Hafnium Test Thread

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee snapped her gaze to the dying goblin the very second that she was sure that Ren wasn't going to die within the next few moments, and watched in confusion as he uttered his final words, and then exploded. Her arm raised just as Dreadbeak died, the reaction only keeping her face half protected from the explosion of blood and gore that resulted when the largest of the strange gems suddenly erupted from the goblins chest. The perfect purple sphere that was left when Dreadbeak died immediately caught Lenalees attention, and held it. She knew power when she saw it, but from the way the goblin it had come from had died, the sorceress wasn't stupid enough to simply walk up and take it. Taking up power always had its consequences, after all, and the goblins leader was clearly able to hold some sort of power over any who was possessing of a shard of this "Gem of Eden" within their body. That, and she wasn't exactly sure how she could take the power to begin with, even if such were her will.

Lenalee grabbed each of the smaller gems quickly, placing them in her pack, before she grabbed the large spherical one. She picked it up gingerly, before placing it within her pack as well, not quite sure what else to do with it. This wasn't the time, nor the place, to try and study the magical artifact. She walked over to where Jan still held an unconscious Ren in her strong arms, and she tried to smile down at the tall mutated woman as she said; "Jan.... She's going to be okay. She's only asleep. She might be that way for a while yet, so why don't you put her in the wagon? I'll make sure that she's okay, and then we can go find Mari. We'll all be safer once we're in a group." She pointedly didn't mention how all of them were covered in gore, and she was very careful not to seem distraught over Rens continued unconsciousness. If Jan did as she'd asked, Lenalee would climb into the wagon, and examine the rabbit girls wound, before trying to discern if she were under any magical effects, just in case. Another, much weaker healing spell passed through her lips as she did, over and over, as Lenalee channeled the surrounding energies into the rabbit girls body.

This whole thing was becoming a total mess. She was getting increasingly involved with this trio, and the apparently psychotic demoness (as though there were any other kind) who had had them kidnapping young women. She still had no idea what had happened to the rich girl who she was trying to find, she'd wracked up a debt with a group of goblins that she'd have to pay sooner or later, and Mari, the one she was becoming perhaps a little bit too attached to, was missing. So, the next logical destination seemed to be to try and find the olive-skinned woman, and the last location that Lenalee knew she'd be at was the town Ren had mentioned. Amere.

Climbing out of the wagon, she turned to the only one of the trio who was still present and standing, Jan, and said; "Jan... Do you know where Amere is? Could you lead me there?"

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

The round stone felt smooth to the touch as Lenalee picked it up, almost as though it was made of glass. The sorceress was correct to be careful in her handling of it, a feeling of bliss coursed through her veins for the brief time that it was in her hands. The pale woman could almost feel it as images from the orb conjured themselves in her mind. The false memories began with her swallowing the sphere, then it made a hazy transition to images of a world where she was powerful and rich, where she ruled Badaria. If the sorceress had held it any longer it would have likely made it's images more and more specific to her but it was away and in her pack before it could impart anything else.

Jan nodded soberly to the sorceress. The tall women picked up the rabbit girl with ease, though she was more ginger in her handling of the redhead than Lenalee had been with the sphere. Lenalee's examination of the redhead proved fruitless. The healing spell had no further effect. It seemed almost as if the rabbit girl was simply world-weary and the injury had set her into some great sleep. After Lenalee climbed out of the wagon but before Jan could answer her question, however, the sorceress heard footsteps coming up the path in the otherwise silent night. Not simply footsteps, someone running. Taking as good a look as the darkness and all-encompassing trees would offer her, Lenalee would discover that it was Mari running up the trail.

The rogue's face was covered in a sheen of sweat, leaves and branches clung to her armor where she had likely cut the path. It wasn't until Mari noticed Lenalee near the cart that she, herself, slowed to a jog. "You are okay!" The rogue called, relief clearly distinguishable through in her exotic voice. "And the goblin is... well, he appears to be more than dead." Mari finished her statement with a grin as she got into distance of the sorceress. The olive-skinned woman gasped for air painfully as she talked. "You have no idea how happy both of those things make me," the rogue looked as though she was considering embracing the sorceress to accent that but was simply too out of breath to do so.

"But first, I have important news. Amere, information about your blonde is there, I think. But, something is badly wrong in Amere, too. The people there, they shouted at me as an interloper and tried to drive me away when the sun was still up." The rogue's expression had become more serious as she continue to speak about what she had seen. "When night fell, however, the town became an orgy. It was there that I found several of the former guards of the young waif. I searched as long as was safe and could not find the captain or the blond woman among them, however, so I have reason to believe that they are still okay. The townspeople, the guards, all were greatly mutated. They tried to bring me into the orgy as an unwilling participant but I slipped away."

It was then that Jan rejoined Lenalee's side. The tall woman's face was still a mask of uncertainty and anxiousness. "Where's Ren?" The rogue asked, perceptive of the other girl's expression.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee pushed the images imparted by the orb as best she could. Dreadbeak had called himself the first to survive the procedure of bonding with the artifact, and even then, such an enticing power would be guaranteed to come with consequences that she didn't even want to consider. Not yet, at least. When Mari came running toward them, Lenalee smiled broadly, and only restrained herself from hugging the other woman herself due to how tired she was after the days events. Instead of speaking, she let Mari go first, letting the panting rogue tell her tale with a look of consideration on her face.

The very first thing Lenalee did was open the wagon and gesture into it as she said; "Ren was hurt. She's in the cart, and she's okay, at least as far as I can tell, but she's still out cold." She expected Mari to rush into the cart to check on the redhead, but even if she didn't, Lenalee waited a moment before continuing; "The fight got a little rough. I should have planned things out a lot better than I did, but it could certainly have gone worse. I think Jan might have gotten a few bruises, but she gave better than she got. Now, listen to this..." Lenalee went over everything that had happened, including both what she'd learned from Magdalen and from Dreadbeak. She didn't bother leaving anything out, though some parts did cause her to blush a little.

"I'm guessing that this... Priestess was the one to cause whatever is going on in Amere, and if the girls guards are there, the means that she's either there, or in the demons clutches directly. Either way, as near as I can tell, we should try and find Dreadbeaks camp before we go to Amere. Maybe I'll have better luck, and maybe I can find someplace to clean off. I've got goblin guts all over me."

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

As Lenalee expected, the rogue checked on Ren immediately. Mari frowned as she climbed out of the cart a short time later. "I should not have left, I was too hot-headed." The woman obviously blamed herself rather than the sorceress. Lenalee's prognosis of Ren seemed to offer the rogue some consolation, at least. "I hope you are right about Ren." The exotic woman did seem to listen thoughtfully to the rest of Lenalee's tale, including her time with Magdalen, although the occasional flicker of concern showed in her eyes. "You are most likely right about Amere. It is bad there, there might have been a hundred people fucking in the roads like animals." Mari did allow herself a small grin before continuing. "No, that is not the best look I have seen on you," she joked, trying to dispel some of the seriousness. "It seems like you might have some luck after all, though, there is a river not too far from here that runs to Amere, you should be able to clean up there."

"I will help you search for the goblin's camp first," the rogue continued after a short pause. "Jan should probably stay here and keep Ren safe. There might not be any wagon accessible paths to our destination." The rogue waited to confirm that Lenalee was okay with the idea before moving, however.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee nodded along with Maris words, but grinned at the girls statement about her having had better looks. "Oh? A river, huh? You sure you not just trying to get me naked again? Perhaps work on giving me one of my best looks?" She replied, teasingly. It wasn't long before she sobered again, however, and said; "We should hide the wagon, and Jan and Ren need to keep off the road as much as possible. Not that the forest is much safer, with those damned wolves around, but it shouldn't take us long to search Dreadbeaks camp. Lets go."

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

"But of course, dear, most of the time," the grinning rogue replied to the sorceress' teasing without missing a beat. Mari simply nodded at her suggestion regarding the cart and passed the directions onto Jan. The woman seemed much more patient with her horned counterpart than she had earlier. Mari took the time to help Jan move it and insure that it was well hidden before setting off with Lenalee. They followed after what tracks the goblins had left. Even in the night it wasn't hard for the rogue, or the sorceress herself, to follow them, the diminutive demons seemed to do as much damage to the forest as ogres might have in their march. The wildlife seemed to leave the duo well enough alone through their trek, probably having scattered earlier when Dreadbeak came through and not returned since.

It did not take long for them to reach the goblin's campsite, a stark difference in comparison to the trio's campsite. A fire unguarded by stones or any other preventative measures burned in the center of the clearing even as they arrived, several charred areas suggested that it had gotten out of control more than once. Bones were scattered in a pile near the edge of the forest, most picked clean of whatever morsels remained on them by scavengers whenever the goblins left their camps. Judging by the varying sizes and shapes of the skeletons, the goblins hunted any and every animal in the woods. There was one large proper tent on the opposite side of the camp along with two small 'tents,' which were really just fallen branches and animal pelts, near it. A few cages with creatively positioned manacles that would force prisoners in them to stand in certain, obviously lewd, ways were nearby, though there was no evidence of how captives were transported away from the camp.

A peak into the largest tent, obviously Dreadbeak's, revealed a scattering of papers and clothing, most of them stained with liquid, grease, or sticky for other reasons. The goblin's bedroll shared the same fate as the clothing and papers. Looking through the papers, Lenalee would find a few of particular note. Mari merely waited at the entrance of the tent as Lenalee searched and read.

Spoiler

Dreadbeak,

You have done well in gaining the aid of the three girls, my faithful servant. It is as I have said, those who have experienced the touch of my kin before are the most viable to be converted into the new world order. When the time comes I will use the Gem of Eden and try to convert them so that they may join demonkind, if they are strong enough. Until then, my servant, have them prove their worthiness to join our ranks by capturing their own kin. Tell them that this is the only way that they will be saved. Meet with them regularly to take their tributes and send word to me when you have enough that you believe it is worth the risk of sending the ogre to collect them. As for you, my servant, there will be a great reward for you when they are converted. I will remember those who serve me well when Eden is created. You may also begin the process of saving those that the trio collect.

Spoiler

Dreadbeak,

I have converted the village of Amere. None of the warped ones have been strong enough to survive being converted to our kind but it is still a step towards Eden. From now on, when you take my weekly tribute send word to Amere, they will take the captives first and then covertly bring them to the tower. The time for saving the mutated ones is near and your reward will be waiting for you then.

Spoiler

Dreadbeak,

The latest tribute has disappointed me. I have successfully converted some of the stronger specimen of Amere, along with a few more of our kin, and do not benefit from having the three mutated ones out on the roads any longer. Take their next tribute and save them, my blessed servant. Use them until they are like their warped kin and bring them back to me. I shall try to convert them as well, for there will be a place for all who are strong enough to survive when Eden comes.

I will reward you well when you return, my servant. You will lead a great army to secure our next holding. I will also wish to personally reward my greatest servant.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee read over the slightly vile notes grimly, and then read each of them over again, just to be sure that she'd gotten everything. Then, she walked outside and nodded to Mari, showing her the letters. "Instructions. Looks like Ren was right, he was supposed to take all of you this time. While I do almost hate to say it, it was probably a good thing that I arrived when I did, lightning and all. Dreadbeak and his boys were having his way with the girls you brought him before they sent them to whoever wrote these, before an ogre came to collect them. It probably carried them with those cages, over there. Which.... Definitely isn't good. I don't like the odds of having to deal with an ogre, on top of everything else. It looks like Ameres pretty boned too, figuratively. Maybe if we get rid of this demoness and her cronies, it'll return to normal, but I don't have high hopes.

"She keeps mentioning something about "Converting," I'm pretty sure that's what he did to Dreadbeak. The gem that popped out of him had a lot of power trapped inside, but it was also dangerous with a capital D. Mental compulsions are serious business, particularly when they try to get you to swallow a stone as big as it was. And as disgusting, considering the point of origin. Anyway, you got any idea, Mari? Otherwise, all we've got is Amere."

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

"Are you sure Amere's boning is only figurative?" The rogue asked the question wryly. Mari gave a sober sigh immediately afterward, however. "Unfortunately no, I can think of no better option than Amere to save your waif and end whatever treachery this priestess is planning." The woman looked at the ground wearily. "But, I do not want Renee or Jainesteresia to be put into anymore danger. It seems unlikely that they would be safe in Amere, even with mutations. The forest is similarly unsafe now, accursed mutant wolves roaming around. It was such a nice neighborhood, too." Mari chuckled darkly after her quip.

"I believe we should return to the wagon, rest, figure out what to do with my friends, and then set off for the boned town of Amere in the daytime so that we are not the unwilling participants of their little group activities." The rogue grinned. "As much as I enjoyed my time with you earlier, I would not enjoy sharing you with strangers so much. Of course, if that is your thing, I am willing to give it a try for you, my dear." Even Mari's eyes seemed to smile as she teased the sorceress.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee nodded calmly. "I was thinking the same thing. We need to find someplace for the two of them to stay, before we go anywhere else. I could go for a rest, but I most certainly don't want to do it splattered in gore. Any chance of getting to that stream you mentioned earlier before we turn in for the night?" At Maris flirtatious mention of sharing her with Amere, Lenalee grimaced, rather than smiled, before replying; "No thanks.... I'd definitely prefer it if we kept our enjoyments one on one, thank you very much. And I already owe a half dozen goblins that sort of favor anyway, and I'm not exactly looking forward to paying it." She sighed, and said; "Lets get back, before the neighborhood watch decides to get suspicious and come 'a howling for us."

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

Rolls

Spoiler

Perception: Failure

"The stream is a ways away but we would not lose much time, I do not believe," Mari replied in short order. "I can not blame you for wanting to clean up first, as foul as the goblin was in life he looks even worse in death." The woman turned a few times as though she were getting her bearings and then prepared to set off. "I would prefer to hurry so that we can make it back to the others sooner rather than later. Shall we go?" The exotic rogue questioned. If Lenalee agreed then Mari would lead the way. Mari's knowledge of the forest proved extensive, as she ducked and weaved through the trees as though she were perfectly at home, even in the dark. About ten minutes of travel later, the sorceress could hear the nearby stream. A few minutes after that, they were upon it. The wall of trees seemed to be receded from the running water, allowing view of the stars and bathing the area in the dim glow of the night's sky. It was a rather tame stream, if a little shallow, but it seemed that it would prove adequate to clean off in.

"I guess I will stay clothed and keep watch," the rogue said, feigning, or perhaps showing legitimate, disappointment. "It would not do for a wolf to fall on us while we are both unready." Mari padded over to a spot that offered her the best view of the surrounding area, including the sorceress. Lenalee was left to do as she pleased. The pale woman got the feeling that something other than the rogue was watching her, however.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee nodded wordlessly, and followed Mari through the forest, trusting to the rogues skills to lead her to the stream safely. The brief journey went well, at least, and when she got there, and Mari told her she'd be keeping her clothes on, Lenalee quipped; "No round two then? Too bad, I do believe that I owed you something special."

She sighed, and continued; "No, I suppose that it wouldn't be a good idea. Later tonight, perhaps, if we get to a safe enough place?" She offered almost hopefully, but she didn't push the idea any further. As Mari took up watch, the sorceress glanced around, feeling eyes upon her, before looking down at the water. There was something out there. Something that she couldn't see, and that apparently not even Mari, keen as her senses were, could yet detect as more than an instinct. She glared at the water, and knew that while in the water, she wouldn't be able to use her preferred forms of magic, at least not without hurting herself in the process.

She sighed again, and began casting immediately, and an orb of light appeared in the sky just above the stream. The light did more than illuminate, of course, and in explanation to Mari, Lenalee said; "It'll keep anything from hiding around it. You should be able to spot anything that tries to sneak up on us without much trouble. That is, if you're not too busy staring at me, of course." Lenalee confidently stripped off her armor and robes, as well as her boots and socks, until she didn't have so much as a stitch of clothing on her body. She marched into the stream, which wasn't very deep, but at least deep enough for her to bathe in.

The light from above reflected off of the water, making her pale form appear as though she were practically glowing, particularly after she dunked herself down and came up soaking wet. She did make a bit of a show of it for the other girl, perhaps not the most prudent decision, but Lenalee was glancing around the woods herself, in between alluring glances shot at the vigilant rogue. As much as she enjoyed herself, however, the sorceress made sure that she cleaned off the assorted grimes she had acquired over the day as quickly as possible, the cold water ensuring that she wouldn't take too long. Unless something came out of the woods and attacked her, Lenalee would be back out of the water within about ten minutes, still soaking wet and shivering slightly, but pleasantly clean. Her dark hair hung plastered to her skull and neck, and she was forced to keep pushing it out of her face repeatedly, though it was more an annoyance than a hindrance to her.

(Cast Eldritch Lantern.)

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

It was sometime in between when Lenalee had begun to clean but before she had gotten out that their stalker identified himself. "I wouldn't spend too much time in the water if I were you, lady," a rough voice called out from the woods. Why it had waited until after the sorceress was both naked and in the water was anyone's guess, although there were a few safe ones. Mari jumped into action and drew her longsword. "Show yourself!" The rogue shouted in response, though her eyes watched a specific spot in the surrounding trees even as she said it. "Alright, alright. I mean no ill will so I'd prefer it if you didn't perforate me when I do," the voice came again, accompanied by a man stepping out from the area that Mari had been watching.

The man was tall and lean, very wolfish in appearance. Black hair that had gone untrimmed on his head and facial hair that was much the same. His pale face looked wrinkled by responsibility but still gave him away as a man in his thirties. The man's eyes were fierce and black. He wore fine blue clothing, it fit him far too well for it to have been stolen. On the man's hip was a sabre of excellent quality and a pistol of badarian make, though he made no move for either, instead keeping his hands in the air. Even in the situation they were in the man carried himself with the kind of ease that came with martial skill.

"Look, why don't you put the sword away and let's all just be friends. I just wanted to deliver a little warning about the water." The man's comments were directed towards Mari but his eyes were firmly affixed on Lenalee, a fact that did not escape the rogue. "Eyes over here, you have done enough peeping for one night," the irritated woman commanded with a sharp hiss, even as she moved closer to the stranger with her sword pointed towards him. The man turned his eyes to Mari with a cocky grin. "Don't worry, I like your curves too." It seemed almost as though the rogue's building anger would manifest in the form of steam pouring out of her ears at any moment. Lenalee would probably need to react soon if she didn't want Mari to surgically add a new hole to the man's throat.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee froze at the rough voice, her eyes darting to the trees from which the sound had originated. She couldn't see whoever it was, but had she not been soaking wet, she could still have sent a lightning bolt streaming in his general direction. As it was, her preferred forms of self defense (she refused to consider them otherwise) were unusable. That wasn't good, but she hesitated a moment. Stepping out of the stream meant either moving away from Mari, and toward her clothing and staff, or toward Mari, but also toward the sound of the voice. Either way could easily be a trap, one to separate them and make them easier targets, and one to get them together, so both could be attacked at once. For a second, she considered staying in the water, but that wouldn't help things either. She stepped toward the voice, getting out of the stream, just as the man stepped out. Despite the rather.... Inconsiderate circumstances by which they had met, Lenalee couldn't help but find him at least a little bit handsome, his fine clothes and confident manner, combined with his fairly rugged appearance, and those fierce eyes, all fairly attractive features.

She tried to cover her breasts as she stepped out of the water, appearing to be ashamed of her nudity, and slightly nervous. Nothing could be farther from the truth, of course, as she hardly cared that someone had seen her naked. It wasn't the first time, and at least they weren't yet attempting to murder or rape her, which was always a plus in these sorts of scenarios in her mind. She just wanted the man to think that she was, as it would tell him quite a few things about how observant he was, and whether he was a man of a more civil bend, or a predator that would jump on an apparent weakness.

She stood next to Mari, and put a hand on the rogues shoulder while giving her a level glare. "Why exactly did I just get out of the water?" She kept her gaze on Mari, but she also shot a brief glance the mans away as she spook, very quickly looking him in the eyes. So far, lots of cocky bravado, but whether or not he was sincere in his benevolent intentions was still to be determined. She refrained from asking the obvious questions, like what was the mans name, and why he was trying to help them.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

"Because you wanted to give me the okay to cut his cock off so you could feed it to a wolf?" The rogue asked hopefully, though it did not seem to phase the stranger. "Feisty! I like that!" He seemed to thrive on the amount of irritation he was causing Mari. "But no. S'corrupted," he spoke as nonchalantly as if he had just explained that there would be no tea because the milk had gone bad. "It's the stream that a nearby town uses as it's main water source. From what information I've gathered, some demon bitch apparently felt that the town was too out of the way to be of any importance and it was pissing her off," he had begun to speak a bit more seriously in tone, despite his sardonic comments. The man was obviously talking about Amere. "Well, the reasoning is just my guess, but the corruption bit is fact. Either way, you spend too long in there and you'll grow a tentacle or a dick on your forehead, or something, drink from it and you might grow two. I don't know the exacts, I haven't exactly been cataloging my former neighbors." Mari spoke up, "if that's the case then why wasn't the corruption noticeable?" The stranger looked at the rogue as though she were some pitiable dog who wasn't smart enough to be housebroken. "Yes, I can't imagine why a demon who was trying to corrupt a town wouldn't make it violet or something. Ooh, maybe she should have put a sign next to the stream, it could read 'drink here, get a free forehead-cock!'" Mari twitched a little, as though she were preparing to lunge and put the sword through the man's chest, but eventually settled down with a glance to Lenalee.

"But don't get me wrong, the information isn't entirely free. You see, I have a little package that I need to get out of that town. The woods, however, are filled with demons and wildlife." Another cocky grin graced his features. "While the worst thing that they can do to me is get blood on my clothes, there's a lot of them, and the package is a little bit more fragile than myself so I need a safer way to get it out. I had hoped, since you two found your way this close, that you might know of such a way."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee was half-torn between giggles and anger to match Maris throughout the mans explanation. His information was more or less in line with what she'd gotten from Magdalen, though she'd never suspected the bit about the water. That was..... Unpleasant to consider, and she rubbed some of the water off of her, though she knew that it wouldn't do all that much. Her expression had remained totally neutral, not belying any sort of emotion one way or another.

"Well then... Mr? Whatever you're called. We were planning on going into Amere tomorrow. It seemed a safer option than heading there while the town is in the middle of an orgy. We need a bit of information from the town ourselves, you see, particularly in regard to the... Ahhhh, "demon bitch," you mentioned. So, as our interests seem to intersect, I wonder if we might join forces, at least until such time as we no longer require one anothers assistance. I might be able to think of a way to get into the town safely tonight, if your need is that urgent, but we must see to some of our other companions first. Though, I am curious, what is this package you need so desperately?" Lenalees tone was calm and even throughout, with perhaps a slight amount of charm in it, at certain points.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

Mari sheathed her sword with a disappointed sigh when Lenalee talked about teaming up. The man's hands dropped slowly but never went to his weapons. "No, I'm not in much of a hurry to get raped by the old neighbors," he replied, his expression one of distaste at the idea. "I'd have been holed up in my house but I was out scavenging for food and the midnight orgy started a little ahead of schedule. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt anybody so I decided to try my hand at camping instead. I'm not adverse to tagging along until the morning."

"As far as the package, it's just something that my boss tasked me with protecting. Handy thing, it can draw water from the ground and has a few other neat features. It's the reason I'm not currently indulging in one of Amere's famous tentacle-mutant orgies." The wolfish man looked back in the direction that the stream was traveling. "Should be in safe hands for the night though. We gonna get moving then?" Mari glanced at the still nude Lenalee, obviously a little displeased at the impromptu alliance with the stranger but willing to follow along with whatever the sorceress ordered.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee sighed. These two weren't going to get along. She didn't like him much either. Still, he'd already seen her naked, and hadn't done much with it, so hopefully he wouldn't try anything on her later. Without another word, she walked over to her discarded garments and got her dress and armor back on. She didn't make a show of it this time, and once she had her staff back in her hands, she turned toward the other two and said; "We shall." She nodded her head toward Mari, and said; "You know your way around here better than I. Lead the way." She turned back to the wolfish man, scowling, and said; "As you've failed to divulge your name, so far, I don't believe that I shall give you mine. Whether she gives you hers or not is up to her." She said it solemnly, probably coming off as slightly odd, but in her circles, names held a degree of power. It was much easier to target a person you couldn't see if you had a name attached to their image, for instance.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 27/62, Status = Growing tired

Rolls

Spoiler

Perception: Success

The stranger didn't bother to act like he wasn't watching Lenalee's nude form as she dressed, especially since Mari's sword was away. It was difficult to tell whether he was just confident or suicidal, since he purposely ignored the rogue's attempts to get him to stop peeping, or staring, more accurately. When the sorceress informed him that she wouldn't be sharing her name, he merely shrugged. "Fair is fair, I suppose." He didn't seem to be aware of the significance of Lenalee's refusal. Mari simply seemed to enjoy the idea of withholding something from the stranger and so said nothing else as she moved to lead them back to Ren and Jan

They were only a few moments out on their journey when Mari noticed something. With the rogue on alert, Lenalee spotted it fairly easily. The man who was tagging along with them caught it as well. A pack of eight corrupted wolves was prowling towards them in the dark. The wolves seemed to immediately recognize that they had been spotted and broke into a run at their would-be prey. Mari drew her longsword and the man drew his pistol in his left hand and his sabre in his right. The predators weren't very far away from the party but Lenalee would at least have time to act before they were upon the group.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Lenalee scowled darkly as she spotted the approaching wolves, and scowled even more as they seemed to notice that they'd been noticed and begin charging forward. She shot a glance at her companions, both of whom were already standing with weapons drawn, but as she did she was also smiling wickedly. A nearly psychotic grin in place as her already messy hair began to rise steadily and static spread across her body, Lenalee said; "Relax. I got this."

She turned back toward the approaching beast, and without warning electricity crackled along her staff, visible plainly in the dark of the night. Power coursed through her, and without pausing another second Lenalee pointed her staff at the lead creature and released her magic. Lightning surged out toward her target, a manifestation of her power, but rather than proceed in a straight line as it normally would, as soon as it struck the lead wolf, it leaped toward the next nearest of the monsters, until it had hit all of them, or one was too far for her lightning to reach.

She giggled darkly, and the tips of her breasts hardened against her chest-piece while her hips rolled sensually. Occasionally, this happened when she had to summon magic in a pinch, and the moderate arousal coursing through her body was nothing new to her. Ever-increasing exhaustion joined it, and her giggle turned into a soft coo. Even if her spell hadn't killed all of the beasts, she doubted that they would have much fight left in them.

(Chain Lightning, level 4 Lightning spell. Fry 'em all.)

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Hafnium Test Thread

Spoiler

HP = 38/41, PP = 56, EP = 21/62, Status = Tired

Rolls

Spoiler

Casting: Success
Damage: (4 + 7)* 4 = 44 damage. D:
(To think I was a little worried about the possibility of 8 wolves being a little overboard. >.>)

Lenalee's mixture of arousal and exhaustion seemed to go unnoticed by Mari, who was too focused on the wolves, and the stranger, who was equal parts interested in the wolves and incredulous at the confidence of the sorceress. Any doubts that the man might have had about her were dispelled as lightning tore through the wolves, frying them all. The ease at which she dispatched the mutated things was almost therapeutic in comparison to the resistance that Dreadbeak had put up. A few seconds of shock later and the wolves had all collapsed.

"Well... that was fast," the man said in the aftermath as it became increasingly clear that the wolves weren't moving or, indeed, even alive any longer. After a few more moments without any movement, the man sheathed his sword and holstered his pistol. Mari, however, said nothing, instead flashing Lenalee a complimenting grin at her handy-work and a more mocking smile at the man. Then, the rogue stalked from wolf corpse to wolf corpse, cutting out the darkhearts inside of them and placing them into a satchel for the sorceress. After her work was done, the olive-skinned woman wiped her blade on one of the corpses and sheathed it before motioning for them to continue the trek back.

Assuming Lenalee followed, as there was little to be discovered about the fried wolves, the trio made it back to the wagon in short order. Jan and Ren were the same as when the duo had left them, with Jan confused and Ren still asleep. The wagon looked undisturbed in it's hidden location. It was still the dead of night and Lenalee was growing increasingly exhausted from the day's efforts, the brief unconsciousness after her time with Magdalen no replacement for a good night's sleep. There still might have been a few decisions to make, however, before she considered rest.

(Gain 4 XP and 8 darkhearts. Also, I call mutated animal cruelty!)