Vaude

Pang shuffled uncomfortably at the door under Galla's and her skull's gaze, feeling quite guilty about waking the lady necromancer up, but he summoned up his courage to speak up again. "Yeah, sorry," he answered apologetically, scratching his cheek as he looked elsewhere. "Had I known you were sleeping, I would not have bothered, but everyone is gathered at the Gate and hoped for your assistance saving an Aquafolk town from undead. You and your skills came to mind, so I hoped to invite you to join us. However, if you would rather rest, that is fine. I know sleep doesn't come readily for me either." -- -- -- Winona accepted the young man's question with all haste, trying her best to ensure that everybody was at their very best before heading out. She had no idea that he was without any gear, though thankfully there were precautions for this sort of situation. "You can purchase new gear, from armour to weapons, in the room with the job board. The shopkeeps there have a lot of unique finds as well as run-of-the-mill weapons, but you can always borrow from the armoury. It is right next door, so take your pick until you find a weapon you really like, be it bought or borrowed. If not"--she tossed a hefty satchel of gold coins toward Lukkel with a wide grin--"here's my wallet for you to buy something suitable for you. Just be quick about it. I don't want to slow everybody down too much." Options: standard small weapon: 500 gold -- standard medium or large weapon: 1000 gold -- enchanted weapon with one enchantment: 2500 gold. Purse amount: 3800 gold.

@Mystics Apprentice, Rhiannon is accepted, and lights are green for her roleplay involvement whenever you are ready! I can imagine this character as being dangerous against those unwary to her interestingly well-implemented dragoon-esque Jump abilities. I also like the fact that magic is not highly used by your character. Most have an elemental theme to them, but the physical is just as decent as pure magic or a blend of both, so good on you there! After giving it some thought, the higher-ups will typically look like elongated humans in their physiology, somewhat like High Elves from The Elder Scrolls franchise. Rhiannon can follow this principle and be taller and skinnier than normal (I was thinking along the lines of Freya Crescent a little from Final Fantasy IX), though that is up to you. Also, @Scrapmaster, Time Lord's Curse is accepted, and I apologise for not taking a gander at it as soon as I had previously hoped. This would be a menacing debuff, especially when paired up with a hasted Hektor. I look forward to seeing everyone's characters in action as time goes on and the roleplay progresses further! This is quite the well-rounded cast.

Pang smiled at Ceres' concern for Galla and was about to answer before Kolm jumped in with his opinion. Perhaps the young man did not know that the arena rejuvenated people to their original condition before entering the match, but he seemed more than happy to leave her behind. Maybe Galla thought the same thing, which is why she thrust him onto Pang. They were like oil and water, it seemed, even if they shared a few likenesses in their personalities. "It is true that we have a number of vets on our hands," he admitted with pause, mulling over things seemingly carefully, "and yet she might be very useful if this is a bigger situation than what is listed. Sometimes the ratings for the tasks are poor, to the say the least, though that's a hundred-to-one ratio deal. I like to err on the side of caution, but if she needs her rest she needs her rest. I'll pose the question to her. "Like Winona said," he continued, "I don't want to have anybody die because of this adventure, though if you all are stalwart in your decisions I will place my full trust in your unique skillsets. You were chosen for a reason, after all." With a look of satisfaction, he scanned over the group, then over to the newcomers, Lucia being a grizzled vet like himself, Reksis a newcomer he already met, and Hektor a new face entirely. He tilted his head in surprise for but a moment before he bowed in like to the dapper gentleman, but with both hands brought together in the Oriental style. "A pleasure to make yours as well, good sir," he brought to voice, eyeing the man's cane as he lifted his head. "You will be a welcome addition to Reksis, I am assured, and I will try to provide as much information as I can to aid you in your quest. Medicine will help the recuperation efforts once we all save this village, so I thank you both there." "No need, Pang. I will assist them throughout the process," wheezed a masculine voice outside of the crowd belonging to Hogarth, the man magnificently oozing his way through the crowd. His three mechanical eyes blinked systematically with perfect timing as he licked his lips and spoke up again. "I'm laying claim to the medicine one as well, if you'll have me, and the bug collection one too. Both are in the Elysian Forest, and nature essences are in the forest too, which I need to gather for my experiments. You both can have my helpings of the medicine job's rewards." Pang looked surprised at the bushy-haired man, but Winona beat him to the punch with her query. "Not that I doubt you, Hogie, but that's very ambitious of you. Are you sure you want to take two jobs at once?" she asked. "My ability can make both gathering missions a cinch, though my personal mission would be a little more difficult for me. I'm neither druid nor conjurer, so nature elements and elementals are hard for me to see. Well, excepting those four over there. Pleasure meeting you, Gnome," he spoke up, making a light bow in her direction. "Well, all right," sighed Winona as she watched the automaton work its magic upon both job entries with its purple stamp. "I guess that means we can take off, then. Pang?" "Yes?" responded Pang, confused. "Go and ask Galla if she will join. I'll show everyone the Gate in the meantime and wait for you and her if she is willing." "Understood," he responded with a smile, padding his way through the crowd, stooping to miss the door's threshold, and spilling into the hallway. Winona cracked a grin at seeing his big tiger self do all of this before turning her attention back to those around her and waving for them to follow. "Come with me, everyone. I'll take you to the Gate, which is in the room next door for future convenience. It sends people through it and into other worlds, its waypoints changing every so often to prevent those the Haven considers enemies from getting the jump on us. If anyone needs to return for any reason, the Gate can answer your beck and call and teleport you back to Haven. It is getting back that is the hard part, so make sure you are well-stocked on food, water, and potions if you need them before you go." As she finished, a monolithic ring yawned in front of the crowd, immobile, yet looking like it once was made of something organic, but now was stone. This colossal structure, standing fifty feet tall and dwarfing everything around it, was the Gate. Electronics hummed and glittered on the wall next to it, and beside them were small bio-domes popping with sparks as small creatures within swam in the provided water and powered the devices. -- -- -- Pang trotted down the hallway at first and slowed to a crawl as he wondered how exactly he was going to ask Galla if she could join them or not on the mission. Camaraderie? Friendship? She was not the most people-friendly individual and did not care much for interaction, so how was he going to generate incentive for her? Frowning and swallowing his doubts, he rapped a few knocks on the door and fished for possibilities. "Galla, it's Pang. Might I have a word with you? It concerns a mission," he spoke outside her door. Then, he waited, hoping for an answer.

The white tiger and Winona both looked at the job with casual interest, Pang nodding with a smile and Winona solemnly chewing on her lip, revealing her worry. This was a challenge for newcomers, but a breeze for the seasoned veterans. She only hoped that there would be no casualties. Pang perked up and waved at Ceres as she approached, bringing to voice, "Perfect timing, Ceres, and we would be happy to take you along. It seems we are reaching a consensus on saving Fawksreach, this Aquafolk village. I've been there before. They are a well-fortified town, but their small militia is mostly made up of wind mages and not sturdy warriors. We can definitely take down this threat, especially with a paladin to protect us and"--he looked around before concluding she was away--"we have Galla to bolster our numbers with the enemies' own. I will have to ask her to come before we leave. She would be very useful on this job." Winona nodded in agreement near the desk and pointed out the slip of paper to the service drone behind the desk. "We are heading out for that one, then," she uttered, forcing the worry off of her face and a smile onto her lips. The service drone blinked and rotated its optical sensors before taking out a purple stamp from within its compartmentalised arm. One mark of the seal later, and their job was identified for their company and their company only. Most jobs were like this to prevent stealing of compensation from other people within Haven, though there were some choice exceptions. "Any takers on the other jobs?" Winona piped, gazing over the crowd. "If you are unused to combat, I would recommend collecting bugs or herbs still. They can be just as useful and lifesaving to the right medical people, and there's less danger involved. If not, let's all go on this job. It would be a great start for combat, fighting weak undead, and you can put down on your resume that you saved a town." She cracked a grin. "Not many can say that."

- Nergodin, within Isopolis with every kind of attack sent his way - From within the mindscape of the shared body, Odin gazed across towards Nergal with malign disdain, sharing his contempt with the other. He had been watching without as well as within, time slowed from examining things inwardly, and the outside events seemed troubling at best now that he had been shoved to the sidelines by the consciousness of Nergal. If you think you can stop me from doing anything, Ashen One, he answered gruffly, you would be horrifically mistaken. However, this petty feuding will do neither of us good now that we have fused, so I will grant you this. I gift to you my word as assurance that Yevgeni will be safe to the best of my abilities. However, as he has turned his sword towards both of us, some method must be provided to ensure his survival. My recommendation is Lysander. Hear me out while I confess its secret to you, so that you may use it as potently as I: it can turn enemies into allies. When the blade and its accompanying arm becomes ethereal and it slashes a person or animate object, the being becomes more prone to psychological assaults and charisma. We need slash Yevgeni in such a manner only once or twice, and he will no longer press himself against us in the field of combat. He may, in fact, aid us, or walk away. His eyes narrowed. They are attacking with lightning, my element. My turn. -- -- -- Throwing Nergal's consciousness back, Odin found time moving at a normal speed again for him while regaining control. The body of Nergodin loosened its stance in the face of a lightning shockwave and a ravening Raiju in the shape of a lightning wolf. Helios charged forward as well, but the fused man paid more attention to the electric attacks sent his way. A handsign of Flying General's Lightning Channel protected him for the most part from Jynn's powerful black lightning, absorbing much of the energy for Nergodin's own, though charring strands managed to get through and graze his skin. Helios came next, but Nergodin dodged to the side, performed an aerial kick aimed for Helios' exposed flank, and spiralled away from both Jynn and the Spriggan. Last, but certainly not least, was Arthur, the energy manifestation approaching speedily and quickly latching on to his arm with its jaws and attempting to electrocute him. Nergodin grunted in pain as he fought the electric current, but with Lightning Channel still active there was no significant danger to him. Instead, it would be more dangerous--maybe disastrous--to Arthur, as he did not have much of a body between him and his energy anymore. "Did you not recall I had this?" the simultaneous voices of the fused beings called out before Nergodin shifted and pulled his arm closer to Arthur, attempting to put the Raiju in a headlock. Next up would be placing his active Lightning Channel on Arthur's head, which he quickly attempted should Arthur not squirm out of his bonds. Much more happened in the background, he realised. Aqua was being brought away from the fight by an escort, and barriers were being put up by someone in the group, Rabiyu, most likely. He had to cut down or convert the elven lass Rabiyu quickly, if he could, much like Henry. If he could make her an ally, the situation would be significantly less problematic. Speaking of Henry, the man was still alive, much to his annoyance. It did not matter much in the end with that wound of his, and that witcher's concoction he drank. Likely his allies worsened the effects rather than aided. He liked that possibility. - Rufus Contralto - Rufus was still in shock by the turn of events, uncertain about a great number of things. There was Raiden's -- or rather Odin's -- betrayal towards them all, and the massive confusion that occurred with the Source merging two people into one that threw him for a loop. There was also that ominous looming figure in the background, a shade from the look of things, but one of a kind that he had seen only once before. Those glowing eyes, and that lustrous smile that gave out light where it should not. Could it be . . . ? However, duty called quicker than it usually did, with a king that desired a wish. Looking down upon the scenario, Aura granted the man Rufus' lamp in order to make the wish come true, and Rufus was more than happy to assist with this. "You wish for augmented senses? I will happily grant you this wish. Hold out your hand onto the lamp and it shall be so." With a whole bunch of hand-waving and silly faces, Rufus readied the rite of wish granting. Should Alderon touch the lamp, the magic will be released and he will be a stronger, more in-tune individual than he was currently.

Echo! Echo. Echo... Echo... I feel compelled to post here after the long, eerie silence, and to say hello more often here, maybe initiate ideas every now and again outside the world of PMs and the now erased chat system. Also, I feel it necessary to apologise for my slowness. Working far away really saps me of time, sad to say, though I still feel more than eager to call this the first RP I've ever finished. The luck-based, D&D-style attack of Aqua's seems rather nice, though it does not often see much use in roleplays where fighting is more than the power of the attack. It still can be useful, and I like how you laid out the rolls, SB. Now, *crackles knuckles*, let's get a post underway and hopefully submitted before I pass out from exhaustion.

Pang and Winona shared smirks as they oversaw the greeting process between the newcomers. Therein was a commonality shared by all of them: they all were ripped from places that they knew for so long and brought here for a new purpose, and even still they were getting along and seemingly becoming fast friends. Pang seemed worried, however, at Ceres' behaviour. It seemed forced a little, and painfully so, but who can blame her when she had lost a good friend to her? He took a few more gatherings of food and ate fast, especially when the proposition was made to head toward the job boards and pick out their first duties. Winona missed Ceres' actions, but was caught up with the excitement. "I think heading out to a job would be a great idea! The faster the better, though don't forget to eat and rest up enough to go out for the adventure. You just arrived, after all, and are probably still fighting off the effects of travelling so far already. At least the Gate is not that bad. You feel a tingling sensation as you slip through, and--poof!--you step into a whole different land. I will go with you folks either way, unless you split up into different jobs, then Pang and I can each take the role of chieftain in our little groups." Pang nodded in agreement after setting down his now-empty bowl "It's settled, then," he stated, his mouth shifting into a new smile. "We can go to the job board and discuss your choice tasks. It would be best to stick to the bronze-level ones for now, and silver could be performed if you are feeling daring and sure of your abilities. Keep that in mind when checking out the posts. I don't want to have another death on our hands today with any of you." Winona and Pang stood up from their seats and led the group into the next room, where abundant shops teemed with robotic life, but where very few sentient people bothered to check the inventories at this hour. The location was relatively sterile, with weapons and items neatly organised and ready for doling over the counter with the mechanical clerks. Perhaps the biggest thing that attracted attention, however, was the circular pillar in the very center of the room. A number of papers were stapled to the pillar with every type of description, though they all shared something in common: rewards for completion. There were a number of bronze-ranked quests, as well as a handful of silver-ranked ones that seemed a step more difficult, but two seemed to stand out the best in terms of quest type and rewards. Winona was quick to point out these two on the pillar. "These would be good possibilities for you guys. I do not see any limitations regarding how many adventurers need to go, and the rewards are pretty decent, considering. Anybody want to give them a go?" she queried, putting a hand on her hip as she looked over the crowd with a big smirk.

Adamina, in a flight of panic upon hearing the guard coming her way, scanned the surrounding area with fervent determination to get the jump on the man, but thankfully she heard the sounds of running and the smacking of something solid on the back of someone's head. She sighed in relief, quickly concluding it was Daniel, and checked around the corner before stepping into view. That works wonderfully. Thank you, she gave voice internally, pausing to hear above the scuffing of the goon's being dragged off out of sight and mind. It was very quiet on the ship, and that silence was very welcome to her ears. She grabbed the other goon nearby and too carted him off to an inconspicuous location near Daniel. There was always the third one down the far hall, who she had stashed away already. "This silence and the small quarters tell that we are the only ones conscious on this ship," she spoke in person, sighing and feeling confident now that she was hearing her own voice again. "Finally I can speak again. No offense to you, but I have difficulty talking with your mental link. It's . . . different. Now, let's probe these guys for information and find this captain. Surely they would be able to give us something, and now that we are alone we can take our time prodding their memories."

Accepted! As we discussed off of the site, the signature move will be locked in PVP, but a free signature move is allowed for PVP purposes. Let me know when you make the changes and I would be happy to check it out! I am excited to see Hektor's multiple talents both within and without the field of battle. ZA WARUDO!

I think the code "[ /spoiler ]" did not work due to BBcode not coming back, as you mentioned, which would explain things. I tried editing a lead post at the start of a topic, with a spoiler function at the start of the post, but the entire post was put in the spoiler and not the small bit at the beginning. When trying to edit it, I could not remove part of the text and had to copy everything to a MS Word document, remove the spoiler bubble with everything in it, and remake the post after copying everything from the MS Word document. Thankfully it took only fifteen minutes of finagling to fix, but if this can be fixed for everyone it would likely save a lot of time for all.

Dark mode is a good idea, I agree. Inverting the colour from white to black would save my eyes a lot. Here is a new one, I think. Spoilers seem to be a little buggy on the new site due to the new quote and spoiler bubble feature. I think it has something to do with [/spoiler] not working when written out. A "remove formatting" feature would be very useful to bring back, I think, or maybe some way to allow that written-out "[/spoiler]" to work again.

Thank you as well, Mystics, and I am glad that the slower pace is working out as well as it is! I will see what I can do without much rush, in that case. So here is an update for you all. The Haven's job board is open and ready for business, so whenever anybody wants to check out the job board in-game or out-of-game, feel free.

*bows*, I thank you! Keep up the good work in yours as well.

Pang and Winona shared chuckles as Lukkel dove into his food, as pleased as ever to receive his meal. "We enjoy hearty meals like this whenever we head back to Haven, yes. In the field we eat baser and more lukewarm foods than this, though they are still plenty edible and delicious. And batteries are, hmm, small boxes that are built to contain power, I guess one can put in layman's terms. There even are people that use these batteries in battle, though they are few and far between." However, in regards to Kolm's and Lukkel's other conversation, it was true that there was some hostility towards the newcomers, or at the very least edginess. They were worried, saddened, and feeling vengeful towards their fallen comrades, but few, if any, would dare approach them with such in mind. Pang was smiling at Ceres and Henry as they conversed, seemingly already friendly with each other and hitting it off well. This was very good in his eyes. Kolm's interest in the newcomer seemed to match Pang's own as well, and he was astounded to witness not just three, but four elemental companions. They comprised the four classical elements he learned of long ago, excluding aether, which made him wonder exactly what abilities Henry hid. "I would like to welcome you as well, Henry and spirits," he voiced, offering his bulky hand to the man as well good-naturedly. "If you are hungry, feel free to order something like the rest of us. You can find a menu inside the table. Ceres, that includes you too. We have just enough space for all of us to sit and enjoy a meal together before we kick off into action and test your unique skills in the field in a quest or quests of your choosing."

Sounds like a nice set of characters to introduce, so I say go for it, Scrap. Send up a character sheet for either or both of them (and maybe a balance to this miasma of the dragon man), and they would be ready for acceptance! Also, sorry for the wait, all. I hope to drop a post in the RP very soon. Life has been rather full for me as of late due to work, but it should be easier to breathe once this next week passes me by. A long project will reach completion after that, if all goes according to plan.

- Nergodin, after a successful Polymerization - His face returned to blankness as he stared at Helios, then the others. The choice really was simple, to join or potentially die, and everybody turned it into a riddle. Perhaps it was because he explained himself that everyone else decided to explain themselves and debate the topic, and as a result he entertained it for now. "And how often are you willing to fall and rise up again, young Spriggan? A second time? A thousand times? A million? You misconstrue life with riding oceanic waves, Helios. The meaning of life changes for the individual, as does the desire to live and be successful. Eventually one gives up. For mortals, the meaning is immortality or ill wishes for others. For immortals, it is ideals or whatever suits their fancy. I am no different. "Yevgeni," he voiced, his piercing eyes intent on meeting the elf's, "I intend to return everything to a zero, where sentient life begins anew. How this plays out depends upon your answers, you I called friends and allies as Odin, as the Infiltrator, and as Raiden. This leads me to your topics, Elia, Alderon. Harmony is but temporary. A momentary peace, time and time again without halt, leads to complacency and weakness, or bitterness and stockpiling of hate and resources for war. To remake the world and all beings everywhere would cure this destructive cycle. A single world with uniformity, adaptability, and consolidarity." He allowed himself a smile. "My fragment Raiden's and my wife Shiva's ideals for true peace are, while chivalric in their own ways, flawed to a fault because they allowed for individual thinking. With the Source, I will have the ability to change things for all, in truth, for the better. Unity can be realised flawlessly."

Adamina sneaked her way around as well, listening in to the conversations that buzzed in her mind instead of her ear. This sensation was quite the odd one, but it was very useful. If you can do that, and if there are any higher-ups here, I'll club 'em all over the head and we can take any information we can use while they are unconscious. They are alone, excepting the very low possibility that their comrades are skulking about in the shadows like us. They are separating one down each hallway. With luck I can take two or all three, though I might need your assistance. After that, I'll lead you through the process, Solomond, but don't go to Eddie's. He'll fix you up very wrongly, I assure you. Deeming the moment safe as one of the guards went past her as she stuck to the shadows, she readied her baton and thwacked the man on the back of the skull as he stepped two paces past her. He sagged to the ground with the help of Adamina, who braced him enough to have him land softly onto the metallic floor, and was dragged off into the dark room she came from. Next up was the guard that trailed right, and the Loft quietly followed until she was close behind him and smacked him in the same location, where the neck met the head. Any further up and the force of the blow would have made a fatal jar to the head. Luckily for him, Adamina was not the type to kill, and the situation called for his being alive, though he grunted loudly and fell a little louder than the first guard. She cursed and slipped to the side of the corridor, hoping to get out of the line of sight just in case the third and final guard heard the commotion.

Drat, people found out that I was the interloper all along! Sorry for the delay, folks; work and the weekend kicked my butt a bit, but I have time now to break the ominous silence left in my wake. A post is inbound.

- Odin, using a polymerization card - Within the fortress of air, Odin stayed still, his hand gripping around the Source of All Life with every bit of determination he can muster. He could feel the power draining from the stone and into himself, but he realised that Nergal was doing the same and, later, something wrong. His grip became tighter and tighter, and not of his own volition, and then his hand became incorporeal. No, he was not incorporeal. He was becoming engrained with the stone, and Nergal was too. However, he did not let go. He travelled too far to get the dream device. He would not lose it and his hand to an act of self-preservation that was not necessary. He would carry through all of this with all of his focus and all of his power to gain everything he ever wanted. With that final thought in mind, he held on as long as he was able until both he and Nergal were, in swirling fashion, pulled into each other, with the stone at the very centre of the entire process. The end result was a new being with just as grave a purpose. -- -- -- The shell of swirling winds slowly abated, and those with magical senses would be able to detect a great change, a spike in ambient energy before it too turned within itself and was seemingly snuffed out. The new being, clad in white and purple cloth tattered at the ends and nonsensically blending into each other, stepped out of the still-spinning vortex, unaffected by them other than the mess of similarly chromatic hair flapping in the winds. "My, what quick conformity there is in the face of inspiring words. I see why Raiden kept his silver tongue for so long. Words can cut as powerfully as any blade, and turn enemies into friends . . . but I need not words, nor a multitude of elements garnered in one place to PIERCE THE HEAVENS shatter your ranks, break your swords, and crumble your defenses." He deftly spun one of his held weapons, Lysander -- the other holding Nergal's Glaive -- before him quite speedily and caught it with an equal amount of finesse. He smiled lopsidedly. To those with keen eyes, they can gauge his quick speed as matching Nergal's, or maybe greater than it. "I give you all a chance, to join me by choice and change the Overworld for the better, or to perish or join me anyways in the hopes that this desired peace impossible to obtain would become reality. Both worlds will be equally understanding. With such a threat looming across the cloud-filled skies, both mankind and Fey will be at each other's throats like all those years ago. Eradication or integration or separation--these are the choices to prevent future outbreaks of wars between the two kinds, and all are too risky for choice. A mad wish such as this would be wasted upon something so fragile."

Winona smiled at Kolm's commentary, especially about the mechanical servants of Haven. She remembered being in awe by it as well, having never seen much of anything automated except windmills and conveyor belts, and even those were not true automations. "These machines are special in that they run off of batteries. They plug into the walls and charge themselves to full power very quickly through electricity. One can liken it to lightning magic, but far, far faster and more dependable. As for this meat . . . yes, another time would be better, but know that the provider was happy to give it. The same cannot be said about cows, so that's a plus right there, right?" Uzumeashy popped her head around that time to scan over her food patrons, and Winona waved at her with a knowing smile. Uzumeashy was only too pleased to wave back, not knowing about the conversation but always pleased to get the attention. She slipped back into the kitchen as best as she could on her one remaining leg, feeling very good about herself. Pang zoned out during this time, deep in thought until Lukkel snapped him back to reality. He smiled at the boy and answered before Winona could answer for him. "I was friends with five of them, though I can really only say I was close to three of them. Harold, Ilyana, Isabel -- they were like the brothers and sisters I never had, so losing all three of them at once is . . . a challenge, to say the least, but I will cope," he voiced, with an added note of expectation that this will happen at the end. "I do hope you are feeling better now. That transportation sickness is never fun, and the food will help rest your stomach." Almost on cue, the remainder of the ordered meals came via automated servant again, each of its several hands holding a mug, glass, or plate in hand with their choice meals and beverages. Pang remembered then that he needed to order something and brought up his menu, pressing the nicest thing that appealed to his gut. Weresalmon steaks sounded very appealing indeed, drizzled over with an orange-flavoured sauce and with a side of mashed tubers. Once you get past the five neckbones from its five heads, the steaks were so meaty that one can get three pounds' worth of meat out of the massive, muscly fish. Then came Ceres, the lovely paladin bounding in his direction with her usual youthful cheeriness. He looked up and grinned at her, revealing a canine or two as he took in both her and her travelling companion . . . or companions. Very interesting, thought he as he watched the three elementals slip into the room alongside the newcomer. Were they attached to this boy in some way or were they summoned? It is unusual to summon anything outside of the arena, excepting in the case of Roderick Corrin, one of the six that passed on, but an elementalist was a new one for him. He heard rumours of them, but never had he seen one before. "Hey there, Ceres!" Pang spoke over the din of the cafeteria. "I honestly did not say much. I offered a favour for a chance to show these two what the arena is like." He offered a seat nearby to the lass and her companion. "Pull up a stump and be comfortable, maybe order a thing or two. Is this your shadow for the day?"

It has been a good while since anyone has posted in here, and I feel rather apologetic to you all for not replying as often as usual (I had a huge workload this week), so I shall vomit out a few miniature character sheets for the six that died at the very start of the roleplay, the ones that went on that quest and failed. Feel free to integrate them with your characters, if you would like. There are holo-diaries in the rooms the six new residents came in, and feel free to be creative if you want interactions with your older Haven residents. -- -- -- -- -- Harold Ironfang: graceful, elegant, Scandinavian, and egotistical, Harold was a giant of a man standing at 6 foot, 9 inches and had a chest span of 65 inches. He was friendly and kind enough to take blows for his comrades, though hardly had the scars to prove it thanks to his insane endurance and very tough skin. He was impervious to most elemental magic and resistant to physical blows, but had a few discolourations of scar tissue on his face and stomach where he was impaled by sharp objects, and one scar across his nose where he was sliced deeply by a blade. Wielded a battleaxe as tall as he was. Friends with Ilyana Ivory and Isabel Clearwater. Fight Grade: A (specialised). Grindra Ulfrichter: secretive, tempestuous, stubborn, and above all proud, Grindra represented a fair number of stereotypes of a druid. She smelled of forests and damp caves, much to several people's distaste, and she is misogynistic to a degree, to an even greater number of people's distaste. She earned Winona's respect through saving her in a fight, but it was never reciprocated. She eventually harboured the liking of a young rogue Kimball. After one year of Kimball's being in Haven, they courted each other, but not even three days afterwards they were sent to their dooms on the Alexandrium-class quest. Wielded a druidic tome and shapeshifting magic. Friends with Kimball and Roderick. Fight Grade: B- (well-rounded). Kimball Oakfast: Kimball's a pacifist. Calm and cool. Like a . . . Buddhist monk. Kimball came to Haven young, starting at seventeen years of age, and helped out Haven with his unique skillset of being able to pick any lock and break into anything with what he calls his "icebreaking" skill. Industrious and clever, he had the makings of greatness, but was very timid around others and kept mainly to himself. Grindra he admired from afar before learning that she liked him as well, and after getting to know each other a little more they became friends just shy of a year after Kimball's arrival, then dating lovers for the short span of eleven days before everyone died in the highest-graded quest. Wielded a crossbow, mouldable key, and object manipulation magic. Friends with Grindra. Fight Grade: C- (specialised). Ilyana Ivory: A competitive fistfighter, Ilyana never was as good with words as she was with her weaponised hands. She is blunt, plain-looking, zealous, and has a glassy expression on her face, but never would you meet a sweeter individual. She cared deeply for people, even if her ability to articulate was limited, and she often put it to action by acting as a bouncer within Haven and holding self-counseling sessions. She became fast friends with Harold Ironfang, and others too drifted toward her over time. She taught Pang several pugilistic moves and was an excellent combat specialist, mastering several martial arts and skilled in dozens more. Her strength was renowned as well, as well as her immobility in difficult situations. She could stop a charging rhino and not budge an inch. Wielded her fists and twin tiger hook swords. Friends with Harold, Roderick, and Isabel. Fight Grade: A+ (specialised). Roderick Corrin: Roderick was a sorceror in that he summoned fell creatures to do his dirty work, and fed them portions of his own energy in order to do so. Horribly morose, unfriendly, calculating, and sure of himself, he was also lazy, perhaps because of the lethargy of summoning. While uncaring towards many individuals, he gradually warmed up to Ilyana and Isabel, though he maintained a front towards even them. His room smelled of brimstone and chalk, and everywhere within had a summoning circle on it. Even the books had circles inscribed somewhere on it, as space was limited, though the pages themselves were not enough to handle anything more than imps and inferior troglodytes. Due to limited sources, he mastered low-level summoning and mid-grade summoning, though high-level was still difficult for him. Wielded a tablet with five summoning circles and two wrist circles. Friends with Ilyana and Isabel. Fight Grade: C+ (specialised). Isabel Clearwater: Morally just in almost every way, Isabel stands as a judge and jury while Harold is the executioner. Fair-skinned and with golden hair, Isabel can turn heads without much effort, though her greatest fault would probably be the inability to receive a compliment without being shy. She is quick to take on friends, though the perhaps the only one in the end who was unfriendly towards her would be Grindra. She cared greatly about how people viewed her, not wanting to be too personal nor too distant, and balancing was an issue for her. She was handy with a staff, however, and learned multiple holy and nonelemental spells that protected her allies and destroyed her enemies. Wielded a staff with several slotted reserves of magic. Friends with Harold, Ilyana, and Roderick. Fight Grade: B (specialised).

Pang nodded slowly, sighing under his breath. He hoped that she would break out of her shell and Galla's standoffish behaviour would end, if not for her then for him, but this was double-edged for Pang. What if he became friends with her and she too died? What then? He would be as alone as before, and with the extra weight of surviving where others have perished. With all of this burdening his mind, he slipped out of the arena after Galla left and headed towards the cafeteria where the many had gathered. -- -- -- Winona batted her eyes in surprise and looked around, unsure if it was someone who told Kolm about this or if he learned of it through wandering the halls. While important, this was not something often told to newcomers on their first day. Still, they had to be told, and told rightly. "That is correct," she confessed resignedly, finishing her ordering of a tall glass of birch beer to go along with her meal. "You are given a total of three weeks since your last mission before one disappears. One can head off to a mission whenever by going to the job board located in the next room over"--she nodded towards one of the exits of the cafeteria--"but it is highly recommended to train before doing so. Unless it is a simple hunting-gathering mission or something of lesser difficulty, it can be dangerous out there beyond the Gate. That's not a bad thing, but several people who do not like fighting are content with picking out bronze-ranked missions just to continue being here. This leaves us short-handed in the stronger missions, but we do what we can to help out those in Haven and those beyond. "The job board is easy enough, however. Ranks are given depending on difficulty and importance. A kidnapping of a governor's daughter would be high on the list to prevent mess-ups that risk her death, for instance, whereas picking herbs would be low. Rewards and merits are doled out to those that take jobs, and greater risks give out equally substantial rewards, both in terms of combat experience and fiscally. We can keep the spoils of what monsters and materials we find -- the higher-ups privilege us this -- but if stolen or ripped from people of need there are penalties to our earnings. This includes non-monstrous, sentient life, so don't kill anyone you needn't. Not that you both will have an issue with this, right?" She folded her hands in front of her mouth and scanned over the young men, Kolm and Lukkel, if the latter were there. She hoped both of them understood the gravity of what they were thrust into. It's unlike you to be so dispirited, Winnie," Pang vocalised, his tail swishing behind him as he produced a weak smile. "You are giving them the ins and outs of working out there?" Winona quickly grinned and uttered, "And other things. Good match out there. Was it tough?" The Zouyu nodded and returned, "You don't know the half of it." "This is Pang, in case you haven't met. He's tall and fluffy and bathes himself with his tongue, but he has a heart of gold." "And this is Winona," said Pang with a roll of his eyes, setting himself down, "whose ambition cannot be outmatched, even for fantasising. We've met before. That includes Lukkel over there." "Ah," grumbled Winona. Her drink and stew had just arrived and was set in front of her by an automated servant, and Kolm's soup arrived as well, though the BLT would take a little while longer. Silverware spat out from a pop-up launcher at the center of the table, neatly wrapped in a linen napkin. Winona took hers and enjoyed the taste of a spoonful of Uzume stew, and the automated servant slipped away dutifully and wordlessly.

((A shift in scenery is in order, I suppose, and a cafeteria was suggested, so that should be a nice venue for continuation! If anyone wants to have their characters eat, chat, or mull over things, the cafeteria is open and ready for anyone. Folks can order things at a table with a digital touchscreen menu. If you think that there has been enough talk, we can move on to another area where there is more action and get your first missions going. My ears are always open for suggestions.)) "With certainty," enunciated Winona, her lips uplifting at the question. "I'll point it out to you, and to anyone else who wants some orts." She had been here for two years and change, so she had better know the ins and outs of the main hubs. People, however, came and went, and remembering where to find people themselves was tough for her, but she kept all of this internal and did not voice anything. It was the chivalric thing to do, and if everything she read about camaraderie was true she had to maintain some level of fellowship. Cupping her hands, she piped out, "Anyone new or old to our company, follow me to the cafeteria! We can meet and greet our new acquaintances there and get to know each other!" A few of the older patrons that also watched the fight in the stands scoffed and headed for the exits, and some more nodded in agreement, but the majority seemed to head to the cafeteria regardless. Winona looked at the ones that withdrew with soft eyes of understanding. The loss of the six was hard on each of them, and there were many ways to mourn their deaths. There were ways to celebrate their lives, however, on the same note, and if they can celebrate the arrival of the newcomers, all the better. That was how she thought of it, anyways, and she maintained her composure and confidence in this as she led the way with a wave of her hand. In the cafeteria, Uzumeashy was hard at work cooking a quality meal of her signature Uzume stew, steamed carrots and parsnips, and home fries. Far in the back, culinary robots also assisted with the cooking of raw ingredients with a wide variety of cuisines and dishes. Woks, springform pans, frying pans and griddles, baking tins, and other cooking containers decorated the walls on silver hooks, and the smell that permeated the air came in waves. It smelt of Eastern cuisine, candied fruits and vegetables, and the stew itself. Uzumeashy seemed to be missing a leg for one reason or another, but it did not seem to matter much to anyone. Another would grow back in a day eventually, and she had a cane, so she was all right, right? No lines formed in front of the halfwall's window, as lines were not necessary. The ten-seat rounded tables did all of the taking of orders, whether it be for meals or beverages. One can have a beer and a bowlful of scrod chowder without even having to talk to anybody, though most times people dined together and enjoyed each other's company. Winona waved over Kolm and Lukkel if they came to the cafeteria with her, offering a seat for each of them by her sides with both hands. Immediately afterwards, she pulled up the digital menu within the table itself, a simple list at first, but getting more in-depth depending on what was pushed. Selections were possible, or the machine can read what the ordering person wanted the most. The machines in the back of the kitchen would cook it for them either way, unless it was already cooked. Winona loved ordering new things and picked something an entree at random, though she got a bowl of delightful Uzume stew as well. -- -- -- Pang, while saddened, did not take offense at Galla's pulling away from him. Some things took time, and he assumed that whatever she was fighting needed time as well. "With your permission I will take him, yes," he answered with a wan smile, withdrawing his hand. "Just remember the favour I owe you. If you can think of anything, name it and I'll see what I can do." The tiger eyed the blue skull, wondering what had become of the other two skulls. Did the regenerating light of the arena restore them or did they get destroyed in full? Considering their ornateness, he wondered how precious they were and regretted destroying them. "It seems the others are heading to the cafeteria. Are you going too?" he queried curiously.

- Odin, within Isopolis - If Odin had time to marvel at Nergal's speed, or answer Alderon, he would likely have done so, though he only had enough time to fixate his attention on his goal and strike while the iron was hot. In the fortuitous moment of opportunity, he seized upon Nergal's hand, this time truly having the Source of All Life within his grasp, and held true. "The Source shall be mine for some time!" he spat back to Nergal, smiling wickedly in triumph before his eye led towards the charging angel, Mariel arresting his immediate attention. While she was fast, he was faster and held out a palm above him. "Thunderbird's Egg," he muttered, creating a protective barrier of intense electricity that spiraled around him in a spherical manner. This field about him was able to defend him from all but small projectiles (and underground assaults) with its incredibly high voltage. The magic would not last long, but anybody stepping close to the cage of spiraling electricity would be horrifically shocked. Both unfortunately and fortunately, Nergal was currently not at risk of the electric barrier, being within the sphere of influence, though in the case that he tried anything funny that could shock them both he gripped the stone tight and voiced a prayer. "Source, yield me a portion of your power and become the fuel for my ambitions," he intoned, his remaining eye lit up in eagerness. After so many sacrifices and painstaking labours, he finally reached a reward worthy of all the hard work and toil he put into his many years. It was too early to make a wish, and Nergal seemed to be keeping the wish for Yevgeni if that time came. It is too bad Odin was about to ensure that such a time will never come. ((Coming up is a planned event with Mystics' and Kuni's blessings, and will the next evolution of events.))

Pang breathed out a slight sigh of relief, as well as mixed regret, once the skeletons returned to the dust they came from and the sound of a collapsing body echoed across the arena. That was close, too close. Running out of most of his energy was a bad idea, but it was a gambit that proved successful in the end. He will have to find a way to improve himself, maybe gain a resistance to this strength-damaging property that Galla employed. If he did that, his stamina would have dropped at a much more reasonable pace. He would have to train more as a result. After the standard fifteen seconds of waiting, both Galla and Pang would feel the effects of a great electrostatic energy that revitalised the cells of the body, granting a get-out-of-jail-free pass that provided life to those who were not living and vitality to those who had lost it. Galla would be revived in full. Pang would feel himself getting renewed, his wounds disappearing and his fatigue gone. He sighed contentedly. The pain, while not gone entirely from his still-firing nerves, was considerably less potent. He turned to face Galla, maybe offer her a hand with which to get up as the quarterstaff would lie on the floor, separated from Galla during the revitalisation process. "Good match," he loosed with a smile, hoping immediately afterward that she would not mind his closeness as he offered his gesture of goodwill. Whether the reason was mental or physical, he did not know, especially after seeing that gash on her neck earlier, but he prayed that there was no repercussion for his being nearby. -- -- -- Hogarth scratched his bushy head as he observed the arena match with great interest, though unfortunately it was the very end of the match before they got there. Some of the tactics seemed curious, interesting even. Pang's spinning attack, Galla's mighty protector -- maybe his dolls would be able to act similarly once he could breathe some life into his creations, though that might come far later than he would be able to live. "You two go on ahead," voiced the mechanical mage through his apparatus, observing the sylphid one last time as he turned his back to the both of them. "I'll have to tinker with my doodads and head off on a mission. If you have any needs for items or just want to drop by, don't hesitate to come to my shop in the square or join me on my adventure!" As he said all of this, he waved over his shoulder and slipped by Kolm, Lukkel, and Winona. He stole a glance toward them as he passed by, admiring Kolm's hair and Lukkel's clothes. Perhaps he should try making something like it to wear himself, or dyeing his hair, or trimming it short. He doubted he could get fabrics as fancy as that, but in the marketplaces of some towns on World I he could get some good-quality linens. -- -- -- It surprised Winona that she was able to find a person that wanted to challenge her for meeting one of the higher-ups, but she did not back down from her claimed desire. Kolm would make a fine rival in the days ahead, and it would be good for her to have somebody to contest with. "Nobody knows where the higher-ups are," she answered with a huge grin before recomposing herself. "There are no doors beyond what we have easily available on this floor, but I think the main gate is the way. We just have to find the right coordinates, though that will take time and experimentation. I'd take my time with it. No use running into a sea of acid on a forgotten world if we die to it. As for how long I've been here, I'm older than Pang down there when it comes to living here by five months. I'm the third oldest, with Cari being the oldest and Enkodorado being the second oldest." She was cut short when Lukkel came back, bowing his head in apology so much so that his necklace fell free from its placement around his neck. Winnie did not know what to do for a time before smiling, stepping up to him, and patting his head as she stooped for the necklace. "Think nothing of it to me or to the dead, as we don't hold grudges for too long. I would like to be friends too, so forgive me as I do you, and we'll be fast ones." She rose to her feet and held out his necklace, holding it cleanly in her hand. "You dropped this when you bowed like Pang does sometimes. I'm sure this piece of jewelry holds some sentimental value to you."