Field Quest: Caravan Escort

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    Field Quest: Challenge Intro

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    On the road between Alne and the port town of Carmina Gadelica was two caravans that were moving supplies. The two wagons are being pulled by two Pekos on each with a cloth covering over the box of goods, and the drivers at the ready.

The leader of this caravan of supplies was standing by the wheels of one of the wagons, waiting to see if the Adventurers would come or not. He was smoking on a wooden pipe and had a type of oriental straw hat over his head.

One of the drivers looks at the head of the caravan crew and says to him. "The Pekos are seeming restless sir."

    "They will be fine." The man says back, taking a draw from his pipe. "Just have patience." And so the Caravan waits.

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Everyone has their reasons for needing to get away for a bit. For Rylen, it is one part a need for some coin and one part wanting to focus his mind and energies on something that might prove useful, for once. The Beastmaster approaches the caravan, bringing his own peko in tow. Having a spare animal is always useful, just incase there are problems on the road.

With the temperatures still not having swung completely towards spring, he's wearing a simple, tight-fitting undershirt as well as a long leather jacket with fur lining, and fingerless leather gloves. "I've been told you're hiring Adventurers?" He asks, then gives a small bow to the leader of the Caravan. "Rylen Corvus, at your service."

Goldenblade is eager to do the adventuring thing. It is a thing that needs doing, she's told, heroes required. Well, she's here for exactly that. Anyway, helping people out has always been a thing, and now that she's found things to do with other people here, she's all into it. "Hello!" she calls out as she approaches. "Er, call me Goldenblade." Because her actual name is a copy-paste goofup in chargen, and it's not like she can fix it now.

After Plant Hwyaden came to help her out Seliana has since joined the guild. While not overly motivated herself, she hopes that their efforts will end up leading her to those responsible for the situation she finds herself in. Still she finds herself someone aimless and wanders the area. She never did see the notice for adventurers to assist the caravan, but she is planning to head back to Alne to the guild HQ there.

As she is walking nearby she hears the comment about hiring adventurers and the petite girl wanders over to the Lander, her elaborate black dress swishing in the breeze. Looking up at him and the Pooka adventurer Rylen with dull red eyes and asks in a flat toneless voice, "You are going to Alne?" Without the normal inflection the question could be mistaken for a statement.

     You offer a quest? Of course there's adventurers showing up to escort a caravan. Why wouldn't they? After all, quests mean loot, and loot means money or power. So Fukasa arrives, in a rather... unceremoneous way, really. She's just walking, really. With her trident in her hand at the ready.

     Once she approaches the caravan, she lifts a hand, flashing a shark-toothed grin towards the landers. "Ho there, do'inpo Landers. I heard that you needed help?" She says as she approaches. The way she says 'Landers' is without much in the way of respect, at all really.

     "Oh my, I just seem to be running into you constantly, Rylen. Perhaps this will be interesting." The siren comments, moving up to unceremoniously sit on the back of the cart, one leg crossing over the other lazily. Hm. Two others arrive. "Goldenblade? Hmm. I think I'll call you Goldy, less of a mouthful."

     And ... Seliana, the ... toneless one. She gives her a look-over but in the end actually seems to choose not to comment. Maybe she has some tact? Okay probably not, but that one is clearly already broken. No need to needle her.

    "I'm so excited! An escort quest!", Uta exclaims as she trots towards the caravan. Her usual starting outfit is not visible, since she's wearing a long-sleeed double-breasted coat that reaches all the way to her feet, the black of the fabric matching her hair. In one hand, she holds her staff, shaped like a Caduceus: intertwined snakes coil all the way to the top element, round, from which two wings depart. A gem is set in it.

    "An escort quest! I've never been in one, but I'm sure it's the best thing ever -- for one, because it's not even sure there'll be monsters or dangers. It might be a completely smooth ride! And two, most importantly, you deal with someone who actively cooperates towards your goal instead of doing everything in their power to hinder you, so, that's two huge plusses over other kinds of adventuring- oh, hey, looks who's there! Rylen! Goldenblade! Other people I don't know! And-"

    It is now that she notices the landers, so she walks up to them. "Oh, hi. I've heard you were looking for adventurers, so, see, I need to take care of a thing in Alne and I thought, hey, maybe I can make myself useful in the meantime, and-"

    With all the rambling, Uta has started walking and looking around, until finally her glance falls on Rylen again. She seems to remember something all of a sudden, and stops. She turns towards the caravan people, and performs a bow with a flourish. "Uta Furore," she introduces herself, the "Furore" pronounced the Japanese way: Fu-RO-RE. "Musical kung-fu nurse at your service."

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    Field Quest: Challenge Continued...

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    The head of the Caravan gives a nod to Rylen as he shows up. "That we are, fine sir. That we are." Then other adventurers arrive. He gives them all a respectful bow of his head. "Any assistance you Adventurers can provide to help us get these good back to Alne will be greatly appreciative. You can even feel free to hop on board if you so like."

His attention turns over to Seliana, "That we are, miss." The man gives each a once quick over before he says to the Adventurers gathered, "My name is Aitoki. You can feel free to just call me Ki. I am the head of this caravan group and the one who will see to the fact you are all paid for your services on how well this cargo here," His hand pats one of the boxes. "Are protected."

    Aitoki walks up to the front and gets onboard, along side the driver. "We have heard of bandits along the roadways," He says a bit louder so everyone can hear him easily. "So keep your eyes and ears open!"

He then motions to the driver, "Let's go!" And the driver slaps the reigns and the pekos start to move the large wagons along the dirt road.

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As others begin to gather, the Pooka's already beaming expression seems to spread into a wider smile. "Fate works in mysterious ways, my dear." He offers the Undine a wink, chuckling to himself. Uta is given a similar warm greeting, "Lady Furore, a pleasure as always." And he says her name right, too. With Goldenblade offering an introduction, the elven male also bows to her, silver hair tipping forawrd. "Good to make your aquaintence, Lady Goldenblade." The man certainly has a flare with introductions. Even Seliana is given a bow of his head, and a polite, "M'lady."

With most of those introductions out of the way, he rests a hand on his peko, scratching the bird lightly under the beak. Then, he politely listens to the caravan leader, giving him a nod once the terms of their hire are laid out. "Will do."

As the wagons begin to move, Rylen falls into step next to his peko, the bird pacing along as if this were just another day. It's a contrast to the Landers' birds, which seem more anxious.

Goldenblade smirks at Yuri, and being called Goldy. If she thinks 'Goldenblade' is a mouthful, she'd choke on her full name. But she doesn't have a problem with it. Seliana gets a skeptical look, she met the girl the other day. But if she's got a place to go, perhaps she's found some motivation? Uta's genki greeting draws a smile. "Good morning to you!" she offers.

She nods as Aitoki greets the adventurers, and she will hop in the cart to ride along, settling herself in and getting as comfortable as the wooden wagon allows. "Sounds good," she says, and peers at Rylen. "Nice to meet you, also," she says after a moment.

Turning towards Fukasa as the Undine addresses the Lander, the breeze causing her veil to press against her face but she doesn't react to this. After the various introductions from the others Seliana replies in her monotone voice, "Hello. I'm Seliana." The only facial reaction aside from forming the words is the occasional blink.

When Aitoki confirms that they are going to Alne and that the group was welcome to sit in the caravan, Seliana slowly climbs her way onto one of the carts and then carefully tucks her dress as she finds a spot to sit. In all honesty she is really just using the caravan as easy transportation to get to Alne without walking, but if she gets lumped in with the other adventurers and paid for the effort she will not refuse.

     How disappointing. The landers didn't even seem to particularly respond to her teasing goading. They're probably used to it. Fukasa actually sighs a little towards Aitoki. "You're no fun, Ki. And here I thought I was at least going to get punched or something." She says almost wistfully.

     Still. Uta seemed genuinely excited, so she decides to stop the harshness towards the lander. "So, just a simple trip from here to Alne? That should be easy enough, especially with this many adventurers. Don't you worry, you and your goods shall make it to your destination safely." She says with a salute and another toothy grin.

     "Fate? Hm. I suppose. Perhaps my fate is to encounter you often... but regardless, it's always a pleasure, dear Rylen." Was that a genuine smile? ... No, not really, but it looks like one. She leans back against the cart contently. And... Seliana responds. That's... interesting. She's going to be ... hm. "A pleasure, Seliana. I am Fukasa Yuri, you may call me Fuka or Yuri." She bows her head politely. "You invoke mild feelings of protectiveness in me. Interesting." The undine shifts her eyes out over the side of the path, beginning to keep watch as she absently works a barnacle off of her trident.

Uta replies with "Good morning Goldenblade! Nice to meet you, Ki! Pleased to make your acquaintance, Seliana and Fuka!"

    And when Rylen goes for one of his trademark high-quality introductions, she is left speechless. "Once again, you flatter me, Master Corvus," she says with a grin, as she clambers onto what she believes to be the cart meant to ride behind. "I am really glad I ditched my not-really-dad to run away with the circus. Looking forward to becoming your apprentice."

    "...I can punch you if you want, Fuka?" It's not said in a sarcastic or offensive tone -- it's very matter-of-fact, a bit shy even, as if she actually meant it and was even hoping she was not being too bold by offering this.

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    Field Quest: Challenge - Sound of Silence

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    The ride has so far been an easy one, there has been too much sign of trouble and one could easily be lulled into thinking that this Escort job will be a piece of pie, if not a little boring.

That is until something causes one of the pekos to chirp in concern up in the front. The driver tries to calm the peko with his voice, "Easy girl..." He says softly. Aitoki looks over to the driver, raising a brow. The driver looks over to the man and shrugs gently.

Oddly enough, outside of the pekos concerned chirping, the wagon wheels crushing rocks under them, and the breeze; It is ire quiet. Perhaps, to quiet.

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<><> Only One Must Succeed
<> Listen/Lookout carefully: +roll Searching (with card) vs 6
<> Check the ground carefully: +roll Tracking (with card) vs 6
<> Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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When Seliana finally introduces herself, Rylen gives the young woman a soft smile. "A pleasure, lady Seliana. I'm Rylen." He offers, touching his chest briefly and then inclining his head. Though she seems quite reserved, that doesn't seem to impact the enthusiasm he has in meeting new people.

"Yamato is a strange place." Rylen counters to Fukasa. "Fate or no, at least it's good company for the journey." Is she really good company? Who knows, but he seems jovial enough with most anyone. He then chuckles to himself, "Well, I plan on setting up a temporary performance space at the edge of town. See if we can't find a few other buskers who might be willing to make a day of it."

Walking along side the caravan, his peko doesn't seem to give the same alarm. Perhaps because the beast is simply too used to actually being around danger. "I'll see if I can't get us some eyes in the sky." He offers, giving a whistle. A dark form which had been following them swoops down, a singe black crow. Ry circles two fingers in the air, giving a command, which has the bird starting to circle. "Kyo will give a call if she spots anything troubling."

"I've already volunteered to join the performance," Uta adds to Rylen's mention of a temporary performance space at the edge of town. "It'll be a great way to learn new things and grow my potential. And a fun way to make ends meet."

    The caravan has been going for some time. An uneventful trip, mostly, until, of all people, Uta, the local space cadet raises a finger at a specific point off the road. "...the grass moved there. Is it supposed to do that?"

Seliana curls up her legs and hugs her knees as she watches the others prepare. When Fuka introduces herself Seliana just watches her impassively, blinking a few times, and then responds with. "Alright. Fuka." In a flat voice.

Then they were off slowly moving along the road. Seliana sits and watches as the scenery goes by, she could fool a casual glance that she was a statue if it were not for her dress and hair fluttering gently in the breeze. As the peko chirps and the others react, Seliana continues to sit impassively looking out across the cart at the trees along the road. At least she does until the crow swoops down and she starts to watch the dark bird, as it climbs into the sky and starts circling around she cranes her neck to look up and watch it.

Goldenblade is, it seems, not really an outdoors person. At least not the 'alert to dangers in the wild'-type. She really had no clue in character generation, leaving her oblivious now to the danger lurking. As Uta mentions moving grass, she offers an intelligent and considered response, "Huh?" She was kind of enjoying the sun and the ride, too.

     Uta's offer gets Fukasa just... laughing. Pff. Hahahahahahaha! "My goodness, the way you offered that. You almost sounded as if you didn't even want to. I think I like you, Uta. Let me know if you need anything, especially since you're excited for an escort quest... you must be new." The undine pats the wood next to her on the cart. "Come, sit next to me. Let's keep watch. It's important to keep a 360 degree eye on things. Since we're towards the back, we'll watch behind in case of followers. The others." She motions towards Rylen, "Rylen, for instance, will keep an eye on the sides or front in case of approaching threats." She pauses, the concerned chirp of the Peko. She scans the horizon quietly. "Hmm. Something's probably coming." She starts to scan the area nearby, hopping off the back of the cart to begin checking for tracks.

     "...Looks like just a harmless rabbit." She returns to the cart. "Old tracks too. Or I'm having an off day, really. Sometimes it's hit or miss." Rylen's comment gets another one of those shark-toothed grins. "Oh, I'm glad that you consider me such! I'll do my best to not make it unpleasant." She bows (as much as she can when sitting on the back of a card) towards him theatrically. "And should there be a part to play, I shall play it to my utmost today."

     "Oh good, you're already being a good lookout, Uta!" Fuka says, genuinely encouragingly without any sense of sarcasm to her voice. "Normally, that's a bad thing, yes. Get your weapon ready." She says, shifting her trident towards where Uta pointed out, preparing for combat. Seliana's responses continue to be... concerning?

     "I... Seliana you... hm. You know I'm honestly not sure how to talk to you." Does she want to help? A bit. But how?

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    Field Quest: Challenge Continued...

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        SUCCESS

    Rylen's companion in the sky would see some of the long grass moving slowly toward the Caravan, whatever it is, is not moving very quickly trying to keep themselves hidden. The troubling part is that it's coming from both sides.

Uta also picks up on some movement closer to the roadway. So between her eyes and Kyo's warnings, the drivers try to pick up the pace. "Hold on!" Ki calls out to those riding along.

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    Field Quest: Challenge - Bandits Of Gnolldom

    It wouldn't be much longer after the caravan tries to pick up the pace, that arrows come flying in for the group and the cargo.

One arrow goes aiming right for one of the Pekos pulling the wagons and then a few more, but the birds are smart and their feet don't falter even as the arrows fly by. One such arrow gets logged in Aitoki's hat! Though he barely makes flinch as he takes a puff of his pipe and rumbles, "... damn bandits."

    The driver next to him however is a bit more spooked by the ordeal yelling out, "They are going to kill us!" Then here come more arrows, as some of the Gnoll bandits make their presence known, chasing after the Caravan with bows in hand.

<><> You Fail Your Roll, You Probably Take An Arrow
<> Dodge an arrow: +roll Evasion (with card) vs 6
<> Block an arrow: +roll Shield (with card) vs 6
<> Catch n' Return: +roll Ranged (with card) vs 8
<> Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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"Well, you're welcome to accompany me after we get to Alne." Rylen offers to Uta, giving the young woman a sly sort of smile. "We'll see how much in the way of coin we can rake in. I certainly could use it." He chuckles, "Between drink and collateral damage, our mutual friend has nearly drained my funds dry." He's likely talking about Xander.

Rylen gives a small salute when Fukasa points out his role in keeping guard, offering a wink in her direction. A moment later, well, there is a cry from the crow circling above. "On your feet lads and lasses, we've got incoming." He calls out.

With the arrows flying in their direction, Rylen raises his hands protectively. One goes straight for his peko, which he swats out of the air, another heading directly towards him, causing him to have to flip backwards, acrobatically, landing on the edge of the cart and balancing there in a crouch.

Goldenblade is faster than some bandits, it seems. The warning from Rylen had her shifting her seat to something with a bit more cover, and so when she hears the twang of bowstrings, she leans back behind the goods in the wagon and avoids getting skewered. Climbing to her feet, but still crouched down, her swords come out, though she's hunkered in cover until she can see a target. "What's out there?" she asks urgently. She's got a bow, but small good it'll do with nothing to shoot at. She prefers up close and personal, really. That's the warrior ethos.

Seliana looks back to Fuka with her dull red eyes, "You can talk to me normally. It's fine." She says flatly. She continues to watch Fuka, hugging her legs as she sits in the cart, the only movement her occasional blink and the breeze playing along her clothing and hair.

Then the gnoll bandits rush out, arrows flying, Lander (singular) screaming. Seliana turns to look over at the gnolls as an arrow flies past her head, piercing through her veil and clipping her hair. Another arrow slams into the cart right beside her. Without flinching she carefully stands up and moves to the center of the cart, slowly turning around as she looks gathering in the scene. Another arrow wizzes past only a couple inches from her stomach and slams into one of the supply boxes.

    Uta has a habit of going off into tangents, and coming back to older discussions at a much later time. People aware of this might understand why she suddenly says, "I don't like to punch people I've just met," she says, abruptly, continuing with, "...I'm more comfortable punching them after I've known them for a while." A short pause. "...and yes, I'm new. Joined my first VR game hours before the Apocalypse. Does... does it still show that much after almost two months?"

    When she's told that moving grass is not a good thing, she follows Fuka's suggestion: she springs to stand, and assumes a pose of readiness, eyes focused, smooth white staff pointed in the direction of the grass. Eager to spread the suggestion she's just received to someone else, she addresses the first person she happens to lay eyes on, and gives her the first obvious advice about entering a phase of concentrated combat that comes to mind.

    "Hush, Seliana!", she whispers. "Don't say a word."

    That is when the arrows start flying. Uta's previous look of relaxed absent-mindedness shifts into one of piercing focus. She dodges, jumps, spins in place, letting stray arrows zip past where she was one second earlier.

    Camera cut to the general area of Uta's coat where her heart is, cue zipping arrow aimed at Uta's heart, and freeze frame to when the projectile has begun pushing against Uta's outer layer of clothing, yet has not yet pierced into it. Zoom out, to reveal that this is no freeze frame, but Uta mas actually managed to catch the arrow by the tail at the very last second.

    "Good thing it's not Valentine Day," is what she says, cryptically. "I hate Valentine's Day." And with a yell, she spins in place, tosses the arrow in the air, and hits with her staff as if it was a racket, sending it back where it came from.

    Arrows incoming. She's supposed to defend the caravan right? Okay, let's see... she takes a breath and shifts her stance, beginning to spin her trident in front of her, intending it to be defense while she begins to incant a spell. And then... a lucky arrow manages to slip past her defense, stabbing into her shoulder and disrupting her spell.

     Fukasa's eyes narrow as she reaches to pull the arrow out of her shoulder, leaving behind a glowing red, hot, angry spot on her shoulder. "Oh come *ON*, that their level the miss chance on that should have been 90%. Of /course/ RNG would say it hits me right in the shoulder." Fukasa rants and mutters out loud, her eyes beginning to glow with her annoyance, their sea green growing deeper as saltwater comes out of her eyes. It's just seawater, shut up! "...I'm going to skin every last one of them." She mutters. "...For the loot, not to be grisley, ew." She wrinkles her nose. A good feigning of disgust at the thought. "And stop being so overdramatic they're not going to /kill/ you. With this large of a party, so long as you stay behind one of the tanks, you'll be fine." She pauses. They /do/ have tanks? Right? Hm. She forgot to check that. Oh well. "Hey, Goldy, stay near the driver. Keep him calm, okay? He seems about to bolt on us and I'd rather he not get himselves killed. Our pay is sure to be way lower if he dies."
"Normally? I... no no I meant... yeah okay sure. Seliana, start actually dodging please! ... ... ... Geeze you have the luck of the devil, don't you." Fukasa frowns a little. How does she have /such low self preservation/??? Still, at least the girl's luck stat seemed high.

     "Not many people get as excited as you were about an escort quest, Uta. That's a mark of a new player, usually. Some people are weird and just actually like them though." Fukasa comments, beginning to mutter under her breath, starting her next round of casting.

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    Field Quest: Challenge - When Gnolls Come Knocking

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    One of the gnolls finds the arrow coming right back for it, which hits that gnoll right in the head, causing the gnoll to fall back and fade into wisps of light.

The excitement doesn't end there though! More Gnolls come out from the side of the two wagons. Jump up in attempt to climb up and trying to go after the rope the holds down the cloth covering over the boxes.

    One of them goes after the driver in the front, but while the driver nearly screams like a little girl, even as Fuka tries to get him to chill out; Aitoki takes out a blade and slams it into the gnoll's eye. The other driver of the second wagon is amazingly keeping his cool, though his hands are pretty tight on the reigns.

The gnoll screams in pain, as it let's go and falls back into the road, rolling along the ground. The gnoll didn't die, but it sure did lose an eye for its efforts!

    ... Wonder if that will be a thing later on.

    For now though, the Adventurers need to focus on getting the Gnolls off the wagons and keep them from cutting the ropes!

<><> Everyone Must Succeed
<> Choose An Action: +roll <action> (with card) vs 5

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Above, the circling crow continues to caw her warning, wings weaving between arrows. On the ground, however, Rylen seems to shift from defensive, to offensive, clapping his fists together and then walking along the edge of the cart as if it were a balance beam. He leaps over a charging gnoll, then lands neatly on the beast's arm, foot coming down on the joint.

Then, he motions his hands as if tracing martial arts moves in the air. A rock flies up, smashing that same gnoll in the side of the head, sending rock dust everywhere. What follows is a series of quick martial arts movements, each one pulling up debris from the ground around them and casting rocks of various size towards the gnolls. They are pelted with stones, boulders, rocks of all types even without a single blow from Rylen's fists actually going physically near them.

"What the hell are you even shipping, man? Meat?" Perhaps wondering just what in the heck the monsters might actually be wanting out of the caravan. Even his peko starts to join in the fray, finding a downed gnoll who isn't quite dead yet and pecking the daylights out of it with his long beak.

Goldenblade is told to watch the driver, so she'll watch the driver, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly. Or it would be reassuring if she didn't have a sword in either hand. Still, she murmurs to him, "Do not worry. We will take care of things, just stay as hidden as you can to avoid any stray arrows." It should be pretty easy with the number of veterans we have, even if she and Seliana are rookies.

Then the gnolls are on top of us, and this is where she is in her element, blades flashing as she tries to keep them off the wagon driver, though they're pressing him hard. She delivers a series of blazing strikes, the edges of her blades seeming to glow for a moment and the strikes at the gnolls attacking the driver. She stands on the board just behind the driver and slashes any gnolls that come close, driving them back if a killing blow is too hard, but concentrating on keeping the screaming wagon driver safe.

Still standing in the center of her cart Seliana slowly looks from Uta to Fuka as they both address her, blinking but not saying anything. Maybe she took Uta's advise to heart? Then she turns to a gnoll that is approaching the cart and raises her hand, palm open, towards the gnoll and says, "Shock," in her flat toneless voice. A couple mots of yellow light appear around the frail girl floating lazily near her arm, and then from them an electrical charge begins to spark between the lights until a flash of lightning streaks out towards the gnoll.

Another arrow flies past her outstretched arm, and she turns dull eyes in the direction of the gnoll archer. Adjusting her arm to point in the new direction she repeats the name of the wave arte she is using in a flat monotone voice. She continues to stand in the center of the cart rotating and repeating this process.

     The Gnolls are coming after them. They're attacking the caravan! And... Fukasa gives a slow exhale, finishing her spell. "Come forth from the depths, ye forsaken and drowned." She spins her trident, slamming the back of it on the floor, and several magical circles appear around the caravan, impromptu tanks and supporters to protect the caravan and its Landers. "Drowned Wights!" Out from the magical circles, rise several undead. Covered in barnacles, their flesh rotted off exposing bones, and each holding a cutlass that is equally covered in barnacles as they are. Their hair seems to float unnaturally, as if they were still trapped underwater. "Ye drowned ones, Protect Thy Mistress' Charges." Fukasa finishes with, and the undead spring into life, beginning to viciously attack any Gnolls that get too close to the caravan or the landers!

     Meanwhile, Fukasa herself leaps towards one of the gnolls nearby 'Ki', attempting to pin the gnoll to the ground with her trident, as she looks straight into its eyes, her voice intoning in a much more threatening tone. "Ye forsaken soul, do not forget thine place. Leave the masters of life and death be and flee. Lest ye find thyself little more than skin for me."

     If it seems like the Gnoll is going to listen, she'll yank her trident out of the ground. If it doesn't, well, she doesn't let it go and waits for one of her allies to finish it off while she holds it still, dancing around her trident to avoid any counter-attacks the gnoll might attempt.

    Uta's eyes narrow, and as the Gnolls start charging toward her, she lets out a scream and starts charging towards them.

    Ride of the Valkyries starts playing in the background, to underline this epic moment.

    Except it's played on a... metallophone?

    Wait, no, it's not background music. It's Uta's signature mob combat technique: faced with multiple opponents, she delivers staff blows, punches or kicks on the helmet or the armor, eyeballing the opponent whose size and shape most matches the next note in the song. Also, timing. Timing is very important in music and combat.

    And so it is that a Leitmotif for Nurse and Gnoll Armor (and Faces) in B minor is delivered, all included in the price.

    At each of the many blows, one or more gnolls are kicked or punched off the cart. And yet, they keep coming...

     Seems like this performance will last a little bit longer than expected; good thing she keeps things varied with the occasional feat of acrobatic dodging. Especially during rests.

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    Field Quest: Challenge - Rock'n Wagon

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        SUCCESS

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    The driver at some point, while only calmed for a moment by the Adventurer seems to freak out as another Gnolls tries to get up there, thankfully Goldenblade has that area well covered.

The Driver does however let go of the Reigns and Aitoki trakes control of the Pekos, giving a good slap of the reigns to have the Wagons start to pick up the pace.

    Rylen performs his martial manuevers, knocking off several of the Gnolls with ease, including several being knocked off by the rocks being thrown in their direction. Even the one on the ground, tries to get away from the crazy Peko, before that Gnoll is KOed for good.

Rest in piece gnoll who lost an eye.

    Selina gives the gnolls a good zapping of electricity, which they yelp out in pain as they let go of the Wagon. While Fukasa summons undead warriors to help take down several more Gnolls and the Undine places a gnoll under her control; At least till it is ran over by a wagon wheels. Ouch!

Then probably pecked to death by Rylen's feisty peko.

    Uta performs her musical number, knocking off Gnolls left and right as if it was a choreographed for this very moment in time. Thankfully it would seem that maybe by the time the music ends, so does the gnolls.

Only because they can no longer keep, up and the wagons are the move. Actually its getting a bit bumpy, and what the adventurers will find is that the Pekos are now panicked and even as the driver, including Aitoki try to get them under control--- well-- Things could go bad quickly!

For now, the Adventurers need to get their footing, before they can handle the spooked birds, and that means not falling off!

<><> Failure means possible knock-off. Someone can roll to save.
<> Hold On Tight!: +roll Physical (with card) vs 4
<> Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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"Good boy, Moko!" Rylen calls to his peko, who gives a distinctive cry of victory while flapping his wings. The bird is quick to race to catch up with the wagons as they start to move, running along side. "Get to the front, see if you can get the others under control." It's unlikely the bird actually understands him, but Rylen does a series of hand gestures which the peko seems to recognize, moving to try to join those at the head of the wagon.

Ry, on the other hand, is still balancing up on the edge of the wagon, a precarious position when they start to pick up speed. Perhaps it is the excitement of the moment, but he seems to actually be enjoying surfing on the back of the wagon, adjusting his balance to the shifting of the cart.

He has a remarkable ability to stay in one place, though the reason for that might become more obvious over time. It seems like part of his elemental abilities include forming sections beneath him into rock, all but attaching his feet down to the cart.

Seliana continues to rotate in place sending out electrical bolts to whichever gnoll is next in her sight, her long granite grey hair twirling along with her. Her sandy pale face remains unmoved as her dull eyes move from one target to the next.

And then the driver urges the pekos forward. The carts begin to pick up speed and pull away from the remaining gnolls that chase in pursuit or shoot a hasty arrow in their direction. As the cart continues to pick up speed it starts to hit the ruts and stones hard, with no shocks on the cart all the force runs up to the occupants inside. Unfortunately for the lithe girl, Seliana it thrown upward head over heels, just high enough to clear the edge of the cart. Her black dress billowing behind her as she looks impassively at the quickly approaching dirt below her.

Goldenblade has kept the gnolls from killing the driver, though he seems to have lost his nerve. When Aitoki grabs the reins and the cart lurches foward, she windmills a moment and stumbles, but keeps her feet and doesn't go tumbling from the wagon. Not everyone is so lucky, and she cries out in alarm at Saliana, who looks about to fall. She regains her footing after a moment and steadies herself, clinging to one of the gunwhales of the cart as it bounces, unsprung, over the rest of the cart. "Leaf springs are the next thing we need to invent here," she mutters with a sigh. "They should be manufacturable here ..." she muses.

     Aaaand she gets control of the gnoll. Aaaand then the wagon takes off. Fukasa leaps off of the gnoll, pulling her trident with her... onto the cart and... crunch. Whoops. "Aw, I was going to name him chicken nugget." Fukasa says, mildly saddened-sounding. ... She's joking, of course. But regardless, she looks towards the gnolls behind them. Hum. Just to be safe, she calls out towards her Drowned Wights, "Keep thine foe busy until thy might return to the depths." Aaaand... then she just focuses on holding on for dear life as the cart begins to move off at high speed. Next to the box. Which she carefully checks out. Huh. That's some pretty high security. Must be something worth a lot.

     She straightens up and stabs her trident HARD into the cart, leaning against the now-lodged weapon lazily as they bump and jostle along. "So that was exciting. Too bad I didn't get to keep that one gnoll. Hey, Rylen, what would you name a gnoll if you tamed one?" She asks absently towards the performer. "Coco or something else like you'd name a dog, right?"

     "Yeah, Goldy? Leaf springs? You mean like shocks and such right? To make the ride much softer?" Fukasa asks. "Because my butt would appreciate that."

    Uta gives it a little thought, and decies not hold tight.

    Instead, she leaps up in the air, as high as she can. Upon reaching the apex of her ascent, she spreads her wings, and with both her arms held horizontal (one of them still holding her staff), she keeps one knee bent and the other leg extended downward, in a bit of a 'falling flamingo' pose.

    A flamingo that's falling very slowly. Those wings might not grant much in the way of flying except for feather falling abilities, but hey, feather falling still has its uses.

    In this case, it allows Uta to spend most of her time in the air, unaffected by the violent jostling, and a window of one second or two to pick the best moment to push herself up in the air again with an acrobatic move.

    Because, the reasoning goes, you can't fall off a thing if you're already falling.

    The exercise is repeated a few times. It works surprisingly well, and it would have continued to do so, if it wasn't for you meddling kids and your falling Were Fang.

    Noticing that Seliana is in danger of being hit in the face by a continent shooting upwards at ridiculous speed, at least from Seliana's perspective, Uta flips her staff upside down, and when the tip of her foot touches the cart, she pushes herself /off/ it, and sideways, to fall faster than Seliana. "Hold on, I've got this!", she exclaims, completely uncertain of whether she actually got this or not. One arm is moved to wrap around Seliana, to catch her, and the other maneuvers the reversed cap of the staff under her shoes, the sideways wings working as foot rests of sort, giving it a kind of a pogo stick vibe.

    Uta begins vocalizing a solemn, powerful chant. The top of the staff (which is now the bottom) flares with an intense white light, about to burst in a powerful blast. Since the staff is pointing against the ground... let's hope the improvised light-blast-jet-pogo-stick serves its intended purpose, considering how little time went into the design (fraction of a second), implementation (right now) and testing (that'll be in a moment...)

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    Field Quest: Nearing The End

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    Rylen's Peko quickly gets ahead of the two and somehow manages to, maybe by some form of dominance, communication, or whatever the pekos attached the wagons in the front slow down, which causes the ones in the back to do the same.

Now the wagons seems to be under control once more, as the leisure pace continues. Aitoki though his none to happy with his driver, as he smacks him a few times with that hat, before placing it back on his head, this time seeming to keep the reigns under his control.

The crates are well protected for any adventurer that takes a look. They have some heavy nails keeping the lids held down, with who knows what might be inside.

    Aitoki looks back over his shoulder at the group, "You all alright? We didn't lose anyone, did we?" He asks sounding honestly concerned. "You all also did an amazing job back there. I am mighty impressed."

The leader of this caravan show looks away from the group, looking ahead for any more crazy that might come their way, but Alne could be seen in the distance. Looks like they are almost to the city!

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Rylen is still riding the high of excitement from balancing atop the cart, he laughs at the question offered up to him by Fukasa. "Not my first choice of monster pet, but I suppose they have their appeal." He smirks, moving his feet along the edge of the cart and then finally sitting down onto it, leaving behind a few bits of rock. "Haiko, maybe?" It isn't a particularly pun-worthy name, "I think the hardest part would be teaching one how to bathe. They don't exactly smell like roses." Unless those roses have been peed on and then left to decay.

Moko continues to walk at the front of the group, seemingly happy to be around other pekos and to be treated with such respect. Rylen leans slightly back, the wind catching his hair slightly as he looks towards Alne in the distance. "Our goal is in sight, ladies."

He seems completely relaxed, despite the chaos that had just occurred. His gray eyes look towards Uta, "Seems like all your training is paying off. I'm certainly impressed."

Goldenblade says to Yuki, "Shocks are a much more recent development, but yes, they do much the same thing. Leaf springs are just metal plates bolted on to the underbody, but they would do a lot to help, I think. And I think blacksmiths here could make them, with instructions." This is one that is almost certainly not going to be makable by menu. Uta's midair acrobatics draw a 'wow' of surprise, and she says, "That was very impressive!"

When our destination appears ahead, she looks relieved, and says, "Looks like we've made it? Or do bandits come this close to the city?"

As Seliana looks up at the onrushing world, arms still at her sides unmoved as the world plummets towards her face. But then an arm wraps around her and the world stops its rush forward as she lets out an involuntary breath of air as her lungs are compressed. Uta in an acrobatic maneuver had somehow snatched her right from the air.

Hanging limply in Uta's arm she looks up at the kung-fu nurse, face impassive and eyes still dull she comments, "That was close." She then looks down as the staff as it charges with energy. She just has time to blink once before the spell goes off in a blinding light. Seliana being firmly within Uta's grip is helpless but to follow along with whatever may happen.

     "...Teach it how to bathe? That's what my monster pufferfish is for." Fukasa responds to Rylen. "I mean... then it'll just smell like wet salty gnoll but still, it'd probably be an improvement!" Fukasa responds with a bit of a grin. "Anyway, I don't think we lost anyone, no, 'Ki." She comments towards the lander. "The heck do you have in here that needs such heavy security, anyway?" She smacks the crate absently.

     "Hm, leaf spring..." She pauses, tapping her lip. "I think my parents used those occasionally in their business, I don't imagine they'd be that hard to produce if we had someone skilled enough to make a properly springy steel that could withstand the forces of bouncing on rocks and whatnot." She muses half to herself.

     "Ahem! Anyway. I mean, there's always the chance of encountering unscrupulous adventurers who might want to steal a cart like this for their own use. I mean. They exist. And none of them are here. At all." Fuka, your halo is being obviously held up by your anglerfish lure again.

As Uta expected, using her staff to shoot a beam of light towards the ground results in 1) the continent not dying (it probably counts as an <Immortal Object> or something along those lines) and 2) the recoil propelling the duo riding the staff up in the air.

    "WOOOOOHOOOOOO!", exclaims Uta, possibly betraying the excitement at her improvised plan actually having worked and, maybe, her enjoyment at riding a magical jet pogo stick.

    Because she seems unable to resist a chance to pull some acrobatics, she does a flip in the air, so the vertex of the ascending parabola has her and Seliana upside-down (and the staff right-side-up). The trajectory continues with a further rotation and concludes with the duo landing atop their original cart.

    Uta bows at Rylen, "Why, thank you. That is because I elect to learn only from the best." And after that is done, she dismounts her staff and flips it right-side-up again. Resuming her usual lost gaze, she mumbles "Now, now... there was a thing I was supposed to do, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was..."

    While still holding Seliana at her side.

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    Field Quest: The End

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    Aitoki looks over to Fukasa, "Hey now, hands off the merchandise. Some of this stuff is going to a few shops, while other supplies are heading in for the village within the Tower." He turns his eyes back to the road. "Though beyond a small bit of damage, I'd say you all earn the full wage."

It wasn't long till the caravan pulls up in front of the Alne city proper and Aitoki steps off. He goes to pull out a satchel that was behind where he was sitting and goes to pull out a few sacks, handing each Adventure a sack of coins. "Here you all go." he says with a smile. "I thank you all again for helping out. We couldn't do things like this without you Adventurers."

Then the man calls over some other Landers to help start to unload things, and moved to where they need to go.

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Goldenblade peers at Yuri, and wonders, "Your parents built trucks?" That seems to her like an odd thing for a mom-and-pop type operation. But she doesn't disagree with the assertion that they'd be producable here. "Even the primitive smithcraft here ought to be enough," she agrees. "The hard part will probably be affixing them to wagons. But that should be easy to solve."

She shamelessly applauds Uta's acrobatics. "That was pretty impressive," she says. When we arrive in the city, she will bow to Aitoki and accept her gold with a smile. "Let me know any time you need a guard."

While Uta may have things under control, from Seliana's perspective the world is a spinning, confusing jumble. Perhaps this is what it is like being inside a clothes washer? Her long granite hair spinning along with her, her veil now flipped over behind her and only hanging on by the clips.

Then she realizes she in the cart again, or at least she is facing directly down looking at the cart as she is still clutched in Uta's arms, her hair hanging down pooling on the ground below her. Her expression unchanged, she is nevertheless dizzy and starts flail her arms and legs a bit, waving them in the air as she continues to hang limply in Uta's arm.

As the group comes in to Alne proper, Rylen hops off the back of the wagon, dusting his hands off as he walks around towards the front of the gathering group. Putting his fingers into his mouth, he gives a little whistle, which seems to be the signal summoning his peko back over to him. "Had fun, didn't you?" He comments, the bird giving a squawk and then flapping its undersized wings.

Accepting the sack of coins, Rylen tucks it into his jacket, "Much obliged, my good man. You need any more help, you let me know." He bows his head in a very typical Japanese fashion, then regards the ladies, "It was a pleasure traveling with you ladies, but I'm afraid Alne isn't my last stop." He hooks a foot into a stirrup and then mounts up onto his bird, looking towards Uta.

"You coming along, or do you want to meet me in the Town of Beginnings?" He gives her the option, with the large bird likely able to accommodate them both, one arm held out to help her up if she chooses that avenue.

     "What, no, I wasn't doing /anything/ to the merchandise. If I did, it would be very obvious with those heavy duty nails in it." Fukasa comments towards Aitoki, flashing him a grin. "Hm. Supplies for the village and tower... doesn't Alne do that weird shit where it auto-fills tables with food and stuff though?" She muses on that. "Interesting." She taps her lip. Hmmm.... "What? No, not trucks. Medical engineering. I mostly know about stuff like that from things like the spring-loaded needles for testing your blood level and other things like that." She shakes her head a bit. "But I mean... big springs and small springs are about the same thing, just different thicknesses and stuff... theoretically." The comment of affixing it to the wagons gets a slight shrug. "Probably you could just have the springs connect to the wagons by way of two metal rods which have a hole in them for a simple metal clip to hold the wheel on and allow for easy removal. Just another spring, basically."

     Uta heroically saves Seliana! And... Fukasa just gives a nod to that. Really, it's pretty great, but she's more focused on the stuff she'd been considering stealing earlier. In that she actually starts helping unload it, using her trident as a lever to move the crate towards the edge where the landers could grab it. She doesn't use the /sharp/ part of course. Damaging the cart further would be rude. And she kind of cares. Sort of. "Have a good trip, Rylen. You'll have to tell me how the show goes later~."

    Uta takes a bow, to Goldenblade first, "Thank you, thank you, too good! But, hey, it's what my class does. If you practice yours, whatever it is, I'm sure you'll be able to do something equally if not more impressive."

    "...did I have to jump? No, I've already jumped."

    Seliana's arms are now waved in front of her face.

    "Did I have to make sure I paid attention to the Crescent Moon construction site, and NOT overshoot it? Hm. Again, no, that was the other day and it's too late now. Hmm. Oh. Hey. There's an arm in front of my face. Am I waving my arm in front of my face? Let me check my arms." She looks down at her free arm. "One... nope. Not waving." then she turns her head to look at the other arm. "Two... nope. Not waving. I wonder what- oh. OH!"

    She deposits Seliana down again with as much care as she manages. "Sorry, I'm... uh... terribly sorry."

    She accepts the money from the Lander with a "...Thanks. It's been a pleasure doing business with you." And then, Rylen's offer seems to make her remember something again. So, she bows at the lander, with a flourish again. "Until then, farewell, my good man."

    Rylen's question is answered by reaching for his arm. "I'm actually going to the Town of Beginnings. I could use a ride until there, thanks!"

After being set down finally Seliana takes a moment to adjust her hair, veil, and dress. While her face remains expressionless she does take some care to put things in as close to order as she can quickly. Then looking up at Uta she says, "It's fine."

Making her way to the edge of the cart she slowly climbs down and wanders over to the Lander, stretching out her hands as if waiting for something. When she is given some coins she adds them to her inventory and starts to talk away down the street without another word.