<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6f/Barb2_by_booster_yoshy3-d8dkqsz.png)</div><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sarah Burkhart</span></strong><br/>Human Barbarian 1 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=261062.msg12964575#msg12964575)<br/>HP 15/15<br/>AC 14 (Unarmored; wearing potato sack top and thong)<br/><br/><strong>Location: </strong>Ute's House<br/><strong>Date and Time</strong>: Day 2 - Evening<br/><strong>Tagging: </strong>None<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Previously...</div><div class="spoiler_body">(OOC: This introduction was played out in PMs between me and the GM, with the last response included beneath in a quote. The rest has been spoilered for length, and to separate it from my future replies in the main thread.)<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Sarah woke up and opened her eyes. As she did so, she looked all around and could see that she was lying in some sort of field or meadow on packed dirt or clay. It took little time to determine from the soft, cool breeze blowing against her skin, that she was as naked as the day she was born. The sun's rays were turning from yellow to orange and red as dusk was starting to fall wherever she was. As she looked about, Sarah noticed that off to her left, about 30 degrees so, there appeared to be some bones sticking up from the grass. Directly across from Sarah, Sarah could hear a small voice calling out, crying, "Here! Here!" There is some urgency to the voice and it is calling from across the meadow of grass.<br/><br/>Sarah groaned as consciousness returned to her. It was a slow, gradual thing, as waking up in the morning always was. She pushed herself to her feet before it was fully there, rubbing her eyes and squinting in the light. The first thing she felt was confusion. Something was off; like, really off, not just an "I fell out of bed and need a few seconds to realize this is my room" sort of off. It definitely wasn't her room. For one, she was outside. For another, it was... not morning? Is that a sunset? Wait, are those... bones? And what... what happened to my-<br/><br/>The second thing she felt was the shock of embarrassment and panic when she realized she was naked the very moment she heard someone's voice calling for her. She hurried to cover herself with her hands before anyone could see her - but she didn't even make it. Something distracted her from the fear of being seen in the buff.<br/><br/>Or rather, two somethings. Sarah thought something had felt off about her balance, but it was only occurring to her just now. She stared down at her breasts, dumbfounded, and only becoming more so when she realized they weren't the only thing that had changed. But mostly because those weren't there before. Well, they were, but not at all like that.<br/><br/>She couldn't see her feet.<br/><br/>This must be a dream, but even if it was, she was utterly lost and bewildered. With nothing else for it, Sarah stared around at her surroundings, looking for the source of the voice and asking out loud the only thing she could think. "W-What's going on?!"<br/><br/>The voice called again, urgently, "Hurry! Before the sun falls! Come! Run!"<br/><br/>Sarah had no idea what she was doing. She didn't know where she was, how she had got here, or who was calling her; and right now, she wasn't even sure who she was. So she did the only sensible thing in that situation: she listened to the mysterious voice that seemed to know what was going on.<br/><br/>She ran in the direction of the voice, best she could make it out, guessing if she had to. Even with her... changes, she found her body carried her with an easy strength, moving in great leaps and bounds. Where she was going and what she was running from, she didn't know. But she didn't want to stay and find out.<br/><br/>She darted making a straight line for the voice. What she did not count on, however was that as she ran, the grass started to bite into her skin and she started to bleed. Worse, she could see that the grass was started to digest her blood. Noticing this, Sarah started to see what she should avoid and made it across the meadow where a boy was waiting for her.<br/><br/>The boy looked up at Sarah and said, "Glad to see you made it, Champion. I should probably get you to my house. You likely are injured from the sawgrass and my mom can help you out."<br/><br/>She hadn't expected the grass to be out for her blood, for sure, much less literally. But then, she hadn't expected any of this. Feeling numb from the shock and confusion, and now the pain, Sarah could only nod and hope for the best. "Um... s-sure... please." Nudity was the least of her worries right now.<br/><br/>The child led Sarah on and he continued to prattle, "I guess one of the new Champions has died already. Funny, I thought they were a bit more powerful than some of the others. Tell me," he said, looking back over to her, unconcerned about Sarah's nudity, "what is your name and what do you do? Are you a wizard? We seem to have gotten a lot of those in our last batch of Champions."<br/><br/>"Sarah... I'm Sarah." She was still feeling dazed, and the barrage of questions didn't help. 'What is your name' was about all she could process for a minute, so she latched onto that as she followed obediently and tried to absorb... everything else. "I... I don't... what are you talking about? W-What's going on? I... I guess I'm a hunter... mostly I look after my brothers and sisters, but, what... what do you mean, Champion? Wizard?" She swallowed. Maybe she hit her head really hard, and this was all some fevered hallucination as she laid in a hospital bed. That would make sense. She would be okay with that. Injuries, she can handle.<br/><br/>"Hunter? Like a ranger? Hm. I think that the last group of Champions had one of those. Maybe she died and that's why Ackaedes brought you here." He then laughed joyfully. "I forget that all new Champions ask your question. Ackaedes brought you here to be our Champions, to protect Newgate from all kinds of evil. When they die or disappear, new ones appear here and if they survive the sawgress, they are truly blessed by Ackaedes. Then, it is only a matter of defending the city. The priests and elders could probably tell you more."<br/><br/>He then laughed again as a barn appeared in the distance. "Almost home. Ma will probably insist that you stay the night after she heals your wounds with pokeroot. I will then take you to town in the morning."<br/><br/>"Uh... s-sure. If you say so."<br/><br/>Sarah scratched her head. This was all a bit much, but she was just about past the point of trying to figure out what was going on. A Champion? Brought here by some guy to fight evil? Her? Yeah, she's going to stick with the head trauma induced dream theory for now. She shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts, and mumbles as she spies the barn in the distance. "I could use a good rest anyway."<br/><br/>"We'll take good care of you," the child assured. A farmhouse came into view as they neared the barn. A stone chimney rose from behind. The exterior walls were whitewashed wood. A barn stood maybe 100 feet behind the house. The farm house and an undetermined amount of area was enclosed by a short wooden fence that seemed to be more geared towards keeping in large animals than being concerned about foul or other small animals.<br/><br/>Darting ahead, the child entered a ramshackle wooden door of the farmhouse and called, "Mom! I have another Champion! One must have died already." There was a tinge of disappointment in the child's voice. "She has been injured by the sawgrass. Can you help?"<br/><br/>A mezzo-soprano voice called back, "Alright. I'll get some pokeroot. Just show him or her into the main room to warm by the fire."<br/><br/>"It is a her, mom!" the child called.<br/><br/>"Oh, dear. I do hope that herbalist did not die. Now don't stand there like a bump on a log, Walo. Bring her in. She must be dreadfully cold and tired."<br/> <br/>The child came back out and took Sarah's hand. "Come on in. Mom will be getting you something to wear and for your wounds."<br/><br/>He led her into the farmhouse. The inside was nearly as stark as the the white walls. There was one rectangular table with six stools seated around it. The fireplace was made of stone and had a kettle hanging on an iron bar. Steam rose from the kettle. Ladles hung nearby on an outside wall. On the floor were several rugs, apparently the skins of some variety of furry animal. No head was apparent on them to make the identity of the dead animals known.<br/><br/>Walo pointed at the animal rugs and said, "Sit, please." He then called to his mother saying, "See, mom! I do know how to use the word, 'please.'" He beamed at Sarah and giggled slightly.<br/><br/>Sarah could only nod and follow, as the boy called out to his mother and she was lead inside. If nothing else, this seemed a comfortable and safe place, at least relative to the outside. It had a fireplace and a place to sit, and that was all she could ask for right now.<br/><br/>She felt a heat in her cheeks when the mention of clothes reminded her she didn't have any on her, but was surprised to feel less embarrassed than expected. Maybe everything else had numbed her to worrying about something as trivial as modesty, or maybe with the apparent changes to her body, it didn't feel quite like hers just yet. Maybe a little of both. But either way, she managed a weak smile at the boy as she took the offered seat and looked around at her surroundings. "So... uh... do you do this often?"<br/><br/>Walo nodded enthusiastically. "We're the closest house to where the Champions appear, so we usually have them come here. I often wait there to see who will come next."<br/><br/>From somewhere off to the side came a woman that appeared to be in her mid-fifties. Her hair was a silvery grey. Her body was plump and her overall figure could best be described as spherical. However, her voice was pleasant and soothing. "So, new Champion...." She handed Sarah a couple of indescript pieces of clothing. They appeared to be made of hemp or potato sacks. However, upon closer inspection, she was given horizontal strips calculated to cover most or all of a woman's breasts. It tied in the back with a hemp string. The bottoms were little more than thongs.<br/><br/>She waited for Sarah to get dressed before speaking in a nurturing and motherly tone, "Well, Champion, I am sure that your head is full with questions. However, your time here is limited. Walo will have to take you into Newgate to meet with the Elders in the morning. I am certain they will give you a welcoming feast. I will feed you for the night. I will answer what I can. My name is Ute. I will take care of your wounds, as well. She held up a pouch and jiggled it lightly, as if it were important. What further assistance can I be to you?"<br/><br/>Sarah takes her time to get herself dressed - the clothes they offer her almost make her laugh, even in her state, but she keeps it to herself. She doesn't want to be rude. She was never one for dressing fancy - or would've had the money for it if she was - but these potato sacks made her usual worn jeans and T-shirts look like designer gowns. Still, they're better than nothing... if a bit of a squeeze. Apparently she had put on plenty of muscle mass all over, in addition to that fat on some very specific places.<br/><br/>When that's all taken care of, and her modesty is barely protected by the shoddy garments - is it even worth bothering?, she wonders briefly, before wondering instead where that thought came from - she looks up at Ute. She's not sure how to answer her question. "I... don't know," she admits clumsily, though somehow she feels more confident now that she's getting somewhere. Even if she doesn't know where that is. "But I'll save the questions. Just patch me up and point me on the way, I guess. I've already been enough of a bother."</div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Ute rubbed a bit of root into some water and made a poultice bandaging Sarah's feet. Then, she got a bowl, put a ladle in the kettle on the fireplace and handed it to Sarah. There was a vegetable stew in the bowl and it was slightly aromatic. "Very well, Champion. Eat, then sleep well. Walo will take you to the main area of the city in the morning. If you think of something before then, let me know."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Sarah let Ute work in silence; in part too tired to talk, but now that she got a good look at her feet, also wondering at the fact that she had run so fast and far with those injuries. It had hurt, sure, but it had seemed so easy to shove the pain aside and focus on what she had to do. She was no stranger to injury, but this was less familiarity than it was.. mastery. Or maybe she was just exhausted. That was an odd thought anyway.<br/><br/>"Thank you," she nodded, smiling a bit in gratitude. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she smelled the stew, and accepted it eagerly. It was delicious... but then, anything hot would taste good in her state. She wasn't complaining; having gotten lost alone in the wild once, even years ago, the best thing one could hope to find in an unfamiliar place was someone who knew what they were doing and wanted to help.<br/><br/>She'd finish her soup quickly, trying not to slurp<em>too</em>much, before rising and stretching as contentedly as she could in her situation. Right now the only thing she needed was a place to flop down and pass out, and if nobody else had any questions for her, she'd be heading right to bed to do just that. She could figure the rest out in the morning.