Luné Alpenglow
Luné smiles at the joyful Kaede, and answers her question, “I am Luné Alpenglow, Codex Dungeon Core, and Hero of Humanity.” Kaede leans forward, looking Luné over, causing her to feel a tad uncomfortable. Kaede stands back up straight, and speaks while still looking Luné over, “Are you sure? You definitely do not look that powerful. Especially your aura, if you are a mage.” Luné tilts her head at that, a small bit confused, until Kaede continues, “You have barely any mana in you. Compared to a proper mage like myself, with a very powerful mana aura.” Cloud is staring at her, sizing her up, and Kaede finally seems to take notice of the Wolf, and smiles. She then crouches, and speaks in a singsong, yet hostile, voice, “What a cute puppy.” Cloud growls at her, and Luné remains silent, unsure of how to stop what’s likely about to happen between the Cat and Dog.
A few minutes later, after a few bites and scratches, Sebastia comes in and grabs Cloud and Kaede by the scruff of her neck and the tip of her ear, respectively. Sebastia speaks with authority, “You two will behave yourselves, and not kill each other, understood?” Kaede crosses her arms, and looks away from Cloud, trying to not cry from the pain in her ear. Cloud lets out a low growl, looking in the opposite direction of Kaede. Luné looks a little embarrassed, like a mother watching her children being told off by a town guard. Sebastia continues, “Alright?” Kaede lets out a pained sounding, “Alright,” but otherwise tries to keep her composure. Cloud huffs.
Sebastia lets them go, and begins walking to the new caves, “Good. Do not let it happen again.” Luné smiles tiredly to Sebastia, speaking, “Thank you, Sebastia.” Sebastia nods in response, opening the doors to find a bunch of rocks blocking the exit. The rocks begin rolling into the room, nearly knocking over Sebastia, who yells out, “Go back to your stations!” The rocks stop and start rolling slowly out of the room, much to Luné’s confusion. Sebastia enters the caves, and closes the doors behind herself. Kaede stretches, and then says, “Alright! What’s first, little Heroine?” Luné looks at Kaede, and says, “I don’t know. What do you know how to do?” Kaede puts her finger on her chin, and begins to think out loud, “Ranged combat focused magicks, Close-Quarters-Battle arcane limbs, illusions, teleportation-” Luné immediately interrupts her, knowing exactly what she wants, “That!” The Wizard looks at her, a small bit confused at the interruption. Luné then explains, “Teleportation. I haven’t seen my hometown in such a long time, I want to go see it.”
Kaede begins to explain her teleportation, “I cannot teleport somewhere I do not know.” Luné begins to think to herself, then says, “Then we just need to get a map for you.” Kaede thinks to herself, then nods, answering, “That should work.” Luné grins, and then starts to turn to leave, but immediately turns back, and says, “Oh, right, not now. I need to check the dungeon. I just got back from almost a week of being stuck in the town.” Cloud starts wandering around the room. Kaede nods, understanding the need to check everything at home when returning, she says, “I’ll be wandering about then. Just come get me when you have a map, or know where one is.” She starts heading for the stairs, watched by Cloud. Luné steps up to Codex, and places her hand on the Core, merging with warmth flooding her.
As she opens her eyes to look around, she notices she can see into the caves from the Dungeon Core room’s level. A faded version of the caves can be seen past what is on her layer. She looks into the cave, and specifically the chained door. Beyond it, Noalen is against a wall, all of her Sproutlings hold him tightly against the wall. She was wondering why she did not see any possible Sproutlings on the surface. She looks away, letting him rot there for now. She begins going further into the caves, looking at the nice scenery. She finds some of those rocks still rolling along, and focuses on them:
Monster Menu
Rock Sprite Swarm Level 10
Armor: 2
Health: 60/60
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 0
Constitution: 6
Spirit: 7
Swarm Tactics: +1 Constitution per added Rock Sprite, maximum of +5. +1 attack each attack, per 2 added Rock Sprites, maximum of +2.
Current Orders: Guard Caves
She smiles, understanding their purpose as ambushers for anything coming from below. She looks around more, finding Sebastia holding out a hand with a light hovering over it, and exploring the area as well. Luné leaves her to it, and continues to look around, finding her new Bats as well, but she leaves them alone for now, trusting Codex to have leveled them up at least a few times. She starts looking upwards, finding the house empty of most Monsters, and any denizens. The Carpenter Sprite is still a Sprite it seems, and she looks into the Voidic Oracle’s Room, finding no Reaper there, and none being produced. She wonders where it went, and begins to think about the possible whereabouts of the creepy mantaray. Feeling a pinging sensation in the sky, she looks, and finds an invisible Monster there, flying high above, and circling the house:
Monster Menu
Voidic Reaper Level 15
Dodge: 8
Health: 50/50
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 5
Spirit: 5
Void Ability:Invisibility; The Reaper can turn almost completely invisible, when not attacking. The only sign it is there is the slight shimmering of light. +5 Dodge
Void Ability:Project Luné Update; The Reaper gains extra dodge equal to the quotient of its Spirit/5.
Current Orders: Patrolling
Luné stares in silence. Then goes back to the ground, trying to purge the thought of having one of those constantly in the sky, ready to swoop down and snatch someone up. She looks over to the Smithy, finding Hammerer still going at it. She then looks around the new territories, finding not as many monsters or resources being added with each expansion. In fact, the only new spawners she finds are Fox and Deer Spawners. She returns to the main area, and admires the repaired house, the new library, and the wall that was still being built slowly, but was far more lengthy than she remembers.
She demerges, knowing Codex can handle herself for a while. She then starts walking upstairs. She exits the house, and speaks, “Radoc?” She looks around for the elf, only to hear him speak behind her. This does not startle her, as she had somewhat expected this. She turns around and says, “I need you to go to town and get a map of the Kingdom.” Radoc nods, “For that teleport, right? I can’t guarantee it will be a legal purchase, but I can guarantee you’ll get the map.” Luné frowns, and then reaches into the inventory, bringing out 10 silver coins, as she says, “I would rather it be legal.” She hands him the coins, and he begins heading off saying, “I will be right back, my Lady.” He flourishes a hand up into the air, while walking away.
Luné smiles, and is about to go back down to deal with the Noalen situation, when she sees a fox and the siblings, running around the house. She calls out, “Koto, Miyoshi!” She begins waving, as the two look over, and start running over. The fox joins them with running over, and makes all sorts of excited noises as it nears Luné. She reaches down, causing the fox to immediately flop onto its back, allowing her to give belly rubs as Koto and Miyoshi come over and kidnap Luné into a hug. The fox gets up quickly, and starts running around the three, as Luné hugs them back, hearing both speak, “Welcome home.” Luné smiles, happy to know the two think of Codex as home too. She then says, “You two know we defeated your slavers, right?” They nod, smiling. Luné then asks in a serious tone, “Did you know we caught their leader?” Both frown, and she can feel Miyoshi begin shivering uncontrollably. Koto lets go of Luné, and begins rubbing Miyoshi’s back. He then says, “Yes. She had a panic attack when she saw him being taken down to the core room.”
Luné frowns, and nods, “Then I won’t ask you to look at him, ever again. Stay away from the chained door in the caves, okay?” Miyoshi nods, still shivering slightly, while Koto rubs her back, nodding as well. Luné is silent, then says, “Okay, you can go back to what you were doing. I will be keeping an eye out.” She pats their heads, and they begin walking off, the fox following. Luné turns and enters the house.
Quint Radoc
Shedding his fancy overcoat, and mask, he hides the outfit in his bag, pulling out a scuffed pair of boots. He messes up his hair a little, and swaps boots. As he stands up, he looks down at how he looks, and nods, happy with his disguise. Bringing his pack back onto his shoulders, he continues walking, soon exiting the woods a good distance away from the town, and out of sight in the east. He starts walking to Woodshade.
As he nears the town, he sees the guards tense and look at him. He keeps walking, and stops when told, still smiling quietly. One guard approaches slowly, hand holding tightly to his spear. The Guard speaks as he nears, “Who are you, and what business do you have here?” Radoc does a small bow, and speaks in a really convincing southern twang, “Name’s Zedekiah Hunt, pardner. Goh lef’ behin’ by mah carav’n. ‘Ere ta buy a map. ‘Elp me fig’re mah way nex’ time I’m los’.” The Guard looks suspicious, but points him in the direction of the General Store, and lets him in the town.
“Zedekiah” walks quietly, heading for the General Store, and he glances at the Chapel, knowing the annoying Priestess is likely there right now. He tsks to himself, and continues walking. But as he does, he hears a voice ahead of him, and looks at the individual, “If it isn’t Quint Radoc.” He raises an eyebrow at the Priestess, mentally cursing his luck, as he says, “Ya mus’ be mis’aken, Ma’am. Name’s Zedekiah Hunt.” He stops, and hears her speak, crossing her arms, “No it isn’t, Radoc. Do remember that I have seen your face before.” Radoc frowns at her, then drops the back, opening it and putting on his mask, while returning to normal and saying, “You ruin everything.”
She asks the question he expects, “What are you here to steal?” Radoc looks at her, while pulling out his boots, then he says, “Okay, that’s just rude. I don’t just steal. I’m an assassin. I kill first.” She frowns heavily at him, and asks the more proper question, “Then who are you here to kill?” Radoc smirks, thinking how fun it would be to have her go on a wild goose chase, but decides to be serious, “Not here for that. Just here to get a map for the little Hero. Gave me coins to use. Hence why I wanted to not run into your stupid ass.” He dodges the slap that comes for him, and he bursts into a fit of laughter. This clearly angers her more, but he begins to swap boots again. He then pulls out his fancy overcoat, and puts it on, fluffing it slightly as people look at the two with curiosity and confusion as to why a Dark Elf is here talking with the Priestess. She speaks with disdain and a frown, “You are terrible.” He simply grins, and does a bow, “I try my best, dear friend.” She begins walking away, raising her head in indignation, “You are not my friend.” He shrugs, and picks up the bag, “I’m gonna go give your General Store owner the fright of their life, especially if they know of good old ‘Shadow’.” A few people nearby panic and start giving Radoc the widest space possible.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
She walks off, leaving Radoc to go to the General Store, where he enters, and predictably, almost gets a dagger thrown at him as he tries to purchase a map. Of course, after a bit of persuasion and convincing, the dagger is put away, and he gets his map, paying double the price for being a known danger and nuisance, leaving him with no coin left. He begins walking back to Codex.
Kaede
Kaede was laying in the sun, enjoying its warm rays, when two curious sets of eyes took a peak. She kept her eyes closed, letting the two get closer, thinking they’re sneaky. She could hear every single step of theirs. As they get within five feet, she suddenly raises her hand, begins to hum a playful tune, and snaps her finger. With a yelp the two Kitsune were floating. Kaede sits up, and continues to hum to her now captive audience. She begins looking the two up and down. One is maimed and floating calmly, though a little upset at his capture. The other is causing herself to spin in circles out of panic of floating off the ground. Kaede giggles to herself, losing her song, and deciding to speak, “Now what did I catch? Two curious foxes?” She softly sets them down, asking, “What can I do for you two?”
The male speaks as his feet touch the ground, “Who are you? We don’t recognize you.” The female looks very dizzy and nauseous, as she takes a seat on the ground, her head slightly rolling in circles. Kaede smiles at the two, the male distrusts her, and she can tell, so she speaks calmly and softly, “I have no intent to harm the little Miss. I’m just relaxing and enjoying the sun until I have a map to look over.” She lays back down as she continues, her hat folding back underneath her head, “After all, she needs me to teleport her, I cannot simply leave. Besides, I’m curious about her spell that summoned me here. Through the Great Barrier at that!” Her excitement at the thought of such knowledge takes over her again, and she curls up, kicking her feet slightly. Then she returns to a normal lying position.
The male seems to have calmed down, and the female is slowly crawling away to a bush. Kaede closes her eyes again, enjoying the rays of the sun, as she says, “Now, proper introductions. I am Kaede; Musician, Alchemist, and Wizard. Singer and songwriter on occasion. Though that is because I like to peer past the Great Barrier, and often hear the songs of other Universes. For example, the song that I was humming, ‘MagiCatz’, by a ‘Sakuzyo’. I heard it through the Great Barrier.” The male is just completely confused, while the female can be heard vomiting behind the bush. Kaede looks to the bush, opening her eyes, as she asks, “What’s wrong, lad?” He looks the direction she’s looking, but still answers, not going to his sister’s aid just yet, “I’m confused by the use of ‘Great Barrier’. What do you mean, ‘Great Barrier’?” Kaede smiles at the magical innocence of this lad, “First, you and her name, lad. I can tell you after.”
He looks at her again, and says, “Koto, and she is Miyoshi, my sister.” Miyoshi sounds like she finishes vomiting, and Koto stares at Kaede with curiosity. Kaede, ever curious herself, wonders how he would react, and then speaks to him, “Do you know the multiverse theorem?” Koto tilts his head at her, and she looks at him again sitting up once more, “It posits that anything that has, can, or will happen has, can, and will. In one world, you met Luné, in another you did not. In a third you are a Dwarf. In a fourth you are the god-emperor. In a fifth you are researching this exact topic. In a sixth you have no sister. In a seventh you did something completely different, and are living how you would if you had done that. But I digress, the multiverse theorem is true, and the Great Barrier stands in the way of each. This barrier is Void. Trying to enter it is impossible, from my studies, thus traveling to another universe is impossible. However, I have been proven wrong, simply by Luné using one of her spells. When she uses it again, I must study it. That way I can perhaps learn how to reach out and do more than just hear.”
Koto stares, clearly not following, but trying to understand. Miyoshi stood and walked back over, not having been listening. Kaede continues, “It's a tough subject sometimes.” She lays back down, her hat flattening under her again. Koto is silent, simply thinking. Miyoshi tilts her head, confused by the fact Koto is silent. Kaede speaks calmly and happily, “Never can go wrong learning something new. Either way, to put it simply, the Great Barrier blocks travel to other universes, thus I am an oddity here, and should not exist. At the same time, I am here, and I must learn how this happened, how to reverse it, and how to apply it in other ways.” Koto just turns around, likely thinking he isn’t smart enough for this conversation. Followed by Miyoshi, Kaede smiles, then says, “I will see you around, Koto and Miyoshi. Perhaps we can have this conversation again at a later date, when you have come to understand it.”
As she lays there, she suddenly feels a presence over her, blocking the sun. Opening her eyes, with annoyance, she sees a Dark Elf, looking down at her with a nice masquerade mask. He speaks, “Delivery. Go talk with the young Miss.” He drops a rolled up piece of parchment onto her stomach, and she sits up quick, then returns her gaze to him, only to find him missing already. She stares in blank confusion. She then grins, “Quite the spell. I will need to learn it. Capable of masking both your mana aura and physical presence.” She looks down at the parchment and unrolls it, looking at it, and smiling softly. The map! She stands quickly, and starts heading to the basement again, ready to teleport Luné.
When she arrives, she finds that Human who pulled her ear. She waves, and happily speeds down the stairs. She sees Luné sitting up, and the Dungeon’s Core returning and expanding into its normal spot. She thinks on that, but does not change her course to study this possibly symbiotic relationship. She holds out the map to Luné and says, “Show me where we’re going, and I’ll get us there.” Luné takes the map, and begins looking over it. She sets it on the ground, then points to a location southwest of a town called Woodshade, “This is where we are.” She then points to a location on the complete opposite side of the map, to a town called Edenvale, “This is where we’re going.”
Kaede stretches her hands forward, and says, “Easy as one-two-three. Ready to go?” Luné looks at the human woman, who nods in response. Luné then stands and looks at Kaede, “We’re ready.” Kaede grins, “With a hop-skip and a jump, we’ll be away! All passengers, please keep note of your belongings, and remember that first time teleporters may find themselves vomiting after. With that out of the way, we shall be underway!” She quickly casts the spell before Luné can respond and tell her to not teleport them, after hearing her say that.
Luné Alpenglow
With a feeling similar to a violent punch to the gut, Luné falls to her knees and hands, nearly letting go of her breakfast. She breathes, trying to calm her body. And after almost a minute, she begins to look up slowly, smiling at the thought of being home. However, her smile fades, as she sees nothing but the burnt foundations remain. “N- No.” Luné begins standing up, panic and confusion welling up in her. They had to be in the wrong town. They can’t be at Edenvale. Her feet begin to move, and soon run, she does not even hear Sebastia calling out for her to wait. She runs, not wanting to believe it, but she soon sees the truth, as she finds her old home. Nothing but ash remains, and she falls to her knees.
Her mind races, and she soon begins asking any god that listens, to have protected them. To have protected her Mother and Father, and her elder Brother. She quickly gets back up, and starts digging through the ash, trying to find anything. Any sign they survived. In her irrational state, she did not notice Sebastia coming up to grab her, but when she did, Sebastia felt the full force of Luné’s punch, and she let go, holding her jaw. Luné quickly returns to digging through the ash, tears beginning to well. She soon finds a skeletal hand, and digs with even more earnest, until she sees the other hand under it, and the two skeletons. The ash begins to float, and drift away, leaving Luné to see two charred skeletons, holding hands, and laying on the ground. There was no third, and Luné burst into tears, sobbing and crying.
A few hours later, Luné was standing dejected at the makeshift graves. Both had been buried, and Luné was simply standing, staring through them and into space. Sebastia places a hand on her shoulder, and Luné looks over, her eyes red and puffy, her nose running, and she hears Sebastia speak warmly, though it does not help much, “They are proud of who you are now. I’m certain of it. You need to keep walking for them. They’ll be worried about you for a while, but if you can show them that you can survive and thrive on your own, then they won’t worry anymore, and they will get to rest happy.” Luné is silent, not wanting to accept this world. The world where her family died, and she could say nothing to them before it.
Kaede wanders over, and speaks with a somber tone, “I buried the rest. I hope that helps them in the afterlife.” Sebastia begins to rub Luné’s back, ignoring Kaede for now, and speaks, “Luné, I know this is hard, but you have to continue on. The world may be frozen for now, but it will not stay that way. Think of all the good that has happened so far. Then think of all the bad. Then, realize that even though bad things have happened to good people, it will continue to happen that way. We just need to remember that just as there are bad times, there are good times. So let's return, and find the person who did this. So they will never do it again. Not to anyone else.” Luné is silent, but quietly nods. Understanding, and gaining some resolve, she takes in a deep breath, and then lets it out. She looks at the two graves, and then says, “I promise, Mom, Dad. I promise that I will find Ray. I won’t let him get hurt too.” She turns and begins walking, ready to go back.
After Kaede brings them back, Luné speaks with a serious and angered tone, “Radoc, are you here?” Radoc reveals himself, leaning against the wall of the room, and Luné speaks, “What do you know about the destruction of Edenvale?” She begins walking to him. Sebastia follows, while Kaede goes to the stairs to listen. Radoc shakes his head and shrugs, “Not much, my Lady. All I know is that a Dragonkin, Mountain Dwarf, Moon Elf, Rock Halfman, and Beastkin, spotted in the area after the burning.” He then smirks, and lowers his head slightly, looking towards Luné menacingly, “And I have it on good authority that one is your prisoner.” Luné immediately turns, drawing her dagger, only to be grabbed by Sebastia. Luné yells out, “Let go of me!” Sebastia shakes her head, and answers in a firm voice, “No! We are not going to be like them! We are better! We do not just kill whomever slights us!”
Luné stops fighting, and remains still. Angered, and wanting to fight her. Sebastia speaks calmly, “If you kill him, you are no better than him. He has harmed far more people than you. Let one of them decide. One of the people he more recently harmed. To him, you were a year ago, while they were far more recent. Let them decide.” Luné slackens her arm, and feels Sebastia let go, as she puts away the dagger. She then says, “Someone get Koto and Miyoshi.”
A few minutes later, Koto and Miyoshi were standing in front of Luné, and she spoke to them, “I don’t want to do this, but I need you two’s decision on how to deal with that bastard. What is your choice?” Koto looks shocked, and Miyoshi seems confused. Luné continues, “Do you want revenge with your own hands? Or do you let him rot?” Koto looks at Miyoshi, then at Luné. Miyoshi seems to start realizing, and shivers slightly. Koto speaks, with a slight accusatory tone, “You said you wouldn’t bring Miyoshi into this kind of matter.” Luné nods, agreeing that she did, but she continues, “I thought it would be my place to judge him, but not anymore. I want your decisions.” Koto grimaces, as he says, “Why did you have to do this.” Luné yells out, “Because I was harmed first! I lost my entire hometown, you did too! I have someone I need to punish, and you have him! I cannot just kill all five because I want to take revenge! That would make me just like them!” She realizes she’s yelling, as she notices the two flinching at each emphasized word. She sighs, then says, “Sorry. I lost my cool. It's been a bad day. I’m not angry with you, I’m angry with them.” Koto shakes his head, about to speak, when Miyoshi speaks first, “Revenge.”
The two look at her, and see a deadly resolve in her eye, she says it again, coldly this time, “Revenge.” She holds out a hand to Luné, who is shocked. Koto speaks, startled and confused by his sister, “W- Wait, you- no you want to. Miyoshi, no, that’s a bad idea. We’ll regret this.” Miyoshi shakes her head, and speaks with her hoarse voice, “We will regret both choices. Give me a dagger.” Luné hands her the silvered dagger, while Koto looks on, appalled and distraught. Miyoshi takes the dagger, and begins walking. Luné orders the lock to be removed, and Noalen to be held so firmly, that his limbs start to lose function. Luné then follows Miyoshi to the door, with Koto following just behind, not liking this.
As the door opens, Luné opens the door, and Miyoshi enters, holding the dagger tightly. Noalen looks at them, and growls quietly. Approaching, Miyoshi begins shaking and shivering more and more. She closes her eyes, still approaching. When she nears Noalen, Luné orders a Sproutling to slow her, and guide her hands. Noalen growls louder, and looks down at Miyoshi with hatred in his eyes. He clearly wants to yell and degrade her, but his muzzle has been wrapped tightly by a Sproutling this whole time. As he growls more and more, his anger starts to turn to fear, and as the dagger is plunged into his body they all can hear his muffled scream of pain. Miyoshi pulls the dagger out, and slams it back in, as she yells out in her hoarse voice, “I am not a coward! I am not useless! I am not a plaything! I am not scared! I am not helpless! I am not alone!” With each sentence, another stab then muffled scream. She yells out one final sentence, “WE ARE FREE!” She stabs one final time, then lets go of the dagger, opening her eyes. Though she is shivering and shaking from seeing the Beastkin, and his hatred towards her, she is not cowering in fear.
Though Luné had not watched her, and had not seen her progress in overcoming her PTSD, she can see the results. She can face her demon without backing down. Koto begins approaching, and grabs the dagger, yanking it out, he says, “We are free. And this is for Teacher.” He had clearly given up on the situation, knowing Miyoshi needed him beside her. Luné can see that with him beside her, her fears have faded. As she realizes this, Koto slams the blade into Noalen’s skull, causing him to spasm, and go limp. Miyoshi and Koto back away quickly, Miyoshi faster than Koto, as she starts running away, holding her mouth. Koto looks back, and watches her run, then runs after her, clearly a bit worried he went overkill with his stab. Luné steps out of the way, and lets them run past. She speaks, “Leave the body and return to the surface and your old spots.” She then starts walking back to Codex, where she finds Sebastia, Kaede, and Radoc, standing and waiting.
Luné speaks as she enters, “Sebastia, Kaede, Radoc. We’re going to kill everyone from my former party. All five heroes will die. We have already killed one, now there are four left. Our targets are the Templar Proudmaul, a Dragonkin and the leader of the party; the Wayfarer Lethhonel, a Moon Elf; the Berserker Jazak Forgeson, a Mountain Dwarf; and the Mage Thedlen, a Rock Gnome. Our first target is-”