Tools of Influence [Mission]

Korra's day had started as usual, there was no real rush or bother for her after all, this was just another day for the supporter who prided herself on being the best of her generation. While she couldn't say there wasn't anyone who could compete with her, she was certainly the highest rated among those who kept such tallys, it was because of this nobles jumped at her for the chance to have her be a part of the escort even if it wasn't a part of her job. The biggest reason however, wasn't even for her herself, the dungeon was a dangerous place, and strong horses were often hard to come by if tragedy ever happened, there would usually be people pulling carriages in the dungeon since they didn't scare or weren't easily provoked, but Korra was an exception, when she was there, she had a shadow that caused a great many to gulp with worry or concern at the sight of it when they knew what it was. It's identity after all this time was also not a secret either.

From the moment they entered the dungeon, it had been following behind her or carrying her while she idly passed the time with her lute. With a white body resembling a horse, it's frame was covered in reptilian scales from head to hoof. It's legs were strong, powerful as a horse's should be, but it was armored like a military vehicle, not quite a tank, but it was clearly solid. It's fluffy mane resembled a tiger's and gripped it's neck and mid section closely, the hairs were soft rather then coarse like silk, and it bristled on occasion whenever a hostile presence appeared. Most staggering perhaps was it's azure horn that had a spiral groove going around it from base to end for the purpose of blood letting so it was easy to stab something bleeding without having to worry about the pressure sucking the horn into the body. Combined with it's Ruby red gaze it was an intimidating creature.

It was Kirin, Korra's partner, and summon, a bizarre magical power she shared with her teacher who taught her music, Kirin's presence didn't drain her mind, it didn't tax her body to have him out either. For that reason many looked upon Korra with a measure of awe to have a summoned creature spend a great deal of time roaming about with her, the reason for this however was because they shared pain and exhaustion, it was practically a part of her body at this point, it made sense that she was able to keep him beside her regularly, but few people knew that reality. It was one she kept close to her chest prompting many to misjudge her connection to the creature.

Unfortunately though, Korra didn't find any worth talking to despite their efforts to reach out to her, Korra was warmly received by a great many, though she attributed a lot of that to her fame or the prestige that came from Kirin's Majestic frame. Korra wasn't particularly interested in the people who were around her though, she was someone who moved at only a single pace, with a mellow personality that practically bordered on mental illness, she was calm and relaxed even under threat of death, the only real exception, or thing she could get excited about was girls. The Bard didn't find any among their party who suited her tastes though, the few servants were devoid of choice and wouldn't be picked up, the few nobles who were interested in her wouldn't come forward because of their status they were likely to be married politically, and the other escorts were male.

Her disappointment was clear from the moment this adventure started, she spent a great deal of time simply perched on Kirin's back, riding side saddle while the creature did her share of the work a great deal of the time. Kirin wasn't a stupid or simple minded creature, it's ruby red eyes flashed with an intelligence, it understood human speech and understood when people were speaking to it allowing things to go smoothly while Korra relaxed. Her lack of interest was clear during the prep, but she got more serious when they began moving. Lute in hand at her back, she had a pair of armored quivers at her hips, and a folded crossbow attached to her back that looked like a curled up roll of metal scraps. She was rather well equipped, but she was far from an archer. Eventually she would learn how to fight better, but she genuinely detested fighting or being in the fray herself.

She couldn't help a heavy sigh of disapproval knowing she would have to fight as well in this encounter. She wasn't a good shot, her archery skills needed a lot of work, but she wanted to be the 'princess' the one who was protected and cared for and adored. Her dream of supporting a lovely harem of warrior women was far off, every day she thought of that it made her wonder what she was doing with her life, being successful but no closer to her dream then she was when she first dreamed it up as a child listening to fairy tales.

"Mm?" Korra asked, turning her head down to Djinn who called out to her, jogged from her thoughts and disappointments as well. Though Korra glanced down at him, Kirin's reaction was a bit fiercer, a huff coming from it's nostrils as it sped up just a little to make Djinn walk a bit faster if he wanted to keep up. The only reason was because Kirin understood Korra's disposition of chasing skirts so much, like a loyal companion it tried to protect her from other males, but Korra stopped it from being too competitive with a hand on the back of it's head.

"No, No we haven't I guess, I'm Korra Quinn, supporter. This is Kirin-- The Kirin." She said with a sweet chuckle, she never got tired of that dry joke, naming Kirin after his species, but the horse itself still watched the man cautiously and attentively to make sure that he didn't do anything unsavory. Though she turned her head down the tunnel they were walking, the first floor as it were, the start of their little mission. With a sigh, she leaned forward resting an elbow on her knee and fist under her chin as she spoke. "They'll start coming from the walls soon. When they do I'll stick back by the carriages okay?" She explained knowing she wasn't one for in your face combat, she wasn't a good enough shot to take the crossbow into battle at all, it was more of a last resort weapon so she wasn't just standing in the back waiting for people to get hurt before healing them.

 

Korra only giggled a little at the man's outlook on the dungeon, Korra's nature was one that was mellow to the point of it being a mental illness after all. She lived her life and moved at only a single speed, the dungeon's atmosphere itself didn't really bother her too much. That aside, the fact that she spent a bulk of her life down in the dungeon earning money to eat and such, it wasn't anything that Korra hadn't already adjusted to. Initially she had been rather put off and surprised, but as she grew in it and around it, it didn't surprise her much, born and raised in town, it was natural.

Though Kirin's nature was Korra's biggest secret, she wouldn't explain that to anyone for the asking. Even Parvati who she'd grown to love and cherish didn't know exactly how Kirin was sustained, how the magic worked and why. It was something Korra kept close to her chest, and didn't share. The majestic creature however remained as untrusting as ever around the other man, ever suspicious of him like an over protective father or elder brother, it was diligent in it's effort to see the man's ulterior motives that may or may not really exist.

"It's not too bad, this is the sort of thing that I grew up in after all, you get used to it. As long as you remember to sun yourself when you get the chance, it's not too terrible." She explained with a mellow smile and a soft nod of experience. Korra had led a great many fledgling adventurers to this point after all, though a group as big as this wasn't typical for her, it wasn't unmanageable to her either. Korra maintained her position near the carriages for a while, but the thought of keeping these people safe was naturally on her mind, she gave a small nod reassuring the man that she'd make an effort. This wasn't exactly her idea of a good time, but she wouldn't skirt her duties because of it. "I'll take care of them, no worries~" She explained with a soft sigh.

Though in response to the man's efforts to provoke Kirin into some kind of action, it merely huffed once more as it continued to trot along. It was only when the creatures began appearing that Korra finally heaved a sign knowing that things were going to get busy. Without hesitation, Kirin brought Korra a bit closer to the carriage for the nobles, and she stepped up from the creature's back onto the carriage's roof with a light step. She didn't want to disturb their patrons after all but knew it would be the best vantage point. Without needing to protect Korra though, Kirin had no reason to hold back. Kirin was a creature as brutal and fast as Korra's magic was powerful after all, stabbing it's way into the frontlines like a car crashing into pedestrians it tried to split the herd of creatures down the center before trying to stomp down into them. Though they were easy enough to kill with Kirin's weight and physical prowess, they were numerous. With claw and tooth grinding against it's scale covered hide that functioned like plates the damage was minimal, but each scrape and scar was felt by Korra like someone gliding knives over her sides.

The feeling was as unpleasant as it always was, but there was nothing that could be done. With hooves raised, Kirin's legs smashed down onto creatures, whether heads or chests it plowed through them. The unlucky few that managed to get run through by it's spiral horn however didn't have the chance to even fight back after it's first charge. Though the more Kirin tried to rampage and send the creature's into disarray, Korra watched from the carriage, unfolding her crossbow with a displeased sigh. No matter how long she wielded the weapon, she disapproved of it. She didn't want to fight, or raise a hand, she wanted to support and cheer from the rear like a princess being protected. She'd learned from supporting Odin's familia the first time though that such a style wouldn't make it past the later floors of 9 and 10. She'd have to change quickly much to her displeasure.

Her aim wasn't immaculate, her agility wasn't good either as she loaded the bow and fired pot shots where ever she could. Aiming where the goblins were most clumped to ensure her shot hit something. Those that charged away from the chaos of the front line were targets she couldn't afford to mess up, shooting down into their bodies rather then more lethal shots to the head, she prioritized hitting rather then killing. Her bolts each time would land in the body thrusting the creatures to the ground and weakening them thoroughly. If they stood back up for another try, she'd simply fire another one into their torso until they stopped. Those few she managed to strike down on the first shot though or coincidentally hit the head or nail it down into the stone by a limb made her sigh with a measure of relief. She truly disliked taking matters into her own hands.

It wasn't until Djinn looked back at her that she'd sigh heavily and hoist the bow back onto her shoulders nodding and looking down at the few goblins who were still struggling to pull the bolts out of their body for freedom. "I did okay, nobody hurt yet. It's still early though." She spoke with a heavy sigh knowing it would only get worse, it wouldn't be like this on the lower levels. Naturally Kirin also slowly returned as well from a battlefield that looked like mushed and blended corpses. It's legs and portions of it's face covered in the reds and greens of what it killed as it returned. The once majestic beast looked battle worn with an occasional white scratch along it's body from the creatures trying to claw through it's scales unsuccessfully. These early floors; Goblins wouldn't do much to Korra's magical creature, but later on the story wouldn't be the same. "Let's keep moving mm? Onto the next floor." She said with a soft breath trying to fold her crossbow back up and collect her discharged bolts and the magic stones from the corpses.

 

Seeing Djinn's reservations, even during combat wasn't something that was surprising. In one way or another a lot of people felt that same disgruntled aversion to the dungeon, though for most it was the aversion to killing itself, and while that wasn't much different from Djinn's true feelings, it wasn't exactly the same one Korra was used to seeing. That however, didn't change the reality that such beliefs were particularly naive in the dungeon, so much so that the nobles felt a need to scoff and insult the man for his ideals that Korra found weren't much different from her own. Her own aversion for killing and violence was why she didn't approve of using weapons or fighting her own battles from the start, she'd much rather have Kirin protect and watch over her then cause a blood bath.

The dungeon though was different though, Korra knew that first hand, if you didn't kill the monsters that spawned, it would be trouble in the future, she couldn't help a somewhat pity filled smile at the man who brought his belief system into a place like this. Lifting a hand she tried to give the carriage a gentle pat with a hand, as if trying to quiet the nobles. Whether or not it would work, Korra wasn't sure how much sway her name as a level 2 adventurer had among them, but she'd at least try to stop the public bashing as she tried to answer the man's concern with a genuine concern. "You don't have a lot of experience in the dungeon here huh? This is probably your first time down even-- or at least one of your first few adventures?" She asked cocking her head, that reality was written over the man's style and outlook after all. She could only exhale a soft sigh off regret knowing this discussion might be hard for him.

"I know what you're trying to do-- Personally, I don't really like fighting either. It's not really been a productive past time from what I've seen, violence and killing just causes problems more often then not." She explained her own feelings on the topic, feeling that that would make the reality easier to stomach. If someone as peaceful and gentle as Korra was killing in the dungeon after all, there was a good reason for it. "This place isn't the same as the surface though where everything is born and raised with care or meticulously watched over from a youth. The Dungeon isn't an ecosystem we're invading or a natural habitat you know? These creatures aren't exactly 'natural'." She tried to explain as she slipped down from the noble's carriage back onto the unicorn like creature that had been supporting her. Though it scoffed at the man's outlook, Kirins were naturally peaceful creatures by nature. Were it not for Korra's urging it to kill, it likely wouldn't have dirtied itself either.

Folding her crossbow back up, she slid it back down into her waist before gesturing down the tunnel into the distance. "If you incapacitate them, they'll just wake up as a horde and wait for the next group to pass by, then they'll attack as another wave is born from the walls as well, forcing them to fight two groups of goblins." Korra explained with a hand gesture, but worried that Djinn might not see the harm in it, she continued trying to stop him from protesting before she finished. "If that keeps happening, then the next group after will have to fight three groups, then the next one will have to fight four. Eventually there will be too many for a normal group of adventurers to fight, and if there gets to be too many, a Variant will lead them into the city where civilians; mothers and children-- Innocent shop keepers and kind hearted merchants without combat experience will be attacked. Unfortunately, that's not an opinion, but an inevitability." She explained lifting her arms with a 'can't help it' gesture.

Though if Djinn still had reservations, she could only shake her head knowing that being stubborn would only make things worse. The dungeon wouldn't stop releasing monsters to try and drive out invaders, if they weren't properly culled, they'd begin overwhelming the people who were simply trying to make their living hunting. "Your small act of kindness towards monsters would spark a catastrophe, sometimes, you can't help leaving them alive and causing problems, but that becomes a quest that the guild issues to clean up after you." She explained thinking it might be hard for the man to accept, but the Dungeon was a place where kill or be killed was the only option a large portion of the time. Unless you were a supporter like Korra herself you were forced to kill, even as a supporter, Korra had a crossbow because she would unfortunately have to dirty her hands as well.

Settling on Kirin though she reached back for her Lute to pluck a few strings as Kirin continued forward trying to urge the carriage and the servants to continue on with her as well. "You'll get used to it though, even if you don't want to, you won't be able to keep coming down if you don't." She explained with a small nod as Kirin carried her forward.

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It was on the later floors that Korra began to feel a bit of pressure. From the Kobolds, the wolf monsters, there wasn't much, she was used to fighting them and goblins in the past, but the ants and insects however were new and different for her. The poison scattering moths were a high priority for her bolts, she'd shoot them down whenever one appeared without hesitation. Even if she couldn't kill it in a blow, she was a good enough shot to shoot a hole through it's wing to bring it to the ground where it couldn't scatter it's dust to harm people. The ants however came out in great numbers, the size of lions they attacked as a large swarm trying to scratch or claw into Kirin's scale-y hide. The horse creature would rear back each time trying to thrust it's horn into them or stomp them to death as it had, but it was clear that the fights weren't as easy as the goblins and kobolds above.

From the Ants, Kirin would lose scales here and there having them trimmed off from the ant's incisors or sharpened limbs. Korra was the busiest during these types of bites, keeping her crossbow trained for the moths, but her Lute was in hand normally to make sure Kirin didn't loose too many scales or get cut into too deeply as they began to try and get around it's armored hide by ripping scales off to get to the meat underneath. It was naturally the same for Djinn, if the contract killer got too injured, she'd play a few soft notes to patch him up causing injuries to peel off of the body as scraps of light revealing new fresh skin beneath that was untouched. Her healing magic was temporary in a lot of cases, when big wounds were being healed it was always a temporary fix, but small wounds were easier to heal permanently causing her to focus on stopping the metaphorical hemorrhaging of the situation.