[System]
Age: 22
Alignment: Chaotic Good-ish
Race: Human
Class: Thief
Appearance/Clothing:

Skills: Bluff, Acrobatics, Charm, Athletics, Sneak, Theft, Streetwise, Knife-Wielding, Knife-Throwing.
Natural Abilities: The power of average-ness.
Magic/Spells: Not a scrap of it.
Additional Information: Tobias isn't the strongest fighter, being far more suited to running, hiding, or bluffing his way out of situations (he's capable by normal person standards, of course - just not really what you'd expect from an adventurer). He's also a massive pathological liar with trust issues a mile wide.
Weapons: He has three knives - one on his belt, one on his back, and one in his boot.
Possessions: Leather armor, basic adventuring supplies (rope, flint and steel, etc.). His hood is enchanted to make it very hard for someone who sees him with it up to remember his face. He also has a magic grappling hook enchanted to not make a sound. Four potions of invisibility, each lasting fifteen minutes.
Personality: Tobias is glib, smart-alecky, cowardly, and tries his absolute best to be self-centered. Though he'd feverishly deny it, he's a fundamentally good person underneath the assumed selfishness. He tries not to let anyone get close to him, and often uses snark and flat out lies as armor in social interaction.
History: Getting the truth out of him about his personal history is extraordinarily difficult, but it's possible to determine that he's an orphan who grew up on the streets and has spent his life so far living in cities and alternating between pickpocket, con-man and cat burglar in order to survive.

Name: Oscar
Age: Interesting question for someone in his situation, but he's been how he is now for about three years.
Alignment: True Neutral
Race: Corpse
Class: Undead Juggernaut
Appearance/Clothing: His body is that of a clean-shaven man, aged 20-25, with short brown hair that doesn't grow anymore. His skin has grown taut and gray, pulled thin over the bones in his face. He never, ever blinks, so as a result dust has scratched his eyes until his iris and pupil are barely visible in the white. Physically, he's not very imposing - his body is actually distinctly weedy, at about 5'10" and looking to be around 130 pounds. He's still wearing the clothes he was when he woke up three years ago - the burial suit of a respected gentleman. However, constant use has worn it down considerably, making it stained and splotched where it isn't torn altogether.
Skills: Hand-to-Hand Combat (none of that fancy martial arts - Oscar does pankration), Intimidation, Brute Force.
Natural Abilities: Inhuman Strength, Inhuman Durability, Inhuman Speed (In a straight line, that is - if he can build up momentum and doesn't have to turn at all, Oscar can actually move pretty fast, more to the tune of 20 to 25 mph. He can't do this for longer than about two minutes, however, as his abysmal motor control will eventually catch up with him and he'll trip, converting his body into an undead missile of disaster)
Magic/Spells: None at all.
Additional Information: Oscar is half blind and deaf, has the motor control you'd expect of a dead body, no reflexes whatsoever and is about as maneuverable as a whale on land. This is counterbalanced by the fact that he barely feels pain, is immune to poison, is extraordinarily difficult to actually harm (without fire), and can punch holes in stone walls/tear people's limbs off. For help imagining his voice, try listening to these.
Weapons: None. He has his hands.
Possessions: The clothes on his back and a locket with a picture of a dark-haired woman inside. It's the only thing that calms him down when he starts berserking.
Personality: Oscar guides himself on one moral principle - bodies must be buried. He's generally very quiet and unperson-able, owing to the fact that he has no social skills. He has the potential to be very caring towards those who befriend him, not that that's really come up in his life yet. If someone managed to strike up a conversation with him, they'd find him... odd, always saying things that almost make sense. When threatened or surrounded by violence, he can plunge into a berserk fury of roars and snarls and dismemberments, acting largely on instinct.
History: Oscar woke up in a shallow grave three years ago with nothing but his clothes, his locket, and a head full of questions and half-faded memories. Since then he has wandered, trying vaguely to discover who he was and how it was he came to die, and what it was that called him to this dim, dismal half-life. He has hurt people who threatened him, and tried to help a few that didn't, but mostly he has kept to himself, going from place to place without really knowing why, seeking a purpose in his unlife.

[User]
It was refreshing to Mortosh to be treated with such kindness was a rarity the woman kind words and smile truly put him at ease and made him believe that this journey would not end in tragedy. he nodded and told Zam to thank Sister Agnes for him he garbed the supplies While going to return most of them not being in need of most of them Zam convinced him otherwise so he toke all the supplies and headed towards Door Zam flew into her hidey hole who then proceed to adjust herself so her head was popping out her hole. Mortosh opened the door and looked back at the now almost empty shop the only ones left where The Monk,Sister Agnes and the Shop owner with a wave goodbye Mortosh and Zam left the shop.

It had been a few minutes since he had left the shop and Mortosh was simply wandering around the village Mortosh was wandering he then heard Zam Inhaled deeply "By Trew is it good to have some fresh air the air in the shop was getting very stale" Mortosh Looked at Zam with concern ("Do You Need Your Flowers Zam?") Zam shook her head "no not now just give me them when we find the inn" ("Are You Sure?") "yes Mort i am sure o.k lets just find this fucking inn" Mortosh Just nodded then he realized something he has no idea where the inn is

[Assistant]
Hugh's ecstatic waving was suddenly interrupted by this character wearing a cloak whom introduced himself as "Zack" and a whole slew of other things that went in one ear and out the other, except for the last one; wizard. "Oh, uh, I'm-" The wizard quickly handed Hugh a list of items, thoroughly perplexing him. "Okay, yeah, I guess they are rare." Hugh looked over the list, not really sure what many of the items were, or whether or not they were rare. He could only agree with the man currently speaking.

Hugh's confusion was relieved when Sana finally came over and stood up on tip toes to kiss him. What she hadn't seemed to realize was that Hugh had shortened himself while she was setting the vials down, so as to receive a kiss. It was kind of a habit he usually did without noticing. Normally she would drape her arms around him, or he would lean down and kiss her. He decided not to wrap her arms around her and show a lot of affection since they appeared to have company and that might be a little putting off for the newcomer whom identified as Zack.

"I did miss you. So very much." He said with a loving smile. He seated himself as she did, and listened intently to what she had to say. She directed his attention too and fro, looking from person to person, identifying them as members of their latest group. She caught his attention more with the words "And even one from the Oasis". An eyebrow arched upwards, as he looked towards her, not really sure what to expect. There were people he liked and people he hadn't liked. His mind raced through different faces of who it might have been. His face went back to normal, and he finally said "So who might it be then?"

He suddenly held up a hand, "Hold on." He stood up, "You haven't eaten anything or had anything to drink!" He suddenly said, looking towards Zack. He looked around, to different areas of the room till he spotted the exact person he was looking for. "Barmaid!" Came his summons to a rather young looking female working at the inn. He waved in the friendliest and most frantic looking way he could muster. Little did he realize at that moment he was so much of a tower of a man, that he didn't need to try so hard to get the young lady's attention.

Of course, his actions were a little put off when another wizard introduced himself by the name of Melvus Garth. "Alright, take a-" His words were cut off by the man taking a seat, "... yeah." He directed his attention back to the barmaid, hoping his summons worked.

[User]
Vaeri kept her hood up as she wandered through the village looking for the inn. This village was a quaint place, it almost reminded her a tiny bit of her hometown. The quaintness was why she had to keep herself concealed. This place no doubt saw little traffic from non-humans, and even taking that out of account, Vaeri was well aware that her appearance had a habit of unsettling people. So instead she walked around in her cloak, looking slightly less suspect. After all, a clergyman of a deity unknown to the locals would get by a lot easier if everyone who looked upon him didn't think him a cultist.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, the elf stopped where she stood and looked around. To her right was the Apothecary. She had made a giant circle. She never had this problem finding her way forests or her hometown. Humans and their 2 dimensional settlements. It made finding your way around so much more complicated. Trying to find where you were in relation to the rest of the town was nearly impossible since buildings blocked everything else around them. Back in Lianyu you could look up and down and get so much more information based on the levels above and below you. Frustrated, Vaeri enters the Apothecary again and approaches the counter.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but could you please direct me to the inn? I haven't been able to find it on my own."

[Assistant]
Tobias spread his hands theatrically and smiled at the barmaid. "Very astute of you. The tramp will have a mug of your very finest swill, if it isn't too much trouble," he said, biting his cheek to resist the temptation of the girl's delightfully unsecured coin purse. His itchy fingers could doubtless swipe it without her noticing... but in a room full of adventurers, it was probably best not to chance it.

He scanned the crowd inside the inn warily. Mostly his prospective companions, really. Fiona had moved to sit by the monk/demon cultist - Hanzo was his name. Sana was kissing and then speaking to someone new, a large older fellow - perhaps that was 'Big Brut Pally Hugh'. Tobias took a moment to register the hope that 'Pally' didn't stand for 'Paladin'. He never got along with paladins. The demon was sitting with them - apparently he wanted to be called 'Zack'. Also speaking to them was the sorcerer, who looked a little weary, like he'd just woken up from a nap.

Well, that seemed to be the highest density of his new 'friends'. If he was going to begin ingratiating himself with the people who'd be slaying Mist Dragons for him, that seemed like a place to start.

The rogue moved through the crowd and plopped loudly down at the table. "Cheers, adventurers! Tobias, for those who missed me: pickpocket, common scoundrel, dashing rogue, incorrigible trickster, defiler of a modest amount of daughters (all entirely willing, I'm not a nutcase), career criminal, con-man, cat-burglar, oh-so-loveable coward, savior of silly girls that get in over their heads, and now, prospective adventurer!" The thief leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the table. "Charmed. Oh, and if any of you are bothered by the 'career criminal' thing... I can run faster than you."


[System]
Wah. I'm gonna go with what the post says and dump this here.
Age:
Twenty-Juan.

Gender:
Manly.

Race:
Regular Human 4 Lyfe.

Weapon:

Aurellius' weapon is a little bit... over the top, some might say. His weapon, Ascalon, has two functions. One, is a piercing lance form, deadly against single targets. Its other form is a rapid fire mini-gun that fires off Dust-infused bullets. Of course, since his weapon is so large, Aurellius has a hard time carrying around the damn thing. Couldn't development had made it a little more light weight? To compensate for his rather slow speed while firing and charging, Aurellius bears a large burden over his shoulders. The backpack is a bit of a mix between an ammo cache and a jet-pack, and is roughly the size of an Army pack. Of course, he can't fly or anything. That would just go against the laws of physics.

No, his jet-pack is for maneuverability. Jets placed all over the pack allow him to use the thrusters to dodge out of the way of an attack, or thrust forwards in his lance form for an attack. His weapon is developed by the grand and marvelous Bellum Manufacturer Co. Don't yell at the name, that wasn't his idea. Anyway, the weapon is focused less on speed and maneuverability than other weapons, but easily makes up for it in sheer power. His backpack can hold up to two thousand infused rounds, so he really has to stock up soon or he'll run out of ammo. His boosters also use Dust, and so have limited uses. Still, don't bash the Lance, it's made from a specially designed alloy that allows it to pierce even the thickest of shells. And hey, lances don't run out of ammo. His mini-gun also has to take time spinning up.

Specialty:
Getting in close and fucking the shit out of everything. Well, that's only the gist of it. Really, the idea is to soften his enemies up with lead, and then getting in close to bash things around with his lance. In terms of class, he'd be a hybrid between Warrior and Gunslinger, with a tad of tank splashed in even though he doesn't use much armor. Oh, and tactical rolls.

Semblance:
Boy I Love The Color Red.. Aurellius' special Semblance is the ability to completely purge pain from his system. Doing this allows him to ignore any sort of nudging from his stupid nerves and tap into much more speed and strength. Of course, doing this is pretty damn bad for the body. There's a reason your body stops you from punching too hard or jumping too far. His muscles literally rip themselves into pieces while trying to fight harder. That, and gaping wounds are a thing that shouldn't be ignored.

Personality:
Aurellius' personality is a bit skewed. He never really got much contact with other kids growing up, seeing as he had a private teacher ready for him when he was just a wee lad. Still, that doesn't mean he's a messed up loner. Aurellius is, well... slick. Businessmen have this chivalrous and charismatic sense of personality about them. Still, Aurellius is ruthless, and isn't afraid to leave behind anyone slowing the group down. He isn't fond of Faunus either. They're just a bunch of sub-human weirdos, with god damn rabbit ears and cat tails. Its weird, and most don't look good in suits. Still, Aurellius is a little... compassionate of his friends, if you're lucky enough to become one. You're either a friend or just another person. That, or you're family.

Color:
Stark blood red.
Emblem:
His sigil makes its appearance on the guard of his weapon. A simple red and white dragon is his family crest and it fits quite well.

Appearance:

Aurellius is a rather handsome young man. With blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tall stature with broad shoulders, he would make a father proud just to look at him. Of course, not to mention his attire. Suits. Always suits. If you choose not to wear a suit, you're not doing it right. A good tie and a good suit make any appearance just that much better. Don't expect to see Aurellius wearing much other than a suit, even in combat. Armor, even though the golds and reds might look nice, are just too bulky for Aurellius' already weighed down load. Other than that, Aurellius is best known for his wicked grin.

[User]
Kuhaku Shiro - 4th Period, Armory Class

Hearing his allowance to remain in class, Shiro brightly beamed and grinned. As the professor began his lesson with a introductory lecture in Dust, Shiro quickly pulled out his Scroll and located Sapphire and Mokuren in the Beacon Directory application installed on it. Sending them each a short text message, thanking them both for their concerns.

To: Rode, Sapphire
From: Kuhaku, Shiro
Subject: Thanks!
"Hey, just wanted to thank you for your concern about my health and wellbeing. Thanks again, team leader!"

To: Sabella, Mokuren
From: Kuhaku, Shiro
Subject: Thank you! :D
"Hey, thank you for your offer to help me out when I may have been hurt. I'm glad to know that we're all looking out for each other! :3

P.S. - I know we're all on different teams, but I hope to get to know you better in the future and we become good friends! x3"

Shiro's ears perked as his cheeks tinged a slight pink from sending the second message to Mokuren. With a big smile on his face, he expanded his Scroll into a tablet mode and began to take notes. Typing with swift efficiency as he devoted the remainder of his attention to the Professor's words. He wasn't too skilled in utilizing Dust in its raw, pure form, so he could stand to pay close mind. He was only familiar with using the Dust-based ammunition. As he recorded his notes, an odd scent wafted into his nostrils. He could detect stress within the room, looking up, he saw Geni and another student glaring daggers at each other. Though, unsure why, he frowned and tilted his head. Did those two know and not like each other?

"Did I miss something here?"
Just then, a question popped into his head.
"Oh!"
Raising his hand, he waited for the professor to address him.
Once properly addressed, Shiro asked "Excuse me, Professor? I apologize for disrupting your lesson, but may I ask when we'll be able to start working on our equipment? Such as maintenance and fine-tuning?"
He lowered his arm and waited patiently for a response.

[Assistant]
Gren orchid

Gren took note of Sapphire's insistence that Shiro head to the infirmary. Gren just sighed. If she wanted him to act more... Modest, she should try to talk to him about that than just expect him to spontaneously heed her demands. Gren didn't think that Shiro's introduction was too bad. it certainly seemed like it was unique enough to earn him a new friend in the form of the fox girl. Gren had watched her fight and was able to analyze her fighting ability, to at least what little of it she showed. She seemed to have some sort of deflective semblance if what her opponents and what his observations were true. He came to this conclusion since he heard tales of her "cheating", though apparently this amounted to simply relying on one's semblance over their trained abilities. So putting two-and-two together he could figured that the fox fauna's semblance allowed her to easily win her battle due to reflecting her opponent's attack back at her. A fearsome opponent indeed. Gren wondered if such a semblance could be replicated.

And that's what Gren's weapons focused on. Not more guns or blades, though that was always a nice addition. No, he wanted to create weapons that would augment his aura and utilize his semblance. There was only so many weapons Gren could wield at once, but if he could make something that complimented his armament, the better. Gren actually had a lot of schematics in the works that he just hasn't been able to work out. One was miniaturizing The God Eater into something more compact but equally as effective. If he could make it small enough to be used in one hand, he could potentially make two and increase his firing power. Gren also tried to pay attention to Chatsworth, but what he was telling them about dust Gren already knew. He did however wonder how dust could affect one's semblance, or vice versa. He imagined what it would be like to combine the flaming properties of certain dust to his Friction Semblance. Something akin to napalm perhaps? Or use the friction to create an intense heat, burning through all that it touches? Questions that Gren would want to test and see.

[User]
Aurellius had been a tad disappointed at not having chosen to fight the cougar type Grimm, but had been placated by being able to watch the fight that ensued. It was amusing to say the least. Slightly disappointing that the creature was only a youngling, it would've been certainly nice to watch a full grown one rip people to shreds.

Of course, when invited to fight his own Grimm, Aurellius grinned happily. As he stood up, carrying the bulk of Ascalon on his shoulder, he stepped onto the grass five or so meters from the monster. The bovine beast was a sight to behold. His eyes widened slightly as he took it in, noticing its thick muscles and strong legs. It reminded him of those old Cowboy holo-vids he had watched as a child. Aurellius looked back to the crowd of students.

"Anyone got a lasso? No? How about a red cape? Nothing?" He shrugged as he turned around, staring at the bull. Shrugging his jacket off of his shoulders, he dropped his weapon onto the ground as he stepped forwards, holding the jacket like an improvised cape. The bull snorted slightly as he waved it around, ignoring him completely. Aurellius stamped his feet, trying to get it to do something. Anything. The cow grunted in response.

With a scowl, he tossed the jacket to the side and scooped up Ascalon in one quick motion, the weapon beginning to whirr as he held down the trigger. "Respond to this, asshole," Aurellius said as the minigun began to fire. The weapon began firing, explosively propelled bullets launched towards it. The two second burst collided with it, peppering its flank with bloody holes as it let out a scream of anger and began charging towards him rapidly.

Having been satisfied, he threw the weapon to the side and scooped up his jacket again, running at the beast with fervor. He stopped on the drop of a dime, spinning slightly as the bull charged through his feint, going past his flipping jacket and stopping itself, nostrils expunging air as it suddenly stared at him.

Aurellius stayed still for a moment before suddenly backing up, tempting the Grimm to charge at him again, only to be halted by a step to the side as he positioned himself next to his weapon. He flipped a switch as he grabbed it, the gun transforming into a lance as the bull passed him again, only to be on the receiving end of a quick stab.

It roared with pain as he penetrated its thick leather, grinning as he dug it in deep before pulling out to avoid being gored by its horns. He stabbed at it again, cursing as the tip of his lance glanced off the beast. He backed off just in time as its sharp horns flew inches past his face. He turned and flipped another switch, activating the jets on his pack. The bull screamed yet again as fiery red dust covered it as Aurellius was launched away.

Spinning in midair, he landed ten meters away, stopping himself and flipping the Grimm off. It snorted angrily and charged yet again, and Aurellius responded with something stupid.

He pole-vaulted it. His weapon dug into the soil as Aurellius flipped over the head of the Sitting Bull, landing backwards on it with a grunt as the beast sent Ascalon flying. With no hesitation, he turned around, hands wrapping around its horns and his thighs clamping tight. It bucked, legs kicking backwards as he held on, letting out a whooping sound as he let go with one hand, waving it around as the beast began kicking.

With a grin, his semblance activated, any pain in his body trickling away as he grabbed onto the Sitting Bull's left horn. Aurellius began pulling with all of his strength, ignoring both the popping sounds coming from his muscles and the bull's new cries of pain. With a horrible ripping sound, its horn was pulled out of the socket, blood spurting out of the newly created hole as the bull screamed more.

Flipping the horn around in his hand, Aurellius brought it down on the beast's neck. Its scream cut to a gurgle as a large gash was opened in its jugular. Aurellius kept on stabbing, the beast's bucks slowing down until it finally collapsed, blood pumping weakly from the newly created holes. Aurellius hopped off of its back, hands bloody. "Well. That certainly was fun, I'm gonna keep this as a souvenir if nobody minds," he said, holding up the horn.


[System]
Character Sheet
Notable Parents: None
Age: 22
Sex: Female
Hair Color: Black
Eye color: Green
Appearance: 1.73m tall, her straight hair reaches down to her shoulders. Natasha is quite skinny for a woman her age, in fact many would say she is skin and bones only. Her skin is pale to the point she appears constantly sick… which is almost true. Just as her mentor, she wears a long black dress of interesting design.

Weapon: Somewhat thin and light looking staff, but in reality her real weapon is her magic.
Any Armor: A single sturdy crystal armguard on her left hand.
Biography: Born on Besaid island after the eternal calm, Naisha had a happy childhood. She grew up around the heroes who lived in the village and even grew up to love blitzball. She loved to swim and to run around waving sticks and wooden swords, dreaming that she will one day become a great warrior. One day though she came down with a terrible sickness. No one was sure what exactly it was and while magic seemed to help somewhat, she didn't recover completely. The strong and energetic girl, became rather weak and frail. Ever since that time she fell sick, her body was constantly weak. After even small amount of exertion, she would be forced to stay in bed for at least a day. As such her dreams of becoming a warrior and a blitzball player were shattered. All of that happened when she was 5. For almost a year Naisha secluded herself in her room, not really showing her face out much. Her family became very concerned for their daughter's wellbeing. Running out of options, they asked Lulu to teach her magic, hoping that once she realizes that even in her condition, she still had options besides warrior or player, she would at least stop locking herself away in her room.
 As it turned out she had a natural affinity for black magic. It still proved somewhat tiring even if it was mostly mental exhaustion. The young Naisha fell sick easily, but slowly she made progress. Within a year, her body got a little bit stronger, and she at least was able to walk around town without much troubles. She was able to meet her friends again and even if she was no longer able to play with them blitzball or practice swordplay, she was at least with them, smiling once again. Still even now when she sees blitzball players, a slight note of jealousy strikes her, but even more than that, she is happy that someone's dreams of becoming a player were accomplished. Sadly due her condition her movement is somewhat limited, she isn't able to walk great distances as even a normal paced walk from one end of the village to the other makes her breath quite heavily and feel pain in her chest. That staff of hers has also the function of walking stick for when her legs get weak. Still only that staff isn't enough so she has a special chair she uses to move around in greater distances. It's moving on small scaled engine and some special magic crystals that make it float slightly above the ground. Naisha still has to charge the crystals with float magic every day, but otherwise it seems to be working reasonably well. .
Personality: For a person who appears so sickly all the time and easily tired, Naisha is rather noisy. She likes to talk a lot with her friends, likes to meet people and to hear stories from beyond Besaid island. She plans to leave to island to explore the world. She also likes to use her magic a lot. Even though it's dangerous she likes to go hunt monsters and burn them to a c crisp… or turn them in ice cubes.
Are you arriving in Besaid or Living there? Living there.

[User]
Alex flicked her blue eyes toward the thief and Eva with a cold untrustworthy glare. "You're probably only just using her for some sort of plan. Didn't seem you really care for people when you use a injured person's bed as a workbench. You probably just want the benefits of being with a summoner. Or worse, what you could do." Alex growled, but huffed a little.

"But do what you want. Gippal and Urick can at least watch over you. Hopefully." Alex grumbled before her eyes fixed on Naisha one again. Frowning a little as the Mage noticed her obvious deformed features and started freaking out again.

Alex was about to attempt to comfort her friend but froze as Gippal moved in and comforted Naisha, wiping the tears away. The red head felt the hair on the back of her neck, her blue eyes slightly narrowing. Unlike seeing Saina or the thief touching Naisha, Alex wasn't angry. Just... Uneasy. And with the uneasiness came dissapointment and regret. Perhaps fear. Which just made the dissapointment stronger.

At Gippal's words, Alex couldn't help but grunt with irritation. "Don't lie to her." Alex muttered, unable to hold the bitter words back. Alex knew exactly what it meant to be a Guardian. It was a childish dream of hers and one of the set of rules she knew well. Whether they liked it or not, he was leaving. Again. And Alex doubted he'd take Naisha with him. In the end, he was a guardian. And the summoner came first. And the Summoner was the one to decide who came on the journey. So it just irritated her even more when he would make such a promise.

Standing up, she let Naisha's hand go and stepped away. "I'm going out now she's awake. Take care of her." Alex said with a growl to Gippal before walking out of the room.

The tall woman didn't mean to sound so bitter. Not while Naisha was upset anyway. Probably why she had to leave. Before she said something. Before she made the matter worse. Might as well do something productive. Gippal and Urick were better at making people feel better anyhow. She didn't know how to deal with it without panicking.

Perhaps it was a little bit manipulative and a jerk move to force Gippal
in a position to stay or leave Naisha unprotected without a friend by leaving, but she couldn't think of much else at the moment. Maybe Yuna or Lulu knew something about Naisha's condition and how to help her.

The moment Alex stepped out of the door, her sense grew fuzzy as a hard wave of rustic smell seemed to smash her face in. It was so thick that she had to scrunch her nose as she continued to walk. Her blue eyes gazed around her, watching people pass. Soldiers, civilians... Yet they didn't seem to feel like they were about to hurl. They just seemed sad. This smell. It was blood. A lot of blood. It made her mind hazy, as her eyes darted around. Yet it didn't seem like too much blood was about. Most seemed to be cleaned up already. Yet it felt like she was in a blood bath. Just like when she examined Naisha's blood though, she didn't feel.... Disgusted about it. Her brain was hazy, a soft humming emitting and she could hear whispers that said nothing at the same time.

Then it felt like she was drowning. Couldn't breathe. When she tried talking, gurgling was only heard before she coughed. Reaching some fingers to her lips, she felt a warm thick liquid. Strange. Had she worked too hard? This only happened at the temple usually. Maybe she was just too stressed out. Lady Yuna did say she needed to relax more often. Too much stress caused problems.

It didn't matter though.

Alex, swallowing a thick gulp of blood, she continued walking. Blue eyes focusing to examine the area. Her heart was racing. And she felt anger boil within her. Yet she couldn't think of a good reason for it. Maybe it was the blood. How many people were killed or hurt. Yes. It must be because of Thane she felt this anger boil.

Knocking on Naisha's door, the tall woman waited for a answer before entering the house. Searching the home for any sign of her parents, but found none. They must not be here yet. Deciding to leave, Alex continued wandering before perking up and finding Yuna. Giving a sigh of relief, the tall woman quickly went over and smiled, hugging the High Summoner tightly who gave a gasp and wiggled a little as her legs were lifted off the ground.

"Lady Yuna! You're okay!" Alex cheered.

"Ack! Can't..... Breathe.... Alex...!" Yuna gasped causing Alex to blink before setting the older woman down and grinned sheepishly.

"Oh. Sorry. Glad you're okay. Is everyone else okay?" Alex asked with some concern in her voice.

"Yeah. A bit roughed up. But they'll be okay. How's Gippal, Urick and Naisha?" Yuna asked softly.

Alex sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "The guys are fine. Naisha's alive. But... I wouldn't say she's okay." she said softly.

[Assistant]
After Urick came up to her and Eva, he motioned for everyone to move out. Something Saina silently nodded in agreement to as she looked up at the hulking man before her. She glanced in the direction of Naisha before making sure Eva was being aided by Urick, only to see the redhead she ignored storming out the door. She glanced at Urick and Eva with a quirked brow, her emotionlessness returning before she stepped out of the door herself. By that time, the redhead was long gone. She inhaled deeply as the sun kissed her pale skin and she closed her eyes. No doubt the others would be following suit in no time and she decided to take a step away from the homes opening to allow the passage of others to continue outward. Her hand rested on the hilt of her katana, but it was relaxed in a manner she preferred. She liked it being there, made her feel secure she supposed. Her hand found its way to the pocket of her cloak once more and she felt the sphere that Thane had left earlier, her long fingers tracing the indents of the small machine thoughtfully. Whenever the others had filed out, she spoke up.

"I should go check on my chocobo."

She declared this not to actually check on Mercury, after all he could more or less handle himself regardless of the conditions of the stables, but she felt it would be important to give the summoner, the mechanic, the muscular man and the man in the red coat a chance to talk. Though--on second thought, Urick wouldn't enjoy being forced into that spotlight. She turned to the group.

"Supplies should also be gathered before we start our journey. Perhaps now would be a good time to go together and make one last round throughout the town before heading off?"

There, the offer had been made. She knew Urick was loyal but now if he wanted an out from having to introduce Maximus, he had it. Sifen, Eva, or even Maximus himself were free to join as they pleased. Even if no one came, the time to herself would be beneficial to study the sphere Thane had left behind.

[User]
Naisha listened to Gippal as he was trying to comfort and calm her. Tears didn't exactly stop running down her cheeks, but she did at least start to calm down a little and her breathing started to return to normal. She looked at Urick as he squeezed gently her shoulder before he and the rest went outside, even Alex left now. The mage understood what Gippal was telling her, her mind was also telling her it wasn't her fault, but she still couldn't stop feeling guilty about being so easy to take over. What if this happened again at some point? What was she going to do at that time? "Listen to him, it wasn't your fault. It was that man's, Thane. If someone is to blame it's him for bringing that monster into existence." Naisha heard a cold sounding voice ringing through her head..." Yeah... it's his fault... He needs to be stopped... by any means..." She weakly said after that. It seemed as Nai was agreeing with Gippal as obviously he couldn't hear the voices in her head. She felt anger now, instead of the self pity and regret." Good in such cases anger is better to have than other negative emotions." She heard the cold voice again.

 Now that they were the only two in the room, Naisha turned her head towards Gippal. Her eyes were red from the crying earlier." Gippal, don't leave me behind... You will have to go soon. I know what it means to be a Guardian. You have to follow the summoner..." Naisha said with pleading voice." Even if Eva doesn't take me as a Guardian, just... take me with you at least till Luca! I have to leave and go after Thane too! If I can't go with you, I will contact Aunt Rikku from there! I know the Al Bhed have ships that travel the world without rest! I'm sure they will allow me to join one of them!" The frail girl stated. She knew now that she looked like this things were going to become even harder for her. People disliked the different... at least the Al Bhed were know to be a lot more tolerant. It was going to be safer with them than to stay here if she wasn't allow to go with the others as a Guardian. She knew that people from Yevon will come for her eventually...


[System]
I am a mighty goblin... maybe.
Gender: Male

Appearance: Skrik's eyes and smile are more vicious than the average goblin. Combined with his lanky figure, red-gold eyes, and preference for very tight places, he is one creepy looking goblin, even among goblins.

Personality: Being betrayed by his best friend in his past life has had an effect on his thinking. He accepts the possibility of treachery and murder, unknowingly becoming more likely to kill other goblins as a result. However, he is still undecided as to whether or not he will be loyal to his own kind. He has a strong sense of need, knowing that everyone needs something and that the one who can provide what is needed has power over the one with the need. Thus, he will always seek to understand the motivation behind the actions of people and creatures. However, this does not help him with a deep seated loneliness that lurks deep within him.

He is also very visceral, being strongly influenced by his physical senses and susceptible to certain social forms of manipulation. He enjoys his food and drink more than most as well as the moment of the kill and the taste of fresh blood.

Past Life History: Studying to become a doctor while working with livestock on a farm can make for an inspiring story… so long as it doesn't end with your best friend luring your out into a fallow field to beat you to death with rebar because he thought you were looking at his girlfriend too closely.

Skill: Butcher's Insight: Heightened ability to find vital points, predict movement based on physiology, and get the most out of a carcass.

Other:

[User]
Hobgoblin Luz

@Jangel13

Luz went all out on her assault but to her surprise, most of her attacks hit nothing but air, and the few that did land on him was only able to land on small parts of his flesh, It was now clear to her that Gird dodging capability was now on a whole nother level from what it before. After 15 seconds of none stop punch throwing Luz then decided to jump backward twice creating a gap of 10 yards between the two so that her body can get a small break; however, she did not let her guard down for she kept in her boxer stance and watched him like a hawk.

"Damn you were not kidding. Your reaction time and agility is something else." She told him sounding impressed however she did not waste any more time talking for if Gird were to attack her then and there while she fapping her gums she would have no one to blame but herself. Luz then decided to use her craw and swing it down at the vines that held her spear on her back before grabbing her spear behind her on its way down before turning her spear backward so that the pointed end was pointing away from him and taking a combat stance where it easier to thrust the butt of her spear in his direction.

It was then clear that Luz knew that Gird new form created a gap of power between them so in order to win Luz must pull out all the stops. she then charges at him and getting into striking distance before she begins rapidly thrust the butt of her spear at him. then after the 6 thrust, Luz decided it was finally time to start using it. So she pulled the spear back after her 6 thrust and aimed it at his gut, then she thrust it faster than normal using her skill Quick Strike then regardless of rather not it actually hit or not she would then keep thrust so long as Gird was still on his using Quick Strike every 2-3 thrust.

[Assistant]
Ghoul Gird  Just some harmless training > this is going to hurt /// Day 6 // Morning

Gird was quite impressed himself in his current abilities and the addition of a new fighting stance just made him feel all the stronger. But then she backed off giving more room in-between the two, a good strategy against someone that needs to get up and personal. He watched her movements for a little while. Luz's body language was telling him she was going to come at him again.

In the brief moment of her complement Gird whispered to the spirit he was carrying around with him, "Gobta after this I might need some of your knowledge about healing. Because this is going to hurt." He was well aware of what he was doing. It wouldn't be very fair for him to gain all the skills and have his friend gain nothing in return. That and with what he was about to do he knew it would test his Stone Skin skill.

Luz charged from her position the blunt end of her spear facing him. Gird resisted all of his natural instincts to dodge and instead he focused on blocking the strikes with his for arms and legs but otherwise taking every hit. Planting his feet deeper hit after hit to stay upright and resist his friend's strength to throw him to the ground. Taking the last blow to his stomach he dropped to one knee momentarily. Taking a moment to stand back up and resume his defensive position.

EXP: 0

Inventory: Purple Book

Clothing: Alpha rabbit loin cloth, Medium bone and spider silk armor, Old Goblin Healer Skull named Gobta,

Weapons: Sharp Bite, Claws,

Acquired Skills: Beast Tamer, Sharp Bite, Knowledge of the 3, Unarmed Combat: beginner, Rookie camouflage, bloody strike, Grave keepers Spirit, Silk Spinning, Stone Skin, Deathly movements, Dead whispers, Stone Wind Stance,

Titles:

Blessings: Blessings of the dead, Devils luck,

Current Injuries:

Curses:

[User]
Goblin Gredy

Gredy shrugged a little at the statement, not seeming... all that broken up about the idea that those he had been with were dead. "Yeah I... kind of came to that conclusion a while ago. It's sad and I'll miss them but... well, right now worrying about them isn't going to help me." As it became clear that he was expected to work for his lodgings and food, he nodded his head in complete understanding. "Yeah I figured. What do you need me to do currently? Cause I'm not going to lie, some food and water would be amazing right now."

[Assistant]
Hobgoblin Luz

@Jangel13

After successfully landing a successful strike on Gird stomach Luz then stopped thrusting before she took a defensive stance with her spear and begin slowly stepping backward back to allow him to stand back up, once Gird got back up and got back in his defensive stance, Luz then smiled at him before changing her stance back to spear thrusting stance before charging at him and thrusting her spear(the blunt end) four times at him aiming at his torso before using Quick Strike three times in a row, First strike would aim around where she hit him the first time, second strike would aim at the area around right his shoulder, and the last strike would be aimed at the area right below the middle part of his ribs.

Afterword she would stop to take a defensive stance with her spear before jumping back to create a 5-yard gap between them. She then sighed before saying. "You know, it ruins the point of testing your new capabilities if you never launch in an attack." She told him honestly frowning slightly at him, for she wasn't really sure why he hasn't attacked her back by now. She then activated her Stone Skin ability to help protect her from his attacks. Then the changed her stance back to an attack stance. "Come! attack me if you can." She told him as if challenging him; all the while a fire burns within her eyes. If Gird accepts her invitation She plans on using quicken strike on his stomach second he moves into the reach of her spear.

[User]
The ogre went to work and soon completed a proper forge, one that even the God would approve of. The forge was ready and all that was needed left was a fire and metal ore. When the ogre baptized his wolf with it's new name the wolf then gave a loud howl before it's body accepted the crest into it's body. The symbol was now a part of it's fur and now a row of metallic spikes ran down it's head down to the tip of it's tail. It's claws and fangs seemed to be made of the same material. The bright silver clashing with it's black fur and it's large size mad it an animal to be feared. Ren soon realized that in baptizing his wolf for the forgefather he made it the avatar of his faith.

Companion evolved into: forge wolf, the forge wolf is an avatar to the forgefather and is now able to bite and slash enemies as if it's very body was a sword. When gaining a pack they will inherit the same qualities.

Skrik kept his eyes focused on the rabbit and was able to keep his bloodlust in check. When he threw the javelin the rabbit didn't notice him until it was too late. The moment that the rabbit tried to leave was the same moment that the javelin pierced it's hide. It's leg was hit clean threw and when it tried to run it simply made it worse. It only took two more steps before it died from blood loss.

Goblin skrik gained: throwing intuition, this gonlins having thrown enough things has been given insight when using a thrown weapon. He can accurately guess the distance, wind, angle, and strength of his throws. At higher levels can gain pinpoint accuracy to his targets weak spots.

@demonspade64

After being confronted with his partners new stance the hobgoblin Luz used a new type of attack. After using her quick strike multiple times and striking within the next moment she gained a new ability. She gained Unrelenting assault: with this ability she was able to keep striking with great speed and as a result she gave the goblin gird no real openings without the risk of taking the full brunt of her assault. At higher levels she would able to use even greater speed to end a fight before it even starts.

He nodded as he said that he could use some food and water. He then said "yeah right now I can use some help hunting. We both need to get stronger and the only way to do that is to hunt. Don't worry I'm not going to let you get killed." he said before he went into the cave and he grabbed a skinny club that was nearly as big as himself. It was of course meant to be used by the trolls but it was the only weapon he felt comfortable using. He then told the trolls to guard the place till he got back and if someone tries to get in that isn't from his tribe to keep them out till he got back.

[Assistant]
Skrik's patience and care was rewarded yet again. This kill was quick and fairly quiet, though the hit was not as clean as he would have wished. Still, the simple wooden javelin had proven to be powerful enough for this familiar prey. He would have to re-evaluate his opinion on them, it seemed that he had been underestimating them.

He contemplated his skills briefly, noting that his effectiveness mostly stemmed from precision, surprise, and range. He advanced toward his prey and carefully cleaned and skinned it, being careful to keep the fat with the meat and most of the bones inside the skin, but burying the skull in a shallow hole in the shadow of the nearby bushes. Over this, he placed a simple cairn of handy stones that rose about the length of his hand above the surrounding ground. The plenty that this beast had enjoyed would now be a source of power for him.

Skrik also found a couple large leaves and used them in combination as a crude pouch to store a couple handfuls of the berries that the horned rabbit had been eating. The pouch wouldn't last long, but it wouldn't have to. He also reclaimed the thrown javelin, checking it for damage before securing it for carry with the others. Even if it was damaged, it would be useful for practice. The berries would serve him well as a travel snack as he continued on his way back to the cave.

He had intended to hunt more extensively. But, he couldn't justify wanton slaughter for the sake of mere practice. If he had better equipment and a larger pack to carry game and materials then it might have been justifiable but with things as they were he had no need for such reckless harvesting. Still, he did make a mental note as to the location where there had been such a gathering of horned rabbits. He might need to hunt there again. For now, Skrik retraced his steps back toward the cave, moving as swiftly as he dared but being cautious of losing his way. He also took care to keep his guard up in case something more dangerous than a horned rabbit stumbled across him. Still, his goal was to make it back to the cave before nightfall. He would need to verify whether or not anything had made the cave into a den in the absence of the goblins.

EXP: 8

Inventory: (Numbing) Poison Rock Knife, Cloth Wristbands, Cloth Neckband, Tight Loincloth, Crude harness, Rabbit hide pouch, 1 wooden short spear, 3 (Numbing) Poison light javelins,.

Treehouse Camp: 1 Stout sapling, 7 (Numbing) Poison light javelins, 2 (Numbing) Poison practice javelins, rabbit bones (2 sets, lacking skulls), leaf pouch of wood shavings, 30 smooth pebbles

Starting Skill: Butcher's Insight [Heightened ability to find vital points, predict movement based on physiology, and get the most out of a carcass.]
Acquired Skills:
Slash (claws)= The goblin has learned how to use his sharper nails to create a slashing attack making it effective in rending flesh. Has no effect on armor; can be upgraded
Pierce (weapon)= The goblin has learned to pinpoint a spot on an enemy and use a sharp weapon to strike hard at it. This allows the goblin to strike a deadly blow with any sharp weapon and when upgraded can pierce through weapons and armor.
Throwing Intuition= This goblin, having thrown enough things, has been given insight when using a thrown weapon. He can accurately guess the distance, wind, angle, and strength of his throws. At higher levels can gain pinpoint accuracy to his targets weak spots.

Titles:

Blessings:

Curses:

-Flint from starting cave.
-Horned Rabbits from local area near berries, just a bit upriver from Tree Camp
-Sand from around the pond
-Prism crystals from bottom of pond
-Fist sized rocks from the river

Crafting goal list:
-Rock jars with wood stoppers sealed with "wax" (drill hole partway through round rock)
-Flint tipped spears
-Flint knife (hide wrapped grip for better use)
-Horn tipped javelins
-flint throwing stones (kunai)
-Meditation crystal array (prism crystals arranged around a candle to help him focus on magic training)
-Drill (spinning stick with grains of sand to grind a hole)
-Fire starting set (two sticks and a wad of tinder)
-Fire place (Ground level near base of Tree Camp)

-Pool Contents
-Flow of 'strength' through web of life (Magic 101)
-Balance between living and dead (Religion 101)
-Small game trapping (Snares)
-Large game trapping (Claw, Jaw, Pit, Tree traps)
-Properties of Numbing Oil
-Poisonous plants and secondary properties
-Stone Shaping (Knapping)
-Woodworking
-Rope Making
-Fire (How to: Make, maintain, strengthen, weaken, store, and focus, as well as a behavioral analysis)


[System]
Serafina

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt

---

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Personal Information
Nickname:
Fin, Lils to close friends

Birth Date:
September 24, 1992

Age:
23

Gender:
Female

Sexuality:
Straight

---

In The Mirror

In Depth Appearance:
Serafina has long brown hair with bangs sweeping over her forehead. Her eyes are hazel, and a bit bigger than the eyes of most girls her age. She's lightly tanned and her skin is fairly unblemished, with only the occasional small scar from childhood accidents. Standing at 5'5", she's rather short for her age, although she doesn't mind. Her ears are pierced, but she won't pierce anything else, no matter what. Her somewhat-guilty secret is a tattoo of a peacock on her back; its head reaches almost to her neck, and it covers most of her back. Her hands and feet are small, and she's not too curvy, but still looks feminine.

Clothing Style:
Serafina tends to dress in cream, gold, and brown, with the occasional splash of blue or green. She favors overlarge sweaters, leggings, and tall boots in the colder months, along with a fluffy scarf. When it's warmer outside, she wears shorts of a modest length and tank tops, paired with Roman-style sandals, although she will sometimes wear a sundress. The only jewelry she wears is a pair of blue sapphire earrings, which were a gift from her father.

---

Delving Deeper

Likes:
* Faithful romantic partners
* Chocolate
* "Adopting" younger demigods
* Bollywood romcoms, especially one called Jab We Met
* Singing

Dislikes:
* Cheaters
* Zucchini
* Mean people
* People who mess with people's hearts
* People hearing her singing

Fears:
* Failing to protect her "children"
* Small spaces
* Being unable to breathe

Habits:
* Mothering people in distress
* Humming
* Replacing an English word with a word in another language, usually Hindi

Personality:
♦ Motherliness ♦ Loyalty ♦ Calmness ♦ Insecurity
Serafina is a natural mother; she wants to take care of everyone, and usually does. Anyone she takes under her wing, she is loyal to until the very end. She's very calm in a crisis, and good at giving advice; at least, in certain subjects. She'll always be the first to encourage someone to believe in themselves and their dreams. However, she's secretly rather insecure about herself. She won't sing for anyone, because she thinks she's not that good at it. She thinks she's not very attractive, and won't listen when anyone says otherwise.

Background:
Serafina grew up with a father who loved her, no siblings, and no mother. She didn't mind it too much; she had her father, and that was enough for her. Starting school was a bit scary for her, but she made a few good friends, and "adopted" them all.
In her group of friends, Serafina was obviously the mother figure. She looked after them all, sometimes without them knowing, and would do anything to protect them. However, she always kept her problems secret from them. The bullies in her middle school caused serious damage to her self-esteem. Despite her loving father and loyal friends, she believed the bullies when they said she would never amount to anything much. The issues she gained from school stayed with her all her life. Since she came to Olympus Academy, however, she's regained a bit of her self-confidence. After all, she is the daughter of the queen of the gods.

Extra:
Like I said before, Poseidon and Hestia~
(Also, I think Serafina would be able to officiate demigod weddings, yes?)

---

Godly Information
Godly Parent:
Hera, wife of Zeus and queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and faithfulness.

Relationship With Godly Parent:
Serafina has always been a bit in awe of her mother, which Hera has been patiently working to dispel. Hera just wants a loving mother-daughter relationship, but Serafina is a bit too respectful and polite for them to really bond. Secretly, Serafina wants to make sure she doesn't drive off the only mother she's ever known.

Godly Abilities:
Summoning - Serafina can summon peacocks, her mother's sacred animals, to defend herself.
Knowledge of Love - Serafina can sense when a relationship is going well, and when a couple are nearing divorce.

[User]
Alex Hannelore

Location; Olympus Academy Grounds
Interacting With;Corinthe Malakos @Obscurus

---

---

Alex briefly gave Corinthe a bewildered look. Would She really use a pop culture reference as the solution to a puzzle? Had she been doing that for a while? Alex had seen The Lord of the Rings-- once, five years ago-- but she didn't at all remember the Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, and neither did she understand what the inscription meant. Neurons fired across the bow of Alex's mind, as she faintly reminisced of the scene the ineffable inscription came from.

"Yeah, yeah... that was from, eh... the scene with the big doors, right?" Said Alex, sheepishly. "Gandalf said something and opened the doors, or something like that? I guess... whatever it is he said should help get this thing open."

Alex wracked her brain for answers, and came up with nothing. What was it that the door said in the movie? "Speak and enter"? Speak what? Alex brushed a wayward strand of hair back under her cap, and drummed her fingers on the puzzle box.

"Hey-- you don't happen to know what Gandalf said, do you?" Alex looked to Corinthe imploringly. The library probably had the answer, but maybe she already knew it?

[Assistant]
Dallas Relo and Zeke Carter

Location: Olympus Academy
Interacting With: Dallas Relo and Zeke Carter

As the minutes crept into an hour, and then another hour, the empty campus of Olympus Academy slowly started to hum with activity, as demigods arrived in their own cars, limousines, or in more unconventional methods suited to their parentage and temperament. Of particular interest were the pairs that started to form as brothers started to link up with sisters, sharing both physical resemblances and stories of their summers once they had migrated towards each other. So it was particularly odd seeing one pair split up, a sister leaving a smattering of bags and luggage behind in her brother's wake while the limo that dropped them off pulled away, dignified.

While Zeke Carter sped off to drop off the bags in record time and then get back to his no-doubt-vitally-important-eye-flirting, a blonde boy, laying down on the hood of a Mazda with knees raised and one hand behind his head, pushed his hair back with his free hand and half-groaned in epiphany. When Zeke returned, however, that blonde boy was standing directly in his path, grinning with a natural trickster's vibe with arms crossed, one hand cupping one elbow. When he went out to shake the hand of Zeus's son, the hand went right through Zeke's.

Two more Dallases, standing now on opposite sides of him, laughed even more loudly, while the boy on the Mazda finally stood atop the hood of his car and bounced, gracefully, onto the soft grass below. As he paced closer to Zeke, the three illusionary clones started to shimmer in focus, catching the light of the sun like windows, before finally blinking out of existence when they were within dueling distance. He adopted the same playful grin that his first clone had been wearing - and this time, stuck his hand out for real.

"Sorry bro. Rough morning, and I knew I could fool you with it. No hard feelings?"

Normally, Zeke would be pretty pissed about someone messing with him like that. But since it was Dallas, he let him off with a warning punch on the shoulder. That's not to say that it wasn't a hard hit though. "Hey man. Between you and me? I could never hold a grudge on you," he chuckled, patting his good friend and teammate on the back, but again not bothering to control his strength.

"Great! Glad to hear it." Dallas grinned a little wider, biting back the urge to rub his shoulder, and dug a toe of one Jordan into the grass of the campus courtyard. "Because I had a real night, believe you me, buddy. Eleven hours between here and California with no pit stops, and now that I'm trying to get a nap in before assembly, the sun's out giving me energy. It's a pain and a half in the ass, Zeke. It's left me really unencouraged to do anything in classes today. Or tomorrow. Until the weekend, honestly. And that's not good, man - I got a little sister, not even 18 yet. What kind of example am I setting for her if I sleep through classes for the whole first week? So I figure, you know, we get together in the apartments sometime tonight, tomorrow night. Throw out some invites, we crack some beers, and we all motivate each other for the year's worth of scholastic achievement ahead. Only thing is, I only brought three or four twelve-packs, and nobody's gonna be feeling very positive about school with only three beers in them. I figure, between me and you, we'll plan something sufficiently...uh....interesting."

A night filled with underaged drinkings and possible shenanigans that followed it? Dallas definitely knew how to start the school year off right! Zeke thought about it for a moment, which is rare for him. "I have one pack over at my place that I can bring, but that still wouldn't be enough... But I'm sure I can convince the rest of the football team to pitch in."

Zeke was already making a mental list of who they should invite. He also had to be careful that Stella didn't find about it. Miss Perfect will totally tattle on them if she caught them having a drinking party. He loved his sister and all, but damn, she can be a pain being all 'motherly' and shit.

Clearly, Dallas had come to pretty much the same conclusion - with the added caveat that his sister was not only six years younger than Zeke's, but far more impressionable. Thoughtfully, he ran his hand through his hair, pulled his bangs back over sapphire eyes, and then repeated the process for a minute until his face lit up in thought.

Then it sank.

He began tugging at his hair again before finally shaking his head."You know what? Yeah, you worry about the beer. I'll worry about where we throw this and who gets to find out. Any VIPs you're dying to drink with?"

Zeke did have one person particularly in mind. "The one and only, daughter of Aphrodite, Clarissa Price. She's a total babe," he admitted unshyly and without hesitation. He has had his eyes set on her since he laid eyes on her. She was completely gorgeous and she had the perfect body to go with it. He gave Dallas a look that said that if he tried anything on Clarissa, he would most likely be dead in a river the next morning. Seconds later, his face returned back to its normal dopey self, leaving no trace of hostility.

"Mostly just the guys though. Any hot girl willing to party is fine by me too." he added. Zeke checked his phone for a second and noticed the time. The assembly was going to start soon. "By chance do you think they'll actually let us skip the assembly this year? We've only heard that stupid speech like a bazillion times..."

"Fuck. Yeah, tell me about it. If I hadn't had such a genius idea to unify our peers and all get wasted together, I'd think that hearing the whole 'these years are the most important of your demigod lives' thing would be a good time to unwind a little." Dallas raised his eyebrows slightly, and one corner of his mouth twitched in a playful smile. "Alright, man, I should probably get a move on. Find my sister, God only knows what she's gotten herself into without me there. You, uh, talk to the team, and I'll put in a good word for you with whatshername. The girl I don't care about."

Beaming wider, the son of the sun clasped his friend's hand again, used the other to push back his own hair one more time.

"Talk to you at lunch?"

"For sure, man. See you then." Satisfied so far with their plans, Zeke walked off along the path, looking for more ways to waste time or hopefully a way to get out of going to the assembly.

Dallas, meanwhile, casually used his Nikes to smooth over the spot in the grass where the toe of the shoe had dug into the soft soil. While his feet worked, the demigod half debated just kicking back in the grass with his entire body; laying spread-eagled, letting the sun soak him with enough of its golden rays to carry him through the day. But that would mean missing out on more than just a few dumb first-day festivities, it would mean missing out on friendly time, family time, and skimping out on the invites for the party. He wasn't about to cut his own social femoral artery by being alone in his dorm with sixty beers. Fuck that.

But that was still...by now, about fourteen hours off. Right. Dallas had more pressing concerns.

To: Vivian
From: Dallas
HEY BABE! If anyone asks, I hit, like, a deer. Or some really big animal. On the road from California. It shouldn't affect most of my day, but I don't know if I'm going to make the assembly. Don't worry, I'm okay. It's a good thing this very tragic and authentic accident that I have honestly found myself in won't ruin most of our first day together in months. I can't wait to see you after my miraculous recovery time! - Love your 100% traumatized brother

That's more like it.

[User]
Serafina Lewison
Location; Olympus Academy campus
Interacting With; Anyone

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---

Judging by the way students were scurrying around, it was almost time for the assembly. Unlike some of the returning students, Serafina always came to the assembly. That was where she started looking out for those who might be in need of comfort, and besides, she was one of the most frequent volunteers to show the new kids around.

Standing and stretching, she ignored a couple of boys who eyed her and whistled. They were probably just teasing, anyway; why would they look at her when there were so many absolutely gorgeous girls on campus? Brushing off her dress, she made her way towards the assembly hall.

Serafina made it to the assembly hall about ten minutes before it was due to start, so she stood near the doors and waited. She wasn't the only one with that idea, apparently, and she looked over at the nearest person and smiled. "Hey." She said. "I'm Serafina. What's your name?"


[System]
Age: 22

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Class: Mayonite Paladin

Appearance:

Personality: Marc is a noble, proud man with nothing but kind words for everyone, even his enemies. All individuals are worth his time, as it is his duty to aid those in need. He possesses a deadpan sort of humour but is not snarky or given to jibes. Most of all, though, Marc is honourable, and willing to be fair and noble towards all and will never judge an enemy without hearing the full story. All can be redeemed in his eyes! He is, however, a little self-conscious about his height, being six foot five and towering over most people.

Brief Backstory: Born to the noble Ferrus family of Velt, Marc was encouraged early on to join the Holy Order of Mayon due to his peaceful and wise nature. While he was a studious, yet strong boy, the Moon Goddess appealed to him, and he found it a great honour to be in her service. As such, he became a Paladin of the Moon Goddess, sworn to uplold the peace in her name.

Equipment: Marc wears a suit of heavy armor to protect himself. It is not enchanted, instead being sturdy and solidly built and held up by Marc's exceptional strength. He also possesses a heater shield, embossed with the rose of Mayon, and enchanted to temporarily freeze any weapon that comes into contact with it. He does not use the traditional tower shield, though he is trained in its use, as it is too cumbersome for tight fighting environments. He wields a spear, Guardian, kept very sharp and pointy and enchanted with icy powers that are activated when the spear is impaled into an enemy, chilling them to the bone and, given a bit of time, freezing them solid. He also carries Protector, a very sharp arming sword with the same enchantment as his spear at his hip.

Abilities:
Trained Fighter - Marc is exceptionally skilled in the art of sword, shield and spear, leading him to a defensive yet rapid style of fighting where he wears the opponent down while remaining in top form.

Physical Powerhouse - Having trained for many years, Marc Ferrus is absolutely a walking tank, able to take blows in his armor while barely flinching. Despite this, he is not cumbersome, instead rather quick and precise, as he has trained in his armor and with his weapons for so long that they no longer encumber him. He may not move so much, but he rarely needs to.

Charismatic - Marc is a really nice guy. People tend to flock to him and he is perfectly happy to lend them his time.

[User]
Fieri Angharad's dedicated searching eventually paid off. Sure enough, there was a sizable hole in the building's foundation. Though it was too high off the ground to simply walk into, the stonemasonry below it was rough and uneven-- perfect for climbing. Using her hands to propel her upwards and her muscular tail as a muscular anchor, Fieri gradually slithered up to and through the precipice without any trouble. With one mighty lunge, Fieri heaved herself into the tower's innards... and landed heavily on a moldering stone staircase. There were no innards, save for a single winding staircase.

Fieri grunted with equal measures frustration and pain. No lobby meant no easy place to set up shop! She'd be forced to crawl into the moldy musty underbelly of this damned dungeon! Worse yet, she'd have to use the stairs! Accidentally slamming the base of her tail on every step, Fieri slowly and achingly began making her way down the stone stairway.

Just as Fieri was starting to ponder about the depth of this seemingly-endless staircase, she heard a soft click. A trap had been sprung! The stone steps slowly began to angle themselves downward and rescind, leaving only a slippery, wet, stony ramp! This surprising change of events, while potentially disastrous for a biped, served only to make the snake-bodied Fieri's job easier. Her tail muscles easily gripped the imperfections in the stone steps, and all downward progress was handily halted. With no steps to bruise her tail on, Fieri quietly praised the designers of the Mad King's dungeon for their diligent concern for handicapped intruders.

At the base of the stairs was a quite inconvenient gap. Presumably, bipedal intruders would have found themselves sliding unstoppably to whatever lied below. Fieri, however, managed to stop herself in time. Coiling her tail and springing it forward, Fieri leaped over the gap and made it to the floor beyond with a meaty thud. Suffering only a few tail bruises and a wet underbelly, Fieri surged with confidence. She continued on into the depths of the dungeon, in search of plunder and marketing opportunities.

[Assistant]
Liliane had noticed that her yell hadn't gone unheard. The rather small paladin had called her (and possibly a few others) over. Liliane took one step forward and heard another shout by one of the tiny paladin's companion. The second yell was unexpected. "Aye?" Liliane yelled back to him, wondering why he knew that she was a treasure hunter.

Liliane, with tree nuts in hand, walked over to the mini-paladin's table. Liliane then noticed that the small competition between the soldier lady and man who looked like an average warrior had spiralled into someone's arm being gnarled. Luckily, the arm appeared to be tended to by a foreign person.

Liliane stood there, amazed that so many events could happen at a bar in less than 8 minutes.

[User]
Al nodded at the doctor's words. He understood that alcohol was good. A trained medical professional only confirmed that it could cure outside injuries, not just inside ones.

The swordsman immediately bought a very large, very strong bottle of whiskey, slipping it inside his bag.

"I think it's like a tomb or something. I knew some guys that cleared out the upper floors the other month; they made out with some decent loot. It's got like traps and stuff, but if you're looking for cash we can head towards the lower floors." he explained to the dog girl. Or was it a fox girl? Al made a mental note to ask after he'd secured a paycheck.

"Yeah, I'll join. It'll be an adventure!" he told Marc, emphasizing 'adventure' by pounding his fist into his hand, as the mental note was buried under thoughts like 'That tail is rather fluffy' and 'I hope Haldric's tomb doesn't have terribly many snakes'.

[Assistant]
"A-adventure!" Sergeant Wykes waved about in a dizzy fashion. "Okay miss Paladin. I'll join you." Sergeant Wykes offered, looking down at her arm. She tried moving her arm, but the act was met with more pain than anything else. In other words, the splint was effective. The knight attempted to pick at her arm a little bit. She wondered what it would be like should she have an itch- not that it mattered quite yet.

Sergeant Wykes attempted to reach to her back, untying the knot right off her neck as she moved the arm a little bit out to stretch. "Oh... it's all better" Cristine giggled in drunken confusion. She hiccuped again and began shadowboxing at the air.

"Thanks bird lady"

[User]
Tanya cleared her throat. Good, the soldier woman was healed, and everything seemed to have quite nicely quieted down. And indeed, there were many who seemed rather interested in what she had to say. Even the drunken woman, who would hopefully sober up before they got going. Tanya was not to keen on taking a drunk into a dungeon, especially for a mission as important as this. To be fair, the lack of exposure to the deepest point of Haldric's Prison-Castle meant she was not sure exactly what evil lurked there, but regardless bringing someone who was drunk seemed a poor idea. However, some people sobered up quickly, a fact that Tanya was glad for in any situation.

"The Prison-Castle of the Mad King Haldric is not too far from here," she began, "And within it, a terrible evil lies. There is a reason goblins are drawn to it and it's filled with mindless undead. There's something at the bottom. Something acting as a beacon to foul creatures like that. As a Paladin of Reon, it is my duty to eradicate evil such as this. However, many of my usual allies are unable to accompany me. With two exceptions."

She paused for a moment, glancing from Sophia to the Mayonite Paladin and back. "That is why I have come to this...

Tanya paused for a moment. She hated taverns.

"... Wonderful place. In order to gather a party to reach the final floor of the Prison-Castle and slay the darkness there. I will only take a small amount of wealth for the Church, all else may be divided between each of you."

Indeed, Tanya certainly did not want for wealth.

"Sophia, our scholar and nun, will inform you more of the Prison-Castle."

[Assistant]
Not a sound was made as Fieri's leathery tail slithered along the confines of Haldric's Prison-Castle. The halls ahead, barren and looted long ago, were dimly lit by still-burning torches helpfully placed by the castle's previous plunderers. The gloomy light emitted by the torches playfully flickered along the floor, revealing conspicuously missing tiles. On closer inspection, the tiles appeared to be pressure plates long-ago uprooted, their mechanic innards looted and sold. A brief splash of inspiration struck Fieri-- the forester said something about this castle being filled with traps. All I need to do it loot them, and I'll be rich! An evil glint shone in Fieri's eye, as a whole range of mercantile opportunities opened themselves to her. Fieri slithered on.

The nondescript, winding walls of the Prison-Castle gradually began to reveal more and more of their creator's personal tastes. Though the castle's ancient traps had been made almost obnoxiously conspicuous through either previous adventurers' markings or their mechanisms obvious absence, they were becoming alarmingly common. Every few yards, another shattered or removed pressure plate would cross her view. Whatever the Prison-Castle's previous occupants did, it was clear that they had to do it carefully. The sheer density of traps on this floor spoke volumes of the Mad King's paranoia. Fieri, harrowed but unwilling to turn back, occupied herself by brainstorming. Fieri, being an entrepreneur, knew that she couldn't earn any customers by simply offering services, she would have to offer goods as well. A proof of concept could go a long way to ensure that she would be worth the money she wanted from them. To do that, she would need to Artifice. To Artifice, she needed ideas. It was at that point that Fieri activated a cleverly-hidden spike trap.

In retrospect, Fieri probably shouldn't have been thinking so hard on what enchantments would be useful, especially given where she was. It was only thanks to dumb luck and the misfortune of a previous adventurer that Fieri avoided impalement. Instead of meeting hard, rusty steel at the end of a spike, Fieri was instead struck with the corpse of a leather-clad humanoid, rotted far beyond the point of recognizability. For a moment, Fieri was dumbstruck. Then, like a bloated float rising from the depths, Fieri emitted an animal noise, mindless and pained. What started as an idiot's croak grew quickly into a shrill scream, and Fieri flung herself backwards until her back slammed into the wall. Fieri, overcome with panic, curled up into the fetal position, and began sobbing hysterically.

[User]
"Kill a demon, loot the treasure. I know the deal." Al gave a large smile at the paladin, adjusting his sword sling.
"It's nothing I don't already do on a regular basis anyways. Heck, I even know the way from here." he said, opening the large tavern doors, letting in a fresh draft of air from outside.

"I think it's time we blow this scene. Get everybody and the stuff together." he said, stepping outside.

[Assistant]
"Alright guy who broke my arm. I guess I'm gonna follow you until I get my revenge. WOOHOO!" Cristine spun around drunkenly. She felt herslf to make sure nothing was missing, unscrewing the pommel on her sword, then twisting it back to make sure it was tight. "Buh-bye" she waved the tavern before opening the door and stepping through, leaving the door open to let in the draft.

Sergeant Wykes unhinged her horse and got on. It seemed that while her mental status was off, she still had some level of coordination. In fact, it was not the first time Sergeant Wykes had rode a horse drunk.

"Weeheehee!"

[User]
Both the big guy and the purple child explained to her about this castle, but Haruka still didn't quite understand. What she wanted to know was why Haldric was so angry, but no one seemed intent on answering. Perhaps nobody knew. Perhaps she would have to find out herself. Also, she guessed that there was evil and money there too. If Haruka knew anything, it was that evil was bad and that she needed more money. Thus, it was decided.

Haruka excitedly rushed out of the tavern behind the big guy and the drunk woman, who was fine now somehow. Either Westerners were also amazing at healing, or else Haruka's skills have become so fantastic that she could mend a broken arm completely in minutes. Either way, it was fascinating to her. She still didn't quite know what was going on, but everyone was really excited and that made her excited too.

"OK," she cried out, "3, 2, 1, let us travel now to our destination!"

[Assistant]
Well three people had just left, leaving only the treasure hunter lookalike and the robed man. This would not do!

"I had better follow them!" Marc promptly declared. "They have no idea the danger and excitement that awaits them! I'll fill them in on the way! I hope to see you there once we reach the dungeon Lady Tanya, Miss Sophia!"

And like that he was out the door, pursuing Al, Wykes and the strange fox lady. Still unarmed and unarmored. "Wait, wait!" he called after the departing trio. "Before you leave, I must gather my equipment! It is at the orphanage, see. I have been staying with them, as they will be receiving my share of the reward!" Once again, Marc Ferrus was daft enough to try and explain everything to everyone at every time.


[System]
GENDER: Female (she/her)
AGE: 19

APPEARANCE:

BACKGROUND: Daughter to a carpenter and a poet, Ardonne was steeped in the fantastical from an early age. She was one of the few girls in her hometown, the village of Bresh, to become fully literate before her tenth birthday; a precocious habit that stuck to her psyche like glue and became one of many damning marks against her. Her father needed a woodsman, not a daughter, and reared Ardonne as such. Her mother valued the virtues of femininity and oft imparted lectures and lessons to smooth the roughness of her eldest's character but only found purchase in deciding what Ardonne would read. Her weapon of choice in securing a steadfast daughter was the fairy tale and with it, the enchantment of the forest heightened to extremes. Ardonne never demonised the woods for taking her father at the tender age of twelve because of these tales.

The wilderness and the thrill of its stalked borders fascinated the youth and became a symbol of escapism, of paternal guidance, and of immeasurable danger. In her father's absence, Ardonne brought hares and even the odd doe to the table. In the hardships of famine during winter she scraped the lichen off the cairns and chopped the firewood herself. She stared into the depths of the North road and waited to be acknowledged by its fearsome resident, figuring herself as less of a damsel and more of an errant knight. These fancies were dashed quite swiftly with her mother's remarriage and though Ardonne revelled in the beauty and allure of Bresh's transformation for a springtime wedding, the veneer faded into the tight grip of patriarchy. Her younger half-brother was the golden child and placed before her in most aspects of life. Ardonne started to find a bitter satisfaction in the sting of the false father's palm on her cheek because, to her, it signified a step in the right direction. Make no mistake - the villagefolk regarded the biligerent Ardonne as churlish, coarse, and airheaded. She was being stubborn for the sake of stubborn and chased her childhood to its ragged edges. She spent too long replicating her fairy tales and clutching to the ghost of a brave but foolish carpenter who underestimated the horrors in the woods and it was widely believed she'd go down the same path. What Ardonne perceived as mystifying solitude was simply her peers' aversion to her surliness. What she saw as daring skirmishes along the forest borders were dangerous and stupid forays into hostile territory. The only benefit to her gambols came in a sometimes bloodied burlap sack and went unacknowledged into the meals for a few days after, and her shirking of her familial duties resulted in the dictation of her future without her input as she was too busy traipsing in mud to notice.

When Ardonne did notice - when Bresh readied itself for a grand springtime festival, her measurements were taken, and a middling merchant man often frequented her home - she took to her heels and found solace in the one place she'd always flown back to at the slightest instance of discomfort. Only this time, in her typical fashion, she submitted her fate to whatever lurked between the branches; wholly disregarding the very real and not-so-fantastical stories from whoever was lucky enough to crawl out of its murky depths.

MOTIVATION: Some short weeks prior to the group's venture into the forest, Ardonne decided that she found death in the jaws of the Beast preferable to life in the arms of the Province. That said, her ambitious escape attempt is distorted and romanticised by her choice in literature; it is far more likely that her dreams will be met with a narrow escape or a rude awakening.

GEAR:
-A yew shortbow with a quiver containing 15 arrows.

-A butcher's knife, wholly unsuitable for combat due to its one-sided sharp edge and utilitarian blunt-tipped shape, but heavy enough to be used to skin and dress animal carcasses.

-A field guide for local fauna and flora in the Faro Province, dogeared and kept in a waterproof leather satchel on her belt.

-A bedroll and mess kit.

-Two flasks of water and a bag full of smoked rabbit, dried blackberries and chanterelle mushrooms. Chunks of stale bread.

[User]
If there was one thing Zahir hadn't been expecting when approaching that girl, it was to practically be completely ignored. For her to run, or to attempt to fight, those were both eventualities he'd been preparing for and for the first time in a while he felt slightly confused. An emotion which while sharp and sudden faded quickly, as it became just one of many "firsts" he'd experianced over his life. At some point he'd just simply learned to accept that new things happened, he could never know everything.

At the very least, the girl was safe for now, so in a roundabout way he'd succeeded in his objective. That thought brought a faint, fleeting smile to the lips hidden behind the mask, the kid hadn't died on his watch. Even better they seemed to have wandered over towards the party, adding one more to the number of people he could protect on this adventure.

All that seemed left for him to do was wander lazily back to the group, picking up and sheathing his blade on the way. From the outside the old mans movements may have looked practically careless, ponderous even, but there was a certain attentiveness to him. He wasn't  looking for the beast, that was true, not that looking was going to do much good in the dark, at least for him. Years of sitting happily by a campfire whenever it got dark has ruined much of his nightvision, no he was listening for it. After all if he was gonna sit around campfires for years making himself a target, he needed to hear if a danger was coming, cause they'd sure as hell see him first. That or hear a commanding officer over the yells of combat.

That man ... Heddwyn, as he gave his suggestions Zahir nodded happily, he liked this man already. A nice rest would be welcome, give him a chance to rest. Of course, he'd take one of the watches, warm himself by a nice fire and get some drink in him. The wind would sting of course, but for the few patches which still felt anything it was a comforting sensation.

 "I agree with that, a nice protected spot. Though anywhere I could rest my bones would be welcome. If anyone wants a drink, I've got some in my pack I could share."

He paused to smile briefly to himself, it would be nice to hear some new stories.  "And if you're worried about taking watch, I can do plenty of it, it is my profession after all."

[Assistant]
Heddwyn carefully listened to his new companions, though he couldn't help but find Talic's mention of sleep did cause the cleric to look at him a bit more quizzically.

While Heddwyn thought it would be wise to prepare camp, food, and rest; scavenging about in the woods for the monster in the morning seemed a far cry. He doubted such a feat would be allowed if they were truly close enough to hear the bellows of its inhuman speech. In fact, the cry in the woods that sounded like the twisted creature they had been tasked to hunt threw the cleric's hairs on end. His face may not have showed it, but he was concerned. Especially so that they had volunteered a child into their midst.

As their lead sharpshooter looked to procure an ideal site, Heddwyn kept a close eye on the forests, trying to pinpoint the relative direction the noisome sound had come from. It wouldn't be until another commented on the spot being fine enough that he diverted his attention back with a calm smile. The same man apparently had volunteered to take first watch, noting it had been his profession. Professions were an interesting base, and no-one's profession had been previously inclined. Heddwyn wondered if their curiosities would cause concern when they learned that his general combat experience was relatively small in comparison to theirs. Most of them were fighters and despite a formal education in swordplay, Heddwyn was certainly no veteran knight. His skill with a sword was tertiary at best, after all.

He supposed such anxieties were normal, but he made it a priority not to mislead them just the same.

"Let's make camp, then."

[User]
As the night descends and the unlikely hunting party settles down amid the stones, a lull falls over the Cullis Woods. For now, there is no more sound than the soft whisper of an uneasy evening breeze through the grass, and whatever conversation might be found around a makeshift firepit.

The sky turns from purple to navy to black as coal, studded here and there with scatterings of stars where they peek through the clouds. All is as calm as any other night.

A branch snaps, and some small creature (a squirrel, or a mouse) gives a short, muffled squeak of distress as its brief life is made briefer. This time, there's a sinister edge to the silence that wasn't there before.

Those used to staying alert might find the hairs on the nape of their neck standing on end.

The treeline is dark and inscrutable. Something is watching silently from the woods.

[Assistant]
Ardonne seemed moody, reticent and standoffish. In reality she was absolutely terrified.

For one, she wasn't expecting to be delayed. She wasn't throwing furtive glances towards the border of the woods but rather the village she had come from, faint lantern lights in the windows and goodness knows how many searching eyes staring back in her direction. All it would take is one curious soul or one concerned maid for the town bell to start ringing and search parties to spread out and look for her. She sat with her knees drawn to her chest, looking away from the group and burying her nose and mouth in the crook of her elbow as she idly flipped the pages of her field guide resting on the grass near her hip. Her bow was propped against one of the rocks within arm's reach.

She hadn't said a word since her companions foiled her suicide mission. At the moment, she was coming off as a belligerent little girl compared to the seasoned fighters flanking her.

[User]
While Mort inwardly questioned the wisdom of allotting the group's youngest and most foolhardy member watch duty, it was neither his business to control Ardonne's affairs nor inquire as to what inner turmoil seemed to render her insomniac. Instead he allowed himself to drift off, uncommonly comfortable in and accustomed to the meager accommodations the wilderness provided. It would hardly be the first time he made the earth his bed and the night his sheets, and with any luck, he reflected as he dozed, it would not be his last.

A little rest did not render him oblivious to the world, however. After some time passed, Mort stirred from his light sleep. Whether by chance, reaction, or some sort of instinct, he awoke to stare across the darkened landscape and into the pitch black of the Cullis Woods, where not even the faint, dreamy moonlight reached. A feeling in his gut told Mort that something or another was amiss. That sort of impulse didn't always tell him straight, not even most of the time, but long years and a good few scars taught Mort that he shouldn't let the rule mask the rare -and dangerous- exceptions. Besides, if ever there was a time to be cautious, it would be on the brink of the domain of the infamous Beast.

Slowly, Mort slid up with his back to a rock, and focused. He narrowed his eyes as he scanned the treeline, trying to make out every little variation in shape or color. He strove to tune out the wind and the rhythmic rustle of leaves in the canopy, listening instead for anything abnormal. A shuffling-aside of the underbrush, the creak of a branch that a weight settled upon, even the classic snap of a twig. Mort even took a few discreet sniffs, trying to parse the air itself for any hint of the extraordinary. A creature monstrous enough to tear apart entire squads of soldiers must surely be large and powerful, but he could not put aside the possibility of a silent killer, terrifying in the subtlety of its slaughter. Mort breathed deep, taking in the night.

[Assistant]
Talic felt tired, but he certainly would have wished for the opposite to be the case or for never having to rest at all anymore. For him there were not one, but two monsters out there: An unknown in front of them, and one he knew all too well behind them -- or rather behind him alone. The overall situation allowed to question once more the wisdom behind remaining silent about his true story: What if any silent killers came at night, but because they were only behind him none of the others would recognize them as a threat until it was too late ? It was a gamble, but on the other hand a gamble no greater than it had been all those previous nights.

He would have wished for a tree. Something high to climb on as it would not only offer additional protection, but also allow to see much further in the morning. Despite the fact that Talic looked as if him climbing up a tree would rather tear down the latter instead of himself going upwards he actually was quite adept at that kind of stuff. One of the few hobbies he had been able to choose out of his own preference alone and therefore all the more precious.

Talic chose to rest on the grass. If he was going to sleep then he would do so with as much comfort as possible, everything else would be a contradiction. He pulled out the large piece of fur and cloth he had taken with him for that kind of purpose, put it on the ground and warpped himself into it subsequently. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep and it even seemed to be a deep one.

[User]
Ardonne gingerly flipped a page, regarding the culinary and medicinal uses of nettles as one of the party was abruptly awoken from his slumber. Initially she just watched Mort. Her eyes were full of questions - out of everyone assembled, it was starting to become apparent that he was the object of her fascination. She was dismissive towards the rest but curious towards Mort. Whatever it was that held her attention would remain unspoken for now; there were more pressing matters at hand.

"What is it," Ardonne hissed as Mort looked to and fro. "Are you frightened?" Even now she spoke with a goading sneer but...it didn't seem intentional. There was a reason, after all, that she had come to be known as a generally unpleasant little shit by the people who knew her. There was no way she was looking for a fight at this time in the morning, surrounded by capable and level headed veterans who'd pummel some sense into her if that's what it'd take. She just seemed to still be ruffled the wrong way by their meeting and a lack of sleep.