Quest Loot Runners #3 The Wind and the Willow

[Smiling One]

Island 3: Pandarann

Willis wasn't surprised that Kikwi was excited, the Owl was always gushing about discovering new things. While Willis shares his enthusiasm, years of experience on the road has taught him to be more cautious. Too many times has he encountered dangerous creatures or locations. It was all part of the job description for a monster hunter. "Don't get too excited," Willis warned. "We're gonna have to find some clues on where this sword is supposed to be."

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard chuckled as he pulled Myrcella Bochanan close to him. “Well I think that is a good deal,” he said hearing her yawn. “Myrcella go rest,” he said kissing her cheek. “I’ll try to get a fire going.” Placing her against the wall, he smiled. “I’ll be back i promise,”he said.

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

"Time to go!" Raigryn shouted. At this point it was entirely redundant. No one in the group was thinking of how the ghoul infested island would be lovely for an extended trip.

The ghouls were lurking in the shadows. Their hunger balanced by the scent of their own dead. They had poor eyesight, but en exceptional sense of smell. They would eat their own, and nearly whole. Satisfying that hunger without the same risk that the three interlopers provided.

This level of the tower must have been a marketplace. There were still wooden stalls with smashed ceremics on display.

"Up the stairs, look for another bridge back to the shore!" Raigryn waved Belduhr ahead whilst he kept his sword towards the ghouls that snarled from the shadows.

 

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Belduhr did not waste time talking when prompted to move. The hammer was kept in hand, his eyes scanning the shadows for anything jumping out at him. Hands were gripping the handle tight, white knuckled with how tightly he was wound thinking the ghouls would attack something small running about the place.

The setup of the floor was lost on him, only seeing a few stalls and thinking someone did a poor job of decorating the place for the event rather than anything more in depth.

The huffing breath of the dwarf was in no way helpful to keeping quiet as he hustled as well as a short legged person could. "Why. Does. Every. People. Build. Such. Tall. Stairs!?" He rumbled, taking the last few steps with help from the weapon to push him up.

The next floor looked alright, at least it did before a quick move had him swinging the weapon before thinking. Flat steel connected with a ghoul to his side, the loud crunch noise not drowning out the howling cry of a startled dwarf.

"Gods... you feckin'-." Belduhr stopped himself with a snarling bark at the shadows while raising the hammer again. "Bah!"

Raigryn Vayd Fife ​

 

[Flint]

Relief arrived at the end of the staircase, just as Flint's legs were beginning to ache. He came to a halt by his friend's side observing the room they'd arrived in. While the ground floor was fairly bare, this level held numerous pots and containers, giving off the impression of an open air store room. His eyes scanned across the peculiar objects dotted across the floor and on the shelves. Was this what the pandarann had been guarding?

"You're right. Let's take our time here, Might find something important".

His efforts began fruitless. Starting with the larger containers, he found many empty vessels, along with a few boxes half-filled with food. He'd have to redirect his focus to the smaller objects. Finding his mind drifting into a sort of daydream, he spoke to Orival across the room.

"Reckon this beats a simple life settling down with a lady?".

Perhaps Orival would find something more valuable. He'd certainly earned it.

Orival Theodric

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

As Orival searched, he began to slowly recover his strength. His breathing leveled out and his walking became gradually better. He still wouldn't be able to receive much more damage from any upcoming fights, but this was a step in the right direction.

What was disappointing was that their search was null and void. Pots full of what looked like old and moldy food, boxes with knives that had long before rusted. No sign of whatever the treasure in here may be. It looked like an abandoned storage room now that they'd fully examined it.

He smiled a bit at Flint's comment. "I couldn't say." He wrote. "I've never spent any quality time with anyone that I fancied." He rubbed his head and closed his eyes in a bit embarrassed state. It wasn't too awkward a conversation, but one he felt he couldn't really contribute too due to his well... Virgin tendencies.

He walked towards the next exit and stopped as he reached the doorway. He shook his head. "You're gonna want to see this." He wrote towards Flint. Out of the exit laid another bridge. Not nearly as long as the first, but in far worse condition. And from what he could tell, it was their only way to the next tower room.

Flint

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

"Alright, I shall try. Just don't be long."

The air felt a little colder once Richard Henry the Eighth left her side. Myrcella curled herself up as best as she could, favouring her broken ankle. She closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep although her mind was racing. There was just too much going on, too much uncertainty. And the fact that they were nowhere near close to home didn't help matters either.

There were monsters here, plus wild animals, both of which she could do little to defend herself if Richard was compromised in some way. And she couldn't really help him either. Hopefully their luck would turn for the better.

Minutes later she was dozing in a light sleep. It was so light that it was dreamless. That made it not entirely restful, but it was something.

 

[Fife]

Fife didn't need to be told twice. She pocketed the amulet and followed Belduhr dutifully, though, the hissing ghouls hovering just beyond the threshold of light sent a prickle down her spine. It was unnerving at a base level, and it made her hurry up the stairs a little quicker.

Her legs were longer than Belduhr's, but not really by much. She sprang up them with far more ease, however, spry and light. Trying not to hover too closely warred with the desire to keep as close to the one of the pair more readily capable of defending her at this moment. Raigryn was watching their back, plenty busy with that task, and didn't need her underfoot.

When Belduhr yelped at the top of the stairs, Fife gasped and flinched back hard enough to nearly stumble down a few steps, narrowly catching her footing. She watched with awe as he succinctly dealt with the beast. It fell, its head crunched in, and Belduhr turned to yell in frustration to the shadows.

And, thankfully, he had eyes behind him. Fife spotted the second ghoul, looking to make good on his companion's misfortune, lurch forward in the shadows opposite.

Whistling sharply, Fife's hand didn't need Joy to be quick. She reached to her boot, withdrew her knife, and threw it without hesitation. The blade narrowly missed the dwarf as it whizzed past him, striking the ghoul almost uselessly in the arm -- but it hit.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //​

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard reached down and collected some sticks thick enough for a fire. There wasn't much but he made do with what he got. It was such a strange place. The flora, the creatures they were definitely not in Arethil. Was it possible that they are in the lands of the Easterlings? Richard had heard tales about them. Olive skinned, with slanted eyes and black hair they were more focused on harmony and peace similar to the Elves.

He also heard that they have a special form of magic called Ki in which they harness mystical energy from the body which allow them run, jump and attack in phenomenal
ways. There were stories of Easterlings killing armored knights with nothing more than their bare hands. No doubt that the Easterlings were fueled by the power of Ki.

The Bard Knight sighed there was no sign of Easterlings or any one else for that matter but if those stories were true....

Richard headed back to the tree stump were he saw Myrcella Bochanan sleeping peacefully. Bending down, Richard gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before starting the fire.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDORANN/WILLOW

The kiss startled her, yet she didn't jump. Instead she just stirred. Her eyes flitted open and she smiled a little, seeing Richard Henry the Eighth working on what she expected to be the fire. Her stomach grumbled a little as she was once again hungry. And oh how she longed for some tea. And blankets. And a bed. And desserts! There was just so much that she took for granted before. Never again though!

"How does it look out there? Any sign of...well, anything?" Myrcella was used to being around servants and the like. This isolation was quite uncommon.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDORANN/WILLOW

"So far there's no one out in this forest," Richard said as he began fan the fire next to Myrcella Bochanan "Which is probably a good thing since there's a lot of treasure who'll do whatever it takes to get their hands on that treasure." Hearing Myrcella's stomach growling, he got out some more Lemon Cakes from his pocket and gave it to the young girl. "Take it," he said. "I know you're hungry."

Richard then sat back next to Myrcella staring at the flames. "When you're ready," he said. "We're going to head to the top of the mountain. Just be prepared for anything okay?"

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella nodded. There was no one around. Maybe in some ways that was good, like in the way that Richard Henry the Eighth pointed out. But in other ways it left them to fend for themselves.

She held out her hands to the flames to warm them, but then raised a brow as Richard offered her some more lemon cake. "But what about you? I haven't seen you eat." She took the piece and broke it in half, holding the other half out for him while she ate her half. He needed his strength more than she did.

"What kinds of things are you expecting?"

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard smiled, he only ate berries during the journey the good kind not the ones that'll make a person pass out as soon as they take a bite. As much as he wanted Myrcella Bochanan to eat the entire Lemon Cake, he had to admit that he wanted some cake as well. "Thank you Mrycella," Richard said as he began to eat with gusto.

"I expect monsters to ambush us," he said. "We're in the middle of a forest so that means that wild animals or monsters have taken up shop here. There's a lot of fruits and vegetables along with a watering hole. Perfect for any creatures to set up."

So far there wasn't any sign of a monster or a competitor, so that was good for now. "But we must hurry if we ought to take the weapon." he said. "Maybe you're right maybe it'll send us home."

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

At the mention of monsters, Myrcella couldn't help but tense up. Worry was easily seen on her face. Given their recent bad luck with monsters, it wasn't too hard to guess that she wasn't eager to go looking for more trouble.

"Then I suppose we should try to hurry...The sooner we find that weapon, the sooner we can get back home."

That seemed a logical thought. However she was trying to think of all the different ways that Richard Henry the Eighth could fight off monsters while holding her. And if there was more than one at a time...

"How long would it take us to get up there?"

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard could see the worry etched on Myrcella Bochanan 's face. Ever since her encounter with the Rock Troll it was just downhill from there. "We should," Richard said rubbing his rugged chin. "I just wish we had a sign or something that would lead us to the treasure."

They were like blind mice searching for a piece of cheese, except the cheese was surrounded by traps, monsters and predators willing to snack on them. On top of that there were other competitors out there and Richard wasn't sure if he can stand up to them especially with Myrcella still hurt.

"I'm not sure," Richard shrugged. "I guess we have keep going up and it'll probably take us a few days."

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

And she would probably slow Richard Henry the Eighth down. No doubt carrying her wasn't as easy as carrying a satchel or a book.

"Well hopefully we're not too late. We are the most deserving, afterall. Especially you." He was the most heroic out of everyone she knew but her Father. But with everything that he had done since she got hurt and their horrid journey began, well, he deserved a lot.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

"No," Richard finished the last of his lemon cake. "If anyone who deserves to get home is you Myrcella, you kept me going even when I was losing hope during our travels. I'll do whatever it takes for you to go home to your mother and your sister. Myrcella Bochanan you deserve the prize more than any one."

Richard wrapped his arm around Myrcella as he continued to stare into the fire.

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Fife Belduhr Brighthand

Raigryn had to keep his attention behind them for a few moments longer. Drawing from his Avarice he sent a flurry of green shards into the lower steps. It wasn't much of a barrier but it would dissuade the ghouls from following quickly.

"Keep moving!" he shouted as he came thundering up the stairs. Raigryn stepped past Fife and swung his sword low. It took the ghouls left leg off below the knee cap. Another strike killed the monster and he retrieved the knife. They might have a need of it yet. He tossed it at the floorboards ahead of Belduhr and Fife.

"The bridge!"

He eyed the nest of ghouls as they stalked forwards. These ones hadn't even seen the feast on the floor below.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella leaned into Richard Henry the Eighth as he wrapped his arm around her. "I don't have any use for the weapon. I just want us home..."

How much time was left before they were supposed to wed? No doubt the wedding was to be held in Elbion. Would it be delayed? Or rushed? How much time did she have left to spend with her Mother and sister before she was taken away? There were too many questions running through her mind. But at least she wasn't alone.

Myrcella took one of his hands and interlocked their fingers. "Sing me a song?" Richard used to sing to her after her Father was killed. He helped her through the mourning process by singing and telling jokes to make her feel better. They both could use that now.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard nodded as he felt Myrcella Bochanan lean onto him, home that felt probably a continent away. As much as Richard dreamed of an adventure, this wasn't what he wanted. It wasn't what Myrcella wanted as well, trying to be independent and attempting to break away from an arranged marriage.

Richard felt Myrcella's soft hand collide with his as she requested him to sing. "Very well," he said. The Bard Knight closed his eyes and remembered a song his mother sang to him when he was a boy.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella closed her eyes as Richard Henry the Eighth began to sing. The song was beautiful as expected, and it made her feel more comfortable in his arms. Not only did she hear him sing, but she felt it too, through the vibrations of his throat and chest. It lulled her into a more relaxed state.

When it was over, she opened her eyes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you. That was beautiful." The one advantage of having a bard for a husband was that they could always sing when the need called for it. And they could sing well. No doubt there'd be plenty of times in their future when she'd need to be soothed and calmed. Hopefully Richard wouldn't be off somewhere in war.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard nodded, it was the first song he'd learned when he was a child. Admittedly Richard hadn't sang it much, only singing it for his own pleasure or when he felt down about something. "Of course Myrcella Bochanan," Richard smiled holding her close. It was good to fill the young woman with hope. For days he noticed that Myrcella was giving into despair, sometimes a good song is what was needed to lift the spirits up.

"It's all about hope," Richard said getting up and stomping out the fire. "Don't ever give up hope Myrcella," he said. "You ready to go and find this item?"

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella nodded. Richard Henry the Eighth was right. She shouldn't lose hope, otherwise she could be inviting their failure. Afterall it was her attitude that got them into this huge mess, wasn't it?

She held up her arms so that he could lift her up. "I am. I just hope that we can recognize it when we find it."

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard picked Myrcella Bochanan up bridal carry style as he stared at the fire place. Hopefully they didn't attract any animals or monsters. "Well it is a sword," Richard said. "Hidden in a special area, these weapons tend to be different than your average one. So it wouldn't too hard to spot the difference."

The forest was massive and Richard couldn't tell where he was going, the only thing he was going by was his gut feeling and right now it was telling Richard to go straight..... wherever that is. Looking up Richard noticed a statue of a man posing he couldn't make out his face but he noticed his bald head. The man was posing possibly in a fighting stance. Was he a warrior? Did people really lived this high up in the mountains? Not even the Sky Elves settled down at this elevation.

"Hard to believe that people lived high up in the mountains," Richard said observing the statue.

 

[Kikwi]

Island 3: Pandarann / Willow
Smiling One

Kikwi nodded, doing his best to put on a tough expression. He walked forwards to the house, sweeping his face from side to side and listening intently. He could hear the wind rustling the grass and whistling over the corners of the home. Gentle creaking of the wooden roof, dust settling beyond the door. It didn't appear that anyone was around.

He pulled a small glass bottle from his robes. Inside was a single brightly-colored centipede. He had found it while exploring some warmer woodlands and figured it may be useful for this upcoming challenge. It was about four inches long and a brilliant scarlet color. At the end of its body were two bright yellow pincers, and while Kikwi knew that the venom was not lethal, it would cause a very painful sting.

Shuffling carefully to the door he gingerly uncorked the bottle and laid the opening at the foot of the door. The creature eagerly scuttled out and under the door, crossing into the home. If anyone were inside they would surely make their presence known once they saw the centipede, especially if it stung them first.