Freak Storm

Shimonoseki is disappearing in the distance. The Merchant Blade fortress, with its massive walls, had been the place the Adventurers met up in order to help with a sudden Hunters Guild quest. They didn't get a chance to go into the walls themselves, and instead were kept outside, and moved to a sizable wooden frigate.

The Hunters Guild mission they'd received had been described roughly as follows;

> Meet up in Shimonoseki, and get on the ship waiting for you there. You will meet your contact who will be traveling with you. Your mission is to take a Package into the yearly Snowdrift at the Equinox in order to ensure this years' harvests.

As the vessel approaches a tiny land-harbor, or rather, a floating plank tethered to the coast which stretches far across the water, a woman comes up from the bottom of the ship. A purple furred Were Fang, with long ears and green light armor on, ducks her head down a little. Her ears grazing the lower opening as the various sailors begin to moor the vessel.

Holding in her hands, is what looks like a simple black box. She doesn't say anything at first. The felin Lander simply opens the box, showing a /beautiful/ silver-metalic necklace with a white gem right at its center. It looks like it's probably worth more than the average Lander Mansion on its own. Someone with a high enough Accessory Forging or Appraisal skill could probably analyze it.

She then closes it again. "We will be delivering this to the one at the center of that."

She turns towards the enormous cloud-formation, which is raining an enormous amount of snow down on the fields. There's fierce gales being cast in the region - which had required the masts to go down earlier, and for the sailors to use the massive oars to row the last bits of distance.

Between modeling for swimsuits (because Gwen) and serving up burgers at Crescent Moon HQ (because Gwen, again), the (kinda former now) Nero Idol is still working up the various requests and quests... and Aincrad progression and monster waves as they happen. She's only starting to get a better grip on the game itself, so she seems to have worked away from the spotlight for now. What's the use anyway?

She was fairly impressed with the boat they were shuffled on though, quite the sea beast. As they travel the ocean, Reika stands near the side, with her very long hair floating with the stronger sea breeze. She looks over her shoulder when the artifact in question is being shown "I guess that has something to do with the harvest." She muses, not really surprised by anything considering that it's a game. Technology, logic, science, magic, all kinda blurs and you roll with it.

She takes her spyglass to look in the distance. Since it's not a living thing, she can probably take a better look at the weather at least. If it is a living thing in disguise... well.. she'll know soon enough...

After a rough night, Mikage needed some kind of excuse to get away from Breg Epona for a few days. She hadn't found out her match up for the next round of the tournament, which is probably for the best, since it is one of her closest friends. Instead, the pale Were Fang stands on the ship, leaning slightly against one side, looking out at the waters and the clouds beyond where the storm is already rumbling.

As the strangely bunny-looking feline emerges with the 'gift' for the storm, she can't help but just stare at it. "I've never heard of a storm that likes jewelry, but I guess there's a first time for everything." She chuckles, seeming glad enough to see something unique in the world. "If this only happens once a year, it must be pretty special."

Oddly, her animal companion, Rama, is not with her today. She must have left him behind somewhere. "Is there anything we should know going in?" She asks, "Other than, don't freeze our collective asses off." She pulls her hood up.

    Merek had decided to assist, what better way to make friends with the Landers and build new ranking with the Guild besides to assist in missions. The man wears the dark attire along with what looks like a scarf. There's a look to the party while he seems to think about it a little bit, "I will assist," he notes, while on the back he wears what looks like that dark blade which he keeps within the sheath.

Miho had picked up the mission, why not she was needing a break from working on her smithy. The tournament had been fun but now she needed some more work. It had been easy enough to meet up in Shinonoseki and set up; to work with everyone else who took up this job. Her tail is swishing a bit as she seems eager to get going. She'll look the Lander over for a moment.

"Miho, good to meet what do you go by?"

She also looks over to Mikage.

"Me either but who knows this world is pretty strange though. Could be some sort of elemental or something like that."

Deliver what's potentionally some kind of artifact as an offering to the midst of a definately supernatural storm of some kind?

Sounds like a job for a Messenger!

That and Kauchemar is just curious. She has a few ideas on what could be causing a storm like that, and she wants to get to the center to find out. A thing best not done alone, and that's why she accepted the quest. Never hurts to make a little gold or whatever other rewards are offered on the side.

"That was one of my theories yes," she replies to the short Salamander as she walks up, cloak held tightly around herself to keep some of the cold wind at bay. She's a nightmare, not a windego! Granted, the cloak is a bit short for this form, so all it really does is cover her shoulders and put a hood over her head. Which is what she probably needs most anyways, as her shoulders are entire bared by her outfit.

Some locks of dark blue mane flutter around the rim of the hood as she turns her gaze towards the massive storm. "Or several. This big of a combination of snow and wind could be both Air and Ice elements at work."

The purple furred one smiles as Mikage asks the right question. "The area we are going into will be filled with dangerous monsters, many of which are too dangerous for us to engage with, after the Dark Wave took away so much of your powers." She explains to Mikage. "Some are just the regular Dire ones. But there are more dangerous things in the midst of the howling snows. It will be important to stick together as much as you can."

As such, she grabs a massive rope that is hiding in a bin near the area she just left. "So we are going to tie everyone to this rope, to make sure nobody goes missing." She then approaches Reika and the rest, and begins to help tie them off at the hip, using what looks like a carabiner-like object on their clothing. "There's winter clothing in that box." She points. "But I was hoping that you all came prepared, what with the description given to the Hunters Guild."

To their sides, the plank is lowered, and people can start heading down the wooden platform and towards land after last minute prep.

"Oh, and one more important thing. When you meet our target, try not to piss her off." The Lander then looks up as Miho offers her name. "Ah right. I forgot to introduce myself." An unusual matter for Landers. "I am known as Mia. I am the Leader of the Merchant Blades." She explains.

The woman then motions to the side. "Let's get going."

As everyone is tied off and geared up, they start moving. Over the snow-covered planks and up a steep hillside with enormous steps carved into them, towards top-side. Where a fierce gale is keeping folk blinded to about ten meters of visibility.

Reika blinks as she gets tied up, but nods "Yeah, I should put on my coat, it is starting to get more cold." She could endure a bit of breeze, but not when they are getting to artic temperatures. She slips away and picks up her coat out of her personal storage, a red, tight enough top that it won't hinder her mobility too much. She hooks herself using the carabiner as well, securely.

"I'm guessing that our 'host' doesn't appreciate visitors either then?" It's never easy, is it? She moves down to the ground after landfall, and looks around, blowing on her hands a bit for extra warmth. "As long as we don't see the weird glitchy ones, I think we can manage if we work together."

Mikage nods her head to Miho, "It's possible. Would be neat to see." Then, she does a double take. "Oh!" She'd been so wrapped up in getting here for the quest that she hadn't had a chance to talk to the Salamander smith. "When we're done here, I have some things I was wondering if I could get your help with? Some armor and weapons that belong to a friend of mine." Weapons and armor he had abandoned while leaving the Arena. "But, we can talk abut that later."

She also looks at Reika for a moment, perhaps just making sure the girl is okay now that she is free from Hamelin. Then, she blinks as the group starts being tied to one another. "Smart idea. No one left behind." You know, unless they die. Miki is already dressed for the weather, wearing a thicker coat that has fur lining.

Inclining her head to the Lander, Miki offers up her own name, and then does a quick swipe through the menu to cast an INSPECT. It's force of habit now, whenever encountering someone. Perhaps still looking for anyone with unuual icons. Mia, it seems, other than being powerful, is completely normal. She does seem to squint briefly at nothing, likely her hud.

"Right. Time to face the storm." Being a weather-magic focused character, this might be an interesting way of finding new ideas to develop. Either that, or to lose toes.

    Merek looks to that rope while it's tied about him, then he begins to adjust it. The man seems to consider while he nods a bit to Mia, "Merek, Alchemist." Then he's pulling the scarf along his features while he speaks to the party, "I know a bit about healing if we need it, I am great with support," he notes, then he's looking to each person which he knows, beginning to follow.

Kauchemar gets a length of rope added to the belts around her waist. Probably somewhere in the middle of the chain where her size and were fang strength can counterbalance the other lighter members of the crew. She snorts softly. "Not the way I usually consider being tied up for f--Anyways moving on!" She makes sure her cloak is firmly fastened in place... and kind of peers after Mia when the Lander actually mentions the Dark Wave depowering. That was a concept the Landers actually understood? Or just this one, with how far up the chain of importance she is? Another curiousity for later.

She shrugs, and per usual pulls out her lute. For her it's as much a weapon as it is an instrument, don't knock it.

"I suppose it wouldn't be a proper spring festival if someone didn't drop a blizzard on top of something important /somewhere/ right?" Prophylaxis is... Dressed about as warmly as he could have managed under the circumstances. He's added a scarf and a hat to his doctoral trappings, and has hidden his tell-tale Cait Sith ears up into the warm recesses of his headwear. He hasn't yet had to deal with a howling, wintery wind since being banished into the New World, but he's pretty sure that having substantially larger surface area on your ears means it's going to *suck like mad.*

The good doctor grimaces as he feels the first bite of the wind chill at his nose and gingerly pulls his scarf just a little bit higher up his face. "I suppose it's too much to ask to just be able to drop a fireball into the center of this thing and call it a day? I think the Americans probably tried something like that at some point. Ah well, nothing to do for it."

He's along for a number of reasons, other than just the thrill of adventure. Preventing a failed harvest is one thing, but as one of the few medical professionals in the active adventuring community, it's up to him to make sure that frostbite doesn't claim too many victims out here. The good doctor throws on a second coat overtop his usual lab jacket and then winds the rope provided through a latch attached at his waist. "I've got a few supplies in case the worst happens, but hopefully we'll all be able to avoid freezing to death. Everyone remembered to wear their long underwear under their boots, I hope?"

Miho takres in what Mia has to say and she seems to be pretty good and she jusc arries on with Mia now like she's another Adventurer. She does however inspect her for a moment after she gets a chimlink from Mikage and she's curious now. She will then fall in with the rest of the party as they move to head out but what's up with what Mikage said to her?.

"It's good to meet you, lets get this done and everyone back in one piece."

She'll look to Prophy for a moment.

"Fireball is not the answer to everything."

"You're just not using enough fireball," Prophylaxis answers with an obstinate huff.

"Our Host doesn't care if there are visitors or not. They will just not particularly enjoy rudeness. I can guarantee you that rudeness is a deathsentence." Mia answers Reika. "A few of my former partners can attest to that. Luckily, we managed to find them afterwards so we could bury them."

With everyone attached, she attaches herself as well. The Merchant Blade leader isn't someone who is just going to rely on Adventurer Immortality and leave them alone. She is needing their help as much as they need hers.

"Shall we?" She guides them up that hill, slowly digging her snow boots into the ground as they start the climb, until they hit the wind-shelf. To Merek, Mia manages to comment; "Let's hope we won't need your healing magic."

The gang begins to proceed across the plains ahead. Slowly heading north-east towards the mountains. The chill starts to increase rapidly. And the wind just /cuts/ through their heavy clothing. Mia is keeping a close formation with the Adventurers, trying to help use one-another as wind-breakers. But in the fierce snow, it's easy for people to start losing track of one-another, aside from using the rope they are attached to...

    Merek begins following along with Mia, and nods a bit. While the cold begins to form, he notes the skies and looks then to the party, while he drawls with that husky voice, "Ah, of course." He begins slowing up while he tries to shift his feet along to ease them. The boots keep him protected from freezing fully, though still even that material would not fully manage to protect him.
    The Merchant looks to Mikage, "It is good to see you about, I am wondering if this will manage to benefit the Grandeur in trade." He pulls up the hood of his attire while he takes a moment to shift the beltcape which he wears about the waist.

Reika seems to be doing fine, now out of the Hamelin ordeal. The newbies have been rescued and placed into new guilds that treat them better. And herself is sporting the tag for Crescent Moon now, so it seems things are looking up. She follows along the rope though, making sure they don't get separated, as the wind blows harshly "This isn't a good place for vacation, anyway." The reason they are here is probably because of the cold, she guesses. How could anyone grow things in here otherwise?

Her coat might not be enough to stave all of it though, as she can feel a bit more sluggish from it "Ugh, I hope it's not too far before we get a warm place then."

"I WISH I COULD FIREBALL THIS STORM," Prophylaxis yells not merely out of frustration, but because the wind is howling almost impossibly loudly. It's as if winter's last, hateful gasp is insistent in denying their passage-- or else is just trying to make the adventurers suffer one more time before fading again into the turning of the seasons.

But this is something else. Even through his winter-wear, Prophylaxis feels the bite of the gale keenly. His teeth chatter uselessly as if shivering would do anything against a storm of such supernatural strength. "DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF EACH OTHER!" He shouts again, "WIND LIKE THIS CAN PROPEL PROJECTILES FAST ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCUSSIONS IF NOT WORSE!"

He holds to the tether as fast as well as he can, but... His fingers, under his gloves, are unusually stiff. Numb, even. Frostbite is setting in-- already? Prophylaxis grunts and whispers a spell under his breath, drawing on the strength of the earth to try and drive back even a little bit of the cold...

"Well gee, isn't that reassuringly ominous," Kauchemar replies with a purposely disportionate cheerfulness. "Carry on!" Naturally as the group starts on their trek the Bard starts to do what Bard's do best. Provide atmosphere. The Nightmare's haunting voice just helps make the somber tones of her song all the more fitting.

o/~ On a long road, miles to go... It's winding and cold and it's covered with snow
But I ask you what we all want to know... Where are we going from here?

Lines on my face, lines on my hands... Lead to a future, I don't understand
Some things don't go as they're planned... Where are we going from here? o/~

Alas the even the bard's best effort to keep the cold at bay with her music isn't entirely working, as the winds manage to pierce through the resisting pressure her songcraft is trying to push back with. Technically she doesn't have toes to get cold, her feet being hooves and all, but frost and ice crystals are visibly forming on the feathering around her ankles, clinking together like tiny frozen windchimes and occasionally digging into the softer flesh underneath.

She snorts, and stubbornly keeps moving, but the cold pricking repeatedly against her legs slows her stride, and makes it hard to focus on continuing her eerily appropriate song.

At this rate she's going to end up dragging half the people, just like a normal horse. Slackers.

"Right, no rudeness." Mikage comments to herself, brows raised as she hears Mia's answer.

Despite being a Were Fang, Mikage's as-to-still hidden race isn't exactly the fluffy variety, meaning that she isn't really able to ward off the cold as well as some others. There is a point as they walk where her toes begin to go numb and her nose takes on a reddish, frost-bitten tone. "Why did it have to be the cold? The cat and wolf is better suited for this than I am."

As Merek addresses her, she looks up. "I try to help out the Hunters when I can. Though I'm not very familiar with Grandeur's practices. Cyrus likely knows more than I do."

Prophylaxis' declarations aren't comforting, but at least Kauchemar's song is something to break up the time. She makes sure to keep up with the others, despite her numb toes, making sure her hands are tucked into the pockets of her jacket. "I will never complain about the heat in Breg Epona again. Some hot mead would be amazing right now..."

Miho is now trying to keep going iwht everyone else as they move across the plains she pauses at the wind. It's cold it's not a lot of fun hell even with she slows down from the wind chill and isn't looking too good as she keos moving and she'll hand on to the rope.

"Ugg I hate the cold. I'm going to have to camp in a forge..."

The wind truly is severe. Some of the members being exposed enough for their extremities to rapidly cool. Far more rapidly than they are used to. No doubt there is more to this storm than just some nasty wind-storm. The cold should not cut this easily through all the heavy clothing they are wearing. Yet, Mia, seems to be doing relatively fine. Those looking close enough may see that she's wielding her blade, which has flakes licking across it, to help shield herself from some of the cold. But even her fingers look like they are starting to shake.

The group carries on further, as there is a moment of relief as the winds start cutting across a tall hill - meaning that they have a moment to warm one-another and themselves. It's not like the wind is gone, and the snow is no longer hitting them. It's just far less severe.

With a momentary pause out of the way, they come across a most dangerous situation.

A choice.

Before them lies a river. It's not very deep or far. And there's rocks they could potentially use to get across safely. But getting wet in this situation could be really bad. On the other hand...

"THERE USED TO BE A BRIDGE HERE, BUT IT GOT DESTROYED. DO YOU WANT TO GO AROUND TO THE NEXT ONE? IT'S ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OUT."

Travel time. And who knows what they might encounter going to the next bridge.

"I PICK NEITHER," Prophylaxis declares, shouting defiantly to the wind and the cold, "WALKING IS FOR SCRUBS, I'VE GOT MAGIC!" With trembling fingers, Prophylaxis reaches out, seemingly into open air. He grits his teeth and /clenches/ his hand into a fist as if to squeeze warmth back into his extremities, but also...

                              "EARTH PILLAR!"                              

The doctor roars as the earth begins to tremble underfoot. The shoreline parts as a column of permafrost sluices out of the earth like a breaching whale. It emerges at an angle, collapsing over upon itself and crashing down hard into the river. The pillar shatters into a dozen pieces, falling apart into a makeshift stone bridge across the frigid river. Prophylaxis gasps for air in the wake of his work, frost chilling his lungs in the wake of his exertion. "Damn... Can't... keep this up for long. Can't stop either...!"

He staggers forward stubbornly, losing his footing at the first step and taking a bad spill-- but he pushes onward regardless, swathing himself in a sheath of energy to try and keep the worst of the cold away...!

    Merek looks then to Prophylaxis, nodding a bit. "This is a wonderful idea," he notes, while he begins to prepare the Wave Arte. Then he draws along a light fencing to the pillars which the man would bring up. When finished with that, he walks along upon them, trying to pick up the man when he's falling into the water. It's not enough keeping him from getting wet, but at least he will be able to come with the party, "You alright?" he asks.

With a numbness which is edging into pain, the idea of falling into a river or taking longer to go around both sound like bad ideas to Mikage. "Maybe we ca-" And then Prophylaxis takes the words right out of her mouth.

So, she just joins in the efforts, lowering into a crouch as she touches one hand to the ground, causing more rocks to join those already summoned up, an almost golden aura flickering on her fingers. "That should be enough. I think." Her voice is quiet with the howling wind, but she doesn't shout over it, either.

She takes her time to carefully move across the stones, sometimes using her hands to balance. Other times, she seems to perch, waiting until her legs stop shaking long enough to continue. Then, she looks back, holding her gloved hands over her mouth and breathing into them to warm her face. "Everyone okay?"

Reika breathes a bit as they get a bit of respite from the rough wind. It's still cold, but without the wind it's more maneageable with their coats at least. She keeps rubbing her hands when she an to keep her fingers warm.

At the bridge though, she turns over to the others. She doesn't have to wait for long for them to voice up their ideas to use their powers to make a bridge. Sounds like a good idea to her at least. If there's no bridge, make your own. She waits for them to create the pillars, before attempting to move across.

As she moves across the bridge, she offers a shoulder to Prophylaxis, as he seems tired from it "Let's all stick together, we leave noone behind, right?"

Kauchemar .. actually takes a step back when Prophylaxis starts shouting with excessive ethusiasm about using magic over other options. "An people call -me- excessive."

That said, making some stepping stones is a good idea. Fortunately people here are more suited with earthen elementals do so. "Be careful people, they'll still get icy quick." With them all being tied together she's got to wait her turn to cross, but at least that will keep any that does slip from washing away, right? And not take all of them with instead.

"At least it's not a bridge to nowhere." The nightmare shakes some of the cold off her legs and hooves before making across. "We just hope they don't drag us behind them!" How can she say such morbid things in such a cheerful tone? It's a dread horse thing.

Miho is just not having a good day she will do her best to aid Prophylaxis with holding the byspass. 5R
"Get going don't worry about us!"

Miho is not having a best time here either. She's going to end up cold wet strained and having a very bad time of thing she's also colder too. She's starting to look pretty bad with how things are going. She will barely make it with the rest of the pary.

"No... not really."

Aside from Miho and Prophylaxis ending up wet, even after Prophylaxis came up with that brilliant idea to make a bridge where there once was none, it seems the rest of the party is doing well. Well... one cannot truly say they are doing well. They are freezing cold. Dealin with the elements which are far too rapidly cooling them down. Mia has sheathed her blade and resorted to rubbing her body as they continue on forward.

"IT SHOULD NOT BE FAR FROM HERE!" She calls out to the others...

There is a sudden loud sound. The stomping of something. It is Miho who manages to spot something through the heavy snow, lagging behind the way she is along with Prophylaxis. A shadow that moves perpendicular to their team at first.

A 'look out' or 'Hey!' is all it takes to enable Mia to react fast enough to avoid what would appear to be sudden death...

As a saber toothed feline, easily the size of a car, suddenly jumps out from the cold winds and tries to get at the Lander. A blade comes up quickly and slices into its paw, causing the creature to land in the snow in front of them. A quick INSPECT indicates:

SABRE-TOOTH TIGER

Its giant teeth sticking out look modeled after some kind of swords, rather than typical big ol' incisors. It hisses at the crowd! They better deal with this fast!

    Merek lifts up a hand while he notices the tiger, waiting to take it into range. "Firebolt!" he then calls, while it fwooshes right into the snow next to the NPC. It doesn't manage to strike while the snow seems to keep icing along. There's a look while the party as a whole would keep on fighting.

A sabertooth with actual sabers? "That's actually kind of cool. If it wasn't trying to eat our guide..." Kauchemar unleashes a pulse of draining darkness at the beast, but the muscular felinoid seems to quickly shrug off the effect. "Well that was anti-climatic."

It's cold. It's way too goddamn cold. Prophylaxis' teeth knock together together frantically. There's absolutely nothing about this situation that seems to be going well for him at the moment. Delirium often comes part and parcel with hypothermia, and he is so distracted by the chattering in his own head and the vicious chill that he hardly even notices the tiger.

...Or the Miho's call about the tiger's sudden appearance.

Or even who the tiger is going for.

He's too busy. Busy summoning a mote of flame that looks every bit like a firebolt...

...And shoving his hands into its glowing aura as if to try and use its heat to stave off the frostbite.

Yeah, he's not gonna be of much help at the moment.

The call is enough to catch Mikage's attention, her ears tuned to any change in the white noise that the storm seems to cause around them. She turns in time to see the huge tiger, eyes widening slightly. "That is one big cat." Her hand instinctively moves towards her sword, but with everyone tied together, it seems like it isn't the optimal choice of weapon.

So, she leaves it sheathed, and instead traces out the shape of a bow in the air, her hand grasping where the the center would be. It appears in a faint glimmer of light magic, wisps of energy radiating off of it as she reaches back for an arrow that similarly isn't there. Drawing it, she aims the arrow towards one of the tiger's forelegs, adjusting for the wind, then firing. The arrow sinks in, and as Mikage lowers the bow, it begins to dematerialize.

"That should slow it down a little, but it won't be able to stop it." She calls, trying to raise her voice slightly to be heard.

Reika Prophylaxis along once across the bridge, but soon she has to take her distances again, since they got company. Miho spots it and warns the rest, fortunately, so they are able to take positions... although it's rather limited thanks to the rope. She's afraid of tripping on it right now, so she chooses the more safe alternative : throwing dark energy balls at it. It damages, but also blinds, so it's always a good way of attacking.

Except that it's cold, slippery, she's tied up and she has frozen limbs, so her aim is off, making her eep as she slips and falls backward and lands with a 'oof' on a hard patch of snow.

She's cold wet, possibly suffering the early stages of hypothermia and they are still not done as the party now runs into a Sabre-Tooth Tiger. Oh it just had to be one, didn't it? She'll draw her bow try to line up a shot. This does not go well it seems the maladies she's already having to deal with. Her shots go wide and she's starting to look quite put off it's one of those days it seems.

"We need to deal with this and get this job done!"

The SABRE-TOOTH TIGER isn't incredibly fast. Its got too much mass for that, it'd almost seem. But its powerful pelt is protecting it from the assaults of its opponents. The blast wave blisters against its side, pushing it back a little, followed by Reika's blast of that dark energy ball! It singes its fur a bit, but it seems remarkably well armored.

Mikage on the other hand, manages to catch a weakpoint on the feline, firing her arrow into its paw, right before Mia tries to swipe her blade at it, sending out a sudden cascade of wind that tries to dig in... only for the windblade to break off.

She is grabbing with one hand to her shoulder. It seems the creature had nicked her. The massive feline looks like it's about to push off and assault them, enough to show them just how many levels it has on the team - before...

There is an enormous blast of wind and ice. Something has come down on its location, and a massive /spray/ of snow and ice blasts across the team. Some of it threatening to push them back into the water. But luckily, thanks the ropes on them all, they manage to keep eachother from falling away. Their ears are deafened from the sudden shock, and the ground is still quaking for a moment, before the enormous shadow disappears from in front of them, and the wind around them suddenly disappears.

Those who are quick on the uptake have a moment to look up, seeing an absolutely enormous shadow disappear into the winds beyond. A shadow that almost seems like it is reaching about as far as a three story house. Yet, it disappears into the snow all the same, as the eye of the storm focuses around them...

At its center. A woman. A beautiful white dress with blue elements to it. Her hair is perfectly black, almost seeming to drain away the light around it. The dress keeps blowing wildly, though there is no wind within this 'eye of the storm'.

Those here of Japanese descent immediately would recognize her from books. From folk-lore. Perhaps even from a few video-games in the past. The INSPECT helps. A BLACK level being which carries no icons at all, except for the 'I'.

<< YUKI-ONNA >>

She doesn't say anything. She merely stares at the Adventurers and their lander companion.

    Merek is swung back by the blast of the ice and snow while he begins to keep his feet on the field. He looks up to notice the woman from the hood of his shirt, taking a moment to consider it. He's a bit familiar with Japanese folklore though not as much that most people were. He then looks to the party while he thinks, "Ally?" he asks, wondering if anyone else would be able to note that. The dark blade of his would shift mists about the snow while he keeps that in hand also.

Raising her hand, Mikage tries to shield her face from the blast of snow and wind, looking up to see the place where the tiger had been simply an impression in the snow. "Shit." Whatever had killed that thing must be incredibly powerful.

That is when the wind begins to disappear, causing her hair which had been blown back to settle again on her forehead. It also gives her a moment to breathe without the impediment of the cold air trying to steal it from her. As she exhales, it hangs in the air slightly, eyes darting around and then as the shadow falls, she looks... up.

Her jaw falls ever so slightly slack at the sight of the beautiful, but clearly deadly woman before them. She runs a quick inspect, surprised to see only the 'I' icon there, though the black power level is no surprise. "Is this... who the pretty jewelry is for?" She looks towards Mia, seeming cautious about saying more, as if worried she might mis speak and cause offense.

Nope, that tiger just looks hungry, and even more pissed off as it turns towards the rest of the party. An arrow in the knee isn't going to slow it down for very long. "Well, I'm out of material. Anyone else got any last cat puns before we're all used for scratching posts? Anyone? No? Does the cat have your tongues?" There, she got one more herself, though the snickering is clearly not actually very humorous. Self depreciating, if nothing else.

And then a massive SOMETHING removes the sabertooth from the equation, throwing up so much snow with the row that the nightmare instinctively ducks behind an arm and her cloak. By the time she can look up after the thunderous sound, there's just a big hand print left in the snow.

And a much more attractive figure emerging from the depths of the snwowstorm instead. Kauchemar clasps her hands together. "Oh, now the extreme cold makes sense." And she shuts herself up after that, remembering the previous warnings to not be rude. Which is a good idea around spirits lurking in snow storms in general. Instead she looks to Mia. "Is that the 'Eye of the Storm' we're looking for?"

That she saved them more to save the treasure being brought isn't a huge leap of logic at this point.

Giant tigers are one thing, but now? A Yuki-Onna, something she knows well from japanese folklore after all. And it looks like it's judging them. She bets that's the one they weren't supposed to be rude against. She slides back to her feet, and... offers an elegant bow to her. She's not sure if it's the right thing to do, but given the situation, she takes a chance "We come to deliver a gift to these lands, to save the harvests we were told." Either she's going to try to steal it, or it was who they were supposed to meet with.

Prophylaxis is... Momentarily on fire. Has he resorted to spamming Flame Shield to try and keep the howling winds at bay? Has the good doctor finally lost all his marbles!?

He doesn't even notice when the gigantic tiger is waylaid by an enormous and invisible force from within the howling winds, though he is dimly aware of something going *WHAM* very close by...

And then...

And then... Kauchemar asks for cat puns.

Cat puns? Cat puns!? Kauchemar needs... CAT PUNS!?!?

"I'm in no purry to provide any. Maybe if this damnable wind would paws for even a moment, I might be able to claw together a few witticisms. But this cold has got me shivering from head to tail, and I daresay that it's got me feeling positively mewtinous--"

Oh. The wind has stopped. Prophylaxis stops and uncurls from around his dwindling firebolt ember. He stares owlishly at the Yuki-Onna and her absolutely terrifying HP bar.

And says: "Ah. Mewki-Onnya."

Miho is happy they didn't lose anyone, and she's still up as they get past the Saber-Tooth Tiger. She relaxes only slightly not knowing what else might be waiting for them ahead. She passes on more than a little wary about it They keep going and then there's something else ahead a woman wait she looks at them for a moment is that a? It seems to be so. A Yuki-Onna. A snow woman... this could be problematic. Or it could be the end of the trip.

"Is this the one we're to bring the offering to?"

She also asks of Mia.

At Mikage's question, Mia nods her head while she's bandaging her shoulder. She then offers out the black package to whomever wishes to dare and approach Yuki-Onna with it. Whomever it was going to be would have to be able to be Very Polite to her.

Before them, Yuki-Onna looks between them all. She seems to focus on whomever is talking at the time, with a face that is almost impossible to read. There's no real 'smile' there. Only a passive and almost unmoving 'mask' of a face. So pale. As if her expression were frozen.

Though there appears to be a little irritated twinge of her eye as Prophylaxis attempts to turn her name into a cat-pun.

Kauchemar just stares at Prophylaxis when he tries to make a pun out of the name of the creature they were suppose to be polite to. It's a clear 'did you just really do that?' expression in her glowing eyes. Even she's not THAT crazy.... or jealous he did it first.

Is it an irritated twitch, or is it... Is it the embers of a long-sessile sense of humor cracking through the ice of her frigid facade...!?

Prophylaxis fixes his eyes upon the Yuki-Onna and considers his options. Does he retract his statement? Does he immediately fall into the tried and true dogeza and beg for his life like some kind of coward before an entity who could likely turn him to a frozen Prophcicle where he stands...!?

Or does he...

Double... Down.......?

An instant of tension is an eternity of contemplation. It takes but a moment, but to him it feels like aeons before he finally comes to his decision.

Prophylaxis, still shivering, takes the black package in both hands and approaches the Yuki Onna with an expression as austere as a wall of ice. He pauses about a yard out and opens the box with still-trembling fingers, yet manages to open it to reveal its contents before closing the rest of the distance and dropping to his knees to offer the gorgeous necklace to the mistress of snow and ice.

"On behalf of our patrons, I offer to the lady a gift in the hope of securing her blessing and continued beneficence in the coming harvest year."

Oh wonderful. It's going absolutely according to script! Prophylaxis waits for her to receive the offering... And then...!

"I hope as well that the lady will forgive this frostbitten fool for purrtaking in a brief fit of frigid buffoonery in a moment of weakness. And that she sees some merit in maintaining good humor even in the midst of absolute terror."

    Merek twirls around his blade while he places that to the snow, then kneels with an incline to the Lady. He blinks a bit to that Prophylaxis, then he sighs a bit while he looks up to the ice and snow, "Alright." He then waits to see the full reply while he waits.

So far so good now they can

...

Kauchemar slaps both hands over her face.

Reika tried her best to do a first impression at least, but it seems Prophylaxis... the one making the cat puns, ironcailly, is the one with the skill to smooth things over. So she steps aside and lets him do the talkin quietly. They don't want to anger the one that slammed a tiger after all. They were wanred not to be rude either. So the best thing to do is stay quiet.

While Mikage might be capable with a sword or a bow, and some have said that she can find the right words to reach someone's heart when she needs to... she is also a Ranger, and that means matters of speaking to nobles and lords are times when she is best keeping her mouth shut, lest she end up tasting boot-leather from how far her foot ends up in her mouth.

So, she just drops to one knee, bowing her head, giving a sideways glance to the others and hoping that at least one of them has the good graces not to get them into too much trouble. Prophylaxis seems to step up into that role, so her blue eyes watch him.

The pale bodied woman slowly takes that single step forward. The only step she needs to fill that little subsection of a yard to comfortably lift her hands forward. In perfect silence, she accepts the jewelry offered to her with those harsh eyes.

Her hands touch the item both, and her fingers run over the gem for a moment. She then reaches behind her head, opening the necklace she's already wearing. A very similar design, but the stone looks gray, almost black. Like it's worn out. She removes it fully, and then holds her hands forward. The beautiful woman...

Lays the necklace around Prophylaxis' neck, locking it shut, and causing him to utterly freeze right in place. And while he is frozen, and his HP starts slowly dropping, she reaches back to the black box that the new necklace is in, and lays it to her neck. There's a little 'click' as she finishes putting it on, followed by a sudden gust of warm air around the area, which melts away the snow beneath her.

Her gaze then turns to Mia. Lingering, while Prophylaxis' HP continues to decrease amidst his FROZEN status.

    "Ah, would you let us assist our friend," Merek notes, then he nods a bit while he stands up. The man walks to Prophylaxis while he waits, "You all talk to her, I will do what I can to heal him when he's unlocked, and undo all of the status." Then he's checking the inventory while he sheaths the weapon along the back. He draws back the hood while he begins to chant. There's a circle which forms to the man. He does not use any of the spells at the moment, waiting for it to be safe. He doesn't want to make the situation even crazier.

Prophylaxis is frozen solid.

However, the ice is transparent and his face is locked in an expression that everyone present can quite easily make out.

It is the face of a man whose last thoughts before being put on ice were 'worth it.'

Basically just this: https://memestatic1.fjcdn.com/comments/Kazuma+is+kind+of+my+hero+_7096e8054400b6404744adf282db56f5.jpg

Well it seems to be the person they were to bring the offering too but she knows she's not the best diplomat so she lets someone else take the lead with the Yuki-Onna she does try to look politely at her and she has no idea how to read her at all. She cringes hard still from the pun earlier but it seems Prophylaxis has seemingly got things going well. She'll wait to see how this plays out. It seems to go good for a moment then the punner gets frozen solid.

She pauses and looks to the Snow Woman.

"Please forgive our companion, he was only trying to lighten spirits after a long journey to deliver you, your due."

Though she might not exactly know what was said that set the icey woman off, Mikage's head snaps up when Prophylaxis is frozen and his health begins to drop. The Were Fang is quick to her feet, rushing over towards him to try and see if anything can be done.

"Please. You don't have to do this. All of us are frozen half out of our wits." She says in a quick voice, trying to appeal to some empathetic part of the strange person looming before them. "Let him go. No one deserves to die just for choosing a few wrong words." Even if they were said intentionally.

To be fair, the doctor did kind of deserve it after that choice of words. It's definately a chilly reception, but not one they really need him dying over. Terrible choice in timing for puns or not. With a soft sight Kauchemar shakes her head a moment, then flexes her fingers a few times to warm them back up, and draws her instrument back into position. "How about," fingers flick across the strings, "another honoring to accompany your glimmering tribute?" Of course she's going to sing, that's what Bards do.

"o/~ Bravely into the storm they did tread, despite the winds full of cold dread.
Despite river and tiger they have roam, to bring the prize to the Eye of the Storm.

Her complexion like snow, her reception as cold; to the doctor her old ice she'd bestow.
Now froze in place, rigid as stone; her retort chills to bone.

Punishment bade, offering 'round her neck laid.
But please do not spite, as he did finish the rite
Please return to frostborn... At the Eye of the Storm o/~

Reika was standing near Prophylaxis, and she eeps when he turns to ice like that. Oh boy. Those puns were a few too many. She follows suit with Mikage "Yes, our apologies for his misstep, mylady. Humor is often a way to... uhm... break the ice, among humans." She realizes that it was an unitended pun, but there really wasn't any other way to describe this.

The pale woman looks between all of them as they express their concerns for the health of their compatriot. It's telling that she's at least listening to them, trying to read their desires. It's notable that she seems to focus on Kauchemar of all people for a moment, listening to their lyrics. Having listened to their words, she finally touches a hand to her chest and bows, a sudden rush of snow bursts like a tornado around her, one that blasts outwards - cutting chill through those present...

And then a sudden second ripple, a second shockwave. In what appears to be a perfect circle, the snow just... disappears from where she once stood. A circle that rapidly grows from her location, erasing the snow from everyone. The frostbite remains however, a heavy reminder that what had just remembered was very real.

The same goes for Prophylaxis, who is still wearing that necklace right now, and is very much remaining Frozen.

Mia quickly chimes; "Get the necklace off of him, and put it in the box where it's supposed to go." She had not spoken in regards to the Adventurers, perhaps going the safer route of not saying anything. But it's clear she's observing their actions and what they do. Learning from them.

She touches her chest and lets out a sigh of relief.

"Yuki-Onna and The Great Spirit of Water have a close relationship. But I wonder why the snow storm was so fierce this year. The necklace wasn't completely dark yet. She must have been reacting to something in this region."

She then puts her hands at her hips. "I did say not to insult her, right? Did I forget to say that? He's lucky she didn't shatter him!"

    "Can someone take that off of him then, I am going to heal the man," Merek notes, while he begins to lift a hand while he chants, "Ol Repth!" That healing light begins to draw the HP back up while he waits for someone to take the necklace off. He does seem to be doing what he can to heal him.

Kauchemar keeps her instrument cradled in her arms as she bows back to the yuki-onna in return, because it is the polite and respectable thing to do. But then she draws back at the rushing whirlwind of snow, cloak wrapping around herself for what small good it does. By the time it's safe to look up again, the pale spirit is gone and the snow is fading away. Not the chills though. That's a reminder of how close they came to have a very bad time.

Kauchemar slings back her instrument, and leans forward towards Prophylaxis. "You're welcome."

Healing is a bit out of her league so she'll leave that to Merek and others. Instead she turns her attention back to Mia for a moment. "With all the other strange things going on as of late, with the Dark Wave and Calamities and what not, maybe not such a surprise that she's also on edge."

In that moment, Mikage's frostbitten toes are the least of her worries. Oh, they still hurt, but it is dulled by the shock and worry on her expression. She might not know Prophylaxis well, but the idea of letting any companion perish when there could be some way of preventing it is hard.

The two waves sent out from the Yuki-onna have her taking a step back, once again shielding her face, uncertain if it is an attack at first. Then, she pushes herself to her feet and starts working on trying to get the necklace off of Prophylaxis. Of course, her fingers are shaking a little due to the cold, or nerves, or both.

Prophylaxis comes unfrozen! He's still shivering, though. You don't just get to *stop* being cold like that just because someone takes the magic death chill necklace off your shoulders.

"Pwwwhhhhhhhoh crap that's cold!" Prophylaxis yelps as he thaws and immediately starts rubbing his upper arms like he's trying to start a fire with his palms. "Ugh! I was just trying to thaw her frozen heart! Nobody said anything about not trying to /make her laugh!/ Jeez. Talk about giving a guy the cold shoulder......!"

Even now.

/Even now./

"Ugh. Still worth it though. I had to do /something/ to make up for how badly she was kicking all of our asses by proximity...!"

Kauchemar pauses. Leans down closer to Prophylaxis again. "You know how this little issue of yours rates?"

Long baited pause.

Then the nightmare smiles in that way only a creature both sinister and sultry can.

"Absolute zero."

And having dropped about the coldest response she can to the avalanche of puns, stands and walks away... At least as far as she can with everyone still being tied together.

Miho seems to have helped get them a chance to save the punner from his just fate for that pun. She will move to attempt to get the necklace off before Prophylaxis gets a free trip to the Church.

"Things are getting pretty wild in our new home ain't they?" SHe'll pull out some smithing tools and try chip away at the ice.

Mia watches the Adventurers jump to help their team mate. "I always thought you Adventurers just let your fellow people die. They resurrect anyway, after all." No doubt she is thinking about things before the Dark Wave. But this is clearly coming from a Lander who's witnessed Adventurers do more than just this mission they just went on. "I suppose that might be why she's on edge." The long eared feline Were Fang remarks, agreeing with Kauchemar.

Only to wince as Prophylaxis makes another terrible pun. "The Hunters Guild will ensure that everyone is paid for their work and the danger they put themselves in." She then remarks. "We should not stick around here for very long without a larger army." She then adds.

    Merek waits for the man to be better, nodding a bit to Prophylaxis. Then he looks to Mia, "Even before all of this, we should always be there for our fellow men. It's not always that simple," he notes. The man walks to the woman, "Thank you for guiding us, Grandeur will always be there for the people. This is about more than the coin to me." Then he nods to the party, "Alright, I'm prepped."

The words that come out of Prophylaxis' mouth are enough to leave Mikage rolling her eyes. "It ... was kind of funny." She agrees. "A horrible idea, but..." As soon as he is coming back to himself, she puts her hands back into her pockets, trying to warm them.

"Never thought I would miss the warmth of the sun in Breg Epona, but I'm kind of looking forward to getting back." She pulls her hood back up, trying to stay warm. There is a look of appreciation given to Mia at the fact that they'll at least be walking away with more than a good deed done. Gold goes a long way in Yamato.

"Even if our kind ressurect, it isn't a pleasant experience." She offers in explination, "So it's best not to do so if we can help it." There is a flick of her eyes towards Reika, then back to the others. "I'm all for getting out of here."

Then, she gives a nod to Miho. "I can tell you about that work I need done while we're on our way back."

His pun is rebuffed in expert fashion!! Well, there's only one thing to do now. "Hrmph," Prophylaxis harrumphs, snapping his fingers to conjure a transparent nimbus of roiling flame around his body. The Flame Shield spell. "That burn was so intense, it literally set me on fire. Good job."

Beat.

"Laughter is the best medicine," the doctor says to Mikage. "Honestly, I thought that above all else, that Yuki-Onna seemed... Sad. Or at the very least, lacking in anything resembling good cheer. Call it a doctor's instinct, I suppose? Though on reflection, maybe I shouldn't try to apply it to actual youkai."

Or maybe he was actually right and the Yuki-Onna is just what those in the business refer to as a /massive/ tsundere...??