Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

[Guan Yu]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

As she went about the room, a question was presented by Phyrra. Of course, the demoness had no idea of the time, having spent her time inside the tower unlike Tomoe. "It's already night outside. Darker than black, I'd be struggling if a fight happened during the trip back to the town." she replied casually, seeing the women as she went by them.

 

[maikochan]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

"I see..." Phyrra nodded slowly. "We'll need to stay here for the night then." She glanced down at the woman, looking lost in thought. 'I'm so sorry, Maria. If only I'd been faster...'

After some time, she spoke up. "The only way in seems to be the door on the first floor. We can set up a... guard there. It should be safe up here for the rest of you." Phyrra said to all of the women in the room and then knelt down next to the dead woman. "Tomoe, can you help me with her body? She deserves a proper resting place, but the best we can do is give her a burial outside."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Seeing Phyrra confirm her words, Tomoe stood by the dead woman, looking down onto her unmoving form. As she lingered on the spot, guilt began to sneak into her mind once more as the empty girl's eyes met her own. But she was quickly brought out from her depressing thoughts by the demoness planning about things over at the other side of the room. As she was asked about the removal of the corpse, it did not take her long to formulate an answer. Wordlessly picking up the girl from the floor, she went over to Phyrra. "Let's go..."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Spoiler

Tomoe HP = 66, PP = 44, EP = 61, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Maya HP = 54, PP = 47, EP = 87, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Phyrra HP = 46, PP = 68, EP = 38/50, Status = Fine

The book simply opened again once Phyrra closed it and set it down, and floated up off of the ground to follow her out into the room. Luckily, the thing didn't glow or make any noise as it flew about, and everyone else in the room was fairly distracted by Maya's sudden entrance, and as such didn't notice it floating around behind her. After they had finished their greetings, however, both Tomoe and Maya noticed the floating book behind the nude demoness, and both could feel an incredibly powerful presence emanating from it.

After the initial shock, the women whom they had freed gathered together once more, and even smiled hesitantly at the two of them, and Tomoe as well when she reached the top of the stairs. The miko's pet hunter, now nearly as tall as she was, remained near the stairs, away from the women as the reptilian creature fidgeted and glanced aback down the iron steps. The former captives were all glaring at the thing, but none of them said anything following Tomoe's explanation about it.

When Phyrra mentioned burying the dead woman, two of them nodded, and stepped forward following a brief, whispered conversation. "We would like to help.. Bury her. She was our cousin." One of them explained, the other simply nodding. Both were extremely pale, but they were holding up well enough as far as any of the others could tell.

 

[Unknown Squid]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

After having greeted her friend again and stepping back from the hug, Maya nods. "Yes. I won't do it again. I'll help protect everybody with you." Scarcely having said that, she then notices the young lizard man lurking on the stairs. Tomoe would clearly see her eyes flare in that now familiar manner and her hands raise slightly, ready to both warn Tomoe and presumably disintegrate the adolescent reptile, but halted by the miko's words and awareness of the creature. "Oh... so it's not..? Hmm." Murmuring as she calms her energies again and continues to watch it appraisingly. Next up was the unrecognised book following Phyrra. Just some demon magic perhaps, for convenient reading? But it certainly seemed like something more than mere floaty magic. It would remain a question for latter, though as talk of the dead woman came up bringing her to Maya's attention, a separate question of hers was answered. She had thought she counted one too few when she came back just now. Staying silent at first, Maya looks upon the sight rather solemnly.

((At this point, I honestly don't know whether to have Maya follow downstairs, or stay with the remaining women for a bit. So uh, whatever fits better in this case.))

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

With the dead female on her arms, Tomoe gave a grim nod at the two offering their services in getting the burial done as quick as possible. "Cousins hmmm... such cruel fate, they seem to have loved their relative very much..." she thought, the deed she had performed now weighting on her mind even more. "We'll give her the proper burial she deserves. I never knew her, but still failed to prevent her death and subsequently cracked a promise I had given. I'm obliged to help you with this deed..." the miko adressed them, accepting their offer without hesitation.

Going towards the stairs, Tomoe saw a strange book floating around behind Phyrra. She did not pay it too much heed, considering it some sort of summoned demon aid or a familiar. And with what she herself had in tow, the book seemed rather minor a thing compared to the already-grown lizardman. It had grown to her size in the matter of only a few hours, unnerving the shrine maiden again with it's rapid growth capability. Still, it was one promise she had made among the few, and thus was not going to do anything about the alien creature, at least not yet. "Shall we go?" the eastern priestess asked the rest of the female cast, waiting on all possible participants while giving out a brief instruction to her pet. "You go and lay down on the resting spot, it should be better for you to not be there in the burial event..."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Spoiler

Tomoe HP = 66, PP = 44, EP = 61, Status = Fine
Maya HP = 54, PP = 47, EP = 87, Status = Fine
Phyrra HP = 46, PP = 68, EP = 32/50, Status = Fine

The two young girls nodded to Tomoe, but the one that had spoken previously said; "Thank you.... We do not blame you, miss. If you hadn't come to save us, we might all have suffered her fate." When the miko spoke to her pet hunter, the reptilian creature nodded, and immediately started down the stairs even before the others were prepared to go.

As all three of their protectors were going, the other women they had rescued all filed down the stairs after them. Tomoe's hunter in the lead, followed by the busty priestess carrying the cold, dead woman in her arms. Phyrra went next, the book silently floating after her, and Maya went last of the three, followed by the two cousins and then all of the other women. They went outside the tower, and into the cool night air outside. The sounds of the night air were not muted, as the sounds of the day had been when the trio entered the tower, and the half moon hovered above them, casting its thin, silvery light over the grim gathering.

With a simple incantation, Phyrra opened a patch of earth in the clearing around the tower, and the body was gently lowered down into it. They had no shroud to drape her in, and no coffin to place her into, so a small patch of empty ground next to an abandoned tower was all that they could do for her. The two girls that claimed to be related to her (Phyrra knew that to be true) stood silently by, their faces solemn. The rest of the women were much the same, the small village united in grief over their lost one. They all seemed slightly more comfortable now that the hunter was gone, left at the place where Tomoe had chosen to place her bed. "She was... A good friend. And a good wife, as well. Tordek will be so sad.... I hope they haven't been attacked again, back at Argent Vale." One of the two said, and the other glared sullenly into the filled grave.

Anything any of the three would have liked to say was up to them, but if they didn't, then they had little left to do other than go to bed. It would not be wise to go out into the night with a half dozen naked, unarmed women to look out for, particularly given the stealthy nature of their foes.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Despite not sharing any words about it to the others there, the fact that the rescued women did not blame her for her actions made Tomoe relieved. With that off her mind, the busty shrine maiden took upon herself to lead the minor funeral procession, if one did not count the ever-growing hunter as one of the people taking part. It was not something she had wanted to do, but given the fact that she had ended the girl's life gave the priestess reason to perform this duty.

The entire thing went past pretty much the way Tomoe had expected it to go, a non-ceremonial event that advenced quickly with Phyrra's spell-aid providing the deceased with an instant grave. Having set down the body into it's final resting place, the priestess took a spot near the others, offering a silent prayer to the spirits for a safe departure to the afterlife. Upon hearing the remark from one of the cousins, the eastern warrior only hoped there were no other such depraved groups to take advantage of the village. The miko herself did not have anything to say, maybe it was for the better that she did not make any statements.

Once everything had been said and done, the dutiful shrine maiden would look after the group until they had settled down for the night, then return to the spot she had prepared earlier as a guardpost of sorts. Unless something came up, that's where she would eventually lay down and sleep at, Kuchinawa firmly in her embrace if something decided to creep up on them. Tomoe would be ready for such an occasion, at least on some level.

 

[Unknown Squid]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Following the others down, Maya attends the impromptu funeral service standing beside the village women. Abnormally somber, the scene seems to significantly quieten the normally energetic girl. Looking gradually between her miko and demon companions, and then to the faces of the villagers, taking in the reactions of those present. She didn't know the person being buried, nor had she known a single one of these people before today, but being here after this testing day's events, she felt part of their plight all the same. Despite having battled her way through a tower with Tomoe and Phyrra, this was the first time she ever quite seen death in this light, or stopped to properly consider it.

Thinking about her role in things today, one thing that continued to bother her was that she didn't at all understand why this had happened. Who or what had she been fighting. She had snuffed out numerous amounts of the lizard like creatures since embarking on this path almost on a whim. She didn't even know how many, having not attempted to keep any count. There didn't seem to be anyone that would be sweeping their remains up for burial.

Passing the simple ceremony with a solemn face and a quiet sigh, she heads back in with the rest to get some sleep. The cold and unfriendly tower not making the most ideal place to rest, but would have to do. Maya pokes around for a while, trying to find somewhere that's at least a little more comfortable to sleep at, but seems uncomfortable wherever she settles. After a short time Maya instead gets up and comes over to where Tomoe had layed, setting herself down behind the miko and hugging in close to her without a word.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Spoiler

Tomoe HP = 66, PP = 44, EP = 61, Status = Fine
Maya HP = 54, PP = 47, EP = 87, Status = Fine
Phyrra HP = 46, PP = 68, EP = 32/50, Status = Fine

(Moving along. Maiko, you can include your reactions to this post and the funeral in your next post.)

Following the burial of the woman that they hadn't been able to save, through which all of those they had rescued remained unsurprisingly grim and somber, the group returned to the tower. Rather than climb all the way back up the stairs, the mostly naked group of women remained on the first floor for the night. After watching the women settle in around the table in the center of the room, Tomoe returned to her bed beneath the stairs, her hunter having completed its growth to full size was now sitting against the nearby wall rather than at the feet of her bed. It watched her with its cold alien eyes and cocked its head as she took up her guarding position. It watched Maya with the same cold, sibilant gaze as the half-daemon came over to lie beside the shrine maiden, though it remained utterly motionless. It was almost like it was waiting for something.

~~~~~~~~~​

When morning came, the group found themselves thankfully unmolested. They could barely tell in the stone tower that the sun had risen, the lack of any windows making it perpetually dark inside, but the door had been opened. Tomoe's hunter was gone from its resting place, and was nowhere in sight. A quick check outside, however, revealed that the creature was standing over the body of one of its kin, claw marks covering its body. The two had obviously fought, but over what was something that the shrine maiden would have to ask of the creature, as it remained utterly silent and still save for a slight tilt of its head toward Tomoe.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Despite the somewhat threatening look it was giving at them, Tomoe had her trust in the creature that leered at them from it's spot. It had behaved well up to now and had not given them any troubles, so she paid the fully-grown lizard-person no mind. She even smiled at it briefly before falling asleep with the obviously tired Maya against her back, who was allowed to do so. The girl was not someone she believed would harm her, so the easterner let her push herself closer and share the warmth.

-----------------------------------------​

Having woken up and confirmed that no-one had been harmed in any way, Tomoe was pushed into cautious mode as the hunter was gone from it's place near the wall. It was not upstairs as she went there, and a customary glance into the basement didn't reveal it either. Then the miko noticed the open door. Instanly getting her blade out, she went up to the door with utmost care to see what was happening. Seeing the creature standing there with a good deal of cuts and marks, with another one of it's type dead on the ground it was fairly clear to the eastern priestess what had occurred. But she still wanted to know the exact reason, and approached the dead-silent creature as it turned slightly towards her. "What is it? You protected us? Are you alright?" the shrine maiden asked, not letting go of Kuchinawa as she layed a hand on it's clawed back to calm it down or just show that she cared greatly for the gesture it had shown them.

 

[Unknown Squid]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Shuffling about on the bed roll, Maya subconciously reaches out trying to find Tomoe, disturbed from her sleep by the morning air breeze that seemed to have replaced her. A wordless murmur sounding from her as she opens her eyes and comes to. Sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes she scans the room, finding it strange waking up in a place like this. No dress or sandals to put on, no smell of breakfast and no morning chores. Noticing the sunlight steaming in through the now open door, Maya makes this her first destination for the morning, and gets up to look for her friends.

Finding Tomoe just outside with the young hunter, Maya steps up behind the pair and regards the defeated hunter with them. Having heard Tomoe's question as she approached, she asked nothing further of her own. She was surprised by the sight before her, not having expected the lizard to put itself on the line in such a way to protect them against it's own kind. If it was indeed what it looked like, at least.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Spoiler

Tomoe HP = 74, PP = 48, EP = 70, Status = Fine
Maya HP = 58, PP = 51, EP = 105, Status = Fine
Phyrra HP = 46, PP = 68, EP = 32/50, Status = Fine

The plan

Spoiler

Unless something else is suggested by any of you, the general plan of action in regards to separating Phyrra from Maya and Tomoe is to have Phyrra vanish in the middle of the night. Bob, the daemon book of infinite evil, will be gone as well, and the assumed culprit of this particular mishap. There will be no trail for anyone to follow, and a search of the area around the tower will turn up nothing. Any disagreements to this plan?

The hunter shifted slightly as Tomoe reached out a hand to touch it, almost nuzzling into her hand. It nodded slightly at her questions, but otherwise remained still as it stared at her with its glassy black eyes. "Yes.... Master...." It said, its voice low and rumbling, but also sibilant and quiet, the sound of it almost like listening to a snake try to growl. It continued to stare, waiting and pushing slightly against her touch so long as Tomoe maintained it. The alien reptile also completely ignored Maya, not even glancing her way as the half-daemon approached and stood behind Tomoe.

The sounds of the women awakening inside filtered through the door, signalling that they would be ready to move out soon, and return to their homes. The hike back would likely take much longer than the walk there, given that all of them except for Tomoe were naked, but it would hopefully pass in peace as the first had.

 

[maikochan]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Phyrra had spent the night just inside the tower, still feeling like an outsider. She was eager to return to her home and return to life as it was. The arrival of the strange creatures had been alarming, but now that she and the villagers knew of the threat, it would be easier to organize a defence. As she stood and moved to the door, eager to greet the morning sun, she thought about trying to contact some Fey that might be in the area for help. At the very least, the might know where Tam'Lin was. She would be willing and able to help Phyrra, she was sure of it.

Another reason she wanted to return to her peaceful life was because the recent battles had reawakened her hunger like never before. Tasting Maya's energy in particular was almost addicting and Phyrra wanted to spare the girl her corruption at all costs. Once they got back to the village, Phyrra secretly hoped, and feared, that the two would continue on their way.

As the group travelled back to Argent Vale, Phyrra remained quiet and pensive. She wasn't too worried about Tomoe's new 'pet' as it seemed loyal enough to the Miko, and if the two travellers did move on, Phyrra wouldn't have to worry about it if it ever did turn sides.

Spoiler

So... what I talked with Tass over IM about was being able to stick around until the group returned to the town, then have Phyrra either decide to stay or set out on her own to try to find some Fey.

I really want to avoid hand-waving and such, not so much to preserve Phyrra so much as to prevent plot holes and the like from cropping up.

If that's all right with everyone? Oh, also, regarding Bob... Tass, do you mind just putting it in the background for now, possibly figuring out what transpired between Phyrra and it through IM? I really couldn't think of anything to post in response to it at the time.

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

The lizardman still had a somewhat scary look about it, but the way it almost snuggled at her hand made Tomoe ease her guard, and the miko eventually sheathed her blade to show that she trusted it. Even though it was somewhat flattering, the statement did not sit well with the priestess' mindset. "Please, I am nothing but my own master. My name is Tomoe, you should call me that. We are not a master and servant, but partners." she told the creature, being totally honest in her statement. Rubbing at the creature's rough-textured skin, she noticed it was completely fixated on her, not having the slightest bit of interest towards the nearby Maya.

Hearing the group of women get ready, the easterner went and picked up her own things as well, bundling up the bedroll and putting the lantern into her pack of things. Once everyone was ready and able to go on, she would lead the rather naked entourage onwards. Though she had a pair of extra clothes, giving them out was not too important on the way back, and there would only be arguments about who got to use them.

Once they had come within a safe distance of the town, Tomoe considered they had completed the mission they had gone out to do. Still, it would be a polite thing to escort the rescued females back to town proper. "Hopefully they can recover back to their normal lives soon..." the miko thought about the ragtag group, somewhat ashamed that she was still the only one with clothes. With the group back in their homes, she would be able to move on. There was something foul in the air, and the easterner had a bad feeling that the creatures in the tower were not the only such beings around. This would need looking into...

 

[Unknown Squid]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Watching the lizard like creatures response, Maya felt a small admiration for it's surprising show of loyalty to it's seemingly adopted guardian figure. She kind of wanted to step forward and pet it, just a little, but that might not really be apropriate. She still didn't know how this thing truly thought or felt.

With the group soon making ready and moving on, Maya follows along within the group. Making the odd idle comment and joke as they all walked, though saying nothing of any real consequence. She more than anything right now lamented the loss of her sandals, and being made to walk the whole distance. Contemplating whether she would be able to flash back the distance to the village herself. It was further than she'd ever done before, but somehow she felt confident about it. Regardless, she'd rather stay with the company of the others right now, whether her feet complained about it or not. For a very short while she lifts both feet off the ground and literally floats along behind the nude procession, rolling in the air once, before noticing a glance from one of the village women ahead and landing her feet to walk casually again. Floating along like that was just as tiring as walking anyway.

Eventually seeing the village up ahead down the road, Maya begins to anticipate what kind of reaction their return would get. Would there be praise and tasty food? That would be nice. Perhaps that old man would still be grumpy and loud. Her thoughts also drifted to that other man, Tor... dak... derk... dek? The one who was said would be sad. She couldn't remember the name. And what about Phyrra? They'd seen her wings and horns. She had wore that covering robe and hood to hide them, so what now?

There was a lot of "what now?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Tomoe, Maya and Phyrra (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Spoiler

Tomoe HP = 74, PP = 48, EP = 70, Status = Fine
Maya HP = 58, PP = 51, EP = 105, Status = Fine
Phyrra HP = 46, PP = 68, EP = 32/50, Status = Fine

The hunter remained silent for a moment, totally still, and its alien features made it impossible for any of them to even guess at what it might be thinking. Finally, it slowly replied; "Yes.... Tomoe." After that, it followed Tomoe incessantly, never once leaving the miko's side, or even paying much attention to any of them, despite the group of naked women who now surrounded it.

The walk through the woods back to Argent Vale was long and uncomfortable, but largely uneventful compared to the events at the tower itself. Other than few minor mishaps that caused nothing worse than a few scratches, the group of women reached the road just outside of Argent Vale without any complications. The village was within range of their sight now, and the women picked up their pace, their nudity and the loss of one of them not stopping them from rushing back toward the safety of their homes as fast as they could. But, something was wrong.

No one came out to greet them, and not a soul was to be seen outside. A glance into the closest buildings revealed the same, and the dead silence of the village before them only reinforced the tale.

Argent Vale was empty.

The group they had rescued huddled together, all reporting that they had found no one in their own homes. Not even bodies.

 

[maikochan]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

Phyrra looked around the empty village, concerned. "Did they leave? It doesn't look like there was a fight. They might have fled into the forest." Despite that, she didn't sound convinced. "I-I'm sure everyone's fine." She said as some of the village women returned. "We just need to make it known that everyone's safe now."

She turned to Maya and Tomoe. "Thank you, both of you, very much. If you two hadn't been here, I'm certain that I couldn't have rescued the women on my own. I'm in your debt." She bowed to both of them. "I won't ask you to stay, you both probably have things you need to do. If you're ever in the area again, my hut's just outside the village, and I'm sure you'd be welcome here too."

 

[Guan Yu]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

"There we go. That's quite good." were the miko's final words for the lizardman, at least for now. She even managed to smile at it during their trip towards town, seeing how it managed to ignore the girls around it, even in their naked conditions. Finally the village was in sight, and despite the oddly quiet surroundings, the group of rescued females almost picked up a running speed. The adventurer group followed after them, not quite as speedy.

Somehow, the foulness in the air had given the priestess an early warning about this. There was no-one in the village. Nothing, not a single piece of human remains or similar. She could hear Phyrra talk, but somehow the demoness' words did not assure her, even with the sense they held. It would be one way for a village to evacuate in face of danger, flee to the surrounding forest. Still, Tomoe herself was not confident in this being the case. It was simply too coincidental.

Once Phyrra offered them her thanks, the easterner was only eager to accept it. "It was the least I could do. The innocents need to be helped in the face of abuse, and if I can stand up to people who want to use them, I will. Do not hold yourself in debt, at least on my account. The hospitality bit is good enough for me, if I'm down on my luck and my travels take me past this little village again, which is likely given where I came from." Tomoe replied with her usual calm face, bowing her head at the still-naked demoness. "But it is as you say, I do have things to do. There is a wide world out there yet to see, and my heart is will not be satisfied until I've seen most of it. I wish you and the village well. Search for them, and you should be happy again when everyone is together." she finished, turning attention towards Maya before taking a step back. "Surely Maya here has something to say as well. I'll stay and hear it too, since I'm somewhat curious."

Even with the words she had said, Tomoe had a feeling that the citizens would not return to the village after this dissappearance. But she did not want to say this in the face of Phyrra. Listening patiently at whatever Maya had to say, the miko would leave towards the next town on the road. If the cat-featured girl offered to come with her still, she would let her. Along the way, she would pay attention to the surrounding wilderness, hoping to catch a possible glimpse of the lost people while also maintaining a vigil over the oddly agreeable lizardman.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Home Defense (Guan Yu, UnknownSquid and maikochan)

(Right, since this thread seems to have died, as maiko has once more said he wouldn't be able to post, Guan Yu already left, and Squid hasn't been able to post, I'm calling it here. The group splits, each going their own way, and all can move on to DG3.

Maya, on her way home, gets her child back. What she does between DG2 and DG3 is up to squid and I to figure out. Phyrra never finds any trace of the dead villagers, and moves on to search out Tam-Lin. Tomoe leaves to go and do her own thing.)

~~~~~Finite~~~~~​