So you want to be a zako? (RP, Mentos Edition) (2 Viewers)

[Severity]

Letting Tyris take control once they've closed to melee range, Eisenhilde is pleased to see her take down one Acid archer. For the next one, though, Eisenhilde has control. She swings the mace down at the blonde archer, who tries to move out of the way. Instead of dodging, Eisenhilde's inexperience with the mace causes it to deflect off the side of her head and smash into her collarbone and shoulder, causing the unfortunate girl to collapse, bleeding from the mouth.
Hearing Tyris' words, Eisenhilde knows she needs to do something. She approaches the fallen blonde, and carefully places her hand on the blonde's head. Leaning down slowly until her forehead touches the terrified, dying blonde's, she takes the Blade of Hel and stabs it through her hand and into the blonde's heart. The girl's eyes go wide, and then wider as she doesn't die, but in fact begins healing.
...There. She'll recover, and quickly. Do you think you can talk her into sticking with us?
Feeling Tyris' confusion and disbelief, she decides to explain what she's done.
I'm helping her. This girl's life has little value, but if you think she's better off alive than dead... I used the vitality of the elf to heal her. The two of us are entirely mortal now.
After thirty seconds or so, she slowly removes the Blade of Hel from both her hand and the blonde girl's heart. As it leaves, the wounds knit back together before vanishing completely.

Arastine, with new determination to protect Miasma, takes the front. She slams her shield down on an Acid girl's foot, then puts her out of her misery. After the fighting is over, she cleans up the girl she killed and arranges her respectfully. It's the least she could do after killing the poor brunette.
Afterwards, she approaches Kaeda and begins talking to her. It's mostly small talk, but Arastine is sure to mention that she should stay close to and behind herself at all possible times. She really doesn't want to lose another of the 'beastly folk', as Fuzzy would say.

December, meanwhile, has some work to do. While Miasma was out on their mission, she happened to notice a strange-looking arrow in a very particular place...
And, of course, she must begin to break some of the slaves.
Hmmmm... Shitter's memory says that he can do a rate of about ten per day, humans... Elves probably take longer, 'cause of their long as fuck lives... So... Two or three per day should keep Marla happy. I'll try one or two per for the first bit, see if she's alright with that.
And so December begins to go about her business. She's not happy about it, but she doesn't really see any other choice. Keeping one of the younger elves in mind as the next courier, she begins to break some of the older elves. It will take a bit, but she should have one or two by next morning.


Eisenhilde doesn't care what happens to Kendra, and so will just go along with whatever Tyris wants. Arastine thinks she should be absorbed into Miasma, but failing that should be killed to prevent her torture at the hands of Marla.

Also, I'm probably gonna take over the blonde archer.

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

Letting Tyris take control once they've closed to melee range, Eisenhilde is pleased to see her take down one Acid archer. For the next one, though, Eisenhilde has control. She swings the mace down at the blonde archer, who tries to move out of the way. Instead of dodging, Eisenhilde's inexperience with the mace causes it to deflect off the side of her head and smash into her collarbone and shoulder, causing the unfortunate girl to collapse, bleeding from the mouth.
Hearing Tyris' words, Eisenhilde knows she needs to do something. She approaches the fallen blonde, and carefully places her hand on the blonde's head. Leaning down slowly until her forehead touches the terrified, dying blonde's, she takes the Blade of Hel and stabs it through her hand and into the blonde's heart. The girl's eyes go wide, and then wider as she doesn't die, but in fact begins healing.
...There. She'll recover, and quickly. Do you think you can talk her into sticking with us?
Feeling Tyris' confusion and disbelief, she decides to explain what she's done.
I'm helping her. This girl's life has little value, but if you think she's better off alive than dead... I used the vitality of the elf to heal her. The two of us are entirely mortal now.
After thirty seconds or so, she slowly removes the Blade of Hel from both her hand and the blonde girl's heart. As it leaves, the wounds knit back together before vanishing completely.

Tyris is baffled, "I, uh... Well... You're full of surprises. I was groveling in my own depression. I had no idea you could actually... reverse that. What now, then? I guess we can uh... keep her. I'm sure at this rate she'd be willing to join us."

 

[ViridianShine]

"She lasted the longest out of everyone there," McKayla spoke regarding Kendra to the group, as she knelt down beside the latter to check for injuries, "we're marching into the capital soon, right? Why not see if she isn't willing to join us instead of feeding her up to the wolves, or Marla. Same thing. ...And quit your sniveling, you aren't even injured."

At the same time, McKayla addressed the woman directly, asking her personal questions as the group restrained her. Though she was the one that suggested it, McKayla doesn't trust the woman in the slightest.

Though hidden by the dark color of her robe, her own blood had stained the outfit during this whole scene. Consequences of the several dagger wounds from earlier. She shrugged them off after being given healing from Elendra, but she's considerably more hagged than normal.

 

[Severity]

Name: Bee
Age: 18
Appearance: Shorter than most humans, but not the shortest in Miasma. Her extremely curly blonde hair reaches her shoulders, and her pale figure was envied and lusted after by many back in Kafra. Her cute heart-shaped face didn't help her stay unnoticed either, and neither did her dark blue eyes.
Background: Formerly a serving girl for one of Kafra's nobles, her conscription into Acid Battalion was initially a welcome reprieve from the constant groping and advances of Kafra's noblemen. In Acid Battalion, people left her alone! She finally had a chance to control her own fate, instead of just being an easy fuck for horny noblemen who didn't give her a choice, and maybe a nobleman's mistress later on if she was lucky. In Acid Battalion, she can forge her own fate, and that's far better than she'd ever hoped for.
Soon, though, she adopted a much more fatalistic view of her life. The heavy casualties Acid took led her to the conclusion that her days were numbered, and that there was nothing she could really do except prolong her life haphazardly, one day at a time. So that's what she's been doing.
Weapon: A shortbow
Class: Archer

After her near-death and revival at the hands of Eisenhilde and Tyris, she's quickly joined Miasma. She acts somewhat shy, and doesn't really talk to any of Miasma's people unprompted. Possibly because she's afraid of them, seeing as they killed 18 Acid soldiers and lost only one. They don't seem particularly upset by their loss either, which intimidates her further.
Her current goal is to survive, and maybe endear herself to a few of Miasma's more veteran members. For now, though, she'll be laying low and keeping out of trouble.

 

[ViridianShine]

When she found a moment to herself, McKayla sat down to open her robe and inspect the dagger wounds left behind from the previous battle. The rogue that attacked her leapt in so quickly that McKayla barely had time to cast any of her defensive spells. If that new wolf...looking thing wasn't there, she would have been...

"Tch, tough having a target over your head," McKayla grumbled to herself. The wounds weren't fatal, and had stopped bleeding a while ago, but they still stung deep. She'd probably have to wash her robe when they returned to some kind of base camp.

I'm starting to really get the feeling like you just aren't meant for combat, McKayla.

She felt Toxin would be victorious soon, probably when they had taken over Oakenshield, but would Marla really just let them go? McKayla could barely count the amount of people still from Kafra on two hands. Even that weird mage she had met was dead now, hence the silence, but she figured that death was a long time coming.

And I don't know how I made it this far, but at this rate we're not making it to the end.

Are you giving up? Or do you have an idea? Metaphorically, of course. I already know what you're thinking.

Yeah, I hoped I wouldn't have needed to do this, but...there isn't much choice left.

For Aura's sake, McKayla had to see this to the end. To visit her village and give her family closure. And to that end, she had to do whatever it took. Even if it brought her back to...to...

"Moira," McKayla spoke the dark mage's name as she approached the latter. Moira, poised as always, was resting along the outskirts of the rest of the group again, grooming yet another weakened elf girl. Where did she get this one from?

"My my, if it isn't everyone's favourite, or rather, only cleric. To what do I owe the honor to?" Moira smiled in her usual fashion, with a tone dripping with a mix of mocking and haughtiness as always. McKayla's eyes couldn't help but continuously fall to the elf Moira had dragged along the whole way, still shackled on each limb.

"Were you interested in this?" Moira asked, giving her elf another stroke, "I am aware that you enjoy such pleasures like me, but I am afraid Ginny is not for sale. Would you like advice on capturing your own?"

Yeah, there's the freezing feeling up her spine. Like always.

"I'll pass, thanks," McKayla responded dryly.

"Pity. Were you not going to refer to me as your child as well? I enjoy it when you do that to everyone else. It makes me feel younger."

"There's no need to pretend to be holy around you. You already know better. I just came to ask..." McKayla hesitated, her apprehension showing clearly along her face. They had interacted many times together before, and yet it was still intimidating to come face-to-face with a woman that McKayla had tried to be.

Moira's eyes fell lower down along McKayla's body, "mmm, could it be the injuries you sustained in the previous battle? I must say, I do not plan to sell my services as a bodyguard, but I could kiss those wounds to make you feel...better."

"Pass. Again. I can protect myself..." McKayla paused again, "or...no, I can't, really. I just wanted to ask if you could help me with that."

Moira leaned back, raising an eyebrow, "oh? Now this is interesting. I suppose you have some kind of compensation in mind for my time?"

McKayla bit her tongue, "n-not really. I'm not desperate enough to offer my body again, and I have no intention on joining whatever...scheme you have going again. I was just asking for a favor."

Moira gives a small chuckle, before closing her eyes for a brief moment.

"Maybe this could be fun. Very well, lets see what we can do..."

 

[Skinny73]

Moira discusses McKayla’s options with her. “You already know how to shield yourself, so there’s not much point in teaching you “Cocoon.” Hmm… what about a disabling spell? I have one in mind that I’ve been working on; I call it the Curse of Weakness. The victim is rendered blind, deaf, and mute for a short period. I’ve been practicing it with my pet here…” Moira rubs Ginny’s bare back, and feels the slim redhead shiver at the touch. “Although it appears effective, I’ve had some problems with consistency. Perhaps we could work out the kinks together?”

The cleric hesitates. “Maybe… I already have a spell, “Gravity,” which serves a similar purpose. So far I have not had occasion to use it. What about something a little more… aggressive?”

Moira smiles. “Sounds like you’ve finally decided to come out of your shell. Well, it might do a little damage to your reputation, but I think “Drain Life” may be best suited for your needs. The spell steals the enemy’s vitality and adds it to your own. You can use it to restore your lost stamina or even heal minor wounds. Powerful opponents suddenly lose much of their strength, allowing your allies to finish them off easily. The spell can even snuff out weaker foes completely… if you aren’t careful.”

McKayla nods. She recalls the battle against Shara, back in the elven forest. After Aura shot the formidable ranger in the leg, she was spared from Shara’s counterattack by Moira, using the very spell the mage had just described to her. “Yes, I think that one would do nicely.”

“Excellent.” Standing, Moira takes hold of Ginny’s leash and tugs. The elf scrambles to her feet as quickly as she can with her hands tied behind her back. “Lucky for us, I know someone who would be happy to serve as our test subject. What do you say we excuse ourselves and find a quiet corner to begin your instruction?”

----- ------ ------ ------ ------- -------- ------- --------- ------- -------​

With Ginny as their test dummy, and McKayla healing the elf periodically, Moira attempts to teach McKayla how to cast the “Drain Life” spell. Moira also helps McKayla practice her other, less-used spells like "Gravity" and "Shield" and overall combat skills, so that McKayla has a better grasp on when to use what spell, how to dodge attacks, things like that.

 

[Skinny73]

Hey guys, meet your friendly neighborhood devil-lady:

Name: Bianca

Age: ???

Appearance: Tall and wiry, Bianca is a tiefling (half-demon) with tough carmine skin and solid, obsidian-colored eyes, with no pupil or iris. A pair of leathery bat-like wings sprouts from her shoulder blades, while two stubby red horns poke out from her tousled black hair. Bianca’s deadliest feature is her tail; four foot long, strong, and highly flexible, ending with a vicious, scythe-like blade similar to a scorpion's stinger. Bianca excels at using it in combat together with her wickedly sharp claws.

Background: After the slaughter of Acid Battalion, Rixa scouted out the caverns and discovered Bianca’s hiding place. Despite a tense initial encounter, Rixa quickly recognized in her a kindred spirit. Like the archer, Bianca had been shunned by the elves due to her heritage, and had spent years surviving on her own in the wilds of the elven forest. The tiefling took shelter in the caverns after the fall of Azelea, evading elves and Toxin’s soldiers alike. The two spent some time getting to know one another before Rixa offered to introduce Bianca to Miasma battalion. After careful consideration, the young woman accepted.

Weapons: Scorpion Tail, Claws, and Martial Arts

Class: Rogue

 

[Mentos]

Acid Battalion launches their ambush against Miasma Battalion, but finds themselves woefully inept against what has proven to be one of Toxin’s most elite forces. Their Lieutenant, Kendra, pitifully begs for her life while the soldiers of Miasma loot the Acid corpses for any valuables. Only Arastine shows any real respect for the dead.

While some of the Miasma members want to kill Kendra, Amanda takes charge and decides to spare the girl. If Magatha and Acid want them dead, Kendra could be useful in devising a plan. The group puts her in chains, and leaves the cave, the Acid corpses, and Micci behind.

As the group treks back to Azelea, Moira suddenly clutches her head in pain and falls to the ground. While most are taken aback by this, veterans of Miasma have seen this before. Marla has the ability to temporarily posses the groups magic users, and it appears she’s once again taken control of the group’s premier dark mage. When Moira stands back up, her mannerisms appear different than usual, and she speaks in a tone much unlike what the group has become used to from the haughty mage.

“Oh, you’re all still alive? I must admit that confuses me. I thought you’d all have died, especially since I see that bitch Magatha wearing MY CROWN!” Moira/Marla yells.

The group is taken aback by the sudden presence of Marla, until Amanda steps forward and explains the situation. As she details to Marla that Magatha launched a sneak attack and tried to kill them, Moira/Marla bites her lip until blood comes out, before punching a nearby tree.

“That dirty, rotten, no good, amateur BITCH! WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?!” - screams the possessed mage.

Moira/Marla’s lips and knuckles are both heavily bleeding, though it’s apparent Marla feels no pain from this interaction. While Amanda mentioned the fact that Miasma suffered only one casualty in the skirmish, this doesn’t appear to placate Marla in the slightest.

The mage huffs and puffs before regaining her composure and brushing her robes.


“Well...perhaps this is for the best. We only have one battle left ahead of us after all. I guess now is the best time to deal with Magatha after all.”

Moira/Marla walks up to Kendra, slams her face into the dirt, and slams her heel onto the back of the warrior’s head.

“Magatha thinks she’s hot shit getting the jump on your does she? Well don’t worry. We’ll get our response. But I can’t have all of you just waltzing back into Azelea. As far as that whore is concerned, she probably thinks you all died back in that cave. And she’ll be expecting this little bitch to report back to her any second now.” Moira/Marla digs her heel further into Kendra’s head, eliciting a sharp scream.

“Go back into that cave and strip those soldiers you killed. Escort our “friend” here back into Azelea. You’ll get an audience with Magatha for sure. I know her better than anyone, and she’ll want to hear how you all “suffered and begged for mercy”. Like I said, we can’t make a big scene, she’ll be expecting to have suffered casualties.” Moira/Marla stands and studies the group carefully.

“13 of you will do. All of the Rogues should come. You’ll best be able to land a sneak attack on her. Amanda will come as well. As for the rest of the group, choose wisely. Magatha is one of Toxin’s most powerful mages. Even I would have a difficult time in a one on one fight with her. Choose your soldiers carefully. When you spring your ambush, I’ll join you in the fight. Don’t think you’ll get off scot free from this endeavor. Magatha won’t rest until you’re all dead. See you back at Azelea~”

With that, Marla’s presence vanishes. Moira falls to her knees, clutching her knuckles, and begins vomiting, the group eventually catches her up to speed.

A group of 13 to serve as Kendra’s “Acid” escort. With 7 rogues, and Amanda, that leaves 5 open spots. Some may be more eager to volunteer than others, and Amanda may even conscript the 5 soldiers herself. Most people might find fighting a high level dark mage as suicidal. For those with more murderous and treasonous thoughts in their mind, this may prove a very exceptional learning experience...

————————————-
For the next mission, all the rogues, Amanda, and 5 Miasma members will lead an ambush on Magatha. Choose your 5 soldiers, either through volunteering or Amanda choosing. If more than 5 people want to go, Amanda has the final say. This will be a 5/5 difficulty mission!

 

[Severity]

Arastine steps forwards.
"I'll go."
Then, she thinks of something, and decides to 'volunteer' someone else.
"It would be best if we brought along a cleric to heal. McKayla? Elendra? It's one of you."
I don't really care which one, but having a cleric is... very important.
"Oh, and I'll be keeping my gear. If anyone asks, I took it from a Miasma paladin we killed."

Bee makes herself as inconspicuous as possible at the edges of the group. She really, really, really doesn't want to go back to Acid after surrendering to Miasma. Marla seems to care more about her forces than Magatha, so... maybe she'll have a chance to live if she sticks with them?
Remembering the words of one of the mansion guards, a former soldier, who she often spoke to in her scant free time back in Kafra, she shivers.
Never volunteer for anything. Stick with the tough ones, don't hold your principles higher than your life, and chances are you'll make it out alright.
Not having any principles to fight for certainly made part of it easier...

While looting the bodies after saving Bee, Eisenhilde found a nice chainmail shirt on one of the archers killed by the summoned snakes. It fits nicely, and so she puts it on under a layer of her robes. Now that she's down to normal again, it can't hurt.
She decides to keep an eye on Bee. The archer is her responsibility, after all. And maybe the cute blonde will be a little more... open... to things than Tyris.

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

"I know what you're thinking and stop it," Tyris thinks. "You didn't save the archer just to make her your plaything. Poor scared thing just needs friends here. Don't know if we can provide that, but we're one now, so don't think I ain't keen on some of your more selfish desires..." Tyris also angsts some more, complaining about how, "Marla just sends us here and there, and we all slowly die out. Things wont change now. We're resigned to our fate." But also stays as caring for others as she had been with, "But now, I say we volunteer to go. I won't force you because I'd be putting you at risk, but I've we're pretty powerful fused together, and us going might save whatever other poor sap who might get drafted with them, so I'd consider it if you aren't afraid."

Astrid actually does try to befriend Bee though, being pretty much the only friendly face to welcome her aboard. "Hey, I'm sure things are tough for you right now, but stick with me. You'll be alright," she told her with a slight smile, taking her hand after noticing her shying away.

Kaeda has had a constant scowl for quite a while. she lowly growls, "The witch sends us to death once again, but to another witch," to no one in particular.

Kimiko is whistling unsettlingly and kind of annoying people.

Beth is still trying to convince the others the benefits of taking Kendra's arm and grafting it onto her stump. "We don't really need her now, right?!" she implores, desperately.

 

[ViridianShine]

"I'll go," McKayla spoke up to Arastine, "this may be too difficult for Elendra, if we fight with only one cleric. I'll have the best chance surviving with the target on my head."

You willingly volunteered? The voice in her head erupted. I did not expect that out of you! What happened to survival?

What do you mean? Do you expect us to survive the final battle if we can't even hold our own against some petty commander? Besides, look at who else is stepping up. I'd stick with Arastine and the other veterans before I return to Marla again.

...Hmm, yes. I don't mind inhabiting Magatha once you are all dead. I'm sure she will be more agreeable than Marla.

McKayla glanced slightly over at Anko and Yoshiko. Then at Amanda.

All of us? Dead? Don't be silly. There are only a few people I still want dead, after all.

McKayla spends the rest of the time interacting with anyone who joined on the mission. She occasionally sneaks glances at Moira and Astrid, curious if they will join as well, but does not say anything to either of them.

...

Kuu'rin, meanwhile, doesn't seem to care at all where she ended up. It's rather unknown if she was even paying attention to Marla/Moira's entire act. Though, since Kuu'rin seems to be enjoying talking to, or rather bothering, all the other rogues most of the time, she'll probably follow the right group anyway.

 

[Skinny73]

After she empties the contents of her stomach onto the forest floor, Moira wipes her mouth and studies her bloody knuckles. "Gods, I hate that woman," Moira mutters.

Once the others explain the situation to her, Moira also volunteers for the attack on Magatha. She figures with so many of them going to face the mage, their rebellion is skewered anyway if the mission is a disaster. Her goal is to keep as many members of the plot alive as possible while learning as much as she can from the battle. Plus, she wants to be the first (or second, rather, after Marla) in line to pick Magatha's corpse for valuables.

While the group strips the fallen Acid troops for loot and disguises, Bianca gazes at Bee, the other new recruit. Bianca has spent her whole life within the confines of the elven forest and knows little about humans; as far as she can tell there's hardly any difference between them and the elves. The young archer seems to Bianca the prettiest among the group, as beautiful as any elf she'd ever seen, and Bianca can't help but to stare at her. When Bee catches her looking, Bianca quickly looks away; she remembers well how badly people tend to respond when she pays any kind of attention to them.

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

Astrid has a private discussion with Moira. "Listen, after everything that's happened I'm through with wanting to be a leader. We've lost too much for me to be stubborn anymore. I just wanted to say you'd handle the role well and I don't want to fight over that anymore. But what's really important is that I trust you'll bring back any valuable information from the trip? We're almost out of time and I currently fear for the fates of all of us. Keep tabs with Arastine too, we're in this together and though I won't be going I want you both to return safely, hopefully with good news."

Kaeda gets lonely being forced in her cage every night and wishes someone would stay with her longer than just to drop off her meals every day.

 

[Severity]

Grateful that someone in Miasma is friendly, Bee gladly takes Astrid's hand and smiles back. She nods silently, and they awkwardly part.
Later, Bee blushes, seeing the tall red-skinned girl looking at her... maybe? It's difficult to tell, since she doesn't have irises or pupils. Still... The red girl is very pretty, in an exotic, intimidating, amazon-ish sort of way, and so Bee makes a decision.
On the way back to wherever they've camped, I'll... try to talk with her a bit. I wonder if she can feel her horns...?
Even later, noticing Eisenhilde's observation of her, she makes a mental note to ask the friendly rapier-wielding girl or the scorpion-tailed girl about her savior.

Internally, Eisenhilde sighs.
I was hoping that we would be able to learn from the others, but I guess you're right. I'll volunteer if nobody else does, I suppose.
Or do you want to?
She smiles to herself for a moment.
Oh, and by the way - I wasn't thinking about having the pretty blonde be my 'plaything'. I might ask her if she's willing to... try some stuff with me, but I wouldn't do anything without her consent. Lady Hel is a goddess of death, not rape.
Eisenhilde (and Tyris) keeps a bit of distance from Bee, staying close enough to observe but far enough away that she's not immediately noticeable.

Finally remembering Kaeda one night, Arastine remembers to go and talk to her for a bit, maybe let her out if she seems agreeable. There doesn't really seem to be a particular reason that the wolf-girl is stuck in the cage other than nobody having let her out yet, so she'll probably be joining the rest of Miasma in "freedom" soon. The night after the attack on Magatha, in fact.

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

Internally, Eisenhilde sighs.
I was hoping that we would be able to learn from the others, but I guess you're right. I'll volunteer if nobody else does, I suppose.
Or do you want to?
She smiles to herself for a moment.
Oh, and by the way - I wasn't thinking about having the pretty blonde be my 'plaything'. I might ask her if she's willing to... try some stuff with me, but I wouldn't do anything without her consent. Lady Hel is a goddess of death, not rape.
Eisenhilde (and Tyris) keeps a bit of distance from Bee, staying close enough to observe but far enough away that she's not immediately noticeable.

Finally remembering Kaeda one night, Arastine remembers to go and talk to her for a bit, maybe let her out if she seems agreeable. There doesn't really seem to be a particular reason that the wolf-girl is stuck in the cage other than nobody having let her out yet, so she'll probably be joining the rest of Miasma in "freedom" soon. The night after the attack on Magatha, in fact.

Tyris tells Eisenhilde, "Sorry, I took your dirty thoughts I sensed as inherently malicious, but I shoulda known better. And I hadn't expected you'd agree so easily with going along. You're a pretty good person Eisenhilde. Moreso than I'd expected before joining your body, no offense. Ain't we a pair? Some lowly bandit scum and a death cultist... in the same body! And we're agreeing to support our allies by risking our own skin. Hahah... Never thought I'd turn out as such a softy. Maybe before we get there I'll even tell Arastine that ol' Tyris is still kickin' sorta! I mean, I was mad at her before, but I still know she's trustworthy enough."

Kaeda was sitting around bored, not tired enough to sleep yet, but nothing much else to do in her cage. She hated being sent out to do the bidding of the witch who entrapped her to begin with, but she still preferred going out on missions with the others since she had room to stretch her limbs, though she was slightly disheartened by the fact the the other girls still seemed to view her more as the team's attack-dog than anything. No one really seemed to speak to her other than Astrid occasionally, who had seemed to have been keeping up morale of some of the outcasts recently. But then Kaeda saw Arastine approach her. She'd seen her a bit on missions and wandering camp, but she didn't really know much about any of her allies since she'd rarely gotten chances to interact with them. She was skeptical since it wasn't a meal time yet, so she had no idea what this one was here for. Her ears perked up and she sniffed at her through the bars to get a feel for her. "I smell a bit of wolf on you," she says, confused. "Why? You don't look to be one of my kind."

 

[Skinny73]

When Amanda puts out her initial call for volunteers, Rixa says nothing. The last time she volunteered for a mission, it went... poorly. However, after thinking on it, Rixa decides to join the mission for the sake of her new friend Bianca, who she knows has no choice in the matter.

During the march back to camp, Bianca walks off to the side, parallel to the main body of troops. The tiefling is still wary of her newfound allies and worried about offending them with her presence. As she walks through the forest, she hears someone approach. She turns to see Bee coming up to walk alongside her. The archer gives her a soft smile that is simultaneously reassuring and nerve-inducing. "Hello. Mind if I join you?" Bee asks.

Bianca shakes her head. The two walk in an awkward silence for awhile. Bee is the first to break it. "So... I was wondering if you knew Eisenhilde? Sorry, I'm a bit new to Miasma."

"Me too, actually," Bianca confesses with a chuckle. "I don't know much about anyone here except Rixa, just what Rixa has told me about them. According to her, Eisenhilde is... pretty weird, but not too bad."

Bee nods. "That explains a few things." After a couple more steps, she adds, "It sounds like you and Rixa are close."

"She's a good friend," Bianca replies. "I wouldn't be here without her."

Bee gives her another smile that sends Bianca's stomach fluttering. "I know what you mean."

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

When Astrid is asked by Bee about Eisenhilde, Astrid says, "I barely know her... Well, I know... part of her. But that part isn't really 'Eisenhilde' so to speak... Er, well, it's complicated. I barely get it myself and I've already probably said too much," shying away. Astrid later, when talking to a few of the remaining potential mutineers, says, "What if we tell Magatha that we don't like Marla either? Then we might have a powerful ally! ...And another crazy witch bossing us around, and the idea's stupid anyway. Ignore that." She looks a bit disheartened despite trying to keep the spirits of others up recently, partially trying to take on the role of poor Minerva, who Astrid hoped was in a better place now. Of course her death was a little while ago now, but the missing cheer, peppiness, and bright smile of the harpy left a gaping hole in group morale.

Kimiko has a dastardly plan. She's a total lapdog to Toxin's cause, but has no allegiance to Marla at all, only recently being transferred to Miasma Battalion after all. She has no allegiance to Magatha either though, so she has no horse in this race. But alas, she believes her deity, Erotus would far prefer his devout disciple to turn the tables. Oh what mischief, oh what a divinely glorious death would it be to slit her our Miasma teammates throats when they least expect it and team up with the enemy? Because after all, neither side is truly an enemy anyway, both are servants of Toxin, and Erotus would be quite pleased with her response. Kimiko acts unsettlingly cheerful around camp but people are used to her being an oddball anyway, so they don't pay it much mind. In her mind however, she's picturing each and every one of them dying horrible deaths with a look of betrayal in their eyes, and the immense approval of Erotus. Kimiko was aware she might die in the process but didn't fear death, figuring she was devout enough to become one of Erotus' succubi after her life ends. In other words, Kimiko has utterly lost her marbles, that is if she ever had any marbles to begin with.

So yeah when the next mission begins and they arrive at their destination... Kimiko will drop her facade of being a team player and immediately swap sides to the enemy team. I'm terrible, I know.

 

[Severity]

"I'm from a place very far away, where werewolves and humans lived together. After a while, the two groups became one. I am a descendant of both werewolves and humans! So that's probably why you smell some wolf on me."
Smiling, Arastine opens the door of Kaeda's cage to let her out.
"It's wrong to keep an innocent person trapped like that. I... Had a friend who would've wanted me to let you free. So... Where are you from? What led you here?"

After Bee's questions to the two Miasma members go... relatively unanswered, she decides to approach the pretty red girl.
"I don't know if you saw, but... I almost died. That woman, there?" She points towards Eisenhilde "She almost killed me, then she saved me. Neither of the people I asked seem to know why. I'm... scared of approaching her.
A-anyway, is it okay if I ask a question about you? I've never seen anyone like you before..."
The look in Bee's eyes tells Bianca that this is, in addition to wholly positive, not entirely because of her being a Tiefling.
After a few questions and a bit of touching (horn and tail mostly), Bee asks something new.
"Um... Are all Tieflings as beautiful as you?" She speaks quickly, obviously very nervous about her question. Bee's gaze darts around nervously as she waits for a response.

Bee might volunteer to go on the mission. Just to stay with Bianca though.

 

[dinomoneymaiden]

"I'm a simple wanderer. That's all," Kaeda says. She looks back and forth, unsure whether to leave the cage, but does so anyway, yearning for a bit of freedom. "Are you sure? I don't think I'm supposed to be roaming freely. Been told I'm a dangerous wild animal... so I guess I'm not trusted. They're the real animals. Someone caught me while I was napping out in the forest. Choked me out, though I got a few good scrapes on them, and next thing I knew I was in a cage and a slave to some witch... you seem nice though." She paused before narrowing her eyes and growling, "I still don't know who it was that dragged me here. My back was turned the whole time. So... if you see anyone who's side appears to have been clawed a bit recently... let me know."

 

[Skinny73]

Bianca felt her cheeks warm at Bee's question, though with her skin tone she knew no one looking would be able to tell. "Ah, well... "beautiful" isn't really the word most people use. As for how I "stack up," uh... I don't know. I've never met another tiefling.

Bee frowned. "Really? What about your parents?"

Bianca looked away, down the forest path. "I've never met them. They gave me up as soon as I was born. Sister Deirdre, the priestess who ran the orphanage, said they were just regular elves. Apparently my, uh... "heritage" tends to skip a generation or two." Bianca kicked a small stone that lay in the path. It went sailing through the air until it rebounded off a tree. "I've been told my birth mother was quite scandalized, when she first laid eyes on me."

Bee winced. "I'm sorry," she said. Carefully, the young archer took Bianca's hand. Bianca blinked down at their intertwined fingers, then back up to Bee's gentle smile. "Whoever your mother was, she missed out."

Bianca simply smiled back.