Duty Session 319: For Whom the Bell Gnolls

The areas around the entrance to the Byalan Dungeon are known for being newbie leveling grounds, and thus certain quests tend to be more common in the area. In this case, during one of their moments between dungeon runs, the more combat-focused members of the Wyld Hunt have found themselves, once again, on the fight against the gnolls.

"It's a change of pace, at least." Mikage comments, "I can be thankful that it isn't hydras or mermen." Stretching out her shoulders above her head, the girl reaches back and grabs for her bow. Rama seems less than pleased with either idea, his ears tucked back.

"Let's just hope we don't run into the demon gnoll again." With a glance over at Cyrus, she nods her head, then starts to follow the tracks into the forest.

"I'm with you on the demon gnoll. But honestly, as long as it isn't that weird monkey we met at that abandoned hot spring, I think we should be okay." Cyrus counters Mikage as he makes his way alongside of her, following Mikage as she seeks to track the creature deeper into the woods.

"You're the guid eon this one until we get into combat." The Cait Sith remarks, touching her shoulder for a moment, giving her a squeeze. A moment of physical contact. Short as it may be, the trust communicated through it is more meaningful than words could be at this point.

Soon, the pair find themselves in the woods, but they have been changed by the advent of this quest. Either that, or the change is the reason that the quest started in the first place. In Yamato, it's sometimes hard to see the cause and effect.

The spooky feeling is enough to have her being quiet, Rama moving on soft paws through the underbrush. "We should try to keep quiet." She whispers, "It seems like they might be watching us." She recommends.

However, it isn't long before the girl messes up. She steps into an area that looks like a solid bit of root, but it gives way underfoot, giving a resounding crack and causing her foot to get wedged in against the tree's roots.

"Fu--" She curses and has to tug to get her leg free, leaving a couple of glowing scratches along her leg.

Cyrus nods his head. Keeping quiet, he can try. But the little flasks and bottles on his body are hard to keep entirely still. He tries to use some arcane magic to dampen the sounds they are making, but between the two of them, neither of them are having much luck. The dampening of his arcane magic isn't enough to quiet either of their foosteps.

And as she gets her food wedged in the roots, he bumps up against her, causing the flasks to go jingle-jingle. He quickly tries to get her foot unstuck, bending down at her legs, and the moment she's loose, he tries to get the heck forward alongside her.

It's obvious that the two are not doing well on being stealthy, much to Rama's dismay. The little cat seems to have things under control, but his human counterparts... not so much. However, as soon as the strange laughing starts, his ears begin to perk, trying to focus in on the sound.

Miki, on the other hand, is more disturbed by what looks to be smears of blood on some nearby trees and a series of branches that are sharpened into spikes, defending the area. "Well, at least we're on the right track, even if they /do/ know we're coming." She sighs softly to herself, blowing a few strands of hair out of her eyes.

"Come on, I think they're this way." She seems to be able to simply pick out the trails through the forest, especially with Rama running ahead of them, acting as guide.

"Yeah well, we're not tiny with little soft paws." Cyrus whispers to Rama as the cat gives him /the look/. Furrowing his brow and pouting at the cat is Cyrus' only recourse. That, and sticking out his tongue. Until they hear the strange laughter.

"Ugh, I hate that sound." He grunts, ducking close in with Mikage and readying a bottle of something nasty looking. Glancing around, trying to find the source of their presence. The spikes and branches and blood only make things more creepy. "Ugh. Monsters."

They go deeper along the trail, with Cyrus keeping his wits about him. But no matter how much he tries, he can't spot the source of their laughter, so he has to rely on Mikage.

Rama just snorts in Cyrus' direction, his nub tail twitching behind him.

As they delve deeper into the forest, the sounds of gnolls grows stronger, making it easier to  follow the trail. "Well, that doesn't sound encouraging." The hoots and rhythmic stomping and chants grows louder, just before an absolutely massive armored gnoll appears.

This looks to be some kind of champion level monster, complete with a shield and helmet. Mikage seems to give up on using her bow against this kind of foe, and glances at Cyrus, "I'll try to fight him up close, see what you can do while I have him distracted."

She reaches for her sword, charging into battle with Rama at her heels.

Cyrus huffs at Rama, as they head deeper in. "It really does not." He however ends up brought back to attention by Mikage pointing out the hoots and hollers of the Gnolls around them. "It feels like we are walking into an arena." He adds - before that big gnoll appears.

"Ooph, that's a big one." Miki runs in followed by Rama.

"Right, I'll pelt him with fire. Let's see if I can turn his armor against him." Cyrus answers Mikage, quickly grabbing a different potion from his belt and throws it in an arc across her shoulder and tries to get it to splash against its armor.

In the end, Mikage ends up taking the brunt of the fighting. She's had to be the front liner for their group for a while, so it is no surprise that she can handle herself decently well. Eventually, Rama gets a hold of the gnoll's leg, doing enough damage that they send the champion into retreat.

However, that only seems to cause a lull between fights. Trying to catch her breath, Miki gives a faint growl of challenge towards the nearby gnolls, but they seem to realize that they are outmatched in level and do not try to engage.

What arrives int the clearing next seems to be one of the generals of the gnoll armies. He seems to melt out of the shadows with a curved staff in one clawed hand. Much like Cyrus, he is armed with a variety of potions, which he then chucks in their directions, causing the ground around them to become dangerous.

"Uh, little help from the potion master?" Miki asks as she tries to dodge out of the way, eventually using her water magic to try to wash away some of the effects of the potions.

"The potion master is having trouble." Cyrus admits as he tries to chuck a potion, but is caught by the Gnoll's application of one. Having somewhat ambushed the Cait Sith - who has been having significant trouble during this Duty - he's caught in a vine trap of sorts that is keeping him from getting to his potions properly. He tries to underhanded chuck one with what little mobility he's got, but this one is all Mikage it seems.

"You've got this Miki. Just - the quicker you get me untangled, the quicker I can properly aid." He promises to her. He's honestly a bit embarassed at how little contribution he is lending to this entire endevour.

While Mikage's magic manages to clear much of the area around them from those dangerous pools of alchemical effects, it isn't enough to actually defeat the monster. Like before, this one retreats, as if they were preparing the area for a larger fight.

"You think they know something?" She asks, and then starts to chop through the vine trap holding Cyrus. "It's alright, I've had trouble with some of these quests, myself."

Just as the last vine is cut, the ground begins to glow an ominous red, causing Miki to give another of those audible curses as she turns to watch the arrival of the gnoll demon. "Damnit, you again. No one likes you." Not that she has any great love for any boss monsters.

Still, she grabs for her bow, ready to send an arrow towards the monster. "This one shouldn't be too bad. We've fought him before so I know most of his moves. Just follow me."

"Ugh, this guy again." He grunts as the ground begin to glow. "Quick quick, last vine... there. Thanks Miki." He flexes his fingers and grabs multiple potions immediately. "Okay, I am going to let loose some frustation here. Let's go..." He then starts just /bombarding/ the demon as it arrives out from within the ominous red glow.

Potion after potion getting shattered in its direction. "Stupid." Flask. "Gnolls!" Shatter! A restraining series of red burning chains form against the Demon's body, trying to force it in place. "Get him. If he attacks, he triggers the detonations!" He calls out to Miki.

The fight against the demon takes a long time, but eventually they do manage kill the creature. However, it seems to leave the ground still glowing faintly.

"That's never good." Miki mutters to herself. Her health is at about the mid-way point after the hard fight, but she seems to be in decent enough spirits.

"Makes me wonder if there isn't something more to these gnoll quests." Rama huffs once, and then starts to paw at the glowing symbols.

"Come on, let's get out of here before the gnolls get brave enough to try to attack us while our health is low."