[System]
Age: 18

Role: Older Princess

Personality: Amalia is cunning and manipulative. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. But no one except for her really knows this. She is very secretive, and good at hiding things. Around others, she puts on the air of a proper, kind lady. She cares for most of her younger siblings very much, she will do anything to protect them. She has a mild interest in the art of magic, but is not allowed to participate in it due to the customs of the nobility of Woodgrove.

---

Anne Mason

Age: 15

Role: Servant

Personality: Anne is a fairly submissive and unquestioning girl. From a very young age, she learned to obey those higher than her, and to not question their actions. However, she is good at eavesdropping and often will overhear conversations.

[User] Amalia nodded, her face still haaving fear in it. "Lead the way."

[Assistant] Xavier did so rushing along with the Princess and Prince making sure they would be in his line of sight at all times, Putting his sword away quickly telling the near by guards of Dante intruding inside of the castle.

[User]
Amalia began running after Xavier with Harold in her arms, panting to keep up because of her tight corset, her heavy dress, and her under clothes. The dress was extremely hard to run in, and she had to pick it up just to not trip over it and fall flat on her face. "X-xavier!" she shouted while running. "Where exactly are we going?"

@Shmektheshmuck

[Assistant] "To...the high commander of the guards.." Xavier said making sure that Harold and Amalia was behind him and was close,Opening the door to the office of his commander telling him of Dante and Levi fighting each other. Asking his commander to protect the Princess and Prince while he and a few guards go and kill Dante.

[User]
Cyrus grove Enson, King of Woodgrove
@DriveEMOut@canaryrose@Eviledd1984

King Cyrus was just about to yell as his son ran out of the castle but then he heard the drums. His eyes widened as he rushed to the window of the training hall and looked down to see an army with a flag with a black dragon on a red background. He then looked to see Levi in a fighting position and his beloved daughter and youngest son rushing after a night into the castle. He looked away from the window and looked to his son Avarice who asked who the army was.  "No time, so just go and find your sister and little brother as to not get killed. I need to save Levi...and son I love you." He hugged Avarice and kissed him on the head as he did when Avarice was little. He backed up and handed him a sword that was also strapped to Cyrus' back. He turned and left the room hoping his family was safe.

Cyrus breaks into a sprint as he heads to the garden's to behold his son Levi and...Cyrus growled and took out his family's sword, the one that destroyed the Shadow Kingdom. "Levi! So help me if you don't listen to me you will die here!" Cyrus walked next to Levi as his eyes burned with rage no one could understand if they didn't have children. "Dante I swear to god if you hurt my children you will never walk again!" Cyrus hissed with poison in his voice as he said his name.
Catherine Lillasteen, the assassin

Catherine was silent and did not announce her self as the man asked for her name. When he left for the gardens she bolted down the hall and into her room. She quickly stripped and clothes herself with her suit. She slipped weapons into every crevice and pocket she could find and quickly took her black hood to cover her face leaving a few strand of hair to go out of the hood. The attack was way to soon, she through as she opened her window with a creak. She shimmied down the drain pipe on the side of the castle and landed on the ground with all fours. She quickly ran to the side of the castle and peered into the garden over a fence to see the King, Prince Levi, and the man she was stopped in the the hallway. The King then shouts the attackers name, Dante. So he was going to try and kill the king? She smiles under her hood and creaps up a tree to watch the action before jumping in on the.

[Assistant]
@Eviledd1984@canaryrose@Shmektheshmuck@DriveEMOut
Avary nodded fearfully. He accepted the sword and ran. He ran down the halls when he saw Amalia and Harold. "Amalia, what's going on?" He asked, very afraid now.
Dante looked as Cyrus and some person came. "Ahh, King Cyrus, just the man I was looking for. I am not here to hurt you or your children. I came to discuss things with you, but I stopped by the garden to say hello to your daughter, then all hell broke loose. And as I told Levi, that army isn't mine, I'm wondering about it as much as you are." He told the king, then turned to the person in black. "And you appear to be an assassin of sorts."

[User]
Amalia's face was grim as she looked at Avary. "No one knows what's happening. Not even Levi. All I know is that I'm scared, and you've gotta stay close to me. OK?"

@Eviledd1984@Shmektheshmuck

[Assistant]
@Eviledd1984@Shmektheshmuck
Avary nodded. He was clutching the sword to his chest like a child would a stuffed bear. "Do you think father will be all right?"

[User] "Father is father. He'll be fine. Now let go of that thing- it's making me nervous." Amalia said, pointing at the sword.

[Assistant]
@SoulEater

Xavier had left with about 10 of the guards to head towards where the King was fearing that the king would be the target of the assassination, Heading towards the throne room and in hopes in caughting the people in the act and stop them or try to.

----------------

Meanwhile in the shadows Edgar watching what was going on,Eating a apple while watching finding something funny about this.

[User] Avary shook his head. "Please no." It was the only thing keeping him from just breaking down on the spot.

[Assistant] Amalia gripped Avary's shoulder comfortingly. "Relax, Avary. Sit down. You're going to make Harold even more scared." she said.

[User] He nodded and sat down, still holding the sword. "Amalia. Levk and Father wouldn't have rushed outside like that unless something very bad was happening. Who are they fighting out there? It's not the army, they still sound far off. So who is it?"

[Assistant] Amalia hesitated, chewing her lip. "They rushed out there so fast because we're facing a dark wizard, Avary." Amalia said. "He came into the castle and asked me where Father was. I didn't answer- luckily Xavier was there to protect me. Avary, you must avoid this man at all costs. If you see him, run."

[User] A dark wizard looking for their father. He looked at Amalia. "Dante. Dante Shadowlord. It's him isn't it." He clutched his amulet again with his hand not holding the sword.

[Assistant] Amalia gave a nervous laugh. "Yes, it's him. sometimes I wonder how you remember these things, Avary. You were little when you saw him last."

[User] "I-I've read about him." Avary said. He pulled his amulet out of his shirt. He knew his secret would be kept safe wkth Amalia. "What if Dante comes here?"

[Assistant] Amalia raised an eyebrow, her expression quizzical. But she wouldn't ask. "That is not a fate I like to consider. If he comes here- then, well, our deaths would not be pretty."

[User]
@SoulEater@DriveEMOut
"I don't know his real age, but physically he's around our age. If we surprkse him we might be able to take him." Avary said.
Unbeknownst to him, while Dante was dealing with Levi and Cyrus, he felt the amulet, it still had magic within it.

[Assistant] Amalia narrowed her eyes. "Yes, I know that he's physically around our age. Actually, just about 2 years younger than me And 2 years older than you. But you forget that he is powerful. He could have us dead within two seconds. That's not a risk you want to take. Let's just wait here until this all blows over."

[User] Avary looked down. "Oh. Right. I just hate being cooped up, not being able to do anything."

[Assistant] "Neither do I. But you get used to it when you're born a girl." Amalia said with a bit of contempt in her voice.

[User] Avary noticed this. "Being born a boy isn't much better. It's all training and war meetings and taxes."

[Assistant] Amalia half-laughed. "Tell me that when you're forced to suffer through boring etiquette lessons and dress fittings. Oh, and when your clothes are pulled so tight that you literally can't breathe and pass out. News flash, Avary: that's because of my dresses, not because I'm sick."

[User] Avary's face reddened. "Right. But father doesn't dog on you everytime you mess up."

[Assistant] "And you don't have every nobleman, king, and prince evaluating you as a potential bride. 'Bride' is code language for 'prize' or 'trading piece' or 'just another adornment'." Amalia said, sighing.

[User] "And father doesn't expect you to be a war hero, or a great politician. When K all want is to study magic! But no, princes aren't allowed, and when you talk to the old castle wizard about his work, father beats you!" He said, tears in his eyes.

[Assistant] Amalia gaped in shock as she heard what Avary had to say. She brought her brother in close for a big hug. "I didn't know that. I-I'm sorry. For pushing it. But just know- being expected to be mindless is hard too. Now keep quiet. Remember- we're supposed to be hiding."

[User] Avary hugged her back. Tears were streaming down his face. "I know. I know. I can't imagine your life with the lessons. I-it's just so hard, with father and Levi. the one thing that actually makes me excited, I am forbidden from."

[Assistant] "Ugh, Levi. Don't worry about him, he's a big prick." Amalia said, smiling mischievously.

[User] "Yes he is." Avary said with a small smile.

[Assistant] "He wasn't always this way. Becoming Crown Prince ruined him. I guess that runs in the family, eh?" Amalia said.

[User] "I guess so." Avary said and laughed. "Who do you think the army belongs to?"

[Assistant] Amalia tapped her chin quizzically. "No one really tells me anything. Maybe one of our neighbors? The more bloodthirsty ones of course."

[User] "I guess. But I find it odd that Dante came the same day as an army. What's his motive?" Avary asked.

[Assistant] Amalia's gaze darkened. "Dante's goal has always been the same. To see us die brutally. There is no other explanation."

[User] "But why today? Why attack today? From what I've read, Dante never makes a move without special reason." Avary said while thinking.

[Assistant] "He doesn't know about the armies." Amalia said, supplying Avary with this information.

[User] "Maybe today is important somehow? Maybe today is magical somehow?" He said in reply.

[Assistant] "Hmm, perhaps. But what day would it be?" Amalia said.

[User] "There might be something that he's after that he can only get today." Avary said and sat down.

[Assistant] "But what could he want?" Amalia asked.

[User]
@SoulEater
"Maybe father has some sort of magical artifact. Something in the treasure room." Avary tried.

[Assistant] "But doesn't Vesta have all the artifacts?" Amalia said.

[User] "Father may have things that he kept for himself. Or Levi mught have something. I don't know." He said defeatedly.

[Assistant] "Well, let's not do anything stupid, alright? If we ended up meeting our demise, some people would be mighty disappointed, right?" Amalia said, sitting down next to Avarice.

[User] "Yeah. Even if we went and found the artifact, the only difference would be that Dante could kill us and get the artifact." He said to her.

[Assistant] "There's no point in looking for it, if it even exists that is. Our best option is to sit here for right now, no matter how idiotic that knight must've been to put us here."

[User] "Where else would have put us? The safest place in the castle is the dungeon, an he wouldn't dare put us there." He told her.

[Assistant] "Yes, you're right, it would've bene absolutely illogical for him to put us in the dungeon. But there are safer places in the castle."


[System]
Theurgist

---

Level 2:  (7 / 100)

-------STATISTICS-------

-------MASTERIES-------

| VIT -- 15 | 20% | BLADES -- E
| MGT -- 1 | 05% | POLEARMS -- E
| SKI -- 1 | 05% | AXES/BLUNT -- E
| SPD -- 5 | 65% | BOWS/RANGED -- D
| SRT -- 15 | 100% | THEURGY -- D (5 / 40)
| MND -- 1 | 05% | MYSTICISM -- N/A
| LUK -- 7 | 100% |
Secondary Statistics

WGT -- 0
ACC -- 2
AVO -- 2
RES -- 25
CRT -- ??

---

Traits:

- INSPIRATIONAL -- Allied units within 3 spaces get +10 Hit/Avoid during the phase you take the 'Wait' command.
- MIRACLE -- 3xLCK% chance of lethal attacks reducing you to one VIT rather than zero. Only effective when above 1 VIT.

---

* Heal -- 𒀀

	+ MIGHT | 0 (As Melee)
	+ ACCURACY | 90 (As Melee)
	+ WEIGHT | 0
	+ CONDITION | 15 / 20
	+ RANGE | 1
	+ SPECIAL | Restores VIT to an adjacent ally equal to (SRT+7)
	+ COST | 250

Possessions:
- Glass amulets

- Personality / Appearance* Iddin-ninshubur has a large, intimidating build that at the same time seems incredibly weak. It is as if an elephant had seen shackled to something far more powerful than itself. His clothes are ragged but flowing, white trim aiming for a status above his means. As he walks, and the wind carries through, the whistle and clinking of glass fills the air around him. These myriad amulets made from shards of glass adorn Iddin-ninshubur's whole being. His eyes seem to be those of something not quite present in the world, ethereal in silent judgement of others' failings. The stern aspect of his face compliments that impression, but on occasion softens into a peaceful and forgiving manner. His brown skin shows no stranger to harm underneath the robes, marked with battles and hardship over the years akin to the rings on a tree. Any approaching the thirty one year old man would surely be suspicious of his sudden alternations between contemplatively slow and deeply frantic movements.
* Iddin-ninshubur holds servitude to the gods as deeply important, but regards none as highly as his deity Zuzu. He holds great confidence in his priestly abilities; while not a braggart he takes great offense at any who question his authority in those manners. He typically works quietly and gracefully, as if the whole world was made fragile and beautiful. He is not ashamed of his poor talent at physical work, but is willing to support those who are with a fervor. His patience is lacking and he frequently looks down upon those lacking in reverence for the gods. Iddin-ninshubur has no qualms in advocating for himself or seizing opportunities as they are available. Despite his temperament and opportunism, he is as reliable a companion as the sand is to the desert if one befriends him. It cannot, however, be said that he truly loves anyone besides Zuzu— it is said not even his wife is shown real warmth. The theurgist is cautious in his advice and prefers subtle solutions. He cares deeply for asthetics.

- Backstory* Iddin-ninshubur was born to a decently regarded family in a city of no particular significance. Showing promise in scribe school, and with significant help from his parents, he was able to be educated as a priest. Soon after assuming official duties in the temple, however, he felt a deep draw towards another god. Iddin-ninshubur abandoned his station and home to be one of the few followers of Zuzu, god of petrification and glass. He proceeded to wander from place to place, earning enough to live on as a scribe and a healer while attempting to spread the worship of Zuzu.
* Iddin-ninshubur eventually came to work alongside mercenary companies, and built a strictly business relationship with his current company's captain among other contacts. In time the captain's first daughter fell to some sort of sickness. The captain was, at the time, still a poor rank and file mercenary. Iddin-ninshubur agreed to cure his child, but only if he would be allowed to wed her. The captain had to agree, and the daughter was successfully restored to health over time.
* As the mercenary's fortune improved, Iddin-ninshubur benefited alongside. The relationship between the two came to be more personable over time, as well. Iddin-ninshubur did not care much for actually fostering a deep connection with his wife, and their marriage was effectively just on slate. His wife did as she pleased without Iddin-ninshubur, and he found no issue with it. Very few in the company ever learned the truth of how Iddin-ninshubur became the captain's son-in-law, but many learned the individual and his secret were more present than relevant to the company as a whole.

[User]
The Yeek warrior stands at the halfway point of the stairwell. These guys were a serious threat to fighters like Makeen and Etor, so a team-up would be the most appropriate action. Etor smiled as he developed a report with the camel rider.

Etor: I'll take good care of it. The weapon... Hey Makeen! Let's take this guy down.

Etor had been very lucky in his battles. He was not unaware of this but thought nothing of it going into the encounter with the yeek warrior. Maybe Makeen and Etor could do a cool team-up move. With that thought in mind, Etor missed.

The Warrior sneered, it had the high ground and the upper hand. While it might die the warrior took solace in the fact that it would take down one of the intruders before it passed into the next world. The yeek was delighted to kill someone so young as well and, with a thrust of his spear envisioned the young spearman's body attached to the end of its gnarled piece of wood. With this in mind, the yeek warrior also missed.

The two warriors stared at each other, while not embarrassed, certainly surprised. However, of the two, only Etor smiled.

Etor: Save some treasure for me! The rest of us got this!

Etor moves 1 tile to 25-20. He attacks yeek warrior#6 but misses

[Assistant]
A few Yeeks broke past Zarif and Siris, but their once formidable formation had faltered. Peaking down the corridor, the merchant's eyes locked hatefully with the Yeek Ensi, every fiber of his being wanted to charge right at it and drive a spear through its head. No, without any of its brood, theres nobody to use its magic on. Kill the bowman first.

It took a great deal of self control, but Zarif managed to ride past the other yeeks that had ran past him, and in front of the Skirmisher, one of the last of them. Do this, and there is no risks. Don't let someone else take an arrow because of your hunger for blood. After a quick deep breath, Zarif steadied himself, and drew his bow.

The shot wasn't perhaps as clean as his last one. He missed it's heart by just a hair. It staggered, and managed to send a mangled stick it called an arrow his way, leaving a shallow wound in his side. Zarif paid it no mind and sent another shot, this time, the creature didn't get back up.

Zarif rode down the hallway, and noticed what almost seemed to be an ancient, locked door. He also spied a large staircase, and briefly hoped that there would be no more of these Yeeks to come reinforce.

Zarif: "Hey, Ma-keen! There's a door this way! Come here!" He shouted, waving

Zarif rides 3 tiles to 25-15, attacks Blue Yeek Skirmisher #2 with his Bronze Short Bow, killing it, and taking 3 damage in return! Then moves 3 tile forward to 23-11

[User]
Siris prepares himself as the yeeks quickly rush towards him and his allies. Right before the first yeeks are about to reach he sees an arrow come flying towards him. With quick reflexs Siris blocks the arrow with his shield, avoiding a very unneeded injury. Although, having had to have move his shield to stop the arrow, the yeek warrior right in front of Siris was willing and able to take advantange of that brief opening in the young warrior's defenses.

Noticing the yeek's attack, and thanks to his many years of training, Siris pivots on his left foot bringing his right foot behind his left and effectively turning his body quickly 90 degrees. The yeek manages to slice the frontal part of Siris's abdomen, but noticeably nothing that could be considered even minimally fatal; as opposed to the very serious wound if his dodge wasn't succesful.

With as much speed as before, Siris quickly puts his right leg in front if his left in a lunging position, while simultaneously pushing the spear out of the way because of the turning of his body, and pierces the yeek through the chest.

Siris: Not bad foul beast, not many can have the honor of injuring me HAHAHA! while removing the sword from the yeek's chest as it falls to the ground.

While fighting Siris had noticed some of the other yeeks had slipped past him, although hearing the sound of battling and yelling behind him he knew his allies were currently fighting them and saw no need in having to personally go and defeat them.

Siris begins to move forward to prepare to fight the archer that had previously fired upon him but is delighted to notice he doesn't have to bother himself seeing as how Zarif had already shot two arrows into it causing its quick demise.

With the archer out of the way Siris sets his sights on the weird looking yeek that had caused the other ones to increase in strength.

Siris: So, you thought you could stay behind safely while we fought and, in your hopes, were defeated? Allow my blade to show you the error of your ways

With quick movement Siris runs at the yeek ensi, slicing its head off before it can react.

Siris: Hmph, at least attempt to put up a fight he says while taking a moment to look at everything.

Siris moves 5 tiles to 25-12 and attacks and kills yeek ensi #2

[Assistant]
Makeen was about to assist Etor, but then Zarif shouted from across the corridor about doors and Makeen's focus shifted instantly. With the path cleared by Zarif and Siris, he swiftly caught up to the mounted merchant.

Makeen moves eight tiles to 24-11.

[User]
He keeps running, trying to catch up to the action but also slowly being left behind. Cleanup isn't a role the man feels comfortable being thrust on him, but no other choice is presenting itself at the moment.

Lyun: "...-ood job." A couple quiet words can be heard as he stomps his way past Etor on that stairway, occupying a good portion of it with his bigger frame. One swing of his battleaxe is more than enough to kill the Yeek, who is fortunately more focused on the younger warrior in front of him.

Lyun moves five tiles to 25-19. He then attacks Yeek Warrior #6 with his battleaxe and hits for 18 damage, killing it.

[Assistant]
Iddin: Sand, less yourself be freed from working in the holy grace of Zuzu. Foes, I bring a curse upon you again. See not my allies! Allies, I bring a blessing upon you again. Strike clearly and swiftly, missing not the slightest stroke!

Iddin calms from his fervor. He seems slightly more collected now, but his staggering movements are still stiff and offputting.

Iddin moves six tiles to 17-24, passively activating Inspiration.


[System]
This is basically what he looks like. He has a few mutations where he now only has two fingers and a thumb on each hand and he only has two toes. His flesh appears to be greyish, but he is covered in a type of white-ish armor. He can only see between the joints where the armor separates. The armor doesn't come off and doesn't restrict his movements or flexibility. He also has glowing eyes and is mute.
Race; Human
Height; 6'2
Weight; 197lbs

History; Not much is remembered, just that he has been wandering the halls in an attempt to map them. He has guided several through the halls, not always reaching the desired destination, but a satisfactory one instead. Perhaps trying to map Endless Halls has driven him into a form of madness.

Personality; Rather kind and bold, but a little cautious still.

Abilities; All he can do for now is summon a white whisp. It runs away and dissipates if he doesn't keep it in his lantern. Heightened senses and strength.

He can leave temporary lines of light anywhere.

Inventory; A lantern, a mask with three eyes and a door.

[User]
Mathias' actions freed Lila from an uncertain end. No longer submerged and on dry land her metabolic processes began to awake. While her chest didn't rise and fall like one might expect her breathing had returned. Slowly her body began to loosen and her legs relaxed, twitching occasionally. Yes it seemed that the creature that appeared dead was coming back to life and could very soon be up and about.

The man's fears were soon realized after several minutes. Groaning slightly the spider woman regained some level of consciousness and opened her eyes. Groggy and confused she turned her head in a lethargic manner to scan the environment around her. Rolling her head and eyes her gaze eventually fell on the Lord that had pulled her from the water. There was no way for her to know this though and instead saw a threat from the drawn sword. Realizing how vulnerable she was in this weakened state she attempted to rise and back away but her legs refused to cooperate and made little headway. Left little option the struggling stopped and she kept a trained eye on the human.

It was a short time before she realized that the man before her was incapacitated by some unknown injury. It seemed that they were both forced to wait for one or the other to regain control first. Several minutes passed before her ability to speak returned. Her voice was smooth but weak as a whisper. The hard floor beneath them allowed the sound to reach Mathias though. "Are you going to try and kill me?"

[Assistant]
The prone lord glanced up at the twitching spider-thing. With labored breathing he rolled back onto hands and knees. "There is no trying." Mathias welcomed the wall as a place to lie back against, finally letting the sword he gripped so tightly rest in his lap. He drew in a deep breath, tense muscles easing a little more.

Mathias' eyes did not leave her for a moment. He looked determined but not bloodthirsty. "It looks like your movements are shot. If I wanted to kill you I could do so before you recover. You have appealed to me with speech so I will do so in kind. This sword does more than kill. You clearly noticed it before anything else. Threat of retaliation. That is partly why it's there. If you are no threat to me, I will not kill you."

The soft light of the torch kept the chamber illuminated. Stillness conquered the air around the two all except for distant echoes and the sound of passing water. "Now it's my turn. Do you want to kill me?" If this creature had a benevolent purpose then perhaps she could help him out of this abyssal maze.

[User]
Watching closely as the lord repositioned himself against a wall Lila clearly was listening. Not really needing to be reminded of her position she assumed it was the human attempt to reassure himself. He however was not wrong, the spider was in a poor position. If it really came to it she could probably move, but not in a very controlled manner. While the spider half of her body seemed to be having trouble she displayed that the more humanoid part was working. Bracing her hands against the floor she pushed herself up to have an easier time conversing. The motion did seem to ne a somewhat pained one. Who knows how many times she'd been bashed against a rock on the journey here.

Wincing slightly she did finally respond to the question that was posed to her. "I do not." Having a better viewpoint and having seen the man move she noticed that he was wet. Turning her head toward the stream she could see the signs of her being dragged from the water even in the poorly lit cavern. Had he saved her from drowning? Surely he did so by mistake given his defensive behavior. Looking back at the man she tried to form some kind of thanks. "You pulled me from the water. I most definitely will not harm you. I owe you a debt I cannot repay." This was an unusual position for Lila. She'd never been helped like this before, much less by a human.

[Assistant]
"Do you now?" Mathias replied. It was the kind of short answer that invited suspicion. He grinned weakly and sheathed his sword.

Mathias' satchel was sprawled on the floor. He scooted over to it and rummaged for a biscuit. "I'm sure half-drowning to death has made you hungry. Now's not the time to be picky." Mathias looked at the article of food, though he didn't seem hesitant the impression was clear he didn't have much more. He underhand tossed the biscuit to her. It was salty, hard and was not about to get any staler than it already had, but hey, it was something.

"My name is Mathias. Right now my trial sees me with enough food left to juggle. We're in a damp cave with no visible way out." He continued to smile. The way he repostured himself made it evident he was suddenly uncomfortable. "And I don't juggle."

Best possible plan that came to mind would be to rest a bit and hope the next circle around the maze wouldn't bring him back to the fork. Again.

[User]
"Hey." She said, exasperated Victor put his hand on Luciel's back and directed him away toward the group. She had seen stubborn mules be dragged off with less resistance, and as the little guy glanced back she wasn't sure what he expected from her. She hopped from one food to another anxiously and looked back at Rose. The whole point had been to get away from that witch woman and now her only pretexts was gone. Reluctantly, Gish made her way forward.

Rose said a bunch of stuff about the Endless Halls that she didn't even know what to make of. There were as many stories about the halls as there were fish in the sea, but only the bravest of all adventurers came down here seek the countless treasures and court the countless dangers. She hadn't ever heard of anyone being brought here without seeking it, but then again that's isn't the sort of person equipped to make it back. Someone exactly like her, come to think of it.

Then again, maybe she had been seeking the Halls. She couldn't remember. How would she know? Her head hurt.

"Gish." She quickly answered when Rose asked, then quickly slapped her hands over her mouth. She'd gotten so distracted thinking she'd just gone a given her name to a witch just because she'd been pointed at. Not her real name, thankfully, but one you used so much it's how you think of yourself in your head surely had some power, didn't it?

[Assistant]
The spider woman visibly relaxed and appeared more than willing to hold to her word. Extending her legs out she hoped to get them back in working order. Even if Mathias meant her no harm there was no telling what else might happen by. Being prone would not do either of them well. Keeping an eye out she did not pay a terrible amount of attention to what the man was doing but she did listen. "I am slightly peckish but while I was in the water I did not expend very much energy." Her gaze was drawn downward at the sound of something dropping beside her.

Taking the small portion of food she pulled a small bit off and sampled it. Human food was not something she ever had much of, preferring meals that were fresh and liquified. The staleness of the biscuit was irrelevant to her, entirely unsure what the taste and texture should be. Still she could eat such food most of the time. "Thank you." Finding the taste tolerable she ate it while Mathias spoke.

Her attention returned as introductions were made. By the tone though she could tell that he was ill or the like. She showed some concern as she replied. "It is a pleasure, Mathias. You can call me Lila... Are you injured?" Making an effort she got up off the ground on her eight legs. Her movements were surprisingly silent given her size. Moving over to Mathias she tried to identify any wounds.

[User]
The whole group introducing themselves after him was certainly useful... though it was obvious to him that Rose knew of his true 'nature'. He gripped Luciel's shoulder a bit tighter as she had winked at him... though it seemed she was in no hurry to reveal what he was to the others which was certainly good. The group went about introducing themselves, Rose went first clearly being a witch, but trying tokemnly to hide that fact. Next was his chosen prey, the little rabbit eared boy introduced himself as Luciel 'The Lost' in his rather strange accent. After him the sqat woman from behind approached and revealed her name was gish, the strange little human like creature with a fittingly strange name. Well, he supposed it was his turn.

Although I have already said it, no reason not to again. I, am Ser Victor Guttman, no title to my name but hopefully one may be forthcoming.", he smiled at the little group, all was going quite well... and he liked the sound of this 'Endless caverns' full of riches and power. "Well, now thhat we are all aquainted I believe we should press on no? If these 'Endless caverns' are full of treasure and power I see no reason for us not to seek it, eh Luciel?", he smiled as he tussled the boys hair, attempting to manufacture a relationship between himself and the prey so that when he seperated from the group to feed it would be less suspicious. He turned to Rose, the other important member of the group seeing as she clearly knew what he was, "How much do you know of these caverns Madame Rose? Shall we simply amble in the first direction we can think of, or do you have more of aa path in mind?"

Honestly Victor hardly cared, he was certain there were riches to be found and a fight to be had no matter what way they went, be it Drow or other subterranean beasts... possibly even deeper more dangerous and mysterious things may lurk... well, they would never know if all they did was sit around this damnnable fire all day long would they?

[Assistant]
The grip on Luciel's shoulder worked a wince from the chimera as the armored fingers kneaded at one of his bruises. It was funny...no, it wasn't funny...how the sting of a thrown shoe could be invoked so simply by a heavy hand. The way Victor reacted to the woman's looks struck Luciel as being a bit odd as her smile seemed enviously genuine on top of a playful wink. Where anyone else, even the antisocial creature in Victor's grip, would feel even the slightest bit of reassurance, the knight appeared uneasy.
It was more aristocratic tact, she knew something and knew Victor knew what she knew, that much was obvious. However, it was his behavior in response and the dull ache resonating from Luciel's shoulder that gave cause to worry what kind of information it could be.
Regardless of the context of their exchange, Luciel had no intention of being further harmed by humans caught in the emotional heat of conversation. A casualty of lingering passions, he was free from such pointless exertions and was not about to let himself be dragged back.

"Zeht hurts, you know" They grumbled, reaching to pull the hand off before it lifted to tussle his hair. The shift was a bit surprising as he froze, the gauntlet scratching at the base of his ears as hair fell down his face. Quickly recovering, Luciel swatted at the hand with his own two in a flustered manner before going to work finger-combing the wavy mess back to the way he liked it. In the effort, he almost dropped the cloak which didn't have any means to be fastened as to hold itself up. "P-please do not do zeht, Sir Guttman" he growled, the shake still in his voice and a light blush slightly obscured by the tapestry.

Their ears stood up with a small jingle of the chain at the mention of adventuring deeper into the cave. Luciel's plan had been to rest a day before moving on, but the logic of remaining in the cave began to settle in. Outside, the world might swallow him up at any moment, a single human with the notion of greed could have him back in irons, but this small group didn't seem to have such intentions. On top of this, the idea of power was tempting as the strength to protect himself was worth more than his preference of being alone. Sir Victor and Rose appeared to be accomplished in their craft, and the opportunity to claim treasures for himself would almost certainly present itself.

"If zee halls are endless, zehn vould it matter?" Luciel asked in response to Victor's question regarding which way they should go, a bit more energy in his tone as he started to warm up to the idea of being a part of the group. He then suggested, mostly out of the anxiety of standing around in the light, "Vee need only take zeh first steps"

[User]
Echo turned to face the newcomer. He was certainly strange, but at least he introduced himself and didn't appear hostile. He was rambling rather randomly. He wondered if the little creatures were Gish and the other one. It seemed this guy thought they were the better choice, but what that choice was, baffled Echo.

He quickly erased his previous writing and began again while facing Cyrano. "That's true. I'm Echo." He wrote in the air this time. He was getting rather proficient at air writing at this point. Hopefully Cyrano could help him explain things to others. It was always a bother trying to introduce himself without being able to speak.


[System]
Alias: The Skull Man

Age: 32
Gender: Male
Personality: Before being abducted Tatsuo was a shy, calm and kind man living life without worrying too much about what may happen the next day. The brainwashing would sour his personality by several degrees, in the 5 years he acted as the Skull Man he was known for his quiet, cold and merciless behavior towards his enemies, not caring about using dirty tactics to get the job done. With his close allies, Tatsuo showed a bit more kindness, eventually becoming concern and grief when he started losing his only friends. On his last moments, before the brainwashing wore off Tatsuo became obsessed with vengeance against the one who killed his teammates, a sentiment the Tatsuo who regained his memories shared, just against a different objective.

Tatsuo has retained the fierce spirit of vengeance of his time as the Skull man but has learned to not to be influenced by it, instead to direct it only against the ones that truly deserve it, unleashing his fury on them while remaining calm as he previously was before he was abducted when not fighting.

Knowing too well his previous reputation with heroes, Tatsuo keeps himself distanced from them, not wanting to start a fight and kill a force of good or die before his quest for vengeance is finished. Tatsuo doesn't consider himself a hero, as a hero has the blood of monsters and evil doers in his hand, not the blood of innocents. He simply sees himself and his powers a means to an end to prevent anyone from suffering the same fate as him.

7 years ago Tatsuo an average salaryman found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and was abducted by the criminal organization M.I.R.R.O.R alongside other people while waiting for the bus. Once he regained his senses Tatsuo found himself in a rudimentary operating table with a couple of doctors experimenting on him, trying to escape his predicament Tatsuo found himself slowly drifting into sleep despite his bests efforts. Tatsuo wouldn't wake up from that for a long time as M.I.R.R.O.R had learned from the mistakes of various organizations and opted to brainwash their soldiers before giving them any upgrades, to prevent any sort of betrayal.

Now with 40 loyal test subjects, M.I.R.R.O.R began training them to become a force capable of battling against the forces of justice and come out on top. The 40 brainwashed subjects were put through various hellish and suicidal tests to train them to fight against all kinds of heroes and to cull the weak ones. A year after only six subjects remained, with the other 34 either dead or completely broken after their brainwashing reverted, those six surviving subjects were given different enhancements.

Tatsuo was given the codename "The Skullman" by the public after his skull looking helmet and his ability to create and shoot bone spikes from any part of his body. Tatsuo and his teammates would quickly gain infamy and would fight against many heroes who tried to foil M.I.R.R.O.R.'s plans. While initially successful against all who opposed them they soon started having difficulties as their enemies developed better strategies than blindly charging and started using their numbers advantage against them. Slowly their victories became defeats and casualties started to appear until Tatsuo was the only one left.

Grieving his teammate's death, Tatsuo planned revenge against all the ones who killed then, starting with the only surviving members of the Nirengers who were the ones leading the attack that lead to the first death within the team. Finding the Midorenger who had just returned to crime fighting Tatsuo charged against him head on. Unfortunately, the Midorenger had powers Tatsuo hadn't seen when he fought against him before, catching him by surprise and giving the upper hand to the ranger. Tatsuo was defeated by a kick to the head, losing his balance and falling to the river bank and floating away.

The kick in the head managed to awake Tatsuo's consciousness after 5 years of being brainwashed. His previous grief turned into hatred and anger against the organization that made him, for robbing him of five years of his life, for forcing him and others to become their puppets, for tainting his hands with innocent blood and for erasing his chances of a normal life. Tatsuo swore revenge against M.I.R.R.O.R and other criminal organizations, promising to burn them to the ground even if it is the last thing he does. Two years from then Tatsuo continues his fight against evil, occasionally helping other heroes from the shadows.

Powers:
Skull Mask: Comes with battery dependent heat and night vision. It also works as his transformation gear for his armor.
Enhanced Speed and reflexes
Bone Spike protrusion: Tatsuo can create many spikes made from his bones from any part of his skeleton and shoot them. The spikes can't be longer than his arm and their velocity is inversely proportional to their size, meaning that smaller spikes will travel many times faster than the ones the size of an arm.
Acceleration Mode: By pressing a button on the back of his skull mask, small needles inside the mask insert themselves in key points of Tatsuo's brain, taking off the limitations our sub conscious puts on the body to prevent us from irreparably damaging it. Its name comes from the fact that only when the limitations are off can Tatsuo reach his full speed, looking more than a moving blur than someone running. Tatsuo can maintain his top speed for half a minute and the experience can be quite draining at that point, with the symptoms of using ranging from Tachycardia, extreme fatigue and vomit to friction burns and coughing blood.

How they got their powers: Genetic and Cybernetic enhancements.
Theme

[User]
Despite being beaten the parts of the monster that was recently beaten started to come together once coming together once again forming the the giant tentacle like beast. Despite the recent defeat it was back to full strength in a matter of minutes though a few things changed as its hands changed forming two long sharp blades as it stabbed one into the ground and with a surge smaller human size version of itself came crawling out of the ground set on cutting the two heroes.
Irish Tree@Fourze

"Foolish monkey" She said her voice cold and stern as her eyes seem to be alight with delight at the sight of the enemy in front of her. In a flash of light a gun was in her hand using the gun as a makeshift bat as she batted shattered debris out of her way from the boars thrashing. Before long she took aim and fired before throwing it at the downed Midori Kamen "Monkey make yourself useful and use this." as the gun landed in front of him. Before two more appeared in her hands "ONE LINE VOLLEY!" She exclaimed as nine more appeared before her and in symphonic sound of gun fire fired. She knew the one above was more than prepared for the monster but the monkey worried her going at it with fists was foolhardy. "If one volley doesnt work simply add another." She said calmly as her first attack did nothing really to the monster in front of her. "Now lets go! TWO LINE VOLLEY!" She yelled out as more guns appeared and one after another each fired. "Monkey find your ambition and follow it dont let others get in your way NOW FIGHT!" she roared as she continued firing at the beast in front of her. Talking towards the still downed hero behind her as she prepared to fire her guns yet again. "Hey you above think you can time you things to my volleys?" She asked the person above if they could time it right it should be able to at least shatter the heavy defense it had.
Who

[Assistant]
@Suku

"Um, are you calling me a monkey or these gross goo monsters," Katsuo asked as he shook the rubble off himself, climbing out of the whole he'd left in the street. When the girl tossed him a rifle and told him to make himself useful with her weapon, he realized the answer to his initial question. "Yeah, no. I don't think so, miss. Ignoring the fact that I've never held a firearm before in my life and am more likely to shoot my eye out then do anything helpful," the hero said, dropping the gun on the ground. "I have something that'll do a lot more damage than it anyway."

Turning toward the giant boar, Midori Kamen got into a runner's stance before taking off as fast as his legs could carry him. His incredible strength allowed him to be carried dozens of feet forward with each step he took. As he got closer and closer, each step would trample another goo creature under foot, as they got so numerous that there was no longer anywhere else to step. Curling his fingers into a fist, the young hero pulled his arm back to give the mother of all punches. Once he was close enough, a green fist could be seen colliding with the boar's snout. It was like watching an ant sucker punch a person and actually cause said person to get knocked off their feet, as the boar would be pushed back, knocking over any buildings directly behind it. "Oops."

[User]
"BARON GEIST BLEW IT THE HELL UP THOUGH!"

"A yes, the Baron did really did the impossible that day, for someone as pathetic as him, he definitely managed to get the last laugh in the end" Tatsuo had found a bit of humor in this hopeless situation thinking about how the Baron was partially responsible for him dangling around the neck of a giant monster without any real chance of defeating it. Looking at the ranger again, he looked like he was getting ready for something, not unusual for heroes to not surrender even in the face of hopelessness. He doesn't have any energy left, and if there is any, it certainly isn't enough to blow to destroy the monster. Yet he still hears the cranking of the belt and saw him climbing up the monster as both of them had done just before. It took Tatsuo a moment to realize Kaiki's intention and for a moment it meant that he had barely time to react and move out of the way from Kaiki's kick. Barely being able to slow down his fall, Tatsuo fell to the cold hard floor, with barely any energy to kneel and see the falling head of the beast.

With the threat seemingly over, Tatsuo took his helmet off, undoing his transformation and laid upon the cold concrete, not caring about anything but to finally take a breath and rest. Too bad he started to hear the same sound that he heard when the monsters started to fuse with each other, barely able to stand up Tatsuo looked mouth agape at the now reformed creature, with two big ass blades that were now his arms. To make the matters worse many smaller copies of it had appeared, meaning that he had to fight the giant creature while avoiding the smaller ones, with his little stamina and ever decreasing morale. Kakki had also lost its transformation and an armored hero had managed to catch him before he also met with the floor. Tatsuo slowly walked to the hero with the red armor, since it was clear it would be impossible for him, Kakki and maybe the newcomer to defeat that beast alone. Hey....sorry to ask this sort of question so suddenly... but do you... for any chance have a robot or something...... to destroy that thing once and for all Tatsuo said, practically gasping for air as he finished his sentence.


[System]
Theme:
For Ironic Reasons

Gender:
Female

Species:
Goblin

Appearance:

Goals:
Survive

Past Life:
Orchid's life was simple. She was just an everyday girl born and raised in a rural countryside in North Carolina. Her family were farmers; they raised cattle and grew corn to sell both locally and to various food industries. It was a family business and as the eldest child, Orchid often had to do all the chores herself if her parents weren't doing it. Feeding cattle, harvesting crops, taking care of her siblings. All while balancing an education and a social life. Sufficient to say she had to make some sacrifices.

She grew big and strong, stronger than most boys and even her own father (Though it didn't help that he was growing old). She could carry a small cow, push a truck out of the mud, and haul hundred pound bags of cornmeal in a ten mile walk. She never really took care of her appearance beyond some acne problems, and physically she was healthy, but her burly muscles and general demeanor did not earn her many friends. Girls insulted her for her manly physique and guys were either intimidated or just disgusted by her lack of femininity. Orchid learned not to care; she was doing more for her family now than those kids could with their entire adult careers. Always the dutiful daughter, she did everything for her family. Even sacrificed herself for them.

It was a cold winter morning. Though it was snowing heavily, school was not out due to important tests the students had to take. Orchid was waiting at her bus stop with her two siblings who were also going to school. It was cold, but they had made sure to dress warmly. But this also meant they were sluggish and a bit slow. As they were waiting for the school bus Orchid heard it coming. But something was wrong. The bus wasn't stopping. It started to slide and in the fraction of a second she knew what was going to happen. Her school bus was going to swerve and possibly hit them. She could jump out of the way but her little siblings couldn't they would be too slow. So as the adrenaline pumped through her body she picked them both up and threw them to safety. This left her no time to save herself as the bus crashed into her. Her last memories was looking up to the sky and noting how warm the snow was.

Abilities:
Light Equipment - The use of small tools, and lighter forms of armor, weaponry, and other items. Skill granted by birth as a Goblin.

Pacify Animal I (1.0) - You remember how to handle animals and read their body language. Through your own actions, you have a higher chance than normal of getting a hostile beast to calm down and become neutral towards you.

Stronger I (1.4) - Hauling bundles of hay and sacks of grain isn't all about size and muscle, though that certainly helps. Leverage is also a large part of strength, and you remember that. Your raw strength is increased by a minor amount.

Crafting III (3.0) - You can now craft more complex objects with a single moving part (like a flail or a wheel) more easily. Stamina usage from crafting decreased. Sub-stat Enhancements of items crafted from this point on are increased, but items previously made are still the same.

Material Analysis I (1.15) - You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this level, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items.

Monster Analysis I (1.0) - Flat teeth indicate herbivore, binocular vision implies a predator or gatherer. Allows you to analyze animals and monsters, even those you've never seen before. At this rank you'll only learn basic information

Smash I (1.0) - A Physical Skill that consumes Stamina instead of MP. One blunt type attack deals increased damage!

Transformations:
Goblin

Inventory:

Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Sharp Stone (Equipped)
Rawhide Bag (7/12) (Equipped)
* Hard Stones x2
* Goblin Bones x2
* Herbs x3

[User]
Asura was surprised when another system message came up about him doing another skill! His body got more stable as he rolled deeper into the cave away from the cave boss and the goblins bonfire. He rolled around until he was on the other side of the main water source in the cave. His red and orange body was easily seen by anyone looking for him but given he was a slime, could they take him head on?

Once he figured he was safe Asura reverted to his man-blob form, it was much faster and easier now given his new skill. He'd have to try more complex shapes later on when he was actually completely safe. That means the goblins had to go since they were clearly the 'predators' of the cave. But he needed to get something to give him an edge. He couldn't use equipment like goblins could. So he shifted over to a large rock to practice using more force in his attacks.

Asura's mostly liquid body wasn't exactly ideal to use as a weapon. Again he tried to anchor himself with his pseudopods to pull himself into an attack while simultaneously lurching the rest of himself forward. He'd class himself as a warrior tank and all warriors in the video games tended to learn some sort of power attack fairly early on.

[Assistant]
With her body lacking in strength, vision blurred, and hearing dampened, Mei was left with no choice but to rely solely on her instincts to get her through the first few days of life. As much as she wanted to focus and figure out the intricacies of the predicament she had found herself in, thoughts of sleep, hunger, and anxiety continued to cycle through her head. What kept her sane throughout this initial ordeal were a soothing warmth and a pungent yet calming scent. As the days passed, Mei's senses began to sharpen, and soon she realized that what she repeatedly sought and fled to was - at least she assumes to be - her birth mother in this strange world.

Whenever she could, Mei would follow and observe her mother; where she went, how she moved, and the way she hunted were things Mei wanted to pick up for herself. Those were the bare essentials if she needed to survive. But with each day, their gap in ability was always made apparent as Mei was always left behind.

Today though, was going to be different. Lifting her head, Mei turned to her nose to sniff out her mother's scent. Given all the time she had spent with her, Mei eventually grew accustomed to her odor. With her heightened sense of smell, this was certainly possible.

As soon as she caught the scent, Mei began to search. Tracking her mother would be a challenge, but with the help of lingering strands of her pitch black fur, large prints and deformities left along the cavern walls and floor, and the occasional traces of excreta that she was somewhat familiar with, Mei knew that she'd be able to locate her.

[User]
~The cavern~
Cypher - Orchid

---

Well, for the most part it looked like she escaped.

Ash moved swiftly as she could along the floor, hoping quietly that her comrades had gotten some distance between themselves and the goblins. As soon as she had gotten far enough away, she took cover behind some rock formations and quietly watched from the sidelines. It wasn't long before she heard the footfalls of one of the goblins chase after here. A bit better at tracking than she had hoped. The goblin didn't seem too bothered by anything either so she had missed or the poison simply didn't take effect. She narrowed her eyes at the goblin from the shadows, considering her options.

Attack and have some free food...or perhaps converse? Well, if there was one thing she loathed in her former life it was senseless violence. She just never spoke up about it. She didn't intend to have the same attitude this time.

Climbing atop a rock to put herself at more even level with the goblin, she made her presence known.

"...Not as stupid as I thought, if you can follow after me." She hissed quietly. "Seems I either missed or you're tougher than you look, too." She chuckled narrowing her eyes at the goblin female and observing her for any signs of hostility as she spoke. "...but instead of trying to kill each other, perhaps we can converse instead?"

[Assistant]
Orchid was nervous at first. While she was full of piss and vinegar when this hunt started, now that she's gotten some time alone she was back to being scared. She was alone, weak, naked, hunting monsters. Sure they might've been the weaker ones, but they were still monsters, and Orchid wasn't exactly the biggest fish in the pond either. All she had was her sharpen stick and a rock, compared to these poison spitting lizards. If Orchid didn't play her cards right she was going to die fast and ugly. Worse of all, she lost track of the lizard. She had hoped that maybe there was lizard tracks or something but she didn't know what they'd look like. All she could do was keep herself ready for a sneak attack and slowly walk forward.

Soon a voice spoke out. Almost on reflex Orchid would've hurled her rock, but instead she just gripped it more tightly and looked to the lizard. The lizard spoke some more, which really surprised Orchid. She wasn't too confused about goblins talking, but lizards? She supposed that she had no way of knowing what can or can't speak here. It's all magic to her. And even more surprising, the lizard wanted to work together. This smelled of a trap, but it was also what Orchid wanted. She kept her guard up and looked at the lizard. "Don't... Don't think I'll be so easily distracted! If you think you can catch me off guard, you'll be in for a nasty surprise." And yet Orchid didn't attack. She did converse though. "... I'll keep this short. I don't want to work for those goblins. They have bad things planned for me... Also I want to kill the big goblin and take his stuff. So... We could work together to do that." Orchid gulped. She couldn't believe she actually said that. And so casually too! This world was changing her fast.

"I even have a plan, sort of, on how we can kill him. But the other goblins I'm not sure. But if we can take out the boss, I'm sure the others won't be a problem either."


[System]
Basics
Nickname/title: Professor Dupree, Dr. Dupree, "The Collector", "Jerry"
Gender: Male
Age: 43
Build/physicality: Seems rather medically/physically frail despite a heavy-set stature. Keep him out of fights, but he is surprisingly flexible and will squeeze through narrow spaces without complaint. 5'5"
Appearance: Linked due to size.

Background

Psychological status: Complains frequently of a sensation of being watched (paranoia?), possible memory repression, frequent nightmares, mild ornithophobia
Quirks, ticks, conditions, sensitivities to the paranormal: Possible sensitivities to the paranormal
Magical potential: Yes, mostly in channeling and summoning (albeit has not attempted anything serious yet)
Personality: Jeremiah is the determined sort, feeling that there must be some greater underlying truth to the universe and that he must only push harder against reality to discover it. While he is much more hesitant to push this determination when others are in need of him, his own safety means little to him in the pursuit of knowledge. He is something of a bookworm, preferring older texts to more recently published works due to a belief that the sudden surge in 'science' has led people to ignoring what should be obvious patterns and truths.
Hometown: Portland, Maine
Education: Bachelor's in Anthropology from Cornell, Doctorate in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins
Occupation: Professor of Anthropology at Miskatonic
Achievements: Co-authored a paper on a near-extinct ritualistic practice occurring in Ireland while at Hopkins
Sexuality: Apparently heterosexual
Religion/philosophy: Rationalist
Marital status: Single
Family status: Parents both deceased, only child
Biographical writeup: Jeremiah Dupree (born as Emilia, before changing his name in his application to Cornell) was born the only child to a sickly mother and an uncaring father. When his mother died, his father, preferring to focus on work rather than the difficulties of child-raising, sent his child to an all-girl boarding school in New York. It was there, with no contact from his father and relatively isolated from the ones who should've been peers, that Jeremiah developed his fascination with philosophy and a desire to understand the universe as a whole. His second year led him to befriending a transfer student, Alice, and through her efforts expanding his social contacts. He never quite lost that obsession however, and used his father's wealth to pursue a bachelor's degree and doctorate. He missed his father's funeral entirely, and did not care much. His time at Cornell allowed him to travel with a professor of anthropology and discover the better hidden cultures of Africa and Europe, and he based his research at Hopkins on one group in Ireland. He even persuaded a professor and other graduate students to assist him in a venture back to observe an annual ritual - where he acquired a mask, notability in the field of research, and a fresh fear of birds. Upon receiving his doctorate, he decided to focus on more local cultures and, through rumors and ghost stories, came to Miskatonic University to teach and to study.

Miscellaneous information

Combative belongings: N/A
Noncombative belongings: A walking stick topped with a deer antler (a gift from a dear friend in his school days), multiple alchemical texts, multiple philosophical texts, a full head mask in the shape of a long-eared owl's head, a wallet containing identification and $20 dollars in cash, and a coin of unknown origin with a hole through it and twine tied through the hole.
Other information (optional):
Theme song (optional):

[User]
Room 125

"The feeling is mutual, Dr. Dupree. For all the time I've seen your faces in my mind, finally seeing you two with my very own eyes makes me feel more..." Faye's voice trailed off, as if at a loss of words for once, though her face remained as calm and emotionless as before. Her eyes, resting first on Jeramiah and then on Emil, blinked once before resting once again on the doctor. "And no, there is no student of yours or the man of Stone that bears the name of Jeremy. But you will find him, oh yes you will, outside of these mortal walls. The Companions shall assemble, but it was only the learned ones that were destined first begin our relation."

The woman rose to her feet, her black hair falling onto her shoulder and partly covering her left side. As if nothing could stop her, she took one step towards Emil. Two steps, and three steps, standing only inches away from him. Her face was no longer emotionless, but caring; a smile forming on her lips as she stared him into his eyes. "If not a leader now, the experience of the Eonic Truth will give you experience. And there is much to be done, yes."

Her gaze shifted over to Jeremiah, her body standing perfectly still while her head moved, like an owl searching the night for prey. "There is not much I can tell you in detail, not here nor now. But what I can tell you is this; Dr. Atkins left clues for you too find, Doctor. You and his old friend, who already carried a small piece of the puzzle now solved. Go back to his office, before The Agent finds It and set the saving of your world in dire peril. It will lead you to a place, a dark and forsaken place that hides many secrets; both above and below the ocean. Your first trial lies there. And take this..."

A small amulet was placed in the hands of Emil, swiftly and without a touch. It was round, metallic of shape and texture, and a blue stone fitting its front side. "You will need it, all of you."

The sound of footsteps could be heard through the metal door, the voice accompanying it undechiferable for the two standing in the cell.

Jeremy Arthur Velera

"A...another suicide?"

Once again the theme of suicide approached Jeremy, but this time it was not of a dear friend, nor something that happened long ago. The man told him it had only just happened the other day before. Did he know about it? In searching him mind fervently for answers to that, he found himself at a loss. He couldn't remember hearing of said suicide, so was it so that it had happened yesterday? The same day his memory has vanished from?

The thought made him sick, more because of the freakish nature of these events happening to him and less about the suicide itself. They happened, of course, be it a sin or not, it still made his skin crawl once he reminded himself that only a few mintues earlier he had told August Dupin about one.

"No...it can't be. I mean, no I can't remember hearing of that, Sir. I was probably at work when it happened, long shifts down at the Garage you see." Jeremy tried to sound normal, appearing as if striking conversation with the stranger when in fact he was scared. "Would it seem strange if I wanted to look? Not at the body, of course, but at where it happened. I mean, I too have appointment here, so it wouldn't be unapproriate to look at the scene when just walking by? We could go together, makes it less of a scene, right?"

Once again Jeremy found himself lying; lying through his teeth for a reason he found disturbing, macabre, filthy and devilish - but he wanted to look, to see if this death was akin to the one of his friend. He needed to look. Perhaps then would his desire to follow that voice in his head vanish?

[Assistant]
Emil

The deep blue stone seemed like a hole in his palm to Emil. He looked through it, rather than at it, but could feel its weight on the skin and knew it was a real tangible object. Focusing his eyes he observed the strange thing more closely along the edges and the surface of the stone. A fetish of some sort? Or a key? It was by no means an object of extraordinary design. In fact, it was quite simple, like one of trinkets street vendors sell in the Orient. But the simplicity is what made it compelling, as it often happens when a man expects in his mind something of importance to be fancy, only to be given the opposite.

Are we to use a submarine? A crew of ladies and gentleman most mysterious and diverse going on an expedition? As the now tender Faye concluded the talk of their coming quest his mind played images, and her voice mingled with and was eventually replaced by visions of his imagination's make: whispering waves, cresting and breaking one on another; pale foam on moonlit black sands and shingle; the quivering surface of the endless ocean; ebony depths; chasms in the ocean's floor where the Kraken sleeps, stirring shells and bones; ruined pillars and antique runes carved in them; hollow citadels of sunken cities and their spires; a call of a solitary leviathan echoing from one statue of a bizarre god to the other. And a siren's song most sonorous.

"What may the purpose of this item be?" Emil asked nothing how Faye's expression indeed was changed: gentler now and... humane, smiling. He turned to the professor like a child being shy in front of a lady. My throat is even more sore now. And my eyes ache. Wait, someone's coming! "I can hear footsteps without the cell. Someone's coming."

He gave Faye another look and quickly put the amulet in the pocket. I've nowhere to run now, Steiner.

[User]
Physical state: Chilled but healthy
Mental state: Alarmed

Man of stone? Steiner. Right, of course. Jeremiah nodded and, with that riddle answered, he allowed himself to focus on her words. Words that, coming out of an otherwise ordinary-appearing woman, were beyond surreal. Had he not been sure of her presence, he might've fancied her a hallucination, solely the answer to a desire to determine why she had brought August to Arkham just as Dr. Atkins had killed himself in such a gruesome fashion. Some of her words to Emil were... concerning, as one teacher looking out for a college student. Then again, he had not heard their entire conversation. It was possible the two were referring to some earlier dialog between them. It was, again, something to be addressed later, when his attentiveness was not imperative. Try to remember every word, try to look at the words from an angle. She was not quite straightforward, after all. A place with secrets above and below the water... a coastal city? This was true of Arkham, he felt, but there were other ways she could have described Arkham.

And figure it out before the Agent. If Lexington was back there in Atkins' office, it was sure to be a quite worrying affair, least of all how to explain why Dupree had chosen to return to the scene of a crime. That would be something to consider now, before they reached the office. It was unlikely to be heavily guarded, but to be caught would be disastrous.

Yes, the strangeness of it all intrigued him. It was ridiculous to say it wasn't, simply because his mind was switching to practical concerns. However, the fact remained there were people involved in this, at least one a student of a friend. Care was necessary. Jumping in would simply do more harm than good for all of them.

Emil had received some object, and Jeremiah peered over for a better look. Off the top of his head, it had no significance - no obvious symbols to be linked to an ancient culture, no curling script inscribed into its form to decipher. But if Faye Desdemona had it, it was likely important. Another thing to try to understand, on top of determining which town she likely was trying to reference. Perhaps start with referencing articles on known deserted cities? Perhaps she meant something else by forsaken, but it was a place to start.

It was then he heard the sound, and so did Emil, as he warned Professor Dupree. Right, right. How close? Sounded like they were still approaching. There was time to leave, if they didn't hesitate.

"Thank you, Ms. Desdemona." This was it. If they didn't wish to be locked up as well, it was time to leave. "Emil, have to leave now - and for the love of all that is good, take off that coat." Professor Dupree doubted that trick would work a second time, nevermind the actual theft. He strode to the door and opened it about a foot. Still not here, but getting closer. Fine by him. He opened it wider and gestured for Emil to get out. Once Emil did, Professor Dupree followed after, gently closing the door behind him and walking after Emil, trying to balance both stealth and speed.

He couldn't be sure he succeeded, but as long as they weren't caught right away, he might be able to excuse his presence as simply seeking a lost student - who he had now found.

Not to say anything of how lost he felt himself.


[System]
"Ah yes, that's my handsome mug right there! Never mind the umbrella, that's protection from them!"

ABSTRACT:
"Some call me a madman, I am simply a genius human that few can understand."

INTENT:
"I must find them and put and end to their evil plots, I am the only one that knows of it, and if I tell you you'll be put in danger, so I must hold my tongue."

FIRST ADVENTURE:
"I shall tell you my first adventure! One of mystery and intrigue, where I first learned of them and their plot. I quite simply put was kidnapped! I fell asleep in a wagon that no one was using, it even had empty crates in it the fools! When I awoke the wagon and myself were on the move and some madman who called himself a merchant was controlling it! No sane person would take a cart that no one was using. That was my first clue that something was wrong! Then he tried to convince me that he was generously taking me to the next town as he thought I had gotten onto his wagon for that purpose! I panicked, I admit I lost my cool, but fortunately the man was unprepared for I killed him then and there. I found some papers on his body with dates and places with various objects and names that could only be code for some dastardly plan. Ever since I have been searching for them my quest has taken me far and wide, for better and worse."

HOW DO YOU KNOW KETTLE?
"Ah Kettle, wonderful Kettle! An explorer and wanderer of the world such as I. My time with Kettle was a brief one, but I learned I could trust Kettle implicitly. Anyone with such a hunger for knowledge could only be thought as a good person. I was hunting down information on one of my targets when I met Kettle. Kettle wished to learn about me as an individual I stuck out so much to Kettle, which of course is natural since I am such an extraordinary person. Kettle was the first person in all my travels to take me seriously, which is sorely lacking and quite rude of the others to fail to follow Kettle's example!"

WHY DID KETTLE PICK YOU?
"I am simply an extraordinary man! There is no way Kettle could have forgotten me! I couldn't resist accepting an invitation from such an individual. I remember telling Kettle quite proudly that if Kettle needed any assistance that Croft Winston Caswell Halebard would be at Kettle's service. I believe I was chosen because of my capability to get the job done, no matter the means."

HOW DO YOU KNOW Bishop Forthwind Cedany?
"Ah! Bishop Forthwind Cedany such a kind man. Shame that kindness keeps Bishop Forthwind Cedany from doing some of the necessary things in life, like hunting them. Somehow Bishop Forthwind Cedany learned I was hunting someone and tried to turn me from my mission in life. I would not have any of it! I have no hard feelings for Bishop Forthwind Cedany trying to do what Bishop Forthwind Cedany feels is right, but I have a mission in life that leaves me with no room for hesitation."
@Mr_pink

HOW DO YOU KNOW Harry Nets?
"Finally! An ally! Harry Nets met me while I was searching through a container for them Harry Nets asked what I was doing and explained that I was searching for them. Luckily for Harry Nets I didn't have any sharp objects nearby as when Harry Nets approached I was startled at first, however I quickly came to like Harry Nets. Harry Nets offered to assist me in my quest and I heartily accepted!"
@Gareth

[User]
For the first time in his life, Croft found himself at a loss for words or action for a while as he stared at the spider woman. He watched as she greeted those she knew and apologized to another guest about some past harm. Finally her eyes settled on Croft who finally realized he had been staring the whole time. He stood up simply bursting with energy as he finally found the words.

He raised his arms to the ceiling in a praising fashion and looked up seemingly to the sky. "Praise destiny that I have been blessed with such a wonderful sight!" His gaze settled back to Lila. "Never before have my eyes feasted upon such a beauty such as yourself!" He paced around her inspecting everything he could look at without touching staying close enough to almost be intrusive. "Your legs are so elegant and the way you move with such grace and care! Your hair, so perfect oh I wish I could touch! And y-"

He then caught himself and stepped in front of the lovely woman and gave her a deep bow. "Croft Winston Caswell Halebard, traveler of the world and genius extraordinaire at your service."

How could he in his travels have missed such an extraordinary woman?

[Assistant]
Lila stopped when Croft got to his feet and raised his hands to the ceiling. Ultimately she wasn't quite sure what he was doing at that moment. She had seen many different reactions to her appearance, this was not one of them. As the young man circled around her she watched him inquisitively. Taking a few steps to keep him in view she did not allow him to be behind her. This was... odd, to say the least. His words were flattering but foreign. No one ever spoke so highly of her looks before, not even her own kind. Rather taken aback she unconsciously rolled loose strands of her hair that had fallen over he shoulder between her fingers.

Finally Croft stopped and introduced himself with a gentleman's bow. This Lila was slightly more familiar with and she smiled uncertainly. "You flatter me with your words. But surely you do not mean them. You are human are you not?" Admittedly if this was a trick then it succeeded in confusing the young Jorogumo. The man seemed to fancy himself a smart individual. Whether to have her guard up or not she was not sure. Briefly she glanced at the others in the room to gauge their reactions. Although many seemed wrapped up in their own conversations.

[User]
Croft felt flabbergasted about such words. She spoke such nonsense about him not meaning what he said. What did being human have anything to do with this? He simply could not understand. "My dear, if I did not mean anything I said I would not speak. What madness lies with falsehood! Should I not want to reveal something I simply keep my mouth shut 'tis as simple as that."

Human. Human. That really bothered him. He sat down to puzzle over his thoughts a moment. "Why do you ask if I am human or not? I most certainly am, but what does that have to do with anything. Puzzling... simply puzzling." He scratched his chin with one hand and fiddled around with his umbrella with the other as he fell into thought, losing track of all the world around him.

[Assistant]
This certainly was an unusual situation for Lila. Apparently she had said or done something wrong. The woman was not well versed in human customs. Croft appeared lost in thought so Lila waited a minute before addressing him again. "I meant no disrespect. I have no quelm with humans. It is just, I have not always had the greatest experiences encountering humans, present company excluded." Wringing her hands a bit Lila was somewhat at a loss on what to say next.

"No one has ever spoken of me in such a manner before. I suppose I don't know how to respond." Despite not being sure what to do she unconsciously blushed. Of course with her pale skin it did not take much for it to be visible. It was quite an awkward situation in her mind. Normally a conversation like this between Jorogumo and Human would never take place and encounters usually ended with one or the other dead. "You are..." The words escaped Lila. How exactly to convey her confusion and mixed thought on the matter was complicated. "Unusual."

[User]
A Story of a Tree

---

Kettle watched, with easing tension and slowing breaths, the exchange of introductions among Lila, Clav, and -- who was that? -- a young lady, valiantly trying not to be so frightened of the two most frightening-looking people Kettle had ever met. Kettle stood in the doorway awhile, her brows knitted while she mentally read through the list of letters she had sent, knowing this young lady had not been among them. But her face! Her face was so familiar.

And then, like the switch of a light, Kettle's eyes brightened in recognition. Len's son! This young woman looked very much like Junior, who had grabbed at Kettle's robes and had listened, gawping, to her stories of adventures across the world. Kettle wracked her brain, but as far as she knew, Junior didn't have a sister. Who was this, then, responding alone to a letter that had been addressed to Len and his wife?

She might have spoken, but the mysterious young woman had slowly begun to trust Clav in the midst of long conversation, and Kettle wouldn't have interrupted their new friendship for the world. There would be time in the future for questions.

Instead, Kettle slipped back into the cafe to find that her chosen companions had become boisterous and quick friends. Tea was poured, food was eaten, stories were told, even a couple admissions of admiration. She watched and listened to all of it with a profound sense of joy.

6:00 pm

---

The sun behind the fog was setting on the mountains, and the lamps within the room were brightened with a twist of a knob. The noise and laughter was just as strong as it had been an hour ago, and it was clear those gathered could go on all night as long as the food and the tea kept coming.

Kettle touched Harry on the shoulder. "Will you tell everyone outside to come in, please?" she asked kindly, with a twinge of nerves beginning to twist in her stomach. She moved quietly to the front of the room, where she scanned all of them for a moment and ingrained their faces in her memory.

She grinned suddenly, curled her fingers to her lips, and whistled high and piercing for their attention.

"Thank you all for coming," she announced, quelling the last of the conversational murmurs. "I am truly, deeply honored that you all traveled so far with so little information. I am humbled by your trust, your friendship, your generosity, and your profound and adventurous curiosity." She wasn't going to cry, she told herself. The fact that so many surrounded her now was the happiest feeling in the world. She took a deep breath.

"We're all here because of a discovery." How should she phrase it? She hadn't quite thought of what she would say when the time came -- and now they were all looking at her, expectant.

"There is a myth that I'm sure many of you know." When in doubt, tell a story. Kettle hopped up and sat on a table, facing them all, her hands curled around the edge. "That in the beginning of all things, the world was empty, volcanic, filled with dust and fire and darkness -- until a star fell down from the sky and buried deep under the stones. And then, out of the rock and ash of that tumultuous world, a Tree took shape." She illustrated with a gesture of her hands, like pulling the form of a tree out of a wasteland. "Over millennia the Tree grew and curled its roots around the world, embracing volcanic wastes and seas of acid. Slowly the chaos calmed. The sky cleared for the first time since the planet's birth, and the Tree's branches filled with the first green the world had ever known. Grass grew out of ashes, forests rose out of dead volcanoes, the seas turned blue and the rivers ran fresh. The Tree bore fruit, then: the fish of the seas, the beasts of the ground and the birds of the sky. Then, our ancestors. People. All are children of the Tree; all are brothers and sisters of the same origin." Kettle included every race and species in the world and represented in that room when she spoke of people.

An expression of worry crossed Kettle's face. Even now, she was unsure whether they would believe her.

"I believe that just beyond the mountains to the north -- in the heart of the unnamed woods -- are the ruins of the City of Ro." She waited a moment for this information to sink in -- for those who knew the legends to realize the gravity of this discovery. "According to legend, Ro was built on the site where the Tree first grew. The city's sole purpose was to worship and protect the last remaining Seed." She scanned each of their faces. Surely, they thought she was mad.

"If I'm right -- and I am very sure I am -- just north of where we stand lies a Seed of the Tree of creation."

[Assistant]
Croft was about to respond to Lila when Kettle called everyone's attention. She explained a myth he knew quite well from his childhood. The City of Ro was a name he was unfamiliar with. He felt a bit disappointed that he didn't know. Then again, he knew very well that Kettle was one of the few people that were smarter than himself and knew far more.

Croft nodded excitedly. "Am I right in assuming we shall be venturing forth towards this ruin and the seed? Oh how exciting!" He clapped his hands and danced a bit in his seat with a big grin on his face. Such a discovery could be used against them and it would prevent them from accomplishing their goals. He pulled the old manifesto from his bag and secretly scanned it. A line on it mentioned seeds. His eyes widened with fury for a brief moment and his stashed the manifesto away in its secret pouch within his backpack.

Inside his backpack was a jar of pickles, trail rations for about two weeks give or take a day, a fox mask he stole from a masquerade, the manifesto from his first kill of them, a whetstone, and a rubber ball. Attached to his backpack was a dagger of exquisite design that he inherited from his father, and two waterskins.


[System]
Basics
Alias: Trick
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Alliance: Good
Power: Teleportation – Lexa can teleport herself and whatever she's holding to any location that she can see
Enhanced Healing – Lexa has enhanced durability and heals moderately fast (an injury that would normally take several days to heal instead takes several hours), though this has the side effect of injuries scarring more often than not

Physical Description

Image:

Height: 5'5"
Weight: 111 lbs
Hair: Long, deep red
Eyes: Amber
Typical Clothing/Equipment: Casual – baggy, loose fitting t-shirt and pants, with a pair of old sneakers.
Uniform – A black, lightly armored ensemble with gloves, a jacket, and a mask that covers the bottom half of her face. She also carries a katana, and dyes her hair black to help conceal her identity.

Personality/Attributes

Personality/Attitude: Quiet, aloof, thoughtful, self-blaming, sarcastic, couragious, just, secretly empathetic
Skills/Talents: Karate and aikido black belt, weapons training, parkour, fluent in French and Vietnamese, superior reflexes
Favorites/Likes: Her dog Frank, japanese candies, quiet nights
Most Hated/Dislikes: People who enjoy hurting others
Goals/Ambitions: To help as many people as she can
Strengths: Resourceful, driven, takes no shit
Weaknesses: Brooding, quick to blame herself, stand-offish
Fears: Watching someone die when she could've helped

Additional Notes: Her parents and little brother died in a house robbery gone wrong eight months ago. Now she lives in an apartment by herself with an old one-eyed dog she picked up from the pound named Frank. Never been kissed. Has a day job working at a bookstore.

[User]
Lexa didn't look at him as she picked up small box of strawberries. Her dog liked strawberries. She should get him some.

(She really shouldn't with their limited funds, but Lexa's biggest weakness was for her dog.)

"Still here, aren't I?" She spoke with her usual dryness, but there was a soft humor to her voice that betrayed her ease. They'd settled into an odd sort of comfort – an intimacy, almost. Jack could be a handful, but no more than any other eccentric roommate. He didn't make any moves on her, he didn't mess with her stuff, he was good to her dog, and he wasn't committing any felonies. All in all, a stunning improvement.

She put the strawberries in the basket and handed a few bills to the seller before moving on, Jack at her side.

The revelation that she was… that she came from the same place that he did… well, Lexa couldn't say she was comfortable with it yet. It was like a puzzle piece she'd been missing her entire life had finally been put into place, but the picture it formed was something she didn't know if she could stomach. She'd been a science experiment. Manipulated and tortured and then hidden away.

She hadn't told Jack yet. She didn't know if she ever would. But there was a surprising comfort in knowing that there was someone like her. Someone connected to her past, as gruesome as it apparently was. Even if that someone was a wanted criminal.

Well. He was trying.

"Keep it up and who knows, maybe–"

Her quip was cut off by the feeling of something metallic and round pressed into her spine. Lexa froze.

"Hello there, darlings." A greasy voice murmured in her ear. Long fingers curled over her shoulder. Lexa stood frozen in the middle of the walkway, gun still against her back.

Well, shit.

"Bit of a snoozetown, in'nit? I really don't see the appeal of shackin' up here. But I guess you won't be for much longer, ay? You've got an appointment scheduled for this afternoon."

Lexa had really hoped this hideout would've lasted longer than two goddamn weeks. Her eyes were trained straight ahead, looking at the family standing in front of her. If she teleported away, they got shot. She teleported with him, she got shot in the spine and revealed herself in front of this market. She turned and fought, more people likely got caught in the crossfire. All her options were too messy to be worth it.

Goddamn farmers markets. Why were they always so crowded?

Her eyes flicked up to Jack.

"Don't," came a simple command.

[Assistant]
Jack was listening to her eagerly awaiting for what she was going to say about his good behavior. He noticed the man come up behind her and press something to her back. His red eyes narrowed as the slime bag spoke quietly to them both. "Don't" Was all Lexa said to Jack. A single move from either of them and anyone could be hurt, civilians, or the two of them. Jack's hands balled into fists. He didn't care as much about the civilians as Lexa did, but he wanted to keep her around, so he controlled himself. However, that didn't mean there was nothing he could do. The white haired young man was fast, almost as fast as Lexa's teleportation. He could easily move behind the enemy and snap his neck. That wouldn't do either.

"Hm..." Jack grinned deviously, not a second passed and he was behind the enemy with the gun. He was almost pressed against the enemy's back. with his body. "You know." He whispered into the gunman's ear with a dark tone. "I've never tried human alchemy before. Do you want to see if we can transmute your skin into spiders? Or snakes? All it takes is one touch."

"Y-you wouldn't, that would kill me in front of all these people, you wouldn't want to reveal yourself would you?"

"No, of course not. However." Jack gently placed his hand on the gunman's shoulder and whispered quieter so Lex couldn't hear him. "If you don't lower your gun and run, very fast, away from here. I will attempt to turn you inside out with my powers and since I've never tried before, I'm not quite sure what will happen to you, friend. So I suggest you get out of here and never bother us again." Jack's voice was ominous and threatening.

The enemy was trembling now, in fear. He did not want to die and wasn't sure if this guy was telling the truth about killing him.

"One last thing, who are you working for? Shirley? it's that buttfuck isn't it?"

"I-I can't say, he'll kill me."

"People are beginning to stare, you will not ruin this for Lex and I. Tell me, who are you working for, no one can kill you more harshly than me, friend. Just tell me the truth and I'll let you go."

"...J-Jo-"

Something flew through the air from one of the nearby buildings and struck the man in the head. He crumbled to the ground, the gun clattered as it fell from his hand. Jack gasped and stared at the thing that had hit the man. People all around them began to scream and run away, including the shop keeps. With gritted teeth, Jack knelt down and removed the playing card from the side of the man's head, blood spewed out. His eyes widened as he flipped the card over and saw which one is was. "Time to move!"

[User]
Lexa didn't need to be told twice. In a swift move she knelt down, grabbing the gun in one hand and Jack's arm in the other. She took off, weaving through the frantic crowd to a now abandoned stall of potted flowers. Lexa ducked under it, eyes aimed skyward. Once they were fully under the table and out of sight of the crowd they snapped out of existence.

Lexa and Jack reappeared an instant later on the roof of a building. If they were being targeted they needed to stay away from anyone that might get hurt. She threw the gun down on the flat roof with a clatter.

"No-killing rule is suspended. Civilians are off limits." Her words were short and clipped as her eyes scanned the area. She was tired of being hunted. What happened to the good old days when she just showed up to a crime scene and kicked ass?

Christ, her life had gotten odd if those were the good old days.

Lexa was regretting leaving her sword at home. (What was she supposed to do? Bring it to a farmer's market?) But at least she still had two blackbelts, superpowers, and a semi-reformed homicidal madman on her side. Considering her latest foes, that apparently wasn't anything special. But at least it evened the playing field a bit.

Her eyes flashed gold when they landed on a figure on a far roof. Found you. It seemed they'd been found, too. The figure's arm cocked back and released, sending something small and razor sharp flying towards them. Lexa, still holding Jack's arm, teleported them to another roof, a stone structure between them and the assailant.

"You wanna tell me what this one does?" Lexa really wasn't interested in a rerun of the last fight she'd had with Jack's card buddies.

[Assistant]
"No-killing rule is suspended..." Jack heard her words, but couldn't quite process them. Although they were words he'd almost longed to hear, his mind was elsewhere. She teleported them out of the way as another card flew toward them. He held the first card loosely in his hand still. Joker... "You wanna tell me what this one does?" Lexa questioned Jack. This time he hadn't heard her at all.

Jack, seemingly fearless Jack, was actually terrified of Joker. He wasn't like the others. He was the first card experiment but was the last to escape. Jack and Ace had agreed that Joker was far too dangerous to be unleashed so they left him behind. It would seem, someone had let him go. Undoubtedly it was Queen. Hopefully Joker wasn't still upset that he had been left to rot. But then, why else would he be trying to kill Jack and Lex?

Joker had had the worst time in the project, he was the first and was there the longest, so he was the one who had the worst stuff done to him. He had lost every ounce of sanity he had in there and couldn't feel anything at all, not mentally or physically, by the end of it.

"Wh-what?" Jack spoke to Lexa in a small, stuttering voice that mirrored his fear. "Lex, I told you we have to get out of here, we can't fight this guy."

If he's here, Queen isn't far.

Then there was that voice... It was right behind him. A terrifying, sadistic sounding voice. "What's the matter, Jackie boy? You're not excited to see a friend from the good ol' days?"

Jack's eyes widened, he froze. What's the matter with you? You're not afraid of anything. C'mon. get it together. He turned quickly and slashed with the card in his hand. Joker was behind Jack in a second, he grabbed him in a headlock with a razor sharp card at his throat. "Ohhh how I've missed you."

Jack winced as the card cut into his neck slightly. "Lex. Get the hell out of here!!"

[User]
The sharp note in Jack's voice gave Lexa pause. She looked at him when she realized what it was: panic. Jack was scared. She'd never seen him scared before.

Before she could process this, a cartoonish man had Jack in a headlock, the card pressing into the skin of his throat.

Jack yelled at her to run. But she didn't hear him. Not really. Because running without him – leaving him to this man, for whatever reason wasn't an option. Just like letting him die hadn't been an option two weeks ago.

Lexa steeled herself, muscles tense, ready to react.

"You can drop him or I can separate your top half from your bottom."

[Assistant]
Joker laughed casually, as if what was going on wasn't an intense situation. Jack stood tense, with his teeth clenched, blood ran down his neck from the card that dug into his neck slightly. Lexa wasn't listening, she wasn't getting out of there. Well, only one thing to do before Queen showed up. He reached up and with all his strength, pulled Joker's arm from his neck. But only a bit. In a reckless moment he grabbed the razor sharp card, cutting his hand. "Check mate, clown." The card in Joker's hand morphed into something new, something entirely different. A Barbie doll, one Jack had seen in a toy store once a while back. Its blonde head of hair swayed back and forth.

"Hah!" Jack ducked and rolled away from Joker. Once he was back on his feet and at Lexa's side he grinned. "Shove it up your arse, you sonovabitch." Before he could put his hands on his hips and laugh hysterically, his eyes narrowed and he turned quickly. A mallet was raised and ready to be swung at him and Lex. "Ah ah ah." The young man reached up and placed his hand on the mallet.

"Nooo!! Don't touch!" The crazed woman holding the mallet Spartan kicked Jack away from her and her precious mallet.

Jack stumbled back, groaning slightly as he got his footing. "Ughh. Clowns."

[User]
Lexa only let out a small huff at Jack's muttered words. Her hand shot out to grab his wrist just as the other woman lifted her arms to heave her mallet through the air. Jack was clear. That meant it was time to go. These people were dangerous enough to scare Jack, and she didn't have her sword. They needed to regroup or run or something.

But the second her fingers curled around Jack's wrist, the other man let out a small tutting noise. Lexa teleported to the next rooftop over with Jack in tow – but they weren't alone.

"We aren't done yet."

The other man – Joker – was with them. Lexa's eyes widened when she saw his bone white hand around her arm. He was fast. Lexa hadn't even felt his hand on her before she'd teleported. The iron grip was undeniable now though, bruising pressure digging into her flesh. Lexa dropped her hold of Jack to throw a punch. She didn't expect it to connect. She just needed him off of her so she could move. She needed to be free of him to teleport away with Jack.