GGaD » [[DoF]] - 2: A Lonely Town, By The Cliffs and The Fields

Marsh · October 20, 2023 22:33:36

Time wrote:
"Uh... I have killed someone." Arcan gives a weak smile, stopping her preparations and looking at Patil, "I thought it was obvious, wasn't it?" It's a rather fragile attempt at a joke.

---

As Marsh runs off, she nears a group of adventurers, who glare at her, "Whattya want, huh?" A shorter man asks, looking a bit annoyed that the fact someone is approaching them.

Another one rests his hand on his sword, gently as he sizes the newcomer up.

((I wonder to the point to where I should make a legit form for some of the npcs bruh))

((the point when the npcs serve a multitude of purposes outside of this very specific roleplay senario))

Patil smiles, a small, simple, expression, something that's meant to lighten the mood. "Of course you have, that must be why you look like you're on the verge of a panic attack." It's hard to tell but Patil is experiencing a major sense of deja vu, having this conversation with Arcan now is reminding him of a very similar conversation he had with Leon four years ago. Though Leon didn't react with nearly as much composure.

Marsh startles at the harsh tone, defensively taking a step back, "I um, was just wondering if you've heard of a woman named Alethea? I'm looking for her."

Time · October 21, 2023 12:20:35

"Really? Why would I look like that?" Arcan takes one of her arrows, and slowly rolls it around with her fingertips, "That makes no sense, I'm calm as anyone could be." She exhales a trembling breath.

After a pause, she speaks again, "I didn't go for kill shots during the jungle. I've killed like, animals before. But that was for survival. This will be my first time... killing for more, you know? I thought I'd be able to take it better."

---

"Oh, so your job is to look for someone, huh? What are ya going to do once you find her? Kill her?" The short man said.

The swordsman frowned. He looks like he's now debating if Marsh is lying or not.

"Please, my fellow friends." The last member of the trio spoke, this one was a young, almost naive looking man in clerical robes, "We must not always expect the worse of people. Maybe the task isn't harmful but helpful."

The other two don't really say anything, they just look indifferent and roll their eyes.

The Cleric speaks again, "Alethea is normally in the large building by the supply tent. It's the base of operations for the Whitecloaks, and has an Infirmary. You'll usually find her dropping in and out, helping the sickly."

"She's truly a kind person for it. She's not even a Whitecloak, yet she helps with what she can." With that, the Cleric looks like he's finished giving his spiel.

He bows to Marsh, "It was a honor helping you." While I don't know Marsh's deductive skills of words and actions, but it seems this Cleric knows a deity when he sees one.

Marsh · October 21, 2023 21:12:25

"Well, a person is quite different from an animal, wouldn't you say? This anxiety, this nervousness, it's all natural." Patil says, "Unfortunately, this is the task you were given, there's not much we can do to change that. I can't say how you'll feel afterwards, everyone's reaction to this kind of thing is a little different, but like any task, once it's done, it's done. I'll stay with you, if you'd like. So you're not alone."

Marsh doesn't even notice the Cleric's recognition of their status, Marsh barely even recognizes themself as a deity, but they seem quite happy with Alethea's reputation as a kind person. "Thank you kind sir, I'll be on my way then." They say, quickly leaving with a respectful bow, something that feels more like muscle memory than an actual thought out decision. Marsh heads toward the medical building, not fully sprinting but just sort of power-walking.

Time · October 22, 2023 00:54:57

Arcan smiles. It's a genuine one, "Thank you. It means a lot. It's just..." She sniffles a bit, before looking over to the medical building, quickly dropping the smile, "...It's just that Crimson spared my life once. If I kill him, then it makes his act of mercy his biggest mistake... and... well I don't really know what it means for me."

---

Our two guard friends are standing outside still, holding a soft conversation. Something overall indistinct.

((oh btw, should we do a time skip at some point? Lycaon left for a bit, and we're just waiting for time to past so things are in chronological order))

Last edited by Time (October 22, 2023 00:55:30)

wolffighting3768 · October 22, 2023 11:27:01

"Actually...don't tell me. I trust ya well enough to make the right choice. I consent to this experimental treatment if it'll keep me alive a while longer. Now...I'm going back to sleep...if ya don't mind." Crimson said and closed his eyes.

Flare looked at Alethea almost in a trance. "Are you alright now? If you cannot answer my question then I will simply just leave my faith and trust in you and be on my way." he told her.

"You...the one with the Shard. Give it to me...that thing, your soul." a voice called into Fang's heart. Creeping around her enough to make her shudder. "Isn't that what I would want...or what Cor would want?"

Fang shook her head and growled. "You idiot...don't try to trick me this time. The Council sent ya here for a reason, and I plan on using ya to the most effect. Now how well can ya fool people? You're not called The Deep Illusionist for nothing. Now how many Inhibitors did they give ya to last until we reach our deal? And what name did they give you?" Fang asked the man, who 's presence seemed to cover her in a dome.

"Haze. And enough to keep my sanity for a week. So for the time being it'll have to do. But I still want that Soul I was promised. Humanity is everything to me." the man said to her, as the faint sound of something being dragged across root and dirt came closer to her. She was almost taken aback on how differently he looked in this world. Almost too much like Crimson...eerie indeed. His brown eyes stared at the woman before him and remained almost uninterested. "Where did Dust run off too? I specifically sent him to lead you here and now he ran off once more. How lovely." Haze said as he tightly wound the chain he was carrying around his shoulder and covered it with his coat. "Now what is your little idea you have here Fang?" Haze asked.

Fang faintly smiled and looked around. "I want you to impersonate Crimson. We need to stall until we can find a way to kee--" Haze raised his hand and interrupted Fang. "I have the Black Box and a few other things that the others in Hanai sent. Infinity and Agni send a new broadsword and some snacks for Cor while Shard made sure to make a few specialized Forge Disks that and I quote "SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR BATTLE AND FOR EXCESSIVE LIMITER USE YOU IDIOT!". Other than that, Aster sent his regards." he finished and put his hand down. "Wait, your just NOW telling me this?! Did they send anything for us?!" Fang said, almost jumping up and down. Haze shrugged and looked around. "They didn't send you and Flare a thing as far as I am aware. Not that you would need anything but Cor's snacks. But regardless we need to be able to sneak the items to Crimson and quickly too if you want me to impersonate Crimson well enough. I will also need his clothes too. Make it more believable. And hair dye. And contact lenses...really a whole movie-esq thing. Though I'm sure you've made enough friends here to help with that?"

Fang rolled here eyes and nodded. "I can find someone to help us with that. Now how much did everything come in Haze?" she asked, quite entrusted. "Everything is chained to the Black Box to make it look like it's apart of it. So carrying it is only a matter of weight. Since the Box itself weights roughly 200 pounds, I'd say an additional 50-75 with everything else. Though someone else will have to carry it, I cannot risk too much attention on myself right now.

((OK, so question for everyone, since I want a fair game with Haze. How many WOULD or WANT their characters to be able to see through Haze's illusions?))

Time · October 22, 2023 17:32:26

((Mb Zane Mb I thought I responded but I must have forgotten entirely))

Alethea responds, "Well, of course the benefit of trusting me is protection of your dear friend. What else is there?" she asks, "I will likely not be moving to the next stage anytime soon with all these injured people, so I suppose adding another task won't be an issue."

---

Vulture nods, "Alright, then." She stands up and leaves, probably to attend to other patients and maybe looking into her experimental medicines.

wolffighting3768 · October 22, 2023 20:34:19

((All good Time. Can't always keep track over everyone.))

"I place my faith and trust in you wholly then miss Alethea. Keep the man safe for me. I've other tasks to attend to if you do not mind. May we meet again soon." Flare said and bowed before making his way out the medical building and into the outskirts of the area, in search of Fang.

-----

"What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger? Like hell this will. I still have a task to do...search for Ozark...and take is arm. Great, the sheer irony of that is great. Bloody flower giving me a task I can hardly do! Well....it'll get done somehow." he thought before lulling hjimself to sleep.

ThreePunchAxel · October 23, 2023 08:47:34

Ozark notices Flare leaving, and follows him, keeping a safe distance away to avoid being noticed.

(bruh i forgot that ozark's sword is still being repaired, he should probably go deal with that eventually)

Last edited by ThreePunchAxel (October 23, 2023 08:49:46)

wolffighting3768 · October 23, 2023 12:32:12

(Don't worry...nothing bad could happen...maybe.)

"That shouldn't be too much of a problem. You keep yourself well hidden enough that I couldn't sniff ya out. So just keep things that way and we'll come back for you soon." Fang told Haze, picking up a small leaf. Haze himself looked around and slowly retreated. "Flare is here. Keep the man informed, I will wait, but do not keep it too long, I only have so long to stay sane here. Until next time Fang." Haze said and receded deeper into the treelines.

Fang slowly and surely made her way out of the outskirts and ran into Flare. The two exchanged looks of both slight regret and worry. "We're you able to find anything useful for Crimson?" Flare asked her. Fang shook her head in denial. "This world is far too different for us. Not enough space exists for it. However we have some hope." she asnwered him. Flare sighed heavily and shook his head. "We wait then?" he asked in responce. Fang nodded and her ears slightly twitched, alerting her of something close. "We should get back. I assume some animals are aware of us." Fang said to him and lead the way back to the encampment and sat down on a bench where Flare sat next to her.

((Once more I shall ask, how well and who can Haze fool with his illusions? I wanna have a fair game. Though that doesn't mean I won't throw a few bones in the mix.))

Marsh · October 25, 2023 08:09:30

Time wrote:
Arcan smiles. It's a genuine one, "Thank you. It means a lot. It's just..." She sniffles a bit, before looking over to the medical building, quickly dropping the smile, "...It's just that Crimson spared my life once. If I kill him, then it makes his act of mercy his biggest mistake... and... well I don't really know what it means for me."

---

Our two guard friends are standing outside still, holding a soft conversation. Something overall indistinct.

((oh btw, should we do a time skip at some point? Lycaon left for a bit, and we're just waiting for time to past so things are in chronological order))

"Oh." Patil says, "Well, that complicates things... Hmm how bout this, you tell me exactly what you can remember of your task, let's see if we can find a way around it yeah?" It seems he's had a sudden change of heart, for what reason is anyone's guess.

Marsh slows to a brisk walk, going up to the guards in what they hope is a calm and trustworthy manner, "Um, hello! I'm looking for someone named Alethea, I heard she's in the building so... It's uh totally fine if I'm not allowed inside, I can wait outside for her, just, could you pass a message for me? Tell her I want to meet her."

Time · October 26, 2023 22:22:41

((Honestly, while Haze hasn't done really anything yet, I think he outclasses most people here since he's deity level. This part I think is gonna be lots of social stuff, I predict, so I think Haze should be "nerfed" for at least this event. We should plan a bit in the planning thread, since technically the domain is locked, iirc.))

Alethea watches Flare leave, and just looks on.

---

Arcan looks like she's about to speak the exact details, but then stops. "...Wait, I don't know your task. Why should I tell you even more of mine?" She furrows her brow, suspicion seeping through. Even though she doesn't know Patil that well, she believes he's not the selfless type.

---

"Alethea, hm?" The taller guard echoes, "What kinda business do you have with her?" He hefts his giant metal box, placing it in front of him and between Marsh with a resounding thud.

Marsh · October 29, 2023 14:35:00

Patil goes quiet for a few seconds. He seems to be actually considering sharing his task then, "It's- your task is beneficial to me. We have similar goals. That's all I can share, sorry." He does genuinely look apologetic, "Look, I'm not doing this just to get more information out of you. There's some things no one should go through Arcan, killing the person who spared your life is one of them. The guilt can ruin even the strongest of minds."

Marsh is very, very intimidated by now so they take a step back from the giant metal box. "Oh uh I- um it's related to my task, I need to get to know her. I swear I mean her no harm." They put their hands up in a surrendering pose, "Alethea is here right? Just a conversation will do." Though they doubt one conversation will be enough for someone to give up their secret, either way Marsh wants to at least talk to Alethea once. They wonder if the flowers give out participation trophies.

((Pat's just a big softie once you get over his willingness to solve most problems with murder))

Time · October 30, 2023 16:36:21

Arcan thinks again for a few seconds before responding, "Alright..."

If they weren't speaking in a hushed tone, Arcan certainly was now, "Well, the task assigned to me was pretty simple. Pretty vague... it just wanted me to prevent Crimson from passing... but they said ideally they wanted him dead."

Time · October 30, 2023 16:39:14

"..." The guard thinks, "You can pass through, though understand that there will be swift punishment to any trouble."

The smaller guard opens the entrance to the building. Looks like Marsh will be getting an escort for a bit, like everyone else.

wolffighting3768 · November 17, 2023 13:34:04

"Think it will go ok? I really would hate if he double-crosses us...this IS a Kyngslayer we're talking about here. And the only one who really ever fought him was Crimson, so we're in the complete dark about his motives, if he even has one." Fang leaned over and whispered to Flare, who crossed his legs and sighed.

"You worry too much Lady Fang." Flare responded. "And even if we don't know anything about Haze, I am quite sure he isn't interested in anyone but Crimson here. He's been known to be a wildcard and an ally to anyone and everyone. He quite literally lives by the code of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." you know. So I'm sure we have little to worry about...for now at least. Try to keep your mind away from it for now. All we need to do is wait at this point. Crimson is safe in the hands of the Whitecloaks. We just need to watch our hides and make sure Haze does the same."

Marsh · November 25, 2023 12:56:03

Patil nods, though it seems he's formulating ideas already, "Well, the loophole seems pretty cut and dry to me. There's ways to keep someone from passing without having to kill them. How well do you think you can lie?"

Marsh hesitated for a moment, not sure if they're supposed to follow the guard or the guard is supposed to follow them but the hesitation is quickly resolved in a matter of seconds and then they're in the building. If the guard isn't chatting or anything then I guess Marsh finds Alethea wherever she is.

(( Just realized i never said this but Haze would fool both marsh and patil quite easily ))

Time · November 25, 2023 23:42:09

"Lie? Why would I have to lie?" Arcan questions, raising a brow.

----

So I suppose we'll just have Marsh keep on following this guard. The guard every now and then chats with another whitecloak passing through, usually just asking around where Alethea is, until...

"Alethea." The guard speaks

"Hm?" She looks up. It still seems she was nearby in the medical wing.

"This person says they wanna talk with you. Didn't ask exactly why though."

Alethea instead of questioning further or grilling the guard, she just smiles as she fully turns to face Marsh, as if she was expecting them to approach her.

Marsh · November 26, 2023 20:48:10

"Well the easiest way to get someone to not do something is to convince them to not do it." Patil says, a bit condescendingly, "And to do that, you'd obviously need to lie. It'll have to be a really good lie though. Our other options are tying him up some where and hope there's a time limit on that task or injure him enough that he's effectively disqualified. Although judging by the state he was in, I suspect that injuries might not be enough to disqualify him..."

Marsh is a little creeped out by the way Alethea was expecting their arrival but also kind of understands their task a little more now. "Hi, I'm Marsh, technically a contestant but you don't have to worry about me being competition since I'm already, y'know, a deity. Um..." They sort of freeze, it's clear they haven't thought of a question ask, but eventually settle on "So what's your task? If you don't mind sharing."

wolffighting3768 · November 26, 2023 22:50:09

"You know well that Haze can fight and can..." Fang lowers her voice so only Flare could hear. "mimic Crimson's own body so to speak well enough to fool a good few people considering they are the same person from two separate timelines. How well he will keep it up, that's his problem." she told Flare, trying to act natural.

Flare himself shook his head and ran his hand across his arm. "Observation and secrecy is our edge here. We cannot afford to screw this up. Our first goal here is to make sure that Vulture knows what we plan to do. Hopefully this will grant both our sides time and scare some adversaries off the real deal here...though we need to be careful. I'm sure people have their own goals toward us, so tread lightly and walk tall. But for now, let's relax a bit and rest. We need the heat to settle down a bit before we strike the iron."

Time · November 27, 2023 13:55:14

"...I suppose. But I don't have a convincing lie right now though." Arcan shrugs, "Plus, adding onto what you said about disqualification, who knows what the requirements are to count someone as disqualified? Maybe they count as disqualified as soon as they decide they're not going after the flower... or something."

---

"Oh." Alethea, with a gentle wave dismisses the guard.
"Wait, you want me to leave you alone? With someone we don't know, and a deity on top of that?"
"Go. I'll be fine." Alethea responds. It was with a her signature soft tone, but it still commanded an air of confidence.

The guard sighs, before trusting Alethea's judgement and parting ways. Then, Alethea refocuses her attention on Marsh, slowly approaching to a more reasonable talking distance.

"Marsh. Why don't you walk with me? I'm presuming you'd like to chat in a place with less eavesdropping ears." They are just outside of the infirmary, afterall.

wolffighting3768 · December 6, 2023 18:25:20

(I keep forgetting to mention, or maybe I already have....but the sort of plane where Crimson and Leon talk in is like Tanjiro's Soul, or if you're a Legend of Zelda player, Demise's arena from Skyward Sword)

"Crimson? Cor? Reed? Are you listening to me? I'd rather appreciate if you did for once." a voice called out from Crimson's mind. The voice which had no owner echoed across the endless puddle where Crimson stood. Either he wasn't paying attention, or he didn't care. Regardless he closed his eyes and sighed, giving into the desire to answer. "Leon. You know better. Call me Crimson. I don't use those other names anymore. Those are from times long past. Memories forgotten. So many years ago. Do refrain from that." Crimson answered the voice of the Emperor. Leon's voice sounded eerily like Crimsons. For what reason no one knows. The only way for Crimson to separate Leon's voice from his own is that Leon's carries more authority in his tone.

"I am sorry, but I had to get your attention somehow. Just how long do you plan on retreating into this place? You shouldn't be sleeping forever you know. You have to get some sort of movement in. The Scale rust is only going to et worse than it already is." Leon replied, his voice making the water ripple. Crimson lowered his head and sighed, he knew that Leon was right. But the pain to even move an inch was reaching higher and higher. By now the blood in his body has complexly oxidized and began to crystalize and clot. Eventually Crimson would have to drag himself and possibly injure his body even more just to stay alive.

"Yeah. I know that already. I just need more time. Vulture said she'll try something. But I know if it doesn't work, I'll have to resort to drastic measures. Forengard is starting to really damage my body. It's magic is starting to repel mine. Unlike the others, I think I'm getting wea--" Crimson shut himself up. He knew what Leon wanted.

"You know what is causing it. You can't stray too far from them you know. They are Shard holders too. we all work together. Your powers extend here in Forengard about at a reduced 48% than that of Arithnia. Especially your connection to Fang and Flare, therfor--" Leon continued to ramble and ramble, soon Crimson began to turn Leon out and stir, trying to wake himself up.

------

"Vulture." Crimson's voice rose, sounding rather hoarse and rough.