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Fantasy Valenzia

[DM]​
As Aerline left the castle's interior, he was met by the sight of a long, metallic drawbridge that connected Nuvok Castle, which was settled on the peak of a precarious cliff, to the main road in Lapas Ghûl. The two places were separated by a large chasm, where nothing but bottomless depths were seen as far as the eye allowed. Two enormous chains were on either side of the bridge, used as pulleys, along with an overarching pipe that settled directly over the double doors to the castle. It had a crank attached to it that, when used, the chains wrapped around the pipe. The crank had a brutish Ettin that manned it; a two-headed giant-like creature that, to Aerline's understanding, were idiotic underlings that hardly thought for themselves, priding in their muscles rather than their brains, of which they had two, ironically enough. As he went to pass, one of the Ettin's heads gave him a snort while the other continued to survey the pathway of the bridge.

This sort of derisive response wasn't unusual for the merfolk hybrid. As the consort of Duchess Varenza, an influential figure that was also admired by the populace as a whole, it was commonplace for some to be envious of his position. And so, as he moved, the nagging reminder of a pair of eyes watching him sullied his tranquil endeavor towards town. He hadn't gone far, however, as the trek across the drawbridge always took a few minutes to cross, before a deep grumble echoed from the abyss under his feet. Then, as the clouds above began to meld, the thunderous boom of lightning had struck directly behind Nuvok Castle.

Aerline, from his position, wasn't able to see the initial impact. He was able to feel it. The surge of electricity flowed past his body, and for a moment, he had felt his nervous system temporarily give way. Even as he quickly regained his composure, there was no way for the fish man to brace himself for what came next. From behind the castle, a monument that had taken the shape of a blue fist sprouted, dislodging chunks of rocks that were flung into the air from the speed of its emergence. Dust billowed from its base and swept over the nearby area without remorse. In moments, Aerline began to suffocate.

As his chest filled with sediment, the choking realization of a quick and meek death washed over him. Only hopelessness was found when faced with this unyielding destructive force, its mere movement enough to end the lives of the critters that attempted to exist around it. And yet, as his end neared, an occult experience flooded his senses. It wasn't as gentle as Duchess Varenza's, which was typically filled with care and affection, but instead, it was powered by a calculating sense of detail. An assured hold as it bent reality to its will. Soon enough, Aerline felt the pressure on his lungs lift as the earthy residue was forcefully dispelled from his body and his airways were cleaned of any and all things that had prohibited its usual function.

The area around him, once obscured by the remains of the Hand of Vienna's wake, had all been swept into the sky. Off to his side, Aerline saw that the Ettin from earlier was now dead. It appeared the creature had been too close to the initial shock to be saved, even by the powerful arcane entity that had rescued him. In the sky above, Varenza had taken shape in the sky as an illusion that took up its entirety, looking the same as she always had to him, if not a bit happier in general. It was after the speech that things had taken a turn for the worst.

Due to his close proximity, Aerline saw that the hand was not only blue but resembled the galaxy as a whole with various stars and spacial bodies that sifted and moved erratically along its skin. The longer he looked, the deeper his mind became entranced. It was as if the fleshy monolith beckoned for his attention, yet denied him access to any insight all at the same time. He was not a creation of Vienna. He did not belong. He did not deserve her love.

Then, the divine ichor began to pour from its nails. The Messengers, as Varenza had called them before, began to seep out from the black blood, screeching and crying as life was made before Aerline's very eyes. They swept over the land with determination, and as a few caught a glimpse of him, they began to pursue the fish man. Whether he ran or not, they eventually caught up with him, harboring speeds well beyond what a blob of sludge should have been allowed.

The one that spoke had an eerily dulcet tone, much like a mother did when teaching their child a lesson.

"Aquaerline Ceto, you have been drafted into servitude under the Nuvok Army. Go to the Amphitheater of Anguish for further instruction." The wisp then left, leaving Aerline to do as they wished.

Lo Mayn Lo Mayn
 
Bucephalus​
At Bob's command, the nightly steed began their trot towards Skelly McBones' Theater. Each step they took left an imprint of purple flames in their wake. The flames, while capable of lightly burning those that came into contact with it, quickly faded thereafter. They acted as a buffer for those that dare approach his master for an impromptu autograph on their way to important business. Bucephalus, despite their get-up, was still a horse of pride. As they made their way towards the upper residencies' main streets, the horse's long neck was held high in the air. The people of the upper residencies were the common audience that visited the theater, so it was of dire importance that the loyal servant of a magnificent lord such as Bob held themselves in a proper manner before their judging gazes. How else would his master rise in the ranks of . . . performance . . . if their mode of transportation was ridiculed by the masses?

The overall theme of the upper residencies was, for a lack of a better word, regal. Due to the constant Evernight above, each walkway had rows of enchanted street lamps on either side, powered by mysterious stones that gave off a gentle yellow illumination. This shed light on the various mansions that made up the affluent location, each spread apart by privately owned properties and one never resembling the other. Some examples were one that bore a large birch tree that had its roots entangled within the architecture of the house itself, creating a pseudo-tree house, and another that possessed the capacity to levitate over the land, held down by four large chains that kept it tethered to the geography below. The streets themselves had intricate chiseled patterns etched into the brick, some of elven design and others made in reverence to the great Vienna. Due to the restrictions set on the entry of commonfolk into the area, there was little in the form of crowds in the upper residencies, most pedestrians being those on a nice walk or heading towards their place of work. This location was the definition of a higher echelon within Lapas Ghûl.

While the duo roamed the extravagant thoroughfare, they noticed that there was a particular influx of Red Cloaks, magicians that were the cream of the crop in the Institute of Madness, making rounds in the general location. Bucephalus knew that their presence, while appreciated, meant that something drastic had taken place or was bound to occur. Luckily for him, his unwavering master had begun to hum and do a tiny dance on his back, reminding him that there was nothing to be anxious about as long as they were present. From deep within the chest pocket of Bob's attire, the faint sound of orchestral music started. As they continued to dance, the music became louder and louder until the equivalent of a magic boombox was heard. The trinket was Archlich Ghoux'rux's creation. A gift from Bob's patriarchal figure that made music whenever the holder danced.

Despite the detestable stares of those around them, Bucephalus only felt awe towards the glorious movements of their caretaker. Akin to the artistic styles of a warrior . . . of theater . . . it was a great honor to be the locomotive vessel of such a being. "Magnificent form, as always, my Master," Bucephalus had commented, their words registering deeply inside of Bob's mind. "As the kids say nowadays, you are indeed 'pop n' lockin' it' to a degree that has never before been seen on this plane of existence. I must, however, request you refrain from tiring yourself out before our great battle on overthrowing . . . the audition. As was instructed of me, I have memorized the lines of all two-hundred and eight pages in the story Patrick Pot. Perhaps we shall rehearse? As your biggest fan, I know of your extensive hard work towards your craft, but brushing up never hurts. Today will be the day that the detestable siren takes her last breath . . . as the head actress!"

Their conversation ceased once Bucephalus felt one of his hooves mistakenly miss its mark as if the flooring itself had moved. Then, the deep guttural rumbling from below was heard. Eventually, it had drowned out the music box in Bob's pocket before the intricately designed pathways of the upper residencies began to shift and shatter. A portion of the ground they were on lurched forward, throwing Bucephalus on his side and Bob off their mount. The damage might've been worse, but the Red Cloaks that had been stationed from before acted as immediate responders, using their magic to stop any debris from crushing the residents and assisting in the removal of the oncoming clouds of dust that resulted from the initial impact of Vienna's Cradle. The eventual speech by Varenza, along with the cries of change, had been lost on Bucephalus. His only concern was for his master.

"My Master, are you unharmed?!" he asked, righting himself on all fours before clopping over. With his teeth, he grabbed them by the scruff of their now dirtied garments. After analyzing their condition frantically, the horse sighed from their flared nostrils, a small putter of purple flames escaping in response. Once relieved of all worries, Bucephalus watched as the Messengers formed and traveled towards the various people of Lapas Ghûl. As one approached them, he began to rise to his hindquarters, only to stop when his oncoming hooves passed through their sludgy form harmlessly. Then, the creature spoke to Bob, not that it had any right to.

"Belll Grando Opalin Obrecht Oydis Olamide Oneida Orpheus Bodoni, you have been drafted into servitude under the Nuvok Army. Go to the Amphitheater of Anguish for further instruction." It then moved to their next target.

Their master had been asked to join in the war effort? While it was true that Bucephalus supported their owner with the utmost dedication that any loyal servant was bound to do, a portion of him was excited for the sudden change, evident by an unconscious nod of his head in approval. All his life, they had trained him to act as the perfect performance horse, but deep down, the instinct for undead battle burned strong. This was not about his desires, however. Whatever his master decided, he was sure to follow them every clippety-clop of the way.

"My Master, allow me to articulate my insight into this strange predicament we find ourselves in," Bucephalus said, his eyes wandering over the ruined landscape of the upper residencies. "I doubt that the theater will be open today . . . and the city is now rectifying itself. Perhaps the best form of acting is one that comes from personal experience?" He tried to not sound pushy, although the direct emotional link the two shared made it difficult. "That siren, while beloved by the misguided cretins, has no chance against you if you decide to pursue this opportunity for adventure. You will possess professionalism only found through exposure." The steed then tilted their head, motioning for Bob to hop onto their back.

"The decision is yours, my Master. Where shall we go?"

Ambiloquous Ambiloquous
 
Raz of the Raulthraxx Tribe​
As Mallus approached Chieftain Mavarice with the Almiraj, which now smelled slightly nauseating due to the charred flesh of the tiny creature, Raz tried his best to keep his composure. The way Mallus fumbled over his words and his act of seriousness had betrayed the little monster that Raz grew to know and love. Yes, this was a very important day for Mallus. Yes, this was the defining moment in which they were going to be promoted from a hatchling into adulthood. Despite this, the older brother was unable to dissuade the laughter bubbling up in his stomach. After letting out the tiniest chuckle from his loosened maw, which was met by a strong glare from the Chief, Raz stood frozen in fear, not daring to anger the old geezer any further.

"The firebolt cantrip. I see," Mavarice had said, eyeing the beast as Mallus brought it closer. The dragon-like being then took in a few gentle sniffs. His retinas, long slits that resided within his oceanic blue irises, seemed to temporarily close before opening again, much like that of a snake. Then, with a small growl, he huffed, a blanket of smog once more escaping his jaws. "The firebolt cantrip isn't the only thing I sense on this offering . . . Is this your doing, Young Raz?"

The sorcerer went to say something but closed his mouth. That old man was too wise for his own good. With his tail drooping in a shameful manner, Raz looked to his clawed feet bashfully. "Well, I mean, you know how it is, Chief . . . We're a pack, right? If the family needs help, you gotta help them . . . Isn't that what you tau-"

"You know that doesn't apply here!" Mavarice boomed, his hulking tail smashing into the floor with anger, the structure of the housing itself gently shaking in reaction. The pseudo-dragon then glanced back at Mallus, almost as if in fear that they had scared him. Their muscles, once tensed, now slackened. Mavarice's tail then slowly moved away from the dent it had made in the flooring and towards the younger kobold, the spiked appendage slithering up to them until it was wrapped around the Almiraj. With a little tug, he took the creature out of their hand. His tail then dangled it before his face before blowing a gentle flame towards the uni-bunny. It became engulfed in a hypnotic blue fire that, when finished burning, revealed an untouched Almiraj carcass without any of the external trauma it once had. This, as both Mallus and Raz knew, was known as the Ascended Flame. A boon that was passed down by their dragon god, Raulthraxx the Ascended, to the family head of each tribe that followed in his footsteps. A blessing.

"Despite the lapse in judgment on Young Raz's part . . . It was a good hunt indeed, Young Mallus. I will not let your older brother's actions tarnish the skill that you have shown me today. As the sole remaining elder of this tribe's council, and with the power blessed unto me by our god, I hereby decree that you have reached adulthood. May your actions reflect the glory of our tribe and set an example for all generations thereafter. Partake in what you have acquired with your own power and have your warrior spirit ignited by Raulthraxx's guidance." Mavarice rested the animal into Mallus' small grasp.

Once Mallus had finished eating, Raz let out a hefty sigh. It was finally done. His younger brother had finally reached adulthood, just like him. There was a moment when Raz felt he was going to start tearing up, considering all the time and effort that Mallus had spent to get to this moment, and yet he stopped himself. The faint sound of grinding had graced his perceptive ears, and as he went to listen closer, a large, lurching boom sounded off from the distance. As he went outside the double doors of Mavarice's abode, quickly followed by the two others, he was only able to look up in horror at what he saw.

"What in Vienna's name is that?"

The trees in the Forbidden Woods, known to be large enough to blanket out the entirety of the sun with their leaves that canopied over the land, had seemingly shriveled back in fear. For the first time in millenniums, the locals of the woods had seen the sun that hung above them, its searing aura enough to mildly agitate or even make some combust in its presence. Off in the distance, near The Great Tree, the heart of the Forbidden Woods, an unearthly starry hand now fought its way to the surface. Its imposing figure was seen for miles along the horizon with large roots dangling from the fingers as it displaced the natural geography of the land around it.

The Raulthraxx tribe that Raz and Mallus hailed from was relatively close to the frontlines, a good distance away from the forest's heart and closer to The Gate, where the forces of the Pax Alliance and the Nuvok Army fought. Yet, even with this distance between them and the mysterious edifice, a forceful cloud of dust burst forth, reaching them in a manner of seconds. Mavarice, in a hasty movement that betrayed his size, protected both Mallus and Raz with his wings, which unfurled around them protectively. As the dust settled, so too did his barrier.

In the sky, clouds had formed, and the same message that was broadcasted to Lapas Ghûl replayed for the citizens of the Forbidden Woods. The news of Saint Ivan's encroaching strength, Azhraiem, and the coming draft all terrified Raz to the bone. What scared him most, however, were the Messengers. They oozed from the Hand of Vienna, like bacteria that invaded one's body, and shot forth all across the Forbidden Woods.

Soon enough, akin to a bad omen, one of their mired forms levitated before them.

"Mallus of the Raulthraxx Tribe, you have been drafted into servitude under the Nuvok Army. Travel to the nearest Teleportation Circle and go to the Amphitheater of Anguish in Lapas Ghûl for further instruction."

"Raz of the Raulthraxx Tribe, you have been ordered to join the frontlines at The Gate. Travel to the nearest Teleportation Circle and receive further instruction."

The horror left. Raz, silent, took Mallus' hand in an attempt to comfort him. He knew that if they disobeyed the ruling of the Eternal Eminence, the being that the Lord of the Forbidden Woods answered to, there was bound to be trouble. Whether or not his body screamed for him to run; to not risk his life for a war that concerned him little, he had to set an example for his little brother. To show them what it meant to be an adult.

"C'mon, Mallus. I'll take you to the Teleportation Circle." He turned his head to Chieftain Mavarice. "Oh, and uh, guess this is goodbye, for now, Gramps. Make sure to hold down the fort while we're gone!"

Mavarice said not a word as the two set off.
Arvios Arvios
 
Emil Ifficus​
"Hm? Ah yes, it makes sense that you haven't met Crawley yet," Loretta said in a raspy voice, raising her withered hand to the demonic bird, only for it to peck affectionately at her touch. "You often visit with your mother, Gwynn. Crawley, bless his tiny heart, rarely shows himself in front of those he fears. I imagine that the infamous 'Vile Queen' is capable of giving anyone a good scare, don't you agree?" Loretta let out a gentle cough, which Emil assumed was their version of a laugh. His scrutiny must have caught her attention, for she changed the topic of conversation to him.

"That reminds me, Captain," she said, bringing her hand away from Crawley as they had pecked away at some of the flesh on one of her fingers, "the weapon you had me commission is somewhere in the back. You can peruse my wares in the meantime while one of my Unseen Servants fetches it for you along with the other items on your list. Sit tight. It shouldn't be too long."

Emil grunted in response before pressing his back against the wall next to the clerk counter so that he faced the store's entrance, crossing his arms patiently. As he got a better scan of the room, it was evident that Loretta's Trinkets & Baubles was claustrophobic at best. The woman was a hoarder. It was obvious by the number of items she had out for display, paired with their ridiculous pricing, even for the wealthy Ifficus family. It reeked of an inability to let go. Not only this but the rows of gondola shelving were packed tightly together, making the pathway in the store limited to single file traversing. Even if Loretta was a successful businesswoman, her methods went against the very concept of commerce that High Priest Vorndrin sought for.

It was slightly embarrassing to watch Yazquin tidy herself in front of Loretta's brain jar collection, the dark elf man fighting the urge to look away in pity. The creature inside, a human brain with eyeballs attached to it, blinked at her, the green liquid around it bubbling in response to her disgust towards it. As his younger half-sister asked for Loretta's opinion on what to get, his lips pursed together into a straight line. Perhaps it was unfair of him, but he hated idle chit-chat. Especially when talking with someone as crafty as Loretta.

The saleswoman pounced on the opportunity like a cheetah did a gazelle. "A lady such as yourself, you say?" the old crone mused, her hand gently stroking at the spot where her chin was presumably at. "A youngster like yourself has the whole world at her fingertips, even more so with the family name of Ifficus backing her. What you seek isn't as simple as material goods. I'd say you're the type of lass that wants things that are beyond her control. Whether it's love or recognition, your desires are placed in others rather than yourself. Not to worry! I have just the thing in mind."

The woman began to hobble away from her position at the counter, the movements she took being erratic and irregular. It was as if multiple parts of her body were moving in disjunction, but it was difficult to tell from under all the clothes she wore. She then reached one of the racks located near the left end of the store, rummaging through a few trinkets before taking out a small canister. It was some sort of balm with the words MZILT SSIN on it, which Emil roughly translated to "much beauty". He silently cringed.

"Apply some of this ointment twice a day and you are certain to attract any man, or woman, your maidenly heart desires! You're in luck since I even have a sale on this wildly sought-after item. Instead of one-hundred and twenty gold pieces, I will begrudgingly hand it over to you for one-hundred and nineteen! What do you say? Interested, no?"

As Loretta finished her sales pitch, a thunderous boom echoed a great distance away. Emil, instinctively, drew his dagger, closing the gap between Yazquin and himself, as to protect her. Then, the ground began to vibrate. The items on the shelves started to clatter, glass clinking together and various objects beginning to shuffle. Was it an earthquake? He didn't have much time to think it over. Yazquin had lost her footing and began to fall backward.

Right as the items started to tumble over as well, Loretta's arm shot up, a small, spectral hand made of magic shooting from under her robes and towards a peculiar item. It was a small ball made of bronze, which had cogs and gears rotating at different speeds, some fast and others slow. The magical hand had pressed a button on the item, and within moments, the area around them seemed to alter. The objects that once began to fall now hovered weightlessly in the air, floating harmlessly. Gravity had been displaced.

The same was not said for Yazquin. Quickly, Emil had wrapped his arm around her back, holding her firmly, their position akin to a dip in salsa dancing. Without looking, he had caught one of the brain jars that hadn't quite lost the momentum from falling using his free hand. The two held still for a small moment before Emil broke the trance, allowing Yazquin to right herself and placing the eyed brain back on the shelf. He then looked to the unlatched doors.

The voice of Varenza carried all the way inside the store. Her words told of the coming Azhraiem and the need to heighten the war effort. Neither Emil nor Loretta appeared surprised in the slightest. As the Messengers made their way inside the shop, one had stopped in front of the dark elf duo, its mouth producing projectile spit as it spoke in an unnatural scream.

"YAZQUIN IFFICUS, YOU HAVE BEEN DRAFTED INTO SERVITUDE UNDER THE NUVOK ARMY. GO TO THE AMPHITHEATER OF ANGUISH FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION," it screeched, nearly deafening Emil.

"CAPTAIN EMIL IFFICUS, HIGH PRIEST VORNDRIN HAS ASKED FOR YOU TO VISIT HIS OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DO NOT KEEP THE GENERAL WAITING." The beast then whisked itself away.

Loretta was busying herself with restocking her shelves, the gravity-defying commodities slowly being placed back into their rightful spots. Emil then shot a glance towards Yazquin. "Go," he ordered her. He then went to leave. Gathering the goods for his mother, while important, was overshadowed by the direct order of a commanding officer. He was certain that La'Bella, given her personality, was likely checking in on their parents in his stead. The notion gave him some comfort. Sneaking into the shadows, he left Yazquin behind and headed for Nuvok Castle.
. D O V E . D O V E
 
MNE
reciprocating: TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity
1648435344292.png​

“Your maturity is yet to be seen,” they say. You can’t spell MATURITY without MNE. Mne knew this was true, though perhaps it was not so in other languages. Regardless, Mne was beginning to tug at their own belt when Yinvha submitted to superior reason. The changeling’s massive maturity would have to be displayed at a later date. Maybe, if ordained by fate, this disturbance would prove to be an opportunity to showcase it though. Not a drop of Shrimp-Daddy’s weariness would be wasted when Mne cleaned up the act of whatever SCHMUCK – that’s right, they said it – who had tried to show up The Mnuisance on their home turf. Were they going to take a nap soon?

...

It felt like the two had been walking for hours. Yinvha, as always, forgot how much greater distances were for those beneath their giant stature. The only thing that kept Mne’s feet pedaling forward, or rather hovering toward their guardian shellfish, was their fear of the surrounding vegetation. The plants moved as if they were alive… It sent shivers down Mne’s, for lack of better words, spine. It did not help that Yinvha only interrupted the sounds of shifting flora to talk about dead bodies, bloody rivers, and Rodeo Rhodeia. She lived up to her name as a solid ten in Mne’s book of choreography, but she totally ghosted right after they both began to talk – mentally, of course. Since then, Mne could hardly find any inspiration for dance in the forest… The plants were really so creepy. It was distracting.

Finally, they reached a clearing, and the poser that Mne had to teach the meaning of menagerie was revealed. The man talked a great deal for someone within range of Mne's Golden Vow. With a build like a serpent, and the face of Gob's Cave, the Nuvok Army officer appeared in Mne's eyes to be a poorly drawn caricature of a villain. Yinvha had instructed Mne in the proper confrontation of such fiends through countless parables, namely that of The Sighing Demon.

“Zeddicus? More like Reddicus. Your tailor must have a bought in bulk from the butcher for that bloody bile-hued shade of fabric,” Mne said. Mentally.

“Mayhem? Maybe get some MAIDENS!” Mne thought poignantly in that direction.

“Take up arms to protect this maturity!” Mne gestured through a powerful stance.

“I’M AN ADULT!” Mne shrieked through a non-existent telepathic link.
 

Allie Gival
Interacting with: TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum ​

Maybe Allie was thankful that Naivier had appeared as La'Bella quickly turned her attention to her sister. It gave Allie enough time to process what her friend had just said. She looked away from the two for a moment, bringing a hand to her face to school down the red that rushed to her face upon the realization. Thankfully, she had trained herself for so long to hide the emotions that she managed to push it down before anyone could notice.

The ground beneath them began to shake and La'Bella had barely called attention to it before everything had gone down. The earthquake had been so fierce that Allie couldn't keep her balance and she was thrown down onto the ground. And it seemed like it happened in a flash as she turned to her two companions and found an empty space instead of them. She scrambled towards the huge fissure that had formed on the ground to see both of them hanging by La'Bella's web spell. Upon seeing her struggle, Allie quickly gave her help and pulled the two of them up to the solid ground.

Before she could even ask about their condition, her eyes snapped up to Duchess Varenza's illusory form. Huh, so that was what they were going to use it for? It was a brilliant piece of spellwork which was certainly effective. The familiar spell gave her a bit of comfort even as her eyes strayed towards the hand that had come up— most likely the reason for the severe earthquake that had shaken the entire city. Azhraiem had come upon all of them. The time of retaliation. Could it be that they were also pressured to go faster? Saint Ivan had acquired his next boon— eight more to go. It would be devastating to all of them if he were to succeed. The tune of the final battle seemed to be getting closer.

Everyone cheered after the speech. There was hope. With Vienna's imminent return, they could, possibly, flip the advantage. The Duchess did go on to reiterate that the start of Azhraiem didn't mean that their position in the war had changed, it was still an ongoing struggle. Allie understood that much. Still, the idea that this might signal the turnover of the war brought her a bit of joy. For a moment, she wondered if she would be allowed into a few more projects with their Master when one of the messengers came down towards them. Allie had to admit that it was hideous but the pit in her stomach was not from its appearance but the implications of its presence.

"Huh..." Was the first thing that came out of Allie's mouth as the messenger told both herself and Naivier that they had been drafted into the war. For a moment, she was still in a state of disbelief. Allie wasn't even a particularly skilled student and even Master was convinced she wouldn't be drafted due to her apparent uselessness. And yet here they were and she felt something vibrate under her skin— a cold shiver washing down her entire body.

Was it from excitement or was it from dread?

She watched as La'Bella picked herself up from the ground, tears brimming in her eyes. She should say something... comforting? To brush off the current situation like it was nothing? It would be halfhearted, at best. Instead, she settled to say something else. "Right. Take care." She called out. There was still an urge to say something else, anything else. But she watched La'Bella walk away, leaving the important things unsaid.

She shook off her indecision and turned to Naivier. "Are you okay? That fissure was rather deep." She presented the question after a few more seconds. While she and Naivier had quite a shaky friendship due to their sharp tones against each other, it was still a friendship. Once her companion had composed herself, Allie began to make her way over to the Amphitheater, gesturing for Naivier to follow. "And La'Bella's right. We should get going. Better not make a bad first impression."
 
Zeddicus, Oni of the Red Cloaks​
"What did you say?" Yinvha responded callously to Zeddicus' statement. The white feathers around his neck, once tinted red, began to shift into a deep blue hue. His hooved legs started to tense, their bulky musculature radiating a dangerous presence. Their tail, once waggling in annoyance, had formed quills at the end, the sharp tips ripping through Yinvha's skin as if the matter was calcifying. Mne had only seen this form a handful of times before. Namely whenever Yinvha was outraged. For most, it signaled a sight right before imminent death.

Zeddicus continued to bear the same ecstatic grin over their shadowy countenance. Whatever it was that Yinvha had done, it clearly piqued their interest. Unalarmed, he continued to converse with the beast. "The Priestess, Judge Vondra, Saint Ivan, Saint Luca, Graff the Demigod, and even the retired Saint Varick. All of these living legends, and countless more, are looking to tear down this forest. Recent news has it that Ivan has even acquired his fourth boon. Your territory is sat directly next to The Gate, the epicenter of the war. Do you truly believe that you are powerful enough to withstand their advance, let alone while protecting a kid?" Zeddicus' single eye had darted to Mne, who had been posturing for a while now with extravagant gestures and the occasional huff of pride.

Oddly enough, the apparition of their toothy smile had faltered, the figure somewhat perturbed by whatever it was Mne had been doing. He let out an awkward cough. "Not only can I offer them a better chance at survival, having them strategically placed in conditions that will heighten their growth while limiting the dangers they face, but I can offer them . . . health care benefits through the army. I'm sure that living in the woods all this time hasn't exactly been . . . the best for their mental and physical maturity." The last bit had a tinge of wariness laced in their tone, the man continuously looking back to Mne who had struck a t-pose at this point in time.

While Yinvha hadn't quite let down their guard, it was obvious that Zeddicus' words held a snippet of truth in them. Their tail had gone still and the gentle blue of their feathers had blended back into its typical red color. As the majestic creature had started to reply, seemingly in exasperation, the trees groaned and tilted downward. They looked to have been uprooted by something before the general area had suddenly caved in under the trio's feet. A single blue thumb had started to emerge from below, its nail large enough to risk Yinvha, despite their enormous size, to slip between it. Quickly, the two experienced fighters began to adjust to the drastic change in terrain.

With a flap of his cloak, Zeddicus was found floating in the air, activating the Fly spell. Not only this, but he had quickly shot over to Mne, whisking him from danger within his arms in a princess carry. He had taken Mne well into the sky, enough to where the young man was visibly able to view the entirety of the Forbidden Woods from an eagle's eye perspective, its territory spanning to the horizon in every direction. In the distance, the changeling also saw the small silhouette of another hand erupting from the crust, over where Lapas Ghûl was situated. Yinvha, in all the chaos, had let out an odd shriek, similar to the trumpet of an elephant, before the previously destroyed roots began to entangle themselves into a web under his eight legs. Gradually, the vines had fully created a cocoon around Yinvha as the Hand of Vienna rocketed upward. Bouncing off the hand like a pinball, the cocoon had smashed near the ground at the base of the monument, leaving a dent in the surface and only opening once the shifting had settled.

Unlike in the city, there was no magic or preemptive measures to mitigate the damage that came from the resurfacing of Vienna's corporeal form. Nearby villages had been demolished by debris and many of the residents had died from asphyxiation or by being crushed. Mne heard as Zeddicus spoke a foreign language under his breath, some sort of wind current in the shape of a dome encircling the two. As they lowered back down, the particles in the air naturally moved away from them. They approached Yinvha's barrier right as it was opening.

The guardian was unaffected by the change in the climate. It was uncertain whether they simply didn't breathe oxygen or if the anatomy of their body allowed for sediments to enter without any negative backlash occurring. The two individuals shared a look. Yinvha was the first to speak. "I understand. Then I will make it your responsibility to ensure the boy's safety, for the time being, Sir Zeddicus. It seems I have much to attend to as of late, anyway." Whether it was a challenge or a shift in responsibility was difficult to discern. The Red Cloak gave a quick nod.

"You are wise, Guardian Yinvha. The decision you've made today may change the very fate of the Nuvok Army - no, the entirety of the night dwellers. You just don't know it yet."

"Enough with your witty remarks. It isn't you that I am placing my trust in, but rather in the potential of the one that I call my son." Yinvha looked at Mne, and despite the lack of expression that the monster was able to produce, there was a longing in their gaze. "It appears that your wish to leave my side has come earlier than I anticipated. Take care of yourself, Mne." The established telepathic link that the two had shared for as long as Mne remembered had disappeared for the first time. Slowly, Yinvha turned, trudging deeper into the woods, most likely to help those that were caught in the recent natural disaster.

~~~

The two beings had walked along an imaginary path for quite a while. Zeddicus hadn't spoken to Mne throughout the entirety of their trek, but it was evident that the cloaked being was uncomfortable with their presence. As they took a few more steps, the oni cleared his voice. "We're nearing the meeting place of my associates. Take care not to do anything . . . strange." All this time above, Duchess Varenza had given her speech, along with the Messengers that were seen zooming through the sky. None of them had stopped to address Zeddicus or Mne, for whatever reason.

Zeddicus stopped. From behind a few nearby trees, a set of four individuals emerged. On their right, Mne saw a man with similar red garbs as Zeddicus, the only difference being that their face possessed a black comedy mask over it. Behind them, a dragonborn with luxurious white scales followed in their step, their draconic lineage relating to one of the four guardians, the ancient dragon Grisha.

To the left of them, a man dressed in a white tuxedo and a red scarf made their presence known. Their hair was onyx black and their features refined with an elven heritage. He had a set of shades that were nestled in front of two hypnotically bright blue eyes, the irises possessing magical enchantments that turned and shifted the longer one stared into them. Coming up from their rear was a firbolg, namely a humanoid cow woman that was dressed in apparel made of leaves and intricately woven twigs. As to how they managed to stick to her otherwise imposing form, the woman nearing over seven feet in height, was amazing. The two groups converged to where Zeddicus and Mne were, the three men in red giving a cursory glance before Zeddicus spoke.

"Haze, status report," he inquired, the lax attitude he had with Yinvha replaced by an authoritative air.

"It was confirmed that Behemoth was killed in action when faced with Guardian Cyrinax. He was unable to retrieve the target. Otherwise, Scholar and I have completed our mission successfully. Both Guardian Grisha and Guardian Edalaphin were willing to compromise with the Eternal Eminence's request without issue." The masked man hadn't taken their attention off of Zeddicus as they spoke. In fact, it felt as if they hadn't noticed Mne's presence at all.

"Then it is as Master said," Zeddicus replied. "Behemoth acted admirably within the will of the Oracle. We will hold a funeral for him when we return." He then faced Mne. "As for you, once we teleport to Lapas Ghûl, you will be escorted to the Amphitheater of Anguish. You'll meet with your team members there. Captain Qorryn will brief you on what will happen next." He then made a swipe with his hand, a large sigil appearing on the ground around them. It glowed with magical influence as the various symbols responded to Zeddicus' words. "If you need anything, come to the Institute of Madness. I don't want you telling your psycho father that I abandoned you or anything, you hear?" That was the last thing the figure told Mne before they disappeared.

LokiPokie LokiPokie
 

Bob
Interactions
TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity​
 
[DM]​
The apprehension of drastic change took hold of the continent. Small villages that were once peaceful were now mobilizing to the front lines. The streets filled themselves with soldiers and war machines. Citizens spoke in hushed tones, some expecting glory, others speculating defeat. Everyone, however, agreed that many lives were going to be lost. While the arrival of Azhraiem was a boon for the Nuvok Army, it was also a marker for what was destined to be the bloodiest moment in the Thousand-Year-War since the age of the gods.

Lapas Ghûl had also changed. The city always had bustling soldiers and various war machines that the wizards constantly updated in the Institute of Madness. The difference was the urgency in these common-day occurrences. It had been too long since they last saw their goddess, and now that her return was within reach, everyone planned to do their part. Whether it was through piety, loyalty to their homeland, or the potential of being rewarded for their contributions, the inhabitants endeavored to make a change in a war that hadn't shown any progress since its genesis.

As the party made their way towards the Amphitheater of Anguish through their various modes of transportation, each of them was capable of admiring the construction's architectural accomplishments upon arrival. Unlike the many homesteads that led to the colosseum, the pit of war had not budged during the events signaling Azhraiem. It remained fortified as if a magical component held it together. At the entrance, each member was met by a humanoid figure with pale blue skin and ghastly features. They were ghouls, characterized by their mangled teeth and disfigured joints that jutted out in uncomfortable angles. They did not speak, nor did they respond when spoken to. Their sole purpose was to lead someone to their assigned destination, which they did.

The inside was well maintained. As everyone entered the space, they saw the various teams that had been brought together by the infinite wisdom of the Eternal Eminence. Many of them were racially diverse, some consisting of goblins and others boasting trolls within their ranks. They each had their role to play, not that anyone knew what they were at this time. Eventually, each member of the party was brought to where they were meant to be, none arriving at the same time except for Allie and Naivier, who traveled together.

As the ghouls left them to their own devices, the party saw a red tent that bore the insignia of the Nuvok Army on its side. Inside, exposed by the open flaps at its entrance, was a furniture set consisting of a single wooden table and chair, a few papers scattered around. Outside were two individuals that were deep in discussion. One was a lizardfolk that possessed a mixture of white and blue scales. He wore a heavy set of metal armor, worn and battered from excessive use. He looked relatively older, a being that had seen a fair share of battles, but was also nearing the end of usefulness within their career. His eyes, golden and bereft of pupils, were trained on the figure standing before him.

The other man, being a minotaur, was easily recognizable to some and possessed a terrifying aura toward others. Their hair was tied back with various tribal trinkets, extending down his backside. He hardly wore any clothing except for leather bracers accompanied by pants of the same material tucked firmly under a finely tailored belt. His teeth were jagged, some escaping over his top lip, indicating a massive underbite. His most defining feature, however, was his chipped left horn. As Aegrius took notice of the first arrivals, Allie and Naivier, he gave the two a wicked grin and a wave, saying something in parting to the lizardfolk before speaking to the nearing human and dark elf.

"Oi, you finally made it, Softskin! Was worried you might've died during all the ruckus. Looks like your annoying elf friend is still kicking, too. Not bad, not bad!"

Lo Mayn Lo Mayn Ambiloquous Ambiloquous LokiPokie LokiPokie Arvios Arvios AI10100 AI10100 . D O V E . D O V E Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum
 

Allie Gival
Interacting with: TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum ​

It was a mostly silent walk to the Amphitheater as was usual when she was accompanied by Naivier. It was often better this way. It's certainly what most people around them would prefer over them slinging insults and sly remarks against each other. Not everyone could understand that particular dynamic. Allie took the lead as they walked through the streets, eyeing the people that were rushing by. A sense of urgency had befallen the citizens of Lapas Ghul. It made her speed up a little, hoping that her companion would keep up. Taking their time would surely be frowned upon and Allie wasn't keen on disappointing people so soon.

The Amphitheater was one of her more frequent stomping grounds. When she wasn't burying herself in books or helping Master with her research, Allie found herself more drawn to training. She was quite relieved to see the place unharmed by the incident, its familiarity giving her a sense of security despite the number of people inside or the ghouls that were waiting by the entrance. She approached one of them, opening her mouth to ask where they should be taken but the ghoul had already turned around and began leading them inside. Allie looked back at Naivier, seemingly unsure for a moment, before following the ghoul.

Allie took a cursory glance at the other groups, having to crane her neck upward to look at their bigger compatriots. Many had been called to arms. This would likely be the biggest push they would do. Of course, the question of why Allie had been chosen despite her painful lack of ability to cast a lot of spells was still in her mind. Her thoughts tipped to the darker side of things— fodder was always needed in a war and if they were planning one of their biggest pushes against the Alliance, then they'd need a lot of people on the frontlines regardless of their fighting ability. Allie knew she said she'd gladly give her life to this kingdom that had accepted her but she didn't know it was going to be this soon!

The ghoul dropped them off near a red tent and ambled away without another word. Allie figured it didn't exactly have the ability to speak. A wave of relief surged through her upon seeing the minotaur standing outside the tent while conversing with a lizardfolk. The latter she didn't recognize, but the other one was definitely a welcome sight. As she waited for him to finish his conversation with the lizardfolk, she decided to observe the aged warrior. He was most likely an officer. Not a lot of people grew old in the army. He must have been an excellent soldier in his prime. Could he be one of the commanding officers? Either way, Allie knew better than to intrude on a conversation.

Aegrius broke off soon after, heading over to them with that familiar wicked smile. To others, it may seem intimidating or even terrifying; for Allie, however, it was just another training day. "Aggie! Glad you're here with us." She paused as she gave him a small smile. "Thought I'd sightsee the changes while on the way here. Lapas Ghul certainly went through quite a renovation." She said with a small shrug. "And I assure you, it will take more than an earthquake and the hands of our Lady Vienna rising to kill me." If she were to imagine what her brother would call her, she bet it would be a cockroach— difficult to kill and skittering everywhere. It would be a little funny.

Shaking the thought out of her head, she looked around. They were the only group that only had three people so she assumed they were waiting for more. She hoped they were easy to get along with. The general consensus around humans in the army wasn't exactly stellar from what she had heard. It wouldn't do well if the team she was placed in had infighting from the very start. "Oh, by the by, were you talking to our commanding officer earlier or...?"
 

Naivier Ifficus

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Naivier's Cheshire smile was lost upon hearing Allie's thoughts on her choice of words. Way to ruin the fun, but the human was quite a dense one. The dark elf looks over to her half-sibling and raises a brow questioningly, "I did just come out of the library to check on some books, and ew, why did you have to remind me of that dull sermon with the Archlich. His words make little sense and not to mention the disgusting jokes that he says make me want to stab my own ears." She complained while rolling her eyes from one side to another.

The moment La'Bella had pulled back, Naivier felt the rumble of the earth beneath them. She watched the starry sky become filled with black clouds and purple lightning that seemed to reign terror from above. It was an odd phenomenon to the dark-elf but one that she had heard of nevertheless. And then, "Oh? I'm falling." Naivier thought to herself as her vision had shifted from La'Bella to the broken ground that she tried to catch only for the other dark-elf to hold her hand instead and now both of them were falling.

It seemed Vienna had plans for her still as she was well in one piece. The moment she got back to solid ground, Naivier saw what she believed was a gigantic projection of the Duchess Varenza. Her voice echoed and the Cleric found herself impressed at the large-scale spell that was being shown to all of Lapas Ghûl. Once the Messengers came and reared its ugly form in their direction, Naivier merely watched it pop up a head and speak to her clearly in her mind. "And so, the Nuvok Army has decided to go all out." She thought to herself as she watched the Messenger terrorize another figure not too far away from them.

She looks over to Allie and then to La'Bella who had tears in her eyes. With furrowed brows, she wondered why the dark elf was crying but she left in a hurry, while the human said goodbye, Naivier simply watched. Her eyes fluttered over to Allie with disappointment. "This woman is so clueless."

"I'm fine. I'm like a cockroach, I don't die that easily." She said flatly and looked over the road to the Amphitheater. She gestured for Allie to lead the way while she followed behind. The cleric was quite thankful for the quiet walk, it gave her time to do some thinking. Theorizing, really, of why the both of them were conscripted into the Army. It got her thinking that Yazquin would also be joining, hopefully, they won't be in the same group because that'll be a headache.

While making their way, she noted nothing of interest as they went in the red tent and through the crowd. Well, other than the big buffoon of a minotaur that was smiling at them as if they were friends. Well, Naivier and Aggie at least. "Is annoying the worst way you can describe me? Well, I do think that's quite the compliment since that's what I aim to be." She said before putting her attention to her nails, as if it was more interesting to look at it rather than talk with them.

mention: || interaction: AI10100 AI10100 [Allie] TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity [La'Bella]

 

Bob

Grand, solemn, ancient and unchanging, such were the adjectives that Bob would use to describe the Amphitheatre of Anguish without the noise of its ceaseless combatants milling about in the arena. As one of the few lone monuments still standing against the sky, it was proof that the Duchess’ all-encompassing powers could be withstood, even if only within the bounds of Lapas Ghûl. The structure was an exemplar of a storybook setting to the dullahan, whose flighty imagination had already begun to spin over-elaborate stageplays upon its grounds.

The ghoulish beings that led the aspiring actor and their horse seemed malformed by a deliberate act of design rather than an unintentional incident, and only added to the dark ambience surrounding the day. Bob had never been inside of the amphitheatre, but they had passed the nearby streets enough to recognize that the current circumstances at the location was not one that often happened. What they were certain of was that the direction to enlist in the army was strange, new and therefore clearly the start of a quality Villain’s Journey. The question now was: who was the villain destined for greatness beyond the grounds of humble Lapas Ghûl?

The thought was already fading by the time the dullahan and their steed reached the red tent of their destination, but the echo of it remained in the undead’s chest. Thrumming, waiting for the star of the script. The first future comrades-in-arms Bob spotted hovering around the tent were a white-and-blue lizardfolk who gave the impression of a dying mentor and a brutish-looking minotaur that could be placed in the category of either friend or foe. The next were familiar faces, ones that lit a surprisingly reassuring feeling of relief in a crowd of soldiers-to-be.

“Allie, my friend,
‘Tis good to see you before the end!
I mean, I do not mean to offend,
It is quite hard to say what you intend,
When you must append,
A rhyme on the rear end.”

The dullahan hopped off Bucephalus Margarita IV and swept into a dramatic bow. Turning stiffly away from the human of the library, they took a breath that they did not need—they were headless and their lungs were but decor—and haltingly declared,

“You who are my greatest critic
And whose barbs make me paralytic,
I do hope your military results
Match your mastery of insults.”

 
The heft of Aegrius' every step was audible as he trudged over to the encroaching duo with light thuds. When he stood next to them, the differences in their sizes became obvious. The bull-man was forced to lower his head to make eye contact with Allie, and as he breathed, a stream of hot air exited his flared nostrils onto her face. His body was covered in bruises, their origins unclear. Onlookers may have misinterpreted his advance as the start of an unfair altercation, but as he raised a burly arm towards the human, his hand playfully smacked her on the back, as if to greet her. The recoil caused Allie to take a few steps forward, but it was evident that Aegrius thought of her as a close friend.

"Those are some daring words coming from a twig like you! You should eat more, no? With hardly any muscle, a gust of wind could take you out, let alone Goddess Vienna, KA KA KA!" His eyes couldn't help but dart to the looming body part that had become large enough to see over the walls of the colosseum. His emotions, when it came to the matter of Her return, were a mix of fear and excitement. His attention towards their creator was short-lived, however, as Naivier's words were directed his way. Much like Yazquin had told him, her sister was quite the obnoxious mule, not that he harbored any ill will towards them.

"Your tongue is as sharp as ever, Little Elf," Aegrius commented with agitation seeping through his voice. Her bored demeanor clued him in that she didn't wish to further expand on the conversation, much to his chagrin. This is why your sister is way better, he thought to himself. He wrenched his attention away from the cleric, assuming it best to leave her alone before Allie asked him about the lizardfolk from earlier. "Ah, you mean Captain Qorryn," he replied. Perhaps it was Allie's intuitive nature that led Aegrius to disengage from Naivier's obvious provocations. She was smart, not that Aegrius was able to notice that.

"Aye, apparently he recognized me when Phee and I were helping some of the nearby folk out of the rubble. Said that it was his duty to help one of his future trainees, so we took some time helping the Red Cloaks with their rescue before he led me here." The minotaur then looked between the two. Suddenly, it dawned on him that it was unlikely they came to visit him. In fact, they had been led by the ghouls earlier. "Wait, does that mean you were enlisted?" Aegrius' otherwise barbaric face had twisted into that of glee as he clasped either one of Allie's arms, shaking her. "THAT MEANS YOU'RE MY BROTHER-IN-ARMS, YEAH? SO WE CAN TRAIN TOGETHER, YEAH?"

His clamoring was cut off by the arrival of a snobbishly dressed headless horseman. They wore odd clothing and spoke in rhymes, and yet there was one thing in particular that Aegrius found rather shocking about the newcomer. "Oi, Softskin, that person doesn't have a head!" A thick finger stuck out towards Bob, almost accusingly, as the minotaur marveled at them. "Why can they speak? Whoa, is that a horse? What's with the pink hat?" Aegrius had let go of Allie and bounded over to the dullahan with a weighty fervor. "What's your name, anyway?" the minotaur asked Bob, his hand moving to pet Bucephalus without permission.

AI10100 AI10100 Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum Ambiloquous Ambiloquous
 
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Mallus of the Raulthraxx Tribe

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Having already stepped through the portal, the tiny figure that was Mallus cautiously gaited alongside the heavy flow of traffic within Lapas Ghûl, occasionally bumping jaw and elbows against the quicker bodies of larger monsters and non-human beings. His short stature was to blame for this happening — or better yet, the freakishly long strides of the others, he reasoned, was the real root of the problem. The kobold’s neighboring pedestrians probably didn’t even notice his presence, nor cared to recognize that one small push might mean an immediate end for him in the form of a stampede. This was no way to treat their savior, and it was this thought that swayed him with every effort to avoid having his tail stepped on, as it could trigger a literal trip to the beginning of the end. 'Not today,' he thought to himself. Like the main character of his tribe’s story, or perchance of this entire war effort, he knew that he had to be destined for greatness. The fact that he took in the Ascended Flame on the day that the call to arms is made? It could not be a coincidence. It wasn’t a thought tainted by conceited appeal, either, as he was from the Raulthraxx Tribe. Some creatures were just generally better than others, he reasoned once more.

Mallus would occasionally attempt to peek through undead — or, essentially whatever these non-lizards were — in order to gander a look at the incredible architecture of the city. Barring his secret base, all his life he had been exposed to wooden structures as homes, with stone and brick being primarily used for tools that the trees could not provide. He had heard rumors of the grandiosity of the capital, but he never would have expected for such incredulous exaggerations to be true. To begin with, the darkness hanging overhead during daylight hours was something he could not get over, and his appreciation for the magic behind it was present even without the familiarity of an overhead canopy acting as shelter from the light. Even in ruins, his eyes would widen every time he was exposed to a new building, some piercing the fog towards the sky, while others arched eloquently in a horizontal stretch; whichever direction they took, and no matter what count they fell under, the magnificence wouldn’t stale. Even if chunks of stone were scattered across collapsed buildings, the rubble alone was enough to give Mallus a feeling of awe.

It wasn’t until he passed one of many fissures where a crosswalk once presided that a look of confusion twisted over his features. The neighboring whispers revealed that this happened everywhere in the city, likely caused from the same disaster that transpired earlier in the Forbidden Woods. He couldn’t help but wonder how many lives were claimed at the hands of these abyssal tears, which stared hungrily back at him. Reminding him of his home, it was then that his thoughts backtracked to his brother, and an uneasy feeling started to settle. Hopefully at the very least, Raz would be reunited with the others from the family. On his own, things might be a bit different. But Mallus knew that as much as he hated to admit it, Zagris was more than capable of being able to protect him, alongside their own loving father.

Before long, the river of traffic leads him inside of his destination; while there weren’t any large signs that read “The Amphitheater of Anguish,” the fact that it appeared like a stadium was enough to hint that he was at the right place. It was then that Mallus bumps into a creature whose skin tone appeared as if it had recently drowned, though honestly, and if true, it probably should have stayed dead underwater. Before the kobold gets to react with a feigned apology, the ghoul begins walking forward at the tiny lizard's pace deeper into the coliseum. With a question mark scribbled over his face, Mallus looks around, realizing that others were following these freakish entities. Were they guides? They were pretty bad at their job, considering that they wouldn’t answer questions, or even look at who they were supposed to be helping. Without much of a choice, the kobold follows along, a bit offended at the slow pace that the ghoul was leading with.

Finally in a much more open arena, and a few minutes into the embarrassing walk behind the creature who may or may not have been conscious of its painful looking existence, Mallus lets out an elongated “Wooow” under his breath, eyeing the crowd filled with all the shapes of warriors that had gathered inside. For a tribe that centered itself around strength, glory in combat, and death on the battlefield, it was only normal for the young kobold to idolize such an environment. ‘Once I ascend, I will be just as large and powerful as them’ is what he thought to himself with a sparkle in his eye; not that he wasn’t already powerful. But there was always room for improvement, he nodded to himself. It was then that his sight leads him to those closest to him in front of a red tent; two women, one who appeared humanish, albeit in a non-human tone — a dark elf — and the other… suspiciously even more human. Actually, she smelled human, too? Mallus’ eyes narrowed, and before he is able to investigate the matter by getting a good whiff — mayhaps even a good taste, just to be certain — his eyes are drawn to the hulking slab of meat that was Aegrius.

His tiny lungs drew in multiple bouts of air in the form of a choked gasp at the sight of the robustly built minotaur. He was speechless, possibly even dumbfounded as he failed to even notice that his guide had already retreated to where it came from. His chartreuse sight was too busy thirstily drinking in all of the warrior’s powerful visage, ranging from the meticulously sculpted contour of the muscles, to the sheer size of the behemoth — to begin with, MALLUS’ HEIGHT BARELY REACHED THE CREATURE’S KNEES??? A-and was the minotaur going to be included in his party? Did he really luck out on this end, fighting side by side with such a robust warrior? One he could call his ally, rival, and perhaps even friend?

It was then that he noticed that the half-bull, half-man was having friendly relations with the two human-shaped characters. ‘So they’re his friends? I suppose if she is human, she can be trusted if he approves of her. I should try and make a decent impression… somehow.’ His eyes darted between the lot, thinking of how best to approach them. ‘I-I don’t think I’ve ever befriended outsiders before,’ Mallus worriedly thought to himself, not noticing that he was now the very thing he likened the group to. But that didn’t matter. He would figure it out one way or another, making his way towards the lot that now included a headless horseman speaking in rhymes. ‘What would Riz or Raz say — or hell, even Zagris — on such an occasion?’

“Y-yes, that is true!” Mallus joined in on Aegrius’ questionnaire towards Bob. “How are you able to see without eyes?” At first, the kobold spoke this merely to break the ice, and was totally oblivious as to how offensive the approach may have been deemed. But now with a bit of time to settle, the weight of his question began to sink in his mind like a boulder does in quicksand. Just how could the Dullahan see and speak without a head? Was it magic?

Mallus’ attempt at conversation leaves him with his jaw slightly agape, giving him a subtle reptilian smile, while his tail wagged from side to side as if excited to hear the answer.

“S-sorry to interrupt, fellow warriors.” The kobold clears his throat as if to disperse any awkward air between them. “I think we have been grouped together? My name is Mallus; may we find glory in the battlefield!” he exclaims triumphantly, throwing a fist into the air, and hoping for the others to join him.
 


There were a lot of things that Allie thought she had in common with Naivier— it's just that she tried to hide them more than Naivier did. But it would seem that seeing themselves as cockroaches, stubborn and not easy to kill, was another thing they shared. She and Aegrius weren't exactly on the best of terms but that went for most of Naivier's acquaintances from what she had seen. In fact, in recent memory... was she and La'Bella the only ones who were sometimes elated to see her? No, that's impossible. Surely not?

Aegrius slammed his hand into her back. It was meant to be something playful, she was sure of that, but he was much stronger than she was and she stumbled forward. She quickly caught her footing before her face could meet the ground. It wasn't painful per se but she still reached back to rub where he had hit her. However, she did have a smile on her face, appreciative of Aegrius as she usually was.

"If you're willing to pay for some of my food, then I'll be more than happy to consume more." It was no secret that Allie didn't have much to her name in the city. Unfortunately, luxury wasn't exactly something she knew for the past year. If anything, it was only because of her friends that she had the option to get a few things for herself... as embarrassing as it was to admit. Having food brought over to her by said friends, however, was another thing entirely and she shivered at the thought of each one.

The Ifficus family truly was terrifying in many ways.

Before anything could stew between Aegrius and Naivier, the former turned his attention back to Allie for which she was thankful. It wasn't exactly going to be good for any of them if they started fighting now. "The Red Cloaks are here, huh? I shouldn't be too surprised about that." She muttered to herself. Allie barely saw any of the high ranking graduates of the Institute. They rarely get together too, from what she knew. Her attention quickly snapped back to Aegrius as he questioned if she had been enlisted. "Yeah I-" HIs excitement cut her off again and she blinked. "I mean... yeah! I suppose we will start training with each other seriously now and not just some one-off lesson on spells and self defense every now and then!" Though knowing how intensely Aegrius and his minotaur brethren, she might regret it. But that was a problem for the future her.

Another person came forward— the Dullahan who had done nothing more in the library than peruse the books for plays and stories. "Bob, it's good to see you well." She wasn't sure if Bob had been cursed to speak in rhymes all the time or if it was simply their quirk, but she never asked. It felt rude to do so. After all, where else would she get such colorful language in an everyday life?

It shouldn't have come as a surprise to her that Aegrius was so mesmerized by their headless friend. Allie remembered having the same reaction when she first met Bob. "Yes. And no, I don't understand how they're able to see, speak or hear either. It's a fascinating study but I've never looked too much into Dullahans." Much less one who had seemed to have lost their head permanently.

Another voice piped up and Allie felt a shiver down her spine, a voice at the back of her head berating her for not being alert enough, for letting her guard down for even a moment. She shifted her gaze to the owner of the voice, finding herself looking down at a kobold. Huh, so this announcement reached all the way to the Forbidden Forest? Still, she understood his curiosity and looked back at Bob. "I believe it is magic, is it not, Bob?"

As the kobold introduced himself and pumped his fist up, Allie thought there to be no harm to in joining in. So she also raised her fist, albeit less energetic. "Glory in the battlefield indeed. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mallus. I'm Allie, a spellcaster from the Institute." She looked at the others for their own introductions.
 
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BONK BONK BONK BONK BOBONK BONK BOBONK

A figure fully clad in silver armor imposingly marched through one of the winding halls leading to the heart of the Amphitheater. Each plate that covered the character possessed intricately curling carvings difficult to distinguish, hiding the entirety of their features except for the long locks of ash dancing with their every step. Around their waist was a whip of steel, its sharp end holstered by their left hip, while its golden handle, adorned by an insignia of a lady standing in front of a star, dangled by the right. It would only take one gander to conclude that the person was an unholy knight of Vienna.

The paladin looked around the massive pillars holding the gothic interior of the coliseum as a blue creature led them further inside. The warrior had been here plenty of times before, but the place's beauty never failed to astound them. Nonetheless, it paled in comparison to all the memories they had formed within its confines. All the duels, dances, and performances they had witnessed and participated in these very halls were all very charming to their heart. As though moved, the knight pressed a hand against their steel-plated chest. They could only hope that the brewing war wouldn't lead to the destruction of the beloved structure. If not, the entire Lapas Ghul.

Yes. War was knocking at their doorsteps. The beginning of Azhraiem was upon them and soon, the Unholy Mother would once again grace her children with her loving presence. However, until then, they must all fight and persevere for her. The thought sent a slight shiver up the paladin's spine. One laced with multiple conflicting emotions. A concoction of anticipation, fear, and worry loomed over their mind like a dragon of old casting its shadows over a helpless village. Yet, just before it could breathe fire, a soothing wave washed over the knight's senses. A sigh escaped their lips; their goddess' touch was truly something else. Tender, like a mother's. It was reassuring them that everything would be fine.

Yes. The Azhraiem was something to be celebrated, not feared. Though the holy knight of the light dwellers steadily grew in power, they would fear him not! For the unholy champion knew their destiny! In the name of Vienna, they would defeat Saint Ivan! They would be known as the savior of all!

As the armored individual's monologue reached its end, they stepped inside the red tent where all the other fateful heroes gathered. They seemed to have arrived just in time for a motivational fist pump heralded by a tiny kobold.

"GLORY IN THE BATTLEFIELD!" The paladin roared, raising a fist aloft with pulsating determination. They stayed like that for half a minute, envisioning everyone else to be looking at them with shining eyes of admiration. Once they were satisfied, they reached out for their helmet and gradually pulled it off.

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The soft features of a dark elf with pink orbs revealed themselves to the group, lips curling into a smirk before widening into a grin once she took notice of familiar faces. She ran a hand through her silver locks, fully convinced that she was serving gorgeous aesthetics. Once her vanity has been quelled, she finally continued regarding everyone. "It appears our destinies have been intertwined, dear compatriots!" The flames of determination raged within her eyes. It was as though she wasn't being plagued with anxiety mere moments before. Her gaze settled on the unfamiliar kobold, sending him a salute. "Pleased to meet you, comrade. I am Yazquin Ifficus, a paladin trained by the Death Knight Vallen-Hai himself!" She rubbed the area under her nose with her index finger, looking a little too smug.

"Aggie, my best of friends! I am delighted to see you here! But of course, there is not a hint of surprise in every fiber of my being! For you and I know best just how glorious we both are in the battlefield!" Yazquin began with an overwhelming enthusiasm, approaching the hulking minotaur with an outstretched hand. They were so close that they have formed their own unique way of greeting one another in form of a(n overly complicated) handshake. The whole ritual might take more than a minute or so, but it was all worth it! After all, it was a show of their comradery and overflowing respect for one another! Virtues that formed after their LEGENDARY and absolutely AUTHENTIC duel many months ago! It was something only TRUE warriors such as them would understand! Getting to feel Aggie's muscular grip was just a bonus! Definitely! Oh, what a gorgeous specimen...

ANYWAYS, there was also her other friend slash rival for Bucephalus' affection, Bob! The dullahan dressed themselves exquisitely as always. Yazquin would compliment their face but alas, they had none so she had to settle for their outfit. "Bob, my poetic headless friend! Looks like we'll have to fight together until the end. Worry not for I shall defend, come any type of fiend! Still, do you think your steed, you can indefinitely lend?" Bob was charmed for sure. How often did they encounter warrior-poets these days? Surely deep inside they were convinced that Bucephalus would fit better with Yazquin, the master of all horses. She briefly stared at the battle steed, sympathetically.

Standing close was Allie- or perhaps more accurately, her future half-sister-in-law. "Allie! You're here too! Oh this is just so perfect. La'Bella will freak out once she hears we're in the same group." Yazquin was fully aware of the human's relationship with her half-sister. She was grateful to Allie for taking good care of her ditzy sister. Speaking of La'Bella, she didn't see her in the Ifficus mansion at all. In fact, she didn't see anyone in the mansion. While she expected Emil and Gwynn's absences due to their standings in the army, she was left wondering where the other members of her family went. Did they get drafted too? Even that devil's spawn of a sister- ahem, her beloved sister Nai? Did she get shipped off somewhere far from her? DID HER PRAYERS FINALLY WORK?

On cue, her gaze found themselves on the very person she had been thinking about. Yazquin's face immediately soured, like she had just eaten something from the Ifficus kitchen whenever her father wasn't around. Lady Vienna, why? Nai was akin to a prick in her side- except the prick would be the size of Cuddle's fangs! Yazquin would just breathe and Nai would be hating on her like she was the reason why Vienna shattered into pieces. Honestly, one of them must have been adopted. She bet it was Nai, especially with that perpetual constipated look on her face! Yazquin should definitely return to Loretta and buy her miraculous cream for her sister's sake! What a shame it wouldn't do a thing to her rotten insides!

"Oh." Yazquin's voice dropped with disappointment. "Hello, sister." She crossed her arms, awaiting whatever insult her older sister was dying to spit.
 
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AQUAERLINE CETO

In a matter of minutes, Aerline went from a leisurely walk all the way to barely escaping death. Survived being buried alive, he could now check that off the list. Then came the demon spawn, the nightmare material themself. As fast his legs could run, Aerline had ran, flying across the cracks and holes of the messy road. But as fast as he was, he could not outlast them, and they relayed their message to him rather quickly.

Drafted. Forcibly enlisted, again, into a war. And the look on Varenza’s face as she spoke, he could tell there was genuine joy within her. A deposition much different from when he had last seen her. Was this why she had seemed so under the weather? Did she know? And if she did, did she know he would be going too? Seemingly, he felt as if he knew the answers to those questions. Regardless, over the past two years, he had come to trust Varenza enough to assume… He placed the copper wire, the one she had left for him, to his lips, and did his best to send a message: ‘They’ve sent for me. To the Theater of Anguish. I’m going. Varenza.’ And he put it back into his pocket.

The walk to the amphitheater felt solitary, in spirit not in reality. With the streets, either destroyed or filled with people getting to their destinations, Aerline focused exclusively on what it meant to get drafted. There were a few talks he had with Varenza and what he overheard and read; he’d likely be able to return here and to her room again eventually. Only that this was the beginning of the end, and when faced with the time limit of everything coming to a close, there was only that sinking feeling. Of something between regret and yearning, not that he had the luxury of either. Maybe he’d die before they got to the end or maybe he would reach the end with no satisfaction. Finally, he arrived. At the Amphitheater of Anguish, how fitting a title, he considered.

The soulless creatures manning the door led him to his unit, a group of people on the inside of this red tent. Aerline stopped just outside. He could hear the loudness from his unit. Turning to thank the creature, he realized it was gone. Traceless almost in the crowd and other look-alikes. Back to the tent, whomever on the inside would likely make up the crew in which he’d go to war with, likely form deep lasting bonds with -- more than likely out of necessity than anything else --, and either die with or triumph with. Aerline wasn’t much for expectations, but there was a hope that they were respectable, mature, and ready for what was ahead of them. Aversion to the disappointment made him want to quell that idea, but it was too late. It had taken hold and grown roots. They’d die together, surely. Finally, dying together. The fishman, dressed in nothing but his standard attire, with a pocket of a few knickknacks, and empty hands, entered the red tent.
To his vehement shock, the tent was filled with some unfamiliar but mostly familiar faces and personalities. Doeth his eyes deceive not? That the person he had entered behind had been a woman he had met before in this very theater of anguish, then another woman he had recognized, two elves. Behind them, the impossible-to-miss minotaur man that Aerline has tried his hardest to avoid for the past several months. Somewhere in the mess was the human Allie, which was the least surprising thing of the day so far, and their lizard captain, Qorryn, was a recognizable figure on his own. By this point, Aerline hadn’t paid much attention to the shallow-water sized scaly-boy animal thing that was also there before he simply exited the tent as quietly as he entered.

He turned his back, ready to walk away. But the regrettable thought came to him, the idea that not reporting to his post would have grave grave implications. And hadn’t he gone through enough already? The last thing was his debt to Varenza to grow even more dire before he could pay her back in some meaningful way. But would life ever truly give him a break? Of course not. No. Life was not done giving him the work under and over. This was it. No crying about it. No refusal. Nothing was going to save him here. So, as quietly as before, Aerline re-entered the tent right before Yaz finished the last of her words. Maybe he should have accepted his fate quicker and saved himself the headache. At least before it would’ve set in that he was truly and utterly stuck with these people. Instead, he resisted. His being resisted. Spoiled by Varenza for the last two years was enough to make him doubt his own coping mechanisms. Exhausted already, he pushed past Yaz, with a complaint, ‘Isn’t too early for all of this gusto?’ He said, loud enough for the tent members to hear, thus announcing his presence if they hadn’t noticed before. But that didn’t matter. He was in the zone. The zone of blocking out their voices and reactions and anything of the like as he stepped towards Qorryn the Lizard Captain. With a quick bow of respect, the words danced from his lips with a secret pleasure as he asked, more so humbly demanded,

‘Sir, I must request a transfer from this unit. For personal reasons and otherwise, I believe it’d be for the best. Surely, there must be enough called to replace me and for me to go there instead.’
 

Naivier Ifficus

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Nai smiled sweetly but also mockingly at Aggie. She wouldn't mind if he and Yaz got together and made bird-brained babies together, she could tell him that but for now, she'll spare Allie the headache of being caught in between a fight. So she turned away from the conversation and saw a familiar Headless Dullahan with their horse.

She watched Bob come to them, smiling as she found her next victim. She was patient, awaiting her turn for the Dullahan to interact with her, knowing well that they would. The sound of Bob trying to take a breath had made Nai excited about what she was going to say next. In the exact same tone that Bob had used, copying their move, the half-elf said,

"Oh if it isn't Bob,
Why are your words still a slob?
Have you made no progress?
Your rhymes still give me abscess."
​

A pause before she poised herself back to the way she usually does. "Don't worry about my military results, headless one, you should worry more about being worthy of a heal." With that, she curtsied and returned her attention to the now newly-arrived... Midget? He made a war cry and Nai could see that he hoped that someone would join him to which she only responded with an eye-roll accompanied with a half-hearted almost slurred and monotoned, "Wooo. Glory to the battlefield, yeah, yeah."

Noticing her sister's voice, a grimace had accompanied the lips of the half-elf for just a moment before she put on a devilish smile. "Hey, sis!" Nai said energetically as if she was happy in seeing her sister. "You thought I'd been shipped off to someplace far away? Sorry to say but Mommy Vienna still has plans for me." She asked, not that she was a mind reader, all these words were pure coincidence on her part. There was a second of silence before she spoke again, "Oh? Was that all? Were you waiting for the usual insult from me?" She cackles out in front of her sibling, a single tear making past her eye. "You must be a masochist for wanting to hear more." She saw Aerline from the corner of her eye but decided to ignore him in favor of giving her sister attention like the older sibling that she was.

mention: Lo Mayn Lo Mayn || interaction: . D O V E . D O V E AI10100 AI10100 TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity Arvios Arvios Ambiloquous Ambiloquous

 
"Bob, huh?" Aegrius said thoughtfully before yanking his hand back, narrowly avoiding Bucephalus' teeth chomping down on him. The minotaur appeared sullen over the fact the animal hadn't taken a liking to him, but he got over it relatively quickly. Turning back to the dullahan, he swiftly swatted at where their head would've been, waving his arm back and forth to ensure they weren't merely cloaking it behind an illusion. Aegrius had been fooled one too many times by La'Bella to allow himself to be tricked by a stranger. Satisfied in his appraisal and mentally noting that Bob "definitely didn't have a head", he crossed his arms resolutely. "It's decided. Your name is Airhead."

The yelp of a particular kobold caught his attention. Aegrius prided himself in his ability to differentiate someone based on the parameters of civilian or soldier. As he looked at the creature that hardly managed to reach his thigh in height, the answer was made clear. "Well met, Warrior Toad!" he flubbed their name. "My name is Aegrius Nohorn, clansman of the Diamondhorn tribe and the blood brother of Barranak Silverhorn!" In a single scoop, the boorish individual hoisted Mallus off their feet, much like a doting father did to his child, and let out a few obvious sniffs in their direction. "You smell of the Forbidden Woods. The General speaks highly of those who can survive that place. I couldn't have asked for a better brother-in-arms to protect my back on the battlefield!"

Aegrius rallied with the others, using one arm to easily hold up Mallus while the other fist-pumped the air. "GLORY ON THE BATTLEFIELD! KA KA KA!" He let out a hearty laugh before setting the kobold down. His excitement didn't dwindle at the sound of approaching raucous armor, followed by Yazquin's fiery introduction. Indeed, if there was ever a warrior he dared to put all of his faith into, it was Yazquin Ifficus. "Bonk Bonk, you're here, too?!" He had met the knight with the same fervor, their hands clasping tightly. Then, similar to a ritual, their handshake began.

First, the two kept their grips locked and extended their thumbs. In an instant, a ferocious back-and-forth thumb war commenced. While it was true Aegrius held the upper hand in terms of the size of his fingers, the nimbleness of Yazquin's dainty thumb work put his blubbering reactions to shame. He let out an irritated grunt as the two let go. Then, they clicked their heels twice and hopped once before circling each other in a counter-clockwise fashion. Patiently, the two of them waited, eyeing the other's movement. Yazquin, once again, was swifter, sprinting forward and clasping her arms around his abdomen. She had successfully tagged him. When she backed away, Aegrius felt his determination welling up inside. "I won't lose this time."

Both of them got into a sprinter's position, preparing themselves mentally before they ran at each other full speed. With a CLUNK, their skulls collided. Had she worn her helmet, Yazquin may have stood a chance, but her eagerness was her undoing. The impact forced her to one knee. Quickly, Aegrius swept his arm around her shoulder, trapping her in a headlock before giving her a well-deserved noogie. Releasing her, he waited for Yazquin to get back on her feet. Finally, the two chest-bumped, sounding the end of their handshake. Perhaps it was the armor she wore, but Aegrius' chest felt slightly bruised, much like his ego.

"You've improved," he beamed. It was his loss this time, but that only meant he had much to learn. As Yazquin went to address the others, Aegrius had taken note of Aerline's arrival. However, unlike his usual behavior, he didn't follow after the fishy man. Instead, he returned to Mallus. It was uncommon for inhabitants of the Forbidden Woods to set foot inside Lapas Ghúl, and to not capitalize on that fact was a waste. Their king made it clear that he was uninterested in co-existing with those that followed the Eternal Eminence, and their truce was one made out of necessity during a time when the Pax Alliance's power grew. Encountering a denizen of such a mysterious place was rare. Not to mention the political strife between the two cultures easily went over the minotaur's horned head. He gave an energetic wave toward the crimson lizard before stopping in front of them. In order to look at them properly, Aegrius was forced to kneel, his pierced ear twitching in anticipation.

"Tell me, Toad," he said, a sparkle of curiosity glimmering in his eyes. "What is it like to live in that place? Is it truly a warrior's paradise like General Diamondhorn says? I wish to know more about your homeland, friend."

AI10100 AI10100 Arvios Arvios Ambiloquous Ambiloquous Lo Mayn Lo Mayn LokiPokie LokiPokie Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum . D O V E . D O V E
 
Captain Qorryn​
As Aerline made his way over to Qorryn, they saw the lizardfolk sitting at the sole wooden chair in the tent. He was diligently looking over some paperwork. Aerline immediately recognized it as intel reports, a common sight in Duchess' bedroom. As they bowed, Qorryn flicked over his gaze. Silently, he listened until the boy finished his demands before replying in a deep sigh. He stood to his feet, shuffling the paper off to the side before crossing his arms. The scars that etched deep within his face weren't noticeable until now, and as he peered down at the merfolk, the tension in the tent had risen.

"I hear what you're saying, kid," the reptile spoke, his voice carrying a grave tone. "While I'm not the type to tell someone what's good or bad for them, I can tell you that this operation isn't as simple as you think it might be." His tail, which was armored with spikes that jutted out from the spine, swayed impatiently. "The troops brought here were specifically delegated by Oracle Ankarceda, and then backed by the Eternal Eminence's blessing. Given your specific background," he said, hinting at Aerline's relationship, "I'll see what I can do . . . However, you'll have to tough it out for a little while. Changing orders by the top brass isn't easy, after all." He then clasped his hand on their shoulder.

"And who knows? Maybe these people will be the ones to save your life one day. You might as well appreciate them while you can, soldier." He left the tent with that comment, clapping his hands together to get everyone else's attention. At first glance, it appeared he had a rowdy bunch this time. "Alright, enough with that chatter. You'll have plenty of time to talk later. Let's take roll call, okay? Now line up for me." Qorryn brought up a small list on a clipboard and a quill. " My name is Qorryn, your commanding officer. When I call your name, say 'here, sir'. If you have any questions, hold them until I finish covering your mission. With that said, I'll call your names and explain what is happening here in Lapas Ghúl." He gently cleared his throat.

"Aerline Ceto. Allie Gival. Naivier Ifficus. Yazquin Ifficus. Mallus of the Raulthraxx Tribe. Belll Grando- Bob. Mne, son of Yinvha. Finally, Aegrius Nohorn." He jotted something down and then continued.

"As Duchess Varenza already explained, the day of Azhraiem is nearing. The large hand that appeared next to Nuvok Castle is a limb of our fallen goddess, Vienna. While I may not be as religious as a few of you, I can say that the movements we make from this point onward will be the most critical in regaining the pride of the Nuvok Army and bringing an end to this war. Now to explain why you have all gathered here.

Situations on the frontlines have forced our hands. The army is now required to ask its civilians to assist in the effort to push back the Pax Alliance. As for what you will be doing, it's simple. We require a small task force that can enter and escape the Pax Alliance's territory. By utilizing the power of the oracle, she has ordained that the groups created here will bring forth the most optimal results. Don't let that get to your head, however. She clearly stated that most will likely die in the name of Vienna." His voice seemed to hang heavily on the last sentence.

"Your first mission will be infiltrating enemy lines. The Alliance has taken over a portion of the Forbidden Woods, and we lost contact with one of our recon squads last night. Your job is to investigate their disappearance and give back a detailed report. You are not to engage with the enemy unless the situation escalates. Prioritize escape." His description was brief, and yet he believed it was sufficient. "I will be giving you a device called a sending stone. It allows you to communicate with me once a day, so use it wisely." He handed a small, smooth stone to Bob. It was grey and had a human's face eerily etched into it. They were capable of feeling a faint trace of magic radiating from it.

"Now, do any of you have questions before Rugrat arrives to transport you to the mission area?"

Lo Mayn Lo Mayn AI10100 AI10100 Colorless Spectrum Colorless Spectrum . D O V E . D O V E Arvios Arvios Ambiloquous Ambiloquous LokiPokie LokiPokie
 

Allie Gival
Interacting with:​

Allie gave Yazquin a two fingered salute as a greeting and a smile.

Aegrius and Yazquin then initiated some form of handshake. A rather complicated handshake, if Allie were to be asked. She winced when they bumped heads, hard enough that Yazquin was left dazed for a moment but Aegrius didn't stop. The handshake ended and she was pretty sure that some form of harm had befallen Yazquin from that. If not physically, mentally somehow.

Who in the name of Vienna decided upon these teams? Yazquin and Naivier in the same team? That's just a headache waiting to happen. Allie liked the sisters. The Ifficus family was good company when they were open to her befriending them. However, them being together usually put Allie in the role of a mediator. It was mostly to attempt to deter Naivier's teases towards Yazquin.

Her smile tightened as Yazquin mentioned La'Bella. "Oh, she'll freak out alright." She muttered under her breath, remembering how her friend had reacted to the draft. Allie did regret not being able to talk it through with La'Bella, to understand more about her reaction. However, there was no time for that. Hopefully, they'd have time to talk about it after their own respective missions... assuming that they'd finish and get a break at the same time... and assuming that...

Best not to think about such things. Pessimism could only get her so far.

Then she noticed someone else. At first, she thought it was the trick of the light. That her eyes were simply searching for more people she was familiar with. But as he drew closer, Allie became sure of it. Aerline was there. In fact, it seemed like he was part of their own group. But why? As far as she knew, he had some form of immunity against being drafted. Had they changed the rules somehow? Were they calling all hands on deck without care anymore? It would make sense since she, herself, as a low-level would-be mage was drafted. She wondered how Duchess Varenza reacted to this. Surely, she would have known, right?

Aerline brushed past the group, making a comment, and headed towards the officer. Hopefully, he would be able to sort it out. As much as Allie liked being with her friends, heading out into the battlefield with them made her nervous.

"Come on now Nai, let up on your sister every now and then." Allie's tone was far from reprimanding. In fact, it sounded more of an obligatory statement than anything. She wasn't sure how many times she had already told Naivier to stop, or to at least not do it so often, but she never listened. It felt like snark and sass was the only language Naivier knew how to speak. And to some extent, Allie understood it. It was likely why she couldn't get angry at Naivier.

Before Aegrius's question could be asked, the officer had returned to call their attention. As her name was called, she responded with the mentioned— "Here, sir." And listened intently to what Commander Qorryn had to say.

So they did have to draft everyone. And it was mainly Master's foresight that had landed them all together in a group. It would have been nice to be given some sort of heads up. She knew that the Master was busy in recent times, but she was always busy. Life in the Institute was practically the same. No need to dwell over that now. Heh, maybe she could complain about it if she comes back. Maybe tell Master all about it too, if she had the time. Maybe. Hopefully.

Their mission was as simple as it could get. Go to the mission area. Find out what happened to the recon squad. Get the fuck out. Easier said than done really. A sending stone was handed over to Bob and the floor was open to questions. If Allie was a military genius, perhaps she would be able to ask about a certain type of strategy and if it would work. Having the insight of an experienced soldier would be useful. However, she had no experience whatsoever in fighting.

"Is there an expected time of completion for this mission or are we allowed to take our time? How many members of the recon squad are there? If we were to find them captured, should we attempt on a rescue if deemed safe enough?" Allie paused, collecting her thoughts once again. "I assume that they didn't manage to communicate anything before their disappearance?" They were a lot of questions but she'd rather cover all of the bases she felt needed to be addressed before they were sent out to their mission.
 

Bob

Bob bristled a little bit at the minotaur’s mention of no head—was it so rare to see a headless undead in the famed city of monstrosities? With species in the vein of gelatinous blobs of flesh and Vienna’s messengers, surely dullahans weren’t in the minority around Lapas Ghûl. They ignored the fact that they truly had not seen another who had similarly removed the cumbersome organ so sought after by the common playwright. Clearing their throat, the mildly miffed dullahan announced,

“Indeed, I can speak,
How clever of your critique!
And the hat is the latest fashion,
Unlike your current actions.”

Crossing their arms and leaning their torso away from their future comrade, they added a bit pettishly,

“Is it not polite for self-introductions,
Before you give others your own instructions?
But as a grace, I shall abide by your sole request:
My name is Bob, as Allie can attest.”

Before Bob could dramatically walk two steps away to prove a point, they nearly tripped over a tiny kobold squeaking affirmations to the minotaur’s ridiculous commentary. And at Allie’s backup query following soon after, they immediately changed their tune—perhaps the kobold-minotaur duo hadn’t absurd questions, simply absurd wording. It was true the dullahan had never pondered over their natural way of existence until this moment. Placing a hand on a nonexistent chin, they tilted their neck in thought. Had their voice and sight been shaped and constructed through magic? Many more seconds of semi-sensible contemplation—and a random hand waving above the neck—gave them no definite answer, contrasting the unfortunately fictional trope of protagonists receiving enlightenment in the middle of mediation.

“I am not entirely certain myself.
Perhaps we should leave the topic on the shelf.”

The barbed jabs twined along Nai’s poetic response cut deep into the dullahan’s unbeating heart, as they exaggeratedly clutched at their chest and slanted to their horse’s flank. Bob had been proud of their unrelenting growth after the dark elf’s numerous critiques, but it seemed to her that they hadn’t surpassed their past poetry at all.

Mallus’ subsequent energetic cheer, Allie’s sedate reply, a silver paladin’s roar and the minotaur’s undignified “KA”s pulled Bob out of their familiar period of low self-esteem. There still existed a portion of the dullahan’s mind that only aspired to write the tale of those who would receive glory on the battlefield, who still had faith that the ambitious actor of Rock #612 hadn’t a requirement to strive for those same heights. But no matter those subconscious thoughts, they knew that if Vienna desired more in her army, Bob and all under her banner would give her one.

“May triumph come to the soldiers of our Eternal Eminence
As they slay the heroes of the Twelve Swine with vehemence!”

It was here that the armoured figure that had somehow snuck in without his notice revealed herself. Bob paused and mimicked the newly designated Meathead—if the minotaur didn’t covet a similarly peabrained name, the man really shouldn’t have called the dullahan “Airhead”—by waving a hand above their neck. Last the dullahan remembered of Yazquin, the dark elf had been sulking over Nai’s sharp tongue (with themselves, but that information was of lesser importance). Since the actor had never seen the lady in full plate, it seemed to them that it could only be a complete change in character that she would appear so stately. The storybook villain atmosphere lamentably only persisted until Yazquin spoke.

“It relieves me that you are our shield,
Defeat shall arrive on no battlefield!
But Bucephalus is tied to me,
You cannot ride their back, only see.”

The new mer arrival heralded a sudden shift in mood; where the prior attendees and to-be-companions had been cheerful in their introductions and exuberant in the idea of war with their unit, this newcomer immediately requested a transfer without preamble. Bob was unfazed in the face of this downer, secure in the knowledge that this must be the prickly character that would soon be softened by the camaraderie shown through their group’s teamwork. There was always one of such in every play; it would be strange if there hadn’t been.

When their commanding officer stuttered and switched to their shortened name, Bob had already been standing in line and immediately saluted.
“Here, sir!
I concur!”

A prophecy for their squad! A prophecy was one of the premier opening acts to a Villain’s Journey, since the characters would achieve their predestined objective beyond doubt. Clutching the human face stone in one hand, they shivered with exhilaration. The dullahan barely noticed the pale throb of magic within the communication device as their imagination went haywire with possibilities.

 
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One might think that Yazquin would be throbbing in pain right after her little ritual with Aggie, but she was actually relishing in its complete opposite. Oh, yes. It was absolutely pleasurable to hold Aggie's hands, feel the strong muscles adorning his abdomen, and having their lips be mere inches away from touching. If anything was throbbing, it would be Yazquin's heart after failing to steal a peck from that hulking warrior. She even took off her helmet for the opportunity! Maybe she should've concocted a longer routine...

Unfortunately for the half-elf, whatever happiness she felt fleeted once her older sister opened her mouth. The flush on Yazquin's face drained as she took in Naivier's mockery with a sour face. "It's weird how you think I'm taking pleasure from your immature jeers." She responded after being accused of masochism, disgust plain in her face. This was why Yazquin preferred La'Bella over the hateful witch she so unfortunately happened to be sharing a full blood with. Their mother would surely understand her thoughts if she found out how horrible her eldest child has been acting.

"Save your breath, Allie, we both know my sister can't comprehend decency." Briefly, a scornful smirk visited Yazquin's lips before her usual cheery grin returned. "In light of this situation, everyone is welcome to approach me when they need healing and a certain someone is being difficult." What a good day to be the better Ifficus.

Opting to cast her attention on something more positive, Yazquin placed a hand on Bob's shoulder and flashed them a thumbs-up. "Your confidence in me delights me. Know I feel the same towards your poetry." Yaz considered Bob as one of her good friends. She remembered sharing many moments with them in the Arch-lich's abode, sometimes sacrificing her leisure time to brave their less-than-stellar sermon writings. Still, she was grateful to be friends with a fellow theater lover.

Finally, Yazquin took notice of a familiar fishman who appeared to be unhappy of their group. The mere sight of him caused a phantom pain on the part where he struck her and caused her to blackout. It was embarrassing, but it was the truth. Yazquin could only comfort herself with the notion that it happened straight after her legendary duel with Aggie. She shook her head in disappointment upon realizing his request to transfer. Couldn't he see that Vienna blessed him to be a part of the best group ever? Shame, shame, shame.

Finally, the Captain cut off his silence and commanded for their attention. Yazquin stellarly obeyed his order, as a dutiful paladin should, and stood firm as he laid out the plan. She felt her left eye twitch when the lizardfolk mentioned dying for Vienna, but she immediately shoved it off. Yazquin knew she still has a destiny to fulfill, so there was no way in Vienna's seven hands would she die. Besides, the captain himself was a living testament that surviving operations multiple times was more than possible. Her mind wandered back to Emil, the gloves beneath her gauntlets making its presence known more than ever. She wished she could be more like him- fearless and strong. The group which got the chance to be led by him were lucky.

Allie was the first to pipe up. As expected of a scholar, she had successfully covered all of the questions that popped in Yazquin's head. With nothing to say, the paladin crossed her arms, seemingly deep in thought. The Forbidden Woods sure struck a chord of memory.
 
MNE
mne-muscle.gif
incher acting: TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity​

The flashing silhouette of embracing women overlaid branching veins that threatened to gouge through Mne’s shut eyelids and sprout into trees. Mne’s eyes were rapidly palpitating, so this image appeared to move with its own volition. Words budded from the darkness between the phantoms, sprouting outward through Mne’s head until reaching their eardrums. Unfamiliar exchanges of names and sentiments poured out of the changeling’s ears like smoke until a new source of sound, a prolonged gust of wind, diffused them. The air poured over Mne, streaming through their sinuses, and filling every pore of their body. With eyes now wide open, the shadows they once saw then seemed to float across the rooftops and fade away.

“I don’t want to disappear,” Mne imagined one said.

Rooftops?

Yes, those were getting close now. From this point of view, the city of Lapas Ghûl was like a slab of dry mud. Large cracks were spread across its surface, and lines of small creatures could be seen traveling from one end to another. Just as in the forest’s riverbanks that Mne remembered, there was also a hand sticking out of this mud, from which Mne could hardly resist leaning in to get a little taste. Truth be told, as ambrosial as this great hand seemed, Mne would have preferred to be digging up bodies buried in the forest. The city did not live up to the expectations planted in Mne as a young wild-child. For one, there were no jugglers in sight. There was nothing in this world as magical as people, no - heroes, who could throw things up high and catch them before they hit the ground. If there was even one juggler in the entire city, Mne would feel much less stressed about their current circumstance.

A THUMP could be heard directly outside of Qorryn’s tent, and a gentle breeze blew inside. Something stirred out of sight. Its shadow loomed over the entrance of the red tent, and a hiss slipped through the air. Then it happened: a goose walked into the tent. From the way that it walked, it looked concussed, and it then suddenly vomited a watery fluid onto the ground and collapsed. Though it lay still momentarily, its limbs suddenly thrust erratically about in every direction. The goose convulsed, paused, and then thrashed around some more as its flesh bulged out from beneath its feathers, bloating like a corpse. In a pool of their own making, Mne reverted back into a humanoid shape and stumbled onto two feet. They scanned the room, looking from one person to the next, and then finally settled their gaze on Aegrius.

Do you know where I could find the Institute of Madness? they thought.
Who is Captain Qorryn?
Why does it hurt when I-



Words were lost in translation, or maybe Mne could not be heard at all. Faced with the stark contest of communication, an epiphany struck them. There was one medium that would work without fail. With complete confidence, Mne once again felt their skin expand, their bones elongate, and their muscles… Their muscles~!

Mne stared at Aegrius with a deadpan expression as the two now matched one another in height and physique. Then, Mne danced. Mne gyrated and twirled, pliéd and lept, popping and locking every bone in their body. They explored their kinesphere in revolutionary ways unseen before that moment by anyone who stood witness to this miracle. It was not dissimilar to what the goose did earlier. When finished, Mne struck a delicious pose and stared down Aegrius, breathing as heavy as a heifer in labor. This was art.
 

Naivier Ifficus

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Ignoring Bob's overly dramatic response that she could care less for, Naivier merely shrugged at Allie, a playful smile tugging her lips as she looked at her full-blooded sister. "Oh please, little sister, I know you were waiting for a quip from me to complete your day." Does Nai live and breathe only to be a menace to her sister and everybody else? Yes, yes she does. It was perhaps the first thing she had done since her father had finally saved her from the clutches of the Pax Alliance.

So carefree with the bluntness of her words yet so much she had kept to herself. Was it to punish their father? To make her sister suffer? Most likely. After all, she has quite a petty attitude. Things might have been wildly different if she had been rescued much earlier. So much different.

Getting tired of talking with everyone, the half-elf settled in staying quiet at the back and observing everyone. She rolled her eyes at a few words by Yaz and Bob here and there before the Captain of their squad had called off for their attention. She simply raised her brow at this. Her name was called and she had given the flattest "Here, sir." she could muster, seeing as how she never really planned on joining the army but alas, such is the way of their world.

She crossed her arms and tapped her finger against the back of her hand as she listened to Qorryn and his brief on their task. Pax Alliance. Infiltrate. Forbidden Woods. Lost Contact. Investigate. Escape. Naivier wasn't really one for questions unless things didn't make sense to her... Like the Archlich's sermons. But that was not of any importance, besides, Allie had the questions covered.

"So they're sending us to a suicide mission to collect info." She started thinking to herself, "Is the Pax Alliance gaining the upper hand now that it has a portion of the Forbidden Woods? Is the Nuvok Army getting impatient? Are they preparing for an attack after this? Things are becoming truly interesting in Lapas Ghûl for once."

Once Allie's questions were answered, Naivier was the next to question the commander. "Who will be leading this very dangerous mission between us all? I'm assuming that you won't be coming with us and will be assigning someone to make the decisions for the group."

mention: Lo Mayn Lo Mayn Arvios Arvios Ambiloquous Ambiloquous AI10100 AI10100 LokiPokie LokiPokie || interaction: . D O V E . D O V E TheImmortalDeity TheImmortalDeity

 
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