- Balder nearly tumbled from his horse when the sensation of furry limbs sent a tickle down his spine. His opposite hand was quick in meeting the back of its partner; the poor insect was sent to the after-life with a brutal crunch. "Goddamn pests..." He mouthed between tightly clenched teeth.

Balder's discomfort would be apparent to anyone within a mile-wide radius; his face was scrunched up and his arms squeezed closely against his torso. Alongside this, both of his legs were sprawled outwards on each side of the horse lent to him. It was a difficult little beast to care for, but ultimately the horse made the journey a lot simpler for someone of his disposition. Balder had taken to simply calling the horse, "Horse," as he had long forgotten the name entrusted to the creature by the stable master. The horse was equipped with a saddle and a leather bag that rested along its side. Inside of the bag, Balder had brought with him several of his belongings. This included some rations, bandages, as well as a book describing various monsters one may run into while in Hajdorszag. Balder read the text while travelling, but was disappointed with what little he learned. Of course, he always kept his most important text close by his side--This was in the form of a satchel perfectly melded to fit the large Grimoire's shape.

Balder flattened his palm and raised his arm so that the flat of his thumb could rest alongside his browline. The added protection from the sun let him see just a little bit further up the dirt road. There, he could just barely make-out the shapes of three silhouettes--all of varying body types. The sight made him straighten his posture to appear more intimidating and affix his lips to form a smooth, placid line. The gentle drum of the horse's hooves would have surely alerted the trio of his approach, if they were not yet made aware. The old saying proved true yet more, they do save the best for last (or so it seemed). The horse brought its languid march to a halt, several meters away from the gathering party. Balder leapt off the horse in a wide, yet regal bound(which he honed some nights ago when finding sleep proved to be too difficult)and landed firmly on his feet. His nose was poised upwards and his shoulders were high and brimming with confidence. Balder begun his sashay towards the awaiting audience with his head held high.

Balder stopped some distance away from the sole woman of the group and moved his body in a graceful bow forwards. "Balder Cahra. Otherwise known as 'The Caller' and Shard-Hunter of the Aether guild. I am pleased to make your acquaintance today." Balder resurfaced from his bow with a small, yet cordial smile. The shard-hunter turned his head towards the two men who seemed to be accompanying the woman and offered both of them the same, courteous grin. "Do any of you happen to be residents of Abringen? If so, I would appreciate it if you could take care of my steed... Also, I would like a temporary residence prepared for me-- in whatever area is deemed to be the most 'luxurious,' if such a place exists in that... little village." Balder's facial features darkened briefly with the mention of the village. The Caller planned to eradicate the nuisance within the hour so that he could spend the rest of his day lounging peacefully.

Zeebruh

Slav · Jun 30, 2019

Ajax Floros
Location: Pichetbury Outskirts
Mission: Village Defense

The journey to the village was quite uneventful. Ajax was hoping to come across some highway bandits to make the journey more interesting but all he came across was overly friendly farmers. Walking to his location was something he had grown to be used to since he was always travelling for mercenary work before he was a Shard Hunter. It also being a nice summer day made the walk all the more bearable. The village was starting to come into sight over the horizon when the signs of bandit activity started becoming more prevalent. The bandits didn't seem to discriminate in what they attacked, everything was in bad condition from the buildings, to the fields and the small amount of livestock they had.

Ajax made his way over to the fields to see if the bandits left anything behind that may help in finding them in the future. He knelt down and searched for footprints in the dirt but it simply lacked any. These bandits sure knew what they were doing. Getting rid of this bandit scum wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. They're just stalling their demise. Soon they shall be at the end of thy blade. He got up and wiped the dirt of his knees before proceeding closer to the village. As he got closer, he caught sight of his fellow guild members for the first time and he wasn't all that impressed.

The first man who came into his view was a guy was running towards the village who seemed to be in a hurry. He seemed a bit younger than him but they should be around the same age. What intrigued him the most was the carriage that pulled up along side him. Perhaps it was a another fellow member but he wasn't too sure. Whoever it was definitely did not want to travel on foot. He was walking towards them but instead of interacting with them, using his whims, he was able to turn himself into a shadow. He had to be careful though because if they noticed the shadow, his location would be given up. He carefully slipped past them, hoping that they hadn't noticed him. He'd want to meet them later on his own terms. Once he felt he was out of sight of his potential group mates, he quickly switched back to his normal phase. Out the corner of the eye, he caught the sight of another potential group member but what made him different was that he was a Ferox. Ajax didn't have a good record with Ferox people but he was going to keep that to himself like all of his other secrets.

Ajax finally approached the gate and as he arrived at the gate, he came across a woman with a hog that she had captured with a rope. She seemed much older than the other members he was able to get a glance at. Her demeanor was much different as well but it made the group all the more diverse. "Is that dinner?" Ajax simply asked trying to create some conversation between them. The question came out slightly muffled because he had his mask on, he always had his mask on.

Interactions:

Aloha Loha · Jun 30, 2019

Lexie M. Norwood, Sheriff
Location: Pichetbury Outskirts
Interactions:

Slav

Walking through at a brisk pace through the damaged fields, Lexie M Norwood’s focus was on the pig. It was always right to return property, especially cattle, to those who went and lost it. And it was not like she could do much to repair the trees or fields, that was out of her hands. They’d just have to overcome and revive as nature would take its course to correct the damage done. Much like how villagers have to rebuild structures when they fell apart. It was just how things were. But the Sheriff could at least return the pig.

As for the pig it thrashed about slightly, mostly by flailing its head back and forth in an intense sort of hate. It continued to squealed clearly upset about being tied up. Lexie looked down at the hog, keeping a firm grasp upon it as she spoke. “Hush now, yer gonna get back t’yer real lodgins soon.” The pig just looked up at the Sheriff with a distinctive stink-eye before flailing its head around some more. Lexie threw her head back and let out an exacerbated sigh.

It was here she noticed two things, one to the side of a boy with a comical appearing weapon (damn kids not respecting fundamental things) and a carriage. Lexie continued to pursue at a fairly even pace as her spurs continued to jangle. Fortunately it appeared that the carriage was slowing down, it appears whoever was inside wanted to have some conversation with the one out of it. As she was about to approach the carriage she was approached by some bastard who was probably sweltering under all that attire. She could only just imagine how oily, and porous the face underneath had to be.

She raised an eyebrow at the man, while keeping a firm grip on the pig, completely unable to discern the speech of the man. "Feller havin' that much cotton when ain't hide ner hair o'snow ain't a sensible thing. Yer gonna 'ave t'speak louder 'n clearer." Though with that said, Lexie M. Norwood proceeded to shove the pig's posterior, emphasizing its brand upon it, at Ajax. "This'ere yer pig? Found this darn hog moseyin’ out ‘n about, figurin’ it’ll belong ta some folk nearby. Dunno if it is the feller in t'buggy's 'r the kid runnin' like his feet were cookin' on a griddle. I reckon I oughta get this pig back to it's rightful owners."

EMIYAman · Jun 30, 2019

Created by:

EMIYAman
Location: Just outside Pichetbury
Current Mission: Village Defense- Rank C

Alvis "Al" Godfried

As Alvis made haste to the village, hoping that there was still time to save it, he was suddenly stopped by a stage coach. It suddenly stopped next to him, and the surprise of it's presence nearly made him trip. Alvis forgot his need to move quickly in favor of this strange occurrence. Oh dear, please don't let this be what I think it is. A man pokes his head out from the side of the vehicle, and beckoned him in a rude way. The man introduced himself as Sebastian Castell and he briefly wondered if he was supposed to recognize the name as he did call himself a "Adventurer Extraordinaire". He didn't linger on that however as he was to surprised by the way he insulted him calling "touched in the head" for travelling on foot. Alvis thought of voicing his discontent which such a judgment but as he examined himself, felt the stamina drain from his body, and his legs tremble with over use he felt that unfortunately the man had a point no matter how rudely he put it. He's one of the guild members who's supposed to help me with this mission isn't he? He thought, with slowly dawning embarrassment that this was in fact what he thought it was. And he actually was able to travel here through transportation not on foot! Geez why did I decide to walk, I regret it so much now I'm sure I could have come up with some money for the trip. Briefly sighing Alvis examined the rest of the stage coach and found the driver glancing at him in an expression that could only be interpreted as a cry for help, and if this man was who he thought he was then he would be the one to deliver the drivers salvation from him. Alvis realized the man, or rather Sebastian was still watching him for an answer. As he was about to answer Alvis felt a faint shift in the light around him, like it had suddenly been forced out the way by unnatural means and that there was a brief gap where something had once been. It quickly dissipated and a quick glance revealed nothing so he made note of it but put no further thought into the occurrence.

He took a moment to collect himself and steady his heavy breathing as well as his trembling legs. He took a brief moment to study the man who would be his partner for this mission. Even while he was in the coach he could tell Sebastian was tall especially compared to Alvis who despite his physique was a mere 5'6". Sebastian also seemed to be a few years older than him if he could guess, but Alvis already knew he was on the young side compared to the rest of his guild mates. He had long falling past his shoulder length brown hair which seemed clean and maintained constantly. His outfit was clean, pressed and possessed not a single smear or stain. It was also not entirely fit for battle as it seemed to be more of a fashion choice than a means of protection. His eyes were a blue which were not dissimilar to his own, and his face had a look of deep thought on it that Alvis was surprised to see based on his previous manner of getting his attention. Here he actually seemed thoughtful and serious, which helped alleviate Alvis' worry as this man seemed to care about the state of the village as much as he did. If anything it looked like he was thinking on what to do about the situation even now, based on Sebastian's look of contemplation. He took a moment to examine this man's weapons and gauge his fighting style even with the little information he had to work with, and examine them for any interesting Ramalite tech. While he didn't seem to possess anything to out of the ordinary with the sword, his pistol was an interesting piece which drew Alvis' eye as he had studied the creation and processes behind the mechanisms with pistols before. Alvis took a moment to once again collect himself as well as berate himself for once again getting lost in thought just because of the mans equipment. He brought himself back to the matter at hand and finally addressed Sebastian.

"Well I had been a little pressed for cash back in Virasia, so I thought I could..." Alvis paused awkwardly rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "I thought I could walk it."

He finished his statement with a flush on his cheeks still bothered by his rather horrible decision. He brought that feeling down though as he still had a mission to do. He steeled himself and thought back on all the things his father had taught him, and hoped it would help him. This would be his first real taste of combat and he wondered if he was ready; while he wanted to stop the bandits, taking another persons life just felt like too much for Alvis to do. He sighed again in thought before bringing his attention back to Sebastian determination in his eyes.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you and I hope we can work well together on this mission, but I must go to the village and check up on the situation." He said doing his best to rush the conversation so he could go about his business. "So I will have to talk to you later, hopefully after we meet our other companions." He stopped for a moment and said. "My name is Alvis Godfried D- Rank Shard Hunter it's a pleasure to meet you."

Alvis briefly bowed his head as respectfully as possible and turned to make his way to the village which he had just reached. He allowed Sebastian to make no response to his words and ran up to the gates still feeling the effects of his long trip on his legs. As Alvis made it up to the gate he encountered two strangely dressed people who were definitely not villagers, and a hog. He examined them both and found the women to be glaring slightly at him almost disapprovingly leading Alvis to feel slightly self conscious like he had done something wrong. He brought his attention away from her and to the man or what he presumed to be a man based on his build, yet not a single bit of skin was shown under all that armor and leather. All that dark clothing; how does he stand the heat? Alvis briefly thought to himself. The mans mask unnerved Alvis a little but if he was here he was probably a Shard Hunter. If the guild trusts him to save these people then so do. Alvis lowered his guard around them believing them to be allies and thus no threat. The man had dual blades with Ramalite in them which interested Alvis, but the women possessed twin pistols which appeared to be an advanced model compared to the old pistols as these could shoot six times without needing to reload rather than the one shot pistols. He found himself immersed into their design especially the Ramalite embedded in the stock of the guns, he wondered on the mechanisms behind such powerful weapons. Alvis found himself lost in thought once again, and noticed they were staring at him. He realized once again he had yet to say anything to them, and decided not to risk further embarrassing himself. He spoke up.

"Oh, hello you must be the other members of the guild I was told about I am glad I could meet up with you all." He paused a bit trying to find his words, he then composed himself and looked at them with harsh determination in his eyes completely devoid of any of the lack of composure he had before. "I am here to protect this village and it's people and I would ask we all work together to that end, so that these people can be safe and no one else is hurt. I am Alvis Godfried D- Rank Shard Hunter and I will do my best to ensure we succeed."

Interactions:

Slav

Ennuis

Synastry · Jun 30, 2019

Kitara Sinclair
Location: Alela / Aether Guild Hall
Mission: Dungeon Scouting Party
Interactions: PeanutLemur

The young ivory-haired warrior sat cross-legged in a quaint clearing, her black leather garments in stark contrast to the evergreen grass that swayed around her as a breeze drifted through. The summer leaves rustled among the dense surrounding of trees and the stream beside her softly trickled while the music of little birds and buzzing of insects resounded throughout the area. However, the young woman had dulled most of it to a low hum and instead was focusing her attention on the soil beneath her. Her leather hand wrappings had been set on the edge of the creek and her hands were placed in front of her, the loose dirt shifting over the back of her hand and exposed fingers as the earth cracked with an unearthly pattern, making room for her hands. The two ring-bracelets that adorned her extremities were each decorated with a beautifully polished red gem, sparkling against her now-dirtied fair skin. Kitara shut her silver eyes and let her power pulse through her arms into the earth, forcing herself to feel her surroundings rather than see them. A solid floor drew itself in her head, tall trees sprouting from it as the scuttling of a squirrel reverberated throughout the image.

A few beads of sweat plastered a few locks of the woman's hair to her face as she snapped open her eyes and threw herself backwards, letting out a drained sigh. "I suppose we should go before we're even later than Atlas, what do you think?" Kitara arched her neck so she was looking behind her where a tall, golden dun horse stood, letting out a snort while impatiently shifting his feet. The woman reached for her hand-gear and lifted herself onto her feet before moving towards the steed to unhook his reins from a nearby tree. "Let's not keeping them, then." Kitara grinned as she pulled herself into his saddle and urged him towards the town.

Kitara gently patted the beast under her as she entered the town, easing him into a slower pace. Jax was a stunning young stallion, standing at about 17 hands, born and bred by the Sinclair house to have a pedigree just as distinguished as their own. The town around her well-awake and abuzz as people milled about, chatting to their neighbors about current events. Kitara could hear a few snippets here and there: a group of bandits harassing a town somewhere in Webtu province, a rogue Eagle-wasp in Abringen. Odd. Eagle-wasps aren't typically so intrusive. Pushing the thoughts away, she clicked her tongue and urged Jax towards the large gate to the Guild Hall, sliding off him as a familiar figure came into view. "Torin." She called, leading Jax the last few steps before her head in a respectful nod as she approached. "I didn't expect to see you here this early." She applauded, giving the Ferox a small side smile.

MiraAutumn · Jun 30, 2019

Lena Averon
Location: Road to Abringen, Hajdorszag Province
Mission: Razed Fields
Interactions:

Zeebruh

Pao

A moment of silence washed over the area, as a lone woman bowed her head to the grandiose statue in front of her. Despite already being well into summer, she wore a full set of iron armour, perhaps causing one to feel concern whether she was overheating or not. On the contrary, her expression seemed calm, expressionless even, as she returned her view to the sunken eyes of the Goddess. "Take care of me Phoris." She whispered, having already given her offerings in a small basket at the base of the temple. Quietly, disregarding the rhythmic thunking of her armour, the figure took off as quickly as she came.

It was time for her second mission. Her first was nothing like the one this time around, having only really tagged along with the more experienced hunters as they secured the perimeter. She didn't exactly get to do anything, but experience was experience, which she had very little of. Hopefully, she would be able to test her skills this time around. Although it was classified as a subjugation mission with combat guaranteed, she wanted to see if she could find clues/an indication of why this was happening as well. It wouldn't exactly be good if this began to happen all the time; Eagle-wasps do pose a significant threat to the average person.

It was a bit of a walk to her destination, Abringen, even though she just left the closest village to it. The sun beat down on her armour mercilessly as she travelled along the old road, but occasional breezes wove through her hair granting minor relief. After a short while, she noticed some odd figures in the distance. There seemed to be 3 people dressed for combat, other hunters she assumed, a woman, perhaps their contact, and a horse, probably belonging to one of the four. Was she late? Being the paranoid person she was, she quickened her walking speed.

On closer inspection, now within shouting distance, she noticed more details about each of them. The woman appeared to be an average villager, with dark eyes whilst wearing a longskirt. One hunter was quite tall, with short light-brown hair and covered in lots of leather. For a moment she wondered if it was a colour co-ordination thing. He had three painful-looking claw marks on the side of his head, somewhat convincing Lena that he was a superior hunter. Another was super tall, with dark hair and strange eyes that seemed to show a myriad of colours. She noticed a bright orangish shawl over his leather armour, matching part of his eye colour. He stood kind of aloof; perhaps he was also an experienced hunter? She was beginning to worry that she was going to be left behind, just like her last mission, where everyone else just killed everything before she could. The last was kind of tall, well at least in her standards anyway. He had similar dark hair, except his seemed oddly silky and had calm grey eyes. One thing that caught her attention was his calloused hands. Although she wanted to think that it was from training, he had no weapon that she could see, so it confused her more than anything else.

Lena tightened her leather gloves and double-checked her longsword as she approached the group, with a slight feeling of nervousness welling up within her. "Good afternoon, I'm here for the Razed Fields mission." She stated calmly, although inside was a completely different story.

Slav · Jun 30, 2019

Ajax Floros
Location: Pichetbury Outskirts
Mission: Village Defense

Ajax ignored her rudeness and spoke a bit louder, "The heat is the last thing I'm worried about. The hog clearly belongs to one of the villagers but that's not the issue. The issue is if they're still alive to receive this hog." Ajax said turning away from her to study the village some more. The village would have looked quite quaint and peaceful if there had not been charred buildings scattered among the village. He turned back to the woman with the hog,"My name is Ajax, learn it as I'm afraid we'll be here for quite a bit of time." Ajax said as his gaze was slowly shifting from the ragged woman to the guy he spotted running earlier. It seemed his conversation with the man in the carriage was quite quick and he was approaching them with a bit of urgency. Great, another person I don't want to talk to.

The man approached them and stood there silently for a few moments. Ajax found it odd but meeting new people wasn't always an easy feat. Now that he was closer, Ajax was able to clear look at him. He seemed young but he started doing similar stuff at a young age so he wasn't going to put it against him. His blade was interesting and unique, it made him want to see it in action. The rest of him was kind of bland but what do you expect of a Shard hunter, we weren't always the most fashionable people. The guy finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence between them. It seemed he was a similar rank to himself.

"Name's Ajax and don't worry about the bandits, we'll soon get rid of the scum." Ajax said turning to get a look at the village again. He has said his piece and he no longer wants to talk, there is plenty of time for that and now is not the time. Now is the time to see what damage these bastards have done to these people and to see if anybody is missing. Missing people was what he was worried about the most because that meant either they were dead or were in the hands of those fiends.

Interactions:

Aloha Loha · Jun 30, 2019

Lexie M. Norwood, Sheriff
Location: Pichetbury Outskirts
Interactions:

Slav

“What?” Lex responded as she continued to hear muffled murmurs from the masked man. Lexie placed the pig down fully on the dirt below, as it still squealed annoyed but it firmly accepted it was not going to escape. Well that was a bit of relief. Lexie pulled off her satchel from her shoulders, opened it and retrieved a flask and began waggling it. The contents of it began making a distinctive sloshing sound as it struck against the metal due to the agitation. “Didja say y’wer hankerin’ fer some water? Heat’s a powerful mistress, yer gonna need to stay hydrated.” The Sheriff placed the flask down and slid it over a bit closer to Ajax to allow him to grasp it, as she returned her satchel back to her shoulders and glanced down towards the pig.

Her attention was drawn to the boy, who proceeded to identify himself and his cause. Well it wasn’t like folks carrying honking slabs constructed into a sword like facsimile tended to be turnip farmers. “Lemme tell ya somethin’ feller, ain’t nobody too terribly concerned with things like ‘rank’. Folks are more concerned wit’ whatcha do ‘n whatcha don’t do. Like returnin’ this ‘ere pig, no one cares ‘bout t’rank you holler buh they do care if’n y’dun and helped em besides from what yer getting paid for. Cause that’s what they expect a Hired Gun, like we are to ‘em, ta do. Just doin’ that job ain’t exactly helping, it’s the little things that are what really makes a hero.” With that Lexie looked down at the pig and gave it a brief pat on the head. “I’m sure whoever yer W.S. is, missin’ ya dearly.”

She once again looked the boy up and down. “Y’don’t look like much, buuuuh reckon y’can’t be that bad if’n yer his kid.” She lifted up her hybrid poncho-cloak slightly to reveal a brass star badge, which was promptly flicked.

“Supposin’ since we’re shootin’ out salutations quicker than a coyote robbin’ a hen-house, t’name is Lexie Norwood. An’ I’m the Sheriff of Saltwater Gulch. Mos’ fellers just tend t’refer to me as Sheriff, ‘r Sheriff Lex. If’n you boys are wanting a history lesson of my job and home, as opposed to the more charitable deeds fer the Corporation, I’m willin’ ta oblige. But I can’t say it’d be particularly interesting to you fellers as I can sure as spit tell ya it ain’t a still thriving boom town and missed by the train line.”

Zerohex · Jun 30, 2019

Riki Anjo
Location: Aether Guild Hall
Mission: Dungeon Scouting Party

"Whooooaaaaa it's The Iron Hand! Man your stories made me want to be a Hunter!".

The enthusiastic shout came from a young man that had been making his way towards the Guild Hall from a recently arrived cart. The youth hardly needed to raise his voice to catch people's attention, all six feet and five inches of him ripped with impressively defined muscle usually did the trick, and he sure made for quite the sight: casually trotting along with six bags of grain stacked across his shoulders, for a weight total at the very least close to the thousand pounds. Riki Anjo had come by way of a supply delivery. It was the best way he found to get there, since he had just been taking whatever freelance contracts caught his eye and had no idea where the Guild Hall was. Offering old trader Jaro a hand in carrying the grain to and fro was enough to pay for the trip.

"Oh man lemme put this stuff down gimme a second!". Picking up speed, the muscular man dashed into the building then promptly ran back down the road sans grain bags, waving goodbye to Jaro who was still making his way towards the hall but going past Torin and completely ignoring him both times. He had no idea how he was supposed to know who this "Torin" he was told to contact was, but he figured it'd work itself out. Especially if he just stood by the table apparently set up for the quest with goddamn Osric of the Iron Hand there. With the confident swagger of someone who knows they belong and are not gonna hear otherwise, the massive athlete approached Lorelei and Osric, ignoring all the others who seemed to just be milling around the area.

"Right right the name's Riki Anjo, freelance professional wrestler, guild thought it needed some quality muscle so I'm getting paid to get this thing done", he said with a big, bright and cheeky smile, banging his rock hard chest with a hamhock fist by way of introduction, winking at Lorelei before extending the hand to Osric. "I'm a big fan, I wanted to be like you after your legendary fight with the Eclipse Horn hahaha!". It was an old story now but it had truly been a clash for the ages, The Iron Hand using a whole ramalite rock to produce two of his vaunted Robin Peak Gauntlet, holding off the monster until its its powers weakened and assistance arrived. "Can I shake your hand and get an autograph? Or...you wouldn't happen to have The Gauntlet with you, would you? Oh man I'd love to say I got to shake The Gauntlet".

dragonsfire · Jun 30, 2019

Dorian Leesis

Mission:Village Defense
Location: Picketbury Gates
Interactions:

Slav

EMIYAman

Finding nothing but ashen remains that left a clear message to any traders or outsiders the village relied on, only further ensuring the people here would be starved out, Dorian shifted his eyes around the field, muttering under his breath "May this land find your blessings Sidete" as he separated one of the pieces of bark in his hand, scraping off the uppermost layer and disregarding the symbol on it, eventually working around and cutting it thin. He squated down and scooped up a small bit of ash and dumped it onto the wood, using his finger to trace an interlocking square pattern that could be found on the hem of his pants, before sitting it gently down in front of him. Shame the bandits have been given time to become stronger, had they been dealt with sooner, this land would still be well.

Rising back up, Dorian continued walking towards the town gates, ears twitching as he investigated the clutch of people standing at the gates. Most notably was a man clad in black, a mask covering what was likely a face drenched in sweat, who turned another walked up, clutching an insane looking weapon as he began to talk. Dorian quickened his pace, surprised as the women who he could've sworn he's seen around the guild hall placed a small hog down, calming it's flailing movements shortly after.

Upon reaching the group, he began to take in the sudden change of the cloaked women's mood, bursting out in a small lecture towards the boy whose face had just tightened as he looked upon the group. Upon finishing her statement, Dorian waved his hand, not noticing his palm blackened by ash as he spoke up, "While I'm sure our help could go a long way from wherever you hail" pausing to take a quick glance at the masked man and scratch his chest, bare aside from the 5 black lines that now marked him, "The guild has already given us a task, one that we should be finding more information about."

Ennuis · Jul 1, 2019

Location: Pichetbury Outskirts
Interactions:

Slav

dragonsfire

Sebastian closed his eyes and simply nodded along as Alvis spoke, waiting for his chance to speak again, but when that moment came his partner was already rushing on ahead. "Well! Driver, stop right this second, I shan't be riding alongside him after that." The coachman stopped as Sebastian asked, but not without a pained groan. "But sir, the village is right there. Aren't you in a hurry to get there?" Sebastian scoffed at the notion. "Oh heavens no! Why would I ever be in a hurry?"

"Well, the bandits for one. Don't the villagers need a... Hero like you?" That last part pained the coachman to say, but he was desperate to convince him to just let him end this job. "A few minutes wont hurt, I don't hear any screaming so either they're fine or they're all already dead and there's nothing I can do about that." And so the stagecoach sat there for a short time as Alvis made it to the village gate with the others, before Sebastian spoke up again.. "Driver, I wish to make a dramatic entrance." The coachman once again groaned. He knew he would regret asking what he meant, but the risk of letting him do whatever he wanted was too great. "Dramatic how?"

"Well, I think I want to stand on the backs of your horses as we ride in." Sebastian had seen people perform this stunt before and he couldn't help but imagine how fun it must be. Granted, the horses typically aren't pulling a stagecoach during the performance, but details don't really matter. "No. A thousand times no. You'll fall off, get trampled by my horses, and either hurt them or break one of the wheels. So no." Sebastian couldn't help but feel taken aback at how firm the coachman was in his refusal, but he was also somewhat impressed by his firmness. "Well driver, if you are so concerned with my safety, how could I possibly turn down the request of a friend? We shall make a normal entrance and I will just have to work a little bit harder to impress. Let us go... Hmm... Now. Yes, now is the right time." Without replying, the coachman just spurred the horses towards the group.

When the stagecoach stopped by the group of shard hunters, Sebastian grabbed his bag and waited for the door to be opened for him. It was a long three minutes until he realized that the coachman wasn't opening it for him. "Ah, I forgot, your passengers don't expect doors opened for them. Do not worry, I will get it myself." Sebastian shielded his eyes from the sun as he stepped out of the coach and then approached his fellow hunters. "Good day everyone! I am Sebastian Castell, Adventurer Extraordinaire. I assume my acquaintance Alvin Goodfriend informed you that I would be arriving, yes?" Despite seeming as if he wanted confirmation on this detail, Sebastian immediately went into a short speech he had planned on his way here. His tone was forceful yet friendly, filled to the brim with confidence. "Regardless, I do hope you are all ready and willing to assist in me slaying these most foul brigands who rob these poor, unfortunate souls of their livelihoods, of their peace of mind, and even their very future." He paused slightly, partly to give his audience a chance to let his words sink in and partly because he had realized that how long it took to plan meant little for how long it took to recite, so it needed some padding. "It truly is disgraceful that such jackals are allowed to roam freely and prey upon lambs, but now they will face lions." At this part, a proud smile crept onto Sebastian's face, he spent much of the trip thinking that line up.

With his inspiring words finished, he took a moment to get a good look at the other hunters. First was Alvis Godfried, who Sebastian had mistakenly remembered as Alvin Goodfriend. Now that they were both standing, it was clear how short he was and how tired he was from his running. It gave some comfort, for if the battle was uncertain it seemed unlikely that he would bother with trying to escape. Next was a man dressed in black and red with a bothersome looking mask on. If there was any doubt to this man's character, the daggers he wore quickly dispelled it, it was clear that he preferred to work at night with unsavory methods. After him was the only woman in the group, though one might be forgiven if they didn't notice as it seemed that she did little to show it outside of the quite literal lip service of her minimal makeup. But her guns were what really caught the eye, though they weren't Sebastian's preferred style. Six shots just seemed unsporting to him. Finally there was the half dressed Ferox. A multitude of knives and hatchets of various styles dangled loosely from his belt, suggesting he built up his collection over time rather than getting them all at once which inspired some hope in his ability.

It was at this time that the coachman made his escape before Sebastian could ask for anything else and before the village ran into more issues with the bandits.

Mitch Conner · Jul 1, 2019

Lorelei nodded in response to the solemn-looking young man's acknowledgement as Osric adjusted his glasses to get a better look at his fan.

"The Lunatic, aye? Not sure what they've told ya, but the worst of it was actually 'afore the fight- thirty meters a' beastie from tip ta tail, and nae a speck ya could see 'fore moonrise. We rode like demons just searchin' for the damn thing, and wouldn't ya know that it spotted me afore I could light me signal. Knocked me clean off me horse, the blasted thing!"

"Didn't stop him from putting flame to it, though.", Added Lorelei as she checked a survey journal, "-His mount, that is, not the creature."

"Do ye always have ta spoil the best part?", Osric pouted.

"I'm sure he already knows the story, Osric. Why don't you ever tell anyone about the man-leech?"

"Because nobody wants to hear about the man-leech, Lorelei. It's the poor man's vampire."

"I think it made for a wonderful lesson.", Lorelei said as she flipped to the next page, "Dangers of not doing your homework, and all that. He even commissioned this ridiculous little contraption that was supposed to fire wooden stakes from his-"

"-That's enough, Lorelei.", Osric said sternly, blushing furiously as he turned back to face his fan, "-Look, lad, the important thing here is nae my stories, but yers. Ya should nae be concernin' yerself with the exploits of an old fogey like me. Me glory days are long past- and as for me gauntlet, I'd not be surprised if the museum junked that old thing years ago..."

Setting his saucer off to the side, Osric retrieved a suitcase from the ground and set it on the table, his arthritic fingers carefully undoing the clasps as Lorelei rolled her eyes.

"...Is what I'd normally say to ya.", the old man said as he opened the case to reveal a polished iron gauntlet, knuckle-plates warped and battered from years of use and a pitted hollow in the palm where the familiar marks of heavy ramalite usage had embedded themselves into the metal. He gave Riki a sly wink as he slipped it on and held out his hand, "But eh, what the hell. Anything for a fan."

Zerohex

Remembrance

PeanutLemur · Jul 1, 2019

Torin Maxwell

Aether Guild Hall, Front Entrance
Associated Mission: Dungeon Exploration

Torin found "Feral Sage Lorelie" to be interesting woman. Despite her eccentricity and general obtuseness in the face of society's more intricate workings, the woman was a skilled pathfinder the likes of which he'd rarely seen. He respected her for her talent and found humor in her wiles. Unfortunately, she had the habit of toting around a Lesser Wyrm and mocking his hard-earned alias. While strange creatures bringing him discomfort was nigh unheard of - for Torin considered himself well versed in Igris' many oddities - it was just his luck that Lorelie's companion broke the mold. Indeed, the creature possessed an anxiety-inducing level of intelligence. It stared at him, spoke at him, and Aether's informant did not appreciate the unease that settled in his veins whenever he was subjected to its attentions. Watching Lorelie interact with wildlife as a result of her whim was one thing; having a member of said wildlife communicate with him considering his lack of whim was another. He didn't like it.

It was for this reason that Torin had made quick work of delivering his files to the woman before releasing a relieved sigh upon the arrival of the Dungeon Exploration team's first member, one Ezekiel Weignheart. The teenager was polite, and Torin offered him his trademark wink accompanied grin before focusing his attention to the road once more. Kitara Sincalir was the next to arrive. Her pointed look and jab at his uncharacteristic punctuality had him rubbing the back of his head. Of course she'd mention his propensity for tardiness; they'd known each other for years. "Ah, yes," he replied. "You know me, always trying new things. Figured I'd keep everyone on their toes by changing it up a bit - or something." He would have said more, but the loud exclamation that reached his ears would have carried over his voice anyways.

""Whooooaaaaa it's The Iron Hand! Man your stories made me want to be a Hunter!"

"What the -" Torin felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. Thankfully the muscle-man - or was it maned-muscle? - was quick to introduce himself amidst his jubilant exclamations. Oh. Oh. This was the outsider Irisha had told him about. Well. This would certainly be an eclectic assemblage of characters - and the fairy was still in the Guild Hall!

Placing his hands on his hips and directing a white-toothed grin towards the group in the wake of Lorelie and Osric's interaction with the newest arrival, Torin nodded his head. "Glad to see I made the right decision in getting out of bed this morning." A wink; an increase in the volume of his voice. "Welcome to Aether's Guild Hall. Names Torin, but you can call me Atlas. I'm the know-it-all behind this operation and the reason all of you are going to get paid. As you're aware, rumors of a new dungeon in the Norned Woods have been spreading. You lot are the lucky blokes who get to go find it! So exciting! I have more information to give, but I think it'll be best to wait until our fairy is brought to us. Why don't we get introductions out of the way into the meantime? Teamwork and dream work and all that."

SachiGrl

Zeebruh · Jul 1, 2019

Zanian Carter
Location: Outside of Abringen
Razed Fields - Rank D
Interactions: