The Quest For Earth (CMGQ spinoff)

Suddenly, lizards
"Ah, okay then," High Noon said as Spire Cracker ducked into her fortification. She looked towards the rest of the group and seeing that she had the space while no one decided to join Spire Cracker, she threw her gun onto the roof before hoisting herself up with more ease compared to her attempt of climbing up an object earlier. Once up, High Noon picked up her gun and peered down the peak of the spires to see how much support she could give the others.
At approximately the same time High Noon makes it to the roof, the raptors hit the wall. The lead skip off the top of the barricade of spines like reptilian stunt jumpers, one sticking the landing on the roof next to High Noon, and the other dropping next to it on the side that, unfortunately, is opposite Lion. The remaining four split in opposite directions, spidering across the outside of the barricade to flank the encampment.

Yellowback Raptorids


This, but with feathers instead of spines on the back

Stats
Health: 300
Base Damage: 100
Base Resilience: 40
Magic Modifier: N/A
Affinity: Beast
Weapon

Fangs
Level 5
Attack Per Turn: 2
Affinity: Beast
Ability: Critical Strike
Abilities

Sprint: Level 6
-Yellowback Raptorids can run at up to 60 MPH.

All Terrain Violence
-Yellowback Raptorids can move across solid surfaces unhindered, regardless of orientation, and even (briefly) run across water.

Taste Test
-Yellowback Raptorids can operate at full capacity based purely off their sense of taste/smell (it's pretty much the same sense for them).


Roll initiative.
LostDeviljho threw 6 10-faced dice. Reason: Raptor Initiative Total: 37
6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 1 1 8 8
 
Last edited:
Initiative: 9-4=5

-----------------------------------

Alice looked at the creatures that stormed into camp, and a grin split her face. She twirled her scythe, and an ominous laughter began to quietly drift through the air. The area darkened, and a black moon appeared, hanging low in the sky. Her shadow writhed out from under her feet, and it moved to entangle the two nearest raptors, clinging to them and sapping their strength.

"Walpurgisnacht!"

Alice then readied her scythe, stepped through Grinning Remnant's open mouth, and stepped out behind the raptor on the opposite side of the hut. She brought her weapon down, aiming to end its life.
AsuraKyoko threw 1 10-faced dice. Reason: Initiative Total: 9
9 9
 
Last edited:
The thump and scratching of a beast landing above her startles a gasp out of Marissa, and she nearly trips over herself lurching away from the hut's entry. She needs to seal the way. "Spire Spike!"
Familiar threw 1 10-faced dice. Reason: Initiative Total: 6
6 6
 
Last edited:
(Initiative: 8 - 4 = 4)
(Reminder for QM: Shan still uses her pre-rework values; 4 ApT; 250 Base Damage, 100 MM for basic attacks; Bloodletter at level 3, but with Armor Pierce instead of Juggernaut)


Shan had readied herself already and almost let go of her Bloodletter the moment the creatures appeared, but she waited. Alice would go first, as she herself proposed and found others agreeing to.

She did not have to wait long.

The moment Alice spoke, and Shan could see where her shadows were aiming, she pulled her Speed and Strength in an X-motion. "Bloodletter!" She threw it toward the raptor on the roof, then dashed toward the one who landed within the camp on her own height level. Her blades remained unchanged as she slashed for it with calm precision. These were lizards, so she would likely hit enough vitals by going for center mass on the upper half of its body. Each swing ended in a flourish with which Shan sheathed the respective blade.

Following that, she drew Will and Courage and made to observe the raptors on the walls; both blades were brought up in a guard stance as Shan waited; she could easily catch anything trying to come at herself directly; though she rather be protecting Ellen, Shan hoped for the best. Dorothy was near after all, so her friend should be fine.

"Catch!" She cried, tossing the badge at the blood knight.
Seeing that Dorothy did not call out her name, Shan remained focussed on the lizards. Until a sword-shaped badge hit her right in the head, making her wince. "Owie...." She had no free hand though, which meant she needed to drop Courage in order to catch the thing while in the air; then she stuffed it into one of her shoulder pauldrons; not particularly secure, but it should suffice. Then she picked up her sword again.

(Technically happens after Shan's actions are used up; unless she has at least one left because no raptors come her way, make a note that she gets one less action next turn)
Naron threw 1 10-faced dice. Reason: Initiative Total: 8
8 8
 
Last edited:
Damn it! This is bad...so far we've only fought single enemies. Let's hope we can take on multiple ones.

With that, Cheshire moved to the raptor on the roof next to High Noon, teleporting to make faster time. Keeping herself ready to try and move out of the way of danger, she aimed her right hand, then drove her claws into its eye with a cry of "Rending Strike". After that, she prepared herself for incoming attacks.
ReaperofInterest threw 1 10-faced dice. Reason: Initiative Total: 7
7 7
 
Last edited:
"Here you go!" Dorothy exclaimed, thrusting out the poor dog in front of the Phantom Boatgirl. Toto was not happy, but he seemed mostly resigned to his fate as he let out a few noises.

"Bark..."
Ellen gazed warily at the dog before sighing in resignation.

She very obviously also pretended she wasn't trying to vigorously pet it while trying to muffle her coos. She did manage to keep summoning her planes though.

"Everyone get ready, we have incoming hostiles!" Lion called out loud enough for the entire group to hear.
At Lion's shout, Ellen's reflexes took over as she leapt to her feet. Mentally, she sends out a recall on the out-bound scouts that had been moving to replace the ones that had vanished with her transformation reset.

I hate my short timer sometimes.

Considering the noise from her planes is the likely cause of these things coming to investigate. Either way, she pushed Dorothy behind her, intent on protecting the much more important healer with her own body if necessary as her planes closed on the camp.

At approximately the same time High Noon makes it to the roof, the raptors hit the wall. The lead pair ramp off the barricade of spines like reptilian stunt jumpers, one sticking the landing on the roof next to High Noon, and the other dropping next to it on the side that, unfortunately, is opposite Lion. The remaining four split in opposite directions, spidering across the outside of the barricade to flank the encampment.
"Assault Formation Alpha." The daughter whispers under her breath, her planes gathering in the sky above before falling on those beasts not too close to her allies to use as cover.
(103 planes of fury
9-4=5)
Crystalwatcher threw 1 10-faced dice. Reason: Initiative Total: 9
9 9
 
Last edited:
It could be said that Dorothy was a special girl, in many ways. Why, Uncle Henry once told her "Girl, for all the air that's taking up the space where ya brain should be, ya sure have some mighty fine reflexs."

Dorothy liked to think it was because she lived in the middle of nowhere Kansas. Coyotes, Racoons, all kinds of creatures. She could even remember this one time, this funny little red man showed up and said mean things. Uncle Henry shot the small guy. Died of natural causes.

Dorothy was reminded of a saying she heard on the radio once. "If it's skin is red, make 'me dead."

This little tirade was a helpful way to distract any listener from the fact that the moment she heard a low growl and fighting, she immedeatly tossed her dog at the sound.

"Oh no~!" She cried, reaching out her arm. "Toto!"

"BARK BARK BARK!"

"I'm sorry!" The blonde girl looked around before closing her eyes and tapping her heels. "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

Immedeatly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a sword shaped tin badge.

Sword? Sword!

"Catch!" She cried, tossing the badge at the blood knight.
InfiniteDaze threw 1 10-faced dice. Total: 9
9 9
 
At approximately the same time High Noon makes it to the roof, the raptors hit the wall. The lead pair ramp off the barricade of spines like reptilian stunt jumpers, one sticking the landing on the roof next to High Noon, and the other dropping next to it on the side that, unfortunately, is opposite Lion. The remaining four split in opposite directions, spidering across the outside of the barricade to flank the encampment.

Yellowback Raptorids


This, but with feathers instead of spines on the back

Stats
Health: 300
Base Damage: 100
Base Resilience: 40
Magic Modifier: N/A
Affinity: Beast
Weapon

Fangs
Level 5
Attack Per Turn: 2
Affinity: Beast
Ability: Critical Strike
Abilities

Sprint: Level 6
-Yellowback Raptorids can run at up to 60 MPH.

All Terrain Violence
-Yellowback Raptorids can move across solid surfaces unhindered, regardless of orientation, and even (briefly) run across water.

Taste Test
-Yellowback Raptorids can operate at full capacity based purely off their sense of taste/smell (it's pretty much the same sense for them).


Roll initiative.
Lion clucked her tongue in annoyance as the incoming raptors split into pairs and began to move around the outer wall. It was just her luck that the only ones deciding to immediately breach their defenses did so on the far side of the hut from her. This meant she had no clear line of fire on the damn things, even while they were airborne. Fortunately though...

Alice looked at the creatures that stormed into camp, and a grin split her face. She twirled her scythe, and an ominous laughter began to quietly drift through the air. The area darkened, and a black moon appeared, hanging low in the sky. Her shadow writhed out from under her feet, and it moved to entangle the two nearest raptors, clinging to them and sapping their strength.

"Walpurgisnacht!"

Alice then readied her scythe, stepped through Grinning Remnant's open mouth, and stepped out behind the raptor on the opposite side of the hut. She brought her weapon down, aiming to end its life.
The moment Alice spoke, and Shan could see where her shadows were aiming, she pulled her Speed and Strength in an X-motion. "Bloodletter!" She threw it toward the raptor on the roof, then dashed toward the one who landed within the camp on her own height level. Her blades remained unchanged as she slashed for it with calm precision. These were lizards, so she would likely hit enough vitals by going for center mass on the upper half of its body. Each swing ended in a flourish with which Shan sheathed the respective blade.
Damn it! This is bad...so far we've only fought single enemies. Let's hope we can take on multiple ones.

With that, Cheshire moved to the raptor on the roof next to High Noon, teleporting to make faster time. Keeping herself ready to try and move out of the way of danger, she aimed her right hand, then drove her claws into its eye with a cry of "Rending Strike". After that, she prepared herself for incoming attacks.
...Alice and Crimson were ready to deal with the issue. She saw Alice disappear in a teleport and then heard her cast her spell from the other side of the bunker a moment before Crimson leapt to the roof and attacked the raptor that had landed there followed closely by Cheshire.

She also noted that Hero was quickly launching her planes to attack as well.

With her immediate surroundings now clear though, Lion split her guns between the two pairs of raptors prowling around the spire wall. With her rangefinders dialed in, she attacked. She fired two salvos of her main guns at each of the pairs. It might not kill them, but it was certainly going to hurt the little shits.
Battleship_Fusou threw 1 10-faced dice. Total: 6
6 6
 
One of the raptor jumping on to the roof near her was not something High Noon expected. But she was expecting a hostile so it didn't take much for her to simply spin around and shoot at the beast that landed nearby. Hopefully her reaction was faster than the beast recovering from its jump.
Alphaleph threw 1 10-faced dice. Total: 2
2 2
 
Last edited:
Third Combat, Turn 1
Raptor E: 1
High Noon: 2
CH: 4
GH: 5
TW: 5
Raptor A: 6
Raptor B: 6
SC: 6
Cheshire: 7
Lion: 3 7
Raptor C: 8
Raptor D: 8
Raptor F: 8
Dorothy: 9

Noon Bell: 140 Base Damage, No Dice, +120 HEADSHOT = 260 Total Damage
Raptor A: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice, -10 Ow my eyes! = 30 Total Reduction
230 Total End Damage

Raptor A: 300 - 230 = 70 Health Remaining


Bloodletter: 225 Base Damage, +100 Dice = 325 Total Damage
Raptor A: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice, -10 Armor Pierce, -10 Stunned = 20 Total Reduction
305 Total End Damage

Raptor A: 70 - 305 = -235 Health Remaining


Micro Fighter: 10 Base Damage, No Dice, -5 Target under cover, x51 Combined Maneuvers = 255 Total Damage
Raptors C & D: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice, +20 Under cover = 60 Total Reduction
195 Total End Damage

Raptors C & D: 300 - 195 = 105 Health Remaining

Micro Fighter: 10 Base Damage, No Dice, -5 Target under cover, x52 Combined Maneuvers = 260 Total Damage
Raptor E: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice, +20 Seen it coming, +20 Under cover = 80 Total Reduction
180 Total End Damage

Micro Fighter: 10 Base Damage, No Dice, -5 Target under cover, x52 Combined Maneuvers = 260 Total Damage
Raptor F: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice, +20 Under cover = 60 Total Reduction
200 Total End Damage

Raptor E: 300 - 180 = 120 Health Remaining
Raptor F: 300 - 200 = 100 Health Remaining


Walpurgisnacht successful! Raptor B's levels Downgraded by 2!


Speed & Strength: 250 Base Damage, +28 Dice = 278 Total Damage
Speed & Strength: 250 Base Damage, +28 Dice = 278 Total Damage
556 Unified Damage

Raptor B: 40 Base Resilience, No Dice = 40 Total Reduction
526 Total End Damage

Raptor B: 300 - 526 = -326 Health Remaining


Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +14 Dice = 158 Total Damage
Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +39 Dice = 179 Total Damage
337 Unified Damage

Spire Wall Section: 100 Base Resilience, No Dice, x3 Stand Together = 300 Total Reduction
37 Total End Damage

Spire A: 100 - 37 = 63 Health Remaining

Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +21 Dice = 161 Total Damage
Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +26 Dice = 166 Total Damage
326 Unified Damage

Spire Wall Section: 100 Base Resilience, No Dice, x3 Stand Together = 300 Total Reduction
26 Total End Damage

Spire D: 100 - 26 = 74 Health Remaining

Shockwave! Raptors C-F take 24 damage and are Deafened!


High Noon reacts immediately, putting a bullet in the eye socket of the raptor next to her and sending it reeling, directly into Crimson Harvest's spell.

Crimson Harvest rushes the ground-level raptor, hacking it apart a mere instant after Twilight Wanderer's spell takes hold. Meanwhile Grand Hero's cloud of planes swoops in, strafing the outer raptors as best they can, despite their awkward positioning.

A spire erupts from the ground with a crunch, sealing Spire Cracker away in her hut, and Cheshire teleports to the roof, finally clearing Lion's firing lines an allowing her to let loose with her main cannons. High explosive shells impact the walls where the raptors outside the enclosure are taking cover with a series of thunderous booms, but the smoke clears to reval the walls mostly intact, save for some scorch marks and cratering.

A high trilling noise echoes through the air, and those capable of tracking the raptors note them scattering into the forest, weaving through the tunnels in the thick undergrowth at speeds rivaling a car on the highway.

Combat Concluded.
 
Last edited:
The noise of Lion's guns was nearly ear-shattering, but Shan endured and kept up her guard.

Except that nothing happened and the raptors apparently turned to flee within a few seconds of receiving her and her allies' offense. She did not see what happened to the creature on the roof, but the other one she had aimed for was definitely dead; Shan had struck it with increased speed, as Strength and Speed always gave her. Magical steel had gone through its body without any resistance at all, slicing the creature into several parts just a moment after Alice's spell had coated it in shadows.

Its blood had a slightly more sweet scent than what she was used to; most of the red liquid would remain in the sheathes, but she could still smell it.

With no hostiles forthcoming, Shan gradually relaxed her stance and noted Alice's cat darting over, the shadow opening its maw wide to devour the sliced lizard that was still mostly covered in darkness anyway even while the pieces kept oozing red blood.

Her pulse did not even have enough time to properly start racing, so calming down would not take long. Shan carefully sheathed Will and Courage, then grabbed for the trinket Dorothy had thrown her way; a badge in the form of a sword that she could feel empowered her somewhat. After a moment of thought, she squeezed it lightly and carefully attached it to the belt of cloth around her waist.

She took a deep breath and eyed her surroundings, finding the walls Lion likely shot at with a few cracks but ultimately standing; they were rather quite sturdy, she noted with a smile.

Then she looked around to see how everyone else was doing, thinking that she likely would have to transform once again to get the stronger scent of blood from her equipment. Shan did not mind, especially because she regularly had a weak coppery scent when transformed, but some of the others may not be as nonchalant. Not right now though, with enemies potentially still nearby.
 
Lion's cannons boomed like thunder and High Noon once more found her ears ringing, but she was not deafened. Glancing about for another target, she saw that the beasts had scattered and disappeared into the undergrowth at breakneck speed.

She then turned her attention on how the other people were doing and wincing a bit at the sight of Crimson Harvest's handiwork. High Noon was relieved that no one seemed to be hurt even if what caused the raptor to retreat was still a concern. It would have been great if it was because they're scared of the loud noise of Lion's cannons but the call indicated otherwise. "Hey! Lion! Got anything else in that radar of yours?!" High Noon shouted at the blonde and coated magical girl. "Have we scared them off?!"
 
Last edited:
Marissa cautiously peeks out of one of her makeshift windows. The narrow line of sight is nonetheless enough to allow the sight of living dinosaurs fleeing into the forest, seconds after arriving. Is... that really it?

The ultimately pointless adrenaline rush leaves her lightheaded, so she allows herself to sink to the ground and rubs her face into her hands. As soon as all this is over, she's retiring Spire Cracker for good. It was a gamble, using magical girl abilities to bolster her savings, and she's paying the price for her indulgence now. Maybe she can find a job at a library or something.

She raises her head with a sigh, and her thoughts fall back to something that occurred toward the beginning of the encounter.

"Spire Spike." Surely enough, two points erupt from the dirt. Twin spikes side by side, each the size of a bowling pin. A fantastic development, with a terrible implication. Either her abilities only grow in the presence of other magic—preferable, if unfortunate—or the internet was right.
 
Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +14 Dice = 158 Total Damage
Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +39 Dice = 179 Total Damage
337 Unified Damage

Spire Wall Section: 100 Base Resilience, No Dice, x3 Stand Together = 300 Total Reduction
37 Total End Damage

Spire A: 100 - 37 = 63 Health Remaining

Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +21 Dice = 161 Total Damage
Rigging: 140 Base Damage, +26 Dice = 166 Total Damage
326 Unified Damage

Spire Wall Section: 100 Base Resilience, No Dice, x3 Stand Together = 300 Total Reduction
26 Total End Damage

Spire D: 100 - 26 = 74 Health Remaining

Shockwave! Raptors C-F take 24 damage and are Deafened!
High explosive shells impact the walls where the raptors outside the enclosure are taking cover with a series of thunderous booms, but the smoke clears to reval the walls mostly intact, save for some scorch marks and cratering.
Lion couldn't help but click her tongue in frustration at the results of her attack on the raptors. She had been hoping that the hits to the spires would turn them into some nice, dangerous shrapnel. It seemed, however, that Spire Cracker's... well, spires were a whole lot tougher than she had thought they'd be. As it was though, she had at least rattled their little brains if the way the four survivors were moving was any indication. The raptors were making good progress as they fled back into the forest around them, but even accounting for whatever winding paths they had to be taking through the underbrush, the way their radar contacts jerked about suggested she had rung their collective bells at the very least.

"Hey! Lion! Got anything else in that radar of yours?!" High Noon shouted at the blonde and coated magical girl. "Have we scared them off?!"
"They don't seem to be turning around anytime soon," Lion replied even as she watched them go, "I'll lose contact with them in five or six seconds and so far nothing else has come looking to investigate."
 
With no hostiles forthcoming, Shan gradually relaxed her stance and noted Alice's cat darting over, the shadow opening its maw wide to devour the sliced lizard that was still mostly covered in darkness anyway even while the pieces kept oozing red blood.

Alice grinned as Grinning Remnant finished swallowing her prey. She had hoped to be able to get more of them, but it seemed that that wasn't quite in the cards at the moment, so she would just have to settle for one for now.

"Spire Spike." Surely enough, two points erupt from the dirt. Twin spikes side by side, each the size of a bowling pin. A fantastic development, with a terrible implication. Either her abilities only grow in the presence of other magic—preferable, if unfortunate—or the internet was right.

When she saw Spire Cracker's little experiment, Alice gave her smuggest smirk as she made eye contact. 'See, you know I'm right,' she seemed to say, before wordlessly walking past and approaching Cecilia.

"They don't seem to be turning around anytime soon," Lion replied even as she watched them go, "I'll lose contact with them in five or six seconds and so far nothing else has come looking to investigate."

"Hey Ceci," Alice began, "Since it looks like they are gone for now, I think I need to talk to you about something I just learned, about my powers." She took a sead on a rock and began to explain.

"When I teleported off before, I didn't really go anywhere, I just, well, went.. away, or, well, inside of Grinning Remnant." At the mention of its name, the shadow cat jumped up on Alice's lap and began licking its paw. "There was... Well, there was another world in there, Ceci. It was... like a blighted garden surrounded by ruins, wreathed in shadows. At the center there was a pool, with a shattered crystal floating above it, and a tea table set for two next to it."

Alice paused for a moment, pensive. "I think I can bring people there, when I teleport, and I want to see what you think about it, what with you knowing so much about souls and all."
 
"Hey! Lion! Got anything else in that radar of yours?! [...] Have we scared them off?!"
"They don't seem to be turning around anytime soon, [...] I'll lose contact with them in five or six seconds and so far nothing else has come looking to investigate."
With the danger confirmed to be over, Shan took another deep breath and nodded to herself. A quick glance around told her that she could either talk to someone, preferably Ellen who appeared a little shaken still, or go and see about eviscerating the one lizard her Bloodletter apparently killed. Alice's cat had not eaten it.

Then the smell of cooking meat wafted into her nose and her eyes flicked to the... abandoned stone grill. Lion had tended to it before and the lizards appeared before Samantha could properly take over, so now no one seemed to remember it over the general excitement.

With Alice and Lion talking a bit to the side, she doubted either of them would think of the food either, at least until the meat that was put aside had gone cold. So Shan darted over and quickly grabbed the pieces with her left hand, the right one somewhat bloody and thus unsuited at the moment. There was no need to hesitate thanks to her gloves; taking the somewhat greasy meat and putting it back onto the grill did not take long enough to transfer the heat through the cloth, though it became kind of soggy.

She did not let the sensation bother her as she sat herself down on Lion's old spot, carefully winding her hair over her shoulder so it rested on her lap without looking; Shan's eyes were on the meat and her thoughts with how much was still there to be cooked. She also tried to figure out how that Brand Craft worked, then decided to just not touch it. While she was at it however, she had no idea when they would get another chance for fresh meat.

Lion was strong, but busy. Which left her with only one person who she knew could do it. "Ellen!" Shan called over to the younger girl. "Can you move that lizard over there?" Her hand was pointed at the flattened piece of stone spire she used as a chopping block the previous day, hoping that she could cut a few good pieces out in time.

If she was already at it, she figured, she might as well make sure they had all the raw materials they could get. Though the lack of a proper knife bothered her; the four blades Shan carried were certainly sharp enough, but they were also much longer than was practical for a task such as butchery.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a slim hand grabbing for a piece of meat, which she gently slapped away on instinct. Only afterward did Shan realise that it belonged to Alice. The meat was not done either way, she could tell that much, so she gave the other girl a shake of the head. "Please be patient a little longer. I know we are all hungry, but it will taste better if you give it the time it needs."

She turned the meat again as she spoke, ignoring the emptiness of her own stomach for the time being.
 
Last edited:
Her thoughts were interrupted by a slim hand grabbing for a piece of meat, which she gently slapped away on instinct. Only afterward did Shan realise that it belonged to Alice. The meat was not done either way, she could tell that much, so she gave the other girl a shake of the head. "Please be patient a little longer. I know we are all hungry, but it will taste better if you give it the time it needs."

"... Fine then." Alice pointed to the largest piece of meat. "I'm calling dibs on this one. I'll be back in a minute or two, I'm sure before the food is ready," she finished with a smirk.
 
"... Fine then." Alice pointed to the largest piece of meat. "I'm calling dibs on this one. I'll be back in a minute or two, I'm sure before the food is ready," she finished with a smirk.
The young woman squinted at Alice and thought that over for a moment. She should not consider her dibs if it would make Alice believe she could get away with rude behaviour like that, but the girl was likely just hungry. She could let it slide this time.

After hearing what the other two were talking about before however, Shan could not help but shrug and turn back to the grill. "Very well. Just make sure to actually please her if you already make it quick."

Shan only realised where she was after saying that. The jab would just earn a few laughs back home, but this was not home. Well, now the words were out and she decided to simply act as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
 
"Oh, don't worry, she's in for a magical time," Alice replied, not missing a beat. She smirked and gave a wink. "I'll be showing her things she's never seen before."
"Oh, it is her first time?" Shan could not help it, the whole matter felt just too familiar, too much like home to not carry on. So she looked up and grinned back at Alice. "Be sure to be extra gentle with her then."
 
Last edited:
"Hey Ceci," Alice began, "Since it looks like they are gone for now, I think I need to talk to you about something I just learned, about my powers." She took a sead on a rock and began to explain.

"When I teleported off before, I didn't really go anywhere, I just, well, went.. away, or, well, inside of Grinning Remnant." At the mention of its name, the shadow cat jumped up on Alice's lap and began licking its paw. "There was... Well, there was another world in there, Ceci. It was... like a blighted garden surrounded by ruins, wreathed in shadows. At the center there was a pool, with a shattered crystal floating above it, and a tea table set for two next to it."

Alice paused for a moment, pensive. "I think I can bring people there, when I teleport, and I want to see what you think about it, what with you knowing so much about souls and all."
Lion pursed her lips in thought for a moment before giving a cautious nod. "I suppose I can do that, but I don't think it would necessarily be safe or healthy for either of us if I stay longer than a minute, Alice," she replied. Truth be told she was a little unsettled at the prospect of going inside the cat, but it was Ali asking... And if there was one person Lion was willing to put her trust in, it was Ali.

"... Fine then." Alice pointed to the largest piece of meat. "I'm calling dibs on this one. I'll be back in a minute or two, I'm sure before the food is ready," she finished with a smirk.
After hearing what the other two were talking about before however, Shan could not help but shrug and turn back to the grill. "Very well. Just make sure to actually please her if you already make it quick.
"Oh, don't worry, she's in for a magical time," Alice replied, not missing a beat. She smirked and gave a wink. "I'll be showing her things she's never seen before."
"Oh, it is her first time?" Shan could not help it, the whole matter felt just too familiar, too much like home to not carry on. So she looked up and grinned back at Alice. "Be sure to be extra gentle with her then."
"Oh for god's sake," Lion muttered to herself even as she slapped a hand over her face at the by-play. It didn't help that she could feel her ears burning as the two continued.
 
"I suppose I can do that, but I don't think it would necessarily be safe or healthy for either of us if I stay longer than a minute, Alice,"

"Yeah, that's probably wise," Alice replied with a nod. "We'll make sure not to stay too long." She then leaned in closer and whispered into Cecilia's ear. "Let me know immediately if you start to feel anything strange, and keep an eye on your hands and feet for anything out of the ordinary. I'll let you out the moment you do."

"Oh, it is her first time?" Shan could not help it, the whole matter felt just too familiar, too much like home to not carry on. So she looked up and grinned back at Alice. "Be sure to be extra gentle with her then."

"Oh for god's sake," Lion muttered to herself even as she slapped a hand over her face at the by-play. It didn't help that she could feel her ears burning as the two continued.

Alice smirked at the reaction. "Don't worry, Ceci, I'll be sure not to hurt you, and we'll take it nice and slow. Going to make sure you have as good a time as I do," she said with a wink.
 
"Oh for god's sake," Lion muttered to herself even as she slapped a hand over her face at the by-play. It didn't help that she could feel her ears burning as the two continued.
Alice smirked at the reaction. "Don't worry, Ceci, I'll be sure not to hurt you, and we'll take it nice and slow. Going to make sure you have as good a time as I do," she said with a wink.
Shan could not help but giggle softly over the whole situation, hiding her mouth behind a slightly bloody glove. She had not expected to find someone she could banter with like back at home and was all the happier for it. She swiftly flipped the steaks again with her other hand so as to not get them stuck on the plate.

Then she raised her free hand in a short goodbye. "I hope you will share your wisdom about how well 'nice and slow' works together with 'making it quick'. And do not forget to clean up once you are done!"

She could not help it. Shan well remembered being the one who blushed like a schoolgirl just a few months ago, when she got used to her new home and classmates. Because, well, she had been a schoolgirl again. Times sure changed.

Though the fact Alice laughed heartily about her final jab gave Shan hope about actually getting along well with her. She would have to tread carefully with Alice's vocal hatred of the Unified Darkness, but she did not mind the effort as long as it did not put Ellen at risk.

Friends could be found in the most unusual of places and circumstances after all; Shan knew that quite well.
 
Last edited:
"Yeah, that's probably wise," Alice replied with a nod. "We'll make sure not to stay too long." She then leaned in closer and whispered into Cecilia's ear. "Let me know immediately if you start to feel anything strange, and keep an eye on your hands and feet for anything out of the ordinary. I'll let you out the moment you do."
Ignoring the rest of the peanut gallery, Lion focused on Alice as her friend leaned in to whisper in her ear. She gave a sharp nod at the instructions she received and steeled herself before she said, "I hear you loud and clear so let's get to it, Ali." Internally, she was doing her best to brace herself in preparation for just whatever it was she was going to see on the other side.
 
Ignoring the rest of the peanut gallery, Lion focused on Alice as her friend leaned in to whisper in her ear. She gave a sharp nod at the instructions she received and steeled herself before she said, "I hear you loud and clear so let's get to it, Ali." Internally, she was doing her best to brace herself in preparation for just whatever it was she was going to see on the other side.

Alice held Cecilia close as Grinning Remnant opened its mouth wide and swallowed them both. After a couple of seconds of complete darkness, they found themselves in what appeared to be the ruins of a garden. The colors of the world were muted, and a black moon hung in the sky.

They were standing on a path overgrown by the brambles that plagued the rest of the gardens, choking the life from what few plants remained. The path lead to a worn gazebo sitting in the center of the garden, and other paths could be seen leading from that central point. The marble of the gazebo was marred by gouges and hairline fractures, and the floor was cracked and uneven.

At the center of the gazebo, there stood a small round pool, its edges raised by about a foot. Light shone faintly from the water of the pool, casting an eerie light on the shattered fragments of a large violet crystal floating above it. Sitting next to the pool was an elegant, yet clearly worn and damaged tea table set for two. Alice lead Cecilia into the gazebo and pointed at the pool.

"Look in there, Ceci. I think you need to see this." Alice gestured at the water, and took a seat on the edge of the pool. Looking inside, Cecilia saw what appeared to be the reflection of the garden they were in. Yet, where everything was twisted and grim, in the reflection it was instead bright and whole. A well kept garden illuminated by a rising sun, and the yellow crystal reflected in the pool was whole, and, surprisingly, contained the form of Dawn Wanderer.

Her injuries were stitched together by threads of shadow, and though they were slowly healing, it was obvious that large scars would remain. Worryingly, shadows appeared to be creeping through the pool, slowly corrupting the world on the other side. Dawn Wanderer herself was showing obvious signs of this corruption, as shadows were wrapped around and sunk into one arm and one leg, reaching inward from the tip of the extremities towards her body.
 
Back
Top