Everything was a reflection of a reflection of a reflection; a finite reality mirrored infinitely in the faceted faces of the crystal city through which she walked. Undead seemed to exist in droves here as remnants of some lost utopia that fate had abandoned to despair, and that was positively good news for Lucia and Lemming. Both women had a secret affair with the dark arts of magic and were desperately in search of the blackest of books which could enable them to achieve lichdom and sway the undead to their control. It had seemed almost too good to be true when the quest to find a slipper and put a pair of bodies to rest had appeared, practically begging to give them the secrets of immortality through undeath. Together as master and apprentice they had traveled to the crystal city and begun to explore within it.

Lemming's power was fledgling and pathetic, if she were to be completely honest. She could hurl a few flames at a zombie or skeleton to damage it, but on the whole she was practically useless as a part of their team. Fortunately what she lacked in power now she more than made up for with gumption and a keen mind, using it to help Lucia claw her ways through bone and blood and ash and mud towards their mutual goal of power and empire. She glanced up and down the streets at the scattered corpses, amused at how simple this all was thus-far. With her illumancy so high, Lucia was able to blast the undead apart in a burst of holy magic! But to keep her from wasting power, Lemming consistently ran out to draw crowds of undead and lure them into tight groups, which Lucia could destroy with ease. The tighter their groups the more that fit in them, the more she could turn to dust with a wave of her hand.

"The castle seems the safest place to find what we're looking for," Lemming mused aloud as she wrangled together a small horde that was waiting down a side street and began kiting them towards Lucia.
"A formal ball would be held there no doubt; and there was mention of a prince. Do you think the shoe has some sort of special property? If we find the other on Cinderella, would killing her net us a pair and allow us to wear them? It may be worth not finishing the quest if they have... powerful attributes. And diamond shoes seems a fitting gift for my master. If only a pale imitation of her own radiance," she grinned. Their relationship was less one between teacher and student and more a constant exchange between friends; one of whom was considerably more experienced in things and was slowly sharing that experience and strength with Lemming. Spinning around in the street, she paused and hooked a hand behind Lucia's back, taking one of her hands, and dipped the other woman as if in a tango in the middle of the street.
"Perhaps I'll even save you a dance in the ballroom, when all is said and done..."

• OOC: there are still one slot left for joining this quest (after Lucia has)- feel free to bump into the ladies in the city, but please don't begin with them as they came here a pair.

@Lucia Mierz

 

Lucia's attacks were particularly brutal for undead, as someone who had researched deeply into them, she simply had too many ways of dealing with them. Those who were gathered closely were annihilated with a sweep of her hand returning them to particles under an eerie and unholy lavender flash. Those few that were stretched far and in between though were dealt with with draining magic, reducing them to immobile corpses they once were by robbing them of their energy. Throughout their journey, Lucia didn't seem taxed or bothered, as if her spells weren't costing her a bit of energy; this was purely because whatever was spent was often robbed back. She naturally wouldn't do something as rude as spoiling Lemming's hopes though, seeing the girl struggling so hard to contribute, Lucia wouldn't disturb the girl's flow or efforts.

When Lemming mentioned finding the tools they were seeking though, Lucia only shook her head understanding the struggle of a Necronomicon well. "The chances are unlikely, they're things that only ever typically appear in highly dangerous areas, like the raid or world boss territories." Lucia tried to explain with a gentle gesture of her hand, using a pale lavender light to illuminate their path as they went. Who would know the struggle of finding those proper tools better then she did? It was taxing enough for her to make it through the raid, but it felt incomplete even so-- finding hidden and secretive loot had been a grudge she carried against the game developers who made her life so difficult. "Speaking to my own vibrant flare though-- I can't say diamond slippers would be particularly flattering with my style." Lucia added with a coy tone thinking that such flashy things didn't suit her minimalist lifestyle.

She had a nice outfit on, it looked clean, but at the end of the day her home was particularly unique, she didn't spend money on food or drink. One might think of her as a beggar if they looked only at what she spent coin on. Being dipped though, Lucia flashed a sweet grin, reaching a hand up to Lemming's head giving her hair a very gentle stroke, something that was becoming a typical gesture she shared with the other girl. "I wouldn't mind a dance, though it's been a long time, I can't say I'm all that good." She'd reply with a modest tone lifting a finger to the girl's lips to gently shush her away from those playful and potentially embarrassing possibilities.

 

Gwyn had been moving through Norfova like a wildfire after initials patrols through the territory had been sent out. In the shadow of the Spider Queen's fall, her ilk with a thirst for dancing on a sharper edge had willingly thrown themselves into the place so darkened by blood magic's presence. She'd had a preference for hunting down quests to do in the wasting lands, hungry for the challenge it posed compared to rolling hills or wide beaches. She would always feel at home in thick woods and high mountains, but Norfova was a test she was quite intent on mastering.

The huntress had set out after a missing relic and the words of others starting out on the quest. Hunting undead wasn't quite as fun as the beasts she preferred, but there was a different type of danger posed by their blunt teeth and the magic carting them about like puppets on strings. Strings that had, notably, been cut as the hemomancers were cut down. Apparently they hadn't gotten the message yet.

She moved on near silent feet through the dilapidated city. Her longbow never wavered in the event it was called upon and it became obvious just how much she would come to need it. The undead were everywhere and Gwyn was happy to be a ranger. The long streets and narrow alleyways, the split open bones of old buildings, and empty lots where markets once flourish made for excellent shooting galleries. She took care to conserve her energy, but more than once she had to activate the volley skill she'd picked up. She found it personally fulfilling to slaughter seven zombies in one ring of falling arrows that a single one had spawned. The beauty of the idiotic things getting stuck in some rubble practically made the fish in a barrel joke for her.

After a while of venturing through the corpse of the Crystal City she picked up the traces of recent fights. When she found a still smoking pile of corpses reeking of corruption burnt by something other than fire she put two and two together and figured she'd come across the wake of others out on the particular task. A theory proven correct further in. "Am I interrupting something ladies? Rather romantic locale you two've found," she laughed as she approached the other players, one held back in a dip. "Name's Gwyn and I believe we're all here to see a zombie about a shoe of all things."

 

It took a moment for it to dawn on Lemming that Lucia had misundertood and thought she was hoping the necronomicon or some other powerful item might be within, when she had in fact been talking about finding the glass shoe inside the palace. She was just preparing to amend her statement for her teacher when Lucia stroked her hair and caused her to lose the thought completely, replaced by something else when a finger was pressed to her lips to bid her into silence. Complying, she lifted Lucia back up form the dip and then glanced at another woman who had come upon the scene; taut muscle and lean form, with a heavy bow and a laughing expression as this stranger inspected Lucia and Lemming intently. It appeared that the two mages were something of a joke to this newcomer, and Lemming had to let out a brief snort of her own as she looked at things from Gwyn's point of view. In a city full of corpses, they were flirting and dancing? Yes, it was rather the odd duck thing to do.

"This is Lucia Mierz, and I am Lord Lemming," she said with a polite introductory tone, bowing stiffly at the waist like a gentleman meeting a lady for the first time. Standing up straight, she then raised a hand and waved for Gwyn to come over and join them so that the party would not be divided. Speaking of such things...

Invite

Lord Lemming has invited you to their party. Accept?

Clapping her hands together as if satisfied with a job well done, she inspected Gwyn once more and carefully noted the woman's confident posture and perceptive eyes; the eyes of a hunter who had come looking for game to hunt and possibly rewards to enjoy. She smiled at the huntress and gestured in the direction of the castle which was not too far off now; merely a few more mobs to sift through before they would arrive at its lofty gates, at which a large figure stood, wielding the leg of a white horse as a club in one hand, and a shield made of a broken carriage wheel strapped to his other arm. Vein riddled muscle covered his body and magical symbols were carved into his flesh at each shoulder, his chest, and unseen upon his neck; gifts from the blood mages that had been here and made him into what he was. As she used the Investigation tool on the NPC, Lemming nodded in satisfaction and pointed directly at him.

"That appears to be the good Prince Henry. I'm not sure what will draw his aggro, so... let's try to wrap up as much undead as we can, so they don't surround us and overwhelm us once the fight starts. For all we know he could give them resistance to illumancy, which is how we've been dealing with them so far." Turning to Lucia and Gwyn, she looked the two women over to see what the thought of that plan. Sadly there was no KNOWING what would happen; it was all guess-work about what the game had in store, but it always paid to ere on the side of pessimism in such situations.

 

Lucia looked Gwyn over with a mellow smile, it was a familiar weapon, outfit, style even. Lucia herself had been a ranger until not so long ago; while she was always intending to be a necromancer, until the raid finished she'd gone down dual martial and magical paths. A sweet smile came to her face as she remembered her original choice with a soft sigh filled with a gentle sadness and melancholy. "Archery, how nostalgic, I still have my crossbow and bow too." She mused thinking back, wondering if they would be worth anything. They were pretty powerful items after all, though she never got a chance to use the crossbow before changing.

When she was introduced, Lucia nodded her head with a small wave of her hand in greeting. She was usually a modest and relaxed person regardless, one extra person didn't matter much to her. Two or three people, undead creatures weren't her opponents any more. "It would be nice, though whether or not this shoe will really be helpful is another story." She spoke with a soft breath knowing after all of her adventuring that one mustn't get their hopes up when pursuing such a distant target. The shoe itself might not offer anything helpful to them in the long run outside of being the item used to solve the quest. She intended to follow along with Lemming, with Gwyn along with, occasionally pointing out interesting tidbits about particular skeletons or zombies along the way to help Lemming differentiate them. Though as time passed, she couldn't help humming in thought. "It would be best to find out if there's a lich or if there's a Ziggurat behind this-- If we don't know, it will be difficult to stop them from coming back." She added, knowing that completing this quest will remove the most dangerous creatures perhaps, but most likely won't remove the blight from the land without removing the source.

It was only when they arrived and saw Prince Henry that Lucia cocked her head to one side. Not a Lich, not a Wraith, not a Vampire; an abomination of all things? Low class-- or perhaps medium class would be a better way to describe it. Akin to the thing she fought when she first met Lemming. Wouldn't it be a good lesson? "Okay." She clapped her hands softly as if trying to get everyone's attention, whether or not Henry himself was drawn towards her, she wouldn't mind, if he advanced he'd find approaching her to be difficult even without attacking with Illumancy, her barriers wouldn't be so easily rendered useless as she'd thrust it back. The shimmering wall-like shield bending like a trampoline before thrusting the Prince back as Lucia explained. "These types, the Abominations are unnatural undead, the type that are built or crafted. They don't come from a Ziggurat so perhaps this is the work of a lich of some sort after all, that makes this easier. They're very physically strong and fast-- but stupid, even for an undead." She explained with a wry expression knowing undead by nature weren't terribly bright in the low tier spectrum.

"I'll support, so give it your best okay?~" She offered with a smile, ready to bail the pair out if needed but growth from experience was important as she gestured towards Gwen. Letting the girl's arrows give off black fumes briefly from a buff that was cast. Lucia's spells were all cast from gestures, even Corrupting Strike, her buff skill that applied rot and corruption damage to weapons was the same. She turned towards Lemming and with a gentle coaxing gesture tried to urge her to give it a try.

 

@Gwyn ap Herne

 

Gwyn raised a hand to offer a casual two-finger salute toward the two of them, "Nice to meet you both." Her hand dropped to accept the party invite and she was very proud of herself for not laughing at the name given for the Ms. @Lord Lemming. The ranger moved closer to the two of them at Lemming's gesture and smiled widely at Lucia. "You ah, what do they call it, respec? That it? Respec out of Ranged, yeah?" The smooth, black bow at her back was endeared to her already and she'd be sad when it was finally time to move up at switch. Sera had certainly made a brilliant one and had taken the heavy draw weight into consideration. The thing could be a bitch to get to full draw and the burn was satisfying every time she did it.

The three moved sleekly in the direction of the castle, all of them more nimble builds if one discounted the rather packed muscle on the archer. Lemming was all lean and wiry muscle, her dark skin and darker hair making her a rather fetching, but dangerous looking woman. They had a similar set to their shoulders that spoke of an ease in their bodies that could be a shared confidence, experience in these kinds of games, or even that she'd done little to reshape herself headed into the game. Gwyn couldn't imagine having to adjust to two forms over and over. It would cause issues, she felt, in her life if she had to. Sometimes she jolted up from bed after gaming for a while and toppled flat to the floor as everything from her right hip to knee locked up in muscle spasms. She could barely handle that.

@Lucia Mierz, on the other hand, looked like a dream. Thick hair and thicker... well a few things. She had a bit more substance to her compared to Lemming, but not nearing Gwyn save her rack maybe. A rather perfect middle of the road with some well defined cheekbones and jawline to make her stand out. God, she loved women. Especially dangerous women. The trail of magical destruction the two had left behind wasn't near the destruction that had obliterated this land, but they had left a mark Gwyn was eager to witness up close.

The huntress listened to both speak on strategy and on the undead themselves and hummed lowly to herself as she considered everything offered. "With all of us able to damage at range we can probably draw the mobs down and level those before we manage to get him to leave his spot. If he does I can use a pinning strike to shut him down while we take out his entourage." With that she readied the bow, taking a sturdy stance and drawing back until the neither her arm nor the bow could offer more. The skill for her Scatter Shot activated as Lucia's magic curled along the weapon. The arrow gave off wisps of dark smoke and Gwyn eyed it with a glint to her gaze. This was going to be fun. "Let's, shall we?" Her attention snapped back up to a group of undead standing in their way and corrected her aim. With a grin bordering on a snarl she let loose the volley, the single arrow splitting into many with the sound of splintering wood that rained down on the zombies. What her arrows didn't put down, the slow and awful rot from Lucia would surely manage.

 

It seemed that they had decided on a plan of sorts through the process of introductions. Gwyn would be their standard damage per second ranged fighter and focus on handling most the heavy hitting while Lucia supported her with healing, and debuffing magic attached to the tips of the already treacherous looking arrowheads. Lemming's own usefulness was called into question within her own mind, having neither the physical nor the magical means to really contribute to the group beyond a little plume of fire here and there. The undead creatures were generated by dark magics and so she was unsure if her hexes and curses would do much to inhibit them. It wasn't as though she could harm their organs or crush their minds with the magic, was it? The only thing that really came to mind was utilizing the rotting magic upon them, to speed up their destruction... But Lucia could do that faster and more effectively, so there was hardly a point to trying. No. Her strength here was going to be the pyromancy, even if it lacked any real punch. Perhaps combined with their own attacks, it would look useful enough that nobody would notice or care.

Focusing upon the group that Gwyn had just unleashed a volley upon, she watched as several were brought down by the arrows and those that were merely damaged turned to face the women. Raising her hands, she began a series of somatic enchantments as she wove an area of effect spell around the undead, charging it with her pyromancy magic. At the end of the spell, a small burst of flame sprang up in a circle around the mindless undead mob, then began to enclose upon itself, the ring shrinking inwards and cutting through the undead which began to catch fire. It rapidly came to a single point when the ring shrunk entirely into the epicenter of the spell, exploding outwards suddenly in a very weak puff of smoke and flame. Still, it had been enough to send bones scattering, the skeletons and zombies that Gwyn and Lucia's combined efforts hadn't brought down falling under the sway of fire.

Smiling, she jogged forth slightly, trying the same spell again on the next mob so that they could clear the area quickly and make their way to the palace gates. Once the mobs were cleared she paused and looked the large undead figure over, hoping that people had some bright ideas. Somebody was going to have to keep its attention and do their best to tank, and considering her own relative uselessness, that job fell immediately to her.

"Don't let him sweep me off my feet," she said to Lucia with a wink as she ran forwards, her hand exploding into a thin jet of flame that began to ignite the undead and cause him to emit a terrible roar. She had his attention now, and began to run around the courtyard before the castle gates, using her fire magic to boost out of the way of his attacks and avoid being crushed to death, buying the others time to take him down.

 

Lucia exhaled a melodious chuckle as things began to get started seeing the hail of splintering arrows though, Lucia brought a hand to her cheek, almost lazily. As if she wasn't even really fighting a battle and was instead spectating something as a detached onlooker. Reaching out for Gwyn's shoulder she gave her a delicate pat, her touch was gentle and reassuring as she shook her head and spoke. "A spread won't do too much, critical damage comes when striking the face and neck." She offered advice, smiling brightly to the girl who she tried to help. After all zombies weren't easy to kill just striking the torso or limbs, you would have to shred them to bring their health down low enough to die. Fortunate the Rot seemed to be spreading enough to wither them down into nothing, Lucia didn't mind the slow burn of a fight either, so she gave the advice in passing rather then trying to make it critical.

Lemming's shout and wink though only made Lucia swing her hip to one side,, Lucia's free hand slid through her hair before gesturing towards Lemming as she spoke. "Just don't hurt yourself okay? Abominations are slow but they like to swing wildly." Lucia tried to caution finishing her gesture causing a pale lavender light to flash. If Lemming looked down at herself she'd see a symbol slowly being etched into her clothing by the light as if it were glowing from the creases of her clothing. The spell "Protection from Physical" activated buffing her with the symbol made from Lucia's gesturing. If she glanced at her own status the symbol for physical damage reduction appeared in the form of a shield with a % icon over it.

Once done, the hand still left on Gwyn's shoulder would rest there, relaxed with a bright smile. "Flame is still useful even when small, fire will always burn hotter and brighter with more material." She urged knowing that the prince had enough flesh to burn, there wouldn't be a problem as long as Lemming dodged properly. "Don't worry about the handful of little ones though--" Lucia spoke, her voice soft and sweet as she turned to Gwyn leaning against her just a little. "--They won't be able to do much alone without the prince." She lectured with a coy giggle, lifting her hand from Gwyn's shoulder to pet her head. Lucia's actions didn't seem like she was in the fray, but that was largely because she didn't really feel much fear from the undead. If she went on the offensive there was a chance this boss fight wouldn't last very long.

 

Gwyn didn't startle at the touch, but it was a near enough thing. She smirked over her shoulder at the other woman as she spoke, "I'm aware. Easier to spread your hex though over the group. They'll topple over from that, not my arrows. So thank you for the assistance, ma'am." As @Lord Lemming lifted her own hands to cast, Gwyn watched the fire circle and incinerate those her arrows hadn't taken down. Between the burning effect and the health draining over time from the hex? The entire group was gone with minimal effort. "Perfect." She grinned toward Lemming before Lucia's words drew her attention once more.

The two most have known each other fairly well from how easily they spoke and moved together, though if the hand on her shoulder meant anything then perhaps they were simply... looser around folks? She had a pretty solid personal bubble, but she couldn't find the heart to be at all bothered by the closeness. After all, it wasn't often one had a very, very lovely woman hanging off their shoulder and- petting her head? Gwyn lifted an eyebrow, though she felt the tightened and scarred skin over the eye resist it. She could also feel the reddening at the tips of her ears if the faint heat was anything to go by. Was her hair standing up strangely? Had something got caught in it? She glanced down as the mage's hand moved, but she neither felt nor saw anything fall away. She felt like she was missing a point, but there wasn't much time to go considering it.

Lemming had moved forward and Gwyn snapped to attention, eyes skipping over the burning remains of a few lower level mods the pyromancer had cleared out. As Lucia gave her tip on the prince and Lemming began to really draw his ire, she moved. Feeling the hand fall off her shoulder had her scowling, but it was time to get down to it. She advanced with a deadly intent, watching the movements of the lither caster and the prince. Suddenly she fired, the arrow arching forward and warping. The arrowhead lengthened and twisted into a hideously cruel looking tip. The sudden gain in speed and force sent it shooting through the leg of the prince and into the cobblestones below. "Light him up while the Pinning Shot has him immobilized, it won't last!" Meanwhile she prepped her next attack.

She kicked one leg behind her again and straightened her posture, pulling back and holding. The ranger was tempted to go for a Power Shot, but Lucia had mentioned she should be actively targeting their heads. Best way to put down zombies, what with the brain thing and all. How stereotypical. The Precision Shot charged as she steadied her aim and was let loose. It did less damage normally, but had an increased chance for a critical. The head being a weakness would likely make up for the lacking damage and even more so if the hit landed was critical. She more just hoped that Pinning Shot would last long enough for Lemming to deal her damage and stay clear. Something told her she didn't have to be concerned about @Lucia Mierz in the least.

 

Things seemed to be going according to plan, though whose plan it was, she sure as shit didn't know. In her mind, this would have been over in a few deft movements as she kept the thing distracted and Lucia and Gwyn brought it down, combining some well placed shots with some well spent illumancy. The fact that Lucia was just standing there, hand on Gwyn's shoulder, was more than a mild annoyance to Lemming as she was out here blowing all of her mana trying to keep the thing distracted. As soon as the pinning shot struck she paused to catch her breath, listening as Gwyn shouted across to her. It was hard to hear over the prince's rage filled screams, but it sounded like "fire" was the gist of things. Well, that'd be nice but... it wasn't practical.

"I'd love to burn him and all, but I've barely got any mana left and it'd be really nice if the person here who specializes in killing the undead would chip in a little, before I become clobbered into the cobblestone!" She wasn't normally so critical and short tempered, at least not towards Lucia, but honestly. Had she been flirting up the archer chick two minutes after meeting her? Okay. Okay, so she'd flirted up Lemming two minutes after they met as well. But that hadn't been a life or death situation with a giant undead abomination about to crush her to death! That had been a relatively calm little copse of blighted ground where Lucia had just finished killing some sort of werewolf and Lemming had stumbled upon her, and said hi. Relatively normal for two women to start flirting in that situation! But not surrounded by the undead, when Lemming was running low on mana and totally out of patience.

She gave one last huff of annoyance and glanced back at the large undead form which rotated its head around one hundred and eighty degrees to look directly at her, and then down at its leg. With a bloody grin, his waist suddenly rotted off of him and fell to the ground, still stuck by Gwyn's keen marksmanship to his leg, and was replaced by the horse's leg that became magically sewn against the stump of his bowels and flesh. He was now a massive tripod beast of muscled man and a single hind horse leg, which immediately began to charge after Lemming who, with a scream of "WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" sent herself cartwheeling away amidst another burst of fire to boost her speed and dodge the massive... thing.

It clawed at the stone ground and readjusted its course, running after her a second, third, fourth time, each attempt coming close to catching or crushing the athletic little mage as his arms swiped at her and the hind leg kicked wildly in the hopes of planting its hoof in her gut. Luckily she had just the right amount of coward in her not to brave this transformed undead, and focused all of her attention on trying to evade it, momentarily forgetting her two teammates and any ill feelings she may hold for their presumed and sudden closeness.

 

Lucia was naturally someone who was a little handsy, unlike others she simply didn't have a personal bubble, in fact those that did often times made her a little sad or alienated-- she did so enjoy being close to those she could appreciate. Whether or not this was considered flirting in her eyes though, Lucia wouldn't have the foggiest idea, flirting seemed like such a distant and strange thing to her, she couldn't fathom having any kind of talent or desire for it. "Good good." Lucia said a little relieved glad that Gwyn understood the basics of low leveled undead. Lemming, she was confident the woman was well aware of the weaknesses of the undead. She only continued petting the girl as if rewarding her gently.

It was only when Lemming called out to her that she couldn't help chuckling with a hand over her mouth, a coy smile on her face as she brought her hands together hoping Lemming wasn't too bothered. "Now now, I'm supporting now, supporting~" Lucia explained before reaching down to her waist for the tome that was bandaged and latched onto her belt. She began to slowly unwrap it as she spoke. "Lemming dear, you don't have a lot of experience fighting against these tough odds, and having the chance to experiment and do so in a safe place will be rare. I'd thought to let you get some experience, but if you insist on having me help." Lucia mused as she unraveled the tome with a contented sigh. "Just for you though okay?~" She teased with a warm smile at Lemming who seemed distressed. She gestured towards the prince sweeping her hand towards the Prince as it chased her around.

"Acid Wash." She spoke her magic's name with a gentle smile as a small black sphere would take shape from a black fog billowing out from her magic tome. Only when it became the size of a golf ball did she whip it forward at the creature. Once it got within a few feet of the prince though, it would suddenly erupt like a large water balloon, splashing black acidic liquid over the creature's front and soaking the ground behind it's back as it burst in a single direction. The acidic liquid came with the erosion and rotting status effects melting and corroding the things it touched. Fumes would no doubt begin to billow off of the creature as it was being burned but Lucia hoped Lemming would feel it was a good enough effort.

 

@System

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