Duty: For Whom the Bell Gnolls, Final Gnolling

Gnolls. I do not like them in the woods. I would delete them if I coulds. I do not like them on the plains. It is time for us to end their reigns.

Haru has been taking the request of the Howling Commander to keep the lands safe from a gnollish threat seriously. When there is a lull in War activities, he has been taking requests from the Hunters Guild to track and cull the creatures harassing the starter zones. He arrived on the back of a large Peko, Karen. She is not a racer or a charger, but of a draft variety better suited for farm work. Still, Haru would never replace his birb. Together forever.

The meeting point is set in the grasslands surroundings the forest where the gnollish activity has been reported. This area is known for low level monster spawns. Junior adventurers need this place clear to progress without predatorial threats looming. It has changed from a green landscape to one painted in yellow and red. The grasses' life is dulled, losing its luster. The usual low level monster spawns have slowed down, coming in sparse occurances instead of the dense packs of XP and early progression loot. Most gravely are the tombstones that litter the grasslands. Each one represents an Adventurer who has fallen and is on a twenty-four hour wait period before they return to the Church, sans something very precious to them.

The Artificer parks his Peko on the perimeter of the scene, giving the big birb a pat on the side for her to go somewhere safer. He looms over one of the gravestones, kneeling and taking stock of the names. "Still just as bad as it was last week," he says in a clinical voice. The reality is more chilling, best to be professional in times like this.

"<It smells just as bad.>" That impression of understanding comes as Tian approaches, the stealthy Cait Sith stepping out from behind a nearby tree, one hand moving across their face with their eyes tightening with disgust and a curl the edge of their lip.

"<I am here to help.>" The deaf Adventurer makes a 'thumbs up' with one hand and taps it onto the flat palm of the other as they step forward, looking towards the forest with wary eyes. Much of the rest of their features are covered by the wolf-mask that they wear and the facial makeup that blends it in to their face, causing Tian to look like someone cosplaying as a wolf.

Flattening one hand, they scoop it into the open palm of the other, "<Anything new since last time?"> The Cait Sith's tail is slightly tucked, ears tipped backwards as they look to Haru.

Yeowang has assembled with the others to try and put an end to the gnoll problem, standing at the meeting point, looking alert and poised. She nods to Tian's question about news and will explain to everyone, "The gnolls here, unlike typical gnolls, do not avoid magic, instead embracting it, using it to obtain powers or summon demons, who they worship as gods. They haven't perfected that part yet, but they're absolutely a threat." She frowns at the gravestones and sighs. "Newbies haven't got the news, it seems. This place is no longer safe for them." She wears no armor and carries only a bow, though it's not her primary means of attack. "I think we /have/ made an impact, though," she says to Haru. "They're clinging to their plan, but the balace seems to be tipping."

The silvery maiden was one such adventurer that uses the lower leveled areas to train, while not entirely noobish, she was quite new to combat, having stayed away from it for a very long time, to focus on other pursuits. A crystal, transparent violin slug on her back, and two halves of a pair of large scissors for blades, Kana glances around her surroundings. "Such a shame, here I thought I would be able to practice more but..." Speaking to herself, her delicate and silvery voice devoid of any tone or expression.

Taking in the sights of the now lack luster scenery, she eventually finds the group she was looking for. Coming to a halt, her silvery gaze glances from person to person, giving a graceful bow, her hair cascades over her shoulders. "Hello, I'm Kana, nice to meet all of you, I do hope I'm not late." Hands move to rest on the hits of her large silvery scissor blades.

Shenmi isn't saying much, for now. He arrived shortly after Tian, and since then, he has been looking around, moving the tips of his shoes to poke at some object hidden by the yellowed grass, presumably the drop of some small monster or animal. He occasionally hunches down and rubs his chin, with a thoughtful "Hmm," before getting up and moving on.

He finally casts a few glances to the holographic tombstones as he passes by them, and he does not seem particularly excited at their sight. "I really hope the Hunters' guild does calibrate quests properly." Sideways glance to the markers of where low(er?) level adventurers used to be. "We have been improving our skills of late, but I think we have mentioned how we Uncrowned haven't had many opportunities to really level up until reaching Yamato?"

He listens in silence to Yeowang's explanation, taking in the words and apparently ruminating on them, interrupting his musing only when Kana shows up. "Oh, pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Kana. Allow me to introduce myself!" A deep bow, "The Amazing Shenmi Jinreng, Intercontinental Man of Mystery, Mesmerizer of Masses, Manufacturer of Magnificent Marvels, Enchanted to meet you!"

As he pronounces the last part, he straightens up from his bow, and leaning towards Kana, he draws a flourish in the air with one hand, the final movement resulting in a bouquet popping into existence in his grasp, apparently out of nowhere. "Please accept this gift to celebrate having been introduced to each other," he says, offering the flowers to Kana.

"More dead," Haru offers to Tian as he slowly stands, offering a handshake to the fellow crafter. "I didn't spot any repeat names, so the /same/ people aren't being so reckless, but to Yeo's point the whole of the demographic is still at risk. But that also means the junior adventurer traffic is being dissuaded from a place that should be their safe growing spot." That darkness creeps into his mind behind the blue sapphire of his one visible eye. He smile. "Its good to have you here, Tian." Truly that applies to many, giving Yeowang a nod of the head. The white haired man with a monocle looks to Kana. He gives the fellow Silver Swordsman a bow as well. "Haru Nox, Artificer of the Silver Sword. I may be your senior, but I'll be counting on you today. Do your best and you'll find my support from the back ranks." As his class is a back-formation Wave Artes user. A smile as his head turns to Shenmi, "Shenmi! You bring up a good point, I'll put a request in with the Hunter's Guild to do a review of this area to redirect traffic, but there are more political elements that have been inhibiting it. It is a place for Adventure so they are not want to coddle those that seek the challenge." A hand gestures to the outcome at the plains, "though data should drive the risk decisions." There is a light laugh as he leans over to Kana, "Careful, he is a real charmer. This coming from an 'Enchanter'." Shenmi still gets a wink. Or a blink. Haru wears a monocle so it can go either way. He is the Kit Harrington of 'what is going on with your eyes right now?!'.

A hand from Haru waves the group towards the easy to spot track towards the forest. "Lets go, gnoll retribution awaits us." How easy is it to see? The density of plant death and dried blood flecking the blades make it a clear indication. "City crafter makes his way into the deep dark forest, news at eleven," the young man humors. In truth he has been out here before and every time its so easy for him to get lost. Knowing what a forest looks like and navigating it are completely seperate things. It makes him appreciation how effortlessly Shiruba makes it when in her element just like the work trance when working on a ring or bangle.

The tracks become more obvious at the forest edge. Something here has changed. Flower plants are not just wilting. They are full on stained with black veins that spike up their stems and petals like a broken black mirror. The trees that were once designed for a peaceful, low level, feel have become warped and mangled with claw marks. Tree leaves that were once vibrant lay in a defeated heap at their trunks.

There are no animal sounds here. The tension can be felt like an unnatural pressure. It is as if the world is holding its breath while under the eerie feeling of being watched from an unseen predator. There are no signs of the gnolls here, but they must be somewhere in the shadows. Lurking. Licking their chops for fresh prey. For now it is best to attempt to sneak by unnoticed, less give the upper hand to these fiends.

"Oppressive aura of malice, check," Haru says, offering a manufactured smile of confidence as a small black cat pads out from his shadow. The creature is small with two unnatural red eyes and two tails. Eve is, in fact, a Dark Sprite in the form of a cat monster. /She/ isn't bothered by the loom and gloom. /You/ are. Still if she is being summoned by Haru, she knows what he needs. The four small orbs circling around the Artificer begin to swirl faster around him, taking a different level of elevation as they turn inky black. Words begin to form in rings around him as he chants in a whisper's tone, "Tenebris. Cadit. Lunae Lumen. Oriri. Occultare." With the last word, the summon bristles her fur and a dark mist surrounds the party. This darkness is more calming, more muting. Pale moonlight illuminates the area as they move, to pass without trace for the Wave Arte's duration.

There is a bit of breath that sounds almost like a laugh from Tian, followed by a shake of the head. "<I think we can give up on the idea of properly calibrated quests, my friend.>" They look to Shenmi, the expression on their painted lips rueful.

The Cait Sith's amber eyes turn towards Kana, taking in the Human woman and allowing others the chance for introduction before adding their own. "<I am Tian Lang.>" A hand is moved above their head, then back before their face, closing fingers to thumb in a motion that seems as if creating a canine muzzle. "<Bladedancer and crafter, at your service.>" For one who hasn't experienced it before, Tian's way of speaking is entirely through sign language. However, the game grants an understanding of the meaning of their gestures, even without their being any audible words. Tian casts an amused look to Shenmi, knowing full well that the performer's introduction is far more impactful. "<Always stealing the show.>"

Stepping forward, Tian clasps Haru's hand with a nod, then motions to their daggers. "<As usual, help be my ears, friend. Once fighting starts, I will not be able to communicate as well.>" The series of signs ends with a nod as the Wolf-fox falls into stpe with the others, keeping an eye out for familiar signs of trouble.

Following Haru's lead, the Cait Sith lowers closer to the ground, moving on careful feet, raising their hood and utilizing all aspects of their stealth skills as possible to move through this section of forest unseen by those outside of the party.

Yeowang smiles to Kana, and says, "I'm Yeowang. It's good to meet you, and you're not late." She nods agreement to Tian's comment, adding, "I agree, do not take the game's recommendation at face value." Shenmi draws an amused smirk from her, and she nods to Haru as he leads on. As the growing gets dark and spooky, she will mind her footing and keep to the shadows. The name of her class is Shadowfist, and she seems to live up to it, avoiding detection as we advance through the forest. She remains alert looking left and right at the distance gnoll sounds as she moves forward from shadow to shadow.

Kana cants her head, causing her long hair to flow to the side, face still devoid of any real expression as she accepts the flowers, "Thank you very much, I never met someone with so many titles before, it is a pleasure to meet you too, Shenmi." She bows her head as a sign of respect. Before turning to Haru and gives a slight nod, brushing her hair with a hand, she places the flowers onto her the right side of her dress, add some color to her almost all silvery appearance. "I will do my best to represent the Silver Sword, Sir." Glancing around as others introduce themselves. Nodding to Tian, Yeowang, "A pleasure to meet you both."

As the move on she keeps to her sneaking skills and passes without a sound.

"My dear Tian, you should know full well that I don't -steal- the show. I -am- the show!", Shenmi says, his eyebrows shooting up in mock outrage. Haru's possibly-wink-possibly-blink (bwink?) gets a smirk in response, "Now, now, don't act all jealous because you're not the only one I've been giving flowers to."

"That's the great thing about titles, Miss Kana! You can have as many as your imagination can make up! My official game title would be 'Conjurer', and while it does have a nice ring to it, I thought I'd spice things up a bit."

Shenmi is not really trained in the Dark arts himself -- but he has plenty of experience in working with people who do, and use their assists to their fullest. Therefore, when Haru provides a cover of sorts, Shenmi is quick to slip into it and find the most recondite corner of that mist, retreat there, and slip around, silent, watchful.

There is this nod to Tian from Haru. It is a bittersweet mixture of 'I know' and 'I wont stop trying anyway' when it comes to the wellbeing of Adventurers and policies like those from the Hunter's Guild that affect them. It goes without saying that he is synched up with the bladedancer as eyes and ears. Their time together crafting has created that sort of link that happens when you find a mutual rhythm.

Haru's stealth granting zone buff carries with the party for the duration of their advance providing assistance to the raw prowess of the party. It is perfect for Tian as every step is softened and the profile is made blurred into the forest landscape. Yeowang is a Shadowfist and true to her name she needs no support from the Enchanter to move undetected. It affords her to be able to dip out of the buff zone to keep an advance scout so they are not moving directly into an enemy like two parties fumbling in the dark together. Kana and Shenmi both find their advance bolstered by the Dark element in the area, affording a group effort in collectively passing without incident.

Going deeper into the forest is well and good. It gets everyone closer to the goal. However a place with few landmarks and means of direction has ensnared many a junior ranger into getting lost. There is gnoll activity to follow along the plants and trees that help move them forward. The effect is more severe with branches that have been sharpened into crude spikes jutting out like briar. Blood coats the nearby trees and the ropes that dangle from the foilage. Traps have been laid and the crimson is the signal that they have been successful.
R#1049aughter starts in the distance. It echoes about in a cackle. The sound is maniac and menacing in nature with trees to distort the origin. The gnolls are close now, if one can find the means without falling prey to the traps.

The Artificer closes his eyes and tries to follow the changes in the air. Electricity fuzzes around him that causes his white hair to stand up. He isn't going full Goku here, but experimenting on a different means to track the source than before. "Close by," he informs in a low tone of voice, "but the sounds are misleading, similar to tunnel echoes."

Yeowang is sneaking along, scouting, minding how she goes, but it seems something has found us. Or else the distant laughter is just a constant, spooky feature of this forest. Well, it might very well be that, but the way forward is less clear, the pathss growing confused. She needs to check the tracks carefully to find the best path forward, and her conclusion does not agree with the other party members. Well, better to stay with the party of course, splitting up would be cayastrophic.

There is a soft, yet supportive smile that Tian tries to offer, perhaps because they and Shemni had been in a similar situation not all that long ago. More accurately, they are still dealing with the effects of it, their levels noticably lower than some others in the party.

Then, there is a small exhalation of breath in amusement at Shenmi. Though Tian is deaf, they do make sounds from time to time. What Tian is not good at, however, is picking up sounds from their environment. That is something the Cait Sith had noted before they had gotten started. In fact, while the others start to hear that laughter, Tian's ears barely even twitch. It's more a reaction from the others that tells them something is amiss.

In response, the canine Cait Sith just touches one ear silently, looks around, and raises their hands with an uncertain expression.

Kana closes her eyes to listen to the sounds and trying to discern where they are coming from, however her clear lack of experience is showing and she has not the faintest of ideas. Even taking a thorough search of the ground, trying too look for any clues, her hands always at her sheathed blades, prepared. Looking around to the others, she waits to see if they can pick anything up, sticking close and still sneaking about, as to not give her position or the group's away.

"Laughter. Maniacal. The kind you don't want to hear in a forest, much less a newbie area," Shenmi explains to Tian. "Origin:" He squints around the horizon. "...hard to pinpoint."

"I will let more experienced players handle this," he finally says, with a shake of his head. "As for me, I shall remain hidden until the danger is over."

The gesture is theatrical. Shenmi reaches for the hem of his mantle. He closes his fingers, and pulls his hand up to give the fabric maximum dramatic swish.

Let's face it, everyone loves a swishy mantle.

He narrows his eyes, ready to make his trademark disappearance, only to suddenly grimace, "Goodness gracious! I keep forgetting I have -sold- the mantle before traveling to Yamato!", adding something that sounds a lot like "...I liked that mantle...", but it is hard to discern among the grumbles. He has, therefore, to fall back on the second best plan: run, and hope he doesn't get caught.

"Have you met Gwen, Shenmi," Haru humors the entertainer, appreciating a flashy performance himself. The flow of the air static gives similar options to Yeowang's path, though the collective movements of the party give a less than optimal way forward. The direction the party needs to go sends them straight through more than one of the pointed branches of the trees. It is either that or lose the slippery trail. Haru executes decisiveness to not tarry and push through the hardship. Health is scraped off of the party as they advance onwards closer to the source of gnollish fiendlands. Haru brushes off his shoulder where red damage lines once appeared from the traps. Nothing to do but pull out a red health potion and gulp it down while they move on. So long as their healing capability isn't outpaced, they can afford these setbacks with as constitutional as the group is.

The time for combat draws tense as the scent of blood in the air becomes thicker. The sound of gnollish war cries chatter amongst the trees. They remain out of sight if you don't count the sinister 'red eyes in the darkness' effect representing 'thar be monsters out there!' The first creatures that make themselves known are not gnolls at all. It is a hyenas, the infernal companions to gnollish carnage. The large, rabid creatures sniff and search, a dull light glinting the sharp spikes on their collars. One paws the ground, scratching. Growling. Behind the pack is a gloom stalker of a gnoll coming out from the darkness. The gnoll is wearing leather armor and holds a huge greatbow made out of strange, gnarled wood. There is a stop on the sound and motion as a hyena sniffs up at the air, turning slowly towards the party. An alerting woop follows as the menacing archer points to the Adventuring party. The pack is sent into a sprint, gnashing at the air and growling for fresh prey.

It is possible to dissuade the hyenas from attacking the party. They are merely trained attack animals from the look of it. Pack animals, at that, which would respond in kind to a larger animal that is higher on the food chain and not an easy target to prey upon. If all else fails there is taking out the headmaster, who has a bulwark of companions keeping him at range where the gnoll excells. It would be a ranged battle against an expert.

Haru's four floating casting orbs stop at either side of him in pairs. "I'll focus on buying us time with the archer," he lets the group know as the orbs begin to hum and pull in raw arcane mana. Bolts shoot out in a dakka dakka dakka fashion to sail down the combat zone towards the archer. Each bolt does not seem like it has a lot of force behind it, but enough to try to distract the archer's concentration during his shots. Covering fire!

Yeowang draws her bow and will attack the huntmaster also, but after loosing a couple arrows, she finds the hyenas a bit too much to handle, and must spend more and more of her energy fighting them off. That's fine, as far as not getting hurt, but it doesn't do much to drive off the huntmaster controllng them. She battles furiously, punches and kicks sending the pack flying back, covering the party as best she can.

Tian's eyes shift over to Shenmi, obviously taking in his explination of what is going on around them. Lifting one hand, they bob a fist forward in a sign of affirmation, then look around, knowing very well that in matters of hearing, even being a Cait Sith cannot make up for simply having little use of that particular sense.

Their hands fall to their sides, drawing out the pair of twin daggers. At this point, it becomes obvious that any attempts at further talking are done for the Bladedancer. without the use of their hands, Tian is all but mute. Thankfully, they are quite good with those blades.

When the monster emerges from the trees, Tian is quick on their feet, moving into action and taking opportunities to keep it at a distance, both daggers are thrown, as well as a series of throwing knives that they seem to pull out of boots and gloves and a number of other hidden places.

Kana's shimmering silvery gaze focuses Haru, then darts on the approaching pack, and her usual emotionless demeanor is replaced with that of focus and alertness. Breaking free from her hidden location, her hands glide down to the two sheaths, pulling out some smaller throwing stars. Giving them a good throw they do not land on anything, in fact they all miss, some landing close but the agility of the Hyenas too much for her. "Tch." Moving her hands to the hilts of her blade once more preparing for when they get close.

"Gwen..." Shenmi mutters, eyes narrowed. "Briefly. During our introductory meeting in Alne. So... not informally. Only in an... official capacity, you could say?", he offers, with a tilt of his head. Thinking about such matters seems to have distracted the Conjurer from his mantle(or, rather, lack thereof)-related woes.

Shenmi quickly shifts his approach as soon as monsters appear to attack the party. Were he not doomed to respawn in a Crowned-controlled city, he'd probably gladly launch himself into the foray. But death would be lethal here, both literally and metaphorically with a strong undertone of literally, so he opts for keeping to a more sheltered position, deciding instead to cast out multiple careful elemental projections in the distance, like flashes of light or bursts of rocks, to give the illusion of Adventurers moving about where there are, in fact, no adventurers, to divert part of the enemy attacks away from the members of the party.

The initial salvo keeps the archer at bay before the hyenas crash into the party. The melee peels Yeowang and Kana off where they hold the line against the wave of fast moving monsters. The defensive line permits Haru, Tian, and Shenmi to keep the ranged pressure on the pack leader. The gnollish huntmaster recoils as the health plummets, falling backwards dramatically into a shimmer of pixels crashing like so much shattered glass. Money and loot is left in the wake along with a confused back of doggos. They look back to see their master has been defeated and immediately descend into chaos, running around in a panic before escaping into the woods.

"Good job," Haru offers encouragement with a hand extended so that his four orbs settle back down into a slow orbit around him once more. "We have found the enemy. Now we bring the fight to them, for those that have fallen and those that might fall prey to their malice," the Artificer says. He is pretty fired up today with the whole duty and zeal thing.

The wood responds in kind. It appears to grow in activity. The furry forms of gnolls can be seen in the trees, their limbs just in view. These gnolls seem wary of coming anywhere near the Adventurers. They are smart enough not to engage. It is behavior one might expect from low level gnolls. Gnolls that belong in low level areas. It seems that these are the creatures that should be here and not the infernal evolved gnolls that have been terrorizing the zone.

The sort of threat the adventurers pose to the gnolls is a task left to the generals of the gnoll armies. A large gnoll wearing what apperas to be dark leathers appears from the trees. Black wolf fur covers one shoulder. A series of bat wings that dangle from the monster's belt. The most unsettling sight is that there are a series of red runes that look burned into the gnoll's skin. They glow in an infernal nature and radiate an aura of malice. The beast of a gnoll holds a massive scythe in one hand, turned to party in an open challenge.

A roar follows, erupting from the spit-slathered maw with sharp gnashing teeth of the Abyssal-Fang Gnoll. It stomps foward, welcoming fresh carnage with a swing of the massive blade. It is possible that someone sckilled in scripture or light could break the runes and the abyssal enchantment placed on the gnoll. Otherwise it will have to be bringing the forces of nature itself against the corrupting influence of a gnoll corrupted so deeply.

"May the elements take you," Haru says in a chilly voice with a glint on his purple monocle. It betrays his mastery of Earth as a foot presses deep into the ground and causing it to crack. All four of his casting orbs hit the ground as if gravity have snatched them. The Enchanter anchors into a channel, causing vines to erupt upwards and grab the gnoll's wrist, forcing it down to reduce the accuracy of the strikes. If that wasn't bad enough, a hand draws upward, causing a pillar of raw rock to piston up to the beast's jaw in an uppercut. The Wave Artes caster can't move from his spot, but makes the world itself a weapon to use against the powerful mini boss.

After that initial encounter, it takes a moment for Tian to collect all daggers and other various blades, sliding them into a number of hidden holsters beneath their armor. It seems there is more danger to the Cait Sith than there may seem on the surface, but... thankfully the Bladedancer is on their side.

As they continue, it is no surprise to see another gnoll that has been somehow tainted by demonic forces. This isn't Tian's first trip into these forests, so they seem to have prepared this time. Pulling free a pouch from their belt, the Cait Sith begins to run in a circle aorund the creature, using their dagger in the other hand to carve out runes along the salt-line that they are pouring.

It's a neat little trick, and it keeps the Gnoll neatly contained so that the others can try to do some real damage to it.

Yeowang is glad to be useful fighting off the pack, even if it's not helping with the primary objective. She does kick the hyenas in a way that would make the ASPCA cringe, but this is a game, and they are trying to kill us, so she's maybe excused. But even as they're driven off without the huntmaster to goad them on, the next threat becomes apparent. Some sort of evil-enhanced gnoll.

So, this is one of those confusing bits in the game for her. The fighting, she's entirely at home with, and was in fact, better before joining the game than in-game. The game slows her down. But it's granted her other powers, and while she's only so-so with them, they're a fact, and they're occasionally useful. This is one of those occasions, and she says a strange charm, or selects it with the menu, anyhow, though it's done awkwardly, and it actually takes hold, removing the demonic enchantment on the gnoll.

She /then/ proceeds to unload twelve kinds of whoopass on the gnoll, which it is not prepared to deal with.

Drawing her two large pair of blades that have been forged into two parts of silver scissors, she twirls and slicing into the hyenas, holding them at bay. Blades gliding, jabbing and cutting through the air and beast with an elegant ferocity. Once that is over she collects her hand full of white throwing stars, slipping them into the side of the sheaths, once more. As the party consolidates, she takes a quick look to make sure they are okay, watching them from more of a distant gaze.

Then moving on, that is when they approach their next threat, and what started to appear as another gnoll to her, was quickly lost as this seems to be a, Super-Evil-Gnoll. Spinning both her blades, she takes a stance, eying the next target.

"Ladies and Gentlemen and Gnoll scum!", Shenmi decleares. "Prepare to be amazed, astonished, astounded!", voice sounding powerfu through projection, as opposed to yelling. He spreads his arms, and a whole light show shoots out of his fingers, colorful, intricate, -perhaps- a bit showy, but that's the way things are done where he's from. "Welcome a most unusual polychrome extravaganza!" He moves his arms in wide circles, drawing Lissajous patterns with the trails of the lights spinning around his hands, "Dazzling and inhebriating, taking you for an exhilarating ride that leave you ecstatic and light-headed, like the nights in Kallamore!" His hands, which were closed in a fist by now, are thrusted forward, palms fully open, fingers splayed, to cast a blast of Light magic towards the opponent.

The Earth responds to Haru's calling with a 'I thought you would never ask.' The vines are thick, wrapping around the arms of the gnollish general and causing the scythe to cleave its wrath into the earth below. A loud CRACK is heard as the pillar crushes into the beast's jaw, leaving it dazed from the counter offensive. It roars out, only to bite its's tongue as a tree whacks it hard over the back of the head like a disappointed maternal figure. Slowly it looks to the offending tree only to be distracted by Tian's circle motions. It causes the big beast to turn around to try to face the Blademaster, only getting more tangled up in the vines in the process. The painful stunlock gives the rest of the party time to work on raw damage and the runes. Decyphering them. Undoing them. The final rune is removed from the gnoll's body and it collapses under the weight of its maximum hitpoints being reduced below the damage sustained from the Earth and Light assault.

Haru has found himself less cheerful in the face of infernal influence, looking at the fallen gnoll without mercy. It takes a moment to close his eyes and regain composure with a smile. It is hard to let the mood of the forest get to you when there is someone like Shenmi causing a lightshow. A motion onwards as the orbs return to his side in slow orbit. Perhaps it isn't Haru's mood that has shifted. The entire area impresses upon everyone a certain dread. Even the small hordes of lower level gnolls seem to fall quiet other than a few small yips and laughs that mute themselves as soon as they are emoted. The party soon finds that the path theya re on leads to a wide clearing. Lamps are lit at the edge. A huge mark is burned into the ground that signifies one thing. They have found the boss chamber.

There is a feeling of heat, like fire, which rises up from the symbol on the ground. A creature begins to materialize before their eyes, hand first drawing from the symbol as if it was a thin tear in the plane to punch through. It crashes into the ground, lifting the heft of the beast out as another hand joins the effort. A massive gnoll forms from the red aura with large, demonic horns that curn back from his forehead. A draconic tail slams into the ground behind him with all the weight of a heavy maul. It roars, a deep and unnatural sound that even the trees shake from. The rest of the creature's body finds itself with a coal dark setting except for those two red eyes that maintain the same crimson as the room's infernal symbol.

Cue the boss background music. The demonic gnoll stomps forward in an opening attack, claws swinging out with lightning fast quickness and enough tenacity to rend armor with such sharp talons.

The initial attack is met with the frosty chill of Haru's defensive Arte. A lion-like creature is summoned out and charges to meet the demon, coated in icy blue fur and creating steam from the heat difference in the room. It does not attack, but rather erupts into a wall of glacial ice that the boss is able to rend instead of them. Seething acidic debuffs apply on the boss every time he strikes this ice wall, giving a creature of fire a different kind of burn: A Frostburn.

Yeowang looks up as the boss music comes up, and the demon gnoll stomps forward. "Another one of these?" she asks, squaring off, and trading blows with the gnoll. She bobs and weaves, though, and it's clear that she's simply a much wilier fighter than the gnoll. Whether she's reading his moves, or just simply leaving him no options, she brutally overmatches him, delivering bow after blow and avoiding the clumsy counterattacks. She strikes from unusual angles and blindsides. When he turns to face another attacker, she punches him hard right in the temple, or kicks him in the jaw. When he faces her, she kicks the legs and knees brutally, making him stagger. This is a bad day to be a demon-possessed gnoll in this forest.

Tian cannot hear the boss music, but that is okay, it would only serve as a distraction anyways. There is familiarity in the sight of this creature, perhaps having faced one like it before. Those daggers are clenched firmly between the Bladedancer's fingers, knuckles white. They give a glance over each of the others, then nods once and charges forward into the fray.

Despite not having the higher levels of some Adventurers, Tian is fast. The Uncrowned utilizes the lamp posts, nearby trees, and even the boss as things they can catapult off of, dodging and weaving to keep themselves out of reach while channeling powerful air magic. A sort of vortex surrounds them, almost like a whirlwind. Some of those knives from before begin to float within it, following the motions of Tian's strikes.

Moving quickly, each strike of Tian's daggers is followed up by slashes of those smaller blades still held within that tornado. It means that each blow inevitably has many others that follow behind it, making it a danger to allow even one hit to land.

As the boss music starts playing, Kana closes her eyes for a few seconds opening them up. Stance already take she stares down the incoming super-enemy. Dashing forward, the silvery swordswoman, starting to work at the bosses's health bar with a series of quick jabs, flourishing into slices. Quick and agile on her feet, the attacks come swift and without fail, falling back and attacking in tandem with opening created by her fellow party members.

Heavy chest raises, as the battle draws out, she glides one blade over the other, becoming ever more with the shadows, awaiting for opening, Kana makes a series of cuts stepping out and from the shadows.

One of the noteworthy things is -- there is no automatic boss music Adventurers can hear. If Adventurers want boss music while fighting the boss, they have to provide it themselves.

Shenmi seems to be the designated boss musician this time: as soon as the boss appears, he removes his top hat, places it between his knees, like bongos, and begins tapping it like a tom-tom, an ostinato rhythm which is soon joined by the modulated howling of wind (Air Magic) and the closest he has to offer to a distorted guitar: Shenmi's bun-bun Bao peeking out from the bottom of the hat in a spiky wig and ripped Metal Band T-shirt, modulating a guitar solo on a kazoo.

The guitar solo is just random noise, to be fair, and the kazoo might have been magically treated so it plays without the help of the Bun-Bun (Conjurers are a tricky bunch), but one cannot really tell.

Hey, dying is Lethal, ok? Staying back and playing the background music is a totally legit way to help the party!

Well, that, and... remember the modulated howling wind? Soon, a deck of card flies out from Shenmi's pockets, and is sucked up into the whirpool, spun around, and hurled, card by card, at the boss. Death by papercuts!

The ice walls perform dual purpose damage absorbing functions as well as a constant debuff on the infernal gnoll's defenses. It softens the big guy up for the pain that a party brings to the final battle. This beast has a lot of defense to go through so it happens in stacks, including Yeowang's powerful strikes to the legs and knees to keep it staggering. It keeps Rroarn firmly within the area for Tian to set up and unleash the salvo of whirlwind daggers in rapid fashion. The attack duration wanes to provide a switch-out opening for Kana, darting back in with those cuts before retreating. Best part is that the bursts of damage are empowered by Tian's self-provided battle music. The rhythm repeats itself with support from song and barrier, debuffing strikes, and DPS blade alternation. Throw in a bunch of papercuts just for good measure!

The fight is a difficult one that requires endurance against a fast, strong foe with heavy resistances. It feels more akin to Dark Souls level fighting than an MMO fight with phases. In the end the party prevails.

The boss monster doesn't just die. No, they get a dramatic death. Arms reel back in an open T pose, chest cracked with white light that splinters outwards. "Gwaaaahhhhh!" it roars out, overtaken by damage until it explodes into a shimmer of confetti light and pixels that give the dismal area a faerie fire glow to it. The runes are the ground soak up the light as if it was fresh, cleansing rain. The red begins to fade away from the rune. They won. Thats what should happen, right? The Heroes have saved the day. No, something deeper is at play here. This is not the True End. The symbols rebel against the cleansing light and burn bright red once more, symbol pulsing. Something has changed but what?

For now the Adventurers can take pride in that a major threat will not be bothering anymore until it respawns. Also there is a chest where the remains once were. Loot is also a fine reward. "Another one," Haru says to Yeowang as he brushes his white hair away from his eyes in true caster trope fashion. "Which is why we will need to keep returning until the situation evolves, one way or the other. The situation with the War is pressing, but there are domestic problems as well. The gnolls. The undead." The later is mentioned over to Tian and Shenmi, nodding at the small list of affairs. Finally he settles onto Kana, "so it is with little exaggeration that I say your presence is fortunate and welcome. You did good today." A grin as he gives Kana a close fisted nudge on the shoulder.

As the battle ends, Tian leaps from one of the lightposts back down to the ground, the wind magic fading out around them and the knives clattering to the ground. There is a tightening of the lips, as they start to gather them up once again. Sure, the attack may be flashy, but it is annoying to have to go find all the knives again after the fact.

One by one, the knives are put away, including the two full size daggers which slide neatly into the sheaths upon Tian's back. "<We keep fighting, so long as the world needs us to fight.>" Tian raises their hands in what some would read as a boxer's posture. Then, they smile, removing the wolf mask and running a hand through their ombre hair.

Beneath the mask, the Cait Sith's features are painted with a black stripe across the eyes, with more wolfish markings aorund their mouth. Some of it has started run, however, since makeup available in Yamato really doens't stand up against sweat very well. Tian's features are more open without the mask, showing more range of emotion. "<You all fought well.>" They confirm, gold eyes stark against the darker makeup around them.

Then, to Haru and Shenmi, Tian adds, "<I am heading to the port. New supplies coming in. Going to watch for any Crowned interference.>" With that, the Bladedancer gives a nod to the others, pulls their mask back on, and starts out of the forest.

Yeowang is looking a bit rough after that fight, face cvered with sweat, her hands and feet grubby from where she's been punching and kicking the monster, and her HP, not spectacular when full, down by a noticable amount. It's impossible to avoid all damage, you just try to take as little as possible. But when the fight is over, she lets out a breath and looks around the clearing. But the gnolls watching the fight want no part of a party that can take down their leader, and they fade into the forest. She nods to Haru, agreeing "Another one, and looks like another failed summon." She nods agreement with Tian, and says, "We should all get back."

Kana lets out a breath, a small smile appears on her lips, which is a stark contrast to her more monotone and expressionless demeanor she carries about. Watching other as they take their share of the loot she takes her's as well, a demon horn which she inspects closely, before stuffing it into her her inventory. Running her hands through her hair, she walks over to the rest of her party, "Well done everyone." Her delicate voice carries out the best it can, towards the others. Though her attention captured by Haru when she is addressed, "Thank you, sir, though I did mess up back there a few times so I shall strive to learn and improve." Giving a very faint smile to the nudge. She bows her head once more to him. "It was nice meeting all of you, and I hope we can go on more adventures such as these in the future." She lifts her hand to give a small elegant flick of her wrist. Starting to check herself over to make sure she has everything she needs and came with.

"Tian, you should work on something like The Force. Like, extend your hand and pull back all the knives to you." A short pause. "Handle first. Very important. I cannot see a tactical advantage in becoming a focal point of stabbing." He rubs his goatee and looks up, quirking an eyebrow, pensive. "They're metal... so some sort of Earth technique?" He wonders.

He then turns to the party at large. "Yes, excellent job, everyone!", he says, seconding Haru's compliments. Then he doffs his hat. "Likewise, Kana," and nods at Yeowang. "Agreed. Let us not linger."