Quest Loot Runners #3 The Wind and the Willow

[Raigryn Vayd]

Fife Belduhr Brighthand

Island 1

The behemoth watched them from above, seemingly content to let them leave the island. Raigryn kept his eyes on it a little longer before focusing on the rickety path ahead.

This time the wind follower them, presenting a different challenge. It was easier going that being swung from side to side.

As they closed on the far island a shrill cry rose to meet them. Raigryn came to an abrupt halt. He found himself going through his Aspects to test his store of power.

One of the plague ghouls appeared from the shadows. It leapt out onto the bridge and scuttled towards them. Another soon followed.

"The don't normally...ah. Bastard wizard must have had them starved somehow."

The closest ghoul rolled over the edge of the bridge. It climbed across the underside of the planks towards them. The other stalked more cautiously on two feet.

Raigryn held his bastard sword in two hands in a reverse grip. He slammed it downwards between the slats and skewered the one running beneath them.

"Don't let them bite you!"

Helpful advice.

 

[Flint]

Island 3

He was glad to see the pyromancer back on his feet, shaky as they were. The pandarann did not share his relief, another snarl escaping its jagged jaws. The barber took a moment to count his remaining blades. A throwing knife, and his two combat knives. The rest of his projectiles were either embedded in the pandarann or lying on the floor in a pool of someone's blood. He needed to move more tactically.

Knowing Orival would need a minute to compose himself, Flint advanced first. Again he went to sidestep the pandarann, but found his footing was a bit off, his movements less sure than before. Capitalising on this, the pandarann slammed both paws into his torso, gripping him tightly. Flint cried out, claws digging into his sides, pressure on his ribs. He felt his feet lift off the ground, and found he couldn't reach out for any of his blades. Through wheezy breaths, he beckoned his partner.
"Orival! If you're going to do something... Now would be nice!".
Orival Theodric

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

Orival made an action far too quickly. His legs weren't stable yet but the call of his teammate and his overall fury made him act blindly. Anyone not a fool would give themselves time to recover and let the healthier ally take the lead. The pyromancer had not been enough fights to know the mechanics. He rushed the pandarann with fire covering his fist and swung wildly at the creature.

With ease, the monster gripped the arm of Orival and threw him upward. Orival's spine cracked against the ceiling of the first floor and he flopped on the ground like a discarded fish. He coughed up a gross amount of blood before regaining his stature. He was growing weaker. A lot weaker.

<64hp> <Roll: 8> Flint

 

[Flint]

Island 3

Orival's hit was terrible, and Flint was beginning to worry that they were running out of time. If they didn't end the pandarann soon....

The pandarann's swipe at the pyromancer allowed for the barber to reach for his last throwing blade. He slammed it into the claw that gripped him, wrenching free from the giant bear and landing feet first on the ground. He knew he had two options. He could either grab Orival and get the hell off the island, or stick to his initial plan and distract their enemy, drawing him up the stairs; or at least away from his friend.

Flint roared in the beast's face, though his was a mere yelp when held against the bellowing thunder that the pandarann roared in retaliation. Circling the monster best he could, Flint attempted to draw it a few steps away from Orival, so that its back was turned to the mage. He found it to be working to some extent, though he knew that would mean more trouble for himself.
"Yeah you hairy son of a bitch! Come get me."

<92hp><Roll:13>

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

Orival was over it. Completely. There were more problems to come and other loot runners behind them. This had gone on far too long and he was going to turn the luck in his favor, no matter what intervention tried to prevent it. No outward force would decide his fate any longer. This thing died. Now.

The pyromancer stood up and spit blood onto the floor the tower, locking his eyes on the pandarann as it began to rush towards Flint. As it did, the dancer finessed his way to the behind the beast. He leaped upon the back of it and covered its eyes with his hands. As it thrashed, he expelled a flame from both of his palms, singing through the creatures retinas.

As it reared in agony he withdrew his bo staff and moved to face it in the front. Thrusting his weapon into both of its knees and making it fall before him. He gripped its head tight with a free hand and let his fire loose. He let the fire sit on its burning face and watched as the fur went first. He looked deep into the crevices where its eyes once were and kept holding his hand firm, even as it scratched harshly at his arm. Eventually the flesh melted away from its skull and it went limp and lifeless, collapsing beside he and Flint.

With a look of rage he peered back at Flint and wrote, "Let's go." Before turning back to walk up the staircase to the second floor. Progress was finally made. Perhaps at the cost of some of the pyromancer's sanity.

Flint

 

[Flint]

Island 3

The killing was both impressed and terrified him. While Orival's face was covered by a hood, the mere body language assumed by the mage was enough to convey the rage flowing through him. Theodric had not taken kindly to having been thrown around for the better part of twenty minutes, and it was as though something had snapped within him. Flint looked on, astonished. He'd never seen Orival so enraged before.

That said, it was nice to see the pandarann perish. It had slowed them exponentially, and Flint was beginning to fear they'd slip and allow it to overwhelm them. Thankfully Orival was able to step up to the mark, against all odds. The beast fell, dead. Where once was his face now lay a smoking mess of bones and gore. The barber crouched by the carcass, reaching to pull his throwing blades out from within the flesh. Doing so took effort, and he managed to get a nasty amount of blood and gods-knew-what on his face. Wiping it away with his right forearm, he waved to Orival using his left.

ACHIEVEMENT GET: DEAD PANDA DAB

"Not so fast, Orival. You're hurt".

The barber stood, kicking the pandarann for good measure. It had been a horrible thing. He walked to join his friend, hand tracing over his abdomen, where the pandarann had gripped him. Damn it hurt. "I mean, good job of course. But that really was a close one. You sure you're good to move forward?".

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

He kept walking. The dancer was overloaded with a tremendous amount of emotions. Rage, sadness, regret. He let himself become feral. He was not used to this. This feeling of bloodlust. He knew his life was in danger but he was so used to viewing all living things as deserving. Now he could barely recognize himself or what he'd just committed against a creature who had made this place their home. He was the invader. Everyone here was.

Without so much as turning his head he wrote, "I'm fine." His body barely making its way up the staircase. He needed his staff as a cane to continue. He'd never felt so hopeless and vile in this moment. Like he'd reverted to a state so primal and raw that he'd never known. Was this just human essence? His mind was flooded.

He eventually fell to sit on a stair. Not hard, but he couldn't continue without a break. His back, his head, all of him had suffered.

Flint

 

[Flint]

Seeing Orival struggle was tough. He'd been so excited only moments ago. When they'd set off on this adventure, they'd had thoughts of heroic acts and tremendous feats. They'd been met with constant peril and close shaves. Something had ignited in Orival when he'd killed the pandarann, both literally and metaphorically. Sure, he was exhausted, but Flint also worried what the fight had done to alter the guy's psychological state.

Flint joined him, standing a few steps lower so that they were eye level. Though he was wary of other looters coming from behind, he needed to take time to encourage Orival. They couldn't give up now.

"You were incredible back there, friend", he assured the pyromancer. "Sure as hell saved my life. I've never seen someone come back swinging so hard, considering what that thing did to you".

The barber took a seat beside his friend, digging through his bag to pull out a small bottle of whiskey and taking a light swig. Then, holding it out to the mage, he asked "Drink? Might calm the nerves".

He looked to the calamity that lay at the end of the stairs. The dead pandarann. The debris it had thrown about, and the bloodstains they'd left on the walls. Flint hoped the wizard wasn't expecting them to clean up after themselves. "You've done a lot to show me I can trust you. Hope you know I've got your back too."
Orival Theodric

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

"Thank you, but no thanks." He waved off the drink offer with an exhausted word spell. He was breathing hard. his heart could almost be heard echoing through the corridor they sat in. It took him a good while before he was able to use his magic again to communicate. His throbbing head being the main cause of this. He felt a great guilt knowing he'd be returning home to show his mother wounds unlike anything he'd ever had before. Better than her being brought a corpse, he supposed. Still. Having gone from a chef and an entertainer and then in days being almost killed. It made a man think.

"No one ever talks about this part." He wrote somberly. "Of adventures, I mean." He shifted into a more comfortable sitting position so he could write accurately. "They all rave about the gold and the treasures. They say they encountered monsters, sure. But they never talk about their first adventure. Or the mishaps along the way. How easy it is to die out in this world. Am I just ignorant?" He looked towards a small spot of light cracking through the dilapidated building they were in.

It never before had occurred to him how dangerous it was to let excitement get the better of him. "I don't feel good about what I did down there." One last message before he set his finger down.

Flint

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella nodded as Richard Henry the Eighth tried to keep her calm, although she was quite frightened.

And at least he agreed on them crawling. It wasn't as though she could do much else. Not with her broken ankle, anyways.

As Richard led the way, Myrcella followed in behind, trying to maintain her balance while trying not to trip on the tattered remains of her dress. At least Richard was wearing pants, so it made crawling all the easier. As they continued to move along the bridge, the distance between them began to grow. But it wasn't as though Myrcella was paying attention to that. Her eyes were focused on the bridge itself, plus the vast fall beneath them. It was a daunting task for one that had never been that high before...

She winced at every creak and groan while the bridge gently swayed. Beads of sweat were felt as they formed along her back and neck, however the wind made it chilly. At least they were safe from the birds.

 

[Tol]

Island 3.

It was now time to climb the cliff but first Tol needed to have a drink of one of his stamina potions. Tol opened the bottle cork and was about to take a nice big drink until the ocean decided to fuck with Tol some more by sending another big wave at him. Once again the waves crashed at Tol causing him to lose grip of the potion which fell smashed upon the rocks. At least now the ocean will regain some more stamina.

Tol couldn't risk losing another stamina potion so decided he would have to risk the climb with less energy than he hoped. Hopefully the gods will be kind to him now and let him climb without anything else going wrong.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard continued to crawl across the bridge intently watching Myrcella from the corner of his eye. Every time the bridge creaked from their weight or swayed because of the wind, Richard tensed up worried for Myrcella. The Bard Knight told himself that he would never scale a mountain again after the incident at The Spine. Richard would rather forget about all that especially the female Ice Giant and Wyrm…..

"We're almost there Myrcella!" Richard said crawling a little faster this time. At last what felt like forever they were about to reach the other side! Richard placed his hand onto the grassy fields a smile forming his lips, never has he felt so grateful to touch the earth.

He turned around and immediately grabbed Myrcella as soon as he came to the end of the bridge and hugged her tight. "You did great!" Richard said wiping her neck and back while staring into her green eyes. "You do have pretty eyes you know that?" he smirked.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella heard Richard Henry the Eighth tell ger that they had nearly finished the crossing. Unlike him, she couldn't quicken her pace without risking tripping over her dress and falling down. So she kept at her own pace.

About a minute later she was grabbed by Richard, which had startled her at first until she was safely off that bridge. Myrcella breathed a sigh of relief and returned the hug. "Thank the Gods!" She sat back on her uninjured leg smiling at Richard has he complimented her eyes. "You're just saying that..."

But then her eyes were drawn to where they were. She swallowed a lump in her throat when she heard some roaring a short distance away.

"Richard?....What was that?"

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

He heard it as well, a savage roar was heard in the distance. A smaller pack of birds immediately began to scatter from the forests flying high in the sky. Richard sprung up placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, whatever it was meant trouble has it always? "Bad news," Richard said picking up Myrcella in a bridal carry. "I really wished I bought some repellant, many monsters despise the stench of a good monster spray."

The Bard Knight began to enter the dark forest full of a lush green plants and snakes slithering on the ground. "We need to hurry," he said. "And find this item."

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella shifted her body so that it'd be easier for him to pick her up. "What if it's just...some animal? Why does everything have to be monsters..."

After this adventure, Myrcella was sure to never want to leave home again. That is until she was sent away to marry Richard Henry the Eighth in Elbion. More than likely she wouldn't be venturing out of her new home for a while either. Richard would surely have to coax her into doing so.

"I wonder where the other people are. What if they are all dead? Or what if the item was already taken? What would we do? How would we get back home?

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

"A wild animal or a monster....." Richard continued to carry Myrcella through the forest, even amongst the trees it was thick with mist, at least Richard could see where he was going. A small river was near them while more birds were sitting on branches either feeding their young or watching them. "There's no difference to me, I'm not sure why the Monster Hunters like to categorize them. A pack of Wolves are just as dangerous as a Troll."

Richard had enough adventure for one day, that was something he thought he never say but given the danger Myrcella was constantly in, it did a number on him emotionally. Richard couldn't bare if Myrcella was hurt more or was in tears. "Or maybe they're trying to ambush people," Richard said. "We can't rule that possibility out. There were some who looked like trouble and wouldn't mind tripping a few people up."

The Bard Knight sighed. "Especially if it means fewer people vying for this item."

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Fife]

Island 1: Plague Ghouls

They were lucky and the pandarann allowed them to depart. With the wind at their backs and a bridge that seemed more structurally sound, Raigryn led them across slowly but surely.

She jumped at the shrill scream that pierced through the wind. Her dark gray eyes searched the tower ahead of them, newly born fright shocking through her like a splash of cold water when she saw one of the ghouls leap onto the bridge, then another. They were larger than they had seemed from farther off, and they moved in such an eerie way.

One moved to climb under the bridge, scrabbling toward them hurriedly, and Fife was more afraid of these things than anything since the inky creatures of their first misadventure. It was so creepy! No thanks! She physically recoiled from it, stepping back into Belduhr. Gasping, she bumped sharply into the dwarf, eyes fixed on the ghoul skewered beneath them.

Raigryn's advice wasn't reassuring at all, especially with the nasty maws on the things. Don't get bitten indeed! Fife made a mental note to write him a strongly worded rebuttal of his terrible teaching methods if she didn't drown, catch some nasty plague, or get eaten by nightmarish bears.

As the initial fright passed, however, she remembered the crossbow at her back and that she knew how to use it. Fife abruptly dropped to her hands and knees and wriggled between Belduhr's knees to get behind him. If she was going to have to take the time to crank this blasted thing, she wanted to make sure there was more than just Raigryn in the queue between her and the ghouls. Taking a knee, she started cranking the cranequin and eyed the tower for more of the plague ghouls.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //​

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella nodded, listening as she was carried. There was a chillness in the air. The fog was evidence of that. However the closeness between herself and Richard Henry the Eighth as he held her made her feel warmer. Without him there, she'd probably feel even colder. Maybe so much so as to get herself ill. Oh but that would truly make things worse, wouldn't it?

"How quick would such a task like this take? A day? Or more? Should we wait until nightfall when everyone else is asleep? Even monsters have to sleep too, don't they?" There was so much about adventuring that Myrcella didn't know. Of course she had read some stories, but they were just stories. Never had she thought that she'd be stuck in the middle of it.

And right now she'd rather face a sinister court full of strange Lords and Ladies than to be carried through a dreary wood, unable to run on her own.

 

[Rizzo Bouchard]

ISLAND 3: WILLOW​

There wasn't much for Rizzo to do. Not yet! It all revolved around patience...patience. And then, when the weary winners of the Willow emerged from the gigantic tower and tried to cross the bridge...Ah hah! Pay the toll!

She supposed that she could try jumping up along the outside of the tower. Wall-latch here, double jump there, scale up the wall over here, grab an overhanging roof there. You know, completely bypass all those silly Pan-dibblets inside! Hm. But the wind was a bother! A big, big bother! What if she got blown away while jumping, or lost her grip because she got too tired? What if she did make it to the top only to get in trouble, and then she didn't have Tol to back her up?

Ooooooh~~, she wanted to try though! But this plan was the cunning plan. The best way! Better that she and Tol stick together. After all, if she blew it, then she could kiss her Iron-badge goodbye for who knew how long! And no, she wouldn't let that happen! That's right! Take what's yours and vanish in the night!

So Rizzo waited at the edge of the wooden platform. Peering down at Tol way down the columnar rock. She waved her arms about in big broad gestures of cheer and encouragement, hoping he'd see them. It was the least she could do!

Tol

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

"Based on how high the mountains are and big the island is," Richard held Mrycella close so she can feel safe. "It could take weeks or even months." Myrcella had a good idea, It was no use wondering around the island with an injured Myrcella. Besides Richard was feeling fatigued and needed find a place where they can hide from any monsters.

"Are you feeling thirsty Myrcella?" Richard said placing her near the river. "Dip your injured ankle into the water," He said cupping his hands and holding the water out for her to drink.

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

"Weeks or months??" Myrcella didn't like the sound of that. In fact she hated it. Such a thought filled her with sudden despair and she just wanted to cry. Yet she couldn't. Not here. So instead she just leaned her head against Richard Henry the Eighth and kept quiet.

As he set her down by the river, she nodded to his question of whether or not she was thirsty. "Yes, thank you..." Taking hold of his hands, she tipped them so that the water could pour easier into her mouth. Once it was all gone, she turned to dip her injured foot into the cold water, wincing a little at the sudden change in temperature. But she knew that it wouldn't be long until she was used to it.

"Could we have a fire built? Or is it too dangerous?"

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard shook his head when Myrcella screamed. "I know," he said kissing her forehead. "But we'll find a way out somehow." Oh he was he kidding? Richard doesn't even know where they are! The architecture looked nothing like the ruins he explored at the Spine or a lost Dwarven City back in Myrcella's home. Lanterns of a different design swayed back and forth when Richard and Myrcella crossed the bridge and the wildlife were unfamiliar as well.

"I'd say we seek shelter first," Richard said. "In any case we need to find out where that item is, any ideas?"

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

My wished that she could share in Richard Henry the Eighth 's optimism, but even she could tell that it was waning. The two of them had gone through so much in the last week or two, and it didn't look like there was any end in sight.

She blinked in surprise as Richard had asked her of where she thought the Willow item was located. Myrcella had never gone on a quest before, so she was sure that any suggestion if hers would be entirely false.

Still, she did read a lot of stories while growing up. So she offered up the first things that came to mind. "Well...my guess would be some place high and hard to reach. Or...down low but with monsters guarding it."

 

[Smiling One]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Willis Reede once again found himself entangled in another one of these perilous games. Normally the young man doesn't mind some adventuring but to be randomly pulled away from Elbion and thrusted into an unknown lands is rather irritating. What's makes it even more pressing is that, Kikwi his friend was also placed with him as well. The Owl and Willis have had some epic adventures together but Kikwi was not a combatant. He can barely hold a Knife without cutting his fingers.

Now the duo are in a strange land tasked in grabbing a weapon of sorts. "Shit I don't why the fuck I keep thrusted into these messes." Willis grumbled looking around the Island there was a house of unknown architecture ahead of them. It was covered in moss and vines and on the front of the house, symbols were carved into it. Were they Dwarven? Not likely but it was definitely not from Arethril. "You all right Kik?" Willis asked.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard nodded. "That's a logical place," he said. "But there are so many mountains in this Island. Still from I observed all of the bridges lead to this particular mountain. So I believe this is where the item is."

Cupping his hands again, Richard offered Myrcella some more water as he racked his brains trying to figure out a safe path to the top. "Right now," he said. "What's important is that we find shelter so we rest. I don't want you to fall asleep on me." The Bard Knight winked at Myrcella.

Myrcella Bochanan