Quest Loot Runners #3 The Wind and the Willow

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Their escape from the other... building had gone well, at least well enough before their presence at this one was noticed by the creatures currently residing there. Raigryn's comment about them being starved made his eyes go wide.

How on earth did one keep these things long enough to starve them!? He didn't have much time to ponder the question as one came towards them on top of the bridge, while another took the underside of the planks.

"Oh shite buggers. Course the lot can go anywhere they well please huh!?" Belduhr hollered, the man skewering one from where he stood as the dwarf looked behind them at the pandarran once more. Only to be bumped into by Fife and start him into a slew of cursing while she clambered below and then behind him. Why couldn't of Raigryn been the one she-?

He cut the thought off as he remembered the man had just dealt with the first ghoul by himself. Brows in exasperation arched for a second as he answered his own pondering. He shook his head as the lass got behind him and he was free to walk once more.

Don't let them bite you! The human had called back, making his brow furrow. Oh helpful advice indeed, on par with never fight a dwarf for a mountain, or an elf for woodlands for that matter. He would have to add it to the redundant phrases pamphlet he had kept in his bag at the main platform with that damned wizard.

Taking stock of the situation they found themselves in, he harrumphed at being at a severe disadvantage given the circumstances.

He couldn't swing the hammer very well on this bridge, never mind actually hitting a ghoul on the walkway unless he wanted to upset the thing and send them all over. End for ending the weapon, he grabbed the head with one hand and shortened his grab on the handle before making to at least keep the plague bearers at length. Given the weapon was as long as he was tall, he at least had that advantage.

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Island 1: ghouls and ward
Fife Belduhr Brighthand

Raigryn struggled to keep his balance as he swung his hand-and-a-half sword. This wasn't sustainable. His swing lopped the arm off the nearest plague ghoul, but he had to take the time to finish it off before stepping over its body. One bite could be fatal given all the diseases they carried.

"Forwards!" he shouted. His sudden advance made the nearest ghouls pause. They might have been hungry, but they still had an animal sense of self-preservation.

Raigryn drew on his Fury to cut them down. His grunts and the sound of his sword striking home rose above the waves crashing against the rocks far below.

More ghouls waited for them, but he dared not turn his back to the ghouls and return to the pandas. There was only one way to go.

A glimmer caught his eye. Around the neck of one of the ghouls was something catching the sunlight. The bastard wizard had somehow put their goal around the shoulders of one of the ghouls.

"Fife!" he cried out. "Shoot that one! The one with a necklace!"

 

[Fife]

Island 3: Plague Ghouls

The cranequin seemed to take ages, but she'd practiced. A lot. Raigryn had never held many illusions about the nature of their travels, following his curiosity around the world to various perils. Her hands shook now more than they had at the range, but she knew the process well. Her small hands were quick about it and she finally loaded a bolt and raised the stock to her shoulder. She lined up the sights to one of the ghouls just coming out of the structure.

Staring at a living, moving thing at the other end of it, however, was very different from looking at a stationary target.

As she'd done a thousand times to steady scared, shaking hands, Fife cycled through her Aspects and touched her Tranquility. She felt it wash over her like sinking into a warm bath. Steady, calming.

Exhaling, she squeezed the trigger. It was as much a surprise to herself as it must have been to the ghoul when the bolt ripped through its chest. Fife blinked, taking a full moment to be surprised. She'd hit it?

Raigryn cutting another down with a strange, sickening sound yanked her back to the present. She picked up the cranequin and started again. It wasn't quick, and by the time it was ready and loaded again Raigryn was pushing forward. She followed their advance, hanging back to keep some of her advantage. When she lifted the crossbow again, the sway of the planks beneath her feet and the unexpected pressure of repeating her earlier success foiled her aim. Her second shot hit, but only clipped the arm of a ghouls. It gave pause, at least, as it stumbled back.

Silently cursing, she pushed the pin and set the cranequin. When her mentor called for her to aim at one in particular, however, she looked up at him, then to the pack of ghouls. If he cut it down on the bridge, they risked losing the prize they'd come for.

Biting her lip, Fife dared look down at her bow as she loaded it. She lifted it again and took a deep breath, touching her well of Tranquility to steady herself, then aimed.

And hit! The bolt flew right through the ghoul's chest and it staggered backwards. She spared a look of utter shock at Raigryn and Belduhr, then went back to the task of loading. Always loading. It wasn't going to be stopped by one bolt, but for now it was reeling and stunned.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //​

 

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Island 1: Plague Ghouls

Belduhr kept behind Raigryn, making sure he placed himself between any possible ghouls trying to get at Fife. Though not so far behind he couldn't attempt to help the man as he advanced. The solid thunk of a bolt hitting it's target made the dwarf cast about to search for the ill fated creature. He nodded to himself, pleased to see that Fife was a damned fine shot.

The bridge swayed to and fro, and Belduhr managed to keep his footing, not seeing the next bolt only clip an arm. He heard the solid twang of the crossbow regardless, and was content to let her work the ghouls over as she could.

Raigryn calling out a certain target had the scholar trying to spot the beast, narrowing his eyes as the glint finally caught his attention. Oh of course the wizard was an absolute madman about hiding his treasures.

Magic. Bah.

Dwarves lived without it, and while Belduhr had never had a bad experience with it, times like this certainly permitted him to be wary of all the magics in the world.

\o7 Raigryn Vayd \o7 Fife \o7
The Dabbing Party​

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella was glad that some of her line of thinking in regards to this quest was correct. Or at least that was the assumption.

She held onto Richard Henry the Eighth 's hands as sipped more water from them, then took her foot out of the water. It was numb now, which was probably a good thing.

Myrcella furrowed her brows, looking around for possible spots for shelter. But she wasn't as experienced in that sort of thing as Richard was. "I don't know if I could trust a cave right now...Maybe there's a hollow of a tree? Or an abandoned house? That'd be even better. And you could build a fire to keep us warm and safe." Monsters and animals were afraid of fire, weren't they? In her mind she thought so.

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Island 1: plague ghouls.


"Get that knecklace!" Raigryn cried.

A ghoul leapt for the bridge and Raigryn called on his Desire. The aspect that drew things together, but could also make things feel lighter than air. The ghoul was suddenly nearly weightless and sailed past the bridge. Raigryn let it drop to the waves below.

A swing of his sword was followed by an explosion of Malice. Blue green shards that swept out in a wave and skewered a number of ghouls.

They were on the tower in a few more strides. Safety in footing, but also moving into the nest of those fiends. Raigryn tried to clear some space to get at the fallen plague ghoul carrying the ward.

 

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Island 1: Plague Ghouls

Belduhr followed quickly behind, getting a proper grip on the hammer this time and swinging hard. Sending a ghoul flying into another with a hearty swing, he helped clear their little section of the platform. Horizontal swings were clearing the area, but only knocking them away instead of finishing the job.

One leapt towards him and he wound up the swing before smashing the gibbering maw into the planks below with an assuring crunch. Raigryn was able to use magic on top of swinging his sword, but the dwarf had to put a little more oomph into his swings.

\o7 Raigryn Vayd \o7 Fife \o7
The Dabbing Party​

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella had a terrible experience with a cave and Richard couldn’t blame her. However the other two options weren’t very viable. “I would sooner trust a thief than I would trust an abandoned house,” he said. “There could be other people residing inside those houses.”

Picking up Myrcella, Richard looked around. “I guess under a tree should do.” He said shrugging. “Let’s find it.”

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Kikwi]

Island 3: Pandarann

Smiling One

Kikwi gazed around. The island was incredible. The towering buildings looked as if they had been struck together rather hastily, build up piece by piece in some sort of jumbled game of blocks. The rope bridges, while impressively strung, moved perilously in the harsh wind, creaking and protesting against foot traffic. How old were they? When had they last been replaced? Kikwi found himself wondering these things as he looked at them. Feathered and avian as he was, he was quite flightless, and a drop from such a height would surely be fatal.

His disproportionate head swiveled around, taking in all of the sights with wide yellow eyes. Despite the difficulty getting here and the dangers he knew they would face, he was elated.

"I am ready!" he pipped at Willis. He was very glad to have one of his very best friends with him, and a strong fighter at that. There was no monster that Willis could not defeat, in Kikwi's eyes, so he knew he would be safe. The little owl would make himself useful in other ways. He was quite observant and very clever if he did say so himself.

In preparation for the journey he had fashioned himself a little sling of sorts. It would allow him to ride on Willis' back without obstructing the man's movement much, should the need arise. As this adventure was time-sensitive, this seemed a pertinent plan.

The house in front of them looked harmless enough, but he deferred to Willis before stepping further. Maybe he had another magic stone that would tell them if something evil were lurking inside.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella nodded a little. So old houses weren't to be trusted? That was an entirely new concept for her. But then again, there was a lot in the outside world that she didn't understand.

She leaned into Richard Henry the Eighth as he picked her up once more. "What will your Father do when he hears that you've gone missing? Will he blame my Mither?" Myrcella still had yet to even see the man that was to become her Father-in-law. But she knew of his reputation as a leader of armies.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard shrugged giving Myrcella a smile. “No,” he said. “He’ll have a nice conversation with your mother with tea and cookies under the moonlight sky.”

Oh who was he kidding, Richard’s father will kill every single person to the sword. Heads, spikes, walls that was his fathers M.O whenever his family was threatened. At least it showed that he cared. However Richard did not want to scare Myrcella with that. What mattered now was to get home.

“So Myrcella,” he said. “You don’t think I’m someone to runaway from anymore don’t you?” It was odd how Richard and Myrcella viewed each other in a couple of days. But Richard wanted to know if Myrcellas love was real.

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Fife]

Loading, loading, loading... Fife hung back as they moved forward again, but quickly stood with her crossbow ready once more. She took aim, lightly touched her Tranquility to hold her hand steady, and fired. It wasn't as clean, striking the ghoul lower in the chest, but it went down.

Raigryn called for them to get the pendant as he cleared a space on the platform, and she got the distinct feeling that he wasn't telling Belduhr. Gathering her wits rather than relying on her Aspects, Fife slung her bow back onto her back and followed after the pair. If Raigryn and Belduhr were going to do all the hard work, then she could at least fetch their prize.

Easier said than done. With her advantage removed and her companions now between herself and their quarry, she could only watch as they cleared a path to the dead ghoul. Or she assumed that it was dead. It was slumped against a ramshackle wall and not moving.

Hoping it was dead, she danced back and forth between feet as they cleared a path. She kept a lookout for more trouble from around them, but watched for the moment she could get close enough.

When it was finally safe, Fife rushed forward. She was quick and didn't even need the Joy to light up to the ghoul. It was a lot larger this close than she had expected, gnarled teeth jagged and frightening.

Grimacing, Fife wasted no time. She grabbed the chain, said a silent prayer to whatever gods were listening that it really was dead, and yanked it free. It slid off with little protest and Fife made haste to scramble back behind her group.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //​

 

[Flint]

Anyone with half a brain could see the physical toll the fight had taken on Orival, but the mental toll was only just becoming apparent. Orival spoke of their inexperience, seemingly doubting of the violent nature such an adventure as this one called on. It was clear the mage had been deeply disturbed by the kill. Flint too found himself shaken by the grisly death of the pandarann, but this was greatly suppressed by the thought of what may have happened had Orival not landed the kill. He wasn't well-versed in the diet of pandarann's, but he doubted humans were excluded from it.

"You did what you had to Orival. Most people would have frozen in fear had they stood where you did". He rested a hand on his friend's shuddering shoulder. Tough as the fight had been, they had to keep moving. If they dwelled for too long another team may have caught up, and they certainly weren't prepared for another fight just yet. Flint pocketed his drink, stretching his legs as he made for the staircase.

He wondered if he would have reacted as Orival had, if he'd been the one to make the kill. He'd killed beasts before, but was by no means a master hunter. There was also the fact that in the pandarann's eyes, it had been acting in defence of its home. They were the invaders, the violators. Perhaps they'd do well to avoid any further fights, should they find a way to do so.
"Play our cards right, and we might not have to kill anything else today", he said, with the aim of cheering his friend up somewhat. He wasn't sure if it would work.

Orival Theodric

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

"No, you're right." He wrote as he was balled up in discomfort, recovering his physical strength. He pulled out his flask and took a swig. It was just water. Probably all the pyromancer could stomach at the moment. He offered it to Flint in case he wanted something a bit healthier than the hair of the dog.

He then stood himself up. The staircase they had to climb seemed long. And with the islands size, it was hard to say if the Willow was even in it. Though, with the encounter with the pandarann, it was probable that security would be much less severe for the time being. That specific monster was incredible in strength and mind. A hefty trap to place in hopes for adventurers just like themselves.

He started to walk with his bo staff in hand upward the stair case. He forced a smile to show through his mask as he looked back at Flint. "We best not fall behind." He wrote, trudging forward despite his own pain.

 

[Tol]

Island 3

There Rizzo was cheering Tol on. He could not fail her nor could he fail The Swamp. Slowly but surely Tol kept on climbing for if he stopped he would be unable to go on further. Tol kept telling himself to climb higher until he could get to the top and then and only then could he drink the stamina potion and have a rest.

The closer to the top Tol got the more his red swore hands wanted to let go which of course wasn't an option. The wind bashed against Tol while he was climbing also but if anything it was the most helpful thing keeping him somewhat cool.

Finally after god knows how long Tol finally reached the top, opened the second potion and drank it all in one gulp. Tol looked towards Rizzo and then fell to the ground asleep.

 

[Flint]

Orival's laboured footsteps sent a pang of guilt shooting through the barber's chest. A conflict waged on in Flint's mind; Did they turn back, cut their losses and return to safety? Or did they commit, soldier on in hopes of finding something worth all the pain and strife. In Flint's eyes, turning around now seemed like a waste of the effort they'd put in so far. But then, so did dying.

Perhaps it was Flint's pride that prevented him from backing down. Though it seemed more likely that the barber genuinely believed that he and Orival, a pair of rookies, were capable of securing whatever great treasure lay on this island. Treasure or not, he sure as hell owed Orival a few drinks when this was all done and dusted.
"Water's fine, maybe later", he said, keeping pace with the pyromancer. It was for the best that he brought up the rear, in case Orival lost his footing.

Orival Theodric

 

[Rizzo Bouchard]

ISLAND 3: WILLOW​

He did it!

"You did it!"

She knew he could do it!

"I knew you could do it!"

He fell asleep!

"You fell--HEY! ...Tol?"

Rizzo poked the troll's massive side. Waited. Wooooow~~...one stamina potion didn't cut it at all for him, did it?

Wait, here's an idea! Poke him again! And thus she did! And she said, "Tol-Tol?"

Nothing.

Rizzo glanced around, the wind still whipping her hair and her cape about when it saw fit. Um, hm, well...that one team was still inside the tower, the team of three left, the broke-leg team went who knew where, and--Aaaaahh! Was that another team getting ready to cross the bridge? Heywaitwasthatanittybittybirdman? Rizzo looked. Squinted. Hmmmm...she couldn't tell! Maybe it was just a really, really big bird...who fancied armor. Was that armor? The distance! It was too much to see clearly!

But the point! Even though Tol was taking a nap, things weren't so bad. It wasn't like there was a Panda-rooble-dooble about to ambush them or something. See! Look on the bright side!

So Rizzo sat back down next to Tol's big sleepy self and decided to practice percussion on him. She clapped her hands together and rubbed and warmed them up and slapped them onto Tol's hide. Humming, she drummed her palms on one of Tol's enormous biceps, keeping the beat of a lively tune. Sweet!

Tol

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella took note of Richard Henry the Eighth 's sarcasm right away. She knew that he didn't say it to be hurtful, but it certainly gave her cause to be worried for her Mother. And yes, even for Celty too.

Richard's question caught her by surprise. But in some way it related to her own. She thought about it for a moment as she rested the side of her head against his shoulder. "No...I won't be running away from you unless we're playing a game." Their misadventures had taught her a lot of things, most of which was about the two of them and their future. "We'll be wed soon, if your Father still wills it and well...I couldn't ask for a better husband to have." She just hoped that all of his compliments and fawning over her was true and not done out of pity of her injury.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard smirked. "Well then," he said as he held Myrcella close to keep her warm. "It'll be a shame too because a favorite game of mine is to talk about how beautiful and precious a person closest to them is."

He looked down and winked at Myrcella while he trudged through the vines on the path. Since they were so high up, the climate around them started to become colder. Richard had to make sure that they found shelter to keep warm for now. "And I couldn't ask for a better wife." Richard knelt down and kissed Myrcella on the cheek. "Unless of course she keeps being sassy at me."

The Bard Knight found a tree with a hole in which they can rest in, Richard entered it and gently placed Myrcella down while he sat down next to her and held her close. "You do.... love me right Mrycella?" Richard asked hesitantly.

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

Their trudge up the stair case was long and strenuous. The dancer barely keeping his footing as he went, yet he managed. Once they reached the end, they were met with another tower room. This one being a bit more open and having pots and boxes of various sizes again. There was no additional staircase, all that displayed as an exit was a door leading somewhere outside.

The pyromancer stopped as he got to the room and put his hand on a nearby wall to breathe while he examined the room. It was weirdly more pristine, as if it had been untouched by any of the pandarann residents or anyone that had visited prior. He peers back at Flint.

"I think we can catch our bearings here. May even be a good time to search for anything helpful, if there is anything." He wrote quickly.

Flint

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella smiled a little as Richard Henry the Eighth held her. The air was growing chilly, yet he kept her warm. He could have just left her somewhere, but that didn't work out so well in the past. And now he did his knightly and even husband-to-be duties.

As he placed her on the ground inside of the stump, she shifted her body so that they'd both be comfortable. To his question, she looked up at him, brows furrowed while she took hold of his hand. Did she love him? Well she was falling for him before. Weeks ago she would have laughed at him and said something spiteful. But now?...

"I do love you. And if your Father changes his mind about us...I'd be heartbroken."

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

There Myrcella Bochanan goes with confessing her love to him. Part of him doubted it, maybe Myrcella is saying this because she was in distress and that Richard was the only person that she can rely on? It was just a way for Myrcella to keep Richard alive and with her. That was a crazy though sure, but still part of Richard still had doubts. However the other side of him is convinced that maybe he and Myrcella were more than just allies fighting off the political barbs that'll be thrown at them but lovers.

"If my father tries to break us up," Richard said leaning towards Myrcella's face. "I'd say you and I should run off Myrcella I want to show you the world and know that it is not a cruel and inhospitable place but one full of beauty and wonder. You are a sweet and loving person Myrcella and I want no one but you to be my wife."

It was then Richard's lips touched Myrcella's and he began kissing her.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Her eyebrows rose as Richard Henry the Eighth spoke of them running away together should their betrothal be revoked. How would his father react? Would he have them hunted down? Or would he just let them go?

Myrcella wasn't entirely keen on exploring the world at this moment. She had only seen it's darker side and there were even darker parts of it still. "Maybe we could wait until I'm healed? It'd be safer, wouldn't it?" In her mind it was. He wouldn't have to worry about her so much if she could walk or run on her own.

And then he confessed his love for her again through his want of having her as his wife. Richard then did the unexpected. He began kissing her. And not just a simple quick little peck either, but something deeper. His facial hair tickled the skin between her lips and her nose yet she didn't pull away. Instead she brought her hand up to his cheek and kissed him back.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard continued to kiss Myrcella passionately, her lips were soft and fresh and his heart was pounding fiercely. Closing his eyes, Richard saw sparks going off as his he felt her inside him. It felt as though they became one being of light and it gave them life. It was a feeling that Richard never experienced before, his cynical soul cleansed into a pure and transcendent one. As he slowly released his lips from hers Richard smiled.

"Of course Myrcella," he answered. "Do you honestly think that I won't wait until you are healed? Be a shame though I actually enjoyed carrying you."

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard Henry the Eighth 's heart pounded and so did hers. She could hear it in her ears as he kissed her more deeply. For that moment everything was forgotten. Not their troubles, nor their quest to find a way home, none of it. She was just present in the moment for as long as it lasted.

Her cheeks turned a shade of pink as he pulled away, yet how much he could see in the dark, she wasn't sure. Myrcella curled herself up in his arms, being sure to keep her broken ankle on top of his leg.

"Well maybe I'll let you carry me when I get tired." Just thinking about that made her yawn. How long had it been since they had had a proper sleep? It had been days, maybe even weeks. Myrcella wasn't so sure that she could sleep well now. But at least she felt a little safer.