May Catch-All

[sirnyxalot]

Who: Nyx and others
What: Quests and things!
When: Various times throughout the month
Where: Wherever the wind takes them
Warnings: Standard level of violence expected from going out to kill monsters


A catch-all for all Nyx's toplevels this month. Jumping on the bandwagon so I can keep things in order easier.

Comments

[sirnyxalot]

"A step up from the usual monsters that roam around. Things like coeurls and dualhorns are native. Daemons are unnatural beings that only roam at night. Sunlight hurts them and there's rumor that daemons can infect living creatures."

He's not 100% on what the starscourge actually is. The Glaive liked to gossip about shit like that, and it sounded reasonable enough. Reason enough to kill them before they could return the favor.

Nyx keeps pace with Dave as he talks, at ease while they make their way. He's not worried about any of the animals that might jump out at them here, but once the trees start to get thicker he starts moving more carefully.

"There's one type of daemon back home called an 'arachne'. A creature with the torso of a woman and the body of a massive spider. Not pleasant things to face. They like calling on friends."

[parodeity]

Dave moves just as silently as he does in town. Someone trained him from very, very young how to move without being heard. It was not the sort of lesson that was easily if ever forgotten and he doesn't appear to think much of it as he does it. He's wary of traps without actively considering it, too, taking steps with care as half his attention is on the forest around them.

The half focusing on Nyx is enough to ask questions and make comments, however. "I mostly fought imps and ogres, at home. Also semi omnipotent dogs? So never spider things. Got any tips?"

[sirnyxalot]

"Depends on if you're expecting magical attacks, honestly." He holds up a palm, lighting a small fire in his hand to help light their path as the canopy gets thicker. "Arachne were deadly in multiple ways because they could also sling spells, but the benefit was that there weren't any fangs to deal with.

"The thing you have to remember most of all when fighting arachnids is that no matter how big the damn things are they're probably still going to be faster than you. Expect that going in and the worst that's gonna happen is you'll be right. Everything else can be adjusted for."

[parodeity]

"The faster than me thing probably won't be an issue." Like. Maybe??? "Unless they can flashstep, in which case that's chill. But I think they probably can't? That would be so totally lame if they could, that's a proprietary skillset."

[sirnyxalot]

"Flashstep?"

[parodeity]

"Suffice it to say I'm very fast. There in a flash, gone in another."

[sirnyxalot]

Nyx grins fiercely, his heart leaping with a sense of victory. This just got even more fun. "We call it warping back home. My regiment regularly used it in battle. It's a good tactic against monsters."

[parodeity]

"So you can do it, too?"

[sirnyxalot]

“It’s a big part of our style. Easier to stab something in the face when they don’t see you coming.” It might not be the same technique as Dave’s, he’ll allow for that possibility, but it can’t be so different that they can’t fght around each other, right? “Can you predict a partner’s pattern during a battle?”

[parodeity]

"Yeah, that ain't a problem." He's good at body language. Especially when people actually have it. "You lead, I'll follow."

[sirnyxalot]

Nyx goes to reply when a sound strikes his ears; a light footstep that’s only just louder than their own. His body tenses and he stops, holding up his empty fist out of habit.

The trees had thickened around them the deeper they’d crept into the woods. The fire in his hand flickers light over the surrounding foliage and Nyx debates with himself a moment whether or not to put it out. Surely whatever is out there has likely already seen it. Would casting them into gloom only help or hurt their position?

The steps are clearly approaching them through the trees, making no effort to hide from them. Nyx lowers his center of gravity, shifting to grip the kukri strapped to his thigh.

[parodeity]

Dave's sword is in his hand without any apparent need to draw it. It just kind of Appeared. The magic of sylladexes. He doesn't move, keeping an eye on Nyx, but he's definitely angled towards the steps that are approaching.

He's willing to be a follower in this particular battle, since Nyx seems to know what he wants to do, here. Dave might be more willing to boss around, say, John. But he's not really familiar with or comfortable with bossing around people older than him.

[sirnyxalot]

Nyx's eyes flick towards Dave, attention drawn by the sudden appearance of his sword. His eyebrows knit together; when this is over he's going to have to ask how he did that.

A figure appears at the edge of the light--a lovely woman in a long patterned robe. She doesn't seem startled to see them. Instead she smiles, soft and friendly, and looks between them as if looking upon old acquaintances.

Nyx's shoulders straighten, taking a slight step back in surprise. What the hell is a woman doing out this deep in the woods? She doesn't stand like a hunter, and as far as he can tell she's not carrying any kind of tools or weapons. She's beautiful in a way that reminds him of royal parties in Insomnia, elegant and sure of herself. The forest is far too dangerous for someone like her. Is she a native?

"Are you here to help me?" Soft-spoken and inquisitive. Nyx loosens his grip on his blade, though the tension doesn't entirely leave his body.

[parodeity]

She's no one Dave recognizes, and that sets him on edge more than anything else. The only things in the woods are quest-related, so far, and he shifts his stance into something more steady.

"Fairy tale heroes maybe need to make rules about agreein' to help without hearing why for."

[sirnyxalot]

"My friend's right, miss. We can't just set aside our duties unless we know what we're in for."

Nyx turns to look at Dave again, and in the next moment the woman approaches them, seemingly certain enough of her welcome to get right up in their personal space. Nyx's spine stiffens until he's almost standing at attention.

It doesn't occur to him that this might be their target, but Dave's suspicion shifts his concern into uneasiness.

"I'm lost, you see. And there's all these sounds in the dark. The two of you look so strong, so capable. Please help me find my home?" She places a hand on Nyx's arm and smiles shyly at Dave. "I can reward you."

[parodeity]

"...There ain't any of us here but the people who arrived in the well." That's said to Nyx as much as it is to the woman.

[sirnyxalot]

It's enough for Nyx to make a decision. Back home he'd have broken off to assist a civilian in need, especially when caught at night with daemons roaming, but after the shit that they've dealt with the last two months he can't trust anything at face value. If he were alone it'd be different, but he's got a responsibility to Dave as well, and it's clear what Dave's choice is.

When your own shadow tries to kill you it kind've makes anything a possible threat.

Nyx grabs the woman's wrist before she can slide her fingers into his armor and shakes his head, taking a step back. "With all due respect, Ma'am, but even if we could assist you that's not on the table."

She smiles beatifically, a little sad, and in the next instant her expression twists with an unholy shriek. The Jorogumo grows, its once delicate hand lengthening into claws that dig into the leather of his coat to lift him off the ground as multiple limbs sprout from the robe.

Nyx had been wrong. This wasn't an arachne. This was far more monstrous than an arachne. He swears as he's pulled off balance, missing his grab for the kukri, and brings his arm up to block the monster's second set of claws coming at him.