The only thing Cordon Camillio could think about that day, was the party that rescued him and the others from the grip of that insane Traveler. The women of that group were paragons of strength and beauty, eclipsing all those he's ever seen before. Their battle sculpted bodies encased in gear and wielding weapons far higher in class than even the military force in Kes Solomas.
The Half-Faunus cat girl who casts magic that rivaled his more prominent teachers in the academy. The gorgeously strong and silent Lunar Elf who could probably take over as leader of the local Ranger guild. The Imperial Eagle Faunus who hurled blades with impunity and spoke with that strange, yet alluring accent. Oh, and that dark skinned Machina with the huge sword? Pavaros, don't get him started with that one.
Speaking of dark skin, their leader, the Cleric. There was something in the way she handled that strange looking weapon and simultaneously cast healing Spells that was so exhilarating. Cordon didn't usually swing for Inferni, but the curves of her horns, deep blue skin, petite build, and her height? Oh yeah. He could totally see himself lift--
"What the hells?" The words tumble out of his mouth before he realises it. The woman-- no. The WOMEN of his current dreams are walking towards him. Four of them, actually, easily recognizable by their unique equipment. His heroines. His saviors. His goddesses. He had heard all of their names at one point, all but one slips his mind. The one in the center, their leader, the captor of his dreams, his boyish fantasies.
"Mi-- Miss Dawn? Is it really you?" He stammers as they walk right up to him. Looks of confusion pass between them as they try to remember who this young man is. "You- you saved us from the, um, Mordecai Traveler in the mountains?"
Kona is standing with a hand on her hip, still trying to figure out who he is. Elsbeth nods once, and scans the area behind him. Rachel has her arms crossed, looking at the young man with suspicion. Dawn snaps her fingers, pointing at him with a flash of recognition, "Gor- no. Cordon, right? How've you been?"
The drooling, wide-eyed stare she's receiving is one she's gotten dozens of times from her appearences at conventions and events, in and out of costume. Once that look appears on someone's face, they're going to do one of a few things. They're either going to lock up and remain a smiling, speechless statue. Or…
"I thought you would have left town already what are you doing here at my campus have you decided to join you should be an instructor you would be the best--"
"Shut it," Kona says. She isn't as angry as she was before, but the way this boy is talking to Dawn is rubbing her the wrong way. "We're glad you're okay, but we're not here for you."
Her tone is harsh, but it doesn't diminish his glowing admiration in the slightest. "Actually," Dawn asks, "Do you happen to know where this place is?" She brings up a map with a marker on it.
Cordon is all too happy to be of service to his muse, "Yes! I- I'd be more than happy to show you. But, why would you want to go to the sewers? Does it have anything to do with the thefts on campus?" The others exchange looks.
"We have a Contract Quest." Dawn continues walking side by side with Cordon and the others trail close behind. Rachel nudges Kona with her elbow and they knowingly roll their eyes at the same time.
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Vic and I are in my summoned tent, situated in the remaining empty corner of the vardo. This way, if there's an emergency, we're not too far away. Whether the situation is me, or something else entirely, we'll be close by to everyone else. Kona reluctantly told us the basics of what to expect.
When I first light the candle I'll be prompted to begin the ritual. Until I accept or decline, the wick won't begin to actually burn and the timer will stay at four hours. If I decline, the fire will go out and nothing will happen. If I accept, I'll enter a kind of meditative state, where my mind will be transported to another plane and tortured for the duration. If at anytime during the four hours on the other plane, I willingly choose to end the ritual by uttering a certain phrase, the candle will go out and lose it's ability. Then, I'll return to my body empty handed.
The mental stress will manifest itself on my body and that's how Kona's master died. It was most likely a magical, stress induced heart attack and, with no healing Spells at the time, Kona felt as if she allowed him to die. We assured her that with Vic and Mika around, I wouldn't die that easily.
Still, with the threat of unimaginable pain and suffering looming over my head, Vic and I decide to partake in a bit of pleasure. We face the opening of the tent away from everyone and toward the back corner. I even left my pants on the ground in front as a sign that… well… I wouldn't have my pants on in the tent.
Far too soon, however, we're sitting cross legged on the floor facing each other with the Ritual Candle between us. Vic is wearing one of the Whisper Ear Cuffs and Mika has another while she crafts batches of potions and some other project that she has been quiet about. Since Dawn and the others would be in close vacinity to each other and far from us, she left us three of the four ear cuffs. She wore one just in case.
"Ready?" Vic asks putting her officer face on. I nod my head and she grins, "Show me."
I use my sparks to light a piece of rope that I use in turn on the candle. As the flame comes to life, I'm greeted with a prompt screen.
[You lit a Ritual Candle of Magic. Are you ready to perform this Ritual Y/N?]
I look Vic straight in the eyes, seeing her resolve and support. I see the trust. The love.
"Yes."
[Time Remaining 03:59:59]
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The four adventurers left Cordon at the mouth of the drain tunnel that empties into a swampy area just outside the city. They wouldn't have minded if he joined, but seeing as he wouldn't get a share of the rewards and he was deathly afraid of dying, he chose to head back to the academy.
According to Cordon, it wasn't always a swamp, but the city's officials used up a lot of magic and resources attending to the needs of the merchants and the industrious crafters. So much so, that the regular public's needs had to be taken care of the old fashioned way. This lead to a drainage system that went straight to an area just outside the city and much lower in elevation. Of course, the open tunnels invited monsters and miscreants, but a monthly subjagation Contract Quest was far cheaper than renovating the whole system. The quest that they had accepted wasn't one of those, though, and actually had to do with a string of thefts around the city.
Multiple witnesses have stated that they have seen shadowy figures sneaking into one of the supplemental drain tunnels with the sparkle of treasure in their claws or mouths. Instead of trying to investigate the cause, the city had found it cheaper to pay off their silence and send in a group of adventurers. They would save on man hours, the lives of their own men, and embarrassment if the mission went sour. The pay itself wasn't bad, four Platinum pieces and the rights to any loot they found. It was the loot part that interested everyone, but such a high level minimum and the requirement for a four person party kept that interest to wishful thinking. That, and the horrible location for the quest.
"Oh. Em. Gee. Why do we have to trudge through this yucky, poopy river?" The avian Faunus complains as she treks through the currently ankle deep sewage water. One wonders how anyone with a beak could frown and scowl so hard but somehow she manages. The others look down on her. Not because of her tone or her attitude, which is normally very chipper and positive, but because--
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"First of all, why are you walking in the ditch?" Dawn asks from the raised walkway put in specifically for maintenance crews and contractors to travel safely on. She gives Rachel a hand out of the filth and Kona uses her Prestidigitation Spell to clean her up, one of its handy little uses aside from creating small audio and visual illusions and changing the flavor of food and drinks.
"I mean, you probably didn't see us climb up here since I asked you to lead. But, you have Darkvision and Zoom so I thought you'd make a good point person." Currently, Rachel would act as point, Dawn followed to perform as healer and vanguard to protect their third who is Kona, and Elsbeth would act as rear support and look out.
The formation worked well when they encountered a trio of low level Red Spores. Their improvised spears and lack of armor didn't help them against the quartet in the slightest.
A sudden and growing rhythmic noise interrupts them and they all turn their attentions towards the rear, readying their weapons. Dawn tightens her grip on the inner handle of her newly aquired round shield and her trusty Thunderstruck. The sound of a single pair of what might be feet wearing wooden shoes running towards them echoes in the tunnel.
Elsbeth looses an arrow and the deep, hollow sound of it impacting wood stops the feet. A moment passes before the feet start up again and the image of what looks to be a short, bark covered elf with a necklace dangling from one hand and El's arrow sticking out of it's wooden forehead, runs at them.
"Scan." Dawn gets the creature's info before they all manage to take it down with a simultaneous barrage.
>Scan<[Spriggan Youngling, Level 16
[177/260HP, 87/87MP, 67/67SP]
"A Spriggan?" Rachel asks, picking up the loot sack, daggers, and arrows from the evaporating corpse. She returns El's arrows and the Elf motions a thanks.
"Spriggans are Fey creatures," Kona answers, "They covet shiny things and are known thieves, but the amount mentioned in the Contract is much too high for one to accumulate on its own."
"It looked like it was in a hurry," Rachel continues deeper into the tunnel, "Maybe so it can drop off the necklace and head out again?"
"But why would it be in a hurry to steal more stuff?" Dawn asks Kona with a backwards glance.
"Not sure," Kona looks back at Elsbeth who shrugs before checking the rear again. As a Lunar Elven Ranger, Elsbeth also has Darkvision and the Zoom Skill, but being mute, she would have a hard time communicating with Dawn. With enough warning from the rear, Kona could quickly translate for her and El could keep enough distance between any incoming threats and the group itself.
Soon, they come to a junction. Down the left side, the tunnel goes on in a similar fashion with a soggy ditch in the center and the walkways on the sides. On the right, the ditch is dry dirt except for small mushrooms are growing down the middle. Both tunnels bend in their respective directions so Rachel can't see too far.
"Do we, like, split up?" Rachel asks, stopping and staring down ways. She and Dawn watch as Elsbeth explains something to Kona.
"Okay. El says that the mushrooms on the right are actually traps, like an early warning alarm." Kona tilts her head to get another look at them, "She says they're called Jo'Urna Caps, or Shriekers. Guess what they do if you get too close?"
"So what should we do?" Dawn asks. El takes nocks an arrow and it glows yellow before she looses it. It splits into six arrows, a combination of her Ranger Feat to create three arrows out of one and Double Shot. She can only do the multiplier once every five minutes, but now seemed like a good time. All six arrows land on seperate, softball sized, fungi, causing them to pop harmlessly. Three remain and the sudden noises cause them to slowly inflate. Before they could do anything, however, Rachel launches several iron darts, like sharp, metal chopsticks, and deflates them.
They pause for a moment, listening for any sign of distrubance. When nothing happens, Dawn directs everyone to the right tunnel, figuring that adding security is a sure sign there's something worth protecting in that direction. They continue in the same formation, still traveling along the walkway.
Rachel stops them before they reach a large area that she describes as looking like a large forty by forty foot tunnel crossroad where dunes of dirt fill the floor. Unfortunately, it also looks like a group of about ten people are working that dirt in slow, lethargic movements. Three flower looking monsters move gracefully amongst them, whispering into the people's ears. A handful of Spriggans sway on their feet, waiting for orders nearby.
"Mandrakes," Dawn says, getting confirming nods from Kona and Elsbeth. These particular ones are of the same species, with green heads topped with closed rosebuds that make them look like they got their hair done up for a formal event. Even their leafy "clothes" reminded Rachel of cocktail dresses, hanging provacotively off the shoulders, asymetrical sides, one side long and the other side slit up to mid thigh… stem… whatever.
From the shadows of the tunnel, they try to conceal Dawn with their bodies so she can use Basic Scan on the room.
>Scan<[Mandrake, Rose. Level 16
[260/260HP, 250/250MP, 9/9SP]
The Spriggans are the same class and level as the one that ran into them earlier. The people, however, are simple level 2 to 5 citizens of Kes Solomas under a Command Spell from the Mandrakes.
"Shit," mumbles Dawn, "More hostages."
"These people are easily taken against their will, aren't they?" Kona says only half jokingly. "What do we do, boss?"
"A single attack from us could probably kill them. So, we're just gonna have to dodge them or soak up small hits while we try to take out the Mandrakes. They're going to be our priorities." She sweeps a dark blue finger across the opening, "Can either of you see any further down the tunnels?"
Rachel and El both reply in the negative, stating that the other three tunnels bend, making it impossible to see past the corners. Dawn's concern is that the Spriggans or some of the people will be used to alert higher level monsters deeper in the tunnels. The only good news is that due to the amount activity in the crossroad there aren't any Shriekers. Dawn lays out a simple battle plan along with two contingency plans and soon they're ready to play.
Three bolts and three arrows tear into the closest Mandrake, sending it into shock and to its knees from the sudden heavy HP loss. A Thunderstruck slams into its face, finishing the job, sending green blood flying everywhere as it disappers from view. Two invisible blades emerge from nowhere, lodging themselves into the back of a second Mandrake's head, killing it in a single attack. The Critical Stab and Echo Strike in a Vital Spot are the bread and butter of any self respecting Rogue in Stealth, especially a Stalker class.
With two Mandrakes down, six of the hostages come out of their mind control states in a haze. But, since they're so close to the others and the monsters, they're also considered as threats. Before they could get attacked, a large purple lens divides and protects them. Kona, who cast her Apprentice Arcane Shield, shouts at them to move back, but not to leave since they aren't sure if the way out is still clear.
The people still under control use their crude tools to attack the shield, but deal little damage and drain minimal MP. While Dawn and Elsbeth flank either side of the shield and target the Spriggans, Rachel tears into the remaining Mandrake with twin daggers.
The bark covered Fey creatures have high enough Agility to dodge most of Dawn's throwing attacks and move in close enough to engage her in close range. It is a costly mistake since she focused most of her Skill Points into Smite, bringing it to level three and adding three and a half times her Faith in radiant damage to melee attacks.
[You deal 272 radiant damage!]
[You defeated Spriggan Youngling!]
[You deal 279 radiant damage!]
[You defeated Spriggan Youngling!]
"Rachel. Disengage. Two are escaping," Dawn calls out.
"Tch, you're so lucky," she taunts the Mandrake as she teleports away, Assassinating one of the runners. The hit sends it crashing to the ground and she repeats the move on another. She finishes them off with daggers using Critical Throws. With no more Spriggans and just a single Mandrake left, Dawn draws the aggro from the controlled people while the other three finish off the plant lady in quick order.
"Nice. Good." Dawn looks around at all the unhurt, albeit confused former hostages. They collect the loot and lead them out of the tunnels before returning to the crossroad. "They should be able to make it back home. They weren't in the Contract, but I'm glad we were able to help them."
"Like, the Spriggans were running this way." She points to one of the tunnels and Dawn agrees that it's probably the place to go.
"We can check the other two tunnels out once we clear the main threats. When our rainbow bars top off, we'll head out. Is everyone alright?" Dawn asks, searching the faces of her friends.
So far, so good.
****************************************
So far, I've relived every childhood trauma and dramatic event of my not so long life multiple times over. From the time when I was five and accidently killed a grasshopper at a playground, relentlessly teased for being a killer, and cried all the way home. All the way up to the big accident and everything that went with it. I can feel a hollowing out of my "mind body's" chest as I watched these things happen over and over as if never having known about them before.
After those images, the Ghost of Cringe-mas Past is replaced by the Worst Case Scenario Demonic Theatrical Troupe. Each act they perform is perfect in its replication and exaggeration. There are deaths. So many deaths. None of which are my own, but all of them are my fault. NPC's, my friends IRL, Mom, and even several dogs that I've never owned but could envision a dozen years' worth of wonderfully bittersweet memories.
In between each of these viewings, my ethereal form would be subjected to waves of elemental torture. When the spears of ice so cold they burned tore through my mental flesh I vomited bile all over myself until one pierced my throat. It all vanished, including my vomit, only to move forward to an electrical current that tensed all of my muscles so hard that I grit my teeth until they cracked under the pressure. My eyeballs were on the verge of bursting when… Nothing. And then whips of white hot flames cracked through the air. They blistered my skin, seered my flesh, burned off my hair, and filled my nose and lungs with a sticky and acrid odor that no one should be subjected to in their worst nightmares.
I've been through this cycle dozens of times.
[Time Remaining 03:00:02]
I don't think I have another three in me…