An Unforseen Storm (ranger and thetwo)

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley put a hand on Jenn's arm and indicated the group of people who were apparently there to answer questions, even if they weren't happy about it. "That first one we killed in the great hall was floating, it must have been using magic. If they don't know we should probably tell them. And I knew those strange women were trying to get into my head... I'm just glad we got out of there before it was too late."

As they got closer, Ashley was suddenly struck by how familiar the human woman looked. She couldn't quite place her, but she was sure that she recognized her from... somewhere. She approached the woman, and decided that there was only one way to find out. "I'm sorry, but you look awfully familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?"

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe listened to Professor Greyback explanation of each of the creatures as she followed the mass of students her own thoughts of her experiences troubling her mind. She only stopped briefly to examine the cell with the five woman wondering grimly if not for the timely intervention of Tesnya if should be behind this very tank starring lifelessly out into space. Shuddering she moved to catch up with the rest of the students.

When they reached the cell with the tentacle beasts she tried to keep her eyes on the professor but try as she might her eyes seemingly of their own accord kept wandering to the creatures within. She could feel her heart beat faster as the memories of brief encounter with one came flooding to the surface. So vivid the memories it almost felt like she was in the creatures tentacles again. The beast was thrusting in her with wild abandon causing all her inhibitions to melt before its onslaught she wanted this she needed this... "Do not let them touch you, as even a slight touch will weaken your concentration.". Chloe snapped out of her memory her face flushed. She scolded herself as the group of students moved on to the next cage. Filled with shame and a little self disgust for getting aroused by the memory of being violated by the beast Chloe barely heard the rest of the explanation of the remaining creatures and not feeling in the mood to talk head to the cafeteria for something eat.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

Jenn went with Ashley to speak to the assistant whom she felt as though she recognized, and Charles went off to talk to another of them, but Tesnya and Nina went with Chloe to find something to eat. They followed a corridor that eventually took them up some stairs and out of the dungeon, before being directed outside. As the cafeteria was being used as a place for people to sleep, they were using the courtyards for dining, and they were made to form a line leading toward a set of tents where breakfast was being handed out. Chloe recognized the man from before, who had grinned sheepishly at her from the floor of the cupboard, back in the kitchens, as one of them men standing among a set of grills cooking. He was too busy to notice her. Nina tapped her on the shoulder as they stood waiting for some food, and then whispered; "Are you okay? You looked a little bit... Uncomfortable."

Meanwhile, back down in the dungeon, the woman whom Ashley wanted to speak to had just finished with a pair of young male students, and turned to look at Ashley as she spoke to her. The woman looked confused at her question, and tilted her head to say; "No.... I don't think that we've met before. I've not been here for very long, you see. I was just sent here by my father, who performs studies on creatures much like Mistress Greyback. Would you happen to know him, by any chance? I'm told that I look a lot like him, though I'm not sure if that's a good thing, given how old he is." An older mans sharp feature appeared in Ashley's mind, and a quick comparison revealed many similarities between this woman, and the old sorcerer she remembered meeting in Artmirst.

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley frowned. She remembered the old man... and remembered that she had been warned against him. "Yes, I met him. Cornelius? I provided him with a couple of samples from the demons there. No wonder I had trouble placing you. And I suppose while I'm here I should mention that me and Jenn killed a demon who was clearly using magic in the great hall. It was floating, and didn't live long enough for us to see any more. I guess nobody managed to get a live sample of that kind?"

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe smiled weakly. "Ill be alright really its.... just..... well seeing the creatures in the cells brought back a lot of memories of what happened yesterday. I... just haven't shaken it off yet. Ill be alright though." Chloe looked Nina in the eyes and smiled. "How about you? Are you holding up pretty good?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

The woman nodded to Ashley as she mentioned the man's name, but she frowned as Ashley spoke of the creature she and Jenn had destroyed back in the dining hall. "That's the one. And we've got three other reports about creatures like that, but we didn't have any living samples, and all we've got are a handful of reports. Master Greyback decided that that wasn't enough to include in the briefing, particularly since all of the stories are basically the same, that whoever saw one of these things killed it as soon as they saw it."

Nina smiled reassuringly, but the expression was very brittle, and she replied; "I'm glad that you're doing okay. I can't imagine what that would have been like, having one of those things touch me like that... I'm doing alright. A couple of my friends... Didn't make it, yesterday. I'm doing okay, and I think I'll be alright, at least until this crisis is over... But I could barely sleep last night."

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley considered that statement. "Well, everyone who encountered one and survived killed it as soon as they saw it. I guess that's about it. If you see your father... actually, I think he might still owe me some money." She grinned, and turned to make sure that Jenn didn't have any questions, before proceeding out of the area.

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe felt a pain in her heart and took Nina's hand. "How about this you can cry on my shoulder anytime you want just as long as I can cry on yours. Deal?" With that said she pulls Nina into a light embrace. "Now lets get something to eat before its all gonel."Looking up from her friendly hug Chloe noticed Tesnya had already gone through the line. "HEY! TESNYA WAIT FOR US!"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

A slight smile crossed Dina's face at Chloe's words, and she nodded, saying; "Deal!" She hugged Chloe tightly, but as they parted, and Chloe shouted to Tesnya, she shuddered slightly, though she was still smiling.

The woman nodded grimly at Ashley's comment about the floating creatures, but then cracked a smile at her words about Cornelius owing her money. "I'll try to remind him, next time I'm home. What's your name again?"

Ashley and Jenn emerged from the school and into the grey morning light, having followed the same course as Chloe, Tesnya and Nina. Indeed, they came out just as Chloe was issuing her shout to Tesnya, and as such, they could easily have gone over to the rest of their group if they so desired. Tesnya turned and spotted them as well as she glanced back to answer Chloe's shout; "Well, hurry up then!" She snapped back. The line was advancing steadily, people picking up food and heading off to find someplace to eat it, usually in fairly large groups of at least a dozen members, all chatting quietly amongst themselves.

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley told the woman her name, then moved out into the cafeteria area. She and Jenn got their food, and then moved to join the others at a table. "Does anyone know what exactly it is that they have for us to do today? I mean, after that tour I assume there's at least a chance of us running into more of those things, but are we attacking them, or scouting, or just defending?"

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe cocked her head to the side a little. "Are you alright Nina? Are you cold or something?" she asked while filling her dish with food. "Looks like you had a little shiver or something." After hearing Nina's reply Chloe gave a cheerful wave to Jen and Ashley as she made her way to a small grassy area next to Tesyna.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

"What? Oh, no, not really. Just, that was a little loud, you know? I wasn't ready for it." Nina replied awkwardly, as they got some breakfast the line for food. Ashley and Jenn joined them a moment later, and they all went over to a table together. One cleared just as they were getting out of line, and they squeezed into it before it was claimed.

Jenn glanced at Ashley as she spoke, biting off a piece of bacon and chewing it heartily. Tesnya, who was still chewing on a large chunk of pancake, muttered in response; "Beats me! I'm sure they'll have us doing something, rather than just leave it to the teachers." Her words, in her accent, were barely understandable, muffled as they were by her full mouth. However, before anything else could happen, Charles sat down next to Ashley, carrying a plate of his own, and said; "We're going to be put into patrols, and sent into the woods to root out whatever is left of the things that attacked us. He wants us to get to the corpse of that giant floating thing, and bring back samples of it. No "volunteers only" this time. Everyone except the students under fourteen have to help out with that, even the staff with no sort of magical prowess. Dean's orders. I signed us all up together, since I figured that all of us would prefer to be around people we know, rather than people we don't." He started eating as soon as he was finished, digging into his plate and not looking at any of them.

Tesnya nodded, and continued eating her breakfast without responding. Jenn and Nina both looked shaken, their faces Ashen. Nina's hand trembled slightly as she very slowly forced a piece of sausage into her mouth, and Jenn glanced at her unfinished plate with a look of disgust and resignation on her face.

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley considered the news for a moment. On the one hand, mandatory patrols wasn't something that she would normally support, especially with such a low cut-off age. On the other hand... "They're right. I don't think this is something we can sit out, even if this weren't 'mandatory'. They said other cities were hit as well, and if most of them didn't do as well as the Academy then this is going to be a problem that everyone in the world is going to have to face sooner or later. So it's probably best that we face it now, when they're weak and we have lots of allies, so that we can learn what there is to learn."

She looked at Jenn and the other girl, who hadn't taken the news well. "It might be frightening, but at least we'll all be there together. It'll be safer that way."

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe frowned a little poking at her scrambled eggs. "Well Ashley is right we can't ignore this and I would rather be with people Ive seen in combat before. Besides we have all fought the creatures and we know what they are capable of. So it should be easier this time around". She looks over at Nina and places a hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Think of it this way we have Charles and Tesnya two of the most combat capable people I have seen in a long time". She through a confident smile at Jen. "We'll be fine as long as we stick together right!". Her last statement was more of a announcement than a question and she hoped that everyone missed the little quiver in her voice. As confident as she sounded Chloe wasn't feeling all that brave at the moment.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

Jenn nodded hesitantly at Ashley's reassurances, but very quietly responded; "It's just.... Why did this have to happen now? This isn't... These things don't seem to have any motive.... " Confusion and anger warred on Jenn's face for which would sit upon it, but after a moment she just shook her head, and asked, louder than before so all of them could hear more easily; "When do we have to go?" Nina seemed interested in the answer to that particular question as well, and offered Chloe a slight smile as she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. Charles swallowed a bite of his breakfast before responding; "Nine on the clock. Right after breakfast, basically. If we wait to do anything else, we might be late, and as little as I care for the opinion of the Dean, we'd best be ready to go on time just to avoid a lecture. I hear he can be particularly dry. We have to report to the main entrance of the Academy around then."

At Chloe's seemingly confident shout, Tesnya grinned and nodded, while Charles spared her an amused gaze. Nina looked pale, but had her face set in as stony expression, while Jenn simply scowled at the table, not looking at anyone. Once they finished their breakfast, they went off to the main entrance of the Academy, moving through what seemed like miles of stone corridors lined with empty classrooms. Eventually, they reached the main hall, and then stepped out of the massive main doors. There were a great deal of people out there, most of them students or teachers of the Academy, but Charles immediately led them over to none other than Vartath, the old veteran sitting behind a table that now held a different set of papers, as well as an aging rifle with a box of ammunition sitting next to it. The one eyed old soldier grinned at them as they approached, his missing teeth barred, and wheezed; "Heh, you bunch headin' out for the patrols eh? Good hunting!" He handed a box to Charles, who promptly opened it and withdrew a set of badges, one of which was larger than the rest.

"Those should let you communicate with one another with just a touch, and a little bit of effort and energy, or so the other wizards tell me. The big one allows whoever wears it to communicate with the rest of the squad leaders, as well as us here. Fancy stuff! And should be useful in case you get separated." Vartath explained, and Charles handed out the smaller badges before pinning one on himself. He stared down at the larger one, but then said; "Who should carry the larger badge? I expect to be getting up close, so I don't know if I should be the one to hold on to it, in case I get knocked around a little. I will if no one else wants to, though...."

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Ashley nodded. Communication was very important in a situation like this, and while there were simple spells that would do the job, anything that would simply and organize the process would be a great boon to the Academy as a whole and everyone involved in the 'hunting'. They would just have to be careful in case any communicators fell into enemy hands.

And then there was a question of who would be the squad leader. She looked at Jenn, but the other girl had been so scared of what they were going to do... perhaps this wasn't the best time for the water mage to lead. "I'd be willing to take it, though I don't really have much experience leading."

She wouldn't argue too strenuously, though, if anyone else claimed to have leadership experience. The most important thing was that someone was leading, and she thought that she would do fine. But if the leader had experience then that would be a bonus as well.

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe looked at the larger badge a thoughtful expression on her face. She had thought about taking it herself but decided that it probably wouldn't be for the best considering she had enough problems getting herself organized and ready just for class. Add another 5 people to that and no telling what chaos it would be. "I think it should be Ashley or Charles myself. Ashley did fine in our last encounter with the creatures and Charles just has that air about him." She shrugged and let the others voice their opinion if they had any before pinning her badge on.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Spoiler

Chloe: HP = 65, PP = 56, EP = 65, Status = Fine

Spoiler

Ashley: HP = 49, PP = 66, EP = 45, Status = Fine

Tesnya didn't seem particularly interested in the conversation, and Nina nodded to what Chloe said, responding with; "Well... I don't want to carry it, and I guess one of you two would be the best choice....". Charles promptly held out the badge to Ashley, saying; "I might drop it somewhere if we run into anything, so maybe you ought to carry it. You were pretty good at keeping those things away from you yesterday." there was neither pride, nor humility in his voice, and it seemed like Charles was probably making the decision based purely on tactical considerations. The young nobleman either didn't recognize, or didn't care that he was placing himself under Ashley's authority.

Vartath chirped in; "You'll be going to... sector C-11. That's just South of the crashed thing, so be careful. You'll need to go Northeast until you reach the ruins of a small village at the top of a hill. The only building with more than a foundation remaining is an old church to some ancient god or another, which is still mostly intact somehow. That's the South West corner of the area you need to search. You've got about three square miles to cover, and the scholar types want you to document everything, and bring back samples of whatever creatures you kill. Daylight's waistin, so you'd best get going now if you wanna be back before nightfall. Good hunting!"

Unless the members of the group had anything else they wanted to do, it would be about time to leave. That much ground would take the better part of a day to cover, and it was a walk of several miles in order to get there in the first place. The start of their search was deep within the woods, and even though the area surrounding the Academy was largely safe, there were still dangerous beasts to worry about, and that wasn't including the risk of more of the monsters that had come from the fallen creature wandering through the woods.

 

[ranger]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

Chloe waited near Nina to see if anyone had anything else to do before they set out. "Well Nina where about to head out how are you fairing?" She looked at the Nina very closely while she responded. "I think well do alright". Chloe smiled as warm memories from her first outing with Grace surfaced. She had said pretty much the same thing Chloe had just told Nina and Chloe imagined she probably had the same I'm going to throw up look that Nina was having right now as well. "All we have to do is stick together and watch each others backs and those creatures won't stand a chance." With that said Chloe set about reading herself for the upcoming trek to the search area.

She had just gotten done adjusting her armor and tightening her boots when her hand went to make sure her dagger was in its sheath. Not feeling the cool steel where it normally rested she patted around and looked about the ground to see if it fell when she remembered her encounter in the academy. "Oh no I must have forgotten to grab it after my encounter with the creature yesterday." A frown darkened Chloe's features. "I guess I will just have to make do with out it." Chloe smiled but still felt dejected from the loss of her favorite possession. "Well it looks like everyone is ready lets catch up real quick there is something I want to ask Jen and Ashley."

(Did we ever get a description of Nina?)

 

[thetwo]

Re: Chloe and Ashley (ranger and thetwo)

"I suppose our objective is to kill all the creatures from the ship that are in our sector. And being back before nightfall sounds like a great idea to me, so we should probably get moving if nobody has anything important left to do first."

Ashley sounded more confident then she felt, but as long as they stayed together they ought to be fairly safe. And if something went wrong... well, then there was the communicator to call for help with. But that was being a little pessimistic. In the mean time, Ashley was ready to leave as long as nobody else voiced any objections. Once they reached their designated area it would be time to make a few plans, but that would be difficult before they saw where they would be searching.