Bloodfallen Gaze

The area isn't too hard to find, when the vixen is directly prodded over the ChimLink; 'South East. Peninsula.' And when one gets closed, the pitched tent is a dead giveaway; it's black silk, spotted in silver in the barest outline of the night sky, in a field of pink flowers. There are even signs that it's a frequent spot; a circle of stones with built up ash from many campfires (both old and new), a copper pot sunk into the ground to act as a basin and collect rainwater, a flat stone the size of a hubcap carved into a sundial, another flat stone more like the size of a writing desk (with her lots cast over it in a mess even more chaotic than normal, the bag abandoned in the grass beside it), and area where the grass and flowers are worn down from frequent traffic around said circle of stones.

... however, it currently smells like puke. The source is over near the desk-stone.

Estelle is seated on a chair near the fire pit, a waterskin held in a trembling hand. Her tails are looking a little frazzled as they flick wildly behind her, dancing in agitation and fear. Her expression is similarly... off, tear tracks marring her checks and wet spots her dress. She's doing breathing excercises, her eyes closed - even if her ears perk and twitch at any obvious sounds of people coming upon her camp.

    Merek keeps riding along with the peko until he comes upon the place where Estelle was at. The man steps away from the creature, then he nods a bit. He walks along to Estelle, waiting for anyone else to arrive, while he brings what looks like a pack of herbs to place where she can find it. "Brought that for you," he notes, then he takes a look about the place.

Shiruba was not far from Shibuya herself so it's a pretty quick trek on peko-back to find the small offshoot of land. Considering she's been over most of the area around the growing town herself being told it was the south east peninsula was all she needed to know exactly where the fox had been camped. Once Tradewind stops she hops off off the bird... and immeadiately grabs her nose as she sickly miasma of fresh vomit reaches it. "Oh, shit, -actual puke-. That must of been bad."

    The exotic imp moves as quick as she can. Her hooved feet carrying her the distance, part of the way using her constructs for an extra burst of speed.

When she arrives there, her mana is low, but her full focus is on Estelle. Even if that smell is /horrible/, it does stop her. "Estelle!" She calls her name, before she comes over quickly to the Star reading Vixen, sliding to a halt by her desk and looking directly at her face.

Her fingers move with gentle care to come to rest on her shoulder. "Estelle..." She says more softly and has to resist reaching up to wipe away a tear like a friend or sister. "We are here..."

Yeowang arrives on pekoback not long after Shiruba, she was in Shibuya as well, and came as quickly as she could after the conversation on the chimlink. It seems her small and not-generally-useable skill at tracking has done well enough. She dismounts quickly and rushes over, making a face at the smell. "Ugh." She looks around, wets a finger, checks the air, then looks around. "Estelle," she calls out. "Everyone! Let's all shift a few yards upwind," she suggests first off. That smell isn't helping anyone.

Uta does not normally have any business around Shibuya; but recently, she's been helping with the local library, so she wasn't far away when this happened. Rushed to the place, she stares in shock. "...Oh my!"

She looks around, in panic. "...Is there a healer around here? She needs some professional hel- wait." She slaps her face so hard it must hurt, mumbles something that could be Arcane Words of Power (but probably aren't), and rushes over to attempt a quick medical examination of Estelle. "Let me through, I am a healer!"

"... Hello, Merek." Even with some water, the fox's voice is still a bit rough, but she's had time to steady herself a /bit/. She turns to look at the bundle of herbs in her lab, her free hand picking it up to turn one way and then another. "... Tisane, ground, incense... chew as they are? I'm not sure how... How much I'll be able to keep down, to be honest."

She turns her head as everyone else makes their appearance, though, with varying degrees of energy.

"Thank you all for... worrying." She sets the bundle of herbs back in her lab, and reaches up to rest pale fingers atop's the Imp's hand. "Not sure... how safe it is. I... I still feel like I'm being watched. Weighed. Didn't want to go anywhere, though." Not with them all coming; she doesn't have a peko of her own, after all, or an artificial steed. She shakes herself out, tails swirling all the more. Even as she levers herself up to follow Yeowang's advice, leaning into Kat and Uta's worried hands.

"Mostly just... vomiting, Uta. Anxiety. Stomach's still churning. Haven't had an... attack like this in..." She trails off, before shaking her head and letting them all drag her somewhere that doesn't smell like her own vomit.

"If you guys think it smells bad," Shiruba taps her nose with a fingertip, "How do you think I feel?.. Or Estelle herself, for that matter." Sometimes hightened senses are as much a pain as they are a boon. "You guys take a look at her, I'll do something about the smell."

Shiruba turns from the growing gathering for a moment and makes a few floaty gestures with her hand. It wasn't often to see her directly cast something but she does, and a sorcerous swish of sea breeze blows across the outstretch of land to help disperse away the stench of digestive upheavals.

    Merek looks to the herbs, while he nods a bit to Estelle, "You can chew, and when you can steep them into a tea," he notes, the man taking a moment to look about the place. The man offers a little bit of light magic which he uses to heal the woman, to see if that assists, then he makes a little bit of space for Uta. "Ah, nice to see you." He then nods to Shiruba as well as to Yeowang, while he begins by adjusting that scarf along his features.
    "The System Protection probably failed. It's the only way things like that can even get through. That's rare, it would need to be a powerful creature."

Yeowang can at least breathe more easily when we're getting clean air. Makes it less likely for someone else to sympathy puke. It can get cleaned, buried, later, when Estelle is safe and settled. Or now, with magic from Shiruba. She won't complain. With everyone checking Estelle over, she will leave them to it, and scout out the immediate area for signs of danger or ambush. If Estelle is feeling watched, then maybe she is? Anyhow, better safe than sorry. She hrms to Merek, but offers, "There's a few things in the game that have unique rules, it seems. It looks like you've found one of them."

    Katherine doesn't leave Estelle's side. Her imp tail barely moves and her wings low; even though tucked in. Once it was decided to move Estelle, she would go with her and stay close incase the other woman needed to lean on her.

"We are here now, Estelle. Even if that horrid creature is watching, we are here together and together we are far stronger than alone." She then goes to carefully step around to face Estelle dead on. Moving to hold both of the woman's hands if she allows. "You are /not/ alone now... and may be wise if none of us," She looks at the others. "Move alone."

Uta comments, "...so this is not the first time?" She does pull up her menu, and perform the standard inspection, but after that, without changing her expression one little bit in response, segues into performing actual medical procedures with a surprising amount of skill.

Uta smiles at the now Moonlit alchemist, "Thanks Merek, good to see you as well..." She returns to examine Estelle. "I will have to agree here -- Estelle, don't chew if you don't feel like, hm? Do it only when you feel you're ready. I'll probably invoke some healing magic once I have a better idea of what is going on here. That way you won't have to eat or drink potions-"

She glances sideways at Merek and Yeowang. "What's this System Protection thing? And... what about horrid creatures watching and getting through?"

She turns to Katherine. "...ok, if... I am not to move alone, uh... can I at least know what is going on?"

"... People have been doing follow-up in the wake of the Wave." Laying things out for Uta, and in more detail for everyone else, is probably the best way to start with the responses. At least while they get upwind of the camp and Shiruba sorts out the need for that. "An... Adventurer came in with... the invading monsters. Rode the dragon. Divination at the time... said her being here would have ill results. But someone got a... bug on her, basically. Let them listen to her."

Kat is allowed to hold both of the vixen's hands, yes. She may get a tighter squeeze than she was expecting, though; the fox is trying some mental exercises to shake off the anxiety, and the physical anchor is... welcome. "Today, it was reported that the Adventurer... Kizuna Kazayama, by Inspection... set something named Shalltear Bloodfallen on 'us'. Those who've been stopping the waves... I presume." She tips her head towards the spilled bag of lots, over on the stone 'desk'. "... so I tried divination. Wouldn't see the stars... for an hour or so, at the time. Not this time of year. Went for lots. 'How dangerous is Shalltear Bloodfallen?'" There's a pause for breath, and some more trembling.

"... It was... two red eyes, in a black void. Staring at me. Into me. A... a fear and anxiety shuddering through me like I've... r-rarely felt before. Not since..." Her voice is small, but she does get the words out, "... the Flash. An /emotional/ attack." Her silver gaze sweeps across to everyone, meeting their eyes, and then briefly close. "And I can... still feel it. That gaze. Heavy on me. A counter-attack, for Divination? A counter-Divination? I don't know. But it says that she's... powerful, yes."

... she does pull her hands free after that, though, to pull a teapot from her inventory. "... Brewing the leaves might be better. Fluids have... always been easier to keep down."

    "System Protection is what keeps the system from doing anything to people. It's what made gear safe to use, back in the world before," Merek notes then to Uta, while he nods a bit. "It seems to not work as well here, but still seems to work to an extent. Sometimes though, there are things we can find which make everything real."
    The man nods while he begins to assist in setting up the tea, "Of course." He offers a light pat to a shoulder, he's not great with that kind of thing, he instead takes the time to work the tea. Then he will take a pack of coffea which he places along next to Estelle, a gift. "There are names that are... Well, I wouldn't want to meet a few things like that." The man nods a bit to Katherine, "It's likely she knows the Estelle was looking into things."

    Katherine continues to hold Estelle's hands. When she feels the squeeze, she smiles gently and her imp tail curls a little; Even if a subconscious act.

Though when Estelle moves her hands away, the imp lets her go easily. Instead she stands there, her hands held, clasped together, down in front of her.

"If she is watching you, she may also see us all-- and hear our own words." Katherine says softly in thought. "... so we may choose our words carefully."

Yeowang is eagle-eyed as she walks a perimeter around the small grouping and sees no sign of danger. "Whatever you felt," she announces, "is not based on anything physically here right now." For what comfort that may provide. As far as mention of the Shalltear Bloodfallen, she can only shrug. "There are things in this game meant for higher level players. They might be beyond us now, but as we improve, that will no longer be the case. If we watch carefully, though, remain alert, and act with prudence, they are unlikely to take us at unawares."

Uta listens closely while she performs the last examinations.

The mention of the Flash makes /her/ stop and shudder. Eyes bulge, she stares.

She swallows.

She blinks, she shakes her head. There is an attempt at returning determination and professionalism, but at this point she doesn't look as confident as she did one moment ago.

She does, however, manage to finish the few exams left, and at that point, she stands up. "...well, whatever it is, it does not show up on a medical inspection. From a strictly medical standpoint, there is nothing wrong with you, except for an anxiety attack."

At Merek's explanation, she just furrows her brow, and goes, "...what? Gear? You mean... the Dive Gear?" She seems to have trouble parsing Merek's words. She lifts a finger and opens her mouth as if for asking something, but when Katherine mentions that someone might be listening, she clams up. Silent. "...what do you know... for once, my uselessness might actually turn out to be useful...", she mumbles to herself. She stands up, and pats her hands clean. "Well, I am not sure my healing magic can do much at this point, but there are two things I can do. One, I can offer a multipurpose medical device." She reaches into the jacket of her gi/uniform, and pulls out a crudely sewn leather ball, the size of those used to play tennis in the old world. She tosses it at Estelle. "Stress ball! It's on me. You'll be surprised at how useful it can be!"

"Second... Well, where medicine does not reach... who knows, maybe art can do something?"

She breathes in, and with a crystal-clear voice, she begins to vocalize a slow, soothing melody. A lullaby for the troubled soul.

Once she's cleared the air so to speak Shiruba walks over and puts a hand comfortingly on Estelle's shoulder. "We appreciate the effort to get more information for us, Estelle, but you need to rest and recover from what you experienced."

"... Thank you, Merek." The vixen murmurs, as the man takes the pot and the herbs, and goes to make the tisane. The coffee gets a shake of her head, though, and she lets it lay there for now. "... Yes. She knows that someone was looking, at least, and likely that it was me." There's some uncomfortable shifting, and Estelle just... lets herself breath deeply, until Yeowang gives her report. "... thank you, again, for your support, everyone."

Uta's reaction to talk of the Flash is noted, but the Astrologian just gives her a nod. It causing problems for people was widespread, and she's not going to go pressing those buttons for anyone else. But she just listens to the song... and pops some pillows out of her inventory, enough for everyone to sit on for now. She settles onto one herself, hands on her knees. And briefly rests her hand atop Shiruba's. "... Yes. I think I'll just... decompress, tonight. Enjoy the stars for what they are. Try not to imagine the moons as eyes staring down at me."

Yeowang nods slowly as Estelle thanks her and the others. "This is what we are here for, is it not? To provide mutual support and assistance with whatever comes up. To provide approprite protection for our people and our allies throughout the land." She looks around to the others. The call went out over Alliance chat, she's not immediately aware of who's a guildie and not, but it shouldn't make too much difference, should it? Though she's still fairly junior in the guild's hierarchy. She nods about Estelle decompressing, though to judge from her attitude and bearing, she decompresses like a spring.

    Katherine accepts the pillow when offered one and takes a seat. She looks up at the sky as well, as she looks at everyone gathered, then looks to the ground.

She bites her lower lip gently, before closing her own eyes. Keeping whatever thoughts she is having or thinking to herself.

    Merek nods a bit, while he offers the tea to Estelle. The man takes a look along the place, and nods then to Uta, while he watches. The man places a hand upon Uta's shoulder, then he speaks, while listening to that music. "It's not about a level, there are things that should not be in this world, from places, worlds." The man adjusts the scarf which he wears. "If you want, I can put a spell of protection upon everyone."

Shiruba nods a bit, and gives another reassuring squeeze before pulling her hand away to accept the pillow. "That sounds like a fine idea. Just have some tea, observe the stars and relax. Recoup." She drops the pillow on the ground, swishes her tail out of the way and plops down on it. "We know they're out there, but there's not really much to be done about it other than be aware of the fact. Worrying over it will just push us over the edge... And that's probably want they want. To spook us out. Intimidated enemies are less effective enemies."

Uta finishes singing. "Don't mention it," she says to Estelle. "And don't worry. I mean that literally. Stop thinking about it for now. Relax. Healer's orders," she adds with a smile. She stands up, dusts her off, and looks around. "Well, there isn't much more I can do, and I see you are in excellent hands already. I suppose I will be on my way and leave you some breathing room and alone time. Feel free to chimlink me if you need anything." She turns to Merek. "Oh, and maybe you can do something about the smell with your alchemy?"

"... That it is. Can't say I haven't... done my best to support others." Like the very act that brought them all here, now. The fox lets out a long breath... and accepts the cup of tea from Merek. She blows at it a couple times, and then starts sipping. Slowly. She doesn't want to throw up a second time. "And you can try, Merek. I don't think it will be effective... and I'm not sure it's worth a Piece, to make sure it is."

Shiruba gets a nod, for approving the vixen's plans for the night. "I can say it was... very effective at spooking me. The hairs at the back of my neck are still standing." Her shoulders are still bowed a little from the metaphorical/metaphysical weight she's feeling, too. "Though 'don't worry' is easy to say, Uta. I can still feel her gaze like two points of heat on my back... but, yes. Thank you for coming. I'll reach out if I need to talk."

    Merek looks about the place, then he offers a lift of his brow to Estelle, "Ah, Piece?" he asks. The man then takes a moments to begin lifting up both hands, while he weaves a magical spell. A field begins to form upon the skies, the sigil takes up the size of an entire field, "I call upon the Lost, nameless that they are, to bring your blessing upon the people."
    The entire place begins to bathe in light while it circles about, "Light Skies: Blessing!" The whole of the field will cover all with a feeling like warmth within, a calm. The protection of course begins to shimmer along into the stats, though within it feels like it's a true blessing offered upon people.

Shiruba glances towards Merek for a moment. "A little extra precaution probably doesn't hurt." They might not be able to block out the 'watching' but they can certainly make anyone think twice and again before trying to mess with the vixen any farther. It's one of those 'better safe than sorry' type things. "I don't think he needs a Piece, he's got that other... ability? Of his." She's never actually asked how he does that.

Yeowang nods gravely as it seems Estelle has wound down sufficiently. Her own steady demeanor may help keep others calm, but she rarely panics. She -does- advise, "After you ... decompress ... you may wish to retire in Shibuya. It's quite close and allies are closer at hand than out here at your camp."

She doesn't comment as Merek blesses the campsight, though, that's probably good, too. Or at least it can't hurt. Probably.

"I know it's not easy," Uta replies. "Just saying... you know, do what you can. Think that you still have a chance. We can win." She taps her chin and looks away. "And who knows... maybe there's someone benevolent watching over us as well. Have you ever considered that?"

Uta shakes her head. "But yes, I... I am rambling and the best I can do now is to leave you be."

The blessing washes over her, and Uta closes her eyes to savour this moment of peace.

Estelle's tails flick and curl, as the Blessing washes over them, rife with the Relic's power. She closes her eyes for a long moment, breathing in and out... and then just lets herself sprawl back in the grass and flowers, arms spread. Like she was a child. Though it's obvious things are still bothering her a little, even so. "... Ah. Right. I think this got mentioned over the Chimlink." She muses.

"... and, yes, we should probably head to town before too long. I can still see the stars from there - though not for long, if the street lights do get adopted." Her eyes open, silver gaze cast to the heavens. "I wonder if my study in the Library is made, yet? Won't have any furniture, but I can throw down a bedroll. And seeing it in construction isn't too bad a thing, if I am being watched. And I know, Uta. The Stars watch over me. But this is still... something else."

    Merek nods a bit to people while he takes a moment to think about it, "Welcome," he will add to a conversation from earlier, "Anyway. The lights shouldn't be that much a bother on the skyline." Then he seems to think about it while he pulls that scarf along his features.

"They're right... But not until you feel comfortable with moving again. Take your time," Shiruba reassures. When Estelle laments about street lights she hmms softly. "You know, that's a good point." She cups fingers to her chin thoughtfully. "Having some lighting at night is great, but we should keep it spaced out appropriately. We don't want to disrupt the environment around us."

Yeowang nods to Estelle. "Less than a week until the library is complete," she agrees. "I am not sure which parts are done now, though. But yes, none will object if you put down a bedroll there." As far as the streetlights, she's all for that. She's a city girl, she doesn't see any value in darkness, nor any particular need for stars. But the others obviously do, so she says nothing about that. She agrees, "Whenever you're ready, we'll head back with you, but no rush."

"It depends on their spread and brightness, but yes.... They're unlikely to blot them all out. It could well hide the weakest, though." Her hands fold in her lap, and there's an agreeing sound at the talk of how quickly the library is being raised. "I think all the stained glass is about ready. Just... waiting for the window framework to go up. The statue is looking wonderful. Just needs its spot between the stairs ready..."

She lets out a sigh, and tries to make herself relax more. It only partially succeeds. "... How did you get the lamps working after, Merek?"

    "Well, I used a lot of chemicals," Merek then will explain a little bit, "All in all, it is pretty interesting, which makes me a Moonlight Alchemist!" The man nods a bit to Estelle, "I will like a new project. Making progress on the coffea farming."

"It took a while to get the resources together to get that farm project going, but it's taken off like a bolt once we did," Shiruba agrees. "Finding the right conditions to support growth, and none of us are really farmers." She also nods at the talk about the library. "I'm glad people have taken an interest in it. Sharing information is one of the biggest advantages we have."

Yeowang will pace around the perimeter again, checking that nothing is out of order. She keeps an eye out for danger, peering into the darkness outside the camp carefully.

    Katherine may or may not been listening to what was being said around her. The Imp doesn't seem to know really what to do with herself in this type of situation or what conversation to join in on.

Her wing flicks gently as she looks one way, then another with her lavender glowing eyes. Eventually she looks at Estelle, before she then scoots herself over to the fox. It was a slow scoot, an unsure scoot, then finally right behind the fox.

"May I?" She asks, before her hands go to rest gently on Estelle's shoulders and unless the vixen pulls away, she may find that the Magus is giving her a shoulder rub, along with a bit up the neck muscles in trying to help break some tension.

"... I was thinking about the lights for the library itself. Are the chemicals dangerous to the books, how long do they last, and what's the overhead on their maintenance and replacement?" The vixen clarifies, towards the new Moonlight Artisan. "But I do wish you good luck with the farm, all of you who contributed."

"... and, yes, I'm glad the Library is going well. I think we'll be the first alliance to come together and raise theirs. I think it will be quite something when it's done, and a good source for all the research we'll be doing. I've got plans for a more public bulletin board, where requests and news can be posted without it being... well, within the Alliance HQ." Her hands wave breezily... and she blinks up at Kat, as the Imp leans in. But the gentle kneading along her shoulders is relaxing, and she settles after a brief murmur, closing her eyes. There is... a fair deal of tension to work away, there.

    "They should be pretty safe for the books, I think you will need a person to light them every so often," Merek notes, while he nods to Estelle. The man adjusts the scarf which he wears while he thinks about it, "I will bring you a few, we can place them as lanterns," then he takes a drink from the flask with him while he watches.

Shiruba wags a finger at Estelle. "That is actually a very good idea, since not everyone that will come to Shibuya to the library will be a member of the Alliance. You can coordinate requests with the Hunter's Guild too."

Yeowang hrms, nods about lights for the library. "If the fumes won't hurt the paper, they'd be a good plan," she agrees. And she nods about a good source of research. Though it won't be much good to her. She knows she's not a scholar by any means. She's not dumb, but she's the opposite of intellectual. On the other hand she's a deft hand at management, and the library seems well suited to meetings.

    Katherine continues to work on those knots and tension of Estelle. She looks like a rather happy imp as she does this. "I do look forward to seeing the library." She at last adds in. "It will be fun to read about so many things of the great history before us!"

She then gives a playful wink. "Maybe one day we will end up in a book as well!"

"Thank you, Merek. And that was one part of it, yes, Yeowang. I'm sure they'll do well, for those who can't use Light magic to help guide them through." Like Landers. They don't intend to keep it just to the Adventurers, after all. "And, yes. The front area might serve as another meeting place - though there is also the actual Hunter Guild building. I remember hearing about that going up...?"

She lets Kat work the tension out for long moments, and then sighs. "... We should probably get back to Shibuya before too much longer." She pats at the Imp's arms, however happy she is, and starts sitting back up. "Though it's just packing up the tent and chair, and grabbing my lots..." The sundial and copper pot can stay here.

    "I think I will work on lights, you're welcome," Merek offers, while he nods a bit to Estelle, then he takes a look along the place, before he walks to pick up his packs to assist in carrying for the woman.

When Estelle announces her desire to get back to Shibuya, Yeowang looks over, and asks, "What stuff do you want to leave here and what stuff comes back with you?" She's poised to help Estelle get packed up, it seems. "I can use my peko to carry things, and walk back with you all."

While the others are discussing things Shiruba turns her attention to the chimlink for a few moments, politely lowering her voice to not disrupt the others. Though after a pause she sighs a bit, and gets up from her spot. "Can you guys take care of Estelle until she's ready to head back to town. I.. something has come up I need to take care." She holds a hand up before anyone can ask. "Guild Leader stuff. Nothing you guys need to worry about right now." She walks over and hoists herself onto the back of her peko.

    Katherine goes to stand up, when Estelle asks her to stop and steps aside. She will help where she can and at least make sure that all get to where they need to go safely.

"Thank you, Yeowang. And, like I said, it's just gathering things up and packing away the tent." Her hand gestures towards the silken thing, even as she gives those departing a wave... Shiruba gets a concerned look, though, and the fox's ears briefly pull flat. 'Don't worry now' could become a worry later, but... "Good luck. I hope everything turns out for the best."

Her tails flitting anxiously again, now, and brushing at Kat for the proximity, the fox makes her way over to gather up her lots. Even if there's a flinch when she touches them, like she's expecting another attack... but nothing happens, and so bundled up they go. The chair goes into her inventory, as well, and then it's a matter of helping dismantle the tent.