FEF: Verdant Wings (lC)

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

*Outside the Dining Hall*

Reynauld had more or less fallen asleep standing upright as Sherwyn had expected. He was quite the lazy fellow but... lt was hard to call him a bad man. He was about to be awoken though and Sherwyn about to get a scare they weren't prepared for. One of the knights had returned from the field, but... she wasn't walking back. She was running. Heavy of breath she was running from something as fast as she could move in that armour. She was clutching her side something fierce, Sherwyn couldn't see why but, was sure that it was due to a terrible injury.

She lost focus for a second, seeing Sherwyn standing there, in in that split second, lost her footing and crashed to the floor. Her armour made a horrid crescendo as she crashed into the cold stone. She was about halfway across the hall, and soon it was clear what she was running from. A giant man wielding a wicked axe peeled around the corner. lt was adorned with hellish visages, and demonic imagery. Something more than a rando bandit. He was donned in dark robes, hiding all of his form with the long flowing garment. All that was visible was the hand clutching that... damnable axe. He made to strike at the woman knight, one Sherwyn would know as Petunia. She was a young girl... the newest knight to their cause and the youngest as well. Even younger than Lyle. Sherwyn was sure he was about to watch her life be snuffed out.
 

Spoiler

 

But that wasn't about to happen. Another axe flew quickly to block the weapon much simpler in design, but a sturdy weapon no doubt. lt was the axe of Reynauld. Sherwyn wasn't sure how Reynauld moved that fast or when he awoke, but he was there now when he was needed. Clearly, what Sherwyn knew about Reynauld was true. He might not have the best work ethic, but he was there when it counted. The wild knight pushed back the attacker a scowl on his face.

"How about you fight someone who's actually got a chance, instead of picking on children? Have you no honor?"

The figure merely laughed in response readied that devilish axe, but he wasn't laughing long as he rose the axe to strike sudddenly... it changed. The false face in it's design... lt's eye opened. A Bloodshot red was the colour of the eyeball, and it's pupil a deep amethyst purple. lt's sighed, one of relief... it was unsettling. The man started to scream in abject horror suddenly out of nowhere. The knights noticed... that his arm was still above his head, stopped midswing. The rest of his body was still moving and clearly writhing in pain... but the arm that held the axe couldn't move. And then... it started talking.

"Time's up, our contract is complete. l will take my due now." lt said, it's horrid voice sounded much calmer than one would've imagined. The being even sounded... bored. The screaming soon stopped as the head of the axe snapped up and devoured the man's entire body in one fell swoop. lt saw the others in the room, and sighed. "Ah... l'm sorry you had to witness that." it sounded genuine, truly sorry for what had just transpired. "lt wasn't meant for your eyes. l shall leave you in peace rather than remain here for another sinner to fall prey. l sense that you are good people so, l will not let thee face the same fate." and the with those words, the axe disappeared, desolving into a cloud of ash.

Reynauld stood there in disbelief... he turned back to Sherwyn. "Swiftwind, what the hell is happening?" Sherwyn wouldn't find any answers... not from within. The only person who'd have any clue would be the young knight in training, Petunia. Shewyn would have to awaken her and try. Reynauld just stood with his axe at the ready, peering around for anymore enemies to approach.

[krim]

After watching the scene go down in front of them, Sherwyn was, to tell the truth, scared out of their mind. "What the hell was that thing?! Magic? It has to be magic...there's no way..."  they thought before replying  "I don't know...I don't know if I WANT to know. That was...insane. Lucky. But insane." Their mind was still reeling from the encounter when they remembered Petunia. "We need to wake her up. I don't think there would be just the one. And where's Commander Roland? If he's still out there somewhere..." they grabbed Petunia's arm and tried to wake her up. Had she taken a hit from that thing? They called into the banquet hall "HEALER? Does anyone here know healing?" 

[rokubiraijuu]

When Coel told him to sit down, he almost thought there had to be a catch. There's always a catch. Just eat and enjoy himself? What about all the other servants back there still preparing stuff? ( Not that he's going to complain about being let off the hook, but it's a little odd. ) He opens his mouth to ask—

 

But then seems to think better of it, and just smiles graciously, the picture of courtesy and obedience. "Of course, Lord Coel. Thank you for this opportunity. I'll be sure to enjoy it."

 

His expression slightly drops, though, when he hears someone call behind him, and when he turns, he sees a boy looking up at him and gesturing him over to an empty seat. Hm. Seems friendly. Though that does little for his reluctance, and he takes a moment to appraise both the boy and the others in the immediate nearby seats with a calculating look before making his way over.

 

"Guess I'll just help mys— "

 

He's halfway to depositing a roll on the plate set before him when a commotion rising up from the entryway catches his attention and he watches, with mild surprise changing to confusion to alarm on his face, as the bizarre scene unfolds. And then it's — whatever it was or had transpired — gone, leaving behind a peculiar, suspended kind of silence in the hall that tells Lenny that he hadn't just had some stroke and imagined that whole thing. "The hell?"

 

There isn't a whole lot of time to be confused about it.

 

He's up out of the chair he'd just sat down in less than thirty seconds ago, grabbing a stave he'd propped against the back of the chair. Not much life left in it after that sous-chef's cleaver accident earlier in the morning, but it'd do.

 

"Stand aside! I'm a doctor!" His voice carries despite his small size as he emerges from the throng of people, a look too eager for the situation on his face. He crouches beside the young knight's form, bracing the stave over her. "Let's see what juice this has left in it."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Luckily, it seemed there was enough magic left in that staff, the horrible gash on her side began to knit shut. Those nearby could tell just how bad the injury was... lt had bit deep into her side so far one was unsure how she'd even made it here alive. Her armour was all but befouled by the blow, it certainly would have made walking much harder and it was clear that at places it was digging into her skin enough to cause residual wounds. lt was a rough sight and one that was hardly promising for what was occurring. Petunia suddenly started awake, jolting up from the floor out of breath and ragged. Clearly startled her eyes were darting around trying to discern what was happening. She saw Sherwyn standing there and she grabbed for the tall knight. She nearly pulled them to the ground with her... either she was freigteningly strong or it was the adrenaline. Either way she still seemed to be scared out of her mind. 
 

She seemed like she couldn't manage to gather her thoughts like too much was happening at once.

 

Coel looked to the others gathered in the in the dining hall, and put up a hand to make sure no one else would run forward. "We need to give her some space. Whatever happened she's not in a state where crowding her is a good idea. Let Sherwyn handle talking to her, they are a familiar presence. Leonard, make sure that break in the armour doesn't cause her further injury." Coel remained as calm as he possibly could. He knew that if he started to show signs of worry it'd not be long until his charges would begin to panic. Tensions were already high.

Reynauld kept on watch, holding his axe. His knuckles were bright white.

[rokubiraijuu]

"Tch. Hey, knight, keep her still. Do whatever you need to do," he says to Sherwyn, leaning back to avoid the girl's flailing. She was just going to hurt herself more like this, or undo all the preliminary healing he'd just done. There's no way he can take a look at that armor while she's having a fit.

[krim]

Nodding to nobody in particular, Sherwyn held Petunia's arms in a position above her head so she couldn't hurt herself any further. "Petunia...listen to me. I need you to calm down if you want us to help you. You ran all the way here. Can you tell us what happened?" They weren't sure if they were doing this right or not, but it was all they could think of to say. Petunia was one of the newer knights, and they hadn't really talked to her much before.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Sherwyn's voice was the more effective part of their methods for sure, further saying her name. She looked at the knight though this time he saw in her eyes recognition, not just pure blind terror. lt grounded her back in reality, giving her a way to start and try to recall. Her eyes were still darting around the room, and her body was visibly tense, but she stopped struggling and moving. "Sherwyn..." she choked out after a time. She tried to adjust her position on the ground, but she winced in pain. The jagged metal from the break of her armour was clearly digging into her side. At this point it'd probably be best to remove it but that'd not prove an easy task. Armour was hard enough getting off without it being severely damaged.

She seemed to just sit there trying to process everything that was happening. "The village it's under attack... shadowy figures. They summoned something in the woods. Sir Roland is still out there! We evacuated the townsfolk but... he's still out there."

[rokubiraijuu]

Once the girl calms down, he's able to move close again and take a better took. What he sees isn't pretty. The metal is bent out of shape and gnarled, the bit where it's been punched in jamming sharply into her side.

 

" . . . We have to take it off," he says decisively after just a couple seconds, looking at Sherwyn again before beginning to find the places where the apparatus fastened and buckled, only half-listening to what the girl's saying. It's something he's done before — back then, they got the occasional injured person, especially when he was in town, and Lenny'd learned a thing or two about battlefield first aid just from watching him. This isn't much compared to the guy who'd been so badly burned that his armor had melded to his skin.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Petunia immediately flushed bright red. She turned to her head to face Leonard but didn't even make eye contact with him, just kept looking down. She squeaked out a response however, one that took quite a bit of forcing. "ln... ln front of all these people. That's embarrassing... but l guess... l guess it's needed. Okay. Sherwyn can you... can you turn around or look away please..." she was still red as a tomato.

[krim]

Sherwyn would've grinned beneath their helmet, had the situation not been what it was. Well, that was certainly something they weren't used to being asked. "Yes...yes of course."  they muttered and turned to Reynauld. "I'm worried about the Commander. If he's still out there with those things...I don't know if even someone as strong as him could take them on by himself." it depressed them to admit that, but it was probably true. They could tell that those...things... were stronger than anything they had fought against in training, both back home and here. "You have seniority, my friend. I know we're meant to be guards but... it feels wrong to just leave him.  What do you think we should do?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Well, l'm going to get the servants out of here. They'll need escort to make sure they are safe. l'll take Petunia with, she shouldn't be fighting in all of this after that injury even if it's mended. She'd be out there with no armour to defend herself." Sherwyn would note that Reynauld's typical easygoing tone and manner of speaking seemed to be absent entirely. Perhaps a welcome change of pace for the knight... He continued shortly however. "l'd hate to leave the Commander. l hope that he's still out there and that you can help him yet still. But l can't say it'd not be dangerous. lt's up to everyone here l guess."

[Aurorix]

As soon as Lyle saw that.. thing attacking He immediately stood up in-front of Lyla. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, even if he had to fight using his fists. Even when the man disappeared Lyle kept his guard up.  "Sis, stay close to me! I won't let anyone lay a finger on you!" Not blinking for a moment he listened into what they were talking about and was shocked to hear that Roland was still defending the town and alone no less. He clenched his fist in frustration,  "Like hell am I gonna stand back here and do nothing! Roland's out there risking his life and I won't leave him to die! He promised me a duel and by the gods I'll make him keep that promise even if I have to tear out the throats of those heathens who would dare attack such a peaceful town!" He began to stomp out towards door. He needed to get to Stella and his lance ASAP, but before he got too far he turned back and spoke with vigor,  "I'm going to go save Roland whether or not you all are coming and Lyla I want you to stay with Sherwyn. If something happened to you I don't know what I would do."

[Chevaleresse]

Morgan had been slowly creeping toward the scene with Petunia as it had progressed, curiosity besting shyness as the town eccentric tried to get a view of the unusual sight. Something less than expected, though, was Morgan speaking up a second time. 

"I might be able to tell something, if it's shadowy figures. . . There's also a spell I have that might be helpful if all of them are like this."

[Twinwolf]

Renee got to her feet, not looking at her parents, but looking at Morgan.

 

"That means you'll be going out, doesn't it." she says matter-of-factly. Her hand goes towards the sword on her belt. "I can't exactly let you go alone, can I?"

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"I-I'm going too!" Lyla protested. She had been quietly shaking with fear, but her brother's step forward gave her all the courage she needed. "I can fight, and you need someone to watch your back Big Bro. You can't make me stay behind and you know it. We'll protect our home together."

[rokubiraijuu]

"Heh, don't worry little bird, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about." 

 

But Lenny's light, cocky demeanor belies the precision with which he sets about undoing the clasps and buckles that keep Petunia's armor in place. He's vaguely aware of a few of the others at the table now starting to crowd around, insisting something about going out in search for some guy. Must be a knight friend of theirs.

 

It takes the better part of a minute, but finally the armor comes loose around her and he's able to pull it off with a bit of difficulty — heavy metal plating is still a challenge for his skinny arms. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he takes a closer look at where the armor's dug into her side and brings the stave forward again. A hand braced against the carved wood again brings forward its remaining healing powers, knitting together the skin and muscle that the armor had pierced.

[Swordstar]

Gavan sighed as people began jumping up and volunteering. When Lyla jumped up, he winced, and slowly got up from the table.

 

"I guess I may as well go then. I know the area and how to move around it well enough. Might be able to get the drop on these shadowy figures."

[Aurorix]

Lyle sighed, as much as he wanted to protest against his sister coming that'd take up time that they don't have. That time could be used to save Roland's life.  "Alright, fine. Just promise me if things get hairy you'll get to safety."

[krim]

Sherwyn was surprised to see so many people volunteer. Lyle made sense, as a friend and student of Roland, but they barely knew the rest of them.  "Someone...could very well end up dead from this if we don't do things carefully."  they said grimly before moving their attention to the kid with the white hair. "You can scout out a bit ahead of us, right? This armor makes too much noise to do that well, and you're right that getting the drop on them would be advantageous." Then, louder, for everyone to hear "The rest of you who wish to fight, gather your weapons and meet me outside. The old villages were the last place they were seen. We leave as soon as possible." Nobody could tell, but beneath the armor they were nearly shaking with anticipation. They had always wanted a post greater than guard duty but...they had never expected something like this.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Coel chuckled under his breath. Fate, the Arcana, what were they up to? He had made this village to avoid the greater machinations of the world... but he knew they stood now in the center of something. What... he had no idea. He held out his staff and looked at it. The Hierophant's Grasp. A staff with a modest healing power, one he had from travels past. Perhaps... perhaps this was ordained. He held something in his very hands connected to The Arcana... or at the least supposedly. Perhaps it was inevitable. He sighed. For now it was not worth fretting over. An old friend was now in need of his assistance.

"We shall find Sir Roland, or at the very least we shall try. We cannot just abandon a man who would so such for our sake without least an effort to repay his gamble. So, l shall be going. Nothing shall sway me from this, Sir Roland is a dear friend." Coel said resting both his hands upon Hierophant's Grasp. "l just hope the Arcana does not hold a cruel fate for us in their hands."

Brinda on the other hand moved over to Leonard. She smiled, the kid was good at healing magic, enough to have removed such a wound as if it were nothing. She was almost jealous... but she knew such magic was never in her grasp and never would be. But... she'd lie to be able to heal rather than just destroy. Regardless of the treatment though, Petunia would still need rest and even if she didn't her armour was in no shape for battle. "l'll take it from here young one. l know how to heal, not with magic, simpler methods. Ones that still prove useful time to time. She'll be in good hands, do not worry." Brinda said lifting Petunia to her feet. "Careful little flower... otherwise you'll rupture the work of our young master here."  Brinda left helping Petunia brace herself and walk. She'd need the support for now.

Reynauld shouted after the two "Go on ahead and round up the servants. l'm sure they'll listen to you Brinda, they'll probably question me giving a serious order." Reynauld seemed a bit downtrodden upon admitting that, it seemed he full well knew his shortcomings. He took a deep breath, centering himself. What he had saw, shook him... he started to question just what being a knight meant but he didn't let it get to him. He dropped his axe back into it's sling for the moment and moved over to Sherwyn now. "Swiftwind... l better see you again someday. l'm not going to forgive you if you die here. We've got great things to do still, you and l." He said giving Sherwyn a mighty thump to the shoulder. "That goes for the rest of you too. lf things get too dangerous... run. Do not stay and die here. l know he is not here to say it, but Roland would not want you to die for his sake. He is a good man, one that l'm sure was fully aware he could be giving his life for us to live on another day. Remember that sacrifice. You have your Lord to think about as well, remember this." and with that he began to charge off in the direction that Brinda had headed with Petunia.

[rokubiraijuu]

When Brinda steps up, even Lenny knows better than to argue with her on this one. And besides, he's a little dizzy as he rises to his feet again, wobbling a little before righting himself. After coming here, it's been a long time since he's had to use a stave on anything much bigger than a scrape, and that injury had taken a little more out of him than he'd anticipated.

 

Not that he'd show it. He looks around at the rest of the gathered group, all gung-ho and raring to rush to their deaths. "Well, my job's done," he announces to no one in particular. "Have fun with the shadow guys; I think I'll enjoy some more of the food."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Leonard, don't you think your abilities would prove useful for our upcoming fight? Healing magic is not so easily come by after all and you do have quite the talent. lf we do manage to find Sir Roland l'm sure he'd be in need of your talents." Coel said, not really... forcefully as to say that Leonard would have to follow. But it did seem he'd prefer for him to come along. 

[rokubiraijuu]

Half-turned on his heel already, Lenny freezes at Coel's request. His shoulders slump slightly, and he has half a mind to ask why it has to be him, of all the healers Coel probably can call on a dime.

 

But just as quickly as it comes, it goes, and he turns around, assessing the look on the Lord's face before finally breaking into a smirk and giving a self-assured huff. "I don't know what you've got in mind, but at least this'll be interesting." Apparently re-invigorated, he falls in with the rest of the group. "All right, never fear, for Lenny is here, and I'll take care of you whether you like it or not. Let's go!"

[Sentient Bowtie]

Coel's faithful attendant takes his place at the lord's side with grim determination.

 

 

"I'm right here with you, my lord," Blake declares, his voice a hard steel. "No matter what happens, I shall protect you."

 

"Whatever these things are, they won't be a danger to us - or anyone else - for much longer." With that he loosens one of the knives hidden in his sleeves and grips it tightly, every nerve on edge.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Well then let's tarry no longer. Whatever awaits us beyond Calmary's walls... it certainly shall not wait forever."

 

Upon exit, the group found themselves more or less surrounded. There was many figures lurking within the shadows. Eyes that peered on them from seemingly everywhere. lt took awhile before any of them emerged. Some of the figures walked into the remaining torchlight of the lanterns that had gone unshattered. They all wore darkened robes, cloth woven from the night around them. Glitter sparkled on their surface like stars in the night sky. They held to bear quite a differing amount of weapons, but chief among them were swords for the time being. They weren't some common bandits surely. They seemed rather uninterested in words. They just stare weapons drawn ready for a battle. Roland is nowhere in sight... 

Objectives: Survive 5 turns.
Loss Condition: all player controlled character and Coel are downed.

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Players + Player NPCs: Health, Location, Inventory

 

Leonard: (15/15), (E7), [Heal (30/30), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Lyla: (18/18), (D7), [Slim Sword (35/35), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Lyle: (22/22), (D6), [Slim Lance (35/35), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Sherwyn: (20/20), (E9), [Slim Lance (35/35), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Morgan: (19/19), (D9), [Flux (40/40), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Gavan: (20/20), (E6), [Training Bow (35/35) ,Vulnerary (3/3)]

Blake: (16/16), (E10), [iron knife (45/45), Vulnerary (3/3)]

Renee: (18/18), (D10), [Slim Sword (35/35), Vulnerary (3/3)]

 

Coel: (30/30) (C8), [Hierophant's Grasp (-/-)]

 

Enemies: Health, Location, Inventory

 

Initiate 1: (20/20), (I7), [Slim Sword (35/35)]

Initiate 2: (20/20), (I9), [Slim Sword (35/35)]

Initiate 3: (20/20), (L7), [Slim Sword (35/35)]

Initiate 4: (20/20), (L9), [Wooden Sword (50/50)]

Scout 1: (18/18), (J5), [Training Bow (35/35)]

Scout 2: (18/18), (J12), [Training Bow (35/35)]

Pupil 1: (18/18), (N4), [Flux (40/40)]

Pupil 2: (18/18), (N12), [Worm (40/40) Vulnerary{droppable} (3/3)]

Drifter 1: (17/17), (O6), [iron knife (45/45)]

Drifter 2: (17/17), (O10), [iron knife (45/45)]

 

EXP: 0/100