A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 38/76, Status = Fine, Pregnant (24)

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 76/86, Status = Fine
Jezebel: HP = 34, PP = 34, EP = 79, Status = Fine, Pregnant (17)
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

When she awoke, Ione would indeed find herself naked and in the bed, with Clarissa nuzzled up against her back and Arthur shunted off against the wall, though his exhaustion proved too strong for his limited space to rouse him before Ione extricated herself. Her motion awoke the demoness, but Clarissa released her and waved Ione off, smirking at the sight of the alraune's distended stomach.

Departing from the bedroom after dressing as best she could, her garments having been piled neatly on the chair that she'd passed out in, Ione would pass a few weary soldiers on her way downstairs, passing a few other soldiers who looked mildly confused at her bloated state. Able to go just outside the tavern, Ione would find some open ground, either privately or in full view of the soldiers depending on her preference, and would be prepared to go through the always pleasant process of releasing her seedlings.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Having not fallen asleep on the bed, Ione was surprised to find herself laying there. Pleasantly so, by the feel of Clarissa's arm wrapped around her and her body pressed against the alraune's back. Gentle warm blasts of breath tickling her where the demoness's head rested. Best as she tried to remove herself without awakening either of them to take care of her birthing problem, she couldn't stop Clarissa for rousing as she eased herself away. A move made easier with the demoness's arms unfolding from around her. Her face scrunched into a sheepish happiness, and after fluffing up her attire and redress she returned one wave with another and proceeded on her way.

Thankfully, there was no awkwardness other than a few brow raised looks from some of the other soldiers eying her distended form. And she didn't have to deal with the ill tempered one either which was a plus. She hoped she wouldn't need to tangle with her again so soon for whatever reason. As much as she had angered her the alraune had to admit the fae had one hell of a hook. If things had been different she might very well have asked for punching lessons. Shaking the thought aside, her eyes settled on a fairly private patch of bushes near the tavern to do her deed at. No use in distracting the soldiers when they still had a duty to attend to.

"Mmmmmhrmmm..." Her body relaxed as she settled down, opening herself up and spreading her legs to best give her seedlings some room to escape. A flash of pain her two gripped her chest making her feel a little more uneasy than the last time she gave birth, but it quickly gave way to the wonderful feeling of her spawn coming forth. "Ahhhhheheheh~ come on now. The soil is good..." With a press she hurried them along, helping her stomach flatten and return to it's original form and prodded them along internally. She let them go on their simple way this time, not opting to give them flight, and watched with amusement as their tiny forms flitted away from the bush in all directions.

Ione rose from her place, once more readjusting herself and her armor, and made her way back into the tavern. Innocently waving toward any of the soldiers she had noticed looking her way as she had traveled out, and had been in the bush. With all the exercise of birthing and the previous days events the alraune found herself feeling very peckish, and knowing that it would still be sometime before her companions would rouse themselves Ione made way to scavenge something up for herself to munch on while she waited. She spotted the foreign mage from before during this time, and made sure to brighten up when their eyes crossed paths with hers. 'At least that one's grateful for me being here.'

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 38/76, Status = Fine, Pregnant (24)

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 76/86, Status = Fine
Jezebel: HP = 34, PP = 34, EP = 79, Status = Fine, Pregnant (17)
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

Lowering herself to the ground sans at least her pants to release her seedlings, Ione felt the first of them worming their way out of her womb in very short order. More exited her body after, crawling off into the woods on tiny tendril limbs. As the fifth slid out of her, however, what was probably one of the last voices that she wanted to hear suddenly spoke up from right beside her; "Well... Well... Well!" the faerie knight said, and as the sixth of her seedlings poured out of Ione a sword came down right between her legs. The point of the blade barely missed her flesh, but it did pierce the latest of her spawn to exit her womb, pinning it to the ground. The seedling shivered as it was pierced, it's tendrils giving a few feeble squirms in a sad bid for freedom, but it's core was fully pierced and it's fate sealed.

"This is something of a change in dynamic, isn't it little flower?" the knight said with sadistic glee, for in that state Ione was almost completely helpless, unable to even raise her voice above a moan as another seedling heedlessly started squirming down her passage, quickly crawling past it's pinned, dying brethren to proceed out into the forest. "Last time, you attacked me unprovoked.... What should I do to you in recompense, I wonder?" the sidhe knight mused, now clad in light metal armor of gold, black, and red, plates covering mail covering leather in an artfully organized asymmetrical mishmash of protective garb. Her sword was between Ione's legs, leaving her leaning over the prone alraune and grinning down maniacally.

"Excuse me," a familiar voice called suddenly from the direction of the entrance that she had exited, and the bearded sorcerer that she had met the night before poked his head out and frowned at the scene. "Is something the matter? Couldn't help but overhear," he said lightly, though his scowl suggested that he thought the exchange taking place anything but light. The faerie knight scowled back furiously, but didn't leave her position over Ione as she snapped back; "Nothing that need include you, be off!"

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

What should have been a joyous occasion for the alraune, the birth of new life and scattering of seedlings everywhere, quickly turned for the worse with the arrival of her unwelcome visitor. She saw a shadow before the fae's sword struck, and her heart jumped as she watched an innocent little seedling squirm it's last brief struggles before deflating. Never getting the chance to at least bloom and perhaps get lucky. She slowly turned her gaze upward to meet the knights own, quivering in a mixture of arousal and fear at the now dressed and decorated knight leering menacingly over her. Giving her a grin that reminded her of a same look from long ago that she would rather have forgotten.

There was more than fear though. She felt... anger and disbelief. Even if she couldn't really express it outwardly it began to boil inside her like a frozen spring thawing to a heat that slowly rose from the rocks below. This knight... this damnable knight. She couldn't be this stupid. This arrogant. She could've easily killed her by accident before, or outright when she confronted her. And to even think she didn't deserve a crack in the face for what she did first in the hallway too? She had some nerve, and slowly the quivers she felt became more from annoyance and outrage. Her hands trembled into balls and her eyes furrowed into firm slits, staring back at the woman with all the discontented feelings she currently felt towards her, and ire she aimed directly at her.

With a voice still barely a whisper, she gave it to her with a low hiss. "Oh that's easy. Nothing. Because you, are going to turn around and walk away. And I am going to pretend like this never even happened. I used my fist to teach you a lesson before. I didn't have to. And I don't have to now. Back... off." Ione glanced in the direction when the mage made his appearance at the rucus, dropping her own scowl a little. "It's quite alright. The knight here was just leaving." She managed to coax out louder than a whisper, before staring down the knight once more. Which would be done better on her part if these damn seedlings would hurry up and stop trying to cause her pleasure. Especially with this sight in front of her.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 76/86, Status = Fine
Jezebel: HP = 34, PP = 34, EP = 79, Status = Fine, Pregnant (17)
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

"Am I now?" the faerie asked bemusedly when Ione suggested that she was simply going to leave. "You really should," the mage said gently, but the sidhe ignored him while levering her sword so that it both twisted inside of the pierced seedling and the edge of the blade came to rest against Ione's entrance. That blocked the alraune's passage enough that the next seedling ran into the edge while trying to pull itself out of her, the edge cutting into the rough surface briefly before the seedling stopped, stuck while it's brethren continued to try and follow it unawares of the danger ahead.

"No, I think not," she continued, and Ione felt her hand grasp the top of her head, fingers roughly digging into her scalp. Her fingers found the divets caused by her earlier abuse but the faerie, ignorant of what had caused them, didn't seem to think anything of it. "I think some fair recompense for your crimes is in order~" she continued, but the mage continued to nag as he stepped off of the porch and put his hands on his hips, "I really can't allow this... Won't you please just go away? This is dishonorable!"

That at least drew the knight's attention again, and for a moment she simply glared at him. Eventually, however, she released the prone alraune's head and straightened. Her blade came away, sliding against Ione's most delicate flesh but not quite cutting into her despite the bronze blade's edge. Without another word she stepped into the trees and was simply gone, and then the mage breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of Ione's seedlings, backed up by the one who had nearly died in the same manner as its sibling, were able to crawl out and away, leaving Ione's belly flat after another few minutes. By that point, however, Jezebel had stumbled past the mage with a look of urgency, her own belly bloated and a line of fluid running down her leg from under her dress that suggested that her seedlings were on their way. The mage was flabbergasted as the night elf stumbled past him and flopped beside Ione, but then simply waved, wheeled in place, and wandered back onto the porch with a slight flush to his cheeks.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Ione kept up a face of anger towards her antagonizer, taking a sharp inhale when the blade between her legs twisted and glanced against her folds ever so slightly. The feeling of cold metal, most certainly sharp, giving rise to a shutter of disgust, and ever so lightly a hint of fear welling up. Her seedlings backing up inside her was unpleasant too a feeling, but it was nothing compared to the first. At least they weren't getting skewered through like the unfortunate one. The blade was ever close however, and a glance showed that first in line seedling doing a jig to push itself backwards as it's fellows lined up. Almost like someone desperately trying to balance themselves from falling off a cliff while others ignorantly crashed in from behind.

Her lips curled further, almost a snarl now when the Knight pushed things further. Daring to grab her so roughly by the head and digging those fingers of her into the alraune's skull. The plant girl really didn't like that. The faerie may not have known or cared about it, but for her she did not enjoy that part of her being handled so roughly. Let alone being handled around by the head like this. She fought back ever fiber she had to not strike back at the fae in those moments, breathing hard and deep as she looked up at the sidhe, watching ever so carefully in this game of intimidation. Ready at any moment to really make her realize just how big of a mistake she was making.

And then she was gone. Her hand releasing it's grip before straightening up and leaving. The friendly mage's words reaching through the thick skull of the knight and making her step away. Ione's groin clenched slightly as the sword pulled away, but aside from the discomfort the sharpened blade did nothing more. She gave a deep breath of relief, mirroring the mage and silently gave him a look of thanks. Balled fists relaxed, and she slumped where she was letting all the tension out of her. 'That could have been much worse. What could she possibly be thinking by doing some so brazen and... stupid.' She thought building all the strenght that had left her in mentally draining encounter, as brief as it was.

Her seedlings quickly made their exit with nothing to block them anymore, all save the first one whom Ione snatched up rather quickly once the knight had walked away. She brought it to eye level and frowned at the sight of a small dimple where the blade had been. A small cut oozing ever so slightly. She gave the tiny thing a cuddle against it's protests, bringing the thing up to her face before showering it with a few kisses. "Go on, you're fine now." She whispered, placing it back and nudging it on it's way with the others. It wasn't long before her belly had flattened with the last of her seedlings gone, and she could finally remove herself and return inside the tavern where she wouldn't be suddenly faced with dumb faeries who wanted to be troublesome.

At least until Jezebel popped out and rushed towards her, the signs of her own pregnancy clear as the line of birth water she was trailing. She plopped herself unceremoniously next to the plant girl, and after blinking a few times she let out the first chuckle she had since the knight had soured her mood. "Well hello there~" Reaching an arm around her friend, Ione cooed words of encouragement at the night elf to help her in her delivery. It became subtly a bit more of a hug as the alraune found herself craving some comfort after her previous encounter. Tendrils slowly reaching out to wrap around Jezebel and with gentle pushes against her stomach in rhythm with the night elf's own.

She saw to it that the night elf delivered her batch in relative comfort, and when she had brought her own stomach to flatten Ione giggled in a half-hearted off way, before bringing her lips to her friend's, drawing back after a few kisses with a slight smile. "I hope that wasn't too much trouble. You were just too much. I had to give you something to remember me by." Straightening herself up, Ione offered to help Jezebel to her feet, pulling the Night Elf up if she accepted and walking back along with her back into the tavern. She wouldn't follow her right away, stopping on the porch and watching her for some distance before turning to the mage. "I'm in your debt. If you hadn't come along I may have needed to do something much more drastic. I may very well need to in the future if it keeps up..." She breathed with groan, clearly unhappy about the scene he had witnessed.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 76/86, Status = Fine
Jezebel: HP = 34, PP = 34, EP = 79, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

Ione would find Jezebel gripping back at her, though perhaps not for the reason she might have liked, as she hugged the elf while she gave birth. Over a dozen of her seedlings eventually pulled themselves out of the elf's womb, not the largest batch ever by any means but a respectable number, particularly after she'd already released a bath from Mandragora only the day before. The elf was wracked more by pleasure than pain as she unleashed another batch of alraune upon the world, ending up going through two orgasms before the final seedling crawled from her now flat belly, down her passage, and off into the woods after Ione's own seedlings. Jezebel was still panting heavily when she'd finished, but calmed after a few moments and gave one of the tendrils that Ione had wrapped around her a gentle squeeze, signalling that she wanted to be let go so that she could get up and reacquire a bit of dignity.

That wouldn't stop Ione from briefly kissing the elf before letting her go, however, which Jezebel would at least accept and return even if her kisses lacked the enthusiasm that they might have had when they'd been making the seedlings the night prior. Once the light embrace broke, Jezebel blushed slightly but smirked back at Ione. "as if I'd forgot~" she countered playfully, and then rose back to her feet and joined Ione in returning to the rest of the group back in the tavern proper. The open air patio that served as the place's common room, so vibrantly decorated and filled with people celebrating another year of thriving in the often harsh jungle only two nights prior when Ione and her friends had found the small village, looked as if it had been the sight of a battle and then abandoned. The former at least was true, but it seemed as if the owner hadn't been around to clean up the place after the monsters had attacked, and no one else had bothered to see to the mess.

The mage who had helped her was sitting on an undamaged stool at the bar, pouring measures from a bottle of some pungent smelling liquid into a glass and then downing them one by one. After swallowing the latest and giving an audible sigh, the man glanced at Ione and smiled charmingly, fingering the bristly mustache he sported as he replied; "Think nothing of it! I couldn't just allow such base villainy to take place!" His voice was boisterous and lively at first, but then it dropped to a low murmur as he continued; "Attacking a woman while she's giving birth... Honestly, who does that?" Shaking his head, he reached out to pat her on the shoulder.

Moments later, Clarissa suddenly strolled down the steps, clad as she always was in as little as was possible to maintain a state of decency. Arthur groggily followed her, walking along gingerly, and Mandragora and Sivi came right after. "Morning pretty flower~" the demoness purred as she strolled up until their fronts pressed together and boldly kissed Ione on the mouth in full view of the small crowd, mostly their companions but also including two soldiers who had enjoyed Ione's company the day before, the unnamed mage, and Jezebel. When she broke away after dominating Ione's tongue for the better part of a minute, Clarissa grinned at her and briefly copped a feel of Ione's rump before taking a step back and giving her back her personal space. "Ready to be on our way? I think the locals can manage things without us for a while~" she continued, tilting her head.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Ione smiled graciously at her helpful savior and his pat on her shoulder before moving to settle and wait for the others. Taking the time to glance upon the still broken features of the once lively room she now sat within, decimated and ruined from the action before. She didn't know who owned this tavern, but by the looks of things it was very more so a 'had owned' situation now. She couldn't recall seeing that cute black haired waitress from that served them before either among the survivors. Had an idle thought taken her before she may very well have been in place of Jezebel among the living. Or things could have turned out much worse. It wasn't pleasant thoughts to be thinking.

She didn't have to ponder on it long before her companions were making their way downstairs. Clarissa in tow with the others, Arthur dragging along as his session last night would suggest he would, with Mandragora and Sivi right after. Her eyes clipped at the nymph briefly, the blue skin triggering a small reaction of disgust out of her despite it being someone else, but she snuffed it. Sivi wasn't that other woman. She was... friendly, Mandragora's friend at least. She just had to keep reminding herself of that. Clarrisa's purring words brought her out of her glances and she fixed her gaze on the demoness, smiling back widely as the demoness descended the stairs and made her way over to the plant girl's side.

"Good morning Sweet Clari...ssa?" She returned in greeting, suprise leaking into her voice when the demoness didn't stop and brought herself against her. Which was swiftly silenced when the raven haired beauty pressed her lips firmly into hers, looping her arms around her waist and holding her close. The plant girl let out a small voice of protest and then melted into the kiss with moan, closing her eyes and returning into as her own arms unraveled from suddenly being tense to slipping around Clarissa's own waist. Her tongue danced with the other invading her mouth, tickled onward by the forked appendage and held hostage by it as it expertly out played her own. Which she didn't mind one bit. Sweet Clarissa could hold her mouth hostage any day.

Her breath had turned hot and a blush encapsulated her face as the seconds ticked by. Her mood rapidly fading away from the anger and disgust she felt only some time ago, giving way to excitement of having Clarissa at arms length doing such lewd things. She could feel her hips tightening leaving her stiff and bothered, but before it could progress the demoness pulled away. Leaving Ione hanging at that point until her bottom was felt, to which she broke into her own goofy smile and narrowed her eyes at the lovely demoness. "Ready as always~" She answered feeling drunk, swaying a little off balanced by what just happened. "We should stop in first at that next town since they're on the way. Let them know what's happened here. And then make our way to the city and do the same. I don't know how long it'll be until we return but we can at least send some people this way if we get the chance."

Glancing between her companions she gave them all that goofy smile. Except of course, when her view crossed with Sivi where it dimmed somewhat. She thought about pulling her aside again and telling her about this latest incident but it would more likely lead her nowhere again. Or another 'nothing I can do about it' comment. "We should be off right away. There isn't anything here that the people wouldn't need more. I would ask that Knight for assistance here... but she seems to have other more pressing matters." She commented briefly, burying or at least trying to bury what had happened. Which hopefully the other mage wouldn't spill the beans on through a second hand comment.

If no one had any matters of their own to attend to Ione would say her goodbyes to Jezebel and the others, giving the involved soldiers a knowing wave and glance and hugging the Night Elf quite tight. "Take care of yourself. Mandra and I wanna see you happy and healthy the next time we come poking~" Gathering her things, which mostly just included all the stuff she was ummm... holding for Arthur at this point, and fixing her helmet back on right, she joined the others as they set off back on the road. Sticking close to Clarissa of course, inviting the woman to brush herself against her at any moment she so choose. And to steal a few brushing moments herself of course.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

"Sounds like as good a plan as any," Clarissa replied in a soft purr, but when she glanced across the rest and her expression suddenly soured so upon spotting Sivi the demoness frowned back at her. The mage, Crovax, wouldn't spoil what had happened to her other companions, and none of them disagreed with the idea of going on immediately. When it was time for goodbyes to be said, the soldiers would return her knowing looks and waves, Crovax waving, and Jezebel smiling and returning the hug, which Mandragora replicated. "Yes... And expect us to come poking at the earliest opportunity~" the other alraune said, to which the night elf rolled her eyes and replied; "Oh yeah, I imagine you'll be "poking" around as soon as you're done with... Whatever it is you're off doing." Breaking the second hug, she looked over the two alraune and more seriously continued; "Safe travels! I hope you don't run into any more of those... Things on your way! Send help from Celesis!"

With their goodbyes exchanged, Ione and company finally departed from the village of Hafstead, passing by empty houses and a few people who had survived apart from them before going back onto the rough road that had been carved through the jungle to connect the various communities that existed within. For the first day, their trip was almost painfully dull, especially when compared to how their last few days had been. They encountered no one, not even other alraune, and no wildlife more dangerous than a monkey who took to throwing sticks and nuts at them when they passed too close to her nest on a branch above the road bothered them all day and into the night. They took to camp early, Sivi providing clean water and picking out fruit and tubers for them to eat for dinner so as to avoid digging into their supplies while Arthur made them a fire. Clarissa had offered no complaint when Ione opted to stick by her, and Mandragora had mostly stuck close to Ione all day. Arthur had actually been fairly distant from Clarissa, though the demoness hadn't seemed to mind the man's distance all that much. He had actually talked to Sivi several times throughout the day, usually in low tones, and as the nymph had been ostracized to the edge of the group other than occasional visits from Mandragora she hadn't seemed to mind terribly much.

As night fell and they prepared to make camp, the rest of her companions sat in silence around the fire, all seemingly lost in thought as they gazed into the crackling flame. A bit of incense thrown into the flame, also provided by Sivi, kept the biting insects from Arthur and Clarissa and the hungry beetles from her and Mandragora while shrouding them in a light violet haze that had a pleasantly spicy scent. Anther few days of travel separated them from Candira, the next village over where Jezebel had been trained, and there was no telling what might lie in wait for them along the dangerous jungle road.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

The return to the rough weathered road of the jungle and escape from the town that had kept them captive with it's trouble brought great relief to Ione. Rendered a shell of what it had been just the day before, it was painful to see it so empty. The sounds and charms of music and joy replaced now by silence. Though she had the knowledge of how to use her powers in trades that might aid the survivors, without more people to help the town they would most certainly be in a precarious situation. So it really was for the best to go seek assistance from the nearby town, and Celesis when they reached it. She didn't want to stick around as well for the fear that her would be troublesome fae-knight might come knocking again. So terrible an idea that was.

She did her part to help keep a lookout while traveling, but after so long without much of anything even she began to feel the pulls of boredom tugging at her brain. She felt a sense of anxiousness towards at least SOMETHING happening. A sensing of nearby wolves, the flickering of buzzables crossing them, or even just coming across some kind of land marker or structure buried away within the tangled roots and vines to the side of the road. When the crazed monkey began hounding them it was a breath of fresh air, that quickly became annoying as it found every loose piece of wood and seedlings it could find to pelt them all with for their trespass. Into the night even, which only ended when the plant girl with a scowl had enough and sent a very large rodent it's way to scare it off.

"I'll help you with that." Ione offered to Arthur, leaving her close place that she had stuck to near Clarissa for most of the trip to help the man setup a fire. Mostly just grabbing up a number of timbers with the help of her tendrils to give the man something to work with. It didn't take long before he had the thing going, flickering flames catching Ione's gaze and mesmerize her with some wariness. Nice as it was for the warmth and safety, she didn't want to burn herself or cause any kind of accident. So once the pit was casting it's shadows she returned to her place near Clarissa and slunk away from camp fire. Her arms wrapping around herself defensively.

When night fell and silence took them, she was among the first to speak again. "I wasn't aware we would be traveling quite this far. Even though I've lived around here for awhile now I haven't traveled this far this way before. If I'd know I might have prepared a few wolf steaks before we first left ahah... ah..." The purple haze and delightful spicy smell was a nice mask for how sheepish she felt with the silence, turtling further where she sat. "So... does anyone have any good campfire stories? I don't really know any myself. I... er... never spent enough time in the courts to learn any. And travelers I met were always very preoccupied to tell them." She muttered glancing at Sivi before looking down between her pulled in legs where she sat. All the while really wanting to bring up a few pondering thoughts herself about what those grey things were from before, but also not wanting to dampen the mood with such talk. Or worries over what might they might face on more eventful travels than this day's had been.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

Arthur would offer Ione a thin but nonetheless grateful smile when she offered to help him with gathering the fire wood, her assistance making the work much much easier. Once their camp was settled, however, Ione's choice to break the silence was, initially, met with a fairly muted response. Eventually, Arthur would reply; "We should be fine on food, I've been traveling enough to know how to find something to eat. Those wolves weren't edible anyway, they were too heavily corrupted." Then, Sivi would add; "I can provide food when it becomes necessary. These lands are familiar to me." Nodding, Arthur would add; "It should take us a few weeks to travel all the way to Celesis. It certainly isn't a short journey, but hopefully we won't have to worry about too many more distractions once we've notified the next village of what happened in Hafstead."

There were no takers at first when she suggested telling stories, but Sivi didn't miss the comment nor the look directed her way. After a few moments passed in silence, Arthur and Mandragora lost in thought and Clarissa content to rest against Arthur's knees while staring into the fire, the nymph cleared her throat and said; "I could tell a few stories, if no one has any objections." The reaction to the nymph's request was fairly muted, Mandragora looking at her and nodding while Arthur simply shrugged, and Clarissa only glanced briefly at the nymph before looking back to the crackling flames. Having heard no objections, Sivi cleared her throat again and began; "The great feast is soon.... And the great games, the celebration honoring Summer. I was there a few years ago, and watched the great tourney between the greatest warriors of all the courts.

"Great champions, heroes, and knights of all kinds did battle in single combat, each vying for the grand honor of sitting at the Table of the High Queens. Those bouts were like nothing I had ever seen.... Warriors of every ilk battling, some moving so fast that I could barely keep up with their movements and others taking blows that could fell a dragon as if they were nothing while delivering the same." The nymph went on to describe a few of those battles in an epic fashion, leaving out much of the gore that likely resulted but putting detail into every move such that she at least captivated them enough that Arthur and Mandragora would listen without interruption, though Clarissa continued to gaze silently into the fire.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

"Too heavily... ahhhhh of course!" Ione commented offhand at Arthur's comments about the wolves. It left her feeling inwardly more anxious however with the revelation. 'Wait, you mean I'm NOT supposed to eat wolves like that. They always seemed so tasty before...' Her hands found a new comfort in sliding along her arms at the thoughts and the questions it raised about what exactly she had been putting inside herself over the many years. She hadn't been eating any darkhearts of course but it still left her feeling very unsettled so suddenly. Come to think of it, she couldn't remember what she had done with the things afterward. Did she leave them in one of her homes or sell them...?

She continued to be lost in her various thoughts even after her suggestion for a camp story. But when Sivi took up the mantle of storyteller and began her tales of the celebration of summer she listened. Not so intently at first, mirroring a bit of indifference that sweet Clarissa seemed to have. But that changed with the Nymph's enthusiasm over the subject. She spoke of great warriors and knights battling for honor in bouts of skill and tournament, beings so capable they could shake the very earth with their strikes and send ripples through the spirits of all that watched them. Moving faster than the blinks of an eye and delivering strikes of skilled discipline that lifetimes of dedication could bring.

It made the alraune look up from between her legs and slowly sit at attention to the fae's words, especially when she mentioned things about the more 'spirit' inclined fighters who used powers much like her own. A particular brawler she mentioned would stand out when she began her tale. A knight from the court of spring. Of thin nature and delicance, and surprising martial prowess. With grace and ease the woman would slink in and out to strike at her foes, drifting much like a flower in spring. But it was her weapon of choice that caught the most attention, for she used her spirit as a weapon. Shaping into a shell to coat her fists in a kind of fighting gauntlet around the whole of her fists, and even up part of her arms.

She smashed apart her foes with them, using them not only to strike directly but extending them to parry away blows and counter. Most surprising though, she had the ability to even fully block attacks with her very power, channeling the damage it could do instead to protect her and on occasion, stun the very one trying to attack. It was a technique as the alraune was told that required as much dedication to learn as it was to master. An old technique known, but not often pursued due to the difficulty. 'A-amazing... she could do that with the same kind of power I use? I... I could fight like that too!' She thought, ears fully perked up from the story and attention fully at Sivi's now.

"Oh this tournament sounds incredible! If only to see the skill in such fights alone, from such talented fighters! And games and a feast too! I bet there must be such wonderful... meats... to taste there." A lustfully hungry grin plastered itself on the plant girl's face at the thought of a table full of exotic meats, and she drooled a little shamelessly. She imagined herself there, gorging herself like a madwoman on as many different varieties as she could, while on lookers could only watch in horror as the table was slowly being cleared away by what could only be described in that moment as a monster. A monster with an unending appetite for delicious meats.

"Did you and Mandra ever go to one of these feasts?" She asked with genuine curiosity, before narrowing with a smug grin and teasing, "There's another story about her 'adventures' in there I'd wager~"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

"Yeah, the food was good too," Sivi remarked off-handedly, seemingly finding the subject of food fairly uninteresting. Ione's question startled Mandragora, and the other alraune quickly shook her head. "No... I never went to any of the big ones, at least. Those were... Mostly for important people," she replied, and Ione wouldn't miss the note of bitterness that briefly appeared in her traveling companion's voice.

"It's not really like that," Sivi added hurriedly, trying to head off that train of thought before the mood around the campfire could get any worse. "I took her to some of the lesser ones, and I meant to get her in on the more interesting ones, but.... We didn't really get the opportunity," she explained, and Mandragora would shrug and then eventually nod. "I guess.... Still, it sounds amazing! I wish I could have gone!"

Her bitterness was replaced by awe not unlike Ione's, a longing to see such grand sights as her faerie companion. "We would have tourneys like that in Hell... Sometimes," Clarissa added suddenly, drawing attention to the previously silent demoness. She still looked into the fire, and her voice had grown slightly hollow and distant, but after a moment she looked up at the trio now gazing and her, and those two oddities had vanished by the time she continued; "Not as grand, nor as pleasant surely, but... We had them. Lords and their champions competing to see who was strongest. It was... Civil. For Hell. Not friendly by your standards, but a lot nicer than the usual."

Sivi cocked her head, "what do you mean?" The demoness gazed at the nymph for a moment, contemplating how to answer, and then finally explained; "Well, they were pretty bloody, but they weren't... Surprising, I guess. There was still plenty of backstabbing and treachery and poisoning and favor pandering and all that sort of fun stuff, but the battles themselves were always one on one. Whatever advantages were traded out of the ring seemed to matter less, even if in reality they probably decided more of the matches than real skill ever did. And really, not having everyone actively trying to kill or enslave you all of the time was a nice reprieve, even if it was always short lived. We never had them on a schedule though, someone would just decide to host them and if you were lucky your lord or lady or what-have-you decided to join and brought you along. I got to see a few, before I was summoned and bound here the first time. None after though... Then I ended up in the Outskirts for a while."

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

'Oh...' Ione thought dumbly, her grin fading at Mandragora's bitter hinted response and the feeling of awkwardness leaking back into the plant girl once more. Even with Sivi's own explanation as to why they couldn't go to the bigger celebrations the alraune could guess she was suger coating something. Perhaps a bad experience the both of them had faced directly trying to get into one of those big ones perhaps. Perhaps even because Mandra was an alraune? The thought left a bad taste in her mouth, that she only had her recent experience with that one fae knight to clean it out with. And it wasn't doing much of a good job at that.

Clarissa's interjection of her own hellish tourney experiences grabbed Ione's attention. She found herself nodding at many of the things the demoness mentioned, having learned some from her own time with Viorica a long time ago. She couldn't help but feel concern for Clarissa at the start with her distant and hollow demeanor, but it soon faded as she continued. Though the fights could be just as skillful as any other, there were always... schemes. Backroom deals, handicaps, and treachery of all sorts decided to raise the stakes of honor and reward. Many times the one-on-one combats would be leaned toward one side than the other. The stakes for winning of which could be adequately delicious as she remembered. If she was remembering right...

She furrowed her brow a little at the comment of enslaving, "I was told a little about this before. It was usually larger lords either flaunting their power or smaller ones trying to win favor. For some of them well... because of the 'deals' if it went badly enough whole groups might find themselves under another lords service by the end of things." She quirked her head in confusion. "What is this... Outskirts? I don't think Vio ever told me about that. Is it... is it like a... b-barrens..." She shivered, somehow managing to shrink into herself once more. She remembered the barrens. That place she left so long ago. Like a curse it still clung to her mind, even if it had been so long since she left that damned place. With it's damnedable birthkin.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

"Sometimes.... Yes," Clarissa replied somewhat absently, though when Ione asked about the Outskirts she fixed the alraune with a cool stare. "Yes," she replied, "as you would understand it. There are no.... Plants... In Hell, so technically everywhere would be barrens. The Outskirts are what we call the areas around the cities. There are a few little forts here and there, usually with lesser lords that don't matter, but otherwise it's all just... Empty. Miles and miles of bland, features less sand as far as the eye can see. No wind to disturb it, nothing to go for on the horizon. Just... Lots and lots of dirt."

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

The plant girl quirked her eyes downward in thought over what Clarissa spoke of concerning the Outskirts of hell, or what was commonly there referred to. "Not even... potted plants?" It seemed like so foreign a concept. An entire world without plants of any kind. No massive trees, no colorful flowers. Not even blades upon blades of grass, mushrooms, or the clinging rock things sprouted anywhere. There was no doubt an impossibility in it, and yet the world existed and had beings living in it. "That sounds... awful. I was told it was all desolate but hearing it again always sounds so... if it weren't for that 'big thing' before I'd say no wonder your kin always want to come here so much!"

She untucked herself from her little ball and stood, edging over closer to Clarissa before plopping herself down next to the Demoness and her mage. Offering her a hand or arm to grasp if she desired. "I know there are lots of people who might not like demons or the like being here considering everything. But... I'm glad you're here sweet Clarissa. I'm glad you get to enjoy this place. Even if some of the natives are a bit uh... spiteful. Also monstrous. Also kinda corrupted. Also over sized. Also full of tentacles and goop and... ahem..." Sweat drops clearly fell from her head as she realized more and more how many similarities the Amazon shared with the demoness' homeland despite the very different landscapes. "The flowers all make up for it though, I promise." Ione remarked with a grin.

"I do wonder though..." The alraune pondered aloud, "... if your world has so much empty tracks of dirt why no one just starts tilling away? Plant a garden or two. Or three. Or place a bunch of trees everywhere. There's nothing really stopping them now anymore from what a few summons have told me. Though... I guess you'd still have to do a lot because of how different the skies are huh? And there is no wind either... hummmm..." It was a strange thought; bring life to a lifeless, or rather plant-less, plane. And it left the alraune stuck in thoughtfulness for a time as the purple scented fire continued to flicker amongst the group. The night continuing to burn away before them.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

Clarissa shot Ione an amused look when she seemed amazed at the lack of plants in her dark homeland. She watched the golden plant girl rise and walk over to join her at Arthur's feet with a distant look, however, and turned her gaze back into the fire once Ione had settled. "It's not all different," she replied distantly, "but then.... It is." The demoness allowed or a long pause after that, leaving Ione to let out her pondering regarding why Hell had remained as barren as it was.

It took Clarissa long while to answer, and her voice was devoid of emotion when she finally did utter a response; "And plant what? There is no seed to plant... Not that will grow in our world, at least." She smoothed a hand over her ear, drawing her hair back, and as beautiful as she was the demon's voice would be so utterly cold that it was frightening by that point. "Our light grants no life... Our soil is packed and lifeless save for the worms on which our least are made to feed. Even our water is fetid and foul, what little of it there is.

"Besides, even if we wanted to plant something.... None who come here ever return. We who are allowed to your world would rather die here than go back." With that announcement Clarissa fell silent, her gaze unwavering from the flame, and for the moment the rest of their companions kept silent. Night fell in truth, the sounds of the jungle changing to those of the nocturnal creatures while the sun's light fled and they were left with only the light of the fire by which to see.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Ione looked to the demoness, caught in her beauty even as her voice grew cold and frightening. An echo of her distance that she expressed with every noticeable sense. It was unnerving for the alraune to see her acting so. It was something she could understand however, for between the both of them neither had love of the place of their births. Hell for her, and the dreadful barrens that she remembered for Ione. Even as the plant girl look to Clarissa and consider the very harshness of the land that hell was comprised of, she naturally refused to believe that it was 'impossible' for anything to grow there. Even something beautiful come bloom from bad places...

She was a little saddened by the demoness' lack of interest in her offered hand, but she made up for it by slipping it around her lower back between where she rested against Arthur's knees. "Everything has to start somewhere. With someone to lead as an example." She spoke cryptically, leaning a little against Clarissa where they sat. "I once knew a place where things seemed to grow even in near darkness. Where things would even glow in it. It seems impossible I know, but somewhere in the dark corners of this earth are the seeds to cover yours. I'm... sure of it." After a moment Ione declared with more confidence. "They are out there. And if ever I find them, I will see to it that they go where they are needed most."

How she would get those things, should she ever find them, into that dark land and used was another story. One that would dwell in the back of her mind even as the light faded and she felt herself growing more and more weary. A yawn escaped her, and the thoughts of more short tales and stories fell to the back of her mind as well. "I think we should retire before what little of the stars we see becomes more. I'm not used to sleeping like this though. I've slept in caravans before but most of the time I was... tucked away by myself. Will anyone be holding watch?" She asked innocently, not exactly opposed to the idea of staying up but hopeful against having to.

A nagging little thing popped into her mind then, and Ione quickly chirped up. "Oh, before I forget. You said you could teach me a few things some time back Arthur? I just remembered it, and it would be nice to learn a few new things. Even if I'm not really that much of a mage. Plus it could come in handy if she found herself in trouble she thought to herself. She wouldn't be able to make things drown in gore like what she remembered, a shutter coming from the thought, but it would be something.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Spoiler

Ione: HP = 60, PP = 38, EP = 76, Status = Fine

NPC Stats
Mandragora: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine
Clarissa: HP = 72, PP = 46, EP = 46, Status = Fine
Arthur: HP = 51, PP = 66, EP = 67, Status = Fine
Sivi: HP = 35, PP = 50, EP = 55, Status = Fine

"The only examples made in Hell are made in blood," Clarissa replied gravely, "and even if plants could live there, no one goes back. It is better to die here than to go back." She turned her gaze sharply onto Ione, "do not even think to attempt it. Not only would it be meaningless and fruitless, but it would mean your destruction for a cause of no value. Let Hell remain as it is, or better yet burn."

With her dour statement made, Clarissa would rise, and move off into the woods on her own while Arthur watched her go. She wasn't gone long, at least, and by the time she'd come back Ione had delivered her suggestion that they go to bed and then asked Arthur if he could make good on his promise to teach her. "Mmmm? Ahhh, sure. I guess we've got a long road ahead of us, might as well try to pass the time somehow," he replied, after which Sivi would say; "I'll take first watch. Clarissa should take second, she and I need less sleep than you and have better night vision."

The demoness would simply nod at that suggestion, and then the group would bed down for the night, exposed but not unprotected. That gave Ione time to choose where she would lay, and then to dream of what she might want to learn from Arthur or do along their journey to the next town.

Spoiler

I think I had a week between this town and the next, so Ione gets 14 exp that must be spent on either increasing Mind or getting Mage Talents. Ione can get Focus in Arcane or in Water at 8 exp rather than for their cross class cost. I'll figure out what, if anything, happens along the way later.

 

[Ryu Doppler]

Re: A Wild Flower (Ryu Doppler)

Clarissa's sharp statement left with an empty response from the plant girl, and neither was her sudden departure given a response. Not a verbal one at least, for the alraune did watch the demoness' form as she rose and melted into the dark scenery where she entered it. A sigh escaped her lips before her yawn did, and she was turning to ask Arthur what she had before shortly after. When Sivi mentioned her and Clarissa, who did return after a few moments away from the campfire doing who knows what in privacy of the dark, the plant girl nodded at the suggestion. "Alright then. That seems a sound suggestion if no one has any objections." Which they didn't of course. Clarissa herself nodding along with her to confirm and no one else raising any.

With things settled Ione set to rest herself along with the others. She gave Arthur and Clarissa room enough to sleep in comfort. Knowing that Clarissa was going to take up another shift the alraune choose not to rest herself alongside her despite her normal favor to do so. She had to fight the infectious thoughts of having the demoness wrapped around her and purring delightfully into her ear as she left trembling in all sorts of ways. Something made easier by the current mood the demoness happened to be in too, given the circumstances and the conversation she had brought up before. Despite her lust it hurt the alraune to have the demoness turn so cold while talking to her. Even if what she spoke of was mostly harsh truth.

Instead the alraune choose to plop herself down near her plant sister. She raised herself from against Arthur's thighs and stepped over to her, finding a comfortable spot and position next to her where she could settle in. At first she thought to set herself on the far side away from Sivi, but given a second to think it over she decided to settle next to the Nymph as well. "Room for another bloom?" She was up on watch, and despite all the recent issues fae seemed to be having with her she at least wasn't that terrible. She hadn't done anything really to irk the plant girl at least. Save for saying she wouldn't be much help to stave off any future hostile intents from other fae at least.

As time past slowly on the alraune drifted further and further away from consciousness where she lay, her eyes dipping lower and lower with every errant glance at the fire. Until she finally could no longer manage to take them and drifted fully into sleep next to the other alraune next to her, and the Nymph keeping watch.

Spoiler

The cracks of fallen branches breaking and the heavy breaths expelled from her chest were the only things the plant girl could hear in her head as she raced forward. Bleakness of the forest around her leaving trails of shadows from foliage and croppings of wood and stone. An occasional slip on a wet stone tumbled her, but she kept on in a panic. They were coming. With a big party this time. It was usually just two or three but this time there had to be at least a dozen or more. She couldn't handle a dozen at once. She couldn't kill a dozen at once. Even with the power she discovered she had it wouldn't be enough to stop but a few of them.

So she ran, but it would only do her so much good to keep running. The barrens were vast, but she'd hit the sides of them at some point at the rate she was going and then what? Get stuck between a boulder and a rough spot? It was a safer bet to use one of the hiding spots she had concocted in order to elude them. One was ahead so she got to masking her steps some distance while she caught up to it. As well as herself, taking a coat of mud upon herself to hide her telltale skin from them and blend within the brambles of her hiding place. Waiting for them then was always the hardest part. It was unbearable, agonizing to remain as still and quiet as a fallen tree for them to poke about.

Tension grew in her body and her heart as she heard them. Skulking about. Of course they would slow. Of course they would start looking everywhere near her. 'Go away, go away... there's nothing here...' She thought in the sanctum of her mind. Once a fool to think of the joy to share and receive thoughts from the others, but her sanctum now that she closed it off. Closed them off from her. The shadow of one of them past near her spot and she thought herself safe. But then it turned. Something gave her away she knew it. She knew it first before she felt the burning pain in her thigh and then the choking feel of a tendril wretching her out from the spot.

indistinguishable shouts and calls rang out, but for the alraune they were muffled fuzz against her choked gasps. She clawed at and kicked out at the others around her but it was to no avail. More tendrils grabbed at her form, and her struggles gave less and less way. 'Let me go' She cried out desperately in her mind. To anything, to anyone that wasn't them! Tears and hysterics coming through her choking coughs as they closed around her. A sea of green plant persons with murderous intent, the one who found her leading the charge with their own bloodstained dagger ready to strike again. A second wind of struggles came to her but it changed nothing. They had her.

'Let go of me...' Her thought came in sputters as her mind fogged from being choked out. Fast as her despair had filled her a twitch in her mind came then. Same as the first time. Same as when she learned of the first great thing that came to her. And in desperation she clung to it. 'Stop it! Leave me ALONE!' The momentary drain was unmistakeable, just like when she did those shots. But she didn't know what it had done until after she was slammed suddenly to the ground and the tendrils around her loosened away. She scrambled up as she coughed and sputtered and when she opened her eyes to find an escape route she felt her jaw drop.

The whole place around her was seared, from the ground to all the plants nearby. And the tendrils that still hung clumsly to her were burnt off completely to where they originally attached to. In revulsion she shook and clawed at them until they were gone, shivering at the feel of the dead things. A few of the others stood some distance away mirroring her shock before turning tail, leaving the plant girl alone to feel sick at the sight in front of her. Those that hadn't been so lucky were splayed all around, nearly all burnt up and motionless. All but one, who she recognized as the one who had found her trying desperately to crawl away on what remained of her.

All the feeling of disgust and revulsion was gone in an instant, fear turning into anger as she scooped up blade the other once used. She was on the other alraune in moments, her own cries replaced by hers as she dug the sharp thing into her many times. Tearing, punching, bashing. Cries became gargles as all the alraune saw was red in that moment, and she didn't stop even after the other was dead. "LEAVE ME ALONE. LEAVE. ME. ALONE!" She was utterly caked in other's blood by the end of it and when she rose she stared down at the gore that was left and the at her own self. It was so green. So much green was covering her...

In the quiet of the moment she could hear another's breath behind her. She wasted not a moment to spare, turning to face them with murderous eyes and a growl while clenching the knife in her hand and the new power she unlocked in her mind.

She stopped cold at the sight of a wide-eyed Mandragora covering her mouth some distance away.

~~~~~~~~~​

Spoiler

Ione sleeps laying next to Mandragora and Sivi. Also stuff happens because dreams and writing flexes that are probably bad.

I'm also having Ione pick up both Focus in Arcane, and Focus in Water during the trip with Arthur. So plenty of stuff to be wrecking her head over on top of other stuff. Also damn Arcane has so many useful Rituals attached to it @.@

My full XP expenditure is marked in the character sheet, along with the updated stats since I did add a some points to them. Also no more spoilers there splitting things up so waugh.

Also Also in case you are wondering I'm implying that Ione's mind is subconsciously opening up to Mandragora so even as she is dreaming Mandra can peer in or whatever for better or worse. In case there needs to be a reason for shenanigans and all.