Sera frowned, sitting off away from the majority of people, her back against a wall and staring into the shadows of the night. Did she make the right choice? She placed her hand over her stomach. She sighed, lowering her head. Now was the time to rest. To recover. Not to ponder choices.

But saying and doing were two different things. She could not force from her mind the thoughts that plagued her. She could not quiet her mind to determine which of the two sides she helped today deserved her help. It was joining this guild, being with these 'heroes' that made her try to help people for anything other than her own reward. And what had that got her? She shook her head. No. From now on, she would be loyal to herself, to Aaron, and their child. Any other loyalties in this world would stem from there. She would do whatever she needed to in order to ensure her child would be safe.

She sighed heavily, and looked up into the sky. "I should probably get food," she muttered, yet made no move to do so.

 

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"Maker, I really should still be sleeping... Still, even the Boss Man sent a message saying we should show up. Wouldn't be fair if I didn't at least put in the effort. Besides, with the way this game's realism is set... I can't imagine how amazing a siege will be." Or the entire series of events would lead to adverse reactions in his life, like the whole "Demon Plants from the Beyond" situation. Maker, he was going to destroy all demons, if it were the only thing he accomplished in this world! 'At least here, I have the chance to fight such things physically. Nothing like that in the real-' His thoughts were breached with the sudden scents of death and flames. Blood was heavy in the air, metals stinging his nostrils with the permanence of it. Oh yes, this was a siege. Ashes rained down through the night air, and Akino's eyes watered briefly from passing by a series of what looked to be some flesh burning. Unfortunately, it was slow going to make way through the carnage of raged battles, and dodge the occasional attack from the walls beyond. It certainly was not clear enough for him to go sprinting along, and that left the felis plenty of time to move in solemn reflection.

Akino wasn't sure how he felt about all of it, passing through the aftermath of long dead bodies laying strewn about. The odd limb severed, or the charred body railed on a pike. NPCs were brutal with their treatment of attackers, especially other non-players. Granted, there have been stories... but nothing as gruesome as that. Either road, you felt the pain when you looked upon their all too human bodies. 'I wonder if they are programmed to feel pain... Maker, I hope not- That'd be something a sadist would create though... Gamers aren't sadists.. Ha. Ha.' Something to research. Letting the worries break off for a moment, the felis immediately sought out something to drink, and wash the sobering thoughts down. Gazing out over the camp, he studied the movements for familiarity. Nothing. Likely most were resting, if present.

"The price when you join in so late. Ah well, I'll still find some meaning from it." Whistling a tune, he'd walk between the flame painted tents, with dancing shadows of hollow bodies seeking warmth to fill the voids they carved within. A muted cheer lingered about the place... A joy for surviving, for doing what they could.

Sympathizer
9 + 20 = 29
[x]​

 

Gwyn had followed swift on the heels of the elves as the pseudo retreat was called via the magic flare. The tents came up quick and she'd have walked in a daze if there wasn't still a pervasive sense of paranoia settled under her skin. She saw unfamiliar faces everywhere and caught glimpses of more familiar ones. None of them she felt comfortable approaching at present. Save, perhaps, the woman who had matched her drink for drink before. She certainly seemed to be having as fucking wretched a day.

The ranger gratefully accepted the food the elves offered and had to explain quickly her reasons when she asked for a second bowl of a thick stew being made. They would no doubt ration until they were sure they had enough to provide for all on their newfound side. She thanked the elven man and carried both bowls away from the crush of people all seeking their own recovery at the side of the various foods being prepared. None of it was too fancy, but stews and sandwiches and the like were quick and could pack a large variety of nutrients needed in very little time. The two heavy mugs she fetched could have been full of beer, but water was the better choice at present and she tucked them between her arms and sides to carry the four containers to their destination.

The huntress approached @Sera Phim as she muttered to herself and stood to the sitting woman's side with tired eyes. "I think I can fix that," she said lowly. They both looked like they'd been through the wringer. Gwyn's HP bar in the corner of her vision thanks to the game's subtle UI didn't look great. She was halfway to dead and the only thing that was worse than her current appearance was how she felt. "Mind if I sit? I can find somewhere else if not. After a day like today, I wouldn't take it personal."

 

Noah was about to go and destroy some of the garrison when he was alerted with a simple message. Pull back. It seemed that they were all gathering along the wall, some makeshift camp provided by the elves hab established there. It was probably for the best, Noah had taken some damage on top of the wall which he had been ignoring for the past couple of hours. Couple of hours? Geez, he had not realized that the assault had taken that long. Thank god he did not work until late in the day for his real life job tomorrow, so for now he could waste his life away in here for another hour or two. Who knew perhaps he would run into a few of his Yulan Dragon guildmates, that would be nice. Meeting up also gave the players a chance to form a better strategy for the dawn’s assault. The only problem was getting out of the castle without running into too much trouble. He was located near the garrison, which was not terribly far from the main door, but there was likely to be trouble and enemy reinforcements everywhere. There was only one way out from whence he came. With a sense of urgency mixed with stealth he weaved in and out of the hallways until he came to one of the several holes left by the initial assault.

Right as he stepped through the whole he heard multiple dings, probably coming from the guild chat. It was always blowing up after all. Noah brought up the screen, skimmed the messages and opted to send his own. He was fearful that shit was about to just go south quick. Blindly fighting never got anybody anywhere in the history of mankind He realized that his guildmates wanted to help their new allies but unless they had some way to justify their actions to the other NPCs of Faldern, they would soon find themselves in the middle of a revolt or genocide, neither sounded too fun in Noah’s opinion. He sent his message and dismissed the screen. He was too hungry and thirsty to worry about all of that at the current moment. He made his way to one of the campfires and plopped down to rest his weary mind and body, he was exhausted after all that action. Perhaps he would have some company join him soon.

 

The night was starting and everyone was encamped within and against the fortress courtyard, keeping an eye on their target and making tentative peace with the elves that they had all suddenly allied with. The situation was still strange for Lemming to wrap her head around; but the long and short of it was, they lusted after power. They craved the castle for themselves. Well they could have it. SHE wanted The Book, and a different sort of power. And she had been among the first traitors, possibly the only traitor, until they had all realized their ambitions were as selfish and motivating as her own. Not a single among them could damn her if they wanted to, now.

Still. She knew she'd get hateful stares, but at least she might still have friends among the players she'd met before. Seeking Gwyn out, she tracked down the woman and found her asking to sit besides Sera Phim. Both women looked horrible and beaten by the day's activities. Lemming, having taken a calm and slow approach to her sabotage, was almost pristine compared to everybody else. Only the sun had caused her to sweat, and only jumping out a window had dirtied her up. Slapping the back of Gwyn's knees with a staff, she forced the woman to sit down violently and suddenly.

"Why ask for permission?" she mused rhetorically, gesturing at Gwyn's exhaustion and nearly-defeated expression.
"She couldn't stop you if she wanted to. We're in a party, we can't PVP. And besides, moping by herself will do her no good." She shrugged, realizing what an enormous cunt she was being, but accepting that she merely was one. Glancing down, she noted the water dripping down Gwyn's hands from where it had sloshed out of the two mugs, and she frowned.
"...didn't you hear my message, about how I poisoned the well here, back before everyone else hadn't given in to their own selfish ambitions? Anyone who drinks that is going to become horribly sick. I'd stick to beer, or find somebody that can purify the malefimancy in it. Honestly, tired as you both look, that could've just been the death of you both..."

 

Sera looked up at the two women who had come to join her, @Gwyn ap Herne and @Lord Lemming. "Yeah, you can sit," she said to Gwyn, just before the other woman knocked her down. She frowned, but didn't have the energy to stand up for Gwyn. "Gwyn, right?" She asked. She had drank with the girl before, and she was vaguely under the impression they were both in the same guild. "Thank you for the food, you're a goddess-send," she said, accepting the food gratefully.

She paused a bit at Lemming's warning of the water. So the girl was a bitch, but at least trying not to let them die. "Thank you for the warning," she said. "Though I don't believe I know your name." She reached for the two mugs and chanted a bit, using her Astramancy to tap into the powers of illumancy, which quickly dispelled any negative effects the water might have had. "I shouldn't be drinking alcohol," she said. She didn't want to mention she was pregnant. So far, that secret was between her and Aaron. She noted that Lemming admired to being one of the early traitors. Part of Sera felt like she should be upset at that, but she didn't have the energy. "Why did we all betray?" She asked, not really asking the two women, just asking in general. "Why couldn't we have found a way to just talk about the issue? Use our grown up words?"

She took a bite of the stew. It wasn't bad. Wasn't her favorite thing in the word. But right now, it was food. "Have either of you seen Aaron? Uh, Aaron Steele. He's... he's my fiancée, and my guild leader. I think he was part of the assault team, but I haven't heard anything about how they are doing..."

 

Everything seemed like a blur after the retreat signals were launched. Although Astor wanted to push forward and capture the keep so they can end the exhausting siege already, he was rather thankful that someone else had made the call to retreat and rest. He was about done for the day. Ever since he started killing players who resisted him, despite the world chat announcement and his warning, he’s felt rather uncomfortable in his virtual skin; something didn’t sit right with him.

While he despised pointless killing, the power he wielded over another person’s life made him feel powerful. He’s become quite powerful at this point in the game, and killing has become so easy, and such an everyday thing that life has been devalued to him.

While he sat in silence, he stoked the fire with a long wooden stick, making sure to keep the flame going as he held a piece of meat over it, letting the heat cook the piece of poultry. Occasionally, he would turn the meat in a particular direction to make sure the flame covers all of its side. Once he was finished, the blonde retrieved the morsel and tore it in half, handing @Ilusa Nakhalee a portion. “Eat up, we need food, water, and sleep to take down that keep tomorrow,” he said, although he seemed as though he wanted to say more, the words were stuck inside his throat.

After taking a sip of water from a mug, he turned back to his companion and asked, “Are you sure you wanted to come with me? It’s not a good path you know, you get stale water, half-cooked chicken, and not even a tent to yourself. It sucks! In fact, you'll have to share a tent with me tonight too.” he joked, hoping to lighten the sullen mood some.

 

"Yeah, yeah Sera it's me. The woman who totally kicked your ass at drinking. Definitely wasn't a draw or anything." Gwyn laughed quietly and smiled at @Sera Phim before making a move to settle. A sudden, solid thwack to the backs of her knees had her toppling and she fought not to drop everything she held. When she looked up her disbelief at such a douche move vanished. Lemming. "Some people care about personal space," she quipped, "Like you care about our mutual acquaintance Lucia's presence in mine, yeah?" The huntress smiled with a lip raised in faked mocking toward @Lord Lemming.

She handed over Sera her share of the lot and watched her cast the spell. "Waste of mana. The water's from the casks they brought. While you're a formidable drinker, Sera, I don't want to go toe to toe with you yet so I passed on the alcohol. We still have a fight come morning... if they let us rest that long." Gwyn shifted slightly as Lemming spoke of her own sabotage and the hunter couldn't help but flinch when Sera asked her own questions about the whole thing. "I know why I did it." She took a few bites of her stew before she bothered to speak again in the event she lost her appetite over the coming conversation. "Yeah, Steele's fine according to the last guild-wide message he sent, but... can you... not tell Steele something for a bit? I won't blame you if you do, but with things up in the air like they are I don't want to..." she fell quiet as she stirred at the broth and moved a few chunks of what was most likely beef or venison around.

Finally the archer sighed and set down the bowl to pull the longbow the other woman had crafted into her lap. When she spoke, it was quiet to prevent any others in the camp from overhearing their little trio's conversation. "When Steele summoned us here, I didn't help. I didn't even wait it out- I fought on their side. I just couldn't think of anything but a collar choking me. It's all the conflict did was make me feel trapped like the slaves the nobles have decided make pretty trinkets and decorations out of and I-" Gwyn rolled her shoulders, the loud pops helping to relax the set of her shoulders a little. "As soon as the call to arms went out I fought on their side instead. I didn't kill any players of Falderens, I just aimed for projectiles, weapons, shields, and that sort." She slid a hand along the dark wood of the longbow and thumbed at the wrappings of the handle. She felt a little better having gotten it off her chest, but mostly she just felt a trillion fucking time worse.

 

Ilusa sat near the fire, next to @Astor Balthas who was preparing their food and feeling drained and tired, her mind flashed back to the battle, to the small scale war.

After the announcement, some players agreed, laying down their weapons, others did not. Now she was grateful to the mass invite and the lack of friendly fire it meant (it also gave her a very clear look on people needing healing on their side, aside the occasional elf).

It was a whirlwind of activity. A friendly in need of healing here, there, and everywhere. Of course she stayed relatively close to Astor, who cared for her health and well being. Every player knew to target the healer so she was a prime bait for her side, for players to descend upon attacker in flash of blades, or heat of the fire in case of Astor.

The blonde had been the one whose health she looked after most zealously; he was the leader and the only person she knew here.

Then came the signal to retreat and she followed after him closely and now here she was. Drained, tired, aching. Her health was also lowered, as was his, so she waited for more of her Stamana bar to recover before casting recovery spells.

Now that the adrenaline from the battle receded, she was also hungry and thirsty, so she was watching the piece of meat that Astor was preparing very intensely, sitting in silence, only occasionally her ears and tail twitching.

“!” It was ready and he gave her half of it. “Thank you!” Then without waiting for anything more, she tore into it. Still, she listened and her ear twitched to show that. “Mhm!” Giving agreement while stuffing herself, she did slow down when his tone at the end seemed to change. Still eating, the felis glanced at her companion noticing the heavy mood that seemed to cling to him. There was something in his position…

Hearing his questions, she stopped eating, licked her lips and then replied, tail swaying behind her.

“I am. The chicken is tasty, water will state my thirst and I get to heal you.” Ilusa nodded with a serious face and then a relieved smile appeared on her face. “I’m glad you’re the one I’m sharing the tent with. I won’t be cold. Now eat your chicken.”

 

Sera laughed weakly when Gwyn said she had won in the drinking contest way back when. "Look, I barely remember that, and I usually have an amazing tolerance. If I can't remember it, then I can't argue who won." She smiled, glad to be on a topic other than what was going on.

She shrugged when Gwyn said her spell was a waste of mana. "Can't be too careful, it's not just our lives that we need to protect," she said. She shifted closer when the girl fell quiet, to listen better to her confession.

Sera frowned, and stared into the bowl of her stew. "You did what you believed was the right thing. We all did. We can't blame you for that, and I hope you don't blame us for not doing the same from the start," she said. "I... I'll confess that earlier, I wanted to do whatever I thought was the right thing, but if you and Aaron are right, and the right is the opposite of what I thought... does that mean something's broken about me? If I can't tell what the right thing is?" She asked. Her hand went to her stomach absent mindedly. "If I'm broken... would anything that comes from me be broken too?"

 

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Beatle was at a loss, slumped against a tree, taking in his surroundings. He'd never been so torn between sides. Of course, he didn't know the full story, and there was little time to ask about the details, but at the very least he wanted to have some understanding of a side. His guild leader had alerted everyone to the sudden changing of sides, but gave no rhyme or reason why other than to say "join us, leave, or die."

Beatle had no intention of leaving. He was here, so he would see it through to the end. He had no idea what the 'end' held in store, but he'd rather be present for it. He had yet to die, and didn't plan on letting it happen any time soon. This left his only option to be joining his guild in overthrowing a way of life.

Beatle cared little for politics in real life. A bunch of people who are all talk and no action sitting in a room debating things? No wonder nothing got done in real life. But here, the tides of a battle can be swayed by any player's decisions. A guild as organized as the Yulan Dragons would of course have a lot of player power behind it. But why are the elves invading in the first place? What reason did Astor have to suddenly cut his ties with the humans he was so ready to support beforehand? What could Beatle even do?

"..."

Beatle stood, grabbed his guitar, and began walking around the camp grounds, playing a gentle, mournful song . Those that could hear it would begin to recover some of the wounds they'd received. Like this, he made his way to the medical tent, and began using both his naturamancy and Muse skills to heal those in need.

"I may not have a clue about who's right and wrong," he muttered, holding his green glowing hand over an Elve's wounded shoulder, "But at least I can be of some use here."

 

Lemming glowered with great annoyance at @Gwyn ap Herne at the recollection of their first adventure together. True, she had been annoyed Lucia had doted on the archer. But that was because her master had been more concerned with feeling up the newcomer than keeping her own apostle alive in the middle of a horrific engagement with a powerful undead. Still, she noted Gwyn's smirk and tried not to let it bother her. Too much. But now, her mood was spoiled, and she sat sulking upon a crate of something or another while the two women talked.

Sera was not someone she was familiar with, but the woman spoke strangely. At first, her mention of "protecting others" from the possibly poisoned water struck her as simple altruism, but then her voice grew serious and somber. Her words clipped and oddly geared towards what sounded like concern for... and the hand on her stomach. Lemming stared at @Sera Phim and narrowed her eyes.

"...Remove any Investigation blockers you have up," she ordered the other woman absent mindedly, her focus on academics rather than Sera's well being and emotional state.
"I want to see if I can see what I expect to... it will be important to know." Opening her menu, she turned on the Investigation feature and focused entirely on Sera, blocking everything else out. Looking. Searching. Hopefully the woman would comply and reveal... everything. Hopefuly amidst it all, she would find an extra pair of status bars. Or a physical condition under her Ailments status.

 

Feeling rather strange that he was being consoled by a cat girl of all things, Astor shook off the gloominess that hung around his head as he wolfed down the chicken he had finish cooking. As expected, it was really bland. Had he obtain cooking, he would have been able to make something much tastier than this dried piece of crap. After he had finished every bite, he took a large gulp of water. Yes, water. Although alcohol was going around the camp, the people who produced alcohol were charging gold for a sip. Being the pragmatic cheapskate that he was Astor refused to feed their capitalistic desire, thus, he had a mouthful of stale water to wash the flavor-less chicken down.

Afterward, he let out a content ‘paaah’ as he watched his thirst and hunger meter fill up. It was so strange how the game let player monitor their needs like that. Certainly, when they get hungry, it feels the same, but consciously seeing those meters terrified him.

Before he had time to clear the strange thought from his head, a powerful gust of wind came and brushed against his bare skin, it was cold, far too cold… Considering that they were sitting in front of the campfire like this and it was still that chilly, he realized he wouldn’t last long in the open. Without thinking, he grabbed onto Ilusa and tucked her between his legs so that his broad chest would cover her slender back. Then, he propped his chin against her shoulder, losing himself in the fire in front of them. Thanks to the height difference, it worked rather well and provided both of them with the warmth to go on.

“I’m cold, warm me up,” he said, tersely.

In the distance, there were murmurings, possibly because he was the raid commander now so his status would attract all kinds of attention.

@Ilusa Nakhalee

 

The pink haired girl walked aimlessly around the camp. Her bright blue eyes peered on the forest’s vegetation on the distance, trying to find out any suspicious movement, though she found none. Gnarling at her wasted effort, she now glanced around the camp; people were gathering up in tents and resting from the chaos that ensued before. Overall, people were quiet and tense, of course they would and Ju was no exception, though she had experience with something similar before. Air in this camp was nearly the same as when a boss was defeated in Aincrad. Though each floor boss counted towards completion of the death game, it also came with mourning for those who lost their lives in the battle for freedom.

On the other hand, everything in Terrasphere felt way more real. The cold air from the night, the stench of blood all over herself, and even the apple she casually munched while looking somewhere she could just sit down and rest for the time being. The fighter plopped down in a sloppy manner near a campfire, not noticing whether someone was near it or not. After taking a proper glance around, Ju could notice some of her guildies and familiar faces from the whole to-siege-or-not to ordeal that happened, and only then did she notice Noah resting on the same campfire.

“ Uh, hey. ” She greeted the male with a quick wave, proceeding to munch on her almost done apple. “You were on the guild mission the other day, right?” Ju tried to bring up a topic unrelated to all this mess as she munched the apple yet again. “ Want some? I have a few here, but if you happen to want more than that, ask for appias. That’s the name the elves use for the fruit. Kinda weird if you ask me.” if he accepted her offer she’d give him a couple of them, keeping one to herself.

@Noah Krane