Private Eastern Brisshal Blood and Birdsong

[Ishtar]

Her arms didn't hurt anymore. It was strange. That dull ache she'd carried in her limbs for years, even after escaping, it was gone. Undiluted by the phantom ache, the wind ran over her skin in a gentle caress. She smiled, raising her head and taking a deep breath. The scent of the small stream that cut through the glade filled her nostrils while the faint rushing of water rang in her ears. She dipped her fingers into the water, slowly working them through the chilly stream. It was cold and made her knuckles ache a little. One of her wings twitched on her shoulder, an involuntary reaction to the sensation of cold on her limb perhaps? She rose to her feet and glanced at her wing, flexing it once or twice with muscles she never had but instinctively knew how to use, reveling in the sensation as birdsong rang in her ears.

She brushed her hands off on her brown linen rag of a dress, the water quickly drying on the coarse fabric. She smiled and sighed with contentment, letting her head fall back and her metallic silver hair fall back a little. She opened her sapphire blue eyes and stared up at the sky, framed by the green canopy above. This was-

A faint gurgle broke her from her symphony of sensation and she froze. She glanced to her right towards the spear haft sticking up out of the ground and grabbed it. Her knuckles tensed and she twisted it tightly to the left. A weak gasp and a pained whimper were all that followed. She looked down at the bandit lying on his back. There was fear in his eyes, his expression twisted with pain. Her lip twitched and she pulled the weapon out with a jerk and slipped the tip into the water, twisting it a few times to get the blood off.

"This place is so real," She murmured thoughtfully, pulling the spear out of the water and glancing back at the small camp. The bandits' bodies scattered about haphazardly. Their food would keep her going for a while, though they were next to penniless. She sighed, it was too bad she couldn't take her money with her to this new life, but such was the risk of immigration. There was only so much one could take with you. She strode away, slipping into the trees and leaving the carnage in her wake without a second thought.

The birdsong faded after a while and she hesitated. It wasn't hard to pick up on the tension in the air for her, the feeling of eyes filled with hunger and hate. A carnivore. She whipped her head around, a tingle running up her spine just as the wolf leaped from the trees. She darted back a step, faster than she ever could have as a person of earth. A faint glow rose up around her body as she used [Minor Aura Guard] and felt a trickle of strength leave her limbs. It passed just as another wolf darted out from the side, crashing into the growing glow and knocking her away instead of sinking its claws and fangs into her flesh. She tumbled, catching herself on a knee and tried to bring her weapon up only for the other wolf to come in after her. She clicked her tongue and stepped back again before holding out a hand began to sing.

[Hymn No.4: Disorientation] carried through the air, the soothing words doing absolutely nothing to the frenzied wolves. They came in faster and she was forced to dodge, sliding to a stop at a tree. She cursed, it had worked fine on those damn bandits! Was it because the wolves couldn't understand her? Her lip twitched, that was a huge drawback. She flicked her eye to the left and spotted another pair of wolves. She huffed out a sigh, "I might be in trouble."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno's usual patrol went on as usual. He couldn't lie that a few times, it didn't feel like a work and part of his desire to keep people safe, but it was also something akin to a self-indulgence, to enjoy the beauty of Eastern Brisshal that, while still had danger lingering, was nothing short of beautiful with its emerald greenery and the feeling of untouched nature ot held.

But soon, this illusion disappeared with the sight of bodies near a lake, scattered in a bloodied composition.

A frown crossed his face, instantly recognizing the outfit and gear this group carried with them. They were bandits, of a particular group that terrorized the surroundings.

It wasn't hard for Hanno to notice the wounds done by a piercing weapon, and his factionmate, Cleo, immediately crossed his mind. However, she wasn't in the surroundings as far as he knew, so he doubted it could be her work.

His gaze shifted to the trails of who was probably the sole survivor of that encounter, and he was quick to follow it, wielding the shield that towered him.

"Ghast, be ready." He muttered to the shield, and she rumbled in agreement as a giant eye opened in her center of the aegis.

The faerin was following cautiously for a moment, but it didn't take long for his senses to tingle, instinctively warning him of danger beyond his sight, behind the dense vegetation of the forest.

The reminder of the fallen bandits made his chest tighten, perhaps considering the instinctive feeling was related to them.

He rushed, trampling past any obstacle until his vision finally opened to see a beastfolk surrounded by wolves. It didn't seem that situation was under her control, and Hanno invited himself into her problem, leaping past her just in time to block a wolf from tackling her.

As a second one leaped in, Hanno threw a punch toward it, that was quickly counter-attacked by a ferocious bite of the wolf. The faerin gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain before swinging his arm down and shoving his knee on the skull of the wolf that held his arm.

A yelp was followed by a whimper as Hanno threw the wolf toward another, that retreated a couple feet while growling.

"Are you alright, buddy?!" He asked, placing his shield in a protective stance toward the beastfolk. "Do you think you can fight on? If not, it is better for you to take cover while I deal with them." He warned.

He could deal with all the wolves if he wanted, but the woman seemed to wield a polearm, which caught his attention regarding what he has seen a few minutes ago.

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

She shifted on her feet, watching the wolves carefully as they moved at her from all directions. Every time she fixed one with her stare it hesitated. Even so, that wouldn't be enough to keep them at bay. Eventually one would make its move and that would be the end of it. She clicked her tongue internally. I've been in this world barely a few hours and already I am about to die? What kind of bullshit is that? I came into this world to conquer it, not suffer this indignance!

She restrained her expression though, any hint of distress would only egg the wolves on. She needed a more advantageous position if she was to make any further moves. Singing wasn't working and she wasn't sure why. It didn't make any sense! Wasn't this a game? Perhaps there was more to the melodic skill path that she needed to wrap her head around before she could do any real damage. Now wasn't the time to think about that though! A sudden burst of movement drew her attention to the left only to see that one of the wolves had just changed its posture. It didn't jump? She was sure it had-

Shit!

She whipped her head around just in time to see two rows of teeth bearing down on her from above. Her eyes went wide, only to go wider as a figure slammed into the creature, crashing into it and sending the wolf sprawling. Another wolf moved and the person who turned out to be a man with greenish hair turn and throw a haymaker only for his arm to be bitten. Instead of writhing in pain he simply kneed it and sent it sprawling just like the other. She watched in shock for a heartbeat, her eyes on the powerful person who had come to her aid.

He turned to her and moved into a protective position on her behalf, his eyes briefly going down to her polearm as he spoke. She hesitated, trying to keep her expression impassive as best she could. Who the heck was this guy? Why was he helping her? Wasn't Terra a dog-eat-dog kind of world? Did he have some ulterior motive? But he seemed strong, why was he out here in the beginner zone? Was he roleplaying some sort of knight in shining armor? Certainly a possibility but she'd have to observe him for now. Either way she wasn't about to play the maiden in distress just because a useful shield showed up.

She gripped her spear, the thoughts whipping by in seconds and glanced toward the three surviving wolves. "I'm fine, thank you. The help is appreciated. I'll stay and fight if you don't mind," She said, sounding more confident than she actually was.

She shifted to look at one of the wolves that was positioning itself to not be in front of her savior, instead focusing on her as the weaker link. She shifted a half step back to keep the newcomer in her peripherial vision, just because he came to help didn't mean she was going to trust him. The wolf lunged and this time she used a skill, her spear tip taking on the faintest of glows as she took a step forward to meet the attacking creature. [Thrust] was the most basic maneuver she'd started with, but she'd already seen its effectiveness on the bandits. The spear pierced through the wolves mouth as she drove forward, forcing the creature back. It fell to the ground in a heap as the other two wolves lunged at the newcomer.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The woman may not bear the gear or the experience, but the confidence she showed made Hanno slip a grin, "I don't mind, show what'cha got." He said, but even if he gave her the freedom to fight to her heart's content, he didn't avert his eyes from her and the enemies. The wolves cared not for him, after all he was covered with protections and a shield that emanated dissonance and an intimidating gaze. The eyes of the beasts were set on the lady, that ferociously fought and forced the retreat of her target.

Hanno advanced, firstly aiming for the nearest wolf, thrusting his bloodied arm to force a grip on its snout before it clenched its fangs on his arms. He twisted its head to an uncomfortable position, swinging his leg for a blow and sinking the head of the wolf down to the ground, stomping before quickly rushing to the woman once again.

He threw his elbow in a direct hit on the ribs of the wolf, which was more than enough to throw it out of its path toward the woman, and the second leaping wolf was met snout-first with the shield he rose just in time to protect both of them.

"Ya are a type of reckless abandon, huh?" He said, glancing at the wolves that began to tire down and whimper, albeit a thundering howl soon echoed, and a much larger framed wolf appeared from the woods.

It was large and deadly, marked with scars that reflected its experience and survival despite facing men and women.

"... A dire wolf..." He muttered, bracing himself.

"I will be the shield of your spear, buddy-" Hanno said. "- So use me to protect yourself as you wish." He said, essentially giving her full permission and trust to use him as a cover as he placed himself forward, in a way that would allow the spear's reach to be effective while also covering the female fighter, if she wished.

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

His bravado was rallying, at the very least. Her lip twitched when he positioned himself to keep an eye on her as well. Strong and intelligent, a dangerous combination. When the first went down from her [Thrust] attack she pulled back just in time for him to put himself between her and the other two attacking wolves. The first one went down in a blur of motion that she could barely register. A chill went up her spine, what kind of movement was that? How high of a mastery did he have? How absolutely screwed was she if he decided he wanted to do her harm? She stamped down on the thoughts, whether he had an agenda or not was something she'd have to deal with later.

When he returned to her side she spotted his bloodied arm and looked back up at him. The second wolf was struck in the face with his shield, sending it tumbling back with a pained howl. They got back up, though, retreating a few paces to gain some distance between this bulwark of a man. She was about to suggest teaming up to finish them off when a thundering howl rumbled out from the trees. The sudden thrill of fear rushed through her bones and she had just enough sense to move herself a little bit further behind the man before a huge wolf stepped out from the cover of darkness.

A dire wolf.

"I seem to have unfortunate luck," She said with a half-hearted laugh before glancing back at his posture. He was bracing himself for a more serious fight. With his strength, was that really necessary? Was a dire wolf such a problem that such a high level person needed to be prepared? Or was he more concerned about protecting her? She snorted internally, chivalry be damned. He spoke back up as he focused on the two injured wolves and their leader and she had to keep her face rigid as to not face fault at the shameless act of heroism. Was this guy for real? Fine, if he wanted her to use him so bad then that's what she'd do.

But if he was going to be her tool for the moment, then she'd treat him as such. No one damaged what was hers. Not bothering to hide her mastery anymore she activated her passive aura; [Minor Aura of Solemnity] buffing both her defense and his own. The sudden flow of light from her body radiated before catching on him like a weak golden flame that covered his skin. Since activating her aura only took a thought, she simultaneously initiated yet another skill. Her lips parted and she began to sing. There were no lyrics to [Hymn No.3: Minor Restoration], not that she knew of anyway. The lilting melody rippled around her before brushing over his skin, slowly mending the wound on his hand.

The flash of holy flames and sanctified melody had a secondary effect. The primal creatures froze, surprised by the sudden display and eyed her warily as she continued her song, maintaining it while she positioned herself closer to the man's side nearest his shield. She couldn't speak while she was singing so she only glanced in his direction before pointing her spear towards the wolves, prepared to move at his side.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Seems like you gotta give luck some ass kicking." Hanno slipped an abstract and rhetorical advice, not being the type that truly played along luck, especially in a game where the odds were always against them. The only thing they truly had going for them was their will and determination... Something that it seemed like the spearwoman, despite looking new to this world, had latent in herself.

She probably wouldn't become a worry in future, but right now she just didn't have the tools to pull herself to her full potential, and it was his job to make sure she would have a chance on it.

The empowering and healing spell enhanced Hanno's capabilities, and he struck a grateful grin at her before focusing on the wolves. "Finish those off first, I will keep the big one away from you-" He gestured with his elbow, just a moment before the dire wolf finally found an opening for an attack.

Despite its size, the giant wolf was fast enough to become a blurr as it rushed, feinting to try and stagger Hanno, hoping to build an opening for the smaller wolves to attack @Attia Patal.

A crushing bite went straight to Hanno's shoulder, being partially protected by his pauldron and the shield he rose just in time to avoid a fatal bite, and the little bite that managed to get past his defenses were shielded by his ally's spell, protecting the precious health that would need to remain resilient until the end of that encounter.

Meanwhile, the smaller wolves charged in at the same time, aiming for the spearwoman--

Ghast, the shield, peered to the side, and a tentacle stretched out to barely intercept one of the wolves, hoping to give more time for the woman to react.

 

[Ishtar]

She had three skills that had been unlocked since she started working on her Piercing Weapons Mastery. It wasn't the six that she'd gained from Harmonic Magic but it was something. First was [Thrust] which was her strongest direct damage attack. It didn't do much in as far as suppressing an enemy was concerned. [Sweep] could hit multiple opponents, dividing damage between them and keeping them at bay. [Press] released a flurry of weaker blows but it had an opportunity of temporarily suppressing an enemy and keeping them in a pseudo-stunned state. She licked her lip thoughtfully, considering her options as the dire wolf lunged at her new shieldbearer.

She dipped low to dart out from beneath his shield just as a tentacle from the shield lashed out and pushed away one of the wolves, leaving only one at her mercy. [Thrust] took too much time and had a chance of leaving her exposed in a situation like this so she darted forward two steps and unleashed a barrage of stabs on the wolf that had been left behind, tiny scores and wounds accumulating on the target before she darted back again behind the shield. The wolf that had been knocked away hurried to its feet and joined its comrade and the both of them rushed to the side, attempting to flank her and avoid the shield all together.

She clicked her tongue, smart little bastards. She glanced to the left and noted that the wounds on the newcomer had closed and she didn't need to keep the healing hymn up anymore. Instead she drew in a deep breath and switched up her song, [Hymn No.3: Minor Vigor] rippled out from her body, the song and incomprehensible words seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere even as her lips moved in sync. Tiny white flames popped into being on both herself and her ally, providing a small damage buff to stack with the defensive buff of her aura.

She moved to meet the two wolves, the weaker of the two darting in and raking at her leg, scoring a hit that was muddled in the defensive aura. She tsked and slammed the hard of her spear into the side of its head and took another step back as the second one joined it. Unleashing [Sweep] she put her back into the swing, catching both wolves with the blade of her spear. The weaker one dropped with a pained whimper and breathed its last while the stronger staggered, trying to remain standing. She forced herself not to glance back at the fight between the shield user and the dire wolf, unable to take her eyes off the injured wolf.

Sweat dripped off her face and a dribble of blood ran down her thigh where the claws had scored their hit. Even so, she kept it up, charging forward and driving her spear into the wolf with [Thrust] and putting an end to the last of the lesser wolves. When it breathed its last she gasped out, forcing herself to keep moving as she turned to check on the man with the shield.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The weight of the wolf was nearly overwhelming, staggering Hanno as he braced himself to endure the force it continued to try to apply against his shoulder, something that proved to become an even more disadvantageous situation when Hanno instinctively tried to shift his attention to how the spearwoman was faring against the other wolves, hinting a worry that distracted him enough for the giant beast to overcome his strength and send him straight to the ground.

A thud and a cough escaped from his lips, feeling a sting on the back of his head when his metallic headdress shielded him from a deadly impact with the ground.

His left vision blurred for a moment, an old scar from his battles in the past coming back at the worst moment, albeit recovering just in time to see the fangs of the wolf widening at his direction, giving him just the time to avert his face and make the wolf go snout-first to the ground.

Instinctively, Hanno wrapped his free arm around its snout, making it yank and struggle to force the faerin to let it go.

Hanno left his shield for a moment, feeling the yanking lifting off his prone stance, flailing his legs until he finally took a firm stance on the ground and began a tug of war. "You... Little--" He gritted his teeth, trying to twist the head of the wolf to force a neck break, but the beast pulled back, nearly making the faerin stumble before forcing another charge, trying to cause Hanno to lose his balance.

Yet, one right step behind gave Hanno the support he needed to push forward, mustering every strength of his body.

❰ BRAVERY STANCE - WAR ROAR ❱

Thundering with a mix of rage and determination, Hanno forced a strong grip on the dire wolf, that shake its head and continuously trying to snatch bites off the knight, and managing somehow, mauling his arms while Hanno retaliated by throwing knees, kicks and even headbutts, with the gauntlets and his helmet opening wounds on the beast in the same pace his own blood scattered on the grass.

The two of them weakened each other further and further, and thanks to Hanno's War Roar, the dire wolf could only keep its focus on him, taunted by the threatening aura of the faerin.

It took a moment, but as soon as Hanno managed to get a pheripheral sight of the spearwoman, still safe and sound, relief washed his mind. But the combat wasn't done yet, and for it, Hanno shifted his and the wolf's position, leaving a wide opening for the woman to strike a killing blow.

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

She watched the brutal interplay with wide eyes, the wolf had moved fast enough to pin what had felt like a high level player to the ground. Even if it was only for a moment it was enough to let her know that there were no gods in this world among the upper-level players. It was all about skill. She pressed her lips together and tried to keep a straight face, turning her usual serene expression into one of hardened resolve. She gripped her spear tightly, watching the back and forth and feeling her heart pound in her chest. She needed to help him end this and quickly. Stamina wasn't an endless resource.

She darted forward as soon as she saw the opening, drawing her spear back and using [Thrust] only to stumble back in surprise as the blade barely left a mark on the wolf's skin. It felt like she'd bounced off solid wood. She struck a few more times, attempting a slash and then another stab. Nothing. Sweat dripped down her face and the buns of her hair had come loose, letting stellar-white rivulets to droop down her shoulders. She needed more power. It just felt like the blade of her starter spear was a little too flimsy. She glanced at it and then at the wolf. Then at her ally who had just shifted it into an even more open position.

Durability. What if she...

She turned her focus back on the spear and concentrated, activating her protective aura but instead of using it on her body or an ally, she pushed the image into the spear itself. Come on... come on... She rumbled inwardly, willing the concept with every ounce of her steely conviction. The spear flashed, then glittered, and then a halo of light formed around it.

Rolls

You have unlocked [Aura Strike] Spear Mastery + Aura

​

She didn't bother to check the tooltip, no time, she planted her foot forward and drew the spear back again, before using thrust one more time; shoving the spear directly at where she imagined the Dire Wolf's heart had to be. This time, without an ounce of resistance the blade plunged into dark fur and flesh, skewering the wolf. She let out a defiant roar and pushed harder until the spear completely exited the other side. There was a pause and the aura around the spear faded and she felt her strength leave her as a huge chunk of stamina vanished.

She gasped and dropped to her knees just as the dire wolf collapsed. She clung to her spear regardless, her head hanging down to her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Got you... ha... ha..."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

As Hanno struggled with the dire wolf, he could partially see the spearwoman trying to thrust her spear into the tough carapace of the beast.

He couldn't help but to wish he could commend her for her bravery right now. Even on the face of such a dangerous beast that was far tougher than her equipment and rank could endure, she remained firm in the resolve of fighting it off. It didn't work in the first few times, and as the fight lingered, both Hanno and the wolf were at the last of their energies, until he noticed the woman using her defensive technique in an unexpected way.

His eyes grew wide when he saw the beginner's spear sinking through the body of the beast with such an ease, with the limp body of the wolf tilting on the ground while Hanno's legs weakened for a moment, making him stumble forward and falling on his knees.

"For Rhiannon... That... Was something..." Hanno breathed a laugh, out of pure adrenaline and excitement after seeing the spearwoman's skills.

He winced for a moment, glancing at her and scooting a bit closer. "That was awesome." He admitted, taking a deep breath and blinking twice, before squeezing his eye shut for a moment and opening one last time, feeling the exhaustion that had built up all the way until now slowly fading, even if his muscles still felt like throbbing.

Planting his feet on the ground, he struggled, but managed to stand and offer his bloodied hand to the newbie stranger.

"I've never seen someone using Aura like that... Nor seen a brave newbie that I am forced to save..." He smirked. "Name's Hanno, buddy... What are yours?"

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

She chuckled out a laugh in response to his own, shaking her head despite herself. What was with this guy? She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair to pull it out of her face so it didn't become matted with sweat. She rubbed her chin with the back of her hand and watched him from the corner of her eye. He was breathless but seemed to otherwise be in excellent condition. His stamina would probably recover at an alarming rate compared to her own. She tried to pull herself to her feet but felt her knees tremble beneath her. Damn it.

She coughed, "Thank you, sir," She said as delicately as possible. Even with all the so-called heroism masking her desperate effort and bloodlust, she had a role to play. So she maintained as much serenity as possible as she offered a nod, "Thank you for coming to my aid, I wouldn't have survived without your help."

When he finally got to his feet she looked up at him as he offered a bloodied hand. She would have normally just grabbed the damn thing and wash her hands later, but again, roles are roles. She glanced furtively at the blood-soaked hand before exhaling and reaching up to take it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Her legs buckled and she had to lean on her spear either way, panting hard, "I unlocked a skill just now, lucky for me, yes?" She tittered out a laugh and shook her head.

She looked down at the dire wolf's body and sighed, "Had no idea such a beast existed in the beginners forest. I should be more careful," She said whistfully before turning back to him. He introduced himself, finally, his name was Hanno. She offered him the best curtsy she could provide despite her weakened state and looked him in the eyes with a smile, "I am Attia, sir."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The woman's exhaustion was understandable, especially at her ranks. Hanno was simply lucky his development in Terrasphere has brought him some overwhelming constitution, to both take combat for a long time, and both to recover from it when it was done.

But considering the spearwoman was rather agile and also based on physical abilities, it would be just a matter of time until she got pretty resilient herself. When she finally took his hand, his mana wings fluttered, and a divine glow wrapped their arms before spreading across their bodies, washing away blood, dirt and closing minor scraps while numbing the pain of major ones. It didn't help to fix his pauldron, the slashes on his mail or even the cuts on his shirt, but he could live with that.

"You are welcome, buddy. I hope you aren't hurting too much-" Hanno said, before letting her hand go as soon as she was able to stand by herself. "- You've really put up a good fight. Even without the right gear yet..." Was her with the proper conditions, he wouldn't even need to step in with such urgency.

"A new skill, huh? That's nothing about luck, you earned it." It felt nostalgic, however, to listen about new skills.

When she curtsed, Hanno rose his hand and widened his eyes a bit, gesturing formality was unnecessary. "It is great to meet'cha, Attia, but no need for 'sirs' or any of that..." He looked around, then gestured for her to follow. "There are more dangerous places than others, but there is no such a thing like a beginner-friendly area in Terrasphere." Hanno explained.

"It may sound like a rush, but we better move. These dead wolves are going to attract unpleasing things real soon... Probably they are here just because of those dead bandits..." He muttered the last part, before giving a concerned glance to Attia.

"Can you walk well? Or do you need some help?" He asked.

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

She gasped, looking down at herself with genuine surprise. The sudden cleanliness a generous boon on top of everything else. How utilitarian. She suppressed her greedy expression and instead offered him a winning smile as thanks before resting her spear on her shoulder, "I'm quite alright," She said and gestured to her spear, "I have a better weapon, to be honest, but the starting gear has a near endless durability. It seemed wasteful to use something nicer for mere hunting," She said, the shameless miser.

She huffed a little when he insisted she earned her new skill. That wasn't possible as far as she was concerned, this was a world built with game mechanics, it had set requirements to acquire skills. There was a level of technique involved, certainly, but she hadn't recieved any sort of information implying the requirements of [Aura Spear] so the only conclusion was that she had met the requirements by accident. Pure happenstance.

She paused when he corrected her, for the first time her serene expression changing. There was a look of consternaiton on her face as she considered the implications. The Dire Wolf hadn't been a field boss, it had just been there, wandering. It was entirely possible to run into even S ranked enemies in a place like this if you were unlucky. The momentary dread was beaten down with another feeling, amusement, so much freedom in this place, it was so real. Fascinating.

She glanced up at him again when he suggested they move and nodded. "Well said, I'll join you for the time being if you don't mind. We are actually only a short walk from my campsite. Not to worry, I can walk just fine and any lingering aches are easily dealt with," She said with a wave of her hands. She turned, her rough-fabric dress fluttering about her as she began to march off with the help of her map. "This way, the secondary bandit camp sends scouts out after nightfall and they can be a hassle, they've learned to avoid my campsite though," She said easily, the viciousness of her statement in stark contrast to her expression.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno rose an eyebrow, interested on the woman's mindset. "It isn't a bad way to go with it. Smarter than many, truly." He said with a nod, continuing to move as the woman seemed to digest the amount of information he had given to her. The vague expressions she showed gave him the small hint that she probably didn't expect the world to act so fluidly, rather than being hardset with rules like VRMMOs usually were.

"I don't mind at all." He said with an amicable expression, just as he continued the path and followed her lead to the direction of her campsite.

"So you are the one responsible for those bandits?" Hanno asked, listening to the reveal and the tone of her voice, letting out a impressed whistle. "Not only ya got a pretty face, but you got pretty dangerous claws too, huh?" He grinned, shrugging slightly

"It is helpful, I gotta admit it. No wonder the bandits attacks had been decreasing, and that their movements have been erratic lately..." Hanno muttered, pondering about how one newbie could make so much change in a region- @Attia Patal sure was no regular newbie, and the faerin took note of that for the future.

He couldn't help, however, to notice her way to speak about this world. She felt very much like a gamer, and no wonders, this was a game that would snatch the most fierce of people. "... Say, why did you decide to get into this game? Do you know about the true dangers it carries?" He asked. As popular as the story of this game was, it wasn't that unusual to find newbies that didn't even know the true conditions of that game, and how dangerous it truly was.

 

[Ishtar]

Attia hesitated when he asked about the bandits, knowing what he was probably referring to. She may have been in a bit of a mood when she'd happened upon that particular campsite. In fairness, she had just finished with one of their patrols and they were less than gentlemanly when she had first encountered them. She scoffed when he offered a flirtatious jab and crossed her arms behind her back, sticking her nose up just a little.

She smirked at him a bit when he commented on the reduction in attacks, "Their problem is that they suffer from poor middle-management. Their chief is apparently quite strong, but their group leaders are pathetic, greedy, and rebellious. They'd rather see what they can gain from playing the vulture than acting as a pack," She said cooly, a bit of flint coming to her eyes behind that serene and pleasant face.

While his other comments and statements demanded a small amount of thought to respond to, the question about her reason for diving into Terrasphere was something she responded to without an ounce of hesitation; "Freedom," She said flatly, pushing past a few bushes and stepping over a bell trap that she'd set up to alert her to the clumsy footfalls of bandits. She guided him past it and they drew closer to the small clearing where her tent, fire, and equipment sat untouched.

She stopped at the campfire and muttered a short song that caused the wood to combust into a fresh fire. She stared into it for a moment, "When you live a life built on the decisions of others, wouldn't it be nice to start fresh?" She considered the wealth she had amassed back on earth and snorted. Even if she'd stolen it all from her family and fostered it with investment, was it really hers in the end? The items in her inventory and the gear in her camp were more hers than anything she had back home.

She turned on the spot and looked at him, her hair fluttering around her, the flames at her back shadowing her face a little. "Terra is my new home."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno snorted with a smirk at Attia's reaction to his tease, but he didn't avert his attention from her explanation. The way Attia spoke prickled some curiosity on Hanno, making his previous teasing flirt become a far more truthful statement than he intended. He wouldn't judge, however, they were bandits that were causing trouble, but it did make him wonder who was truly that woman.

"They do lack organization, which is the reason they didn't overtake this forest yet... Because they sure have advantage on numbers."

As he finished speaking, Attia's answer to his more important questions made him pause with a thin line on his lips as he followed her meticulously guide, avoiding the traps that were warding off any enemy from coming too close.

The flames were brought to life on the camp as soon as they finally reached it, and her words brought a pensive expression to Hanno's face. Judging her expression and what she implied, her life hadn't been anything easy. To live in a cage, perhaps metaphorically. "I wonder if this is why you've chosen to be a birdfolk, flying sure gives you a feeling of freedom that is almost unmatched." He said, with a faint smile as he continued.

"It is a shame though, I was here thinking I could try to convince her to not stay in this game. To not risk your life in it... But I guess you are like many others. Being here makes you safer and independent from the limitations of our world, right?" Hanno said, keeping his eyes on hers.

"I... do hope you aren't planning to get yourself locked in here. I will tell you, it isn't a good idea." He shook his head, perhaps making an unnecessary assumption. "But... Enjoying this world is something you should really look forward to. It has its dangers, but if there is any place that you can be what you want, it is here." He shrugged.

"It is a bit dangerous though."

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

She turned away with a shrug, drifting over to one of the spots near the campfire and throwing herself onto a mat she had set down for herself. Opening her inventory she pulled out one of the items she'd snagged from a larger bandit camp and set it in the fire pit. There was a flicker and then the flames changed color, turning an off-red. She nodded and glanced over at him before finally letting out a breath. She chose not to comment on his thoughts about the race she chose.

"You're not wrong, it's crazy dangerous. I did a bit of research into the consequences of dying in this world, it isn't pretty. Getting locked is... not ideal," She shook her head, "As wonderful a place as this is to escape into and even live in for days at a time, I do have something of a life in the real world too."

She rested her elbows on her knees and stared into the fire, gesturing for him to join her on the other side and offered him an easy smile. "In the end, nothing worth doing is easy, risk is a good thing, you know?"

All that said, she turned back to the topic of the bandits, frowning at the map when she pulled it up on her UI again. She narrowed her eyes at the image and shook her head. "You know, the more I look at the Bandits the more frustrated I become. You're right to say that their numbers aren't insignificant, honestly with the gear and strength they've acquired in their banditry... if their leaders actually had brains they'd be a huge problem."

Either way, it didn't matter to her, they were prey as far as she was concerned. She closed her UI and relaxed, closing her eyes and letting the warmth of the fire wash over her. Letting her guard down around a stranger wasn't the best idea and she couldn't say for certain this guy was as 'nice' as he seemed to be. But her nose for people had never steered her wrong. Her instincts told her that he was the real deal, a knight in shining armor.

She glanced up at him over the flames, "...you think people intentionally lock themselves in? That's a thing?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno released a brief relieved sigh when she mentioned getting lock wasn't ideal. He glanced at her gesture, and he nodded while approaching, resting his giant shield next to him before sitting down with crossed legs, and placing a hand over the shield, that had its wiggly tentacles and wide open eyes rumbling before calming down.

"Even if they had brains, they would be on our watch... But yeah, I don't think we could defeat them solo if they used their brains a bit more." Hanno could agree completely with that, and as a more complex question came, he held his breath and looked at the flames of the campfire for a moment.

"People intentionally take their own lives away all the time." Hanno said, with a faint sad expression. "To take their own lives away to start another somewhere is... Just a step. Even if there is a risk this is all an illusion." He said, truthfully and begrudgingly. To the wrong person, that sentence could be more of an encouragement than a way to put things in perspective... To see how dire the situation was. He hoped Attia wasn't the wrong person, regardless of everything she had said regarding having a life out there too, but if she was, that was also one of the few ways for him to find out.

"Many believe that this place has... A hint of reality that is different from the virtual... And that perhaps this is more than just a game. So making that choice is a bit easier." Hanno said, looking at Attia. "I am one of those, I believe this game, even the 'NPCs' are... Way too real to feel like it is just a game."

Something was definitely weird about it, and even if Attia didn't believe it, Hanno didn't mind telling his own views about it.

"Besides, I can't just ignore the people that are stuck in here... They are the ones that most intrigue me."

@Attia Patal

 

[Ishtar]

Attia winced, realizing what she had just said was perhaps a bit too far. Of course people took their lives all the time, and if they did so with a certainty that there'd be something 'better' afterward, it was kind of a no-brainer. Her expression thinned a little as she looked at the ground, she couldn't judge those people, even if her first instinct was to call those people fools. The game was a paradise, for certain, and one day she'd enjoy a life of praise and luxury in this place, free of the congested life on earth. But that didn't mean she was cowardly enough to run away from the real world.

Eventually she might have to return permanently, but that was a problem for the future. She huffed a little, unable to hide her expression behind that mask of serenity this time. "I... don't blame them," She said hesitantly, "But I don't condone it either," She said, clenching her fist subconsciously. Her lip twitched and she looked up at Hanno, she wasn't sure if it was because of his personality or because of just... something. But it didn't feel bad to at least be a little more honest.

"I agree with you. I'm a pretty selfish person, to be honest, I want a lot of things out of coming here," She said bluntly, running her hands through her hair and letting out a sigh. "This place is so real that it's opened my eyes to other possibilities besides just escaping for a little while." Her eyes twinkled a little.

The people that were stuck here. Would it be possible to take advantage of them some way? Or at the very least help them while helping herself? Her thoughts turned dark for a moment before she dismissed them, she would plot and scheme another time. Her desire for adoration would be appeased one way or another.

"Intrigue you? An interesting way to put it, why? Is it more than just their fate?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno crossed his arms, letting out a brief sigh. "I don't blame or condone them either... But I certainly would rather if the world gave them more chances... And of course, that they gave a chance to themselves." He said, with his eyes lowering to the flames on the campfire. "A lot of times we think we aren't going to be missed, but only those who are still alive that find it out... And after seeing what happens to the real person when someone get locked in this game... I can't forget a whole family being ruined by it."

A small smile then crossed his lips. "I'm glad to know you aren't into this idea though. Even if I won't be able to make you stop playing the game, knowing you will do what you can to stay alive makes me relieved enough." At the very least, it was much easier to keep someone that wanted to be safe... Safe. Which should be obvious, of course.

"And if you ever want to escape with a bit more of safety, just let me know. We can watch each other's back." He grinned, before pondering a bit more about her words.

"I think everyone that comes to this place has a bit of selfishness to offer. I know I do." Hanno admitted this much. He would be lying if he was doing all this heroic work only because it was the right thing to do. There was a hint of his own feelings that tickled warmly whenever he received grateful words, and even if he wasn't greedy for it, there was some satisfaction in it that wasn't entirely pure.

"What intrigues me on them is... Are they alive? Is it just data? Or there is something deeper in it? A soul..? Or something." Hanno questioned, sounding a bit serious, but also hinting a bit of uncertainty on his own words.

"I think I will never know. But I want to." He shrugged, taking the opportunity to fold his arms behind his head, crossing his legs and plopping his back agains the ground. "And since I don't know, I will do what I can to protect them. Because maybe we will find an answer, or even a solution at some point."

@Attia Patal