The blaring of a whistle catches your immediate attention. Around you, some grab at their weapons or brandish held spells, while others laugh at their allies' nerves. Above the gathered Explorers League rankers and those willing to join or interested in their push stands a young woman with her hands on her hips and not a single weapon in sight. She's lightly armored, atop the bridge-like root, but burns with confidence. It seems the shouty foxfolk from before has taken up the lead again. Her violet whistle, hanging from the striking red braid around her throat, claims enough experience for her fellow whistles to listen.
The Vulpis growls, tail lashing behind her even as it begins to ripple with blue and lavender flames. Petals shimmer into the dark, humid air of the dense greenery. When touched, they fade into eerily cold flickers of fire.
The burning tail bursts into three. Each one curls to point toward where the other three factions are readying themselves. The Lions gather their equipment and close ranks at the heart of the mission. The MIT shout orders, write furious notes, and call members to and fro. The Guild readies their weapons and receives their jobs, whatever they may be. MIT stooges.
She nods when some in the crowd nod, and then aggressively shakes her head.
Flames dance around her, and her voice takes on a bestial fury that cuts through the air. A figment of a great fox burns around her for just a second before it fades into loose coils of flaming tails. This time, more of the crowd joins in the deafening call.
A laugh rolls through the crowd at the red face left behind on her face as the beastfolk slumps with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily, but looking proud.
For those who aren't in the know, my name's Arlyn and I'll be heading this expedition. So let's get some things straight! Our creed is per aspera ad astra, a promise that we're gunna reach the stars despite any adversity. Because of 'em, in fact! A light in the darkness!
The Vulpis growls, tail lashing behind her even as it begins to ripple with blue and lavender flames. Petals shimmer into the dark, humid air of the dense greenery. When touched, they fade into eerily cold flickers of fire.
If you've got what it takes to forge a whistle and reforge yourself, to be the first on the path and the first on the front lines of danger? Well, it's time to prove it. Things aren't easy, so I won't make 'em easy. Your job, as a group, is to outrace the clock.
The burning tail bursts into three. Each one curls to point toward where the other three factions are readying themselves. The Lions gather their equipment and close ranks at the heart of the mission. The MIT shout orders, write furious notes, and call members to and fro. The Guild readies their weapons and receives their jobs, whatever they may be. MIT stooges.
They have a job to do and, unlike ours, it's on a nice, neat spreadsheet. Maybe even a timetable! We ain't got the luxury of that, doing what we do. So, we're going to get as much scouting as we can before all these busybodies wanna get a move on when they're good and ready.
Time to tear through every path in this here jungle. Mark down points of interest, but you better not stop covering ground. And remember, even a whistle alone is still part of the team - when one succeeds, we all do. When one falls, we all remember. But there better not be ANY of that today, you hear me? So, if at any point you get in trouble and you aren't able to handle it? Scream real good: Whistle.
Time to tear through every path in this here jungle. Mark down points of interest, but you better not stop covering ground. And remember, even a whistle alone is still part of the team - when one succeeds, we all do. When one falls, we all remember. But there better not be ANY of that today, you hear me? So, if at any point you get in trouble and you aren't able to handle it? Scream real good: Whistle.
She nods when some in the crowd nod, and then aggressively shakes her head.
Nah, nah, shout it. I wanna hear it. Whistle! (She takes a deep breath in when other voices shyly join her own.) Whistle!
Flames dance around her, and her voice takes on a bestial fury that cuts through the air. A figment of a great fox burns around her for just a second before it fades into loose coils of flaming tails. This time, more of the crowd joins in the deafening call.
WHISTLE!
A laugh rolls through the crowd at the red face left behind on her face as the beastfolk slumps with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily, but looking proud.
Better. Now you guys get the rules? (A cheer of answers and raised weapons.) Great, then it's a race! (She grins at you all, fangs dimpling her bottom lip. After a short pause, she suddenly scowls, stamping a foot hard enough to dent the root below her.) What are you waiting for? No one out in the wild is gunna say Ready, Set, GO!
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