> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > "I'm excited to lead you out of your comfort zone!" She smiles "There really is a lot of weird stuff up there." *She glance... “Same, girl…” he smirks, and then jests. “Nothing like some bugs to get out of comfort, yeah?” To Centauri’s questions, Vaelyr nods, grimacing. “Yep, that's what I mean. The forest is still pretty much the same, just some places got changed to more... fairy tale like versions of them?” he tries to explain. He looks forward, checking how close they're to the spot he wants to take them to. They are more than halfway there, but he probably can tell everything before arriving. “It's quite the story how it turned out to be like this. I can tell you everything, if you'd like. But it all starts with the fact magic was always forbidden in the Howling Echoes. A proper taboo. Any magic but one, I mean… the one used by the druidic leadership,” he frowns, speaking those last two words with utter disgust. “They controlled everything there, and said that arcane magic only brings ruin… and well, I could see that. Because one day, 65 years ago, a fucking asshole of an human scientist that was lodged in the Echoes for nature research betrayed our hospitality and meddled with magic. And this caused a huge and blue wildfire to spread around the forest, ravaging animals, villages, sacred places…” he gesticulates broadly to illustrate the situation, and then sighs. “This was the day my father died, trying to save our people.” Vaelyr still has to continue the story. But his burning rage makes him involuntarily press Centauri’s hand a little bit stronger.

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > Vaelyr also laughs when Centauri laughs. She’s so pretty when she laughs like this, and… woah, why is his heart getting all warm... "I'm excited to lead you out of your comfort zone!" She smiles "There really is a lot of weird stuff up there." She glances up at the sky. "Enchanted? You mean like, it was a normal forest before and now there's crazy magic stuff happening in there?" She cocks her head, it would appear that perhaps Vaelyr had his own experiences here on the material plane with 'weird stuff'. "How does that work?" Centauri already had very little experience with the areas of the material plane that were less touched by civilization. Most of her experiences on 'land' in general were on the various settlements and outposts on asteroids and similar locations in the astral see. And the few time she had visited the material plane had be brief and in very urbanized areas. "I've barely been in a regular forest, much less and enchanted one... What's it like?"

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > "I know! That's what I thought too! It was at a tavern called *The Happy Beholder*. I've been to many a tavern, the names of the... Vaelyr also laughs when Centauri laughs. She’s so pretty when she laughs like this, and… woah, why is his heart getting all warmed up again? “It is really crazy, yeah?” he agrees, smiling sweetly in a way that’s not very common for him - much to Arran’s dismay, considering the way the wolf snorts. “And it is also so crazy to me how I never cared for the world outside my village before, but now I'd like to see this Astral Sea with you. And all the space sharks too, they sound proper cool,” he laughs again. “And when we go to my homeland, you will see it's far more beautiful than these woods here, even if it's... well, different now than it was before. The forest has became enchanted some years ago, so there are spots with colorful trees, shiny mist, fluffy grass. It's kinda cool, but...” He sighs longingly. In truth, all these changes are being quite difficult for everyone. “Adapting to all this magic stuff after being taught for years by our druidic leadership that magic is bad business is sure being a challenge. But well, this is what brought be here in the end.”

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > Vaelyr chuckles, amused. “A working beholder? I thought they were just monsters, I didn’t figure they had jobs or whatever. Perh... "I know! That's what I thought too! It was at a tavern called *The Happy Beholder*. I've been to many a tavern, the names of the places usually aren't literal. So you can imagine my surprise when i walked into the place and there was in fact a happy beholder behind the bar mixing martinis!" She laughs "The Astral Sea is a wild place, you really have to see it for yourself!" Centauri smiles and nods, as much as she adored her time with Vaelyr she had been getting to spend at Strixhaven, there really was nothing like the Astral plane, she almost missed it... almost. "Its crazy to me how much you and I have in common, despite our vastly different upbringings." She gives his hand a little squeeze.

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > ”Okay.” She relents as she walks with Vaelyr deeper into the woods. She takes a moment to think about his questions. “Hmm,... Vaelyr chuckles, amused. “A working beholder? I thought they were just monsters, I didn’t figure they had jobs or whatever. Perhaps they’re the ones I should ask for tips for the cocktails.” He certainly would have preferred dealing with them instead of the fraternity bros… alas, he had a chance encounter with just one of these options at the common kitchen. A memory he’d rather forget. “And the only grasshoppers I know are from the woods and they’re small, and I didn’t even know there could be space sharks if there’s no sea up there! Woah... that sounds proper cool!” As they walk, he listens to Centauri intently. In the end, even if she was always moving around, her truly experience was limited to a single place. Not that different from him, truly. Even in other aspects... “I see... so that's how your life in a spelljammer was...” he nods, thinking. “So in the end, both of us were tied to one place, one way or the other. And you know... I was also responsible for some... hmm... 'dirty work' in my homeland. It was my duty to my tribe, and everything I always fought for.” He sighs. He still didn't tell everything about his past to Centauri, and now he's thinking about how the shadow druids lied to everyone, including to him. His position as a 'warrior' was worth nothing in the end. “But... it is all lost to me too now. And I s'ppose now I'm trying to find a new place for myself. In my own terms too, this time around.” “So I'd like to experience stuff with you, too,” he squeezes her hand and smiles, even a bit shyly. “There's a proper long time I don't have a peaceful walk like this through the woods, for example...”

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

”Okay.” She relents as she walks with Vaelyr deeper into the woods. She takes a moment to think about his questions. “Hmm, well I’ve seen a beholder who was a bartender… and a fellow who looked kind of like a grasshoppers who had adopted this space shark egg and pushed it around in a stroller… those were both rather interesting encounters.” She taps her finger to her chins as she recalls the memories. “Well I spent a lot of time living on a spelljammer… think of it this way: imagine living on a boat in the middle of the ocean but only seeing land once in a while and you’re inside the whole time you’re there.” She tries to paint him a picture. “It was rare that I really got to experience the attractions or the culture of the places I’ve been too. I was always there to do my father’s dirty work.” She frowns. “That’s why I’d love to go traveling with you. To experience things on my own terms, even if it’s places. I’ve been already.”

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > ”Hmm. I understand. I guess my experience has been the opposite. I’ve seen so many different kinds of people that it doesn’t pha... “Yeah, he does…” Vaelyr sighs with the interruption. But then quickly grins as he continues walking, following Arran. “But the quicker we arrive there, the better. Then we will have some *privacy*.” The wolf looks back and grumbles, || “Only if you give me some of that food first. That was the deal.”|| “Damn, chill, buddy,” Vaelyr chuckles. “I’ve got some for you.” ||“Good”||, Arran snorts happily and looks forward again, his tongue lolling. Meanwhile, Vaelyr turns his look at Centauri, “What you said makes sense. After some time here, I don’t even care about all the different people anymore. Nothing is weird if everything is weird, I guess,” he shrugs and chuckles. “But I’m curious about some of the places you visited and things you saw. Different from me, you said you moved around a proper lot. Is there stuff you really liked?” Vaelyr’s knowledge of the world is resumed basically to just his homeland and Strixhaven. He can’t even conceive all the different things Centauri saw in her life. He normally isn’t a curious sort but… something inside him feels different now.

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > “Oh, ignore this old fucker. He just likes to complain about everything. He’s getting grumpier with the age, I think,” he shrugs... ”Hmm. I understand. I guess my experience has been the opposite. I’ve seen so many different kinds of people that it doesn’t phase me at all.” She says, shaking her head. She smiles and blushes when Vaelyr presses his hands to her cheeks and compliments her. “Good, because I don’t plan on changing!” She laughs “Hey!” She reacts to getting slapped by Arran’s tail, cutting their moment short. “I guess she wants us to get a move on.” She says, holding Vaelyr’s hand again to continue their walk.

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > ”No I can’t speak with animals.” She shakes her head. “Is he really saying all that?” *She crosses her arms. It’s not that sh... “Oh, ignore this old fucker. He just likes to complain about everything. He’s getting grumpier with the age, I think,” he shrugs holding Centauri’s hand again. “One thing is that our village was closed to outsiders until not long ago, so everyone besides wood elves was kinda weird to us,” he explains. “Coming to Strixhaven was… different. A proper shock, I mean. But now… I suppose I do like here, with all the differences and everything.” He smiles and takes a step closer to Centauri, pressing their hands against her cheek. “So I like your smell and your hair. And how tall you are. And everything about you, the way you’re.” Arran scoffs with such sugary words and turns around, slapping the couple with his wagging tail before resuming the walk. “Alright, alright…” Vaelyr concedes. “Going…”

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Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

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> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > Vaelyr has heard Centauri’s questions, but he is storing them for later. They will have plenty of time to talk about life and cu... ”No I can’t speak with animals.” She shakes her head. “Is he really saying all that?” She crosses her arms. It’s not that she doubts it’s what she’s saying, she’s just a little taken aback. “I mean yeah…” She shrugs “We may both be elves but I’m used to a very different environment than am sure you are as a wood elf. Everyone up there is all weird looking I guess.” She shrugs and points up at the sky. “Maybe that’s why I haven’t spent much time in the woods.”

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > "But what about the cold? And bugs and stuff?" *Centauri was used to living on a spelljammer, perpetually indoors, as the air in... Vaelyr has heard Centauri’s questions, but he is storing them for later. They will have plenty of time to talk about life and culture in the woods, after all. For now, he focuses on the wolf in front of them, who woofs lowly, scanning the astral elf, ||“Greetings. You smell different from the elves I know.”|| Vaelyr smiles and answers, “I told you, she’s from space, not from the woods like us. Mighty cool, yeah?” He then looks at Centauri and asks, “Can you speak with animals? He’s saying you smell different from the elves he knows.” Arran growls. ||“And looks different too. Even before you called, I could spot her from miles away. Her shiny blue fur isn’t very easy to camouflage in the forest, and she’s too tall. Not very practical.”|| Vaelyr raises his brow at the wolf. “And now he’s saying your hair isn’t very easy to camouflage in the forest, and that you’re too tall and easy to spot… grumpy as ever, eh, buddy?” he chuckles, expecting nothing less from that old wolf. Arran snorts, and lets out a wolfly and very proud smirk.

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > Vaelyr chuckles with her indignation. “Girl, I lived outside during my entire life, winter or not. To me, having a roof over my ... "But what about the cold? And bugs and stuff?" Centauri was used to living on a spelljammer, perpetually indoors, as the air in the Astral Sea was not breathable without a magic bubble. Before she can get an answer, Vaelyr whistles for his wolf to come meet them, and moments later a huge wolf steps out of the bushes. Centauri has never seen a wolf up close before. She's heard that its somewhat common to be afraid of wolves, but Centauri has no fear, she does not spook easily. "Woah... Hello there Arran."

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > ”Fuck yeah! I’m sure your pizza could knock the other guys out of the park!” *She nods and tosses up a confident fist in front o... Vaelyr chuckles with her indignation. “Girl, I lived outside during my entire life, winter or not. To me, having a roof over my head was the weird thing,” he grins playfully. “Not that I can’t see its value now.” As Centauri questions about Arran, he nods also enthusiastically. “Yeah, you do!” He stops holding her hand and uses his to whistle. After mere moments, they can hear the sound of leaves rustling to their left, and the huge wolf appears from among the trees. Arran stops in front of them, looking at the couple with his yellow eye. He says nothing at first, and just sniffs the air to take in Centauri’s smell. “Arran, this is Centauri,” Vaelyr says. “Centauri, this is Arran.” The wolf lets out a small growl of acknowledgment, warily waiting for Centauri to say the first word. She is certainly different from the type of elf he’s used to.

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > Vaelyr grins proudly. “And I hope you like it! I’ve been doing some tests here and there with what people told be back then. Who... ”Fuck yeah! I’m sure your pizza could knock the other guys out of the park!” She nods and tosses up a confident fist in front of her chest. When Vaelyr holds her hand she gives his a little squeeze. “Yeah, a lot of trees…. You know, not really used to nature like this. Even during my previous visits to the material plane, we were always in very urban areas.” She looks up and the leafless canopy above her. “I can’t believe you were planning to live outside through the winter.” She shakes her head. Centauri smiles and gives an enthusiastic nod. “Sweet! So I get to meet your wolf now?”

> Reply to: @Centauri Aetherblight (@Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)) > ”Yeah! I cant say I’ve ever been here before.” *She nods as she follows behind Vaelyr, into the woods. Centauri had been through... Vaelyr grins proudly. “And I hope you like it! I’ve been doing some tests here and there with what people told be back then. Who knows… it might even win 1st place if there was another contest now,” he chuckles. Looking back and seeing how Centauri is scanning all that environment makes him smile even more. He holds her hand. “It is proper nice down here, isn’t it? I come here a lot to train, hunt, gather stuff… and well, I told you I used to live here before moving to the dorms. So… welcome to my house, I guess,” he laughs. “We have to walk a bit until the spot I have in mind. This is an open wilderness area, so I will call my wolf to walk with us until there, alright?” Those woods are generally safe, but there is no harm in having extremely keen noses and ears doing some scouting, nor some strong fangs in case they are needed. Vaelyr and Arran did already cross paths with Aspen as a werewolf and another tiefling druid, after all.

> Reply to: @Vaelyr Riverfang (@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }) > It is late afternoon. Vaelyr enters the woods behind the Witherbloom campus, carrying a basket in one hand and using the other t... ”Yeah! I cant say I’ve ever been here before.” She nods as she follows behind Vaelyr, into the woods. Centauri had been through a small portion of the woods of the Witherbloom campus, to help smuggle Kili through the portal from Baldur’s Gate. But that was a long a significantly more established trail than wherever Vaelyr was leading her to today. “I’m excited to try your third place winning pizza!” She smiles at him as her eyes wander, taking in her woody surroundings.

It is late afternoon. Vaelyr enters the woods behind the Witherbloom campus, carrying a basket in one hand and using the other to broadly gesture at the seemingly infinite expanse of trees in front of them. “Welcome to the woods,” he grins, looking at Centauri. “This your first time here at this part of campus, right?” The wood elf is sure eager for this night. He invested quite some time cooking an improved version of his authentic venison pizza, and filled the chest with more snacks besides - like cheese, jerky, bread, nuts and fruits. Besides the food, he additionally got some water, vodka, rum, sugar and herbs for the cocktails, but also wine... just in case. What he didn't forage by himself, he used the results of his forage and his allowance money to acquire, and the utensils he "borrowed" from the common kitchen. -# [ I am literally just making up stuff at this point lmao ] The plan was simple - watching the sunset and then stargazing while eating and drinking. None of what he prepared was the expensive stuff, but... well, Vaelyr hopes Centauri likes it all. -# [ @Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿) ]

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Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

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🌳 🐺 🐆 👩‍❤️‍👨 🪻 ⚗️ 🌳

"It’s 137," Onyx names the number of his room with a little smile. It's good that at the end of the day, they have found a way to figure things out. "Though, I'm not around half of the time, so I'd appreciate you writing me a letter with time and date before coming," incubus adds right away. He doesn't want to give his phone number to a stranger, even though it would've spared them the complications. He can't trust it won't end up in the wrong hands. Then, glancing back at the academy building with a painful realization that there's nothing more holding him back from returning to the small, lonely room of student dormitory, Onyx sighs and utters, "Well, I have to go. Good luck with your lady. Hopefully, together you'll figure our what scents she likes the most. Learning new culture is always thrilling." He nodds farewell and turns into a familiar owl, quickly flying away in the dormitory direction. Another thing he didn't tell Vaelyr is that the door to his room is always closed from inside, and only him in the bird wildshape can fly inside. Just another paranoia precaution nobody needs to know about.

He grins. “Yeah, alright dude, I like that idea!” A bit of the wilderness condensed in a glass… he really likes where this is going. Perhaps he could bring Centauri here so she knows the smells first before receiving the gift? Or would the perfume be a gift he would give her during the dinner? Well… he’d have to make his brain go through the effort of thinking about it. “I’ll think about it. What’s your room? You are there like… whenever?”

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"Your sensitive nose will not help me create a perfume if I wouldn't know what the prompt is," Onyx grumbles in response, taking the notebook from the elf and stuffing it in his pocket. "Like I said, with those flowers alone, the scent would likely be too plain and boring, it's not how perfumery works. And I've never been to space before to pick up something even remotely close to what you have in mind. Unless..." the incubus frowns thoughtfully, trying to think of the way to make it work. He doesn't want Vaelyr to think he's incompetent to perform his actual job just because it seems to be slightly challenging than what Onyx is used to. "Unless you come and sniff all the ingredients I'm having in my room so far, and tell me if any of them are good enough to add into a mix. That's how I'm seeing it," the incubus waved his hand with a twitch of his head.

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr raises an eyebrow. He doesn't quite like the condescending tone he's hearing. “I did say I want to give her something that reminds her of nature, I just don't think she knows plants enough to answer me what she likes because she comes from space. I don't pick any wilderness scent from her, just... I dunno, space stuff. Trust me, my nose is sensitive, I know how to pick up smells.” Like a wolf, Vaelyr relies a lot on his nose to explore the wilderness. “Anyway, it's worth a shot I guess,” he frowns and writes his contact information with his quite rough calligraphy, still considering if this is really good idea. But he doesn't really know anyone else he can ask about it, so it is best to take this lead.

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"For now, it's only plants, yes. Like I've mentioned, I don't have all the tools I've had back home," Onyx explains with a cat-frown. He also is not very satisfied with the prompt given. Scent from space? Space doesn't have distinctive smells, and those it has surely aren't pleasurable. "This is not very specific," he points out about the smell again. When it comes to his job, the incubus becomes rather meticulous. "Besides, if you want to introduce her to this plain of existence, she might actually appreciate something new over the scents of hew world. Even though I understand where the sentiment is coming from." "And you don't have to tell her what the surprise will be. Just ask of what types of scents she likes. Heavy, light, warm, cold, etcetera. If you wish, I can send you a list she can fill in," the druid suggests. There's nothing worse than to work with a client who doesn't know what they wants. For further comfort, he shifts back into his tiefling form and takes out a small, minimalistic notebook. Quickly writing his mail address on one of the pages, the incubus rips it out and hands it to the elf. "Here. Now you. I think the list will be our best shot," Onyx stretches out the notebook and a pencil to Vaelyr. He skips the part where he thinks the elf will mess everything up in his head and fail to provide him information.

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr ponders that offer. “And you work only with plants, yeah? Because I… well, I don’t know if she knows other plants. As I said, she’s from space! And she smells like… I dunno, someone from space?” He scratches his head thoughtfully. Damn, this is more complicated than he expected. “And I was thinking it could be a surprise to her, somehow. Like, something to remind her of nature smells… But yeah, maybe there’s no other way around other than asking, I guess. Give me your mailbox number, in any case.”

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"I could, yes," Onyx nods, a surge of enthusiasm making him feel a little better. A new project is what he needs right now to distract himself from brooding. "But I need to know what kind of scents your lady like as well. A perfume based only on one plant might be too plain. How about I'll give you the number of my mailbox, and you'll try to ask her what she likes and then give me a list? Does that sounds fair to you?"

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr widens his eyes. “Dude, can you read minds or whatever? I was just thinking about what I could do with these flowers!” He approaches Onyx and asks, “With what you said, I can have this smell even after the plant dies, yeah? That seems interesting stuff…” He works this idea out. “Do you make stuff for people? Could you do it for me, maybe?”

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx emits a humorless chuckle at Vaelyr's meaningless words of support. He didn't expect much to begin with, so the lack of real emotions from the elf doesn't bother him much. It rekindles that feeling of loneliness a bit, yes, but not to the degree the incubus can't bear it. He's partly grateful for indifference too, because it comes with a lack of question, and Onyx doesn't want to be questioned right now, especially given that his mouth keep spilling facts after facts the incubus is so desperate to hide. "Maybe there is..." The druid repeats as absentmindedly, not really believing it, but also not feeding up his fears with additional made-up situations. He watches Vaelyr picking up flowers, the warmth in his chest returning as his attention is driven back to the blue buds, and then the druid says thoughtfully, "Those could be good as an ingredient for a perfume, or some other body product. I don't have as many instruments here, with me, as I used to at home, but I'm still making my products when I can." He's not trying to sell his stuff though, just mentioning the opportunity. Vaelyr can either take it or not.

> Reply to: @Onyx College (@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader) > Onyx listens silently to what Vaelyr has to say. As an immortal creature, he, too, should feel no remorse or sadness over things... Vaelyr isn't really sure what to say about Onyx's mentioning his life was 'only rot and death'. It probably sucked and that's why he's so gloomy, but the elf doesn't know what to do with this information. And he sure doesn't care enough about a stranger to ask more about his life. But Vaelyr still smiles when the tiefling said that he may be right. Perhaps he is good in this philos-whatever stuff. He is truly a man of many talents, after all. "But yeah, damn dude, it sucks..." he absentmindedly says when he notices Onyx approaching. "You know, I hated being here at first. I was always coming to the wilderness because I was stressed out. But now I'm here because of something nice. So maybe there's also something nice waiting for you at Strixhaven too." Ok, Vaelyr tried, but he really doesn't know what else to say. Perhaps his braincells were already worn out with the effort of keeping up with that guy. Instead, he focuses on picking up some more bluestars. He probably could use them for something else... perhaps a decoration for the dinner night? Or could he plant some on his room? Hmm... what else he could do with flowers? "Yeah, they're gorgeous alright!" He smells them. "And they smell so good too..." He raises to his feet again. "There, I'm ready to go again."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx listens silently to what Vaelyr has to say. As an immortal creature, he, too, should feel no remorse or sadness over things that pass, but damn if his life is too miserable to not care. The bright moments of his existence, there were so few and so short they felt almost non-existent, as if they happened in a dream. Maybe they did, after all; the incubus is unable to tell at times, struggle to define truth from wistful dreaming. "My life did not feel natural," Onyx says softly under his breath, giving out more than he's comfortable with. "The circle of life consists of living and growing too. And mine...was only rot and death." The druid doesn't know why he keeps talking if he's obviously unable to share whatever us bothering him. Likely, because in those several years, he had no one to talk to. Literally, only plants and animals, and they aren't good advisers. "But, maybe you're right...maybe I should try and live while I can..." he adds thoughtfully, almost ready to add something more as the sight of blue flowers distracts him. He approaches Vaelyr's position and tilts his head to the side, giving the flowers a close look. "Gorgeous creation," he can't help but say with a smile. Indeed, nature is by far the only thing able to distract him enough from self-beating and spawning dreadful thoughts.

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

“I mean, I’m an elf. Time feels rather endless anyway,” he looks at Onyx again. “And that’s a kinda gloomy thought there, dude. One might even think this is a threat or something...” “…Kiddin’!” he raises his hand soon after and grins before looking forward again. “In over a century I’ve seen many things ending. It’s the way of nature. Some cycles just take longer than others, I s’pose.” Animals, trees, plants, the river. Foes, allies, relationships, …*family*. Nature is an endless sequence of endings and new beginnings. Some are longer than others. And some are more painful than others. “But anyway, as my people taught me, I just let nature carry me. I don’t think about the end if I can just, I dunno… have fun with what I have now.” He looks back at Arran for a moment. That wolf pisses him off sometimes, but he’s his companion. His friend. The 5th of many more he’ll probably have, because unfortunately wolves live a pretty short life in comparison to the elves. And as nature follows its cycle, there would probably come a time Vaelyr will mourn Arran. But now… he likes having him around, and that’s all that matters. The wolf catches his sight and growls, ||“What you looking at?”|| Vaelyr smirks. “Nothing… you’re too damn quiet, I’m just checking on you.” And then… the elf notices a patch of blue flowers and his green eyes shine. The bluestars he gave Centauri the other day! “Hey, let’s just go back there for a bit. I want to get those flowers!” he mutters and starts walking without waiting for an answer. ||“Oh, not you getting distracted by her *again*!”|| Arran howls, but quickly follows after his elf.

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Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

regnard13

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@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx makes a soft noise that might be taken for a chuckle if cats could chuckle; he shakes his big head and utters, "No, thank you. I'm good tracking time with magic. Besides, I don't have much to spare to buy watches, my pockets are rather empty nowadays." As the word "time" is brought up again, the incubus glances back at the elf, thinking of whether he should actually share his dark experience related to relationships. Will he do any good by fearmongering this young man, or just created an unwanted tension and speed up the break up? No. No it's not worth it. Onyx blinks then, and his face slacks back into a relaxed expression. "Time can feel rather endless when we're passionate about something or *someone*. It's sad how every good thing tends to end suddenly, startling us out of the pink-hued dream..." The incubus says thoughtfully, looking in front of him. "But, don't mind me...I often falls into philosophical mood. Let's focus on your 'perfect place' instead, shall we?"

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr looks back at the big cat Onyx again. He could swear he picked up something weird in his tone, as if he isn't exactly speaking what he's really thinking about. Especially the way he emphasized the word *time*. But what's there to even think about what he said, anyway? There wasn't anything complex or philos-whatever there. "I dunno or care about destiny," he shrugs. "But what about *time*? Are you in need of a watch too or something? I can tell her you’re interested if so."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

It takes Onyx by surprise that it's been weeks and not months after Vaelyr met his girlfriend, given the way he speaks about her. So many feelings, adoration, *hopes*; is it too, for nothing? The incubus sighs heavily; instead of words of inspiration and support, his mind paints him grim pictures. Throughout his long and unfortunate life, Onyx witnessed countless of couples breaking up for the silliest of reasons. Quarrels, cheating, betrayals - their love was slowly acquiring ugly undertones until nothing was left. And to think, at one point, each of those couples swore to love each other forever! A common lie, it seems. As it is expected, after some time passed, Onyx grew calloused himself. He can't allow himself to believe true love exists, even if his heart desperately craves for it. The man has no words of wisdom to say, no good prognosis to spill. The best he can do is to keep the stream of unpleasant prophesies of leaving his mouth. After all, Vaelyr is quite kind to talk to him still, and even agreeing to this short walk through the woods. Instead, Onyx focuses on the watches again. Cats can't smile, so his mimic stays impassive, but the man puts an effort into sounding sincere, even though he doesn't believe the words he's saying, "It must be destiny then. The watches are wonderful, I agree. A good investment in *time*."

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Vaelyr looks at his hand and counts his fingers thoughtfully, raising them one by one, "Hmmm... we've known each other for two or three weeks I think." He smiles even brighter, looking at his watch again and then showing it to Onyx, "Oh, this? I actually bought if from her! That's how we met! It's proper cool, right?"

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"Oh, an elf? That's a relief..." Onyx breathes out. Then, realizing he must be sounding suspicious, the incubus adds quickly, "I mean, githyanki are known to be cruel and cold, and that lady of yours seem to be very nice, judging by your description. Apologies for assuming things." Making several more steps, his big paws crushing the glass blades underneath, Onyx asks with the familiar delicacy. "You must know her for a while, to call her your 'girlfriend'," the incubus' tone is thoughtful. He himself has no experience in dating anyone. Even the very thought of committing to someone during his hellish days could bring terrible consequences. Devils are known to pull out the cruelest of tricks when they find out your weaknesses. "And she even gave you that watch," Onyx waves at the elf's wrist with his large head. "Am I correct? That must be a sign of great trust and admiration."

1

Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

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@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

"Git-what?" Vaelyr furrows his brows, looking briefly at that big cat. "No, she's an elf!" "And what an elf..." he grins, melting again. "Soft purple skin, bright blue and very long hair, equally bright blue eyes, nearly as tall as you, a proper cool sense of style... hells..."

2

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

ktwht (Tav: Rue)

ktwht

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@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"From space?" Onyx repeats, taken by surprise with this revelation. The incubus strains his memory, trying to recall the species populating other planes of existence, but the only thing that comes to his mind - githyanki. He knows too much of this cruel, arrogant nation that enslaves others and spread their tyrant everywhere they go. They also constantly raid Hells. Onyx was unfortunate enough to stumble across few of them during his youth. The didn't let him another choice... Can that really be the case, gith here, in the Academy! And this elf speaking about one of them with such feelings! "So...is she...a githyanki?" Onyx asks carefully, his agitation being given out only by the fur slightly standing on end, and a twitching tip of his tail.

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Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

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@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

"Oh, I sure do," Vaelyr grins again, almost melting. "My girlfriend. She's from space, so she doesn't know anything about the wilderness and wants to come here to meet the woods. And I want to make sure it's extra nice, and I will cook some food too." Vaelyr sighs. Arran snorts. He continues, "She's so cool, man... she's so cool..."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"Throughout my life, I've traveled to many places and had an honor to see snow leopards from afar several times. That's where I took an inspiration for my wild shape," Onyx explains, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The animal sensing fills his nostrils with new scents and ears with new sounds. It's overwhelming, but also powerful enough to force an anxiety out, at least to some degree. The leopard's brow muscle raises as he hears about the presents in the library. "I've been there as well at that day, but likely at a different time." Onyx frowns then, recalling what happened after. Those damned fireworks! If only he didn't use his magic back then... "You have someone specific in mind? Apologies, if it's too intrusive..." The incubus inquires, his ears twitching as he hears Arran's words. So it's about a woman...A tale as old as the world.

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"Yo, proper cool wildshape, this is," Vaelyr nods in approval. "I don't think I've seen it before." He turns to Arran, and asks "Ready?" And when the wolf agrees, he starts walking with the beast and the not-quite-beast by his side. "I myself have been here for some months but just went to the library once to get some night tal gifts," he grins. "And just recently I moved to my own room, cos I preferred sleeping here in the forest before. But then I figure you will like the place! It's proper beautiful, it is, and I want to show it to someone who also haven't been around here before! Or to any other wilderness, for that matter... I think it'll be a nice introduction." That fucking smile is back, and Arran wolfly rolls his eyes. ||"Your female again... I thought we were going to hunt now."|| Long gone, Vaelyr doesn't even hear that.

-# [Onyx's current wild shape. Sorry for lame color correction]

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

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It takes Onyx a moment to shift back into a large, snow leaopard. The coloration of his fur is slightly off due to inability to maintain both the wildshape and illusion at the same time, but it doesn't bother the incubus too much. After all, making up a lie about this would be the easiest. Stretching up and checking the claws, leopard Onyx glances back at the elf with his pinkish eyes and asks, "So, what's the place you wanted to check? I'm less than a week here, haven't explored much of the territory myself. I spent more time in the library or in my room, than in the forest."

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

With his lovestruck grin unmoved, Vaelyr is a bit taken aback by the suggestion since he's used to exploring alone. But the conversation was going smoothly far thus far, so why not? "Oh? Yeah, sure, I dunt mind! Let’s go! And yes, I speak with animals," he pointed at the sleeping wolf. “That’s how me and that guy communicate.” In truth, Vaelyr was just allowed to use the spell after the shadow druids fell. He has had other wolves before… Arran is the first one he could actually speak with. “Come on, Arran, we’re moving! You’re the one slacking now!” he says, waking the wolf up. The beast groggily lets out a yawn, || “Oh, Gods, finally...” ||

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx is a tad bit upset that Vael is unwilling to continue the philosophical discussion, but he doesn't force his thoughts onto the man further, and simply let it slip. The incubus does notice, though, the watches. They're quite high-tech, nothing like Onyx have ever seen. He wants to ask where did Vael buy those, but the elf's sudden shift of topic takes him by surprise and knocks his train of thoughts for a moment. A sudden realization that he has to return to the campus now dawns on him, making him uncomfortable. Glancing back at the academy building looming in the distance, Onyx decides: he doesn't want to go back. Not now. Maybe this weird elf will be able to keep him company? Or at least distract him from gloomy thoughts and paranoia, and fearing every shadow and rustle. And so, shrugging off a stupor, the incubus says, "I was going to rest here, yes...Unless you don't mind the addition to your company. Though, I'd prefer to shift back into my wildshape. It's hard to explain, but this is so far the best way to cope with...well...stress. You do talk to animals, correct?"

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Vaelyr is honestly a bit confused. Are those 'warriors' Onyx speaks of like the Banites who invaded his homeland for power and greed? Could they really be called *warriors*? He nods at the flow of words, but as they keep going... his poor dummy brain just stops processing them. When the tiefling says 'you're not led by anger and prejudice', the elf snaps back and chews his mouth a bit. Oh... hmm... about that... well... but at least they recognize it now, so it's some progress... right? "Oh, yeah, dude..." he says, mindlessly nodding. "Proper complicated stuff right there. Fuck those guys, alright." He doesn't really know what else to say on the matter. It isn't like he knows the problems of this world. The talk about nature, however, is much more his element. "Agree with you there, man! Nature is sure comforting, and while it's cruel, it's also... *beautiful*. Breathtaking, even." Woah, where did he learn this word? But Vaelyr means it, because as he speaks, his smile turns brighter, almost dreamy... nature is his *home*, after all. And this subject reminds him exactly of what he was going to do there. He looks at the sun to check the time, but then remembers he has something better now - his watch. And just the mere vision of it makes his smile turn into the silliest lovestruck one. -# [You can roll insight dc 10 to clock the boy is smitten, if you think it could be relevant. Or auto pass it even, if the ensuing dialogue could be nice.] The elf looks at Onyx again, that stupid smile stuck in his face. "Speaking of beautiful places, I need to keep going. There's some neat corner around here that I need to make sure remains as neat as the last time I've been there. Will you stay here, or...?"

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

"It is noble to defend your home and family, but...most warriors I've seen are those who invade the homes of the others," Onyx shakes his head, trying to explain his previous statement. With a frown, he continues, "They twist the very definition of truth; they lie, promise wealth and prosperity to those who follow them. And the followers are many; *proud warriors*, like you said. But, at the end of the day, they're still mindless creature led by greed and bloodlust. They live to kill and kill to live. There's nothing you can teach them, because they don't want to be taugh. I've seen legions of warriors wiping up cities..." the incubus' voice trails off. Then, suddenly realizing that he digressed, Onyx gives his interlocutor a sheepish smile and utters, "Apologies. I didn't mean you or your family. Obviously, you're not led by anger and prejudice. If you're here, opening your heart and mind to new things, you aren't narrow-minded man like those who I've mentioned." Onyx then responds to Vaelyr's last question, his lips tightening in a line for a moment as he thinks about what to say. "Well, it was more about survival. It's handy to be a druid when you live in a forest. But also...the nature is comforting in the way nothing else is. It can be harsh and unforgiving, but it's not malicious. Not on purpose."

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Vaelyr raises his eyebrow at the mention of 'Too many warriors and not enough sages'. He still is a proud warrior after all, and quite protective of this title. "I mean, I'm still a warrior, and I like being one. We had to fight to survive, both to get food and to defend ourselves from the many monsters and invaders around. And thru fighting we kept ourselves safe and protected even during the winter. I'm proud of that." But like Olifyr says... some battles are won with knowledge and not weapons. He shrugs. "In the end, I just think we can fight and learn stuff at the same time. Being here doesn't make me any less of a warrior than I was. It's brave to face the unknown," he nods. And still unknown to him, perhaps it will make him even a better warrior. "But yeah, nature is harsh and merciless, so I get why things were difficult to you at first. In a way I was also forced to be here in civilization, so... yeah, I get you. But since you're a druid, I s'pose you're at better terms now, yeah?" Facing the unknown is never easy.

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Ah, so he was correct about the Shadow Druids after all. Good to know Onyx didn't make a fool of himself by suggesting stuff about Vaelyr's clan. But to think that Shadow Druids' influence was so mighty, that their roots were almost everywhere was simply concerning. Sometimes it felt as if this world was desperate to devour itself and burn the remnants in the fire of war. But, there was still hope for humanity. And even though the incubus was quite skeptical about the general outcome, deep in side, he wanted to believe in goodness of mankind. And the elf's story was the positive confirmation of those hopes not being foolish. "There's too many warriors and not enough sages," Onyx shook his head, but the tone of his voice wasn't judgment, just sad. "But it's nice to hear your village was able to change its ways. Maybe there's still a chance for you after all..." The incubus whispered to himself. He was avoken by the last question, another pang of anxiety pricking his guts. It's just a question, he had to remind himself. "I was raised...among nobility, if I can name it. The wilderness...I was forced to live in." Onyx was careful with his every word. "I had to leave my home because it was too dangerous for me to stay. And a hermit druid gave me shelter. He was too generous to look after me," the incubus added with a soft smile. "So, you're likely having a tighter connection with nature than me. It doesn't mean, though, that I do not respect her. More like...let's say, it wasn't welcoming at the beginning."

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

"Vaelyr Riverfang," he answers simply when Onyx introduces himself. "And yeah, those fuckers were shadow druids or whatever. But not everyone from the tribe is a druid, and not every druid was with them. But since they were our leaders... yeah, I suppose a few bad apples can rot all the rest too." He sighs, rubbing his nose bridge. Rotten apples, the lot of them... including himself. Like Fyfy has said, it's so easy to spread false beliefs when they're secluded and the flow of knowledge is controlled. It's so easy to shape millennia of traditions to the benefit of few. And Vaelyr, the always proud warrior, played his part in this fuckery all to well... fuck, he was played like a pawn. But no more. "Still, here we're trying to clean the rest of the rot, I suppose, by making things different," he shrugs. "I was raised to fight, not to *study*. But in the end, I guess being here representing my people is just a different type of battle than what I'm used to. And as a warrior, I proudly took the challenge." "And I study, hmm... oh, agriculture! And Ecology," he grins. "Learning more techniques to grow food would help my folks a proper lot, yeah! But as a ranger, I'm frequently out here in the open wilderness too. And you're definitely not the first druid I find on my way. Do you also come to the woods often? Were you raised in the wilderness too?"

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx listens intently without interrupting, his arms crossed on his chest and brows slightly furrowed. *Banites*. The incubus have heard of these cultists before; insane, cruel, greedy - they are probably the worst men in Faerun. A lot of Onyx's clients were either Banites themselves, or admired that cult from afar, giving generous donations to the death machine. And to think that guy's leaders worked along with those psychopaths! Were they really Shadow Druids after all? Very carefully, Onyx says, "I haven't heard of traditional druids following the path of evil. Maybe some individuals, but not the whole tribe..." The incubus can't tell whether his words will be perceived as insulting by this young man. After all, the elf himself isn't quite fond of what happened, judging by his words. It lightens up Onyx's mood to hear a fellow god-hater. His disdain is just too great to forgive any of them for silently watching the humanity suffer. Him suffering, in the first place. "Knowledge is power," Onyx says thoughtfully, a very small smile playing on his face. He admires when people seek for more knowledge, for it is endless, and brings endless joy, at least to the druid. The incubus arches his brow at the elf's last question. He barely knows anyone in this academy, and those Onyx knows aren't druids. Though, this young man probably is more socially active, judging by his behavior, and must know more people. "Yes, I'm studying Herbology. Despite how trivial of a choice it is for the druid. And you?" Realizing that, since he's still having a conversation with this stranger and not walking away, he should name himself, the incubus adds, "I'm Onyx, by the way. I haven't had a chance to introduce myself."

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

"Dude, 'twas a proper shit show!" he grimaces, placing his pack in the ground again and heavily gesticulating to explain each of his points, "Long story short, some Banite scum sieged the tribe, we discovered the druidic leaders were lying to everyone and supporting them, we got rid of 'em all, the florest became magical, and everything we ever believed in was broken." He opens both of his hands to represent something exploding. "And now our people don't want to commit the same mistakes. So we opened our borders to learn more with the world outside and meet more kinds of people and this stuff." And this is all his brother's doing. The hero of the village. Vaelyr grimaces again, not sure if he's grateful or hates him more for that. "Anyway. We didn't serve a god, but nature itself," he shrugs. "I don't give a shit about this godly stuff, but those druids apparently did. And they didn't let anyone there use magic, but now that the forest became one with magic... it's proper trouble. And now I'm here, studying to learn more about magic, technology, agriculture, people and all sorts of things to help my people. Who would've thought..." Another of Olifyr's ideas. This one... Vaelyr is certainly grateful for. He smiles, thinking of *someone*. "But yeah, I'm from Witherbloom. Since you're druid, you're from there too? There's so many of you around."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Now, mentioning of the secluded tribe is what raises Onyx's curiosity. Even though the name of the village doesn't ring a bell, the incubus still wonders what is the reason for a secluded tribe to send one of their own into the world. From what his mentor told him, the most isolated groves does not break their traditions for...pizza and phones. Not to mention, most of those groves are usually overrun by shadow druids, who are nothing but evil. But, not wishing to voice out such serious accusations, Onyx thoughtfully mumbles, "There must be a serious reason why your tribe broke their traditions..." Then, he adds more, as if talking to himself, "I have never been in a tribe before. Can't even imagine what it feels like to be a part of such a big society all attuned to serve one god." There's a bit of disdain in Onyx's tone when he pronounces the last word. It's obvious that he has some grudges with celestial beings. The incubus' train of thoughts is broken by the elf's last question. Onyx blinks rapidly at the man, a familiar anxiety rises in the pit of his stomach. But, before any paranoid thought can develop in his head further, the incubus crushes it with his willpower. With a deep breath, the young man responds, "Yes, I am a student as well. But I haven't been around for long here..." Both figuratively and metaphorically.

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He shrugs again, and starts organizing the things he foraged inside his pack. He has no problems whatsoever speaking of his tribe, quite the opposite - his homeland is a reason of pride for him. And this pride is all too evident in his voice as he speaks. "Yes, I'm from a wood elf tribe from the Wood of the Howling Echoes. We opened our borders to civilization a few years ago, and I'm the first to explore the world beyond. So yeah, we have no pizza, phones, cocktails or any of these stuff there, just what nature provides us." History 12: ||The Wood of the Howling Echoes is a dense forest located to the northeast of Baldur’s Gate in a mountainous area. The place is difficult to navigate and populated by many monsters, and the local wood elf tribe was historically secluded and hostile. Everything considered, it is extremely dangerous to outsiders. However, during the past decade, the wood elves have became more welcoming to visitors and to trade. Reports say that the forest is now enchanted like in a fairy tale.|| And even if the tiefling's last words were muttered, Vaelyr catches them quite well. He looks at him and grins nonchalantly. "I dun have the foggiest about other people, but I do like winning. If the process is fun, even better." In truth, Vaelyr always had this drive of joining competitions to *win*. Since he was born, his tribe had high expectations of him considering he's the child of their two strongest rangers. In their eyes, he was destined for *greatness*. And he accomplished such expectations quite well by attaining his space as a prominent warrior and felling challenging beasts from a very young age. But all of this had no small impact in his competitiveness - or in his confidence. And since his father died... it got more intense. He didn't just aim to be just great. He aimed to be the *greatest*. But of course, sometimes 3rd place ended up being better than the 1st. "Anyway, I haven't seen you around. Do you go to Strixhaven too?"

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Civilization food? That's one way to call a human cuisine. A way Onyx have never heard before, even from his old mentor. For a moment, the incubus hesitates whether he should stay and talk to this man for a bit longer; what if he'll blow his cover up once more? It's what he does all the time nowadays, endangering himself and others over and over again for crumbles of attention. But those several days of solitude already feels like century, and Onyx fears if he spend more time alone, fear gnawing at his consciousness, he'll go insane. Completely insane this time. With more uncertainty and less hostility, the young man asks, "You speak like you're from faraway lands. Did you come from some tribe? It's not my business, of course..." Onyx adds in a hushed tone, suddenly recalling about the manners. He frowns a bit at the elf's last words, muttering, "Why is it always has to be about winning? Is the process not enough of a reward for people to enjoy?"

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr observes as the druid jumps off the tree and finally reveals his true form. He looks like a tiefling, but during the transformation, for a moment there, the elf notices that the he looked like someone else entirely. It might very well be a regular part of the druidic transformation, but Vaelyr met too many druids in his life and still never saw a transformation such as this. He shrugs. This is none of his business anyway. In similar disinterest, Arran yawns again. He raises to his feet but still has to look up to talk to the man. Something he's already getting used to, considering how tall his girl is. "I'm no *chef*. I'm just learning how to cook civilization food while bringing some tastes of my homeland to it. And I want to try some stuff to make it even better now." For someone. To bring a bit of my home close to her. "But I do like the sound of that word," he smirks. "And if I keep winning stuff because of my recent interest in cooking, all the better, eh?" To be honest... it's kinda insane how that silly contest changed everything for him. He did win the biggest prize of all.

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Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

regnard13

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Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

regnard13

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@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx can share the experience of eating whatever isn't spoiled or poisonous- given that he's forced to live in the woods for several years-, but he can't understand why would this stranger go pick herbs in the woods instead of ordering them from people who had knowledge in pizza seasoning. Because judging by the elf's words, he isn't that proficient in cooking this specific dish. Onyx can only hope the stranger will test the pizza on himself, and not someone else. However, the mentioning of the pizza contest amuses the druid. Despite his terrible mood, Onyx makes a short, snorting sound, his feathers ruffling. "Oh, my sincere apologies. I did not know I have found myself in a company of a chef. Taking my words back." In other circumstances, the incubus would be ashamed of his rudeness, but somehow having such a simple guy as an interlocutor helps with the constant anxiety of being perceived as "not polite enough". After observing the elf for another moment and realizing he's not going anywhere for now, Onyx sighs for the last time. He jumps from the branch and turns into his usual "tiefling" self as his feet touch the ground. Perception 15: || Between the moment when an owl turns into a green tiefling, Onyx's skin looks more purplish, and his hair is black, as if it takes the druid a moment to switch on his camouflage.||

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Vaelyr rolls his eyes, his happy expression dwindling by the second. He could very well test that knowledge by shooting an arrow at that damn owl, but he wouldn't. Because he's in a very. Good. Mood. And Gods forbid anyone from spoiling it. Instead, he chuckles sarcastically and shrugs. "I was born and raised in an isolated forest. I know picking up whatever nature gives me, and how to extract the most out of it. This is certainly not poisonous, and if the taste doesn't feels right, I can just try again with another one, alright?" He continues his movements, "And it was by mixing elements of my homeland in my cooking that I won 3rd place in the pizza contest we had. And that's why I'm even here right now, anyway."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Onyx sighs in a very human way as he realizes this man isn't going anywhere for now; and judging by the way his wolf lays down to rest, this "for now" can prolong for quire *a while*. Rolling his big owl eyes, Onyx mutters, his silly voice barely carrying out real emotions he's having, "Hunters are on the bottom of my list of concerns right now. *And*, if you didn't know, you can't kill a druid in their animal form, you'll just break the concentration of their spell. Any decent druid can keep themselves safe if a regular human being attack." Another sigh rips out of the bird's throat as he watches the elf picking up herbs that definitely does not suit for pizza. He baked pizza before, he knows the ingredients. In his usual mood, the incubus would've kept his mouth shut and politely ignored the atrocity that is happening right now; well, today wasn't just a regular day. "Those herbs does not fit for using in pizza. At best, you'll get a bad taste, at worth - upset stomach."

@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Vaelyr raises an eyebrow and shrugs. He's in no mood for fighting anyway. "A'ight, keep there doing your druid stuff or whatever, it's not like I care." He sits down and looks at Arran, who just wolfly shrugs. Are all the druids so broody? His sister Tanya certainly is, a silent woman who sometimes seems to be more crow than woman. After a short while, he decides to add, "I dunno why you guys keep doing that, but there're other hunters about, and not all of them can tell the difference. But you probably know how to take care of yourself anyway." The elf then resumes picking up herbs again, always smelling them to decide the best ones. He mutters, "I think these would go pretty well with the pizza. With the tomatoes, it will taste proper good! But I wonder if it's good for the cocktails... shit, do I really need to read about them?" The wolf yaws and lays down. He clearly knows nothing about cocktails. He growls, ||"Talk to me when there's something more interesting going on, and not you picking ingredients for your mate."|| "Oooh, what a baby!" Vaelyr mocks, and laughs more when Arran throws a bit of dirt in his faze using his muzzle. "Don't worry, you will get your pizza too."

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

With his willpower alone, Onyx kept himself from reacting to the elf's voice with a startled cry. Blinking his big, round eyes at the couple bellow, the incubus awkwardly shifted in his place, not knowing what to do now that his camouflage was revealed. Can he do at least one thing right? First, blowing his cover by making that stupid firework, and now failing in creating a convincing wild shape. He's just a failure... "You startled me," Onyx uttered in that weird mechanical voice only parrots had; his tone showed not only his wariness, but annoyance too. This world just couldn't leave him alone. "Keep doing whatever you were doing there, and leave me alone," the incubus added. That wasn't very nice of him, but his resources of politeness went dry back at the festival. And to think that people who he was nice to didn't even blink an eye at him dissapearing... Ruffling up to take a shape of a ball, the bird turned away from the elf and his wolf.

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Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

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@Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

Hmmm... there's something suspicious about that owl. Vaelyr doesn't remember seeing that species around there. Was it really from this region? Arran growls, tapping his paws impatiently, ||"Oh, by the nine hells, this is not an owl, it's a druid! Focus, brother!"|| "I know it's a druid, godammit!" Vaelyr growls in return. Actually he still hadn't connected the dots, but he was certainly close enough. For some reason Strixhaven seems to be 75% composed of druids anyway, so it isn't the first time he came across some wildshape out in the wilderness. Or Aspen as a werewolf, for that matter. Perhaps changing forms is their way of dealing with emotions, or whatever? Or is it just a fun hobby? But what did it matter anyway, he's no druid. With his good mood unscathed, Vaelyr yells at the owl, "You alright up there, dude? You kinda startled me."

Ok, now Vaelyr does hear something shifting above him. He stops gathering the herbs and looks up. Arran barks in protest, ||"See? There's something there! I told you, but now it seems you only know how to think about your female and nothing else."|| "Shhhh" the elf raises his index finger to the wolf. He whispers while still looking at the top of the tree, "You can't say anything. Don't I know you have your own mates scattered around these woods? The other day I called you and you even ignored me!" The wolf growls, ||"That was *intentional*. Unlike now, that you can't even perceive a potential threat over your own head."|| Vaelyr chuckles and smirks, showing his pointy teeth, "Jealous much, buddy?" While his companion does the wolfy version of rolling his eyes, the elf focuses at the top of the tree with more intent now. He looks and squints until he sees.. an owl? It's so tiny, and nearly entirely camouflaged against the oak.

@Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

Carefully, so as not to give away his location, Onyx moved closer to the edge of the branch, his bright eyes focusing on the man and the wolf bellow. This stranger- a wooden elf, no doubt-, looked quite unbothered with the surrounding world, but the wolf...it looked wary. Cursing his luck, the incubus pressed himself against the branch tighter, praying to no one in specific for those two to leave him alone soon. Surely they won't bother one little owl? Owls aren't even tasty.

Onyx almost managed to drift asleep as he heard footsteps approaching his hideout. Alerted, the incubus jolted awake, his wildshape going...well...wild with changing fur pattern, and features twisting and shrinking untill the snow leopard turned into a bard owl, almost invisible against the wooden texture of the oak. With the tiny heart fluttering in Onyx's rather feathery chest, the druid glanced down to check the source of the sounds.

Arran sniffs the air and growls, ||Vaelyr… I think there’s something strange around here. I can sense a different smell…|| Vaelyr looks around but notices nothing. He shrugs and just happily continues gathering the herbs. “Nah, Arran… everything is great. There’s nothing here.” In truth, his mind is stuck elsewhere. “I wonder if she’ll like those…”

1

Regnard|Gabe fanclub leader

regnard13

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Vaelyr happily walks through the woods, bow in hand and the loyal wolf Arran following in his heels. The elf is in his best mood in *ages*, and the reason of this good mood is also the reason why he’s even in the woods today. This time, he isn’t there just to hunt and forage as usual. No, more than that… he’s there to find the perfect ingredients to make a nice pizza and cocktails for Centauri, and also to check the perfect spot for their upcoming wilderness date. Ah, life is good! He approaches a large tree and crouches, gathering some herbs beneath it.

It was an early morning, most of the students were probably still sleeping soundly in their beds. But not Onyx. It's been several days after the festival, several long days filled with dread and paranoia. The incubus was waiting for the hellspawns to come at any moment; every voice, shadow, movement - everything was bringing the feeling of unsafety back. Looking tired from the lack of sleep and spoiled nerves, the man came to the place he felt the best at - woods. Onyx's old mentor taught him to trust the nature, to feel it's soothing words in those moments when he thought there's nobody there for him. And, truth be told, there was nobody to help him, except the nature. Finding a large tree, Onyx shape-shifted in a comfortable form - a snow leopard-, and, crawling up the tree trunk, rested on one if the mighty branches. Simplifying his mind to one of the animal always helped the druid to calm his nerves, even though just for a moment.

3

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

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❄️🔥🏹❄️🔥🏹❄️🔥🏹

> Reply to: @Irory R. (@SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)) > Irory grinned a little in response. Of course, he was the wrong person to ask such questions to. Not only did he never wear sca... ”Never underestimate the determination of a grandmother concerned for her granddaughter’s wellbeing.” Genna smiles, content in the knowledge Helaena returned to Strixhaven rested, content and with a new class schedule that gave her a chance to rest without bending time. “Judging by how happy my TA has been looking, I do believe they’ve even managed to sort things out amongst themselves. Oh, young love…” She places Irory and Kalkin firmly in the category, of course. Why, neither of them have reached fifty!

3

Tate,(🕊Tav: Kalkin🌸)

tatertotters

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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> Reply to: @Genna Forster (@Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)) > ”Oh, I simply wanted to be certain the colors suited them. The warmth adequate, the texture of the wool pleasing. But if you say... Irory grinned a little in response. Of course, he was the wrong person to ask such questions to. Not only did he never wear scarfs (or weather-appropriate clothing, for that matter), the tiefling was clearly biased when asked if a sunset scarf suited Kalkin. "Your advice has been passed on, I'd never betray my word. And I heard you cast a Miracle on Helaena during the winter holidays. Not even one secret study session behind your back? I'm impressed. And the jerky was delicious, too. Perhaps I should tell her that in person next time - a little motivation to encourage her to cook more."

> Reply to: @Irory R. (@SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)) > Irory's jaw dropped at the question, completely taken aback. But he quickly caught himself, playing it off with a few theatrica... ”Oh, I simply wanted to be certain the colors suited them. The warmth adequate, the texture of the wool pleasing. But if you say they appreciate it, I will believe you.” She just barely resists the urge to wink at him. It’ll be good to see Kalkin warmly dressed. The poor man always looked far too cold during the winters. “I do hope you passed on my advice. Unless you were simply humoring a silly old woman, in which case I can hardly blame you. Oh, I’m supposed to ask how you liked the jerky. Laena had never made any before herself, you see, she was quite nervous as to how it turned out.”

> Reply to: @Genna Forster (@Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)) > Genna gratefully accepts Irory's support, but a gleam in her eyes tells Irory she might have ulterior motives for trapping him. ... Irory's jaw dropped at the question, completely taken aback. But he quickly caught himself, playing it off with a few theatrical gestures of his hand and a playfully annoyed tone. "Genna! My, how could you ask such a thing of me? I'm sure you'll see signs of how much the scarf was appreciated around campus soon, no need to be impatient after all this action today." Despite the theatrics, he was smiling at her. He would have to praise her later for keeping Helaena away from her study books over the winter break. Not even the arch devils worked harder than a caring grandmother.

> Reply to: @Irory R. (@SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)) > "Let me help you with this pincushion situation, Alden." He mended the wounds on Alden's arm as well, holding back on commenting... Genna gratefully accepts Irory's support, but a gleam in her eyes tells Irory she might have ulterior motives for trapping him. "Thank you, my dear. Now, we haven't had a chance to talk since the end of winter break. How did they like the scarf?"

4

🏳️‍🌈

4

Tate,(🕊Tav: Kalkin🌸)

tatertotters

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Shen (oc: Kore)

shenaniganananananans

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Tate,(🕊Tav: Kalkin🌸)

tatertotters

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Shen (oc: Kore)

shenaniganananananans

🏳️‍🌈

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She just rolls her eyes at a man trying to compliment her aim when she literally just accidentally shot him. Must be the drow in him.

1

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

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Afer quietly wishes he could just turn invisible and disappear. Come to think of it... he knows Greater Invisibility...

He crooks an eyebrow at Afer, smirking. "Down boy." Gladly following Anareya's lead he moves to walk back, stopping to offer his good arm to Selena if she needs it.

> Reply to: @Prof. Amanita Virosa (@Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]) > Wow, he’s pathetic. “Don’t thank me, I accidentally shot you in the shoulder! It’s been a while since I’ve done anything lik... Afer rubs his arm a little, not knowing what else to do with his hand when Amanita pulls hers back. "Don't worry about it, really!" he says, "I think your aim was remarkable! You were definitely an asset for this expedition." With everyone seemingly ready to leave, all Afer can do is collect his crossbow, and prepare for the trek back.

Anareya glances over at Nita and Afer after Alden's comment. She's pretty sure they have each other covered when it comes to TLC. "Yes, lets get back. I might not be hurt, but I'd like some TLC myself."

> Reply to: @Afer Buccini (@Joel | joeldritch) > *Afer's eyes go wide when Amanita offers her hand to him. Ladies rarely do this where he's from, unless... She calls him 'dear... Wow, he’s pathetic. “Don’t thank me, I accidentally shot you in the shoulder! It’s been a while since I’ve done anything like this. My aim is a bit rusty.” She takes her hand away. He didn’t even use it, anyways. “Now, are we done? I really am hungry.”

"Thanks." He's grateful to be free of the arrow. That's not how he'd choose to accessorise. "Aye, not bad, only two of us got shot." He rolls his shoulder, flexing the sore muscles. "I think me and Afer here deserve some TLC after all that though."

> Reply to: @Prof. Amanita Virosa (@Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]) > Bending down just a bit, she holds a hand out. “Can you stand, dear?” Afer's eyes go wide when Amanita offers her hand to him. Ladies rarely do this where he's from, unless... She calls him 'dear', and that's enough to make him blush. "Ah– I think so, t-thank you, Professor," he says, clearing his throat when he realizes his voice sounds way higher in pitch than usual, before he takes her hand. He doesn't dare to pull on it or let her use any effort to pull him up, but instead pushes himself up on his own, simply holding her – surprisingly warm – hand in his own.

> Reply to: @Afer Buccini (@Joel | joeldritch) > "Thank you, Counselor," *Afer hisses a bit as Irory comes over to heal him and remove the arrows from his shoulder. Then, when ... Bending down just a bit, she holds a hand out. “Can you stand, dear?”

"Well, I suppose for people unfamiliar with fighting alongside each other, I suppose that could have gone worse."

Selena took a few moments to relax. The threat was gone and they could now go back to where things were. She hurried over to the others, but then just stood there, uncertain what to do now. She was no healer, she could perhaps cool a wound with her magic, but that would be it.

"Let me help you with this pincushion situation, Alden." He mended the wounds on Alden's arm as well, holding back on commenting on how half of the wounds inflicted in this battle weren't by the hands of the goblins. Truly the real danger of fighting goblins were GILFs and DILFs without their glasses. Speaking of, Irory walked over to Genna's side, offering her an arm to hold on this unsteady terrain. He knew about her aching hip. The least he could do was letting her lean on him to not make it worse.

1

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

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"Thank you, Counselor," Afer hisses a bit as Irory comes over to heal him and remove the arrows from his shoulder. Then, when Amanita comes over, even if she's the one apologizing, he can't help but feel terribly embarrassed. "Uh– I think I'll be fine, Professor," *he says, but remains kneeling on the ground for a bit."

He watches the ogre fall with a satisfied hum. A job well done. His arm hurts too fucking much to holster his rifle on his back so he just flicks the safety on and wanders back to the group. Seeing Afer's two arrow wounds he feels a little better about the one he has. "Glad I ain't the only porcupine in the group."

“Oh my! Afer!” “I’m very, very sorry about that. I didn’t wear my glasses today! Thank you, Irory.” They’re just reading glasses. Her vision is just fine without them.

1

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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Irory cast a few healing words on Afer, gently removing the arrows from him shoulder. Well, Amanita certainly was an expert at shooting, that was a clean hit. If only it didn't hit her ally, who wasn't even that close to her enemy. Then again, breaking things was Amanita's love language, so perhaps she just really liked Afer in particular.

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

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"That was everyone that the owl saw right? Should be all of them.." She looks behind her, ready to offer healing potions, but it seems like Irory has it all in hand.

"I am well, Counselor, but thank you for asking." She smiles at the therapist in appreciation. The elderly wizard is unscathed apart from a slight pang in her bad hip. "Was that all of them? Are we certain no more are hiding somewhere?"

The second arrow - by Amanita's hand - hits Afer in the same shoulder as the first one. Mostly because he twists around in an attempt to get his armored forearm to take it, but is a little too slow. Luckily, he doesn't have to worry about being out of the fight for too long, with ogre falling quite quickly after that. By whose hand, Afer does not know. He's too busy groaning in pain over the two arrows in his shoulder.

4

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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He breathed a sigh of relief and stashed his violin on his back. No casualties this time. "Great work, everyone. Does anyone require healing?" His eyes fell on Alden and Afer, visible piercing wounds and arrows stuck on their bodies. Naturally, he walked over towards them.

After the ogre falls to the ground with a loud thump, and quiet settles over the area. No more beating drums, not more loud thundering spells or gunshots. The camp is quiet, empty.

Irory’s song literally lights her heart aflame. Perhaps too aflame? In her excitement, she shoots her crossbow at… Afer. Completely by accident, mind you! “Oh, shit! I am soooo sorry!” she apologizes, all while dancing a little jig. She forces herself to stop, because shooting a crossbow is hard when you’re dancing. So. Business mode. Her eyes narrow, expression not one of a silly, GILF bard… but of an assassin. A cold killer. Her next shot is lodged into the ogre’s skull. And he’s down.

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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With only one enemy left, Irory cast a quick glance towards Amanita. Perhaps a knowing look, confident in her abilities to finish this battle with bardic flourish. He switched up the melody to one of her favorites. Fast-paced, every note aimed to make her heart accelerate in the heat of battle. Show them the power of a true GILF. -# +1d10 to Nita's next attack.

1

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

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As any wizard worth her salt, Genna knows when a spell has outlived its usefulness. Her concentration on the wall of ice drops, and the whole construction shatters into tiny splinters before disappearing without a trace. Magic.

He snaps the arrow in his arm to prevent it getting caught on anything, but leaves it where it is otherwise, he's not planning on suffering blood loss right now. He feels the crackle of magic from Irory and grins, thankful, then takes aim at the remaining goblin that just tried to attack Genna. You do not try and harm everyone's favourite gran, especially not on school grounds. He lines up his shot, aiming for the head, and pulls the trigger, ignoring the pain in his arm. His aim is true, and his shot strikes the goblin directly in the head, and he smirks as it drops to the ground. This is what you get for invading school grounds, wounding their students and then having the gall to stay here and attack back instead of fleeing.

This orge has been through a lot in the past 6 seconds, and ice storm, two fireballs, but it was the lightning that actually hurt, so with heaving breath, she aims at the source of the lightning. Just as she screams "*Dolor*" she flinches in pain, and the blast slams into a tree behind Genna.

She thought she was prepared for the brightness of the lightning this time, but she has to squint and her vision still whites when Genna casts the spell, pulling her aim just a little off course. The arrow bounces off the ice wall, leaving the goblin standing.

Is it predictable to reach for another chain lightning, her old reliable? Perhaps. Does she care overly much when it is clearly effective? Not in the slightest. The ogre is just barely out of sight, but close enough to the remaining goblin for a spell to jump from one to the other. So that’s exactly what she does. It’s not like anyone told her the goblins had to be intact instead of lightly deep fried by the end of this. “_Perure!_”

1

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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Selena was not one too familiar with the hot element of fire, much more comfortable in cold and calm spaces. Yet she also saw the need for more brute force, considering her confusion spell didn't keep the goblins in check as much as she had hoped. Time to put something her master showed her into action. Stepping forward a bit, she moves her hands in a different kind of motion, more forceful than before, a motion which seems almost strangely out of place for her otherwise soft way of casting. "Vrontí!" She calls and a second later a loud, cracking thunder erupts between the goblins, close to the wall, as the Shatter spell goes off.

The Ogre was going to do something.. What was it again? They're left scratching their head for 6 seconds until they remember they were trying to get through the wall. They prepare to smash through the wall.

Oh, now that was a beautiful kill. She looks back to see just where that arrow came from, and lo and behold. The sand bug man! She smiles right back at him, mouthing “good shot!”

Afer, feeling bad for Amanita being clearly frustrated about only hitting one of the goblins, grabs his crossbow and aims for the one she managed to set on fire. He hits, finishing off the job Amanita started, smiling over at her.

These goblins seem incredibly limber, maybe it's because they were prepared, maybe they just do a lot of yoga in their downtime, who knows. The swordman is the only one that screams in pain at the second fireball Nita throws on top of the gathered goblins.

1

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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Amanita is starting to get a little hungry, so she decides to use some good, reliable fire magic to sweep out the rest of the camp as quick as possible, her voice alone being used as a conduit for her spell. She didn't want to seem like a copycat, spamming ice storm like a certain little tiefling bard over there. But boy, these goblins really were experts at dodging magic! Realizing she only really hit one of them, judging by the way he runs around in cirles with his clothes on fire, she stomps of her foot on the ground in over-dramatic frustration. "Ugh."

With the goblins grouped together, it was time to enact their new plan: ice storm the hells out of them. It was always a good idea and definitely not the same as the joke about wizards and indoor fireballs. From the low rumble of a storm to high-pitched notes of ice crashing onto the ground, Irory played this piece as if he was on the stage of the winter ball again. He could see one goblin faint on the ground, crushed by the avalanche. The other three had managed to take cover or dodge out of the way. Gods, taking shelter next to a spellcasting school must have made these goblins experts at avoiding magic. With another fast-paced song, he gave Alden Bardic Inspiration. -# As usual, +1d10 to a roll of your choice.

The goblin cheers loudly for their own hit before they feel a sharp pain searing up their thigh as the bullet hits, blood starts to gush from the wound.

Fucking goblins. He sees Afer get hit but doesn't have time to think about it before a searing pain shoots up his left arm. "Fuck!" A brief look reveals an arrow of his own embedded in his upper arm, close to his shoulder. Delightful. He takes aim at the goblin that just shot him and returns fire, hitting it in the thigh.

Something twists in the mind of the goblin. They feel it trying to pull them off course, but they find a focus in some part of their mind that allows them to run through the wall. The cold assaults them, sapping some of the life from them before they aim an arrow at the person holding the most dangerous weapon, a gun. They arrow flies true, and hits Alden in the arm.

It all happens too fast. With the lightning spell having almost blinded him, Afer doesn't see the arrow coming for him. It hurts. A lot. But he's felt worse, so he simply grabs the arrow and breaks it off right near the head of it. He'll remove it later.

3

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Sparks still seem to shoot off of the next goblin as they run through the opening in the wall with a cry of pain. [failed con save] The goblin sees an enemy archer and decides to take aim. Shooting an arrow in the drow's shoulder.

With a scream of pain, a goblin Booyagh runs through the wall [failed con save]. She sees the people before her. The pain is clouding her vision and she thinks the swordsman in front of her is one of the attackers. "*Dolor*" she shouts, blasting her fellow goblin in the face.

How perfect that a new target just presents itself. She takes aim, but she isn't prepared from the bright light of Genna's spell. Her arrow goes wide. She'll need to keep that in mind for the rest of this fight.

Lightning arcs from Genna's hand to the Swordsman. Though he manages to shake the pain off, the lightning still bounces off him through the opening in the wall. From behind the wall echo the pain screams of the orge and another goblin

Genna reaches for her second favored element with relish. These idiots think they have the right to attack her school? It’s time for them to learn. Since no school benches are available, a Chain Lightning will have to do. “_Perure!_”

3

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

Bee (Tav: Delton)

traver1111

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

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The goblin grabs his sword and runs at the wall screaming. He slashes at the wall that already had an arrow sticking through it. It's obviously a weak point, and he can't reach the crack the Ogre made. One area of the wall shatters, the arrow falling to the ground. The goblin is stupid and rushes through the open wall. The ice assaults him, but he manages to shake it off. He's now visible to all, glaring over the field at the assembled staff members.

Great lumering steps can be heard outside as the ogre walks over to the wall. With a loud scream he swings at the wall. Unfortunately he's too dumb to hit the piece that has an arrow sticking out of it, but there's a big crack in the area he hit.

The arrow hits the wall, but doesn't pierce it, just bounces off and clatters to the ground.

With all the enemies in his line of sight downed, Afer goes to shoot an arrow blindly over the ice wall that Genna has raised. He hits the wall. And he feels extremely embarrassed about it.

She feels a strange amount of energy... a haste spell cast by her favorite DILF? She mouths a "thank you!" to Irory be reading her crossbow once again. ... she's a little too fast though, shooting an arrow off before truly aiming. But that's ok, he quickly shoots the remaining Pikeman right in his eye. "And down."

Irory kept an eye on the bloodied goblin charging at Amanita, but it seemed she dodged it gracefully. He contemplated casting an ice storm into the tower already, but decided not to rush anything. Stick to the plan. One green menace at a time. His focus shifted to Amanita, bow quickly gliding over violin strings for a fast-paced solo. Concentrating on his favorite GILF, he bestowed Haste on her. -# Amanita can take 2 actions per turn until Concentration breaks

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

Close

The Goblin Pikeman yells in anger and pain. He doesn't really care about the goblin that just crumpled next to him. He tightens his grip on his pike and runs at the first person he sees, the incredibly pale woman. He swings his pike at her, but she manages to dodge out of the way.

The arrow hitting the ice wall and sticking in it makes him look around his sights, accidentally catching his hand as his concentration falters. "Ow fuck!" He hisses through his teeth, jamming his rifle in the process.

The Goblin inside the tower is finally recovering from their shock. They've heard the sounds coming from outside and knows there is danger there. "Get that wall down, now!" They yell at the others as they aim their bow and shoot. The arrow hits the wall, and pierces it, the arrow sticking out.

One down, one more to go before they would tackle the reinforcements. Irory released his concentration on the spell, watching the Booyagh fall to the ground lifelessly. He would have cheered for Ana, but this was serious. Maybe he could just tell Adriel how good his wife looked in battle later.

*This feels good*. Anareya watches her colleagues assault these two guards like it's nothing, and like Nita had said, this is exciting, and she has missed it. She takes aim at the Booyagh, knowing they're magic users, and they are more dangerous. Lukily thanks to Irory's spell, the goblin isn't moving. She fires her crossbow, the arrow hitting the goblin straight in the chest. She's still held by the spell, standing up straight, but she stops breathing. It isn't until Irory releases concetration that she falls down, lifelessly.

The pikeman has barely recovered from his gunshot wound when a burning fire flares around him. He screams at the pain, panting hard when the flames dissipate.

Putting her fingers together in a specific position, she focuses on the pikeman. "Fengarioú..." She speaks and a bright, slightly bluish light engulfs the pikeman, burning it in radiance.

Immediately after the firs one, another arrow hits her in the leg. She's feeling the effects of bloodloss, her vision narrowing a little as she tries to fight against the spell that's holding her in place.

Afer looks over at Amanita, seeing her hit one of the goblins very skillfully. Naturally, he can't make himself look bad in front of the ladies, so he does the same - aiming his crossbow for the same goblin. It's not as clean of a shot as Amanita's, but it's his first time hitting anything above the surface.

The arrow hits in the goblin's stomach, it hurts like hell. Where did all these people come from?

Body low, her crossbow is aimed at the booyagh. And... a hit! Good thing she wore her glasses today.

The ringing in his ears is too loud, the pain to sharp. He feels his body tense, but shakes it off.

The goblin hears a faint noise after the loud bang, it's barely audible over the ringing in her ears, and she feels her body seize up.

He positioned himself just close enough to target both guards, playing a quick tune on his violin to cast Hold Person. These goblins were a little more wise than expected, leading to only one of them getting paralyzed by the spell. To make up for it, he played a short melody that resembled 'I want to break free' from Queen to inspire Anareya. -# +1d10 to a roll of her choice

3

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

Close

Before the goblin has fully processed the wall of ice that's appeared behind him. He hears a loud bang and feels an incredible pain in his shoulder. There's more than one person that managed to sneak up?!

As soon as Genna's ice wall goes up and the ladies make their move, Alden takes his shot, preventing the furthest away goblin from retaliating with a solid hit.

The wall of ice forms, sealing off the collapsed wall, the goblins inside look at the opening, confused. Surprised. The guards outside hear the cast. How did they not notice someone come that close? Their hands tighten on their weapons as they look from the wall, and scan the fields

The power she uses so rarely, rooted in her blood and bones but rarely allowed to see more use than for a simple Unseen Servant, flows like water through the conduit of her building spell, waiting, waiting… “_Glacies,_” she breathes. Ice. The Wall of Ice forms beautifully, there between one moment and the next, perfectly tailored to fill the gap in the collapsed tower wall. “Go,” she tells her companions, low and intent, her concentration fixed on the wall. She’ll be able to cast other spells, but not others she needs to concentrate on.

Her eyes turn back to normal, and she looked over. "Can I help?"

Irory readied his violin on his shoulder, bow tightened and covered in rosin to start playing at a moment's notice. He gave her a subtle nod.

Afer sneaks some distance away, to make sure they're spread out a little. He's not worried about a few goblins - but you never know.

Alden refocuses his attention down his sights, giving Genna a thumbs up.

When Anareya get's in position, she nods back to Genna, indicating that she's ready

Ice begins to crackle in Genna’s palms as she readies to cast the spell at a moment’s notice. “Ready whenever you are,” she tells the group at large.

"Not sad at all, I've missed this." Ana grins as she crouches and sneaks forward to get in range of her hand crossbows.

"Oh, of course, Ana. This is so exciting... how sad is that for me to say?" she whispers. Part of Amanita still yearns for adventure. She'll just have to take what she can get.

Anareya nods, I'll sneak ahead a little, so I'm within range when you start it off." She looks to Nita. "Care to join me?"

"I like how you think Mrs. Forster. I'll wait until it all kicks off, then I'll start shooting."

"Sounds like a brilliant plan, Genna. Wall them in while we focus on the ones outside." Irory gave her a smile. He expected no less from a wizard and political science professor.

Genna looks at the collapsed wall of the tower thoughtfully. It didn’t seem like there was any other entrance to it. “I do believe I have an idea, my loves. How would you feel if I used a lovely big wall of ice to block the exit from the tower? That gives us time to handle the guards without the others interfering.”

Six goblins and an ogre, quite the day they'll have ahead of them. The smarter they maneuvered this, the less risk of death. Irory suggested a few approaches. "We should take the two guards out first and try not to get noticed. The other five are indoors, so area attacks will be our best bet." Or explosives. But Irory wouldn't suggest small acts of terrorism just yet. "Amanita and I could distract them, lure the guards over. Or we could paralyze them with a spell like Hold Person and take them out quickly."

"The camp is small...I count...4 goblins, two near the tower, two further away, eating...the ogre is fuling the fire...they look around often...I think they feel a sense of unease after the last fight..." Her head moves ever so slightly as she talks, erratic subtle movement, like an owl would make. Yet she does not seem aware of them, her voice is calm and sophisticated as always.

Inside the large tower is a big campfire, some scattered ramshackle tents that seem recently erected. The ogre is feeding logs to the large fire, the two goblins beating the drums are near the collapsed wall of the tower, and the other two seem to be eating.

She closes her eyes for a moment, listening to what her fluffy friend has to say, softly nodding along, as if agreeing with him. "Help me see..." She then whispers, and a chill aura surrounds her for a moment. Suddenly she opens her eyes, which are entirely dark, not black, rather a dark blue of the night sky, while her irises resemble crescent moons, as she sees through quills eyes into the camp.

The owl silently glides towards the tower, doing his best to not talk out loud until he gets back. Instead he keeps Miss Selena informed of what he sees as he goes. So he narrates how the tower gets closer, and closer, and there are two goblins standing guard. He flies through the crach in the tower to see a ramshackle camp set up. It seems like they haven't been here for very long. There's a large ogre walking around, and four other goblins, with staves and bows and swords. Two of them It seems the camp isn't all that big, but they're all watchful and armed. They aren't on high alert, but aware that they might get ambushed since two of their camp mates have been killed.

Genna admires the gorgeous familiar from an appropriate distance. Sometimes she does regret never summoning one of her own…

Amanita is equally enamored by the owl, especially since it was so... sparkly. Her eyes look catlike for just a moment.

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

He doesn't know it, but he's equally as impressed by the starry owl as Irory is, and would also love to get to pet it. He wonders if the owl likes pets...

Afer is bringing up the rear of the group, a little surprised to see a tower standing here. From what he knows about the school grounds and its surroundings, there should be only wilderness around it.

Irory admired the majestic creature from afar. The starry plumage, the fluffiness, its little voice. Gods, how adorable! He plotted in his head how he would get to pet it later.

3

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

Close

@archangel :game_die: Result: 2d20 (8, 17) + 3 Total: 28

She gently steps backwards a little to focus herself on the link to her familiar. However the moment she concentrates on his presence she feels it much closer than it is supposed to be. Looking up into the canapé, she spots a light-feathered face. "Quill?" She gasps surprised, while a dark blue owl glides down, landing on a low branch. "What are you doing here?" "Keeping an eye on you, Miss Selena. After you left I felt a great deal of anxiety, so I went after you." The bird replied, dark blue eyes blinking slowly. Selena seems overwhelmed at first, because she immediately worries about his safety instead, but finds her composure rather quickly. "Quill, can you fly over and help us see what we are up against?" She asks him, and her companion tilts his head for a moment, before lifting his wings. "As you wish, Miss Selena." He says, and takes off to have a look.

"Lemme get a better position, then someone cast Silence around me. I'll be ready to go, just signal me when." He sneaks a little further through the undergrowth, crawling on his stomach to get a good vantage point on the tower, keeping his body obscured by the foliage and resting the barrel of his rifle on a rock and his arm. Nodding back at the group to let them know he's in a good spot.

"There's an idea," she whispers. "I have a crossbow, but the range isn't quite as good as a gun."

”I like the way you think, professor Greenwood. I’m certain we can make that work.”

He grins at Genna. "Unless someone casts a bubble of Silence around me. Don't need no words or magic to shoot."

"I'd need to get in close, to take out the guards. Without knowing what's inside, it's a risk." The guards are at the top of the stairs to the tower. They might get spotted by whoever is beating those drums inside the tower.

Keeping with Ivory for the rest of the walk, the blue hair sorceress crouches down besides the others, trying to keep her freeing hands in the warm sleeves of her coat. She would thank him later, she promised herself. But right now they had to focus. "I could sent Quill to have a look for us." Selena offers. "He is very quiet...when he stops talking anyway."

”Unfortunately, a rifle tends to be a tad loud, dear,” Genna counters, not unkindly. “A quiet approach might be best? We don’t know how many are hidden inside the tower.”

"I'm best at a distance. I can move positions to get a better shot, but if they can be drawn out into the open I'll have an easier time. Hopefully there's not too many more hidden inside there."

He looked at Anareya and Amanita, confident in their abilities to make this quick and easy. His voice was low, just like the others. "Do you think you two can take out the guards without making a sound? We could focus on the ogre, but the noise will likely attract others."

”Oh, having a party, are they?” She sounds unimpressed.

"Alright, do we want to go in? Draw them out?" She whispers so only her companions can hear

Amanita resists the urge to sway to the drum beat. Always a slave to the music, she is.

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

Close

He stops and crouches, using his rifle sight to scan the ruined tower. "Found em." His voice is low, only his companions can hear him.

The tracks continue for quite a way into the woods. Eventually you reach the outskirts of the school grounds. At the edge of the school grounds is an old tower, it’s been abandoned for longer than people can remember, and by now partially collapsed. There is a faint glow of fire coming from the tower. As you get closer, you can hear faint drums in the distance. The more stealthy staff members help the less stealthy staff members move smoother. Making the group as a whole travel relatively quietly through the woods. Whatever guards are set up around the tower, haven't noticed the group approaching.

"Don't worry, it was kind enough that you volunteered to help us out." Irory offered his arm to her, trailing behind the others more slowly.

She gently holds onto the tieflings sleeve, trying to walk forward more carefully. "I apologise. I think I chose the wrong shoes for today..."

Irory moved quietly at first, but turned around as he heard Selena stumble. He tried to steady her, stepping on a few twigs in the process.

Despite her creaking old bones, Genna does… fine. She’s not embarrassing herself at least.

3

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

Jackie (Tav: Meadhbh 🌿)

theheckmachinebroken

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Despite the snow, she moves without a sound.

Selena stumbles after the other people, slipping and sliding in the snow, yet just enough on her toes to not fall.

-# lol ok. 26 with reliable talent bitch

Keep quiet? You don't have to ask Anareya twice. She nods at Alden as he leads the way, following close behind him to help point out the way.

"Fuckin snow..." he mutters to no one when his boots crunch a lot more than he would like.

[Again with the reliable talent]

"Ogre too? Great." He pats his bag of rounds, plenty of bullets for goblins and ogres alike. He has his revolver strapped to his leg and trusty handaxe too, just in case. "Let's keep ourselves quiet." He says as he moves in the direction of where Anareya indicated they went.

Irory quickly scanned the area, finding traces of the fight Nissa had described and the tracks of multiple creatures dragging two bodies away. "As expected, goblins never hunt alone. We should prepare for at least a few more." He addressed the group, mostly confirming their findings.

[She has a passive perception of 26.] It's like she can recreate what happened here in her mind. "Two goblins and an ogre. And so close to campus? My. That won't do."

She recognised a few tracks of something having been dragged away into the trees, but not much more. Rising to stand, the sorceress points out what she has seen. "Looks like they were dragged away into the trees, but I cannot tell much more, the tracks are probably too old...and snowed over...and winded away..."

Genna knows everything. Of course she does. This is hardly the first such excursion the school sent her on, after all.

Anareya scans the ground. The tracks are a little muddled, but she can see where they lead. "They went this way, further away from the university. It was a couple of them, can't quite tell how many.."

Afer has been spending most of the trek out here staring at the man whose name he doesn't know. All he knows is that he looks a little too rough and tumble to be an ordinary professor, but he looks like he knows his way around the wilds... Oh, right, the goblins. He kneels onto the ground, running his fingers over the trodden snow for a moment. There was definitely a fight here at some point, and by the looks of it, someone has been dragged along the ground. He keeps the information to himself for now, since it shouldn't be too hard for his perceptive colleagues to notice, and instead stands up again.

Alden is too busy scanning the tree line, using the sights on his rifle to check anything suspicious, and only gives the scene a very cursory glance. He's not paying nearly enough attention to even see evidence of a fight.

[thank fuck for reliable talent]

Anyone looking for tracks can roll a perception or investigation check: 4 or lower ||There was a fight here? You can’t see any traces of it.|| 5-9 ||There are some traces that their might have been a fight? Some scorch marks, and something that might be blood? You can’t find any.|| 10-14 ||There was a fight here, you can see some faint tracks of bodies being dragged further away from the university.|| 15-19 ||The tracks are clear to you, you can tell the bodies were dragged away by multiple creatures.|| 20+ ||You can tell how the entire fight went, where Nimue went down, where the bodies went, and that they were carried by 2 goblins and 1 ogre.||

Anareya has been looking around trying to find some tracks of where the goblins came from, where to bodies disappeared to. She's not in her usual dress pants and blouse either. She's wearing a formfitting padded leather armour, two short swords strapped to her back.

"You're welcome, sir, and I'll try ma'am.." She smiles, thankfully nobody told her to be careful, because she never really is. She gives a final wave and walks back towards the university.

Genna’s brow is furrowed from where she stands near the back of the group. It’s been some time since she had the chance to use her magic for anything but the most mundane of tasks. Still, she prefers challenges to be of a slightly less violent variety. Hopefully, this will all be wrapped up by tea time.

A big, legendary tiefling...? Oh... "Take care, Miss Nissa."

3

2

Joel | joeldritch

joeldritch

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Joel | joeldritch

joeldritch

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

"Thank you, Nissa." He knelt down to be more at eye-level with her, giving her a reassuring smile. Hopefully this mission would prevent another incident in the future, gods know there had been too many recently.

"Oh yeah.. You guys are going to be keeping the goblins busy anyway, right? I'm sure I'll be okay. And if not, there's this ledgendary big tiefling running around? She saved me and Nimue, I'm sure she'll help me again if needed." She looks over the gathering group, they look rather impressive. Tall.. "Okay.. I'll head back then.. Good luck.."

He looks to Nissa. "Thank you, Nissa. I'm sure we can track them from here. Will you find your way back safely?"

Amanita is here, and is actually dressed appropriately for a little "clean up."

He keeps his eyes on the tree line, rifle at the ready.

Fighting was not really Selena's forte, yet she had volunteered to help, because the safety of students was important to her. She wanted this place to feel safe, and wanted to do her part. Adjusting her glasses, she kneels down to see if she can find any potential clues of what happened to the bodies. She didn't think Nissa would lie to them, what would she gain from that, that was just stupid.

After Nissa and Nimue got attacked in the woods, Nissa wrote a letter to the headmistress of the university to let her know about the possibility of a camp nearby. It seems the headmistress has asked some of the staff members to gather to check it out. Nissa doesn’t really want to be back here, she’s been talking a big game about how she’s a good adventurer, but the two fights she’s been in have been absolute failures. “Okay, this is it.. This is where Nimue and I got attacked.. I don’t see the bodies anymore, I don’t know where they went.”

🐺 🔥 🐺 🔥 🐺 🔥 🐺 🔥

She tightens her arm around their waist briefly. "It's okay.. I'm happiest with you too, happier than I've ever been. A- and despite what just happened, I do feel safe with you." She leans her head against their shoulder as they continue on their way back to their dorms. There's a constant mantra in her head that keeps her going. I'll make this okay. I need them to be okay. I need us to be okay. Scene continues in https://discord.com/channels/1151902831310274651/1301232533945581679

They finally manage a smile, albeit a small one. "I don't mind not having the room to ourselves, think we both need to just rest and process what happened today..." They give her hand a little squeeze, eyes still watery, their whole posture seeming much more fragile than usual. "I really just... don't want to be alone. And I don't want you to be alone. You're the person I feel happiest with, safest with, resting just in proximity to you is all I want. All I need. Just you..." Briefly their mind flashes back to all the times they've been called too clingy, too much, too overbearing, too suffocating... but they're so tired they don't even have the energy for the anxiety to truly spike. They just rub soft circles on Mim's hand with their thumb, tail holding onto her ankle a little tighter, and keep walking.

"We can check, we can grab some clothes from your room before going to mine then.. I think Luna was spending time with her dad." She gives them a small smile as they press a kiss to her hand. Staying in her own bed, surrounded by her few possessions does sound good. "I- uhm, I think I'd like to stay in my room.. If that's okay.. I know it's not a room to ourselves, b- but I think it might help."

"Yeah sure, of course. We can stay in your room if you'd prefer... if Luna would be okay with it..." They bring the back of her hand up to their lips to press a soft kiss to it. "I just want to stay close to you, wherever we are..."

She lets them lean against her, eventually leaning into them and wrapping her arm around their waist. She has no idea if she'll be able to actually sleep, if she can get her mind to quiet, but she's damn well going to try. "That sounds nice.." On any other day it would sound perfect, and it should be, it may be. She wants it to be. "I- uhm.. I'd need to go to my room for clean clothes, if that's okay."

They can't resist gently bumping their head against hers before they start walking again, holding onto her hand like it's a lifeline. "Me too..." As they walk they lean into her, their tail loosely wrapped around her ankle. All they want is to stay close to her, they don't care about anything else. "We can just get changed, curl up under that nice big blanket, and rest. Plenty of food to just pick at later if we're hungry. I just want to lay down next to you and sleep though..."

She nods, it's hard to imagine that they'd even want to be with her like this, when she's so broken she can't even think straight. She wipes the remaining tears from her face. "I can try.. I- I've never really done that before. But warmth and dry clothes sound nice." She closes her eyes and sighs as a wave of exhaustion washes over her. "A nap sounds great.. I'm so tired.."

"Just don't push me away... we can just exist together, that's all." They hold her tight, silent tears rolling down their cheeks. This is completely new territory for them, they've never had someone they want to be with as much as Mim... not even their ex, it was never even an offer back then and they didn't know how to cope with their need for closeness. "You're no burden. We... we could try? Just put on some warm, dry clothes and curl up under a blanket? I can put some random videos on my laptop for background noise and we can just... nap. Don't need to do anything, not even talk, just..." Their fingers flex where they hold on to her sweater. They're making a mess of explaining this... Trying to explain that just being physically together while they each sort through their own thoughts... they know they'll only pace and worry about her crying alone otherwise. They'll never get any rest. They are cold. Very cold. But the fear of being apart from her when they get back feels even worse than being out in the cold, they're trembling from a horrendous mix of anxiety and cold and they wish they could just let it go. Please just let it go. They can't though, so they're stuck.

She wraps her arms around their waist, hiding her face in their chest as she fights back tears. "I- I don't know how.. I've never had anyone to lean on, I don't know how." Her hold on her emotions slips, her hands clutch at their back as she starts to sob into their chest. "I don't want to be a burden, I don't want to lose you. I want to be there for you, to be with you. I just don't know how. But I know I'm safe, if anything this has shown that I'm useless to them. I don't know anything." She squints her eyes closed. They were going inside, Aspen need the warmth. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She pushes down the tears, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand as she pulls back a little. "We should just go back, get out of the cold. You must be freezing."

They stop walking to look at her, heart breaking thinking about her having to do that. She looks just as fragile as they feel, and they step closer to rest their cheek on top of her head. "You don't need to do anything, you know? I'll be fine, I'm just tired and sore, all I really need is to know you're *safe*, and I know it's selfish but it helps when you're physically close to me..." One hand softly strokes into her hair, cupping the back of her head to gently hold her against their chest. "And oh my darling... you don't need to hide all alone and wait for it all to be pushed down and away, you never have to do that again... let yourself process things but... my love please lean on me? Let me be there for you at the same time you're there for me?" They're stronger together, that much they're certain of.

"I get it now, why you didn't want to involve the authorities, or the school staff, I heard what you said to her.. You're a good friend to Corvid, Aspen. Don't blame yourself for trying to do the right thing. You couldn't have known." She's quiet a moment after they ask if they can stay with her. She doesn't want to say no, she can tell how much they need her close, but she's used to dealing with this by herself. She's not sure how she can care for them, and fix herself. She fears if she says no, something will be irreparably broken, and so she hesitates. "Aspen.. I want to, I do. I love you. I just don't know how to take care of us both.. I don't know how to do that, I've never had to before. I'm used to curling up by myself, hiding until it goes away, I don't know how to do that and be there for you at the same time." She gives them a pleading look, begging for them to understand that it doesn't change how much she loves them.

They peer at her sideways, not particularly liking that this silence is an uncomfortable one but not knowing how to break it either. "It's not your fault, my love." A gentle squeeze to her hand, and they pull her a little closer to their side. "We came out here looking for who was after Corv, and we found her, I should have thought about the potential danger it posed... I'm so stupid. I was too caught up worrying about what might happen if any authorities got involved, I forgot that it was dangerous for a reason..." They sigh, feeling incredibly foolish, and very tired. The creeping worry clinging to them feels like a lead weight, making their steps heavy, and as much as they want to be able to go with the flow and let her go back to her own room when they get back, if she wants, they're really not sure they could cope with that. Being in separate rooms, on separate floors. "Mim I... I don't want to... pressure you or anything but..." they sigh, blinking back a tear, "but when we get back c-... can I stay with you? Please? My room or your room or-or anywhere just... I don't know if I can stand to be apart from you..." They're trying so hard to stop their voice from cracking, they don't want to cry again, they're just so... *fucking scared*, and tired, and sore. It feels pathetic, but they want the comfort of having their love close, it's a selfish want, they know that, but they can't help it.

1

Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

Close

She gets up with them, feeling the cold air on the wet seat of her pants. Though she doesn't mind the cold as much as them, it's still uncomfortable, and she can't wait till she can change into something warm and comfortable. Her heart breaks when she hears them groan when they get up. She doesn't know if she can cast the spell again, barely knows where it came from. All she wants to do is help them, distract from her own misery by focusing on helping them. She's relieved when they hold out their hand to her, half expecting them to want to keep a distance from her. She takes their hand, afraid to give it a squeeze, in case that hurts, she's caused enough damage. They walk in silence for a bit. She doesn't want to talk about the wolves thing anymore, but can't come up with anything else to talk about. She thinks about their conversation the night before, how they were both looking forward to warming up together, hopeful. It feels stupid now. As much as she tries, she can't get it out of her head, as much as she would want to move past it. "Aspen, I'm sorry.. I'm, sorry for making you feel worse. I- it really doesn't change the way I feel about you. I need you to know that, to believe that. I think I just.. Need to deal with what happened to me."

They nuzzle into her embrace, as miserable as they feel her arms around them are a comfort. "Getting out of here would be good." As soon as they move they shiver against the cold, they hadn't noticed quite how sodden their clothes were now, and moving from the warm little cocoon they'd both formed brought rushes of icy air seeping into the wet fabric. Standing is an effort, the healing spell had worked wonders on the wound but their body always hurt after a shift, and the cold was not helping. The last thing they want is to be a burden on top of everything else, so they grit their teeth and grunt through standing up straight again. It's difficult to hide the pain from the bone-deep aches they feel but it'll be better when they get back in the warm, when they can get dry, and can lie down to rest their body. They still don't know if she'll want to stay with them, and they're too scared to ask, so they just hold out their hand for her take. As if this is any other normal walk through the woods.

She holds them tighter when they shrink in on themselves. She's messing this up, all she wants to do is comfort them, and instead she's making them feel worse. "I know, I'm sorry.. I don't.. I don't want to make you feel worse. I just.. I think I need to get out of here. I promise, I'll be okay, I just need to clear my head."

They notice the well hidden flinch when she shuts her eyes and quickly opens them again. That's their fault. They're the one who's brought her nightmares back to life, and they feel wretched about it. They shrink back down again, heart aching knowing their love is so frightened because of *them*. Anything else and they can shield her from it, put themselves between her and whatever dares upset her, but what do they do when the cause of her anxiety was *them*? They can't promise it will never happen again, they didn't even know it was going to happen this time, and even though they're aware it can happen now it doesn't mean they're 100% certain they'd be able to stop it if Mim's life was in danger again. Now they know, now they're aware of the trigger, the control techniques they were taught should work. Should. They won't know for sure unless it happens again, and they'd really rather her life was not endangered again. So they're left not knowing what to do. Not knowing how they can ease her fears this time. It's a dreadful feeling. "I'm sorry love... I'm so sorry, I never meant to make you so scared, I don't know how to fix it I... I don't know... I'd never let anything hurt you. Never."

She wipes the tear from their cheek, idly running caressing their cheek with the thumb of the hand still holding their face. She's relieved they don't seem to mind the healing spell she cast, that they finally looked at her again, that she could see the guilt on their face lessen a bit. If only she could take away all their pain with a simple spell. She closes her eyes and presses her forehead more firmly against theirs, but the sound of howling wolves still fills her head and her eyes snap open. "I- I'm glad I could help. I just want to help.. I love you, Aspen."

They blink, confused. The pain in their head disappears, and swiping their fingers over where the wound was tells them it's gone, only the sticky blood remaining but no wound. It's so surprising they entirely forget they were avoiding eye contact with her, and they look into her eyes quizzically. Whatever they'd been scared of seeing written on her face, it's not there. All they see is concern, worry, confusion, and when their eyes meet they just see... love. All the love they feel for her reflected back at them. A silent tear rolls down their cheek as they stare at her, so hopelessly in love with this incredible woman. "You really are wonderful, y'know that?" They lean their forehead against hers, taking one of her hands in theirs and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you. That feels a lot better."

She squeezes her eyes shut at the mention of Vaelyr's wolf, trying desperately to keep her reaction hidden from them. Her fear is not their burden, and she's already made them feel bad enough. When they pull back and wince in pain, she responds instinctively, cupping their face in her hands. Before she realises it, a spell falls from her lips. "*Ochari ubraku*." Her hands glow a warm orange, and warmth seeps into Aspen, healing some of the wounds they've suffered. She blinks in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-.. I should have asked, I didn't know I could do that."

They sniffle, not quite managing a light-hearted laugh. "Wait until you run into Vaelyr and his dire wolf companion." Immediately they cringe, that sounded wrong... "Sorry. I didn't mean that... however it sounded. But he does have a wolf companion." It's cold, and they can tell the sun is close to setting, and they're soaked through, and their body aches, and their head still hurts from that hit Alyx landed. Leaning back they tenderly run a hand over the side of their head, feeling the blood now sticky and drying. "Ow." They should probably head back, but they feel awful, and part of them worries Mim is going to want to go back to her own room tonight now... They don't want her to go back to her own room. They want to stay close to her. Gods they're so selfish... instead of saying anything they just sigh.

She doesn't move from her spot in their lap. Her body slowly stops shaking as the adrenaline fades. She doesn't mind the cold, or how soaked her shoulder is from their tears, her ass from the melted snow, she just wraps her arm tighter around them when the shiver. "I'm okay. I'm not as fragile as you might think. I've survived the wilds as a little girl, the streets of the Gate for years, I can take care of myself." Her voice is kind, not a hit of admonition in her words. They are meant to put them at ease. "To tell you the truth, I don't know if I would have made a difference if you'd told me before.. About being a werewolf. You're.. very big, and I think I probably still would have panicked. It just.. never came up, I never thought to mention it. We're at a university, who expects to run into wolves here?"

Their sobs slow and trail off gradually, the soft words she whispers to them and her hand stroking their hair working wonders to calm them down. They end up with all their limbs all but wrapped around her, trousers soaked from the snow melting beneath their combined body heat. They shiver from the cold and hold her a little tighter, sniffling into her shoulder. Her sweater is wet where they've been crying on her and they feel a little bad about that. "Thank you. For...", they sigh, "*everything.*" They're still a little bit scared to meet her eyes, worried they'll see fear or distrust in them. "I really am sorry... I didn't think anything like this would happen. I've not been in a position where someone I love is in danger like that since I was bit, I wasn't expecting it, I-... Gods I couldn't do *anything*, I was so scared you were going to be hurt. I couldn't take it if you were hurt like that... she was *dangerous*, she only missed on purpose, you could have been k-killed and I-" they hold onto her tighter, shaking a little. "I was so scared..."

She holds them, gentle but tight, running her hand over their hair. "It's okay, I'm okay." She keeps repeating those phrases, whispering them in their ear. It would have been nice to know beforehand, but she's not sure it would have made much of a difference. The whole thing feels like a haze now, and all she can think to do is comfort them, giving them what they need to feel better. She can feel the weight of them as they press closer against her, seeming to find comfort in her, so she nearly crawls into their lap as she continues to whisper comforting words to them.

They can't believe how lucky they are that she still wants to be with them, still wants to be near them, and when they feel her arms wrap around them they lean heavily into her and wrap their arms around her chest, clinging onto the back of her sweater for dear life as they cry into her shoulder. "No no, no, you don't need to be sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, I should have told you, should have warned you, I'm so sorry. M'so sorry..." Their whole body curls in towards her, seeking out her warmth, the comfort of her embrace. They're being very selfish, but gods they need to be close to her. They can't meet her eyes, not yet, so just keep their face buried into the crook of her neck, shuffling as close as possible to her.

She winces when she hears what sounds like the snapping of bones. When she opens her eyes, the wolf is gone, replaced by Aspen as she's always known them. She can't take them crying, their pain is hers. And it is because of her. She scrambles over to them, falling on her knees in front of them and wraps her arms around them. They are all that matters. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Aspen. I didn't mean to.. Please, please forgive me."

They blink their eyes open and look down at themselves, relieved to see their normal body again, but then they look up at Mim... They want to be sick, thinking about how terribly they'd fucked everything up, and all they can do is burst into tears and drop their face into their hands with a loud sob.

They close their eyes and let their senses become overwhelmed by *Mim*. She's all they see, all they can smell, her breaths are the only thing they can hear, her hands scratching their jaw the only touch they allow themselves to focus on, and slowly their heart stops racing. They're so in love with her... she's all they need. With the adrenaline no longer coursing through their blood they can relax enough to become aware they can shift back. The danger is passed. Mim is safe. Gently they pull back, out of her arms, and let themselves focus... There's the cracking sound again, and they grunt from the discomfort, but before long the usual Aspen is sat in the snow.

She holds herself still as they gently lay their head against her chest. Her hand gently scratches at their jaw. "D-don't be sorry. You couldn't have known.. I-it was so long ago.. I didn't think.. I haven't been around wolves in ages I didn't know." She closes her eyes and leans her chin on their head. With her eyes closed, she can pretend the coarse hair she's feeling is their lion mane.

As soon as they feel the warmth of her hand they wish they could cry like this. Their eyes meet hers and the best they can do is look at her with wide, watery eyes and whine. Their head leans into the touch gently, shoulders shaking with both the cold and the emotion. She's so incredibly brave, and she has no idea. "I-I love you... I'm so sorry Mim." Incredibly slowly and softly, terrified of scaring her off, the shuffle a little closer to bury their large snout against her chest, fur on their forehead tickling her chin. They close their eyes with the relief of being close to her and don't notice the little bit of blood that gets on her arm from the wound on their head. It's mostly stopped bleeding, it's just still a bit wet and smears on her sleeve. "M'sorry. Love you."

It breaks her heart to hear them call themselves a monster. That she makes them think they are, feel they are. Even shrinking in on themselves, they're still a very large wolf. She doesn't have to bend down to touch them. She reaches out a hand but hesitates. "Don't.. Don't you dare call the man I love a monster." She gathers her frayed nerves, focuses on Aspen and who they've shown her they are. With a shaking hand she cups their jaw in her hand, pulling it gently from under their front leg. She wills her eyes to meet theirs, and they're the same. She lets out a shuddering breath at that recognition. It's them, really, truly.

They whine, not daring to touch her, she has to touch them... they won't risk scaring her again by reaching out. "Y'not broken, I am... look at the state of me..." They look down at their own hand-paws and hide their nose under one arm miserably. "M'a monster. A-a... creature from nightmares. This is all my fault."

She forces herself to stand still, to not shrink back from them. She meant what she said, she's not afraid of them, but it takes all she has to stand still and not back away. She takes a shuddering breath. "I know.. I know you wouldn't.. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry for hurting you, I never wanted that. I'm sorry for being so.. Broken."

They really want to be close to her, more than anything. It makes sense she's scared if she was chased by wolves, scared of wolves. Maybe... maybe... they don't know, they just want to show her that they are safe. They would never hurt her, not ever. Crawling very slowly on their belly, keeping low to the ground with their ears pinned down, they shuffle a little closer to her - seeking her warmth, her comfort. They can't force the shift back yet, their emotions are too tumultuous, but they desperately want to be close to their love... *"I won't hurt you... not you... not ever... Mim... please...*"

She shakes her head immediately. "I'm not.. I'm not scared of *you*, Aspen, I'm.. I'm afraid of wolves." She stands up, willing herself to take a few step towards them. It's Aspen, not a wolf. Aspen, who loves me, who wouldn't hurt me, who wouldn't hurt a fly if they could help it. "Not soon after I woke up in the forest, I ran into a pack of wolves, I only barely got away.. And that was only the first time.. I don't.. I'm not afraid of you. I trust you, I love you."

They appreciate her trying to reassure them, but they can tell she's scared. Their body curls in on itself, their head turning away from her to hide their face. "You're scared... of me. I never wanted you to be sc-ared... not of me... I ruined everything... It's me... I'm-..." a monster. A beast. A creature to be hunted down and killed. The selunites tried to warn them, that no one would ever accept this part of them, that they have to keep it secret at all costs, and now they ruined everything...

A werewolf? She looks up to them in surprise. They must have control, because they've never shown any sign of it, and they've been together for several months now. She would have noticed, wouldn't she? She rests her arms on her knees, no longer hiding her face. She tries really hard to separate the wolf in front of her from the wolves that chased and nearly killed her when she was a little girl. "I'm not hurt Aspen.. She didn't hit me. I'm o- I'm unharmed." She can't quite say she's okay, she will be, but she's still too wound up on adrenalin, on panic.

They stay curled where they are, they dare not move. "I... got bit. When I was a teenager. I thought it was a normal wolf bite but... it wasn't. I'm a w-... a werewolf." Admitting it out loud to her makes them feel a little sick. "I-I can control it though! My parents, they took me to a Selunite sanctuary... there was other werewolves there, they taught me... to control it. I just haven't had to... when I heard that gunshot... I thought she was going to kill you. I had to protect you, I had to... I had to..."

"A monster? Aspen- I don't understand.. I thought.. I thought you were like one of the wolves that chased me.." She sinks down onto her haunches, cupping her face in her hands as she tries to calm down. Whatever they are, they're still Aspen, somewhere in that wolf is the person she loves. They wouldn't harm her if they're in control. "I don't understand what happened. That wasn't a wildshape, how are you a wolf?"

They whine and look up at her, still shrinking back as much as they can, despite how badly they want to go to her. How much they wish they could feel her arms around them. "I'm sorry... I- I can change back, just... I just need some time. It takes a while if it's uncontrolled I just... I thought you were hurt... I thought... you could have been ki-" they choke a little on the word, they can't think about that. Their chin hovers just an inch above the ground now, they're trying so desperately to look small, unthreatening, their shoulders trembling ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, I swear I didn't mean to, I can control it I just... I-... I was so scared... I haven't- not when someone I love is in danger I didn't- didn't know it would... I'm sorry... I don't mean to be a monster..."

She feels a little more at ease as the wolf backs further away, though her heart breaks at the pain she hears in Aspen's voice. "I don't understand.. What happened? Wh-" She's shaking, she knows they didn't wildshape. How did they turn? How in control are they over the wolf? Her cheeks are streaked with tears and she sobs, the fear she feels coming out in tears. "Please, Aspen.."

They hear her and look up with wide eyes, letting out a low whine. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." The heightened emotion isn't good for calming themselves enough to shift back, but they can't help it. They're... devastated. The last thing they ever wanted was for Mim to have anything to fear from them, they wanted to be her safe harbour, to be there for her always, and they fucked it all up! Their back hits the trunk of a tree and halts them backing up any further, so they just sink down to the floor. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean it I-I... I can fix it - change back - I swear... I'm sorry..."

Mim slowly lowers her hands when there's no attack coming, did it actually work? Did the wolf understand her? Her wide fearful eyes glance around, she's still afraid to move too much. A quiet sob tears from her throat when she sees the wolf, curled in on themselves. They look just as scared as she is. Why? Why is a wolf scared of her? She straightens her back, preparing to run while she can get a head start, when a glint of the setting sun reflects red off of the horn on the wolf's head. Red horns? On a wolf? Mim shakes her head to try and lift fog of panic in her head even a little bit and the vision of their transformation filters back in. "A- Aspen?" Her voice is small, her body still in edge as she takes stuttering breaths.

They snatch their hand back like it's hurt, confused. Looking at their own giant paw they realise. She's scared... of *them*. Their ears pin back with a whine and they back up, trying to make themselves as small as possible. "Sorry... sorry... Mim I... I-I'm sorry..." They try to force themselves to change back but it doesn't work. It's been so long since they shifted due to anger and fear, they're going to need some time to let their body come down from the adrenaline before they can shift back. "I didn't mean it I... I'm sorry, I ca-an't change back yet... I don't... I'm sorry..." They've been so stupid. They should have talked to her about this before! It was a beautiful daydream, thinking they could just have this without this fucking problem rearing it's head again. The selunites were right... they're a monster, and once people find out that's all they'll ever be. They keep backing up, the way they're crouched making them look more like a wounded dog than a werewolf. They can't believe how fucking stupid they were... and now Mim is scared of *them*.

2

Pim { Tav: Olifyr }

pimentisa

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Mim flinches and backs further away from the wolf. Her hands come up to protect her face from an attack she fears is coming when a clawed hand reaches for her. "Please don't, please don't, please don't." Her voice is high pitched, pleading. It's never worked before, wolves have never understood her.

They hold their breath when Alyx bolts, half expecting an attack, but no attack happens and then she's gone. Letting out a sigh they allow themselves to crouch again. They're about to ask Mim if she's okay when they hear her fall, and instinctively they whip around to help her. She's already scrambling to her feet but they still reach out for her, it's a natural response and they don't think about the fact they're still a werewolf right now. "Mim! Are you alright?"

Mim flinches and when the other woman shouts, despite her words, Mim is afraid the next thing she'll hear is a gunshot. She glances through the woods around her, looking for a safe place to retreat, some tree she can climb, some shelter she can find. The warning in her last words are clear, and even though Alyx runs, she is left alone with the giant wolf. She turns to glance behind her and slips on a patch of ice, falling on her side. "Shit, shit, shit." She mumbles, as she scrambles back to her feet. She can't fall, not when there's a wolf *right there*.

Her mother had always told her not to tangle with werewolves. She didn’t realise it was because of an innate and immovable stubbornness, and not just sharp teeth. She hisses a near inhuman hiss, her long white ponytail whipping fast across her face as she turns on her heel. “Fuck I hate that you’re making sense and I hate that I missed it. Fuck’s SAKE.” Her frustrated shout frightens roosting birds from the trees. She looks back at Mim, and then at Aspen. Her defences are down. If this was a ruse to get her to surrender than they had won, and damnit she deserved to die for her idiocy. “… Watch your back. I won’t be Dashwood’s last.” It’s all she has to say before she makes a break for it, half on foot and half springing between trees, up into the branches with unparalleled dexterity.

They don't trust her. Not one bit. However... if she is likely to turn on the Lord then it would be a boon to Robin. They narrow their eyes, guarded. "Have you spoken to Lady Dashwood the third? Alone? Unlikely she would admit anything even alone, but someone like you would be able to tell how scared she would have been. It's not like she would need to be so scared of Rob, if it was all true, under the protection of his Lordship, so why would she be so scared? Perhaps because a powerful Lord and his Lady are telling her what to say, under threat of falling mysteriously ill with a fatal malady if she does not play along, a poor young girl in way over her head..." They let that sink in for a bit, hoping she had indeed at least seen the young girl who was Rob's first actual relationship. The Lord wasn't about to let a bargaining chip like that out of clutches just because they both amicably broke up. "I won't pretend Rob is a saint, he isn't, he was a thief and a gambler, terribly reckless driver, and slept his way around Waterdhavian high society - consensually - but he's not what you have been told. All of that is just... a consequence of being told his whole life he was unwanted and worthless, but far too embarrassing for the Lord, might make the honourable Dashwood name look bad. That's everything I know. I have no idea where Rob is hiding, and usually I'd never tell anyone this... he told me in confidence, but seeing as you're waving a gun at me and my girlfriend... that's it. That's everything. Now please... leave us alone." There really is nothing else they could possibly tell her, if she doesn't believe them they don't know what they can even do. They don't have a single clue where he's gone, and by the gods did they look, Delton nearly froze looking for any sign of him. Their eyes never leave her, but they do soften, their ears tucking back against their head. They need her to see they're telling the truth...

3

❤️

3

3

👏

3

Scram ( durge: Dreuer )

marilewd

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Scram ( durge: Dreuer )

marilewd

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

❤️

Close

Scram ( durge: Dreuer )

marilewd

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

Close

Scram ( durge: Dreuer )

marilewd

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

SoulFearer (Tav: Irory & Co)

soulfearer

👏

Close

“Shit…” She aims a kick at a patch of dirt. “SHIT!” She rubs her forehead, her mind is churning and her head hurts. “Right okay… fuck it, I’ll bite I’ll listen. What do you know about Thaddeus Dashwood that I don’t? Why does he want his son dead?”

"I don't know where he is. I promise, I haven't heard from him." She stumbles back another few steps. Her eyes are wide with fear, flicking from the wolf to the woman. The wolf is closer, but proximity means little when there's a gun involved. "Please... Please just let me go." She's not entirely sure which one of them she's talking to, perhaps it's both.

They growl, but it's clearly meant to be a groan. "I don't know! I wish I knew, but I have no idea, and he's not likely to come back unless he knows the person sent to kill him - you, by the way - will not kill him if he shows his face!" They run both large paws down their face, grimacing at the bit of blood still oozing from the wound on their forehead, as their tail whips side to side in a manner more befitting a cat than a wolf. "You're the expert here, you figure out how you tell your target you want to talk because his dad is a piece of shit. And preferably leave us alone, I was over this before it even started and I'm sick of looking at you... offense somewhat intended."

She hadn’t thought about it enough. Gods she really was thick as shit. “… Fuck, I should have just shot you both this is so annoying.” She groans. “Alright, let’s say you’re right. Dashwood Senior is the villain… I can guarantee you I’m not the only one hunting him, where the hell has he gone?”

They rub the side of their head with a large paw, unimpressed with the trickle of blood running from a small wound. "What's worse for a powerful politician? A dead child or a child considered an embarrassment? I know which one Dashwood chose." "Are you really that thick? How better to guarantee a result than telling a woman who takes out abusive men that she's hunting an abusive man?"

Mim doesn't really hear what the woman is asking. Her ears started to ring when the wolf got up on it's hind legs, towering over her. Even if the wolf isn't facing her, they're still terrifying. The flame in her hand flickers and fades as Mim takes a couple of steps back. She wouldn't be able to answer anyway, she doesn't have parents, she has no idea what would bring parents to want to kill their child.

“But if Lord Dashwood is who you say he is why the fuck would he hire me?” Alyx was known among assassins for her targets. Manipulators and abusers and arseholes… men, mostly. Garbage men. He had been… well. Boring when she’d met him. A suit in an office with a PA and no real personality. Alyx wipes the blood from her nose again. “Why would anyone want their only child dead?”

"Does he now? Personally I trust the man I've gotten to know over whatever records a powerful man with an agenda can conjure up." They stand up straight, to their full height in this form, towering nearly at 7ft. "Have you ever seen him do any of those things yourself, with your own eyes? Because I haven't. He's had plenty of opportunity to act like that if he was so inclined, nothing to lose by having a bunch of students hate him, and yet he hasn't." "He's been someone I can lean on when I need support, someone who drops everything just to run off and save a calf in the dead of night, someone who wants to see the people around him be the best version of themselves. You never got to see any of this, because he knew his father would send someone after him as soon as he found out where he was, but everyone else here has seen it." This could be their only chance to fight Corv's corner, and they desperately want Alyx to believe them. "Please, my head fucking hurts, and you hit really hard, so I could do with not fighting any more... just, consider that maybe your Lord Dashwood has every reason to lie, that maybe he's playing you for a fool."

"I did meet him. He was nice." She's never been very convincing, but she's putting everything she has into trying to convince this woman that she's wrong about him. "I'm pretty good at reading people, I've had to be to survive. Corvid- *Robin*, he's nice. He made me coffee, and when I spit it all over him, he was kind, didn't make fun of me, didn't even laugh at me. He put me at ease, didn't even complain about the heat of the coffee. He's not a 'slimy little prick'."

“Dashwood has extensive records, Aspen. And you just… believed some guy?” She swipes some straying hairs back from her face, looking instead to Mim. “Trust me… if you met this guy you’d know what a… a slimy little prick he is.”

Mim's eyes flick to Aspen when they step in front of her. It's just Aspen, they wouldn't hurt me, it's just Aspen. She swallows the panic that's rising and focuses back on the woman. Her hand is still raised, cradling the flame. Maybe she likes flames as little as Mim likes wolves, and if that's the case, she will use that to her advantage.

Their head fucking hurts. "Oh sure, because a rich politician would never lie!" She's still a threat, so they step forward a couple of paces to put themselves between her and Mim, her fire is impressive but this is definitely no ordinary human they're dealing with. "Rob has never hurt anyone, not on purpose! The fuckin Lord has always despised him, he'd say and do anything to make him look bad! Listen... all Rob wants to do is live his life, look after animals, and have nothing more to do with his piece of shit father!"

“It’s all an act!” She’s exhausted. Oh my gods. She leans against a tree and huffs for breath. -# tw: mentions of SA, domestic violence ||“Lord Dashwood… is one of the most respectable politicians in… in Waterdeep. His son is an abusive, lecherous, nasty piece of work. He told me. He showed me. That guy… Rob, Corvid, however you know him… he’s a piece of shit. The things he’s done, it’s my pleasure to put him in the ground.” It’s her job after all, though it’s rarely lords she works for. This is more money than she’s ever been paid in her life just to take out one guy. She usually works for coppers, charity jobs for women who have been abused and mistreated for too long, by husbands, fathers, bosses… anyone deserving of a bullet to the head, Alyx takes the job. And she is very good at taking down bastards.||

Oh shit that worked She's still short of breath, her heart still pounding, but she keeps the anger on her face. She can't fold now, the woman is still holding a gun. She can shoot faster than Mim can throw, probably. "He's been nothing but nice. He hasn't done anything."

They stagger to their feet, crouching beside Mim. "What are you even talking about? Why are YOU chasing him down for the fucking Lord?"

Shit, fire. Fire would end even her life. She backs up, wiping blood from under her nose that smears across her face, stark against her deathly pale skin. “Alright!” She gasps, exhausted. “Fucking hells, *alright*… why are you defending that prick anyway? Don’t you… don’t you know what he’s done?”

They're not fast enough to get up before Mim has stepped in front of them, and their blood turns to ice again. "No, Mim, please!"

The sound of snarling wolves fades as Mim's mind clears enough to see what's happening in front of her. She sees the wolf, no, Aspen get kicked hard enough for them to slide over the icy ground. "No.." She whispers. Her heart is still pounding but her fear is turning into anger. She can't let them get hurt. She scrambles up from the ground, her face contorted with anger that is turning into rage. "*NO*" Her voice cracks, and with a quick flex of her hand, she summons a flame to it, holding it ready to throw at Alyx. Her hands itch to make the flame more powerful, to have flames leap from her hand in a stream. Her eyes shimmer with anger and fire as she steps between Alyx and Aspen. "Stop it."

The elbow to the chest and the sharp pain in their jaw dazes them, and her words confusing as fuck. "What're yo-" The kick has them stumble back, and their paws slip in the icy ground, causing them to land hard on the ground. Shit!

They’re surprisingly well matched for an apparent human and a werewolf. Alyx is quick. She dodges. She moves with an almost dance-like fluidity despite her muscular frame. Perhaps -because- of it. “To wipe one more -ah- abusive scumbag out of existence!” She snarls, turning on her heel to aim an elbow at the wolf’s chest and a fist straight up into their snout. “And if you’re the type to defend his inexcusable actions well-…” She breaks away, kicking out and pulling her gun again. “… you’re no better than him.”

What the fuck is this girl's deal?? They trip a little when she lands a kick on their side, growling at her. Oh. The fuck are those teeth??? No fucking way. They lunge again with their teeth, snapping on thin air with a -Clack!- and a growl. "What are you even doing this for!?" Another swipe dodged, and another one of theirs missed, if this keeps up they'll both exhaust themselves... and with the precision of her strikes they are genuinely worried that it'll be them that tires first. Fuck they need to land a decent hit...

Mim is panicking, she realises she's panicking. Which is something at least. She stumbles back a few steps, just enough to be out of the way of the fight before she slips on something and falls on the ground. This isn't real, this isn't real. She's no longer that small child, she's not being chased by wolves, she was safe. *Was*.

She is fast, and she is *good*. She has the power and capabilities of someone who has spent their whole life training for combat. She arches violently backwards away from snapping jaws and darts to the side, aiming a sharp and powerful kick at the werewolf’s soft flanks. She isn’t quick enough to avoid the claws, however, which cut through her coat and the layers underneath to nick her skin. She hisses, baring sharp teeth no longer concealed behind a careful glamour.

They're not at all expecting that kind of speed, stumbling back in shock. She lands a hit on their shoulder and they whip around with a snarl, aiming to bite whatever they can. They miss. So they swing a clawed paw at her as they turn.

Mim doesn't even see the woman rush at Aspen. She's frozen, hearing the call of wolves just behind her as her short child legs try to keep ahead of them. She can almost hear the wolves snip at her heels.

“What the *fuck*…” Okay it would have been nice to have been briefed about this particular stumbling block, thanks a lot Dashwood. No. She doesn’t have silver bullets…. For a multitude of reasons. “Alright, hard way it is then.” She’s fast, inhumanly fast as she runs full tilt at the werewolf, aiming to attack with just her surprising speed and strength alone. As if she’s not quite all human.

"Back. Off." It's still their voice, but it's a little deeper, more growly, and they're facing off with Alyx with a snarl. Even if by some bizarre chance she has silver bullets in those guns, they'll be able to land a nasty bite on her before they go down.

There are many things that Mim doesn't know about druids, but she knows wildshapes. She knows their wildshape. This is not a wildshape. She can hear bones snapping and twisting. There's no gentle glow of light, no sense of familiarity. Just a wolf, right where Aspen used to stand. They don't look like a normal wolf, Aspen's horns are still on top their head, so she knows it's still them. But all she sees is the wolves that have chased her as a child.

"NO!!"

They feel sick when they hear the shot, the bullet striking the tree just beyond Mim, and their heart all but stops. That could have killed her. That could have KILLED her! They've not felt a fear and anger like this before, and before they can even think their control slips for the first time since they left the selunite sanctuary.

She doesn't want to leave. Needs to know they're safe.. But she gently nods. She let's go of Aspen's hand, getting ready to run when there's a loud bang and something rings in her ear. She flinches, covering her ears with her hands, freezing to see if she'll feel pain. Nothing comes, it seems she's fine, though she's high up on adrenaline now, taking a few steps back as she prepares to run.

“Okay I’ll make it easier... you tell me everything now…” She shoots. The bullet hits the tree behind Mim. “… or next time I don’t aim to miss.”

They turn their head a little bit to look at her. -# "Please love, please run."

Mim is too scared to move, grateful and a little embarrassed at how grateful she is when Aspen steps in front of her. They shouldn't have to protect her. She doesn't know who Robin Dashwhoever is, but there's something in Aspen's tone. When they whisper, she looks at them, her resolve firming, even though she's practically shaking with fear. -# "I'm not leaving you alone with her."

What the...? She is the person Lord Dashwood sent after Corv? Fucks sake, she was hiding out inside the Biblioplex after all. "Don't know anything about him... Why?" They whisper to Mim, squeezing her hand. -# "Run. Get back to Campus, alert security. *Run.*"

“No… I really do. Unfortunately. Sorry about that.” She manages an apologetic smile. “But if you guys cooperate we can all get out of this without any bloodshed so I will ask nicely. Tell me everything you know about the fugitive Robin Dashwood. Please.”

👀

2

Alvilda (Tav: Helaena+)

alvilda_

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

👀

Close

The chill up their spine is more icy than even the harshest winter. Every single bone in their body screams "DANGER" when they look at her stance. She looks absolutely terrifying. They try and angle themselves in front of Mim, not taking their eyes off of Alyx. "The fuck are you doing...?"

Mim freezes. Fear flooding through her. She's seen quite a bit in her life, but she has definitely not had a gun pointed at her face before. Her hand holds onto Aspen's tighter. "Please.. Don't-.. You don't have to do this."

“Yeah… yeah I’m fine. Damn you guys are nice.” She laughs breathily. “Which uh… makes this even more embarrassing.” She pulls a gun from each pocket. Her posture instantly changes from bouncy and cutesy to solid and focused. Each barrel of the guns point at Mim and Aspen respectively. There’s no tremble or hesitancy in her grip - this isn’t the first time she’s done this. “Don’t move. Stay calm, and stay still.” She says coolly. “And this will sort itself out soon okay?”

That's... odd, and they huff a laugh. "Yeah, we all do embarrassing things sometimes. You okay?"

"That's okay, I do embarrassing things all the time." She gives Alyx a small smile. Maybe she's nice, and a little odd like Mim is..

“Oh… well…” She pulls a slightly awkward face. “… um… it’s kind of embarrassing.” She does a wiggly little dance as she crams her hands into her coat pockets.

"Ah yeah, we're fine. Druids, y'know? We like the outdoors, and never cold with Mim around." They smile and look sideways at Mim briefly. "How about you?" It really is a long way from campus, they wonder what on earth she's doing out here, considering what they are doing out here.

Mim is startled by the sudden appearance, and gives Aspen's hand a squeeze in return. "We're fine.. We're just.. uhm.. Looking around." She should really leave the talking to Aspen. She's not sure how much to share with this stranger, and she sucks at lying.

“Yeah… though this is… like a long way from Campus.” Alyx frowns, checking behind herself and then looking out past Aspen and Mim’s shoulders. “Like a long way. You guys okay?”

They jump, but it's just another student. "Oh. Uhh, no. It's okay, we're just taking a walk..." They hold Mim's hand tighter, that shock had them a little rattled. "You out for a walk too?"

“Oh!” In front of them on the path through the woods, Alyx emerges from the trees. She’s dressed for the cold in combat boots, thick black pants, a many layered loose shirt and a long, shapeless coat. Her hair is slicked back into a dead straight silver ponytail. “Gods, I’m sorry I really hope I’m not interrupting your date.”

"Okay.." She steps out of their embrace after rubbing her arms along their back a last time. Her hand glides down to grab a hold of theirs. "We'll keep looking. As long as it takes."

They press a kiss to the top of her head, holding on for a little longer. "C'mon, let's keep looking. There's only a few hours daylight left."

She keeps her arms wrapped around them when she feels them shiver, resting her head against their chest. "If there's something to find, we'll find it." She's not all that certain that they will find something, but she's not going to say that out loud. She doesn't want them to give up hope.

They shivered and wrapped their arms around her, they'd stopped thinking about how cold they were with how focused they were on finding some trace of some mystery goon chasing after Corv. Hugging Mim is a relief though, her natural warmth feels wonderful. "It's okay... There just... has to be something, somewhere..."

Mim grabs their hand and pulls them to a stop. "Hey, wait.. Come here." She wraps her arms around their waist, rubbing her hands over their back to warm them and share some of her body heat. "I'm sorry for being defeatist. We'll find something. We'll keep looking, we won't let them get away with invading Delton's and your room."

They sigh, their breath making a cloud of steam in the air. "Honestly? Not at all. But there has to be *something*..."

"How uhm, how sure are you they could be here?" Not finding anything wasn't making her feel very confident.

It's only just past sunrise when they and Mim set off to look for any sign of whoever it is after Corv, and who wrecked their room. They have no idea where to start, really, but they assume whoever it is isn't hiding out inside the Biblioplex, and the next best place they can think of for someone to hide out is the woods, so that's where they ended up. They've been walking for a couple of hours, looking for anything out of the ordinary, and currently not finding much of anything...

❄️ ⚡ ❄️ ⚡ ❄️

As long as she got paid, Aronova didn't care what happened after. The gnome and her childish friend were safe and the barbarian had some food to look forward to. ... Perhaps candy didn't sound too bad right about now. An awful gum from one of those overpriced machines that always made Aronova burst into a fit of rage when they didn't work. That would do. "Hope I don't see you again, gnomey. No discounts if you get in trouble again." She turned around and raised one hand, as if waving goodbye. Palu's tiny steps tip tapped behind her, both eventually disappearing into the snowy forest scape again.

2

Clara - Tav: Mim / Anareya

claraoswaldttv

Steffi 🍄 [Tavs:Mushroom Mob]

.mushrooming

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