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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 17, 2024 1:30:55 GMT -5
It’s a strange thing for Astrid to have been back in the halls of the Fighter’s Guild. In all honesty, she didn’t expect to return there after her admittedly cowardly way of leaving, and while the halls feel somewhat empty without Zarius and Vikram, she’s grateful for the opportunity Leandros gave her to help reforge broken bonds with the guild. Now if only she could fully rejoin after having gone to learn more magic from the Mage’s Guild. Their rivalry confuses her, but so do many things adults do at times. While wandering the halls after working with Leandros to help Athena, she ran into Gerhart who mentioned something about an unearthed knight in the Sunshade Glade. Apparently, all of the guilds are coming together to help protect and recover it. Being grounded for a while, she feels a little out of the loop, but thanks to this little adventure, Astrid learned about it one way or another and from a friend at that. Some twisted fae are trying to get to the knight, and the Fighter’s Guild offered members to defend it. The mission sounds pretty intense, and she wonders if there’s anything more she can do to help. Well, she’s around, so she might as well pitch in how she can, right? So, that’s how Astrid and Gerhart ended up in the forests of Moonglade hunting Kingswood Spawn and Bogaboo. Both creatures are a pain enough as it is, but fighting them together will be a good challenge. It’s time for wit and tact – definitely something two dumbass orphans have.
Quest Details: Guild: Fighter's Guild Participants: Exactly Two Location: Sunshade Glade Post Requirements: 5 posts per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown - Anyone +1 Mystical Archive ticket - Guild Member +1 Towards Guild Quest requirements - Guild Member Description: Since uncovering the Desolate Knight, floods of corrupted woodland Fae have been trying to breech the Glen and get to it. For some reason these spirits are drawn to it, and not in a positive way. Groups of Kingswood Spawn and Bogaboo are now pushing into the glen and attacking those to get in their way. The Fighter's guild is asking for help in fending off these creatures, but the battle is not easy. The combination of the two creatures are a deadly pair, mixing cunning trickery with violent savagery. Defeat two Kingswood Spawn and two Bogaboo who have grouped up before they can take the Knight.
Additional Information: There is something off about these creatures, medium sized, blighted thorns grow off of their bodies and they seem to be fervent in getting to the Desolate knight. It appears as some unknown force is driving them. What could it be?
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 17, 2024 17:16:04 GMT -5
Admittedly, Gerhart had somewhat drifted from the Fighter’s Guild as well but in a much less official way. With Athena back things seemed a lot calmer and it isn’t like he was going to get in on running the guild. Sure, he was probably one of the better fighters left....top 5 at least right?
In any case, he also felt like the work with the WEF was a lot more impactful. Fighting off big monsters was a much easier sense of purpose to get behind. Plus....he was really good at it. Like surprisingly good at it. The word of these monsters teaming up seemed like the perfect ob to join back with the fighters guild for a bit.
He wasn’t too up to date on what a bugaboo or kingswood spawn was, but he could find out along the way. Missions were way easier now that he can read. Can you imagine being able to know what monsters can do beforehand and not just learning it in the middle of the fight? Wild.
“So these guys seem a little lost, ready to send them back home?” He grins, resting his hands on the pommels of his swords.
Halcyon is soaring above them to scout and see what they can find while Thoman trots beside the ranger. As non-chalant as he is, the nose remains wary of any scent of blood or something off. An undead creature like the bugaboo will probably stand out, right? Can’t smell good being made of gross dead forest parts.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 17, 2024 20:40:50 GMT -5
“If ‘back home’ is buryin’ ‘em fer good, then aye, I’m ready,” Astrid says with an amused smile on her face. Her war hammer rests across her shoulder, giving off an icy mist as they trek through the muck. The trees are a bit too dense for Big Frizole, but she has Buttfellow in her back pocket if she needs him. “I’ve fought both a’ the creatures before, an’ neither of ‘em are fun ta fight,” she says, continuing with explanations of what she remembers. Her eyes stay vigilant for any movement or odd shapes in the forest. “Both are stealthy an’ like ta ambush folks. Bogaboos got four arms an’ they’re real quick an’ strong. The Spawn can look just like a tree if they ain’t movin’, an’ they’ll snatch ya up an’ try ta drink yer blood. It’s real easy ta get caught off guard. I got a spell that’ll force ‘em out a’ me space if I need it. Fire’s good if ya got it. Oh, an’ silver since they’re undead.”Last time she fought the Kingswood Spawn, Astrid got snatched up into the air, so she is especially wary of being caught off guard again. As much as she wants to be confident going into this, she still needs to be careful.
Kingswood Spawn An unfortunate, wretched creature whose skin looks like it is made of petrified wood. These stalkers are born from a combination of blood soaked into the roots of plants, creating a creature of deep malevolence and violence. These spawn, once given life, lurk in the mists of the Kingswood with their long, spindly limbs swaying like branches, and their hair like long, dead leaves. The nature of their creation has left them hungering for blood, and they linger in places where war is most prevalent. Their hunting primarily takes place at night, which gives them the added advantage of blending into their environment. When they stand absolutely still and tall, they can practically pass as trees. They are especially averse to fire. Abilities: - Natural Stealth -Blood Drinker -Death Sense -Wooden Skin -Elongated Reach Bogaboo A Bogaboo is a creature often used in cautionary tales told to little children to keep them from wandering into the swamps at night else they wish their skulls be added to a Bogaboo's collection. Bogaboos are accursed amalgamations of skeletons from bodies that were improperly disposed of, left to rot and fester until they became one with a malevolent nature spirit. Bogaboos are fast and able to easily navigate the tangled treetops of the Marsh Flats. They can also lurk beneath the water's surfaces, lying in wait for unsuspecting victims to cross their path. Abilities: - Undead Nature - Incredible Strength - Four Arms - Quick Climber - Ambush
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 17, 2024 21:03:20 GMT -5
“Fire huh? I got a few little tricks I think. I’m no Kamille, but one of my swords has a fancy bit of magic on it....I might be able to sniff out those spawns if they eat blood.” He thinks for a moment as they walk.
Between the two of them they could probably overpower most monsters even without the right spells. It helps having the right stuff though. Maybe he should learn more actual magic and not just whatever helps him do swords better. It’s in those thoughts he suddenly perks up. He takes a moment to reach into a side pouch and grab something out.
“Oh here.” He tosses Astrid a vial of silver coating. “I got some of these working with the WEF, liquid silver. I have another for one of my blades too so feel free to use that.”
Gerhart’s confidence is more in the bond he has with Astrid. They’ve been in a fair few fights together and they just seemed to work well together. It was that instant friendship before they even knew about all of their similarities. Gerhart’s general overly friendly nature also helped form those bonds fast.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 17, 2024 21:11:39 GMT -5
Astrid fumbles catching the vial in her prosthetic hand, nearly dropping it into the muck below, but she manages to keep hold of it. She’s only given this thing one good test run and the motor functions aren’t exactly on par with her natural arm yet. It gets better every day, but that still takes times. Holding the vial between two metal fingers, her eyes light up. “Oh! I’ve got some a’ this actually,” she says with a grin before tossing it back and patting the battle hammer hanging from her belt. “Me smaller hammer’s already silvered too, but…”
Digging into her bag, Astrid remembers that she has something perfectly capable of helping with the lack of fire on her very icy weapons: a small piece of Mount Drakolt itself.[1] While they walk, she presses the hot rock against the faces of her hammer, making the end of the normally difficult to see weapon[2] glow red in the light. “If ya don’t have a way ta do proper fire damage, I can help with that. It’ll just take a minute ta set up.” This is a perfect opportunity to field test her portable smithy if they don't get ambushed out of nowhere.
1. Mount Drakolt Whetstone [1/topic] 2. War hammer - Pale ice enchantment
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 19, 2024 16:38:42 GMT -5
"I mean it couldn't hurt to have it on both swords." He smiles and stops the walk a second as they mull over ways to prepare. "If it does drink blood then I should be able to notice it before it gets too close....though that would mean it just killed someone, but....let's not think about that."
Gerhart is ready to stay on watch for a moment while Astrid does whatever she needs to set up. There wasn't much happening in the woods right now which was both good and bad. It was always a little concerning when nature went quiet.
Now that he thinks about it though....they were pretty well set up for this. With Madadh-Allaidh's help, he was getting pretty good at taking on undead which meant they had the oomph to knock out any bogaboos. The fire enchantments would help with tree creatures for sure.
The bigger problem, at least in Gerhart's mind, was finding these monsters before they found them. It really wasn't a good plan to trust his sense of smell or even Thoman's and Halcyon might not see much from the sky.
"Think we should just start hitting trees until one says ow? Mother Oak might get mad at me about that and I don't think I have the time for that lecture, she talks slow."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 25, 2024 14:47:41 GMT -5
Astrid digs into her bag of crafting materials then sets a wood and steel box on the ground. When she unfolds it, a workstation complete with a small forge, anvil, and table manifests from inside, some space magic runes keeping everything stored neatly inside a pocket space. Astrid digs into her bag and pulls out a fire catalyst then takes Gerhart’s sword and quickly gets to work applying the fiery capabilities of the catalyst to it.[1] Once she’s done, the blade glows red hot, and she carefully hands it back to him.
“That won’t last forever, but it’s better than nothin’!” she says cheerfully, packing things up with surprising ease. Simply starting to close the lid makes the portable workshop warp through reality and deposit back inside the pocket space of the box. All packed up, she dusts herself off and looks around.
“Blowin’ stuff up might not help, but…” Astrid smirks. “Ambush predators need some prey, don’t they?” Snapping her fingers, Astrid manifests a pair of duplicates[2] and motions for them to take off into the woods. With a little salute, Bstrid and Cstrid rush off into the forest to look for or draw out the Bogaboos or Kingswood Spawn. In the meantime, Astrid starts walking with Gerhart. The closer they get to this Desolate Knight, the more likely they are to run into the creatures.
After a while longer of walking, Astrid hears a yelp from her own voice deeper in the forest and feels the magic holding her Replicant around dissipate. “That way!” she says, rushing forward.
1. Battlefield smithy - 1 uses, applies fire catalyst to weapon for fire damage for 3 posts. Used 1 fire catalyst 2. Replicant
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 25, 2024 23:05:41 GMT -5
"Well that's one way to do it." Gerhart chuckles and chases after Astrid.
In recent months, the ranger had gotten a tiny bit less reckless. It was hard to be devil-may-care about fighting when there were people who now cared. So running off into the woods like this would not have been his first option, but damn if it wasn't effective.
He flares his blades out to his side to follow after the half-dwarf.[1] That Javian guy really was a jerk, but Gerhart couldn't help but steal his moves the guy did really know how to fight. The better he knew how to swing both swords, the less likely he was to get hurt which meant he was less likely to worry Cirice.
Armored boots hit crunching sticks as they try to locate where the replicant went missing. As Gerhart comes to a stop something bursts from the trees and he moves on pure instinct for a moment. Branch like arms, twisted together to form a musculature end in sharpend spears for hands that aim for Gerhart's throat.
His offhand sword comes up to catch the attack, forcing the kingswood spawn's hand to glance to the side and set it off balance. He quickly comes back with a cross cut from his Duelist's Longsword, the scalded enchantment cutting into its chest.[2] The spawn reels back with a screech as its ambush failed.
"Oh, hey there you are. Sorry, does that hurt? Sounds like it hurts."
1. Falcon Glide 2. Harrying Guard
Damage types on swords: Wind, Light, Fire, DL has Double-Strike, and both swords deal double damage to evil alignment
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Mar 31, 2024 21:27:12 GMT -5
The stance Gerhart takes seems familiar, but given that the whole guild was after Javian and probably fought copycats or his lieutenants, it makes sense that some folks would pick up his techniques. This turns out to be a great stance to take because one of the Kingswood Spawn blends into its environment perfectly to strike at him. Astrid finds herself relieved to see Gerhart doesn’t get run through, but of course, she trusts him not to get hurt. It’s just so hard with these things that blend in almost perfectly!
Seeing that he’s managing that spawn alright, Astrid turns her attention to where her Replicant disappeared and finds an angry amalgam of bones with four arms searching desperately for the meal it grabbed. Hearing her approach, it whips around and focuses on her to see that the girl it thought it snatched has appeared behind it! Mid-screech, Astrid’s war hammer, sizzling with heat, ice, and lightning, strikes it in the chest and knocks it back. It claws at its sternum cracked by the impact then bolts for a tree, scaling it with relative ease and disappearing into the canopy above.
Astrid looks up, watching the movement of the branches to track the fleeing bugaboo before rushing after it. “One is goin’ this way!” she calls to Gerhart as she resummons her hammer to chase it. Her focus on the canopy gives something else an opening against her, and a massive, clawed arm made of wood strikes down to snatch at her. A bolt of lightning blasts down from the sky and slaps the arm away,[1] and Astrid whips around to look for the Kingswood Spawn only to see the last motion of its arm disappearing into a tree cluster.
Two types of ambush predators together couldn’t be easy, could it?
1. Dancing Chain (3 post cooldown) War hammer - pale ice, heavy, spellblade lightning, mount drakolt fire
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Apr 9, 2024 10:18:53 GMT -5
"Hey don't get too far away." Before he can really check on Astrid, another branched fist comes towards him. Gerhart moves to dodge, but he's stuck in place. A bogaboo slipped through while he was distracted and grabbed hold of his legs.
Gerhart does all he can to shift and let the blow glance off his armor, gnarled twigs still scraping his face and neck.[1] He brings his blades together causing a massive flash of light as the steel meets steel. Both the Spawn and the bogaboo have to shield their eyes[2] giving Gerhart a chance to dart back and escape.
"All right two on one isn't exactly fair, but I'll allow it since you'll need the help tree boy."
As soon as he lands on his plant foot Gerhart pushes forward again and laces lightning sparks around each blade.[3] Getting in a couple of pot shots would be easy with their guards up at their faces, left a whole lot of space to attack. One sword cuts deep into the bogaboo's shoulder as he passes, the other cuts through the midsection of the Spawn.[4]
The lightning arcs through each creature. Being made of wood and swamp numbs some of the effect, but the creatures both move noticeably slower for the moment. Just enough time for Gerhart to set up his next attack at least, it was fun when it was just one on one but it was dangerous now. Both of these monsters were fast and strong, the bogaboo was his biggest concern. The moment he lost sight of it the thing could slip back into hiding and launch another attack.
1. Padding HP used 2. Blinding Flash 3. Static Charge 4. Falcon Glide
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 9, 2024 20:01:59 GMT -5
Seeing the blinding flash of light blare through the woods, Astrid looks over at Gerhart to see him now taking on two creatures. Well, they did agree that they’d be doing something like that, didn’t they? It’s tricky at the same time, but since Gerhart’s going to be using that spell, Astrid decides to pull her goggles[1] over her eyes so he doesn’t have to worry about her whenever he wants to use it.
Based on the direction the Bogaboo ran off, it’s the same direction as the knight. If Bogaboo are so intent on killing, why would it beeline for the knight?? Astrid digs her feet in to dash forward, and just as she does, she gets raked across the back by the wooden claws of the Kingswood Spawn.[2] It threatens to knock her off her feet, but she’s steadfast,[3] and spiked, phantasmal tendrils lash out at the spawn.[4] They do little damage, only scratching the surface of its wooden form, but at least deter it from immediately attacking again.
This gives Astrid an edge to see where the Spawn disappears to into the trees, and she aims her hammer directly at it. Tweaking the magical formulae of the spell,[5] Astrid fires off a bolt of flames[6] that strikes the Kingswood Spawn in the chest. It falls from the trees, clawing at the flames licking its chest and threatening to consume its form.
“How’s it goin’ over there, Gerhart?!”
1. Sun Sparked Goggles 2. Cuirass -1/3 hit preventions 3. Immovable Bastion 4. Briar Shroud 5. Energy Transformation 6. Lightning bolt - changed to fire damage
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Apr 10, 2024 10:13:11 GMT -5
"Doing....great....making....new friends." Gerhart was very much on the defensive at the moment.
He could parry the kingspawn and dodge the bogaboo just fine, but any mistake and he would be dead. The crazy strength behind both monsters was also a struggle to deal with. Each hit was rippling up his arms. He just has to take out one, that will really simplify things.
Gerhart takes a big jump back and braces himself against a tree trunk. His legs coil back like a spring before sending him forward with a little bit of magical help.[1] The ranger soars through the air and crosses his swords in front of him.
He makes an X-cross attack as he passes the spawn, both fire enchanted swords cutting through it. The speed he passes by is too fast for either to react as Gerhart lands behind the pair of monsters.[2] The spawn's chest catches fire and screeches.
A sigh of relief leaves Gerhart as the spawn starts to crackle and burn away. Oh thank Lunala it is dead, one less problem to think about. The relief is short lived as he remembers there is a problem to think about. The bogaboo is gone. Where did it go?
The danger sense spikes in Gerhart as he knows he is being stalked. This thing could come from anywhere. Great, good work Gerhart, you did the one thing you didn't want to.
1. Step of the Wind 2. Haunting Blade
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 11, 2024 21:40:14 GMT -5
“Makin’ new friends is always good!” Astrid quips back, but she is, admittedly, a little spooked by the whole situation. Both of the Bogaboo have disappeared into the trees while their wooden Kingswood Spawn partners have turned into personal campfires for the adventurers. “Bogaboo are smart! They might’ve just been usin’ the Spawn as distractions!” Astrid glances over to Gerhart, seeing him looking around defensively. Does she go over to him or does she track down the fleeing Bogaboo?
Getting separated here isn’t the play, and Bogaboo like to stalk prey. Better to stick together. Astrid hurries back to Gerhart. “I’ve got an idea,” she says. “Just pretend like we’re perfect prey together. I’m gonna prepare that spell we used ta catch the Remorhaz.” Setting her hammer aside, Astrid’s prosthetic starts to glow more brightly than before, with runes etched into the surface lighting up. Some of them even appear to lift off and float just above, twisting and turning as she focuses arcana into her arm.[1]
Without the enchantments she and Fish worked on, this would eat up a lot of her magic.
1. Arcanatek Prosthetic - Arcane mode [post 1/3] Preparing to dual cast Scern’s God Killer with the prosthetic to snatch the Bogaboo. (One or two might pop out. Up to you.)
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Apr 13, 2024 23:08:28 GMT -5
"Yeah I don't exactly know if they are gonna fall for our bait." Gerhart slowly keeps his swords out as he makes a slow circle . He tries to listen in to the surroundings and see if he can pick up anything.
The glade has gone quiet except for the wind through the grass. The bogaboo never scratched him so he could track the scent of blood. He lets go of one blade to let it float beside him[1] as he motions for Astrid to stay still. He draws a kukri from the sheath at the back of his belt.
Focus....you've done this before...you've been the hunter and the hunted. Think...these things are not going come at a regular angle. They are ambushers usually from the swamps...no trees here, so they will becoming from a lower angle.
Come on Gerhart! Use your instincts, you can't always be so far behind Shaa and Zarius....Come on....
"There!" The rustle of grass barely begins before his float sword pins it to the ground. The ranger shifts towards Astrid, slamming his kukri into the mouth of another that pounced towards its friend. The monster clawed at his breastplate to try and shove him off. "Anytime now!"
1. Living Soul 2. Cuirass HP used
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 14, 2024 17:31:01 GMT -5
The moment the Bogaboo leaps out, Astrid tries to capture it with the spectral chains of fire, but it’s faster than she is at releasing the cast. Luckily, Gerhart is a good friend who’s quick on his feet, because he stops the Bogaboo in its tracks to give Astrid enough time to release the spell. The chains burst up from the ground and wrap around the undead creature, searing its undead flesh and bone.[1] It screeches in pain, and Astrid tries to pull Gerhart back to keep him from getting anymore scuffed up from its dying flails. Gods, Astrid does not like undead.
She whips out her silvered hammer and delivers a mighty smash to the Bogaboo’s skull.[2] It goes limp while the burning chains continue to hold and damage it.
Seeing the damage to his armor, she winces but says, “I’ll fix it,” with the same casual attitude she always does. This time, they won’t even have to go all the way back to her place – she can fix it once they’re done with the two Bogaboo. “I think this one is down fer the count. Let’s catch up to the other one before it reaches the knight! Race ya there!”
With that, lightning crackles around Astrid, and launches her through the air.[3]
1. Scern’s God Killer [cast limit not consumed with Arcane mode, post 1/2] 2. Head Strike 3. Astrid’s Valkyrie Strike Arcanatek Prosthetic - Arcane mode [post 2/3]
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