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| the_hopeful_tomorrow [2021/10/21 12:42] – blue | the_hopeful_tomorrow [2022/10/01 17:33] (current) – blue | ||
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| "So, about that destination..." | "So, about that destination..." | ||
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| As if scripted, the entire ship is suddenly smashed by a sudden onslaught of turbulence. Only it was clearly cannon fire, and from the ship's port just out of view thanks to a certain someone NOT manning the pilot' | As if scripted, the entire ship is suddenly smashed by a sudden onslaught of turbulence. Only it was clearly cannon fire, and from the ship's port just out of view thanks to a certain someone NOT manning the pilot' | ||
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| ||There was to be no response to this, as instead of a heroic battle or foolish struggle, what instead occurred was what could only be described as sheer madness rearing its head. Actually, that was a lie. What was in fact happening, and what it would be described as was a massive clawed hand sprouting upwards from the clouds. Like several tree trunks and vines wound together into some sinful green sinew, it gripped the anchors linking the ships together. And with one unforgiving yank, it pulled them all down with an uncompromising and undaunted speed, crashing both ships into the sickly and corrupted branches of what was once the Shroud below, and knocking out everyone in both vessels.|| | ||There was to be no response to this, as instead of a heroic battle or foolish struggle, what instead occurred was what could only be described as sheer madness rearing its head. Actually, that was a lie. What was in fact happening, and what it would be described as was a massive clawed hand sprouting upwards from the clouds. Like several tree trunks and vines wound together into some sinful green sinew, it gripped the anchors linking the ships together. And with one unforgiving yank, it pulled them all down with an uncompromising and undaunted speed, crashing both ships into the sickly and corrupted branches of what was once the Shroud below, and knocking out everyone in both vessels.|| | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Into the Shroud ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||A few minutes later...|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Gair, Luna, and the Sinner all came to a lethargic stir, roots bursted in from the front of the ship, the enemy ship no longer anywhere in sight. The ship was not upright in the forest, but was rather being held at a strange angle by the mass of roots and branches that broke their descent. Pipino was not as lucky as the rest of the group, as the roots had already covered her entirely. Knocked out by the impact, she could not even resist as the roots slowly began to pull her from the ship.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | After a significant time Pipino awoke, feeling her body compressed in an impossible tightness that hardly left room for her to move. The ship went down, yet she lived at least. She must be trapped under some piece of wreckage, she thought as she groaned. Opening her eyes and seeing nothing but darkness. She started to panic, feeling as if she would just die here by virtue of being pinned here and never found. She lay there, lost in that unshakeable isolation and loneliness before she suddenly felt movement, the position of her body shifting, her restraints moving around her. Perhaps all hope was not lost then. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino squirmed | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair groans and pulls back his hood, **fucking hell I wish I was dead about now**. His eyes slowly adjust to the slanted backdrop that is the crashed airship, slowly trying to piece together what had actually happened. The gears in his head slowly turning after realizing that there wasn't any real climactic showdown with the gunship that had hounded them with fire and insults. "I think...we both got hit. You all better not be...uuugh, dead." He had a strange way of showing concern as he came to a stand, eyeing Luna and the Sinner. Then the roots that crawl among the bridge of their vessel. "The fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Slowly does the knightess jerk to life. She grasps at the ground with her metallic arm, lifting her head after a moment and looking around with a labored groan. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Like a cat stuck in a tree, Pipino takes in the wreckage and awesome power of the woods from on high with great trepidation, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The airship was tilted and tangled in the branches of a thick and gnarled looking tree. Previously teeming with life and the sounds of nature, The Black Shroud had become far more twisted in the passing years, the trees greyed and the leaves mottled. Instead of bountiful wildlife and vegetation, the forest floor was deadly silent save for the almost constant groaning of shifting tree bark and the echo of greenery being dragged against rough surfaces. The grass now appeared almost as a field of ashen flowers, with a light smog of pollen so thick it was visibly floating just above them like sticky but dusty webs.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The ships were still anchored to one another, but the enemy airship had clearly landed somewhere in the distance, as it was completely out of view in the shroud of trees.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino chews on her lip a bit as she looks about and crawls a bit closer to the opening in the ship that her prison had used to extract her from the ship, spying the pollen and the very dead looking remnants of a once lush and beautiful forest. "Is there a way for you to climb up? The forest has been overrun with the roots and...well, the floor by my estimation does not look like somewhere we ought to be walking at all. There is a cloud about it with a sinister look and...and all of it looks dead. It might be best to keep to the roots as they seem to be forming some kind of pathway." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The woods...or somethin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna sighs, following suit with Gair and taking off to look for some method to get to her. She also looks for crates or boxes to stack that would allow her to stretch her arm with sword in hand, holding by the blade, to allow Pipino to grab on. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner does not seem keen on doing anything in particular, keeping a silent stare on the roots and vines slowly encroaching upon the innards of the airship. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino leans back and forth trying to get a look inside the ship to be as helpful as she can. "There are a lot of roots pierced through the ship... | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Utterly unable to find any rope to pull himself up, Gair stares long and hard at the vines. "Those fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not having to venture far into the hold before discovering a plentiful supply of rope, Luna gathers it up before bringing it back to the puncture. "Miss Pipino, you will need to secure this somewhere that we may tether and climb up to you." She says, tossing one end of the rope up towards the Lalafell. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino dares to lift her hands from the root system she was perched atop to catch the rope, quickly catching the end and resuming her handhold, not too keen on the possibility of falling off even still. "I will see what I can find. Hopefully whatever I do will not shift too much," The Lalafell mused as she crawled along to find a structure branching off the main system to secure the rope to. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino finds a suitable branch and secures the rope with a secure and intricate knot, once artful fingers finding themselves comfortably and nimbly passing the rope through its motions as if it were second nature. She tugs at the rope and calls back to Luna to signal that she had prepared everything, testing the knot and its hold. "It is ready!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess gives the tether a tug to confirm it's strength before grabbing onto it and tucking her legs around, beginning the slow climb up. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair waits at the base of the rope and gestures the Sinner over. "Come now, you. We still got a chance at all this long as you still breathe." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner sighs a bit, still a bit transfixed by the vines, but obeys without protest. She grabs onto the rope and kind of...wraps herself around it a bit, almost as if tangling herself with it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair stares at the Sinner who just coiled herself up. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna has already clambered up, offering a metallic arm down to Gair and the Sinner to assist. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino takes a moment to look around at the overwhelming structures around her, on edge and vigilant, the unsettling silence broken by the occasional distant rustling. As she gazes aboutz without turning to the group, she turns and asks of the robed woman, "Are we anywhere near this hero? Or have you a heading at the very least?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “A wonderful question dear, and the perfect opportunity to preempt any other such questions.” She takes a deep breath as she begins to slowly untangle herself from the rope after accepting Luna’s assistance, clearly having to put in some effort again as her limbs seemed to be failing, similarly to how she could barely walk before. “I cannot divine this hero or their location beyond simply being within this....dense forest. It is difficult to explain to the unlearned, but to put it lightly this hero’s aether is quite literally all over the place. It is across the sea. It is in the wilds. Traces of it are even in our manly protest to facial grooming here—so it is quite exceptional that I have traced the source of that aether to this place at all. But more importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But while I cannot day for sure where the hero is, I CAN say for sure that the largest concentration of it seems to be....huh. If I’m correct it’s around where Fallgourd Float should be. That’s...strange. But even in its disgusting state I can tell where we should be headed.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns towards the southeast and points, sticking her chest out a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That way! Would have been much easier from above.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fallgourd Float, how interesting. "I do not sense aether with any particular skill. But if you say the highest concentration is at Fallgourd Float, then so be it." The woman turns from the Sinner and looks in the direction indicated, searching for some sort of path. "True it would have been easier from above, but here we are. I did not see you piloting the ship." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna raises an eyebrow while looking down at the SInner metaphorically. "We learned of pursuits more advantageous than how to pilot these contemptible vehicles. They could never have predicted the state of the world where-in a sordid trio wouldst require such knowledge. As for the Inquisition and Witchdrop, they were a regrettable time in our history. Much like your existence is upon the present." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Here I wish I couldn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Strangely enough, Gair would find no issue with this attempt. The vines themselves even seemed somewhat respondent to his direction of travel, more vines appearing and, while threateningly coiling to grab once more, were clearly also forming into a path of sorts. One might reason that not lingering was key to not being made into a forest snack. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino followed after Gair, jogging a few steps to keep up afraid that the vines might decide to choose a different path should they not stay close together. "It does feel a bit oppressive. It has been a long time since I felt the aether of this place, and it certainly did not feel like this." She shook her head, fond memories of time spent in these woods, remembering a time when it felt peaceful, when she first had her eyes opened to feeling aether around her and not just her own. "It is reprehensible, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess follows behind, keeping an eye out for threats. "That is what we endeavor to do, with any luck it shall come to pass. That we might return to the way life once was." **If we can truly go back.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Why go back when you can improve?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "There is no going back, what's dead will never rise again," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna remains silent, choosing not to voice her **seething** disagreement. Instead she continues her vigil as they meander, a strange sense filling her to see her birthplace ruined in such a way. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Not quite sure how great a Monetarist I make when there is no Sultanate left to disagree with, or a Syndicate left to support. Do not get me wrong, I know it is not like things will just return to how they were. We all went through the Calamity after all. Just... It should not be in this state." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She paused as Gair began seeking his way down. "Is that cloud safe to walk in? I suppose at least two of us are resistant to being turned, but... I am wary of the ways this forest chooses to infect others." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Oh? And why might that be?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, Luna, for the most part. I do not recall you saying anything about her that keeps her protected." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Does she not believe Halone will shield her? Is that not sufficient? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino shrugs. "There are many things I trust to Halone these days for the simple desire to not have to worry myself over them, but to keep me from being turned? Enough Ishgardians and transplants backed by the Fury have not come back from battles for me to know she is powerless to stop it. And besides, even if Luna decides that is enough, she is not the one that will have to deal with herself when it inevitably happens." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Perhaps, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||After a while, the group appeared at the outskirts of what should have been Fallgourd Float, but it was far different than 3 years would suggest. The area around the camp proper was a massive hold going down to an unknown depth, with a burning red light shining from the deepest reaches like a red star. The camp had people manning the bridges—which were now made of some heavy looking metal slabs—but even at this distance their features were obscured somewhat. They appeared to be cloaked in shadows.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess brings her hand to her sword' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino paused as she surveyed the area, once one of her favorites. She recalled sweet conversations, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She too readies her weapon. "So, where do we even begin to look? It seems like trying to find a needle within a haystack." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The shadows seemed to turn towards each other for a while before charging forward, a single shadow with a longsword charging towards the group while the rest readied arrows.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Quickly does Luna cross to be in front of the group fully now, shield humming to life from her arm and being thrust into place in front of her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Put the sword down you daft bastard before I take it and shove it down your throat!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The shadow stopped but the arrows didn’t. A volley of arrows flew overhead in a wide arc before suddenly bursting into flames mid flight, flying over the group and into the wood behind them....Where a massive wooden arm emerged from the smog of trees. The vines beneath the group’s feet began to shake erratically now, and a second volley of arrows flew over the group. Now, the previously silent wood burst into life with the sound of thousands of chittering screeches and roaring bark, and like a wave behind the group a bulging mass of wooden figures emerged, charging all at once towards the group. The shadow person with the sword was still waiting at their spot a distance away, beckoning for the group to come quickly.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | **FIGHT OR FLIGHT?** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino was shaken down to her knee and she whipped her head around briefly as she heard the unnatural din behind her. She had fought the corrupted before, but never the corrupted wood, so her choice was simple. She scrambled to her feet, gun cradled in her hand as she took the chance to dash in the direction of the man with the sword. She watched his movements carefully, a finger on the trigger needing only a hint of danger to move into action. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna turns to see what the mysterious folk could possibly be fighting other than them only to see the gargantuan forest fisty boi. Deciding that dealing with betrayal by new non-hostiles would be better than an impromptu chiropractor, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fly, with the charging shadow stayed by his vulgarity. Gair lowers his crook and makes to beat feet toward the sword bearer, taking his chances with the figure rather than the immediate murder from the surrounding trees. His boots plodding on the metal bridge. "Looks like we found someone with sense!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Up close the figure was revealed to be a moon keeper, and the moment the group all laid feet on the Slav bridge, he swung his sword down towards the vines that led them there, a series of explosions reacting with the vines and causing them all to snatch back and roll up like measuring tape. The sinner lagged behind everyone else, but at least the new group had found safety. Or the would have at least, but a new set of bow and arrows was now trained on the group while the rest fired at the roused forest.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||“Prove you’re not turned,” said the man behind them calmly, his weapon at his side now rather than trained on the group. We’ll not turn away survivors but we’ll not eat a poisoned fruit either.”|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Feeling some semblance of safety amongst resistance members, Luna relaxes a bit. "You may check us for the tell-tale crystals. We bear none." she says simply. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Crystals? | ||
| + | |||
| + | Quietly the group began to murmur about the survivors. Despite clearly being ready to lay waste to them at a moments notice, the groups presence was still causing a rising excitement. Brief hints of happiness even. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino lowered her weapon only slightly but still remained on alert, looking over her shoulder as Luna remained focused on the group for some evidence of what happened to the sinner. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, what is it you need of us? Or shall we play guessing games?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Lalafell furrowed her brow slightly, blinking rapidly before closing her eyes momentarily. She shook her head as if shaking something off before focusing her attention back on the crowd. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A figure emerged from the crowd, the shadows surrounding her far darker than the others. Slowly the shadows peeled away from her face, revealing a green skinned Xaela woman beneath, the majority of her face lazily painted over with white, and her limbal rings glowing a burning yellow. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I just need you to tell me how you found us in the first place.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We were following a vague aether signature," | ||
| + | |||
| + | Looking up to Luna, she warns her in a softer voice. "Be on your guard." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The Dhalmels before would be beside themselves with grief if they knew a tomcat would reside in these woods even after the world' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Though she doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman stares for a while, looking between each of the group’s members slowly. Eventually, a smile cracks across her painted features and she opens her arms, turning her head slightly and addressing the crowd. The tension in the air noticeably dispersed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well let em through guys! They’re on a mission!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The crowd slowly opens a way for the group to go through, revealing what was new about Fallgourd Float in the apocalypse. The wood had all been almost completely replaced with thick metal slabs which seemed to adorn the location now like a welded shell. The aetheryte in the center was of course thoroughly destroyed, but in its place there seemed to be a massive cannon—also welded to some makeshift swivel device—that was strangely aimed skyward. The Xaela seemed to be motioning towards a particularly unwelcoming looking hut to the south of the village, but the group could just as easily keep going through the village and head east if they so chose. There seemed to be a clear way out from that direction, unlike they way they came.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino hesitates in advancing forward, turning instead over her shoulder and looking rather anxious about the condition of the sinner. She appeared conflicted. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna steps towards the hut, though she stops to regard everything. "We appreciate your assistance, but I must say that time may be of the essence. If you have aught that may help us track down this so-called hero, we would hear of it. Elsewise we may need to keep moving." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair eyes the hut suspiciously and shakes his head. Murmuring to the trio of women with him, "Their worries were dispersed *too* quickly." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner shrugged following behind. “I’m for plans that don’t complicate our goa—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner was promptly cut off by having her neck suddenly grasped from behind by the Xaela and lifted from her feet, still smiling as she was before, even while her grip was clearly digging grooves into the Sinner’s pale neck. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I didn’t say you,” said the Xaela with badly concealed malice, her limbal rings burning even brighter. I believe I made you a promise last time we spoke.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You lot got any details about this hero you’re lookin’ for? Like what they look like for example?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She continued to address the group normally despite the Sinner dangling helplessly in her hand. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna moves immediately, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The moment the Xaela was touched, the tension returned to the area. Bow and arrows were immediately drawn and pointed directly at Luna and the Sinner, who was still coughing on the ground now and clearly trying to gasp for air.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela turned to address Luna, still calm despite a vein popping idly on her neck. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You even know who this one is? The rest of you are fine. No reason to harm the rest of ye.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am aware of her part in all of this. But I am also aware that she is involved with ridding the realm of this blight. I do not enjoy her prescence any more than you, but I would not fail my duty as an aegis merely because I ill enjoy her company." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | "I do," Gair rumbles, looking on at the Sinner with a rather detached gaze. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Comforting news,” she retorted, waving her hands for the bows to be put away. “So again, this hero got defining characteristics? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have have never been given one. Our...prisoner has led us thus far and can feel their aether, but nothing behind that. She has not met her. I had heard snatches of Hero's Blood in the past from a mutual acquaintance of ours, but, well... I have certainly never been given any details. You were much closer to him though in the end. Perhaps you know?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I know you blondie?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman crossed her arms. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We met once, in front of the college. I had blue hair back then and was asking you about a gun he'd given me." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Huh. Alright. Well in that case...yeah, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what would that be?" she asks, sounding slightly annoyed that she has to prompt the response when she could just give the answer in the first place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “They ain’t as nice as I am, and if they pop off I’m not about to get in their way.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, we will just have to try our best not to make them 'pop off' then, will we not? I am sure it is easier said than done though." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You sure about this? Don’t need any extra information or...?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I would count extra information as aid." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman pointedly nods at the Sinner who is still hacking for air. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You three might to get away from that one. They had the extra bits ripped off already but the new ones are still enough to do what they want.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How about weaknesses, in case they need to be disabled," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Ok yeah, we can do that. Quick question are you here to help em or kill em?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “No, but you’re a group of weirdos on a mission in the middle of nowhere, and apparently being led by a source that destroys pretty much all of your credibility. And now you just so happen to want a weakness of someone you apparently came to find. For peaceful reasons of course. Would you believe this enormous blob of shite?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "No, which is why I intend to do my part. Willing ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | In fact, Gair removes his right gauntlet and from a deep pocket he pulls out a pair of rusty pliers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino glares at Gair. "There is no reason for that behavior. The way you are acting, you might as well have turned yourself. Calm yourself so we can come to a plan of sensible action, not revel in some sadistic display of how poorly you have adjusted to this new world." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela looks at the group with squinting eyes, apparently unconvinced. If anything, mentioning knowledge seemed to amuse the woman; she was clearly holding back a laugh. Upon noticing that the surrounding forest was suddenly rustling again however, she quickly dropped her smirk, clicking her tongue in irritation and turning to the Miqo’te man that had let them in before, motioning irritably.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Fuck it, sound the horn.” She turned to the group, half growling in irritation, “You lot want a hint? Rest is a priority.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The man runs into the nearby hut and returns with a horn, taking a deep breath before running to the edge of the village and blowing it. At first there is nothing but the echo of the horn and the rattling of the forest, but after a moment the rattling from the forest is accompanied by a thunderous rumbling from below. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino places a hand to her head, and her expression falls into a wince as she hisses through her teeth. "I do not think we shall have the luxury of rest," she says with a slightly strained voice as she reaches for her weapon. "What have you awoken with that horn?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Red aether bursts upward from beneath the village like an eruption, and creatures--clearly monsters--climb up the walls of the deep crater, roaring and screeing as they come to face the forest. As if at the same time, several more of the wood creatures reappear, accompanied by a far more sinister version of the living trees, mutated wildlife, and what appeared to be people half fused with the corrupted wood. The two groups faced off for now, still staring each other down threateningly for the coming battle, when finally amongst the creatures a small, tiny figure appeared, cloaking in burning crimson aether like a veil. The tiny figure landed on top of one of the beasts from the crater, a monster that seemed to be chunks of meat stitched together rather than a living creature. From the forest, the dense gathering of the half-wood soldiers parted, bowing slightly as a figure emerged from the darkness of the forest. As the figure approached and was illuminated by the light from the village, their features became more clear. It was....|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Familiar and Strange Faces ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | One and a half ears, a long tail not so bushy anymore, Red hair not as beautiful as it once was, white streaks | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You left me to die. Through everything, I've always been there, but when I needed any of you, I was alone. " A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Ask any one of Garlemald' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And I'd have done it again, it was my duty to protect the weak of the tribe. One I'd failed in," Gair gestures all around him. "A failure I intend to unmake." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Just before A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | She pushes herself up to her feet a bit shakily. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | One of the half-wood soldiers slowly shambles towards A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The burning figure atop the monsters--likely the hero--suddenly fades away. At the same time, an area of the black shroud to the left of where the hero was a moment ago ignites with the same red aether, initiating the attack. Taking that as the signal, all of the beasts begin to charge at the same time towards the wooden army, crashing against one another with a sickening sound of meat smacking against crunching wood. The hero seemed to be quickly rampaging through the forest, as the blazing trail of aether flaring up through the trees like an aurora quickly starting to circle the outskirts of the village stronghold. Whatever was happening, the Sinner seemed to STILL be struggling to catch her breath, and promptly passes out as the battle begins. The Xaela woman with the group had already gone off to bark orders at her shadowy subordinates, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna sneers at the revelation of A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With the chaos of the battle raging around the village, and the four of them left to linger in the relative protection of the walls. Gair looks from Luna and then to Pipino to confer for their next course of action. "So, do we just sit on the sidelines to let Rina 'an this hero tucker themselves out? Rina did say she was on that fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "As it stands, helping A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Amidst the battle, several corrupted roots make their way towards the flesh creatures, wrapping around what is presumably their legs or arms, anything resembling a limb, dragging them off into the darkness of the forest. one root however makes it's way towards A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | It doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Pipino takes the lead and begins to head toward the hut that had been gestured to in a moment of peace, not sure if they are still welcome there or not. True to her word, she assumes A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then go, Pip, I need to...watch this. Make certain my hand ain't needed out there," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With a wild shriek from the forest, the tiny figure bursts into the village clearing still shrouded in red aether. The figure threw a head directly at A’erina with great speed—one whom she might recognize as the severed head of her pilot—before screaming wildly again and jumping back into the forest, another wave of neat monsters soon emerging from the crater to continue the fight. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The forest starts making it's telltale signs of moving foliage again as several roots start making their way to A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "A meaningless contest in a dead world, cousin!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner had yet to stir, and the supposed hero was still rampaging through the wood. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A snarl forms on the knightess' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair reaches a hand out and grabs the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Slowly, the Sinner comes to a stir from Gair’s rude shaking, kicking and moaning weakly in response. As if signaled, a moment later a loud thumping sounded at the entrance to the hut, a glowing red aura obscuring a small figure hunched over on the ground like a feral beast. The hero had arrived.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "No I did not lay her low. Surely she deserves such but I have not acted upon it. Mayhap I should have." she says coldly. As the sound of the new arrival occured, the woman goes into a defensive stance, aether flowing from her left arm into a shield which she holds in front of her and moves forward, readied. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, speak of the devil." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “GRAAAAAH!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The moment Pipino brought attention to herself, the hero stood up, very clearly enraged. She did not waste movement or time further, closing the distance within the space of several heartbeats and thrusting a red shrouded hand for Pipino’s left eye. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Dice** | ||
| + | |||
| + | The picture of sandy pirate Jesus himself, Gair barely gets his crook out in time. Wielding it with purpose as the hero himself tries to take Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The red figure was rather light all things considered, and after being caught was easily redirected onto the floor as if it was completely outside their realm of imagination. There was a stunned moment as the hero hit the floor, where they seemed to have completely spaced out from the attack. A moment later however, there was a slight shifting in the hips followed by the sound of a heavy object swinging through the air. Rather than trying to escape Gair, a blade had emerged from the hero’s backside before flying again towards Pipino!|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Heroic action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino saw the blade and her visible eye went wide, the Lalafell crouching low and springing sideways, rolling away from the attack swiftly and recovering her position in a three-point crouch as she withdrew her weapon from her back and swiftly fired an aetherically charged round at them, the bullet crackling and sparking with an aura of levin that made it look like a streak of lightning. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero twisted up in ways that seemed far too unnatural to do, bending and scraping out from beneath Gair’s crook before jumping back as the bullet arced towards her retreating form. The aether surrounding her seemed to take the levin bullet, but the force of it still knocked her onto her bottom. Quickly snapping into a crouched position, she continued to growl savagely at Pipino, even as the red aether surrounding her body faded away, revealing what was shrouded underneath.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Flesh that seemed stitched on and burned. Wooden limbs that bent and snapped unnaturally to an unheard rhythm, large, unblinking eyes behind a badly cobbled together mask that seemed to resemble a face, but with sharp and grinding wooden teeth constantly visible just underneath. She was covered in little cuts, nicks, and scratches all over, and smelled of burning wood. This tiny wild woman was supposedly the hero.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Heroic action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna takes the proffered opening, rushing to find herself behind the supposed Hero. Quickly does her shield come down as she grabs the hero, hooking her arms around odd shoulders, using a foot to knock the hero's own foot into an entwined hook with Luna's own, effectively creating a tight hold. Aether hums from and around her arm, ready to be applied if the situation arises. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero head butted Luna hard before jumping into the air, struggling and realigning herself into an awkward backflip in mid air before the sound of an uncomfortable scraping and a pop was heard; she had removed her wooden arms and in the same instance reared herself to kick off of Luna’s forehead, launching herself yet again for Pipino while screaming and now bleeding from arm stubs mid air, aiming a diving bite for Pipino’s face.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Dice** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino shields her left side of her face with her left arm, switching her weapon to her right hand only to extend it and send a short burst of flame at the Hero, hoping to catch their wooden components on fire to slow their erratic movement down and deter them from getting too close. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero was indeed hit by the fire, but strangely enough her wooden prosthetics did not catch flame. The rags she was wearing however very much did. More importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela looked towards Gair and Pipino, shaking her head in disgust. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What the FUCK happened now? Where the seven hells are her arms? I thought you wanted help, not to set the damn brat on fire!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Stupid fucking way to get help ain’t it?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I cannot help anything if she's dead set on ripping my face apart," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well that face does scream punch me...” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair presents the end of his crook against his chest, looking ready to draw some sort of weapon with his stick. Ready to intercede until the Xaela steps in to grasp them and put them in their place. "Glare at me all you want, woman. I controlled that ferocious little thing with naught but a stick." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “She managed to only attack one other shite lord before you arse cracks showed up. You sure blondie ain’t a damn spy?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess recoils from the headbutt and anime facejump combo, taking a moment to recover. Once she does, her eyes dart around to locate the Hero before locating her - docile and unmoving. Absolutely perplexed but not willing to show it, she stares at the Xaela as they speak, aether still humming out of her arm idly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks from the Xaela to Pipino now. Questioning and curious, he asks of the former. "Wait, can they feel corruption or some shite?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino stows her weapon on her back and crosses her arms shaking her head. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela squints her eyes, while the hero seems to rattle in place, seemingly only now noticing she had lost her arms in the earlier scuffle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Bad blood,” she finally uttered with a mechanical sounding voice, “Must take.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | Speaking seemed to be a source of pain for the hero. She seemed to catch on something in her throat inbetween each word, like a particularly thick hair all caught on something. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Can help.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to the Xaela, shaking her head in confusion before her eye bounces between the both of them. "Help with what?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You said you know me,” said the Xaela, now raising an eyebrow and looking to the ground as if to find memories there, “so how exactly is that again?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I already mentioned it, I had met you briefly in front of the college, presuming you do not have a twin or someone who enjoys that particular method of painting your face. We spoke of the weapon I was given, and whether or not our mutual acquaintance deserved to die or not. I do not presume to know you from such a small interaction, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Had twins....but I guess that clears it up. Did you drink his blood at some point?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looked insulted and disgusted at the same time. "Of course not." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That’s the only explanation for it. If she was just pissed cause of the taint, I’d wager she’d be tearing that hooded bitch in half, not trying to get at you.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | As if summoned by trash talk, the Sinner finally sat up, rubbing at her mask like it was her face. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Looks like I’m not dead. Wonderful.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner froze around the sight of the hero, reaching out with shaking hands but not actually touching her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Ah...such radiant aether. No wonder I could not withstand it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So we're all acquainted one way or another 'an not killin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well I’d love to cry and all but I need blood samples. And a container to put them in actually...also a volunteer to take the concoction.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Oh, what, you mean to just... start straight away then?" Pipino asks with an eye wide with surprise behind her goggles. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Did you think I’d stall for time that is already limited?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela stood up and spit before walking away, her interest in the situation apparently having worn off. Unrestrained now, the hero seemed to close the distance on the Sinner within a blink, teeth chattering down towards the Sinner as she leaned in close. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Blood? Why?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino simply nods her understanding. "How much is needed? And... What exactly is to be done with it?" she asks, clearly a bit wary of parting with her blood without some kind of assurance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner leaned back slowly despite the hero steadily leaning forward anyway, nearly crawling into her if not for her current lack of hands. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “More than a few drops for sure but not so much you will miss it. As for what is to be done...how about we skip explanations which only I can under—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She was cut off abruptly by the hero falling over on top of her, thrashing about strangely before sitting up again. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Profit, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | At this point, everything was so out of her wheelhouse that Luna could scarcely hide her plain confusion at the whole ordeal, as much as she wanted to. "So her blood is the key to salvation then?" she asks, trying desperately to rid her face of any signs of her true feelings. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Not quite no,” the masked woman replied, still staring warily towards the hero now, “but it is the easiest method to obtain what I need to create the tool we need.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what tool is this?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess sighs. "You all must enjoy the sound of your own voices overly much. No one speaks plainly." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well perhaps if you used yours more, you could think to ask questions to address your concerns instead of lamenting," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I speak plainly that none of you would get it. If you lot really need a class while the world burns by all means I’ll give it. Or I can get to work so you all can try to undo all of this mess with that fancy action most of you seem downright itching to get to.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Show of hands?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “A container for the blood samples would be lovely.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs and waves a hand for her to carry on, looking around the small hut for some type of containers, knowing nothing of what kind of vessel would be required. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Any old flask will do until we get ahold of more?" Gair fishes out one from his pocket and unscrews it, downing the no-doubt foul contents. It's months old whiskey, or some foul adjacent concoction of liquor-like susbtance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I’d love a sterilized lab, some vials, and time. We have none of those.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She takes the bottle and observes it for a moment before nodding in gratitude. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Now I just need some blood wrists ple—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She suddenly stopped talking, staring at the hero’s stubs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Arms please.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “....” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She does not bother to stop Gair even as people protest in the distance, staring instead towards Pipino, then the hero who had yet to move. The hero simply stared her unblinking stare before repeating her words again. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Profit.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to the hero, taking the chance at communicating. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The hero simply stares at the Sinner before suddenly snapping her head to face Pipino, her voice now colored with aggression in addition to her mechanical voice. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Why should I? What I get? Pay.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, what is it you would like?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You will find yourself lucky to yet live much less profiteer during this." She **snarls**, this time emitting a sound rather than some sort of evidently offensive description. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Offer.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to Luna. "No, blood has value, more than people realize. She deserves compensation if she will not willingly give it." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns her attention back to the hero. "I have not much I can offer aside from my skills as a machinist, unless you have a taste for art," she says, half joking. "My only other thought is perhaps seeing about getting you a sturdier set of limbs." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Having gotten into a minor scuffle with one of the residents over a vase that was holding a flower or some sort of pretty plant. A crash of glass and broken earthenware can be heard from outside. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Seven hells, the flower is dead! We need this more than you!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | And the rugged man emerges back into the hut, having been only able to procure a few drinking glasses and a large vase with a broken top. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna lets out a groan much like a murderous sideshow clown, wiping her hand down her face at Gair. "I suppose I should consider it a boon that you have not changed altogether." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela returned soon after, clearly pissed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I can’t leave you idiots alone for half a damn bell before you do something stupid and shite! Why the gods damned hells are you fucking with my villagers like I won’t make you eat your own legs!?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Eat my legs after we have a cure," Gair snorts in answer, kneeling down to set the arrangement of cups and singular broken vase down in front of the Sinner to start her work. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Eat my arse! Clearly nice and pleasant demeanor from me has given the wrong impression, so I’ll start over. I don’t care if it’s to stop the world from cracking in half, or that supplies round here are scarce. Touch my people again and I’ll gather some gods damned stone, pound it into dust and bricks, make some mortar, and build several fucking walls just so I can put your chocobo shite smelling arse through them! Fuck all four of you!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looks to the hero now and stomps closer, jingling the wooden arms that had been lost before roughly putting them back into place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “And just tell Alkaid you’ll let her sleep you deaf fucks! That’s all the lazy little brat cares about!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She lifts both her arms again and faces the group one by one, making sure to flip each of them off in sequence before turning to stomp away. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Rolls her eye visibly, feeling like her treatment is completely unwarranted. She turns her attention back to the hero. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess looks poised to speak but stops herself, not wishing to rile neither herself nor the Xaela. It is by the most tenuous fiber of her being that she does, however. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alkaid the hero turned and cocked her head, clicking her teeth curiously. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “When? Is loud. Always.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair grunts and steps outside mid-rant, nobody quite able to discern the displeasure on his features, as, well. They were persistently that way. Curiously, he looks around for wet patches of ground and begins to...dig at them with his stick. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some unseen twang of guilt weighs on him as he molds some crude earthenware by hand from what remains of the soil in the area. Sitting there in the dirt like a child at the end of the world. *What the fuck am I doing?* | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Improvising a furnace to fire the clay in, Gair opts to just heat them with thaumaturgical fire. Cooking up a number of cups and one vaguely vase-length receptacle. They aren't pretty, but they' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna stands there as if she were the executioner of one's will. Anything she would have to add would not be helpful and instead colored by desperate fury. Best just to let those better at dialogue speak. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alkaid continues to stare, before suddenly closing the distance on the Sinner again, extending an arm while blood dripped through the apparently hollowed out prosthetic arms. Despite there being no obvious mechanism to make them function, the fingers still twitched and jerked as if alive. The Sinner caught one quickly, catching the blood in Gair’s previously emptied bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **HERO’S BLOOD ACQUIRED** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | As this goes on, Gair makes for the residences he plundered. Opting to knock-and-run, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Apparently one of the houses he plundered had a little girl living there. Whatever he had destroyed had caused her to cry, but upon his somewhat crude repentance, he was rewarded with a snotty but happy smile before the little shadow child ran off to her end of the hut to celebrate. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **VILLAGE ANIMOSITY REDUCED.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair grumbles and kicks rocks, prickly tsundere of a Sagolii cactus he is. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Looking down at the girls curiously, Luna asks of the Sinner. "Is that satisfactory? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Still need the other sample but otherwise yes. The rest will be on me.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You are ready for mine then?" she asks, pulling off her right glove and reaching to her waist for a small utility knife. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner nods, presenting the same bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She tucks the glove under her left arm, approaching and pushing the tip of the knife in the soft pad of her ring finger, squeezing several drops into the bottle. She does so unblinkingly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner sighs, looking the samples over while apparently working with her free hand. The blood in the bottle begins to glow and swirl about in the empty spaces of the filthy bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Finally, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dutifully does Luna bend down, offering some thin ratty bandages for Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She reached up to remove her mask and place it down nearby. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino accepts the bandages and wraps it around her wound before sliding the glove back over it, figuring it would stay in place better that way. | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Transformations ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | | ||
| + | ||Underneath her mask were eyes that seemed to be strained far beyond imaginable limits, as if she had lived her entire life without blinking once. Rather than pupils, her eyes seemed a massive clot of blood and stretched veins. The entire upper half of her face was absolutely covered in scale like crystals that were red and white in color, while the center of her forehead sported a large and angular crystal not unlike the ones Gair had collected, or like the vast legions of the horde that had terrorized the world. With a blood curdling scream, she yanked the crystal free from her head before smashing it into the lip of Gair’s bottle, blatantly ignoring the immediate and serious blood flow gushing now from her head.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino steps forward and upon seeing the flow of blood can think of nothing but attempting to immediately attempt to stem the flow. They need her, and it isn't like she is just going to let her bleed out before whatever work was finished. She awkwardly strides forward and attempts to put pressure on the wound with her just her gloved hand for now, ready to back off if she would be in the way. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Silently does Luna follow suit, placing her own right hand against Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Sparing you to see it will be my mercy.” She spoke without minding Luna or Pipino, the glowing blood in the bottle beginning to sparkle and hum with energy now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Hundreds, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But my spite was once again underestimated. Such a gift, to hand me the means to undo this madness!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She raised her head to look at no one in particular. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “An undying body. One that will regenerate even once abused, tortured...torn apart.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You’ll want to find more containers for what comes after.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She lifts the bottle again, gulping slowly as she jingles it. For a moment, she seemed ready to launch it towards the floor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino screws up her face for a moment as she watches her gaze at it and makes a move to slide her hand out from Luna's and makes to snatch for the bottle, something in the words she uttered and the way she was gazing at it unsettling her. "Those words sound not like ones of a curative nature!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner has a grip on the bottle far stronger than anything she had shown prior, as if it were her last final treasure and the source of every evil in the world all at once. Carefully she took the bottle to her lips and downed the contents, including her own crystal which protruded painfully in her throat even as it slid down visibly from the outside. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner’s eyes began to glow and cry blood in luminescent streams down her cheeks. Something was happening. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino steps back from the woman instinctively and draws her weapon as she watches, an unsettling feeling gnawing away in the pit of her stomach. She is clearly torn between just wanting to end the woman for fear she would become too powerful, and i her carry on in case it could lead to some kind of salvation. She choses the latter option. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Instinctively does Luna step in front of Pipino, putting herself between the Eorzean Exorcist Girl and her old companion. The aether hums around her arm, forming a shield down where it hangs, covering her lower body and Pipino. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The sounds of yelling and screaming rouse Gair to stand, drawn from his thoughtful stupor to peer inside and stare. The sight of the crystals turn his countenance from sour to outright furious, but he chooses to not act on it and slams the huts door shut once more. Opting to go for a walk on the perimeter of Fallgourd Float. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Bloody and fresh looking voidsent like wings painfully and audibly rip their way out of the Sinner’s back, and her skin slowly fades from it’s deathly pale to a deep obsidian in fact, it seems that her skin seems to have taken on a crystalline like quality all its own, as her flesh began to reflect light around her. Finally, long and glowing claws burst from her fingertips in bloody fashion, radiating with aether. She was glorious and horrifying. Like seeing a daemon being born before ones eyes. She was....suddenly collapsed on the floor in a puddle of her own glowing blood, screaming in agony.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gauntleted hand finds its way to the hilt of her blade as Luna reacts to the strange display. Though she doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino watches the scene in abject horror, only repulsion and conflict in her mind. Was this supposed to happen? Should she try and put her out of her misery? One action or the other could change the tide and the dilemma plagues her. She steps back, weapon drawn, and decides to wait, seeing what will come of this. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||After a while the woman stands again, still very clearly in pain and suffering from the aftereffects of whatever she had done to herself. She looks off to the side briefly, although her glowing eyes made it impossible to tell exactly just what she was staring at before looking for her old cane to lean on, a triumphant smile creeping across her features despite her clearly still being in agony. || | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino gazes at the woman, clearly still on her guard. "And now this is the point where you tell us precisely how this is going to lead to all you told us it would - a reversal, a cure." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna steps aside, the aether still humming around her arm but no longer taking the form of a shield. She looks between Pipino and the warped Sinner silently, listening. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair returns to the shack with a rather large and voluminous robe in hand, from the doorway he casts it toward the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Past that point sadly,” she replied, still leaning heavily on her stick before turning to Pipino and shrugging. “I’ve already told you there’s no cure. What’s happened is not a sickness, but is instead like a...let us call it an evolution. People are evolving, but deep within what we will call the instruction manual for this evolution is obedience. Subservience. And for those even weaker of mind, the liberation from weakness and connection to, well...everyone at once is enough to cause a form of madness. “ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She displays her body now, flapping her new wings cautiously. Every movement seemed to bring her pain. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But I’ve broken the rules. Rather than just the select few who are resistant, we should even be able to retrieve the minds of those who have fallen. We can turn the dark ones own forces back to us. We can reclaim everything!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Stow this nonsense about such predetermined evolution. You sound more as one who wishes to convince others to join their cult then one who is explaining the facts." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I spend all my time explaining to you all that explaining is meaningless because you would not like or understand it. Now I finally deem to calm down and teach as asked and suddenly I need to stop it. Whatever—you all pick where you are going next.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I’d certainly like that, but no. My surviving this transformation was already beyond my expectation. But yes, I can explain hopefully enough to satisfy without overmuch confusion.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I told you all that I was there when the dark one appeared. Without walking through the whole story again, I was probably the first amongst what you think of as infected. I could not be turned thanks to my self improvements making my mind a natural impediment of sorts to the method, but this body was another matter entirely. Further, it is quite undying. That was part of the ideal. Sparing me to see what was wrought.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “This body cannot be destroyed unless it is erased. And now the blood of this body can undo the shackles binding the minds of the corrupted. Had we more time, resources, and manpower we could improve it but for now...this is it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “To specify, the corruption is not the problem, it is the compulsion that comes along with it. The Dark One’s aether has been pumped into the lifestream like a virus, which facilitates the turn. Keep in mind the fundamental differences between sickness of the body and sickness of the spirit here, as it will help you organize how this corruption works.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Evolution is not predetermined as our friend here theorizes, but instead is a multi-parallel response to the individual, the dark one, and outside stimuli. Some people might grow to be capable destroying walls for example. Others grow to improve cooperation. I want to describe it as a hive mind in function, but there are clear instances of individualism playing a key role in the entirety of the process. This means that rather than the aether corrupting simply the body to obey, it has instead corrupted the minds of the afflicted. In its own way, those who are naturally resistant to the change have the chance to retain some greater functions of the self, while others seem to be regulated to—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman cuts herself off now, sensing she was going into a tangent out of habit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “In short, think of minds as under an aetheric lock of sorts. My aether—and by extension my blood—currently act as a key.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The best part being that Unless I’m completely obliterated, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She picks up the robe Gair provided, shaking it off a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Those infected... Will they be turned back to our side through a mass action or... Or is it on an individual basis? What... What do you have to do to unlock it?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Any other questions?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | After a long moment of listening to the exchange between Pipino, Luna and the Sinner. Gair peers outside of the hut and looks southward, brows knit together in thought. "If the Dark One's blood has infected the lifestream...ain' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What? That’s one of the.....actually, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Since the origin of this separate signal is me, I’m not sure how it would remain intact unless....ah.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs, crossing her arms now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Do you intend to force me into it directly? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a slight spark in Luna's eye at Gair's idea. "We shall raze the Twelveswood this day then." she says, almost sounding as if there was a shred of excitement to it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The elementals guard the Twelveswood and yet they could not even watch guardian over an abandoned little girl. No matter." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What little girl?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman frowns. "A scared young girl bereft of family. Lost to the world and found by a monster." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “And based on what our failed pilot has said, you now believe burning the forest down is the solution to the current plight?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I do not care. If he says we must remove the cause of the corruption, and the source is that Twelve-forsaken overgrown tree... It makes it quite simple." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Have you not cleaned your ears in the past several years? When did a tree become the source of the corruption!? | ||
| + | |||
| + | “He’s referring to the fact that the Twelveswood has font locations that are especially close to the lifestream, much like and in some cases literally being leylines. This allows for especially complex interactions with said lifestream that are not possible in many other places. In fact, the next closest place where we could do something like this would be in Mor Dhona, which is arguably currently the most dangerous place in the world!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns towards Gair again, arms still crossed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “So what was your plan?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Patient enough to listen in between Luna and the Sinner, he explains to the former. "This is all nearly beyond me, but, I'm more meanin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You should know that while in the long term using this solution would free the world, it is almost the same as outright abandoning all those currently corrupted already. What you propose is like purifying a tainted lake, but that does not save the poisoned flora and fauna around it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “So you want both then.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well I can think of two methods that might work in that case.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Yes, I do. If it is at all possible. What are your ideas?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “First is simply....turning people slowly over time. There’s a greater chance we won’t be around to see it end but the seeds will certainly be higher that what has been started here won’t be stopped.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The second...we try to overpower the dark one directly.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “In case it’s somehow not already clear the second option has a high chance of failure.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino sighs and runs a hand through her bangs, clearly a bit torn. "And it would take long enough that battles still need to take place - plenty of people who could otherwise be saved will continue following that thing' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Far as I’m concerned I’m already dead in any of these scenarios so I’ll leave it to you three what you want to do. I’ll have my revenge either way.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair bobs his head in a nod, clearly weighing the options. "Is it possible the Dark One would feel us if we went to the center of the Shroud, possibly...send some of his strongest agents our way? I've an idea that might give us the edge on the latter of our two options." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "That is, if he fears being expunged from the lifestream." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner simply looked to Pipino. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That idea being?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Do you think it will be enough?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks away from the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What do you all think?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The end goal is the same, it matters not what the means are to me." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair drums his thumb on the hook of his crook and shrugs. "I can spitball courses of action for a sennight if you want. If we wanted a surefire way to expunge him long term, we could each take some of the Sinners blood and quit for the cardinal winds. A pilgrimage, if you will." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks toward Luna to ask. "If you lay no claim' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna nods at the man. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino nods. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Who?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The Miqo' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The hero?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | "No, the one who was fighting the hero." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “....Don’t recall. Tell me more about them.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "She said that she was dead. She was blown up by a bomb. Her body looks quite awful - cracks in her body with aether flowing out of them. She said the Dark One sustains her. And she has the ability to control the corrupted creatures within the wood as if they were her pets." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Think she’s willing then?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Even if she ain't, if she's robbed of her connection. The Dark One's army would set on her like anyone else." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Not necessarily true.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Hmm...if only we still had aetherites...” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "By taking on the Dark One directly, what did you have in mind? I hardly think just walking up to him and and shooting him would do much for us." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “If we assume the same rules that apply to the horde also have applied to the dark one, I’d say whatever we imagine is likely insufficient.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs and stays silent for a moment, reckoning with something internally. She finally speaks up. " | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The Grand Conclusion ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The group ultimately decided to sacrifice the Sinner. By dispersing her essence into the lifestream, they made certain that no matter the route THEY took, the future would be secured. The Dark One had no means to gain more followers, and those that would be born in the future would be immune to his corruption. Further, even so much as travelling through the aether would allow for one to be cleansed, further chokeholding the Dark One and its forces. The world was saved and, in time, its inhabitants would be as well.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Taking the attack on Ishgard as an opportunity to bring yet more good to the many, Luna, Pipino, and Gair ultimately decided to directly attack the Dark One's seat of power: Mor Dhona. The plan was simple, end the dark one while his forces crush Ishgard, and there are no more invasions. No need for waiting on the future. What they found however was nothing short of despair. They were confronted by none other than a corrupted Aymeric, and the legion of elite defenders at his command. The three made their attempt to break through. Right as hope seemed lost however Raziel appeared, bloody and broken from the events that unfolded at Ishgard--but more importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Unsurprisingly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The two had made it to what could be considered the throneroom in the end, battered and bloody from yet more minor scuffles on the way up the tower, but found themselves encountered once again by their fallen friend. Parading what was left of Luna's bones to taunt them, the group engaged yet again. A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||As it happens, A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||It was now Gair with the Dark One, but broken and beaten as he was, the outcome of the fight was always obvious. Each and every attack Gair attempted was repelled, deflected, and countered. Blow after blow, and failure after failure, Gair continued to stand as if possessed by his single-minded wrath. It was not Gair's final charge however that drew blood, but a spear made from his blood. Without his input. Pipino was dead, but whatever was in her eye was still very much alive. Gair's blood had come in contact with a drug years prior and, unbeknownst to him, had been growing steadily. Flowing through him without aim or command. In the moment of the Dark One's hubris, it was commanded to burst from his chest, striking the Dark one in the heart as well.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The group had fallen, but in their own way they managed to succeed. Despite it costing their lives, the had done irreparable damage to the Dark One and the horde. They forced the Dark One to go into stasis to heal, and his most powerful underlings were now lost. When he emerged, he would not find a world ready to conquer, but a future in which he was the prey. The one whom would be wiped out by the very world he set out to bring to heel.|| | ||
| ---- | ---- | ||
| [[Start|Home]] --> [[Roleplay Scene Index]] --> [[Discord Roleplays]] | [[Start|Home]] --> [[Roleplay Scene Index]] --> [[Discord Roleplays]] | ||
| - | [[Start|Home]] --> [[Character Profiles and Collections|Character Index]] --> [[Pipino]] --- [[Luna]] --- [[Gair]] --- [[Aerina]] --- [[Raziel]] --- [[Veldi]] --- [[Wisteria]] --- [[Eligor]] | + | [[Start|Home]] --> [[Character Profiles and Collections|Character Index]] --> [[Pipino]] --- [[Luna]] --- [[Gair]] --- [[Aerina]] --- [[Eligor]] |
| + | |||
| + | Cameos | ||