Moss and Fangs

[Dharaan]

((As of now, closed to Mathias and Veatrix))


The wooden cabin was rather spacious for human standards. The light of the morning sun passed through the ill-maintained windowpanes to fall upon the building's concrete floor, leaving innumerable dust particles to swim in its palegolden wake. The fireplace on the far end of the room had been left unignited; Concordia's summer provided more than enough warmth even only just after dawn. But despite the amiable weather and the view of the expansive, lush forest starting behind the residence, Dharaan could not help but think the place a mere collection of roughly hewn, dead material. Especially now that most of his Coronian companions had already set out to fulfill their morning duties, the main lodge made a bleak, lifeless impression. The Elf yawned at the sparse furnishing as he lithely strolled towards a table in the corner of the room. After rummaging through a nearby receptacle, he placed a plate filled with a mixture of fruit and herbs and a quarter loaf of bread upon the unpolished surface.

He ate his breakfast in silence. Not so much to savor the bitter taste - ranger food, after all, was about optimal nutrition, without much care for culinary delicacy. It was more to allow his pointy ears to fully revel in the sounds of the forest that suffused the room, following the rhythmic chirp of awakened insects or the mellifluous chatter of birds and their mates. Although he had spent most of his life between the platinum spires of brilliant Eluriand, Dharaan much appreciated the restful noise of Concordia. Every now and then, the deep sapphire of his eyes lit up inside his suntanned features as he recognized the cry of a beast that he had studied during his time here. Many of the other rangers here found his fascination with nature somewhat disturbing; to them, survival was the foremost goal when caught in the nature's wilds. To Dharaan, it was more interesting to see how nature itself survived the intrusion of others.

Concordia, in the past months, had proven to be perfect ground for his research in biology and ecology. As the son of an influential Raiaeran family, it had not been difficult to find a place with the Corone Rangers guarding the border of the forest. Although they had visibly disliked the idea of a defenseless mute amongst them, the Elven researcher had quickly shown his value by pointing out several basic methods to get rid of minor nuisances plagueing the encampment. His first day had primarily comprised the concoction of an aerosol that kept mosquitos at bay during the evenings. In subsequent weeks, he had improved upon the rangers' diet with several herbs that increased energy supply or alertness, earning some respect from the veteran commander of the troop. Through his rather mundane - but still useful - exploits, he had been given the right to venture into Concordia every other day, to be busy with his own research while an associate of the Rangers protected him from danger.

Today was such a day. As he got up from the table to clean his plate, he could hear voices drawing nearer. It was not entirely clear what they were talking about; the walls' woodwork muffled many tones. The speechless Elf quickly looked into his empty plate to check his reflection. Long, platinum hair fell carefully around his shoulders, and from there, red robes covered the entirety of his body. His political background had quickly taught him that first impressions were everything. Since guarding him was always a one-run job, and as such usually filled in by either mercenaries looking for coin or hopefuls attempting to gain recognition amongst the ranger corps, he always needed to make sure that he looked his best before meeting with whomever it was that would protect him today. Nothing as bad as an unmotivated bodyguard.

[Mathias]

Mathias had very few leads to follow. His reluctant (and forced) assassination of the Duke Zalinhar in Scara Brae left him with only a note that told him his direction. "Seek out Concord," he muttered to himself. Simply a word, with no significance other than the meaning itself. What exactly was he supposed to be looking for? How was he supposed to find it? Had he lingered in the mansion for a few minutes, then the Duke would have completed his message before Mathias had killed him... that brought another question to his mind - how did the Duke know that an attempt was going to be made on his life, at that very night?

He felt like a pawn in some game much larger than himself. The scope of its magnitude was incomprehensible to him, and he felt very small and unimportant. First, the dark wizard who'd enslaved him made him into a weapon. A tool of death to play part in a petty game of politics. Then, he'd been freed, only to be left with on obscure clue. That one hint made him the pawn of someone else, and to make it worse, the man was dead. Or maybe, it wasn't the Duke himself that was leading Mathias... maybe it was the unseen face of "Concord."

Regardless, the only clue that Mathias held had led him to Concordia Forest. He leaned against the wall of the outside of the cabin, his sword resting against him. He sat next to the door, and he looked up into the sky, mulling all his contemplations over in his head. "Might as well get to work," he said aloud to himself. He slowly got to his feet and turned towards the door, opening it and stepping inside the lodge. Within, seated at a table, a slender Elf was tending to his appearance, looking into a glossy plate.

Mathias took a few steps towards the table, approaching what he assumed to be his patron. "Hello, sir. I'm Mathias. I take it you're the one I've been hired to safeguard?"

[Veatrix]

Veatrix Bane needed coin.

She wasn’t poor in any sense. Rather, she had enough gold to last her at least a year, maybe more. The amount of money she had gained over the years was sufficient for her survival. But money was always a necessity. How else was one supposed to purchase that extremely expensive darkness enchantment that killed a person on contact? Ten thousand gold coins was not easy to come.

Walking through the brush of Concordia, Veatrix grimaced. A bodyguard job wasn’t the most prestigious of jobs, nor was it satisfying, but the Corone Rangers paid well. Not that she wanted anything to do with the so-called “police” of the region – she wasn't a huge fan of the Civil War... actually, Veatrix could have cared less. But money was money, and money was what drove her to take the job, no matter how lifeless it would have been.

A stray tree branch decided to respond to her enthusiastic complaining with a hearty slap to the face, accompanied by a steady stream of crawling ants.

“Fuck!”

Sweeping the little insects off her clothes, feeling them writhe and die under her shirt, Veatrix approached the small cabin that dwelled peaceful in Concordia. Vines and other plants grew along the side of the house, creating a very ancient but green scene. Squirrels scurried up the trees, bothered by the presence of people in their territory. Cursing wildly to herself as she walked into the open door, she noticed that another man was speaking to Veatrix’s patron.

The boy barely looked over seventeen, messy blonde hair and average height that many of youth possessed. He was the type of person that was easily passed over in a crowd. Nobody would notice if he was there or if he was not – he was an ordinary child.

He looks like a street thief, Veatrix thought, considering what she assumed was the other bodyguard that would accompany her and her mysterious-looking patron.

The other man was tall and thin, an Elf, it was plain to see. His ears prayed to the sky, face and jaw longer than any humans and silvery blonde hair cascading from his head like a waterfall. No age could be seen on his face, but Veatrix was certain that he was much older than she was. Dressed in luxurious red robes that made the Elf look like a predator’s hunting dream, he carried himself with such grace and nobility.

“Dharaan Morgradt?” Veatrix asked, hand extending to shake the elf’s, his fingers long and spindly. “I was hired by the Ranger to safeguard you as well. And it seems I’m not the only one.”

[Dharaan]

The two entered the lodge shortly after one another. First to meet the Elf's azure gaze as he looked up from his empty dish was a human male, young even by mortal standards, making him unsure of whether to call him a man or a boy. Still, the chestnut orbs beneath the young man's blonde bangs emitted determination - a hardness that spoke of having seen blood shed, or lives taken. The air of confidence remained as the youngster halted his strides at a respectable distance away from the table, introducing himself as Mathias. Dharaan was allowed little time to carefully observe his newest guardian, for before he could even nod his head in affirmation of the man's question, the doorstep was crossed by another pair of feet.

Confused, and even somewhat on guard - as far as a harmless scientist could be on guard - he turned his eyes towards the new entrant. He immediately thought the woman decidedly inhuman, though he could not quite put his finger on the cause of his suspicion. He politely stood to take her offered hand, doing so with a seemingly silly amount of caution. Ever since the leader of his ranger consorts had managed to jovially squeeze his untrained hand into paralysis for a fortnight, his enthusiasm to return the human greeting had slightly waned. Fortunately, she returned his fingers without causing any damage. The Elf nodded as the fair-skinned woman mentioned his name, hoping that Mathias's earlier question would be answered concurrently.

All the while, he tried to hide his surprise that he was suddenly faced with two bodyguards; so much protection for a simple, scientific stroll appeared unwarranted. Perhaps the rangers had heard of dangerous activity in this area? He put the question aside as he elegantly moved from behind the table. More protection was never unwelcome, he reasoned, and it was not his money that would pay these kindly people for their troubles - financial issues were still the responsibility of the ranger's office, not of their individual clients. His lanky fingers travelled into his robe, returning with a piece of yellowed parchment and a tiny writing quill. Ignoring any expressions of misunderstanding, he scribbled down several words with the trained, rapid grace of an Elven writer. Three seconds later, he heaved up the written piece, and just as any outsider would have declared him a fool for thinking that anyone could even remotely understand his ridiculously small handwriting, the symbols on the parchment shone with a mellow glow.

"Yes, I am Dharaan of the House Morgradt, the object of your weapon-wielding care, today." The voice that rolled forth from the paper was clear, harmonious with a nigh crystalline fragility. "I was born a mute, so I will not be able to call for you when I am in trouble. You will have to keep close watch as I lead the way into the forest. If I can return here alive - and fairly intact - by the end of today, your job will be considered completed." It was a rather formal greeting, but those were the terms of the agreement, and he made sure to repeat them for every new guard he was given, to make sure that they would not run out on him when the situation got sticky.

As the final word sprang from its papery confines, the piece of parchment was instantly consumed by an emerald flame. Smiling apologetically at the two for any discomfort his display might have caused, he moved past them, beckoning gently with his hands as he approached the open door. His mind ached to continue his research where he had left off a week ago, and they had a long way to go before they reached the forest depths he wished to investigate.

You're free to describe the journey into the forest and bring any trouble you want into the fray. The first area of consequence will be quite a ways from the cottage. :)

[Mathias]

Mathias carefully looked over the second bodyguard. A frown crossed his face for a brief moment, an outward expression of his confusion. He'd not been told many details, it seemed. Certainly not that he'd be accompanied by another guardian, as well as the fact that their patron was mute. These two facts, he was assuming, were going to make the assignment particularly difficult. "When are we returning to the lodge? The creatures that are most unforgiving wander Concordia at night. I'd rather know what we will expect to contend with," Mathias said, addressing Dharaan as he followed the elf.

Thoughts of the wicked dire wolves and such crossed his mind... but the most fearsome of all was the N'jalian Spider-mages. He'd only ever heard whispers of them, but those were enough to strike fear into him. That, in and of itself, was something, as he was fearless to the point of arrogant. He knew his own limits as a warrior, but that did not mean he was afraid of what was above and beyond his ability to combat. However, the undead half-spider half-elvish sorcerors whom were created by the hellish N'jal, a Thane of particularly dark influence, were more than enough to make him jittery and think twice of any false bravado he may be capable of displaying.

As the group started into the forest, he situated his sheath in between his belt and hip, tightening it to stay in place. His hand rested on his sword, Lysander, and his fingers caressed the golden hilt lovingly. His dark green and blue eyes surveyed the forest, intent on every leaf and twig that twisted and danced in whatever breeze that passed through.

[Veatrix]

An emerald fire consumed the paper parchment the Elf had used to project his words into sound, a skill Veatrix had never heard or seen before. It did not matter if his words were cold and formal, the voice that carried the message was warm, like a hot mug of cocoa on a cold, wintry evening. Deeply impressed by this interesting, new branch of magic, she nodded in approval. Though the elf looked weak and frail, he seemed to at least be competent in many other ways. The other bodyguard seemed more experienced in battle, as a sword and sheath sat comfortably by his waist. His hazel eyes spoke of bloodshed and tears. The elf’s eyes spoke of knowledge and wisdom. Veatrix’s eyes spoke of power and pain. The party of three couldn’t have been more different from each other.

Another bodyguard and a mute patron. This’ll be interesting.

Veatrix followed the two out in the forest, walking past exceptionally beautiful flora and fauna. Walking through Concordia was uneventful for a time. The trees danced in the slight cool breeze that blew around them, while the sun, barely visible through the canopy of greenery above, shone brightly. The sounds of life emanated from everywhere – birds singing their wonderful melodies, insects buzzing and the occasional animal call resounded. Addressing the lanky Elf Dharaan and the young adventurer that called himself Mathias, Veatrix spoke.

“I’m Veatrix Bane, by the way. And though it seems that the job is a fairly simple one, Mathias, the rangers told me that the Elf’s location of study is deep within the forest. We just may come back past sunset.”

The thought of a Concordian night wasn’t so pleasing, especially since many fearsome creatures dwelled within the forested depths of the wood. Veatrix, though a skilled warrior and spell caster, would much rather be cautious in her use of her powers. Fighting against hordes of spider-mages wasn’t a very pleasant notion.

[Dharaan]

The forest forenoon offered them a sea of silent tranquility. Woodland dwellers scurried through undergrowth and treetops, going about their daily business with fascinating vigor. Even the shallower part of Concordia Forest, which the threesome was currently traversing, harbored myriad floral fragrances, dazzling Dharaan's keen, Elven senses. Although he had studied these safer areas of nature many times during his stay, its self-sufficient beauty never ceased to amaze him. He could not help but bring their group to a standstill several times, having spotted a particular type of treebark fungus that begged further investigation. He made sure not to hold his guardians for too long, though; he feared that their nature as mortals, combined with their combat-oriented occupations, would leave them impatient and annoyed at these seemingly irrelevant interruptions. Both were qualities he would not wish to enter deeper Concordia with.

Deeper Concordia. Both the man and the woman had voiced their concerns about the journey, and they were just, although his muteness had blissfully allowed him to deny them any verbal affirmation of their worries. He had first crossed the border into the forest's murkier, marshier depths only two months ago. If truthful, he would have to admit that he had few ideas of what could be hiding amongst the treacherous quagmires. Unlike his two companions, however, the Elf's attitude towards the obvious danger was rather distant. Perhaps because as a researcher, he was used to being helpless and escaping death at the whims of fate instead of his own skill. Or perhaps because he was not bearing the responsibility for another's defenseless skin. Either way, he hoped that should the situation call for it, the young male would unsheath that blade by his side without faltering, and the female would likewise throw whatever had caused the Rangers to recruit her into the fray.

Despite the Elf's indifference about Concordia's hazards, he too could not suppress a gulp of tension as the trees around them grew closer and closer together. Flowerbeds did not exist here, and the path was split by muddy puddles after every so many yards. The rays of the sun were completely stifled by the plethora of ancient boughs overhead, draping the party in oppressive shade. The air had taken a turn for the musty, and Dharaan felt old and heavy as he inhaled it. The sounds of the forest had not faded, but became more hollow as the three progressed into the murk, as though stymied by an invisible wall. He remained on guard as he led the way downhill, treading carefully along the narrow path that curved into the marshier, more nebulous areas below. The soil was more slippery here than he'd remembered, and losing balance could be lethal, since through the ever mistier surroundings, one could not see what hazards lay ahead. Occasionally, he cast a cobalt glance behind him to see how his guards were taking in the change of scenery.

If any of them shows signs of fright, it might be best to turn back now, he thought, though at the same time he was warmly certain that the humans would do a lot not to be outdared by a fragile Elf scientist.

[Mathias]

Mathias yawned somewhat loudly, and then proceeded to crack his neck by turning it side to side. He followed with his knuckles, and the sick sound of bones popping filled the silent forest air. "You know what I'm trying to figure out, even though it's not really my job or place to care, is that, why are the Rangers taking the effort to cover your research? The Civil War is starting to spark up, or so I hear... you'd think an Elf and his petunias could wait until after the revolution was over," he said aloud. Although, like he'd said, he wasn't being paid to question the validity or integrity of his mission, he couldn't help but wonder. As well, it was odd to think of his job as befitting when put into the context of the much larger state of affairs.

The crisp smell of the morning, with dew on the leaves and the mist of the late night slowly dissipating, became a comfort to Mathias as he pondered his situation. He allowed himself a brief distraction in his appreciation for the beauty of the forest, especially on a day as this. The sun blazed its way through the trees, scattering light in little dots here and there where it was able to pierce the thickening canopy of the deep and deeper forest. Musing to himself, the planeswalker wondered just how much this Dharaan really needed a bodyguard.

[Veatrix]

As the trio walked through Concordia, the Elf brushing past tree branches and roots dismissively, while Veatrix and Mathias struggled through the branch, the young mercenary expressed his curiosity as to why two bodyguards had to accompany Dharaan. The thought did float around in Veatrix's head – if the Elf was doing something fairly easy, like dancing through his dandelions or such fun, having one bodyguard was more than enough for protection. The Elf couldn’t possibly be going so deep into Concordia that the threats needed two guards. For one, Dharaan could barely even communicate with the two properly, let alone calling out for help if the need arose.

“I can’t really see the need for two bodyguards either. There doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger-“

Suddenly, somewhere in the distance, trees ruffled. As they stopped in their tracks, taken by surprise by the dancing trees, a very large form pushed some of them aside. None of them could see it though, its form was hidden by the forest darkness and the massive amounts of plant life hanging from everywhere. But when it moved, it was easy to see that it was not a simple bunny rabbit.

I spoke too soon.

Veatrix immediately placed her hand on Gainsborough, fearing the worst. The beast could have been a bloodthirsty forest animal, or worse, one of the spider-mages that liked to search for things to eat and kill. She wasn’t really thinking about whether the Elf was safe or not – the Elf’s safety depended on her safety, and the situation called for some quick thinking. But first, they needed to know what the beast was.

“Keep low. Dharaan.”

She kept her voice low, whispering right to his pointy ear, her silver-framed eyes glued to the spot where the creature moved.

“What is that…? You’re the elf scientist here, you should have seen it.”

[Dharaan]

Indeed. And why did you think my petunias are being guarded by two mercenaries instead of two trusted rangers? The Elf thought in dry reply of Mathias's distinct contemplations, though he did not waste any parchment on bringing it to volume. It was entirely understandable that the young human, at his age, was thirsting for the glory of battle, or perhaps the satisfaction of fulfilling a personal vow. Sometimes, Dharaan wondered whether the mercenaries he was given lived purely on jolts of adrenaline; the Corone Rangers, at least, were quick to make use of such younger warriors' avidity. Associates like Mathias and Veatrix were often recruited to perform tasks that, in eye of Corone's current state of separation, would be considered too menial for any fully accepted ranger to commit to. Still, menial as their journey may have appeared until now, only a fool would think a trip through Concordia's deeper reaches a task worth yawning about.

Fortunately for the blonde warrior, their journey was soon interrupted by the sound of ruffling foliage and paws clawing through boggy grounds. Dharaan's cobalt stare remained fixed upon the shadowy delineation of an inhuman creature in the swamp fog ahead as one of his companions moved closer to him, tugging at his shoulder. Veatrix's querying voice had a chastising tinge to it, as though he were purposely trying to get in trouble to make his guards' jobs harder for them. He turned his face towards her, his gaze taking note of the strange, argentate patterns around her eyes, and smiled slightly. From what he had learned thus far from Concordia, he was quite certain that had this creature in front of them meant them any harm, they would not have heard it or seen it before one of them was down on the ground, bleeding. He gestured for both of his associates to keep a safe distance - not for their own safety, but to make sure that the ogre-sized beast would not scurry away in fear as he approached it.

The path beneath the scientist's feet became increasingly slippier as he moved to meet the newly arrived creature. It seemed to cower away from him, despite his gentle tread and unintimidating posture. As he finally reached the great animal, he found the cause for the trail's continuous lubricity. A large pond of swampwater stretched out before him. The waters seemed oilier than he remembered, as though nature had suddenly decided to dump all of its waste into this very area. Discarding the strange phenomenon, he turned to face the large forest dweller, taking in details now that the distance between them had been closed. Its body was very much like a black bear's, bulky and strong, but between the fur, all kinds of vegetation had found a place to grow. Dharaan's sensitive nostrils could smell herbal fragrances amongst them. The creature's face was strange, resembling an anteater's, but rounder, and with a much shorter snout. Cautiously, the Elf brough up his hand, palm facing up. The creature dismissively let its oversized nose pass the fragile flesh, before sniffing haughtily and turning its face away.

Right. No carnivore, then, Dharaan reasoned impassively, knowing full well that had he been wrong, he'd be missing a finger or two.

He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from the confines of his robe and began to scribble down enthusiastic notes. The creature did not seem to mind being observed, though it occasionally moved its head around in restless patterns. The Elf was so caught up in writing that he did not notice that a snake-like, brownish tentacle had silently squirmed its way onto the mainland from the polluted bog. Just as he recognized the horrid feeling of something slimy writhing around his legs, his feet were pulled from under him, and the world went momentarily black as his body smacked against the muddy soil with a splashy thud. He could not scream, but there was no need to, for the friendly giant beside him had erupted in a roar of fright, before fleeing from the grisly pond on all fours, nearly knocking the Elf's bodyguards aside in its instinctual craze. Dharaan felt himself being swung into the air, held in an iron grip by the tentacle around his legs, and nausea came over him as he hung upside down, suspended four yards or so above the bog. As if on cue, more tentacles burst from the swampwater's unclean surface, while the pond itself bubbled with malevolent life at the center.

[Mathias]

Mathias took in a deep breath as Dharaan approached the strange creature that had appeared before the party. His hand gripped the hilt of his sheathed blade, and he felt his body tense with anticipation. However, it seemed to be content with being the object of study, scrutiny, and above all: attention. Exhaling, the planeswalker felt at ease for a brief moment. He was immediately brought back to reality when the beast erupted forth with a frightened cry and charged forward through the trees to find shelter. It bumped Mathias as it ran past, although he paid no more attention to it - his eyes were drawn to the sight of a flailing elf caught in the grasp of tentacles.

Following their length, Math realized that the creature itself hid within the murky depths of an oily pond. "Shit," he muttered to himself. A mass of tentacles rose from the water and surged forward to grab the bodyguards, as well. Mathias felt a cold, slimy grip form around his waist, although he didn't give the unseen beast any time to crush his ribs. He felt himself being pulled away, and he crossed over into a world of immaterial color and space. He jumped upwards, free from the grasp of the creature that had been left in the physical plane.

As he reached the apex of his ascent, he pushed himself back into the reality he'd just escaped from, planeshifting himself into the material world. He was just below the tentacle which held his patron, and he instinctively unsheathed his blade, slicing out at the writhing appendage. As his blade connected with the sick flesh of the beast, he felt it shudder and shiver, the vibration causing him to lose grip on his blade, Lysander.

As he fell back to the earth, he prepared himself to cushion the Dharaan's fall, if he'd cut deep enough to sever a nerve, or atleast pain the beast enough to let go of the captive elf.

[Veatrix]

When the vegetated bear-like creature lumbered into view, Dharaan, as if on cue, pulled out his parchment and pen and began jotting down notes. It wasn’t the most interesting thing to see, nor was it the most important of jobs, but Veatrix had to watch – the only way she could get her money was to escort the elf scientist back safely. The hulking beast looked gentle anyway, no need to run in and give it a deep and fatal stab in the chest.

But when the bear-like beast ran off, afraid, Veatrix’s hand instinctively gripped Gainsborough hilt, the steel short sword already drawn at the first sign of danger. The creature powered away from the dark oily swamp, running on all fours. It ran past Veatrix, its eyes filled with a prey’s innate fear.

Suddenly, the swamp waters erupted in a blast, writhing forms bursting from the surface. Murky water and quagmire splashed all around, raining down on the three as they watched what happened. An unearthly cry came from underneath the water, air bubbles escaping the moving waters.

The smell of rotting vegetation and fish overwhelmed them all.

Veatrix barely even registered what was going on when a large tentacle from the swamp grabbed her by the waist, attempting to crush her bones. She saw everything in glimpses, soaring through the air. She saw Dharaan waving his arms profusely. She saw Mathias slice off a tentacle. She saw more tentacles rising up from the dark waters, searching for more things to grab on to.

Raising a hand, Veatrix powered up the magical energies hiding within her like, a prowling beast in Concordia, a predator. Energy travelled up through her arm and leaking out from her hand in white wisps. Sending all her power out, she aimed the palm of her hand at the slimy tentacle grasping her.

“Illumina!”

As the spell came in contact with the leathery skin of the swamp creature, its skin began dissolving, melting like butter against a hot knife. The white fire burned through the flesh, an abominable stench wafting in the air. The tentacle’s snake-like grip then began loosening, until finally, the appendage burned off, falling into the swamp with a splat. Veatrix held on to the tentacle, falling into the murky depths of the bog, so very close to the mouth of the raging swamp monster.

[Veatrix]

[OOC: Since this thread has been inactive for just shy of a year, I might as well finish it off. Mathias and Dharaan seem to have gone missing, but no complaints here. No use in letting a good thread (or at least a potential one) go to waste. If you guys come across this, sorry! Had to finish it!]

Struggling to bring herself back into the surface, Veatrix paddled her legs furiously, her clothes, her sword and her bulky wing appendages weighing her down heavily. The lack of air was major psychological torture, as her lungs were set on fire in their dire need to breath. Unfortunately, the bog was filled with thick moss and algae, enough to make untrained warriors drown under the weight of the water. In fact, most of the bog wasn’t even made of water, but viscous slime-like substance. But Veatrix had no time to analyze the biological make-up of the bog she was swimming in, she just had to get the hell out of the water. Experience told her that things were worse submerged.

After a long one or two minutes flailing wildly underneath the bog, with the tentacles furiously waving around above the surface and an eerie feeling of vulnerability, Veatrix’s left hand pushed out from the slick bog. Feeling around desperately, she miraculously grabbed hold of what felt like a stray tree root, strong enough to support herself pushing out the water. The creature underneath surged violently around, making it difficult to pull herself up, but after a few desperate tugs, Veatrix came up from the bog, all slimy and wet and covered in moss. She was so close to being swallowed whole by the swamp monster and that was all the motivation she needed to bring herself back to solid ground.

Veatrix ignored all the chaos flailing around in the bog to take a huge and rewarding breath of smelly swamp air. Sure, it wasn’t the amazing breath of fresh airs that many take after a hard long day of work, or a victorious battle. But Veatrix wasn’t out of danger yet, and she was in a swamp. The thick air’s little oxygen would have to make do.

Recovering quickly, her concern turned to her patron Dharaan and fellow bodyguard Mathias. It felt like it had been years since she had seen them – the creature under the water made events seem longer and crazier than they really were. But when she turned around, Gainsborough firmly grasped in her right hand and magics ready to strike in her left, her two comrades were gone. As well, the tentacles were slowly retreating back into the murky bog – as if they simply tired of playing with their food an decided to munch on the whole thing instead.

“Shit.”

Veatrix watched the last few grimy tentacles sink back into the waters. One by one they retreated and neither of her comrades was in sight. Bubbles plopped and burst on the surface of the bog until it lay still, just like the trio had come across only minutes before. Walking back cautiously to the bog, Veatrix dipped the sharp tip of Gainsborough into the waters, swishing it around as if conjuring a magic potion.

“…hello?”

Suddenly, a lone tentacles came bursting from the waters, this one small and inoffensive compared the gigantic other ones that attempted to bring her right into the mouth of the beast. Reacting like the skilled warrior she was, Veatrix leapt into action. She pulled Gainsborough out of the water and cleanly sliced the tentacle, rendering it motionless as the other half of it bled and spasmed on the muddy earth.

Powering down her magic, she ran a tired hand through her greasy, moss-decorated blonde hair. Whipping her sword around to splash away any excess moss and blood, Gainsborough was sheathed. Snorting, Veatrix kicked the muddy ground and simply turned her back from the silent bog. Heartlessly she walked away, back into Radasanth. She wouldn’t even bother to report back to the Ranger – she’d rather not experience the wrath of a Ranger missing his research elf and the 17-year old bodyguard. Plus, Veatrix was all for nature’s way anyway – maybe the swamp creature was hungry, can’t argue with Mother Earth’s insatiable desires.

No use in looking for the two. Blinking her silver eyelashes at the quietly deceptive bog, Veatrix snorted. I got enough coin anyway.


[SPOILS: Anything the judge would like to award!]

[Taskmienster]

Moss and Fangs


As requested, I’ll be putting only numbers since both parties besides the requesting party dropped…

[Continuity] 5

[Setting] 5

[Pacing] 4

[Dialogue] 6

[Action] 6

[Persona] 5.5

[Technique] 5.5

[Mechanics] 8

[Clarity] 6.5

[Wild Card] 4.5

{Score} 50

{Rewards}

--Veatrix-- 800 exp | 100 gold

--Mathias-- 700 exp | 75 gold

--Dharaan-- 280 exp | 50 gold

[Taskmienster]

Exp and GP added!

Veatrix levels to 3!