Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: MyttraDW on 07-12-2022, 22:06:37</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MyttraDW</strong> on <strong>07-12-2022, 22:06:37</strong>
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				<div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Post Header</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="codeheader">Code: <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return smfSelectText(this);" class="codeoperation">[Select]</a></div><pre style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"><code class="bbc_code">[floatright][img height=300 padding=5][/img][/floatright][b]Name:[/b]<br>[b] Location:[/b]<br>[b]Warnings:[/b] <br>[b]Open/Closed:[/b]<br>[b]Direct Interaction Tags:[/b]<br>[b]Mentioned Tags:[/b]<br>[b]Actions Taken:[/b]<br>[hr]</code></pre></div></div><hr><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size">Location: Expedition Camp<br>Time: 1800 Hours<br></span></strong><br>(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b2/5b/5d/b25b5d71ae728e81a1395619683677a4.jpg)<br></div><br>The expedition to the Wild Isles had been put together quickly but was well-funded and those hired were all expecting a sizeable sum upon its completion. Three large ships filled with crew and adventurers. The stated goal from the employer was simply to explore the Isles for resources, but many figured the Caste was searching for the worldstones... again. Nevertheless, the reward was high and many of those who accepted were of the less savory variety.<br><br>But not all of them. Some knew the Caste would have reasons to openly organize such an expedition, as they usually kept to themselves. Some knew even more beyond that, and others would have had a hunch. But no one knew for sure what was coming, and an air of unease held itself over the camp. At this time of the evening, the sun was falling beneath the horizon, highlighting the clouds of the storm that would be hitting within a few hours. Food was being prepared at the camp's kitchen, and a number of the adventurers had taken to sparring with one another to burn off the excess energy until they set out the next day.<br><hr><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OU8STeM.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kael Marielle Caliburn<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Kitchens<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> Harassment, Racism, Threat of Violence<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Stepped in to stop some bullies, got bullied himself.<br><hr>Kael felt uneasy. He had not been near anyone who didn't know about his existence in so long, let alone such a large amount of them. His boyfriend and 'handler', Liam, was adamant that he would protect Kael if anything happened. Kael, though, did not want his lover to get wrapped up in human hate for demons. Hundreds of years had passed since the war, but many humans seemed content to carry the old wounds as if they were their own. <br><br>Kael and Liam walked towards the kitchens to get a meal for the night before perhaps bedding down. Liam wanted Kael to go out and meet some other people, but even wearing an overcoat that covered his scaled arms and legs wasn't enough to hide his identity. Indeed, his bound wings were a dead giveaway, and Kael felt as if introducing himself would only cause more issues. But as they approached the kitchens, they would come across an unsavory sight.<br><br>"I asked for some ale, stupid wench!" a burly man barked as he threw a mug at a serving woman. The liquid inside spilled all over her which made the man chuckle. "Now bring me something good, not this pisswater!"<br><br>"Sir, I'm sorry but that's all we have..."<br><br>"Is that so?"<br><br>Even though it would have been a good idea to simply stay inconspicuous, the young demon couldn't abide injustice. So as the man went on berating the poor woman, Kael moved forward. He held out a hand to Liam, trying to make the other male stay back. A moment later he grabbed the drunkard by the wrist before he could slap the woman.<br><br>"I wouldn't do that," Kael said softly, eyes burning slightly as he stared at the man. The woman let out a shriek at the sight of the demon, something that would undoubtedly bring some attention to him. <br><br>The drunkard looked back at Kael, grinning madly. "And what's this?" he growled. "Some fuck-off demon thinks he's hot shit, don't he?" he turned around and shoved Kael, who barely budged despite his smaller frame. "Ohhh, look at this boys!" four other men, presumably his crew, stood up and seemingly prepared to attack the demon. "I don't care what you think you are. You're nothing but a monster. Whoever let you live should be ashamed of themselves."<br><br>Liam stepped up to say something but hesitated when Kael held a hand towards him.<br><br>"Aw, what's this? Little demon's boyfriend wants to play too?"<br><br>Kael rumbled under his breath as he was surrounded, though he didn't seem ready to fight.<br><br>"Enough of this! This demon is under the protection of the Skri-Daal school of Bente! Back down, now!" Liam barked, though this seemed only to empower the men.<br><br>"Is that so? You need protection, is that it?" the first man drew a dagger and flicked it menacingly in his hand. "What're you doing here then? You know monsters dwell in the Isles? Monsters like you, too," he growled while pointing a dagger at Kael's face. "You should be put down before you try to kill us all."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gardsorm</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 00:57:01</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Pz0PdJb.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alsiel Dalim (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352863#msg16352863)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Lookout duty, Idle banter<br><hr><br>"Starting to think maybe I signed up for the wrong profession." Alsiel grumbled quietly, sitting on a crate as he looked out from one of the entrances into the Expedition Camp. "Seriously, how do I go from living bounty to bounty to deciding it would be a good idea to throw my lot in with a venture I'm not sure I'll even be paid enough for?" he asked the guy standing opposite him, armed with a traditional Sword and Board. He looked to be an enlistee from Cabista.<br><br>^"Eh, it's not <em>all</em> bad. I guess it might not seem lucrative to a guy who's wandered over here from as far as Traester, but the bigwigs up top put a lot of importance on ventures like these, so I can vouch for the coin. More than that though, you should just enjoy the company, we've got all walks of life joining us here compared to the last ventures."^ the dark-haired man remarked. At least he wasn't stiff and no-nonsense, that would have made watch duty even more boring.<br><br>"Right, the company. I'd probably lose my mind if I were any closer to them. I mean, look over there by the kitchen, assholes and guys too nice for their own good all together to make the perfect recipe for a shitshow. At least <em>this</em> asshole knows how to keep to himself." He shrugged with disinterest, watching the events unfold at a distance. "The road to hell's paved with good intentions, but no one ever understands the until they've been taken advantage of enough times."<br><br>^"Hey now, just because you're a cynic doesn't mean everyone else has to be. This world would <em>suck</em> if more people acted like you."^ his fellow guardsman remarked, earning a snort from Alsiel. <br><br>"Not a truer word than that have I heard since this venture started... Well, I guess not all of the company is all that problematic. The ladies are nice... Some of them anyway. And only if you can get past their personalities. The guys are a mixed bag, but they're pretty good drinking buddies if you can catch 'em off-duty. Honestly, people are a lot better to know when you meet them over drinks, sighing away a long day." the dark-blue haired male shrugged, folding his arms and adjusting his coat. "Other places too, but we can't exactly have a Portable Brothel now, can we?"<br><br>^"Oh, come on, not every good girl has to be that disreputable. You've got plenty of good ones here as it is!"^ the man couldn't believe he'd heard Alsiel just up and admit that, although he certainly looked like the sort that wouldn't care anddmitbout what he said. <br><br>"Yeah, yeah, I know... Plenty of good girls, like some sultry happy-go-lucky priestess, some spoiled rich girl, a conwoman who'll probably swindle the pants right off you if you give her the time of day, and... Well, okay, there's that one horned girl I can't really say anything bad about. She's a little rounded, but that's far from a dealbreaker when everything else is pretty acceptable."<br><br>^"Well, why not-"^<br><br>"Ahahahahah! Gonna stop you right there, buddy. I don't do commitment. Gods know I don't need to make someone deal with my problems 24/7. I can share a bedroll with 'em, but the odds of me sharing wedding vows are as likely as me making enough money to retire peacefully." Alsiel raised his hand to wave off the other guys attempts to get him to find a lady. "Honestly, what I want is a little food and drink... Preferably before it starts raining devils on us." he added, looking up at the skies in the distance. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hatless</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 03:22:03</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/w68J68x.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Ria Thorn<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Tents<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Kael<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Sunbathing, reading, and not caring<br><hr><br>"Trouble's brewing." The raspy declaration was spoken under the breath, originating from a figure that had more in common with a boulder than a man. His physique was that of a brute: thick, meaty limbs that lacked the definition found on leaner men but nonetheless felt like solid iron to the touch. Errant gray hairs were scattered throughout an otherwise black beard that had started to grow to a disheveled length. Hair that would normally hang in his face was neatly combed and pulled back into a short ponytail as if the gesture would somehow make him a presentable gentleman. His blue eyes were stoic, alert, and prone to staring at anyone that even so much as looked at Ria in a way he didn't like. Officially, he was a bodyguard. Felt more like he was hired to be a babysitter, though.<br><br>The man's charge was barefoot and sprawled along the length of a divan just outside one of the camp's largest tents. She wore an airy, pastel red dress that left her shoulders bare. The hem had been purposely allowed to climb to mid-thigh, no doubt due to the fact that Ria had spent the last hour letting what skin she could bathe in the final, dying rays of the sun. That same light was just enough to allow for comfortable reading, which had been keeping the scion of House Thorn blissfully quiet until now. With a huff that announced to the world just how terribly inconvenient this all was, Ria let the book that she was reading fall across her chest. The outer cover read <em>High Illusion: A Treatise on Advanced Essence Crafting</em> in bold, plain text, but that was nothing more than the product of Ria's magic. The book that the young mage was <em>actually</em> reading was far less dry and a bit on the scandalous side.<br><br>Ria's sparkling green eyes traced a path from her bodyguard's gaze to the disturbance happening where the masses gathered for their meal. It could be said that the drunken bravado placed on display was at least partially the fault of Foloven's illusionist prodigy. The trip originally called for just enough alcohol to keep the mercenaries from having to combat parched throats. But where was the fun in carrying a slight buzz a few hours a day from rationed drinks? So yeah, maybe Ria bought a few extra barrels so the men could let loose. The drama playing out across the camp was already offering a return on her investment.<br><br>"Yeah." Ria's reply was dismissive and unconcerned. And it was apparently all the reply she cared to give as she had already picked her book back up and started scanning for where she had left off. With any luck, the demon and the troublemaking drunkard would both get a few good stabs in on each other and rid the camp of two problems. It was nice when life sorted itself out like that.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Envious</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 04:38:56</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/f4gYJV8.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Astra (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353821#msg16353821)</strong><br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Kitchens<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Kael, Liam, NPCs, Freis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Attempt to diffuse the situation<br><hr> <strong> </strong><br><br>Astra had endeared herself very quickly in the expedition for three reasons despite being a half-demon. She was a woman who was easy on the eyes and ears. She had an incredible bedside manner when healing. She could cook beautifully and was generous with the portions. During their travels, she had spent her time thawing frosty shoulders and cold suspicion among her companions and had found time to meet with most people on the crew simply to check in. The best way to combat prejudice was to get ahead of it with a smile, after all! <br><br><strong>"Protection? Bah!"</strong> Astra said, standing near the ringleader with a tray of bread in her hand. <strong>"More like a nice chunk of bread with gravy! Poor thing needs more meat on his bones - he's practically wasting away!"</strong> she said with a displeased tut while squeezing her way into the gang. <strong>"Hold this, love,"</strong> she said to the man on her right. She gave him a look-over, placing the face to a name. <strong>"And I do hope your boil is feeling better, Donnie. No other flare-ups, I hope?"</strong> To his credit, Donnie did as was asked. It was unclear if it was due to his confusion or a general fondness for the healer who had cured his boil, but that didn't matter much. Her straightforward and pleasant tone was not easily ignored by the drunks. She grabbed one of the loaves of freshly baked bread; it was still warm to the touch and the one in her hand had a faint fragrance of rosemary. She ripped it in half.<br><br><strong>"Now here you go, Raff,"</strong> she said to the ringleader, gently reaching for his hand. <strong>"That temper is going to get you in trouble one of these days! What did we say about good boys? They..."</strong> She leaned in expectantly, drawing out <em>theeeeey</em> and giving Raff a moment to pick it up on the answer. It took the oafish man a moment before recognition took hold and he began to recite what Astra had said to him on multiple occasions now. She chimed in with a smile to speak in unison. <strong>"...get good rewards! Yes. Now be a deary and eat this bread. I think all your drink has gone to your head and this will help calm you down."</strong> It wasn't sound medical advice, but it was an excellent diffusion tactic. <strong>"And there's more where that came from, young man! You just come find me when you're done. Donnie, be a good lad and spread the bread, why don't you?"</strong> She gave a little <em>shooing</em> motion with her hand. There was reluctance for a moment as Raff made a choice on what to do. Fighting a demon was one thing. Fighting the healer who had people begging for more of her baked goods was an entirely different thing.<br><br><strong>"Time and place, man,"</strong> Donnie said with a low grumble. His eyes were downcast as he took a step back. Raff sneered, biting into the bread. He chewed noisily with his mouth open as he stared at Kael. That drunken intensity had simmered down, but there was still ego to consider. None of the men were prepared to be the first to back down, but they also did nothing to escalate the situation.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kissa</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 04:52:45</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/mevkDQe.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Nerissa Echethier<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Alsiel Dalim<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Bathing, dressing up, running around<br><hr><br>After the long sail Nerissa felt tired and filthy. It was nothing a good long bath and a warm meal couldn’t fix. After asking for some directions she found a place where ladies of the expedition gathered to wash themselves. Nerissa allowed herself to enjoy the soothing touch of the water and soak in for a long time before scrutinously washing herself, making sure not to miss a spot. The lady with fox features paid extra attention to her ears and tail. It wouldn’t do to look like a buffy hairball!<br><br>After drying herself and brushing carefully her long pink hair and then her brown ears and tail with different brushes, Nera began putting a set of clean clothes on. Her white and flowy dress had a hip long slit on the left side. Nerissa was in the middle of putting on her accessories, a black rope belt and gold strap around her thigh when she felt a tug on her tail. The fox paid no mind to it at first, she just shook her tail but there was a weight stuck on her tail. <br><br>Nerissa turned to look behind her back. She thought it was a rock, which made no sense, but then she saw a pair of eyes. It was something living and it had chomped its jaws on her tail! Nerissa didn’t know what that miniature swamp monster looking creature was, but the realization it had her tail in its teeth and refused to let go after some vigorous shaking made her panic.<br><br>“Aaaaaaaa!” Some people turned to look at the fox girl running around like she was on fire, but when they saw she wasn’t on fire and there was no imminent life threat near her, they kind of shrugged it off thinking this was the way of things. There were all kinds of weirdos in this expedition too.&nbsp; <br><br>The young priestess ran as fast as her long legs could carry her and screamed from the top of her lungs. Her tail shook furiously from side to side, but the slimy bog-hoggle (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/72/2c/21/722c217c58466064d4080b3d03b01c82.jpg) wouldn’t let go of its prey. The bog-hoggles were simple animals that lived near surfaces of water. They feed on insects and small critters. Basically anything they could catch and shove down their throats. <br><br>The pink fox seemed to have no decided direction where she was going. She just ran like a headless chicken. Her desperate, and vain, escape from the bog-hoggle came to a conclusion when she was near Dalim and his guard buddy, as the girl stepped on the long front of her dress. The long white fabric stretched, nearly tearing, as Nera stumbled on it and began falling down, face first. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gardsorm</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 05:26:24</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Pz0PdJb.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alsiel Dalim (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352863#msg16352863)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Lookout duty, Idle banter, Trouble in the distance?<br><br><hr><br>^"Uh, Als, that scream sounded pretty loud. And close."^ Alsiel's fellow Guardsman reported, to which the man in question sighed and rubbed his face.<br><br>"I was hoping to go a day without some kind of calamity, Frederick. Well, shit, I can't very well ignore it. Stay here while I go survey." Alsiel shrugged and reached down to his left hip, drawing his sidearm. On most other Archipelagos, the strange contraption was unfamiliar, although more recently others from Traester made their ways into the world and brought various iterations of what was simply known as a 'gun'. It was a dangerous contraption that could cast spells of the wielder with accelerated speed and force, at ranges most were unprepared to deal with, and usually in ways that caught them off guard. <br><br>In Alsiel's case, he kept many of his capabilities hidden, revealing only the simple capacity to shoot in a few ways. If a need arose where he had to defend himself from one of the other clowns in this expedition, it didn't serve him well if they knew how his fighting style worked, or what capabilities he had access to... But right now, he hoped all he would need is the most basic of hid repetoir. Grass shook nearby him and his ally Frederick, and no sooner did he raise the sidearm ready to shoot, did he see a familiar face tear out of the foliage and run toward them, leading him to hold the firearm on standby. <br><br>"Nerissa, what in the nine circles is the matter with-" he paused as she stepped on something and tore it, falling forward. He had an internal moral dilemma where he had to decide between catching her or letting her fall. If he caught her, it was a good thing, she might be thankful for it, but then she might give him more presence than he cared to have. On the other hand, if he let her fall, he'd perpetuate his usual surly behavior, he wouldn't have to deal with her, and he'd probably he reprimanded by Frederick for not helping her.<br><br>"... Fuck."<br><br>He hated being nice, but Nerissa did nothing wrong to make him want to just watch her fall, and so he stepped in front with one srm curling down to help hold her up. "Hold on, there, I've got you and... What fresh hell is t- Oh, is that a Bog-Hoggle? I didn't know they had them this far out here..." His attention went from the foxgirl to the creature on her tail. Frederick approached a moment later and sighed as he could guess what happened.<br><br>^"Must have confused her tail for a snack. Come on, little guy, I'll get you something better to eat."^ Fred laughed as he tickled the creature behind its cheeks to make it let go of Nerissa's tail. ^"I'll go feed and release this little guy, and you can handle the damsel, you big charmer."^ Frederick joked, knowing it would make Alsiel very uncomfortable to have to deal with who he described as the sultry, happy-go-lucky priestess.<br><br>"Wait, no, don't you da- Frederick! Godsdammit... Ahem... Uh... So, well... Your tail is mostly okay. I think. Some of the fur might have gone missing, but maybe it's still there and just slobbered on..." ... Yeah, consolation was very much not his strong suite. His hand reached down to grab at her tail, giving it a few testing squeezes to make sure there was no blood or anything. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Steir</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 06:32:58</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/XVWqjbw.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Freis Levian (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353812#msg16353812)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Logistics Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Astra, drunk NPCs, Kael, Liam<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Ria, Nerissa, Alsiel<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong><br><hr><br>With tensions running high around the camp, making sure supplies were coming in and everyone was provided for became a very big task. Among those in charge of that task was Freis Levian, who together with representatives from other nations were comparing the number of crew, volunteers, and other individuals that were brought in to the supplies each nation has brought along for the expedition. They also had to make sure supplies were sufficient for the entire camp until the next supply ships arrived. Contracts were agreed upon beforehand on how much supplies each nation was supposed to bring, taking into account some surplus for emergencies. It was a logistics tightrope to ensure people were well fed and not at each other's throats for lack of supplies.<br><br>The growing commotion outside the tent was audible enough to interrupt the meeting, eliciting a light frown on the Folovan mage's expression as she asked one of the attendants for what was transpiring outside. The attendant quickly returned with a report of an impending fight between some disgruntled mercenaries and a bound demon and his watcher.<br><br>An irritated sigh escaped with the young mage's breath as she excused herself from the meeting, instructing the rest to finish up the numbers before she returned. She stepped out of the tent with her twin staves in her hands and took in the scene that was unfolded before her. The woman assigned at tending the drinks was drenched, no doubt from the alcohol served, her frightened expression would probably be due to the bound demon that was present in the scene. At this point the demon's charge was trying to settle the matter but it appeared the other party was too inebriated to bother with the peaceful option.<br><br>Scanning the surroundings, the rest of the crew in the expedition party were watching on how the situation would unfold. Even the noble mage whose safety (or others' safety) was entrusted to Freis did not make any moves - which would make it easier to deal with the situation. She then gathered her thoughts and took a deep breath before moving closer to the commotion, calling on two soldiers to accompany her in the event the matter got out of hand.<br><br>Before the situation could escalate, it has happened. The Halde healer took it upon herself to deescalate the matter in the most... motherly approach possible. The drunkards were appeased to a degree and lost their bluster, but were still rooted in place due to ego playing a big factor. Maybe some reasoning could help deflate that.<br><br>"How is your day, Lady Astra?" Freis greeted with an elegant curtsy before looking to the healer, and then Kael and Liam, and finally to Raff and his band, "I hope these able-bodied individuals were well attended for? It would be a shame for them to travel all the way out in the frontiers but end up grounded for misdemeanor..."<br><br>There was a short pause as she let her words sink in before adding more weight to it. Gauging the response of the aggressors and the defendants.<br><br>"Or worse, sent home with the next supply ship with nothing to show aside from a report of misconduct," Freis stated as she then looked to the one called Raff, "You may be here for your personal reason, but remember that you still represent and are indebted to the kingdom that allowed you to participate in this expedition."<br><br>"Save any bravado you have for dealing with whatever creatures lurk past the camp's borders," the Folovan mage stated before a scream came from the baths and a beastblooded came running for her life with a bog-hoggle clamped firmly on her tail. There was no change in Freis' serious expression despite the unusual commotion behind her, attended to by someone else nearby, "Or on the bog-hoggles that frequent the bathing area. I recall the camp gives additional conveniences to members of the expedition who could deal with the frequent appearance of such creatures there."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 13:35:42</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/TattooedAxeWarrior.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Amelie van Alt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354709#msg16354709)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None!<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Astra, Freis, Kael<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong>&nbsp; Confused curiosity<br><hr><br>Ambling into the mess area next to the kitchens came a leather-and-fur wearing tattooed savage.&nbsp; Though Dame Amelie was by now starting to be an at least passingly-familiar figure to many within the expedition, her unconventional attire and visible body-art did tend to ensure that she drew a good deal of warily curious attention wherever she went.<br><br>As she entered, she had her right arm half-raised and a mild grimace creasing her features, while the fingers of her off-hand probed at her shoulder.&nbsp; A couple of yards into the tent, she paused mid-stride, slightly belatedly registering the tail-end of the stand-off and the (currently receding) potential for silence.&nbsp; A slow blink accompanied the lowering of her arms, as she surveyed each of the participants... though she smiled a little upon seeing how well the Halde beauty seemed to be handling the situation.<br><br>Certainly not the sort of conflict-resolution commonly favoured by House Berserker, but it appeared to be working well - and it definitely promised to result in many fewer bruises and vastly less damage to nearby furnishings.<br><br>Of distinct interest, the healer seemed to be very much intent upon calming down some tipsy humans, rather than focusing her attentions upon the more <em>obvious</em> trouble-making candidate in the form of the demon.&nbsp; Cocking her head, the Cabistan knight frowned slightly as she tried to discern more of what was really going on.&nbsp; Barging in at first opportunity might suit some of the traditions of her house... but there were also powerful bonds of hospitality and camaraderie to consider: starting a needless fight amidst other people's meals would simply be <em>rude</em> after all, while barging in to disrupt the work of a priestess would be sheer folly.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PhantomPistoleer</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 14:40:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://img.webnovel.com/bookcover/19905752406914205/600/600.jpg?coverUpdateTime=1619213439231&amp;imageMogr2/quality/40)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Sir Cecil Frostmantle<br><strong> Location:</strong> Cecil's Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Closed<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> None<br><hr><br>Cecil remained asleep in his tent.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lynnette</strong> on <strong>08-12-2022, 22:01:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/gs1FVoC.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kashi Acatrinei (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352420#msg16352420)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Amelie Van Alt<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Kael, Cecil<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Inviting herself<br><hr><br><strong>"No plans to play hero?"</strong><br><br>Like a hammer, nothing drew Kashi's attention like a nail sticking out from the board. At that moment, it was Amelie, and by the time she'd sat herself down across from the barbarian, the table had two nails that deserved a good beating. Weird attracted weird, though, the delicate eloquence of a con artist and the brutal truth of a beast, Kashi couldn't help but expect, their table was far too strange for most to seek out.<br><br>Barely having slipped by the commotion, she planted her bowl and tankard on the table, making it obvious she wasn't making a passing comment. Kashi on her part wanted no part - All expeditions started like this, she felt. Cabin fever, for some seasickness, and boredom, rarely fueled anything good. On her part, she was just happy to have free meal and drink. Little tasted as good as something free. Sure, the ale might've been of the blander variety, but not having paid a penny, it might as well be what the gods drank.<br><br>In her eyes at least. <br>To most, it was just lukewarm piss. The differentiating factor of the expedition, it seemed, was that a lot more... Fancy people, were partaking. Most expeditions she'd taken part of in the past, the range was from shady to obvious criminal, she placed firmly on the shady side. Not that she saw it herself, she considered herself pretty upstanding her upbringing considered, not that most would agree. At least she wasn't a thief, those sticky-fingered were usually the first to go, she'd come to learn. An expedition crew with some more affluent members had its benefits though - For one, she didn't have to shield her modest belongings in the rain, she'd been blessed enough to... Find someone with a title and a good heart to let her seek shelter like the freeloader she was.<br><br>Despite her outfit being more than mere rags, Kashi ate like a commoner, someone used to eat with their hands. The pincher-like grip on the bread was enough to tell as much. <br><br><strong>"Mmmh... Probably wise, no reason to paint a target on your back."</strong>&nbsp;It wasn't uncommon to hear stories like that, parties who completed their quest having a questionable death or two before the journey met its end. She took a moment to give the barbarian's outfit a once-over, enough to get an idea of who she was sitting in front of. <strong>"Quality buckles, proper leatherwork, artisanal metalwork... Something tells me you're in it for more than a quick payday?"</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MyttraDW</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 01:15:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OU8STeM.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kael Marielle Caliburn<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Mess Tents<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Astra<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Flustered acquiescence&nbsp; <br><hr>Kael had been ready for the men to dive into a fight with him, but it was a timely intervention by one of the other adventurers that put a stop to that. Seeing the number of people staring at him had Kael blushing, quickly pulling his scaled arm back under his cloak. He turned away as if to leave, but the leader, Raff, didn't seem to be entirely done with the demon in front of him.<br><br>"You're going to be the death of us all, mark my words. Keep that thing on a short leash... <em>handler</em>," he spat the last word out before sitting back at the table, grumbling into his bread.<br><br>"Don't worry. I will," Liam said with a wink toward Kael. "I know you're not comfortable but c'mon. You need food too, and it'll be good to get out and meet people."<br><br>"Look around us, Liam. No one wants me here."<br><br>Liam smiled and leaned down to whisper into the smol demon's ear. Kael blushed and shook his head, wings giving a little flutter. "Fine... but only for a little," he grumbled while following Liam towards the mess tent.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Envious</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 01:51:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/f4gYJV8.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Astra (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353821#msg16353821)</strong><br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Kitchens<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Kael, Liam, NPCs, Freis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> She sees Amelie there!<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Attempt to diffuse the situation<br><hr> <strong> </strong><br><br><strong>"Oh Miss Freis, it's always a pleasure to run into you,"</strong> she said with a smile, turning her body to include the woman. <strong>"And what wisdom! It would do the world good for these lads to take your hint to heart. Mine arms are tired from kneading and I'd hate to have to pinch an ear!"</strong> The mage earned an approving nod and when the group <em>finally</em> decided to disband after a few last words, Astra tsked.<br><br><strong>"And where do you think you two are off to! Liam! Kael!"</strong> Astra said. The tone was crystal clear to anyone who heard it; Mama Astra did not approve. They had never met before, but it hadn't been hard for Astra to learn their names... and judge them, apparently. <strong>"Spending all day hiding away in your tent doing Good Goddess knows what and coming out only to cause a ruckus. Well I never!"</strong> She followed behind them to waggle her finger. <strong>"Half the women here will scream at the sight of a Bog-Hoggle -"</strong> that waggling finger turned into a thumb that she thrust over her shoulder towards Nerissa off in the distance as an example<strong>"- so you need to do your due-diligence and introduce yourself so that all the staff supporting the expedition members aren't frightened half to death when seeing you! Do try to be more friendly!"</strong> Unsolicited advice was another identifiable trait of the healer. <br><br><strong>"And by the way,"</strong> she said with a cheery smile, <strong>"my name is Astra - just Astra - and it's a pleasure to see you both out and about."</strong> She reached out with her left hand - an odd choice for a handshake - but it wasn't for a greeting. It was to gently place the other half of the loaf in his hand. <strong>"And have either of you met Miss Freis Levian here? She helps keep everything running smoothly here! Certainly someone you <em>want</em> to know. Now maybe you go get that gravy like I suggested? Introduce yourself to a few people? Make friends?"</strong> She gave the smaller demon <em>a pat on the head</em> to indicate that he was a good boy for listening and Liam might have earned one too if he had been closer. She shooed them off towards the tent they had originally started towards, but walked with them. She didn't say it, but it was clear that she thought the burden was on the demon to make the right first impression. <br><br><strong>"Oh, and Miss Freis. I am quite certain we will run out of flour sooner rather than later."</strong> No doubt due to Astra's continued baking. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kissa</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 03:30:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/mevkDQe.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Nerissa Echethier (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354124#msg16354124)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Alsiel Dalim<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Stopping Ansiel from groping, losing something<br><hr><br>“Wha…? It’s a bog-hoggle? I was sure it would be a boulderax, a spitelich or a twilit crawler at the very least, but it’s just a bog-hoggle?” Nerissa accepted Ansiel’s help trustingly and by taking support from his arm she placed her two feet firmly on the ground and stood up properly. The fox looked behind her back and saw the two men were right. It was a bog-hoggle. The fox girl blushed in embarrassment. She had been sure it was a vile and extremely dangerous beast or a monster, but no… She had caused such a ruckus for no real reason! That hassle was the very reason why Nera hadn’t noticed there was another kind of hassle happening at the center of the camp. <br><br>“Thank you! Thank you so much, you both! I owe you a favor after this! I’m so grateful. Now this is a bit embarrassing… I hope I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” Her blue eyes bounced between the two men without being able to decide which one she should be looking at. Her heart was still beating fast after all the panicked running. <br><br>“A big charmer? Ooh, you are that kind of person? On a long journey of conquests?” Nerissa asked when Fredrick, probably jokingly, called him a charmer. Nothing wrong with that. There was nothing shameful about seeking pleasures of life, as long as it didn’t happen at the cost of others’ happiness. <br><br>“I lost some fur?! Oh no…” She sounded devastated and looked just as devastated as she sounded. Her ears drooped down and the corners of her mouth went down too. “No. It’s not a big deal. I can fix it. You would be surprised how big thing hair is to people. Helping people with baldness was one of the first things I learnt to do when I was a novice.”<br><br>“Um… Ansiel, it was Ansiel, right? I appreciate your concern, I really do but… um… you know that’s kind of personal… and sensitive?” Nerissa whispered the last word. She felt like the human had good, innocent intentions so it would be mean to scold him for something he didn’t do on purpose. Nera placed her hands on the mid part of her tail so he couldn’t go groping higher on the more sensitive parts.<br><br>“I was thinking about.. going to… and…” The fox girl was too distracted to make a coherent sentence. She patted her hips and when she didn’t feel a familiar hardness anywhere on her hips, she continued tapping down to her thighs. Nothing! Oh… This wasn’t happening! Her hands moved faster now when she felt her body through clothes, but there was nothing extra, and there should have been.<br><br>“Oh no… nononono!” Nerissa turned around, again and again and it looked like a fox chasing her tail. She had lost something. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Steir</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 15:16:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/XVWqjbw.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Freis Levian (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353812#msg16353812)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Logistics Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Astra<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Kael, Liam<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Checking things, taking notes<br><hr><br>"If that is the case I believe other healers can also tend to your fatigue as you tend to others," Freis suggested, remembering there were those enlisted to possess such form of healing capabilities. It was handy if time was not a leisure such as out here in the wilds where they need every manpower available to keep everyone else in good condition. Her staves were set aside in a holster by her side.<br><br>With Raff and his band heading off elsewhere Freis had a quick word to the offended barmaid to make sure she was unharmed. Fortunately she was only shaken by the turn of events but given the chance to go clean herself before coming back to continue her shift. This was while Astra gave the demon and his handler an earful on doing their part around the camp. Responsibilities were not limited to the expedition itself - the camp needed to be self-sufficient with the current team until it's possible to set up a more permanent foothold (if the approach was deemed profitable by the involved nations).<br><br>"Is that so?" Freis asked and took out a small pad of paper and a pen to write down how the supply of flour was running out, "According to the organizers from Cabista their next supply ship is due to arrive in two days should the weather remain fair, which includes a week's supply of flour. Orold's and Bente's supply ships also have flour among other items in their shipment but will take later to arrive. Will the supply still hold out until then?"<br><br>"There are members of the expedition who are also looking into arable land in the area to grow some ingredients that are used daily," the Foloven overseer added as she then put away her notepad, "It's not an immediate solution but it should help the expedition in the future should it continue further."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PhantomPistoleer</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 15:42:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://img.webnovel.com/bookcover/19905752406914205/600/600.jpg?coverUpdateTime=1619213439231&amp;imageMogr2/quality/40)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Sir Cecil Frostmantle<br><strong> Location:</strong> Cecil's Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Waking up, shaving<br><hr><br>Cecil stirred in his sleep, and then awoke, rubbing his cranium front to back with his calloused left palm.&nbsp; The visage of peace that oft adorned his handsome face in slumber was now replaced by an absent one, devoid of emotion, passion, and pain.&nbsp; Those dull, icy eyes, once piercing and full of merriment, remained alert.&nbsp; Where was he?, he wondered.&nbsp; In a tent, someplace faraway from home, he remembered.&nbsp; He took a deep breath, deeper than most humans can imagine, as he had the lungs of a horse, and sat up without effort.&nbsp; His shoulders, massive and ripe, sizzling with musculature that rippled with every movement, rotated sorely as he stretched the steel-like cords of sinew and mein that encapsulated his giant-like skeletal frame.&nbsp; As he stretched, taut tissue groaned, and the ligaments between his bones crackled in an orderly manner, trained by their master to compose themselves at his urging.<br><br>He wore nothing but a white linen wrap-around kilt, which hugged his narrow waist snugly.&nbsp; Within his tent, he moved akin to a lowland gorilla, his body crouched so that he might not disturb the composition of his tent-poles or cause some disarray to the canvas.&nbsp; He moved with an animal-like grace, a grace that oft escaped notice, until he emerged from the darkness of his sleeping hole and stood upright for the first time in the day.&nbsp; His powerful legs, and powerful they had to be to carry Cecil about across the world created by the Gods, for he was a very large lad, were similarly stretched.&nbsp; He held his ankle, one after the other, for twenty seconds each, bending his knee to a critical point, until he found some modicum of relief.<br><br>There had been very little in the way of personal locomotion, it must be said, for the last two weeks.&nbsp; He had sailed from the Lion Tooth Isles, and then traveled by canoe, which had been driven--much to his horror--by an old, and slow, oarsman.&nbsp; Then, he had been carried hitherto by wagon.&nbsp; Traveling hence had been the most boring time of his short life, as he had warred since he was... well, Cecil thought that he had become a page sometime during his ninth birthday, but it's difficult to remember such things.&nbsp; Difficult and unimportant.<br><br>He took a deep breath again and, in depleting the air of that vital nutrient the sages called oxygen, detected the smell of dinner over a campfire.&nbsp; Was he hungry?, he wondered.&nbsp; He felt... discombobulated, in the manner that travelers often do after long trips to faraway places.&nbsp; Discombobulated and uneasy.<br><br>It must be said, I suppose, that Cecil was very tall, but he was very well proportioned.&nbsp; He was not lanky, but his body had been composed in a regimented manner similar to his lifestyle.&nbsp; He kept a clean face, shaving every morning (and sometimes in the afternoon), but he had ignored his muscular figure.&nbsp; His torso was noticeably hairy, with a thick patch on his chest, which traveled to his groin, and his meaty forearms, too, were covered in this almost translucent hair.&nbsp; He stood beside a barrel, and using the reflection of his shiny helmet, commenced to shave himself with a sharp dagger.<br><br>&nbsp;"... Look at ye, ye old bastard," he said softly to his own reflection, &nbsp;"you look like a merry sort, don't ye?&nbsp; Lookin' like ye haven't shaved in a donkey's year, haven't ye?" he had said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Make a right mess of it, actin' the maggot for the last two weeks, haven't we, Cecil?&nbsp; Bless me," he said, murmuring to himself.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Easy does it," he said as he slid the sharp blade across his left cheek, slicing facial hair off gradually and incisively.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 16:55:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/TattooedAxeWarrior.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Amelie van Alt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354709#msg16354709)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None!<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Kashi<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Astra, Kael<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong>&nbsp; Intrigued conversation<br><hr><br>After allowing herself a wry chuckle and gentle shake of her head as she watched Astra set about chastising the demon and his companion as if they were young children, Amelie thereafter firmly focused her attention upon the beastborn woman addressing her.&nbsp; A brow arched... then she accepted the implied invitation, and folded herself into place opposite Kashi.<br><br>"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," she said, tone dryly amused - her accent distinctly hinting at old training for courtly events.&nbsp; Then she cracked a broad grin, and shrugged amiably... before wincing slightly and resuming probing at her right shoulder with the fingers of her left hand.<br><br>"Most people tend to focus on the tattoos.&nbsp; Or the axe.&nbsp; And leap to conclusions along the lines of 'brain the size of a pea' and 'definitely a savage; probably also a drunken thug'.&nbsp; But yes, I do take some pride in my gear, and try to make sure that it receives the care it deserves."<br><br>Offering a hand across the table, she smiled once again.&nbsp; "Amelie.&nbsp; Formally, Dame Amelie van Alt, Knight of the Illustrious House Berserker of the most noble Kingdom of Cabista... but using that mouthful tends to cause as many problems as it solves.&nbsp; And I can say that even though I have doubts that it might suit <em>me</em>, I rather like your outfit, too."<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hatless</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 18:26:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/w68J68x.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Ria Thorn<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Kitchens <br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Kael, Astra<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Being nosy<br><hr><br>There was an attempt made at returning to her reading. One line would be finished only for Ria to inevitably peek above the edge of her book at the commotion in the mess area. Another line of text, another peek. Ria watched covertly from the cover of her book as others with more level heads and less alcohol in their system had shown up to prevent any violence. How disappointing.<br><br>"I'm bored," Ria suddenly announced with the added clap of her book being shut. Her voice so effortlessly incorporated a hint of a whine -- a tactic she unconsciously employed thanks to how successful it was when leveraged against her parents. "You've done this stuff for my father before, right? When does the fun stuff happen?"<br><br>The question was, of course, directed at the bodyguard standing nearby. Ria knew that the man, Alwyn, had worked with the Caste on behalf of her father on several occasions in the past. His experience lended itself to Ria's nonchalance. This business felt routine with him around.<br><br>The answer to her question started with a small grunt of a growl, but that hardly deterred Ria from looking at the man with the expectation of him continuing. Alwyn let a sigh pass through his nose before he spoke. "Boring is good. Exciting means something went wrong."<br><br>"Whatever." The young illusionist was already rising from where she had been lounging. The book was discarded upon worn cushions, the magic hiding its true nature gone with a wavy ripple reminiscent of the distorted air above a desert's sands. A pair of unfastened sandals awaited at the side of the divan and Ria slid her feet into them one at a time. "I'm going to go check out the demon."<br><br>Her intentions went beyond simple curiosity. Was it not the purpose of the Caste to hunt down demons? Her father seemed to think so, and with a passion that should have raised some questions from his daughter had she ever bothered to consider it. Instead, Ria had merely accepted what she had been told: demons were monsters and had no place on this world. It made sense; just <em>look</em> at them.<br><br>With clear purpose and a vague haughtiness to her body language, the lady from House Thorn crossed the camp toward where many of the adventurers had gathered for their meals. The demon that had caused the initial stir was not difficult to spot, even with the occasional set of Halde horns confusing the matter. Were he alone, Ria might have approached then and there to do or say whatever it was that was on her mind. Letting Astra finish her nagging seemed wiser. The last thing Ria wanted was to get noticed by that woman and dragged off to "help the camp" in some way. Ugh.<br><br>So, for now, Ria only observed and followed several paces behind, hands behind her back as she walked as if it somehow made her more innocent looking.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MyttraDW</strong> on <strong>09-12-2022, 23:57:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OU8STeM.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kael Marielle Caliburn<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Mess Tents<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Amile, Kashi<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Astra, Freis<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Got some food<br><hr>Plenty of humans hated what Kael was, and many halde spurned him as well in an attempt to distance themselves from the atrocities of the past. So when Astra, albeit she was a halde, scolded him not unlike a mother would her own children. Which, from what he had seen so far, perhaps she saw everyone as her child? But the pat to the head made the small demon blink in surprise, looking back at Liam with a small blush before noticing her and another woman - named Freis - were walking back towards the mess tent. He took a bite of the bread she had given him, stepping off as well... only for the barmaid who Raff had been harassing to stand in front of him. He looked up at her - with the demon being smaller than most humans he had ever met - and quickly tried to study her face. But, oddly, all he could see was... a smile? A small one, sure, but still a smile.<br><br>"Um..." she began, biting her lip a bit. "Th-thank you. And I'm sorry for screaming. It's just-"<br><br>Kael shook his head with a small smile. "I understand. Really, I do. I'm the stuff of nightmares, or the stories your parents told you to keep you in line?" At the woman's shy nod he smiled again. "I'm that for me too." A flash of something passed through his eyes, but most probably wouldn't see it if they were no longer paying attention.<br><br>"Let's get some food, Kael. Then we can sit and chat?" Liam suggested, something that Kael agreed to soon enough. They went to the mess tent, being served a bowl of meat gravy each, before sitting down at a nearby table - incedentally, Liam brought Kael to a table with a pair of adventurers. One with tattoos and an axe, the other a beastblooded without a tail. "Ho there, friends!" Liam's voice was cheeful as Kael sat next to him, the demon blushing a little. "My name is Liam, I'm of the Skri-Daal school of Bente. This is Kael-"<br><br>"Also of the Skri-Daal school," Kael said in unison, catching the other man's eyes and smiling a little. "I apologize for the trouble I caused."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Revelation</strong> on <strong>10-12-2022, 02:59:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/94/V6kQPuWp_o.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Mathis Vaugeois</strong><br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Alsiel, <br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Nerissa<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> <br><hr><br><br>The expedition had been progressing well. No real ranger so far, and there was the promise of a hefty payout. Not that Mathis was there for coin, but it was certainly a benefit that couldn’t go ignored. For now, the darkly dressed red headed noble had taken to the outskirts of the camp, not out of any desire for loneliness or seclusion – but it was good to have someone watching the camps back just in case. He wasn’t the only one patrolling, but he knew his skills and was confident in them and the same could not be said of all those the expedition had hired. Perhaps he was being a bit too harsh, but it wasn’t a knock against any of them. His boots trod against the ground as he made an idle path for himself. And as his sanguine eyes looking back to the tents, the thought of a hot meal sounded nice though perhaps slightly later.<br><br>While the expedition had no real immediate dangers and that was a good thing, it still meant Mathis felt a bit… bored, too. He was here for the prospect of fighting, and if there was nothing to fight it left him here wandering the outskirts of the camp hoping for something or other to develop or happen. He wasn’t a man who lived for violence, but he knew the art well enough, and there was a certain… thrill to it. Crossing his arms for a moment as he rested against nearby tree, it was only a moment before he heard some sort of commotion not far off in the distance. Looking in its direction, it was mostly strangers interacting. Maybe it’d be a good idea to introduced himself and-<br><br>No, that wasn’t right. Among the group that he had noticed, there was an unusually tall man. An unusually tall man that Mathis was unfortunately familiar with for a chance. “Fuck.” The redhead muttered under his breath before making his way towards the group. It was hard to believe it, but the man was someone that Mathis had fought before – it was unusual for him to see the same face twice given his… art, but Alsiel had given it about as good, if not perhaps better, than Mathis did. But by the time their scrap was over, it was time for drinks. They weren’t friends by the end of it, it felt, but Mathis would say he respected the man.<br><br>There were some others around Alsiel, a coral haired woman who was either looking for something or just deeply confused about where she was. And a fellow guardsman it seemed.<br><br>“Alsiel.” Mathis’ tone was not hostile, but it held a sort of bluntness to it. “You aren’t causing anyone trouble again, are you?” It was hard to believe that the two would meet again – here of all places. It was also hard to understand how he had missed the rather tall man, but perhaps he had been too absorbed in his thoughts. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gardsorm</strong> on <strong>10-12-2022, 05:03:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Pz0PdJb.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alsiel Dalim (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352863#msg16352863)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Nerissa, Mathis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Idle banter, Expecting even <em>more</em> trouble<br><br><hr><br>"You must have quite the overactive imagination to expect things like those to encroach on the camp this easily." Alsiel looked the Beastblooded woman over and wondered if maybe she hadn't had a few cups to drink without telling him... But he couldn't smell anything alcoholic from her, but rather nicely scented like she truly just came from a bath. Well, that would probably explain why she didn't seem super dressed up either... Frederick leaving him alone to deal with Nerissa couldn't have come at a worst time, though, but he imagined the guy knew that anyway. It was his idea of messing with the gunman. <br><br>"Just interrupted lookout duty and a little Man-Talk, nothing else." He grunted, however, when Nerissa latched on to Frederick's remark of calling him a big charmer, and she seemed to draw her own conclusions. "Ugh, not even close, he just likes giving me a hard time because of my attitude... Which, incase you're not aware of, is pretty poor." Well, he wasn't gonna lie and tell her he was a nice guy, anyway. Maybe if she knew he was trouble, she'd be more liable to leave him alone. "For what it's worth, you didn't look like you lost a lot, so it's not... Huh? Oh... What? Personal?"<br><br>He paused and looked down at her tail, before raising his brow. "... Huh. Alright, my bad, I don't usually make a habit of touching Beastblooded tails to know that... Also, for the record, my name is Alsiel, not Ansiel. You probably heard some drunken mummer slur my name or something." He retracted his hand a moment later, folding his arms while he waited for her to make sure her affairs were in order. It was a good thing he didn't expect things to get worse; Otherwise he'd almost feel like a prophet for bad news when another familiar face approached him. Alsiel turned to witness the guy, before huffing. <br><br>"... Ah, joy, you're that guy... Mathis, aye? I can't tell if the Gods are trying to brighten my day for my lack of company... Or piss on it, as is their usual wont in my daily life." Alsiel sighed, before he looked at Mathis. "If it'll sate your curiosity, no, I'm not causing anyone trouble. Yet. Rather, this time trouble came to me because of a little incident involving local wildlife, but it's been resolved for now, and soon she should be..." He trailed off as Nerissa seemed panicked about something. <br><br>"... And what the hell are you doing? Please tell me this isn't some Beastblooded defect I'm not aware of..." He groused, pinching his brows, before sighing. "... Did you lose something? You kinda tore ass through the bushes, so I wouldn't be surprised." He offered another perspective to her problem, before he looked at Mathis. "See, this is the kind of nonsense I usually have to deal with when I'm just minding my own business. I'd rather be out chasing bounties right now, at least I'd have a little more gold in my pockets."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lynnette</strong> on <strong>11-12-2022, 00:56:25</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/gs1FVoC.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kashi Acatrinei (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352420#msg16352420)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Amelie Van Alt<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong><br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Conversing<br><hr><br>Though Amelie's retort was on the abrasive side, kashi paid it no mind and let Amelie carry on. Kashi even had the courtesy of pausing her meal whenever Amelie spoke, displaying that, all things considered, she did have some tableside manners.<br><br>Offered a hand, Kashi put down her piece of bread, quickly brushed any crumbs off her digits, and returned the gesture. <strong>"Kashi - No formalities or houses."</strong> <br><br>It didn't take much time to get a half-decent read of the berserker before her. Since she'd introduced her house and title, it was obvious that she wasn't just nobody, though having her name sold first, the importance of her affiliation was not that important, not to her anyway. fair enough, and probably wise, titled or not, rich or poor, equal in their final resting place. Titles gave no authority to speak of amongst those brave - Or foolhardy enough - to go on these expeditions. <br><br>Kashi's smile broadened, hearing the stranger compliment her outfit. Though she'd largely cut ties with her family, and by extension clan, she still did feel an ounce of pride in her rags. It was still hand-woven by her and her mother, and the jewelry - If not valuable, then at least well-crafted, by one of their own. Even with the lapis-stones that adorned the pyrite pieces accounted for, Kashi doubted it'd come close to covering the amount of work that had been put into the outfit of the berserker before her, but she wore it with pride nonetheless.<br><br><strong>"It's appreciated - The compliments rarely come until they start to come off."</strong> What followed - A sly smirk as she went in for a healthy sip of her drink - Was enough of an implication, that it happened frequently enough. She wasn't ashamed of that, for what it was worth. Her mantra as a whole was to live indulgently, so she wasn't going to be ashamed of losing her clothes in the presence of another, though she'd heard rumors of nobles being lethally afraid of it. Not that the one before her struck her as the type. Quite the contrary - Had she worn cheaper gear, she wouldn't have expected Amelie to bear a title at all.<br><br>If it was intentional or not, Kashi couldn't tell, though she suspected it had been more of a slip. Her elbows planted themselves on the tabletop as she leaned in, her curiosity out to bite her. <strong>"Didn't answer my question though."</strong> The coy smile on her lips, it looked like she was most keen on just drilling at someone more fancy than herself. <strong>"If you can afford armor like that, you can afford to not risk ending up in a casket, so what's the big appeal? In it for the sport? Adrenaline? Romance?"</strong> 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kissa</strong> on <strong>11-12-2022, 05:56:42</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/mevkDQe.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Nerissa Echethier (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354124#msg16354124)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> -<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Alsiel Dalim, Mathis Vaugeois<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Fidgeting, talking with two fine young men<br><br><hr>“It is…?” Nera said with a questioning voice. Did people usually tell others if they had a poor attitude? Perhaps he was proud of it? Like a youngster who rebelled against his parents, except he looked too old for that. “Why you keep a poor attitude?” To her it sounded weird he was aware of his poor attitude, but didn’t sound like he was working on fixing it. <br><br>“Oh no, no need to apologize.” Well, he didn’t exactly do that, but it was close enough to qualify as an apology in her mind. “I thought it might be something you didn’t know, so there was no ill intent. One shouldn’t be punished for their ignorance. You have something against beastblooded?” <br><br>The blue eyes widened when Alsiel corrected her mistake with his name. How embarrassing, and disrespectful! “Alsiel. Alsiel. I’m so sorry! I don’t know how I got it mixed like that. I didn’t mean to. Al like an albatross and siel like… like…” The pink fox had many problems to solve at the same time. There was the embarrassing incident of not remembering this human’s name correctly and not being able to find her talisman and now on top of that she couldn’t come up with a word that started with siel to help her remember his name right the next time. Maybe the talisman was lost inside her clothes… Nera jumped up and down, which made her breasts bounce joyfully too.<br><br>“Seelie! Siel like a seelie!” She shouted then like she had solved a great mystery.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Then someone approached them and spoke to Alsiel. Nerissa ceased her jumping to look at the stranger with a big friendly smile on her face. “Ah nono! He hasn’t been causing any trouble. He has such a habit? I’m not defected!” Her tail buffed when the fox lady firmly made clear she wasn’t somehow a faulty individual.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>She waited for a moment, whole three heartbeats, for Alsiel to introduce her, but when it started to look like she would be ending till the end of days, she decided to do it herself.<br><br>“I’m Nerissa. You can call me Nera, if you want to. Nice to meet you!” The girl promptly stretched her hand out for shaking. Nera was still feeling restless. She had thoroughly checked everything and the talisman wasn’t in her possession anymore. <br><br>“Yea…” Nera admitted when Alsiel asked if she had lost something. She looked as guilty as if she had been caught her hand in a cookie jar. I’m definitely not doing good first impressions here… “I lost my talisman… “ Nerissa had an inner fight about whether she should ask for help or not. Maybe I’m just getting in their way… It’s my own fault losing the talisman anyway. Her ears were down and with her most pleading puppy eyes look the fox girl looked at the pair. Her hands joined together in front of her, she nervously tapped her pointer fingers together. The brown tail hung low. <br><br>“Would it be too much trouble if…?” She began with a small voice. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>11-12-2022, 14:07:48</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/TattooedAxeWarrior.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Amelie van Alt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354709#msg16354709)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None!<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Kashi, Kael<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Astra<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong>&nbsp; Intrigued conversation<br><hr><br>Having shaken Kashi's hand - firmly, but with no attempt to deliver any sort of bone-crushing grip - Amelie listened attentively, looking a little guilty.<br><br>"Mmm?&nbsp; Didn't I?&nbsp; I apologise.&nbsp; Evasion was not intentional, I assure you.&nbsp; I, ahh, hrmmm.&nbsp; Would it sound too terribly pretentious if I said it were a matter of honour?"<br><br>The Berserker shrugged, offering Kashi a slightly sheepish smile - perhaps trying not to get distracted by mention of Kashi's outfit <em>coming off</em> - that she then turned to include the new arrivals at their table.<br><br>"I was raised to believe that, given my gifts and training, my proper place was likely to be '<em>between less-durable people and danger that threatens them</em>'.&nbsp; There are a near-infinite range of possibilities for that... but assisting with this expedition seems as if it might be rather unusually <em>worthwhile</em>.&nbsp; And, I confess, the prospect of excitement combined with novel sights and experiences does rather strongly appeal.&nbsp; Though... I would hope that we do not have too much further need for peace-makers within camp."<br><br>She shrugged amiably - wincing a little again, before probing once more at her right shoulder with the fingers of her off-hand.<br><br>"I think that we might have more than enough in the way of perils to face, without winding up at each other's throats before we even venture anywhere particularly dangerous.&nbsp; I know that some think that one of the arts of leadership when dealing with a grand ensemble like this entails 'thinning the herd', to reduce an amorphous mass of disparate elements until the remainder includes only those both capable and committed... but I would hope that the Caste do not take such a divisive approach...."<br><br>"And for my own part...."&nbsp; She shrugged again, a little more carefully this time, and offered all three of her companions a wry smile.&nbsp; "From the little I saw, it did not look as if either of you could honestly be held to have <em>caused</em> any trouble, so there is nothing to apologise for where I am concerned.&nbsp; If you were deemed suitable for this expedition by people with more knowledge of you and of what might face us, then I am inclined to think that you have good reason to be here.&nbsp; Perhaps that makes me foolishly naive and excessively trusting, but if we do not put a significant degree of faith in the Caste leadership, then what reason <em>do</em> we have for being here?"<br><br>"But, ahh, I apologise.&nbsp; I have spoken at some length without providing the most obvious portion of a response to your introductions: I am Amelie.&nbsp; Or, if I am to provide a full introduction in reply to your own... Dame Amelie van Alt, Knight of the Illustrious House Berserker of the most noble Kingdom of Cabista.&nbsp; But that is arguably just a long-winded way of saying 'woman trained to run towards danger'."<br><br>She winked cheerfully, shrugging again.<br></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Envious</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 00:56:34</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/f4gYJV8.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Astra (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353821#msg16353821)</strong><br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Kitchens<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open to Closed <br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Freis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Going back to baking! She has removed herself from conversation for the time being.<br><hr> <strong> </strong><br><br>She had followed behind the two to ensure that they followed her directions to her satisfaction, and she seemed exceptionally pleased that the duo did as asked without a murmur of angst that she saw. <strong>"Two days?"</strong> she said conversationally to Freis. <strong>"I suppose these hungry mouths will have to settle for biscuits over bread, but I'll manage somehow."</strong> Truth be told, there were <em>plenty</em> of supplies for everyone in the expedition to comfortably eat, but they were setting out tomorrow to see what spoils the island had to offer. First days were always filled with surprises. Which healing supplies would she need? What types of combatants would they face? Would the terrain need to be soothed for their travel? Astra worried and when she worried, she spent her time between fretting and baking. <br><br><strong>"We have an adequate amount to last. As for the arable land, I've already been requested to advise on that little adventure,"</strong> Astra said pleasantly. <strong>"I even have a few seeds to sow to get us started if we can find a pleasant plot of land!"</strong> She placed her hands on her hips and nodded out to the crowd eating dinner. <strong>"I have quite a list of chores to complete tonight to get ready for the morrow, Miss Freis. It was such a pleasure to run into you as always! Please make sure you grab a spot of tea from the kettle; I keep it piping hot and it does the body good! And there are cakes there, too. I recommend the almond cakes. Oh, did I mention we were almost out of almonds as well? Well toodaloo!"</strong> The cheery waggle of her fingers and quick step kept her from potential reprimand - all of this unauthorized baking was certainly going to make a dent in their rations - but they weren't scraping the bottoms of any barrels yet with the expedition still fresh. With a joyous laugh at her well-intentioned mischievousness, she bee-lined towards the table near the newly built oven to continue her work of making bread. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Revelation</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 02:57:34</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/94/V6kQPuWp_o.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Mathis Vaugeois</strong><br><strong> Location:</strong> <br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Alsiel, Nerissa,<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> <br><hr><br>Perhaps there was some small pleasantry in being recognized by Alsiel that brought something of a smile across Mathis’ face. Or perhaps there was some other inscrutable reason. In truth, it was nice to be remembered even if the reasons for being remembered weren’t the most friendly. Still, in the current moment it seemed the larger man was being honest in that he wasn’t causing trouble, and Nerissa quickly backed him up. Mathis wasn’t about to challenge the veracity of the two combined, and he just gave a small nod. “Mathis yes. Good to see I’m not as easily forgotten as I can be.” His tone lost some of the edge to it, but he could tell Alsiel wasn’t exactly here for friendly reasons. “I’m not here to police anyone but you’ll understand if I’m a little wary after last time. Still.” There was a subtle shake of his head, and the issue was dropped.<br><br>The comment about Nerissa suffering some sort of ‘defect’ roused some bile from Mathis, he quelled any anger at the man when Nerissa introduced herself. “Mathis. Pleasure to meet you, Nerissa. Is everything well or is there something amiss?” The redhead gave his name in admission to Alsiel, but it felt right to say it again in a softer tone to Nerissa. While he was sure there was something wrong, it was confirmed when she spoke about her talisman being lost. There was a soft blink, and Mathis thought nothing of it as he shrugged and began to look around, first checking where he was standing at to make sure he hadn’t trod upon it in a fit of carelessness. “Well, let’s see if we can’t find it together.” He was more friendly with her, she hadn’t fought him and seemed to be in earnest distress, so there was a part of him that was glad to help. “Can you describe a bit about what it looks like? That might help me at least know what I’m looking for.” He knew what a talisman was, but they could come in all shapes and variations so he wanted to make sure he knew what to look for. <br><br>While he had no assumptions that Alsiel was happy to help, he briefly gave the man a look, and while not a judging or pleading look, his eyes still held some curiosity as to whether the man was going to stand still or actually look. The glance back to Alsiel was a brief one, and for now he was happy to look about on the ground and anywhere nearby, making sure to step lightly to ensure he wouldn’t trample on it by accident. “It can’t be that far, if you’ve only just noticed it missing.” They were words more to encourage Nerissa, and he hoped they carried that helpful weight to her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gardsorm</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 03:46:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Pz0PdJb.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alsiel Dalim (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352863#msg16352863)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Nerissa, Mathis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Idle banter, controlling NPC Frederick.<br><br><hr><br>"Why? It males people give me personal space, I can't ask for much more than that in my daily life. See, I'm not really much of a people-person." He could understand why Nerissa seemed puzzled by this, given how she seemed to be more of a social butterfly than he could ever be. At the least, she seemed to interact easily... "Anyway, it's just who I am, that's all there is to it... As for your tail, it's no trouble. I admit I was in the wrong for it. Just because I can be a jerk doesn't mean I won't admit when I'm wrong." He shrugged, guiding his hands behind his head. <br><br>"No, I have nothing against Beastblooded, or any race for that matter. Once upon a time, I might have had misgivings toward Haldes, but It's only one specific one that has my ire, and I learned not to condemn them all... Good thing too, otherwise I'd probably have a cell in a stockade somewhere just for me... Or worse, a noose in some forgotten gallows." He said such dark things without a care for his being, perhaps he loved a more carefree life than most... Either that, or he'd seem enough things that caused him to care less about the world.<br><br>Something about out this Beastblooded seemed odd to Alsiel, or maybe he just wasn't used to one so energetic and bubbly. "You... Don't have to make it such about out this challenge to remember my name, you know. It's just... Ugh, nevermind." It was easy to forget they weren't alone with their bit with Mathis still standing around, being wary of any kind of trouble that the gunman might have been making. <br><br>"Forgettable, are you? Heh, don't try and play that card with me. Someone forgettable wouldn't make me pull out my more-serious abilities." Alsiel folded his arms and regarded the smaller male. He hadn't seen many outside of his Clan who used magics that could sacrifice their lifeforce for greater power... And a swordsman, no less. It was a rather exhilarating encounter to go Gun versus Sword with the guy, even though it made him temporarily lose the bounty he'd been chasing that day. "Heh, understandable. I wouldn't even trust me completely, so you've got a good head on your shoulders." He wasn't interested in pursuing any antagonism with the guy right now; He'd be no better than those drunkards in the camp otherwise.<br><br>Compared to him, Mathis addressed the woman with a notably softer tone, drawing a quiet snort from him. This one was a real ladykiller, he bet. Knew how to talk to women better than Alsiel did... Or at least the women Alsiel talked better to were usually the kind one could pick up at an establishment for a night, usually after a couple glasses or something uplifting. <br><br>He had to hand it to the guy, he got to the heart of the matter faster than he probably would have... So Nerissa lost some sort of talisman, likely from when he saw her emerge screaming from the bushes. "You probably just left it near whatever watering hole you used to wash up at. Go check there and... Eh?" Alsiel's brow twitched in annoyance as he watched the Beastblooded woman start to look as if she wanted to ask him to look for it. "Ohhh no, hell no. Don't think I fall for looks like that, I don't do charity work." Alsiel grunted and made his stance clear... Before he caught Mathis looking at him. "What the hell? Look, if you want to play Nice Guy, by all means help the pretty face, but don't go getting me dragged into this, I don't have time for this." Alsiel shook his head and prepared to walk away... Until he stopped to see Frederick approaching with the Bog-Hoggle in his arms, chewing on bread.<br><br>^"Oh, don't be that way, Al. All you have is guard duty right now, and you said it yourself, it's boring. So go ahead and take the time to help them find her talisman, I'm sure shell appreciate it!"^ Frederick spoke with a knowing smile despite Alsiel's scowl.<br><br>"... Tch, fine, fine, I know when I'm outnumbered and I can't just gun my problems down. I'll help look too... Better move fast though, looks like bad weather is moving in little by little." the blue-haired male nodded toward the dark clouds in the distance, which had drawn ever closer compared to before. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Steir</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 16:01:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/XVWqjbw.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Freis Levian (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353812#msg16353812)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Near the Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Astra<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Ria, Kael and Liam, Kashi, Amelie<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Checking things, taking notes<br><hr><br>"All right. I'll pick some tea and cakes for the staff working at the logistics tent too," Freis replied, having to take out her notepad and add the note about almonds being in short supply as the druid went ahead to continue with her baking. It was hard to refuse Astra's request to do some baking in the camp, since it meant more of the flour was consumed in the cakes than was originally projected. It however improved the overall mood of the team and helped keep fights to a minimum so Freis requested for an adjustment in the projection of needed flour in the camp. And almonds. She figured that the expedition team would perform better should certain comforts be provided despite being out in the wilds, especially so since members of the nobility were also within the ranks.<br><br>Packing away her notepad, Freis could not help but glance at the tent where the illusionist lounged all day. She figured it was better that way rather than Ria being absent from her tent. The Folovan noble was a prodigy when it came to illusion magic and she possessed no other peers in that aspect. Ria was known to be a particular difficult individual to handle on account of the fact she couldn't take no for an answer - one way or another she'd get her way in a matter. She took a deep breath and went on to the mess tent. The team in the logistics tent were working the whole day so it's worth giving them a break over tea and almond cakes.<br><br>Kael and Liam were already seated at a table, joining Amelie and Kashi. It's a start for sure - the more people they were acquainted with meant less people would think ill of them. That would mean less trouble for Freis to fret over while she ensured the expedition ran smoothly. A request at the mess' captain allowed the Folovan mage to leave the mess tent with a tray holding a kettle of piping hot tea, some cups, an almond cakes. She took them back to the logistics tent to share with the members of the expedition there.<br><br>Freis admitted in her thoughts that the pastry was good - warm and comforting to the taste and paired well with the tea. It gave her some respite over the tensions of the day, renewing her focus to deal with what else the evening could throw at her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>PhantomPistoleer</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 16:52:29</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://img.webnovel.com/bookcover/19905752406914205/600/600.jpg?coverUpdateTime=1619213439231&amp;imageMogr2/quality/40)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Sir Cecil Frostmantle<br><strong> Location:</strong> Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> None<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> finished shaving, summoned his armor, and went to dine<br><hr><br>Once Cecil vanquished his afternoon shadow, he summoned his cobalt blue armor to him.&nbsp; Pieces emerged from a pocket dimension in the outskirts of the ether, and they appeared before him, floating.&nbsp; With his arms extended out beside him, and his feet shoulder width apart, the armor began to snap to him, first at the boot, then up the calves, across his thighs, then around his pelvis, all the way up his chest.&nbsp; Upon reaching his neck, a neck garter appeared, which encased his throat.&nbsp; The armor then encased his arms until dual vembraces adorned his ham-sized hands.&nbsp; His guisarme, a pole-arm with an axe for a head, sailed towards him, appearing from nowhere, spinning, whooshing, and then stopping abruptly once Cecil caught it.<br><br>He took a deep breath as he the guisarme became smaller and smaller until it became a sigil that adorned his breastplate squarely in the center.&nbsp; He then picked up his helmet, and, cradling it under a massive arm, he sauntered towards the kitchen tent so as to get something to eat.<br><br>There, he found a host of creatures big and small.&nbsp; The young knight did not greet them, however.&nbsp; They looked like they were all in a frenzied conversation, and Cecil was loathe to contribute to it.&nbsp; As he watched them go on, he could not help but observe that he did not quite understand the <em>order</em> of their conversation.&nbsp; There seemed to be no flow.&nbsp; It just happened, and Cecil got so lost attempting to discern where <em>exchanges</em> occurred that he simply gave up trying to figure them out.<br><br>&nbsp;"It's just as well," Cecil said to no one in particular.<br><br>Cecil grabbed a plate, filled it, and carried it back towards the tables to find an empty seat.&nbsp; Finding a seat when you were as big as he was often a tedious task.&nbsp; He could not take the end of a bench because that might result in him catapulting someone sitting on the other end a few feet in the air.&nbsp; Cecil also needed some shoulder room, too, so he stood there, waiting, watching, until something became available.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MyttraDW</strong> on <strong>12-12-2022, 23:22:47</strong>
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				<div align="center">(https://wheninyourstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Powerful-Lightning-Monsoon.jpg?x18368)</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Location: Expedition Camp</strong></span></div><hr>Darkness fell quicker than was expected, the mass of clouds that had been building on the horizon rushing toward the island. When the rain began, there was barely any buildup before it was pouring. Lightning crashed in the distance, rumbling thunder vibrating the air around the expedition. And then a bolt of electricity smashed into the center of the camp, sending flaming tent debris flying. One might expect the rain to put out the flames, but the wind seemed just as intent to keep it burning.<br><br>Those in the <strong>mess tent</strong> would be close enough to the first strike that they were knocked off their feet for a moment. The camp itself soon devolved into chaos, with various warriors yelling words that were swallowed by the howling air. Eventually, the storm seemed to lessen enough that the gist of the facts could be heard by everyone: the camp was under attack.<br><br>And those on the <strong>outskirts</strong> of the camp would have a better view of the assailants - mostly because they came face-to-face with them first. They were hunched-over beings unlike any humans or demons. Around their heads was a mane of thick, coarse hair that extended over their scalps, and their thin, wiry limbs belied the speed and power with which they moved. They held crudely forged weapons, barbed and wicked, in each of the hands at the end of their four arms. Their eyes were wild, crazed, and when one stood at its full height it would be at least nine-foot tall.<br><br><em>"Sssstorm god disssspleasssed. Desssstroy the intruderssss."</em> The one that spoke was heavily ornamented, with glowing markings over its body. The words could be heard by everyone as if they were carried on the winds themselves. Then a mass of the beings charged at the camp, some stopping to attack Fredrick and the others, while the rest flowed around them to strike at the camp itself.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Kissa</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 05:31:42</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/mevkDQe.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Nerissa Echethier (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354124#msg16354124)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> -<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Alsiel Dalim, Mathis Vaugeois<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> <hr> Searching for the talisman, being useless in a fight<br><br><hr>“After the last time? What did he do? Oh, he tried to use his charming skills in wooing a lady who wasn’t that easily swayed?” So curious creature, poking her nose in matters that didn’t really belong to her. Nera couldn’t help it. She often spoke before thinking. “You had a fight…?” At first she sounded worried, but then understood it could be something less serious too. “Ooh, a practice fight, right? I agree with you Alsiel. It looks like a good head.” Nera said with a broad smile. She probably didn’t understand the concept in the same as Alsiel as she thought Mathis had a pretty head, especially the hair. It was so pure and lively red she wanted to touch it, but she had just lectured Alsiel about touching tails, so it wouldn’t be right going touching people she had just made after lecturing someone about it.<br><br>They went straight to the first name basis. That was nice. It did make them feel like friends. Her worried and guilty expression melted away instantly when Mathis offered to help so easily. Nera’s moods could swing from one extreme to another in a blink of an eye. Her bushy tail wagged like she was a happy human puppy. <br><br>“Pleasure is all mine! Thank you so much!” Nera bowed her head to show gratitude, despite the fact they hadn’t found anything yet. Just the gesture of helping seemed to make her extremely happy. “It’s… it’s like a glass egg with an ornamented metal cage around it. It’s about… this big.” She showed length to approximately four inches with her fingers. “It’s really important! The high priestess herself gave it to me so I could find familiar of Halea herself. It glows when I get near the talisman… which it hasn’t done yet…” She added the last part more quietly. <br><br>“Oh, I see now how your friend truly was sarcastic when he called you a big charmer. You need help in that field. A lot.” I have a name, you know? Or should she take being called pretty face as a compliment? <br><br>“You are right. It’s probably a good idea to move back towards the bathing area. The talisman probably fell somewhere on my way here…” Nera was pondering how to say politely Alsiel could return to her guard duty if he felt like this was such a huge nuisance for him, but the weather took an unusual turn to worse. Nera had to hold her hem with her hand so it wouldn’t fly up to her ears. <br><br>Then lightning and thunder came over the camp. Nera’s ear flicked when she heard the lightning strike one of the camps and all the ruckus and hassle that followed such an incident. “Oh no… that sounds bad. I wonder if anyone got hurt. Perhaps…” She was going to say she should go check and offer her help if someone was hurt, but the evening got even worse before she had a chance to finish her sentence. <br><br>Weird creatures came from the woods. Nerissa had never seen such beings, but they didn’t look friendly. The brown ears went down and the beastblooded at her companions with a hesitant look, like she was looking for answers on how to deal with the situation. Oh, they could speak! Nerissa was going to suggest negotiating, but these… whatever they were, were here for blood. <br><br>Everything was so chaotic! Nera understood they had to fight to defend themselves. Of course she wanted to help too, but in all the confusion and nervousness she couldn’t remember any spells that would be useful at this moment. Because of her unfortunate tail the only spell that came to her mind now was a spell for balding, which wouldn’t help in this situation at all. Instinctively Nera moved a couple steps back, behind Mathis’ back which felt like the safest place she could be at the moment.&nbsp; <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gardsorm</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 05:46:08</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/Pz0PdJb.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alsiel Dalim (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352863#msg16352863) | Frederick (NPC)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Outskirts (Combat Phase)<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Nerissa, Mathis<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Moving to Combat<br><br><hr><br>"If you think I'd have anything less than a real fight with someone, then you've got a special way of thinking, Nerissa." Alsiel certainly wasn't going to entertain her thoughts on what kind of trouble he probably got into before, but they most certainly did not feature a woman of any kind. Of course, what else could he expect from some happy-go-lucky sultry priestess from some order that practiced magic he wasn't familiar with? "Oh, but feel free to keep flirting with him, it looks fun." Fun in how awkward it probably made the other guy to be complimented so openly, anyway. <br><br>"So we're looking for some little egg thing. That doesn't sound difficult at all." He hoped the sarcasm was evident in his voice, and he was sure Mathis could sense it, but the Beastblooded girl... Well, the jury was out on that one. At the least she seemed to catch on he was not as nice as he looked. "Finally understand now, eh? Good for you, Nerissa." He grinned like it was a mark of pride for her to understand he was a problem. "Unfortunately for him <em>and</em> you, I'm not really looking for help in that field right now. I don't need to know how to woo girls to hunt down people and monsters." With a tone bordering on dismissive, he brushed aside her concern that he needed help in being charming. He could easily leave being charming to Mathis and he doubted anyone would care.<br><br>More than anything, Alsiel wished for anything that could have potentially taken him out of the duty of helping to look for such an insignificant trinket that she could have lost, because if it truly mattered to Nerissa, she would have kept it closer to her being. However... The sudden downpour of rain from the clouds that seemed to move entirely too fast for normal clouds wasn't quite what he wished for. If he thought those clouds seemed queer before, then the sudden crashing bolt in the middle of the camp that caused him to duck and reflexively draw his sidearm was downright unusual. Lightning never struck with the kind of precision that allowed it to fall relatively dead-center in a settlement like this unless there were means of drawing electricity. <br><br>No, something more was at work here. "Well, if someone did get hurt... Then business is about to start booming for me." the man remarked offhand to Mathis and Nerissa, as he heard the shouts from the camp. Well, the bolt was certainly enough to wake even the most drunk soul, but likely many were going to struggle to regain their faculties while they made sense of everything. The greater worry, however, was what was causing this storm... A worry that made itself apparent before long as Alsiel surveyed the area... A strange race, one he couldn't immediately identify, made themselves apparent, quite tall when standing at full height and multi-limbed... But their manner of speech sounded almost reptilian in nature, so potentially that would help narrow it down a bit once they got through this. <br><br>"Aaaand what fresh hell have we got here? ... Tch, Mathis! Keep Nerissa safe, I don't have time to babysit noncombatants!" the surly blue-haired man grunted as he raised his sidearm, Specter, and took aim at one of the rushing creatures. Time to test the waters...<br><br>"Awaken, Specter." He commanded, synchronizing his magical intent with the focus in his hand. "Standard Invocation, Soul Shot, set." And with that, his first squeeze of the trigger sent off a bolting purple blast of energy at the rushing beast, striking it's shoulder and delaying its advance momentarily. However, there was nothing else remarkable about what was essentially his most basic spell, save that he could shoot again and again to try and bring the monster down... Alas, it would not go down easily, closing the distance and taking a mighty swing at Alsiel with its barbed cudgel, forcing the man to roll to the side to evade and take aim its face with another Soul Shot.<br><br>"Not gonna make this easy, are you? Slow suffering it is, then..."<br><br><hr><br><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/yYJPakC.jpg)</div> <strong>Name:</strong> Frederick (NPC)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Inner Perimeter (Combat Phase)<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Moving to Combat, controlling NPC Frederick.<br><br><hr><br>The camp was in chaos following the thunderbolt, and the Bog-Hoggle that Frederick cradled in his arm was quite visibly frightened by it. ^"Hey, now, don't worry, Fred's got you! It's just a little lightning, alright? There there..."^ He pat the creature affectionately. So preoccupied he was caring for the monster, he didn't seem to realize the invading creatures with the falling rain making it somewhat hard to hear their advance. Only a warning squeal from the Bog-Hoggle alerted the Knight at the last second&nbsp; before he hopped forward to avoid a gruesome end via a barbed blade of some sort. <br><br>^"... Ah, so Al's thoughts this storm seemed off were rather on-point... Sadly. Good thing I didn't bet gold on it. I'm sorry, little guy, but could you bear with me? This is going to be-"^ He started trying to soothe the creature, but the opposing foe raced in for a second attack... Only for Frederick to hold out his hand and manifest his weapon with a snap of his fingers, falling from the heavens through a gathering of mist and landing just in time to catch the swinging blade. ^"-Rather... Tricky."^<br><br>With one arm around the Bog-Hoggle, his other grasped the spear before he kicked its shaft forward, pushing the blade back and carving upward at the enemy's chest, forcing it back. Contrary to his usual friendly demeanor, Frederick narrowed his eyes and stamped the spear's bottom at his side. ^"Foul creature, you face a proud Knight of the House of the Cavalier! You may try to take my life as you please, but if you believe I will let this creature or these lives come to harm by your hands... You will not live long to ponder such thoughts."^ His tone was colder than the rain that fell around him, his eyes looking about to account for how many invaders there were. A second closed in on him, ready to turn a one-on-one into a two-on-one... Until Frederick hurled his spear at the onrushing beast, landing infront of it. <br><br>The action seemed like a mild deterrent at best, and so the monster prepared to rush past it and attack the unarmed male... Until he snapped his fingers. ^"Knight's Order: Chilling Detonation!"^ And with that call, once the creature was beside the weapon, the spear promptly exploded in what looked like a shower of mist and ice, casting the creature back painfully, while a new spear formed itself in his hand. Immediately, his eyes went back to the first invader.<br><br>^"Dare you try your luck as your ally did? Rest assured I come prepared for all occasions."^
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Steir</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 09:05:18</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/XVWqjbw.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Freis Levian (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16353812#msg16353812)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Near the Mess Tent<br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Calling shots, picking targets<br><hr><br>Planning went well after a quick break over tea and almond cakes, and they were about to wrap things up when rain suddenly started pouring hard outside. The sudden change of weather worried Freis - who knew they should be expecting a fair evening until the morning. Distant rumbling raised alarms in her head as she acted fast in the next few moments.<br><br>"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Freis called out as she drew her twin staves out from their holster. Embers gathered in Dextera while Sinistra seemed to shudder with gravitational force gathering in its cavity.<br><br><strong>EARTH SPIKE</strong><br><br>With a quick twirl she struck both into one spot on the ground to unleash the combined energies and send a solid piece of earth spiking upwards (and wrecking the table and the day's work in the process) up to the tent's roof. The tent's structure exploded at that moment, blasting Freis onto the ground as all loose objects flew outwards from the position of the spike. Flaming tent debris fell all around the Folovan mage and her colleagues as a cloud of dust hung in the air.<br><br>A loud ringing overwhelmed her ears as she checked on the others that were with her - it wasn't the best solution she hoped for but she was able to protect herself and her companions from grievous harm by redirecting the thunderbolt through the ground with an earth spike.<br><br>It was fortunate there were strong winds, soon dispersing the cloud of dust where the tent once stood. The sight wasn't pleasing to her eyes - strange being rushed into the camp with the element of surprise, already engaging members of the expedition stationed at the outskirts of the camp. The Folovan mage coughed to clear her throat and struggled to her feet with the help of her staves.<br><br>"Noncombatants, move towards the pier in a calm and orderly manner!" Freis called out in a firm voice as she started gathering magical energies of water in one staff and wind in the other, quickly dropping the temperature once both staves were brought together, "Take out intruders that have breached the perimeter! Focus on keeping them out first!"<br><br>Loud bellowing could be heard throughout the camp as giants ran in with vicious weapons in four arms. A pair were charging towards Freis' position, seeing the Folovan mage and her companions as easy targets. She simply narrowed her eyes and directed the charged magical energies of her staves at them.<br><br><strong>ICE GUST</strong><br><br>Subzero winds blustered forth from her staves, embracing the incoming giants with intense cold. Ice quickly formed and grew on their skin, encasing the incoming assailants completely in solid shell of cold and holding them in place. It was a brief moment of respite as Freis then stood back to attend to the others.<br><br>"Get the members from Cabista and Bente to distribute longspears to those who are strong enough to wield weapons among the noncombatants," she told one of the scribes with her that appeared to have recovered from the shock of the initial attack, "Even if the attackers are strong they'll think twice about charging into a line full of sharp spears pointed at them."<br><br>Her priority now was keeping people alive. That meant denying their attackers easy targets and focusing on those who could fight back.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 14:13:25</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/TattooedAxeWarrior.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Amelie van Alt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354709#msg16354709)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent, then outside<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> Violence<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Kashi, Kael<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Astra, Freis<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong>&nbsp; Intrigued conversation<br><hr><br>Groaning aloud as she levered herself up off the floor, Amelie permitted herself a moment of wry relief - she had not got around to acquiring either food or drink, and had thus (through pure good fortune rather than any skill) avoided 'decorating' herself with any mess-hall mess.<br><br>Shaking her head, she peered around, a frown creasing her brow as she tried to make sense of what was happening... before offering her hand to her nearest still-prone neighbour to offer assistance in regaining their own feet.<br><br>"I think that things just got <em>interesting</em>," she noted wryly, using her free hand to unsling her axe from its place on her back.&nbsp; "Watch out for each other!", she called out, raising her voice to try to carry over the storm, adding her own encouragement to that provided by Freis.&nbsp; "Those who can fight, protect those who can't!"<br><br>Sparing a moment to try to spot Astra - thinking that the peace-making priestess not only seemed to particularly merit protection, but might also be of importance in the aftermath of any fight - the Berserker then turned to stride to the opening by which she had so recently entered the great tent, her course at a tangent to that taken by Freis.&nbsp; As she moved, she once again brought her left hand up to her right shoulder... but this time she did not probe at the underlying muscles, instead tracing her fingertips over the complex tattoo decorating the uppermost part of her arm.&nbsp; As she did so, a shimmering golden lattice-work formed around her, outlining the impression of a set of close-fitting armour formed out of a tracery of light.<br><br>If nothing else, it quite literally lit her up as a <em>very</em> obvious target for foes, standing out amidst the storm's gloom and the mayhem enveloping the camp.&nbsp; To cope with the latter, she brushed her left hand across the tattoos around her eyes - producing another shimmer, this time behind her lashes as she granted herself new forms of Sight, to pick out magic and see more clearly through the poor conditions.<br><br>Fortunately, it seemed to be the case that foes were neither dropping from the skies nor erupting from the earth - instead, they were making a much more mundane approach from outside the camp's boundaries.&nbsp; Still, those borders had evidently been breached in at least a couple of places, and strange, huge creatures were starting to be visible among the outer lines of tents.<br><br>"Watch each other's back!" she called over her shoulder, before breaking into a run - dashing straight towards the nearest of the intruders.&nbsp; She waved her beloved axe, <em>Biting Retort</em>, in the air, her uplifted arm (like the rest of her) outlined in that tracery of shimmering light courtesy of the temporary protection granted by her armouring rune.<br><br>"Over here!&nbsp; If you want a fight, I volunteer!" she yelled, to try to ensure she secured the attention of the the nearest intruders.&nbsp; It worked, at least for the two towards whom she was directly running.&nbsp; En route, she attempted to read their attitudes and demeanour, watching for signs that they might want to parley or at least adopt a defensive stance in response to her rush... but instead, they seemed at least as keen on getting to grips as might be expected of any berserker.<br><br>Making a display out of her apparently-heedless charge, she instead timed her approach with care, dropping and rolling under her first opponent's welcoming swing, to rise up and strike at his startled companion behind.&nbsp; With momentum and strength as well as skill guiding her axe, it hit hard - and its enchanted durability ensured that Amelie had no qualms about smashing through either defences or bone.&nbsp; A follow-up strike put her target down, before she ducked, rolled, and spun around to come up facing her remaining target as he tried to reorient his attentions to her.<br><br>This time, she launched a direct assault rather than opting for evasion, battering the huge, hairy intruder with a succession of overhand blows.&nbsp; She took one significant counter-strike that glanced off the magic wrapped around her, before she delivered a decisive uppercut with <em>Biting Retort</em>.&nbsp; Immediately after wrenching her now-gory axehead free, she sank to one knee, exhaling long and low as she allowed the glimmering lattice of armouring light to fade from view.&nbsp; With the magical drain on her reserves of stamina now reduced to the trickle required to assist her vision, she dragged in great lungfulls of air, peering around in search of new threats.<br></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lynnette</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 20:15:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/gs1FVoC.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kashi Acatrinei (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16352420#msg16352420)<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Mess Tent &gt; Cecil's tent &gt; On the way back to the center of camp<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Amelie Van Alt, Kael<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Cecil's tent<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Conversing &gt; Going for a brisk run<br><hr><br><strong>"No worries, I don't mind some entertainment for the food,"</strong> Kashi said, a clear teasing tone that she didn't seem to worry if would be missed.<br><br>Listening to Amelie, any suspicions that she was a fraud were long gone. There was no doubt that the woman in front of her was in fact titled, not that she's really believed otherwise. The overly philosophical way of talking, there was no doubt she came from a furnished home. Not that Kashi minded it in the slightest - In a sense, she saw herself above class. A bit self-indulgent, sure, but she didn't care in the slightest. She was raised to see those from higher places as walking money-bags, just like the peasantry - The only real differentiator was the size of their purse. Though she'd abandoned much of it, that part stuck, that class only really meant more money, she wasn't going to bow down and lick boots, if she got herself in that situation in the first place, she'd already have an out ready.<br><br>In conclusion, Kashi doubted that Amelie was there as a tourist, and that was good enough for her.<br><br><hr><br>The strike of thunder was enough to shake what little was left of Kashi's bread off the table and on to the floor. She debated picking it back up, but ultimately didn't. Her act was interrupted by the weather picking up, and the blaze roaring outside. She looked to the others around the table, and gave an agreeing nod towards Amelie. <br><br><strong>"Looks like it."</strong><br><br>She quickly slipped out of the bench she'd been sat upon, and bounced up on her feet. She didn't have her bag unfortunately, so she was left with two spells, carefully tucked into her sleeves. One that favored the current weather, and one that didn't. So, in truth, she had one spell, so she'd have to make it count until she could get her bag. It had been a bit foolish to leave her only real weapon behind, but she hadn't expected a surprise assault on the camp. <strong>"I need my bag, I'll get back here when I get it."</strong> <br><br>With that, she split off. She was quick on her feet, but the quickly muddying ground and the heavy rain slowed her down. Still, she was able to maneuver carefully between any major threats, as well as the main groupings of people from the camp. Those were the obvious targets after all. Her brief sprint came to a sudden halt when two of the monsters stood in her way. The ground caused her to nearly slip, though she narrowly regained her footing. She bit her lip, adjusted her footing a little, and wiped some splashed up mud from her cheek, before fishing out the usable spell. The paper was a bit soggy from the rain, but a quick inspection proved that it was still completely readable. "O note in the dark, explode", written elegantly in runic. <br><br><strong>"Let's see what you got then, you ugly fucks,"</strong> she overconfidently taunted, gauging the two. When she finally kicked off in a full sprint towards them, they started moving as well, towards her. They were conveniently close, so when the first of the two raised its lengthy, hacked together sword, she narrowly dodged under its armpit, sticking her paper to the hip of the monster, gliding her finger across it as she let go. The paper immediately sucked up to the monster, and started to eerily glow in a bright golden light, followed by a high-pitched screech, and finally, a loud explosion that threatened to rupture her eardrums and left her ears ringing. It had worked out as she hoped though - Looking back, her main target had turned into red mist, with parts of its torso and legs split apart. The other one had a massive gap in its hip, and lost one of its legs, still screeching after her as it tried to get up using the spiked club it carried. Good enough, one disabled and one dead. The path to Cecil's tent was clear - She quickly slipped inside and grabbed the heavy leather shoulder-bag, swung it over her shoulder, and got back out. <br><br>What paper she had was valuable, so Kashi didn't want to risk wasting it. Thankfully, with the immediate danger bleeding out a few meters ahead of her, and the other turned into a not so pleasant look on the slippery ground, Kashi carefully ran around the wounded one, leaving it to die on its own, and started the trip back to the center of camp. The worst part of the whole alteraction so far was that she'd have to do laundry again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hatless</strong> on <strong>14-12-2022, 21:24:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/w68J68x.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Ria Thorn<br><strong>Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - Tents<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> Violence <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> None<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Hiding, Preparing to escape <br><hr><br>Ria paced along the perimeter of the tables that had been set out for the masses to have their meals. Her arms found themselves folded beneath her chest. Fingers drummed in agitation against the dusky skin of her arms. A frown was being fought back, leaving her lips pressed together in a thin line.<br><br>The demon had not isolated itself as she had hoped. Just watching it ingratiating itself with the others -- sitting at their table, sharing their food, holding a seemingly friendly conversation -- forced Ria to redouble her efforts in keeping her expression neutral. How could they not see what she saw? With a smug satisfaction, Ria had to remind herself that not everyone had the refined senses of a master illusionist. That the Halde were anywhere near as numerous as they were told Ria all she needed to know about how easily some people were fooled by these demons. But they would not fool her.<br><br>Ria's ruminations were interrupted by the sudden onset of a downpour. Her arms untangled themselves so that she could catch a few raindrops in her palm. How strange. Distant gray clouds on the horizon had looked as though they were still hours away. The rumble of thunder hadn't even started to herald the approach of the storm.<br><br>It didn't matter. There was little time to dwell upon such peculiarities. Ria was hardly dressed to stand around in torrential rain; her dress was ideal for comfortable lounging in stirring winds and fading sunshine but was far too diaphanous for the rain. She rushed to the cover of the nearest canopy, as did many others that found themselves left out in the elements. How perfectly they had been herded together for what was to come.<br><br>***<br><br>Blades of grass tickled Ria's cheek as she stirred. What happened? Ria found that her vision was not entirely focused and that her ears hummed with a buzzing that dampened all other sound. Instinct responded to assumed danger by summoning a cloak of essence.<br><br>Illusion magic was inherently subtle. What good did it do to wave one's arms around and yell "Summon Illusory Dragon!" when the goal was to deceive? Ria was better at this than almost any other. There were no grand gestures when she shimmered out of sight, nor any incantations to call attention to her. One moment she was there on her hands and knees amidst the chaos, and in the next, she had vanished completely.<br><br>***<br><br>Alwyn wrestled with one of the invaders, seizing away a weapon and throwing it aside. One hand wrapped around the entirety of the creature's wiry arm, then another found purchase around the creature's wrist. It was all the leverage that the brutish Alwyn needed to lift his opponent from the ground. His weight shifted and his body turned, slinging his opponent into the ground with tremendous force. Before it could recover from its daze, a boot crashed down upon the attacker's head, ending its life with a sickening crunch and a final dying spasm of limbs.<br><br>Not many of the creatures had come Alwyn's way. The goal seemed to be attacking the camp's inhabitants who were clustered elsewhere, but a few had apparently thought to raid the tents for riches ahead of the battle's conclusion. None had yet to make it inside Lady Thorn's tent thanks to Alwyn's efforts, but he could not stay here forever while the fate of his charge was unknown.<br><br>"Alwyn," Ria's voice whispered to the man from nearby. His head turned this way and that, seeking out the woman to whom the voice belonged. When his eyes spotted nothing but empty air and pouring rain, Alwyn sighed and reminded himself who he was speaking with.<br><br>"Good, you're safe. We should regroup. Rally with the others and-"<br><br>"Load up the wagon," Ria interrupted. Beneath her cover of invisibility, Ria waved her arm in a wide arc. A globe that distorted the surrounding area formed, following the motion of Ria's hand. To those outside the dome of magic, there was no longer a tent to be found or a bodyguard to stumble upon, just empty ground and a pattern of rain falling from the sky. It was not perfect -- not even Ria could adjust an Illusion to account for the speed and trajectory of every raindrop that fell at its border -- but it would take a truly keen sense of observation to notice that something was amiss.<br><br>Inside her illusion, Ria let her invisibility fade. She stood before Alwyn; dripping wet, clothes stuck to her skin, and her normally voluminous hair heavy from the rain. Thankfully, she did not look wounded save for a few scratches and potential bruises that might show up in the future. "Quickly, get everything valuable. I'll focus on making sure we are unseen and unheard."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MyttraDW</strong> on <strong>15-12-2022, 18:14:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OU8STeM.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Kael Marielle Caliburn<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp -- Mess Tent Ruins<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> <br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Amile (Kael), Kashi (Liam)<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> Freis<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> Punch, and not the fruit kind<br><hr><br>The storm had come as a surprise to everyone, Kael and Liam included. And when a massive bolt of lightning slammed into the center of the camp, destroying the kitchen tent and throwing the occupants to the side. He was worried about Freis for a moment until he saw the spire of earth she had erected to protect her and the others inside that tent. He glanced around and, satisfied that most of the civilian experts were moving towards the docks, shepherded by some of the less skilled combatants, the demon's wings fluttered and he looked over at Liam. <br><br>"Shall we dance?" Liam asked his partner as the two of them stood and readied their fists, which began to glow with blue energy in Liam's case, and swirled with purple magicks for Kael. The demon looked at Liam and grinned.<br><br>"Do you even need to ask?" he glanced at Amile, impressed by her skill, but noting that she seemed somewhat winded at the moment. Nothing that wouldn't pass, he was sure, but already one of the assailants - creaturs which Kael had never seen before - was charging at her. Instinct took over, ignoring any possible harm that could come to Amile's pride, and Kael charged at the creature. He lept over her crouching form and landed a flying punch on the four-armed beast. It stumbled back from the impact of the blow, and began to swing its weapons. Each swing was masterfully placed despite looking like a reckless string of wild strikes. But each one of them, Kael narrowly avoided. But it was not as close as it seemed. Kael was using his home style of Skri-Daal to get in close to his foe. Then with another magick-wrapped punch he slammed the beast back by the chest - Amile could hear bones crack.<br><br>"You alright?"<br><hr>Meanwhile, Liam had noticed Kashi's words and decided it better to stay in at least groups of two for a moment. She was fast, though, and she'd been able to take out one of the attackers before he caught up to her. Catch up to her he did, though, and not a moment too soon. His fists of aether glowed in the stormy darkness as he dashed directly past Kashi and swept the creature off its feet. With a double-fisted punch, he slammed it back into a nearby tent, skidding to a halt beside Kashi.<br><br>"It's foolish to be alone right now, don't you think?" Liam asked with a playfulness to his voice. "You were heading back to the center, right? Lead the way, I'll be right behind you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Outcast</strong> on <strong>16-12-2022, 14:55:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3c/TattooedAxeWarrior.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Amelie van Alt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=347305.msg16354709#msg16354709)<br><strong> Location:</strong> Expedition Camp - among the tents<br><strong>Warnings:</strong> N/A<br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Kael<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong>&nbsp; Kashi<br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong>&nbsp; Intrigued conversation, careful watchfulness<br><hr><br>Groaning again - though it might perhaps have been at last in part for show - Amelie used the haft of her axe to help to lever herself upright once again, before sucking in a deep lungfull of storm-air.<br><br>"Not bad for a short-arse," she observed, though her teasing words were accompanied by a wry smile and a respectful nod.<br><br>"Honestly: impressive work."&nbsp; Shifting her grip, she employed a deft flick of her arms to send the worst of the gore sluicing off the axe-head, down and away into the dirt.&nbsp; "Did you see if Kashia - the beastborn - made it out safely?&nbsp; And have you encountered anything like these creatures before?&nbsp; They're unfamiliar to me.&nbsp; Should we be looking for a commander, a summoner, a war-chief, so that we can try to end this quickly?&nbsp; Or just ploughing into them as best we can?"<br><br>Even as she spoke, she continued to flick wary glances around, not wanting to get surprised by the arrival of any more of the enemy.<br></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crucible of Souls -- In Character Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Revelation</strong> on <strong>18-12-2022, 05:47:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/94/V6kQPuWp_o.jpg)</div><strong>Name: Mathis Vaugeois</strong><br><strong> Location:</strong> <br><strong>Warnings:</strong><br><strong>Open/Closed:</strong> Open<br><strong>Direct Interaction Tags:</strong> Alsiel, Nerissa,<br><strong>Mentioned Tags:</strong> <br><strong>Actions Taken:</strong> <br><hr><br>There was quite a bit going on, with a brief explanation being owed to Nerissa. “He and I got in a fight once. Nothing too major, it seems it’s pretty easy for others to get angry at him.” He spoke a bit more nonchalantly about Alsiel, but it also wasn’t meant to be overly harsh – as it was readily seen that Alsiel’s personality was more abrasive than not. Still he begrudgingly offered to help, so while not a good man, could at least be guilted into doing the proper thing. Keeping his attention on Nerissa, he listened to her explain what she was looking for, and gave a small nod. “Didn’t see anything like that on my way over here. I suppose I wasn’t really looking though.” With that, Mathis began to look around a bit more seriously, though not knowing where Nerissa had been before, he was mostly keeping his focus on the general area. On the cusp of getting ready to ask Nerissa about what she was doing before she realized it was lost, there was a boom of thunder, and Mathis’ hand instinctively moved for his blade as he dug his boots into the dirt.<br><br>For now he said nothing, but as what could be best described as creatures crawled out from the woods nearby, Mathis gave a bit of an annoyed grunt. Silently he interposed himself between the creatures, and Nerissa and the rest of the camp. Slowly drawing his blade, he seemed ready for a fight. However, Alsiel gave a salient point. If Nerissa was a non combatant, then perhaps it was for the best that she be escorted to safety. “Are you able to handle yourself in a fight?” He asked her quickly. He wasn’t above playing bodyguard for another, and knowing Alsiel’s skills in a fight, he felt comfortable in feeling that the man wouldn’t eat shit at the first sign of trouble.<br><br>Already Alsiel was on the offensive ,but for now Mathis’ priority was on Nerissa rather than the foes around him. Taking another step closer to her, he then gave her a nod. “Just.. don’t be afraid to fall back if it gets too dangerous out here.” Mathis spoke, and as he did so – a flicker of flame began to spark up his sword as he called upon his gift. It remained merely an ember for now, but even an ember can become a bonfire with the right spirit.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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