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"Sneaking, is our best option."

She still wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but after a bit of overhearing and silent lurking she was quite sure that whatever was happening was big. It took something big for Falderan nobility to personally lead something, and if D'Vangelline herself was here... It would definitely be something. However, she wasn't the most confident in the current plans. Guards were trained to make sure that nothing was out of place and seven or eight people trying to sneak into somewhere they weren't supposed to be was... iffy at best. At worst, it would be like mixing Alchemical experimentation and a lantern oil reserve. While spectacular to watch, it would also be very unfortunate for everyone personally involved.

She was quite sure that it would only take someone looking the wrong way and asking the right question to blow the whole operation out of the water. After all, if little village girl Aela was suddenly replaced by a big Felis man, she would probably be at least a bit curious of what happened. And if suddenly male, Felis and not so little anymore Aela didn't remember where she lived or her parent's names... Also, kidnapping someone to take their clothes off was quite rude and she wouldn't want something like that to happen to her. While she wasn't the best at being hidden, due to a lack of formal training of that kind, she was a bit sure that she wasn't the worst either. Having said her piece, Aerana stepped off to the side and waited for the group to come to a decision.

Vote:Sneak / Tracker

 

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After the info dump from the scout was given, Emil was full of questions and his mind was full of games that he had played both in his youth and before finding out about Terrasphere. The sneaking element was never a gameplay option for him. He always liked going in guns blazing. However, if sneaking had to be incorporated in some way, he usually went about poisoning food and water or breaking equipment before hiding in the shadows and proceeding forward. Sadly, that wasn’t an option this time.

So, what about a lie?

Do you know what diety these people worship? he asked the scout while the rest of his group started debating back and forth about what to do.

The scout blinked as if surprised that anyone was asking him anything, before responding. “Uh, yes. It appears they worship Lleo.”

Tch, well, that removes the idea of a spirit or some shit coming to visit them. And it would’ve been cool with his Phantasmia magic—oh wait, he had recently redone his magic line, hadn’t he.

The fire mag voiced his thoughts and opinions on the entire thing whenever the conversation lulled, just to make sure he had a voice in everything. When it seemed as if everyone were coming to the same agreement, he gave a nod of his head, interacted his fingers, and cracked them. Sneaking through, hopefully undetected, wasn’t the best idea, but it was better than kidnapping a poor sap and stripping them nude for the chance that only one of them got through. ​

Vote: Sneak • Tracker

 

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"Of course, Your Majesty." Thus after her confirmation, the First Princess of Falderen departed away with her forces while assigning the scout to accompany the group of seven players. To be honest, Aria was quite thrilled to have the princess personally lead them. Alas, circumstances determined otherwise, that barrack must be silenced or else it'd jeopardize the whole effort. As much as Aria wanted D'Va to stay, only a fool would protest against her plans. Watching the royal cavalry rode away until they were out of sight, Aria lowly sighed, so she was to be the squad's leader alongside Marquis Alonso, huh?

Well... she could try, she led a party once during the hunt for a strange beast in the Dark Harvest festival. Just like back then, it was an impromptu assignment as the previous leader couldn't honor their role for a reason. Back then, Stelluna felt she wasn't suited for hunting, now, D'va must address an urgent matter. Though the quest ended up failing due to the creature running away, it served as a valuable experience for the Felis Ranger.

---

"I see..." After receiving the Scout's report, it didn't take long for her to mentally make a decision. The choice was clear really, with someone like Alonso and Kaede in the team, they couldn't disguise themselves as a 'normal' town folk, nope. The former's sheer size and the latter's blazing red hair would no doubt attract attention.

Though sneaking had its own complications, mainly how the loud and hyperactive Seigi would recklessly charge in, it was the lesser of two evils. "Yes." Aria took in the inputs from everyone. Some ideas were good, others... not so much. She was a huntress, while not a rogue, she knew how to handle herself in stealth as hunting often involved approaching a target without being detected. "Megan, your mist will prove useful." She confirmed the young brunette's plan, "Emil, hmm... won't the orb of flames make us more visible instead? But if you can use it as a distraction, go ahead, anything to turn their focus away from us."

The Felis eyed each member of the party and nodded, "Everyone, keep low and we'll get through this." Then focused on the redhead in particular, "Kaede, some tips would be useful. What can you give us?"

Vote: Sneaking / Tracker

@Alonso Thorlion
@Aerana
@Emil Trevelyan
@Kaede Hoshi
@Megan Tritor
@Seigi

 

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Way to ruin a day! D'va was a real princess! Royalty, like in these fantasy novels and fables and stuff! The girl had been looking forward to this for all eternity! She wasn't so sure herself why she had been so shy in regards to the princess though.

Was it, again, fear of some sort of rejection at the mere motion of touching D'va? All it would have taken was a simple touch and go full 'Woooaaaahhh soo smoooth!' or something. Yet, Seigi didn't. She failed herself. And despite the hope that this mission could maybe bring them close enough, the princess now had to disappear. Yeah, way to ruin a day!

Regardless of her personal feelings however, they had a mission to fulfill. Justice to deliver. With a Bang and a Boom would have been her personal choice but apparently the only option was to do it really stealthy. Like a ninja!

Sure, Seigi was generally rather overzealous but, ultimately, not THAT stupid. Part of her behavior was after all just an act that was a lot of fun to herself. Fun that she needed to kill the noise of things she didn't want to think about.

So, in a sense, Seigi Ling Ling, no, Rayna Raythean was aware that this was bigger than just her alone. But would that mean she'd behave super different and all boring for the sake of success? No chance in hell! Still, she would give it her best nonetheless.

...

Having spend some time thinking to herself and finished communicating with the rest the girl was ripping off a part of her arm bandage to bind it around her mouth and nose, kinda like a mask! "I'll be all stealthy and silent! Like ninja! No, a heroic ninja! Nin-Nin!" Playing Ninja wasn't even THAT bad, it justified saying Nin-Nin all the time!

Vote: Sneaking / Tracker

 

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The last three days of travel had been absolutely terrible, it was, of course, realistic in a sense, but it was so boring to walk day after day. The only recompense was that it allowed Megan time to further study on her variety of spells. She, of course, could select the options from her in-game menu, forcing her character to chant in a monotonous voice to produce the desired effect, but any true mage would know their spells by heart. At the very least it would allow her to decrease the time she took to chant, assuming, of course, she was allowed to skip a few of the more floral words.

Finally, they had come to their supposed destination. Some weird castle or something, or was it a fort? Or a prison? She hadn't really been paying any attention on the way out here, as far as she knew the lady instructing her was some princess or something. As if... The joke made Megan snicker to herself as the lady talked with the random guy she hadn't seen before, "Hehehe...princess..." Eventually, the lady stopped talking and the guy seemed to approach them directly giving them a set of options.

The first of the two, kidnapping, seemed really fun to Megan. Impersonating someone would be a cinch, she wouldn't even need to use any magic! But, that's why it was an awful choice, of course, she needed to use magic! That's why she was here, duh! With a laugh, Megan heartily announced, her intent to use her mists to cover their approach, and it seemed at least the cute cat girl thought it was a good idea!

Slowly the votes came in with most voting to sneak, Megan smiled wafting back in forth in excitement at @Seigi's comments as she added, "Nin-Nin Power!" Now all that was left was to fulfill her previous promise of creating said mists. Of course, Megan had only studied ice spells on the way over because obviously, that is the best branch of hydromancy, she needed to pull up her spell list and begin studying again. "I wonder if I can change the incantation to include ice..." she pondered out loud as she read invisible in-game menus before her.

Vote: Sneaking / Orange Rescue

 

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"Very well," the Felis replied, watching the princess race off to complete a separate task altogether. In effect, that left Alonso and his rag tag crew of players forced to come to a decision based on the amount of information this scout gave. Typical. Dangers were everywhere and these parts given the situation, even in the most remote villages. Scratching his head, the Felis noticed a distinct shift in overall volume as the voices surrounding him began to fade, a solace within the depths of the subconscious. Words were still taken in, of course, but the mind worked as though it were a machine created to do nothing but thing and process information. That was the man's job, after all.

Certain tasks were required for the two paths set to complete this mission. Kidnapping a random townsfolk and disguising themselves as the captured victims was a typical plot that somehow worked out in about eighty-five percent of movies. Real life, and in relative notions, in game, were a different matter. These people who lived here knew who their fellow neighbors represented, and any shift and temperament was a surefire way to alert the guards. The other choice was to sneak into the base and ransack the bastards in any way the group saw fit. Of course, not everyone was able to succeed in stealth missions with relative ease.

For a moment, the big man had to considered a tree falling in the woods and nobody to hear it, and he was the tree. A big, obvious, and by way of existing loud.

He could not hesitate on the matter any longer. Guiding the younger players became top priority again, as was learning some form of leadership, "All right, listen up all of you. While we may not agree, my best decision is to stay as a group and sneak in. It seems we're in agreement for the most part, so if anybody objects, they damn well better speak up now."
Vote: Sneaking / Tracker

 

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_____Kaede would take the moment to scratch behind her head as the others talked, when she was asked a question she did not fully seem focused on the situation, rather focused on the area they group was trying to get into. There was still so many things Kaede did not trust about this place or the two GIVEN choices. Taking another moment to sigh as everyone seemed to have the same plan choice she would turn to focus her attention on the group and do as she was asked.

”Just don’t try to act like a ninja. Most times it comes more from the mind and a calm nature to sneak around without detection.”

______Very little help she figured some might have said to her if she chose to stick around. Her frame moving slowly towards the target area before she triggered her sneak ability and tried to get a decent lead over the group. Part of her felt someone, maybe a very large someone, or over energetic person, was going to cause the group’s attempt to go south. So as her best and only real option she was going to try and get an area clear for the group or find one.

_____Eyes closing as she walked forward keeping herself to the shadows for the moment and not yet rushing full speed, trying to reach a line out to one of her spirits for a spell that could help her out with this. Ra and his usual burn it all, Hel with her curses, Phanta oddly quiet for the first time since she woke after her death with Astramancy. So far she was coming up with a lot of blanks and with another sigh from her lips she reopened her eyes and focused on just going with what she had at the moment.

_____Leaning forward slightly Kaede took off in a silent sprint, rogue mastery and Mobility working as much together as she could have them to get distance and start looking for a way in, preferably without many guards passing the area, and also an area the large male would be able to cross. Not exactly expecting such a thing to be easy she just hoped the group did not go and get exposed so easily, and god above her be the reason they got exposed trying to sneak in as she regularly made sure sneak was active.

Vote: Sneaking / Tracker

 

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Seigi snicked a bit upon seeing how the scout was roping back in Kaede. It wasn't particularly nice of him BUT she probably deserved it...? Her message though... the red-head was either really mad or pretty paranoid. Clearly the princess's hand-picked people wouldn't be traitors. But... "Hey Scout person! Was it Bob? Bob! Just in case, if you're a villainous traitor, now is your chance to still join the good peoples side! Redeem yourself and fight for justice."

With that out of the way Seigi now looked up the wall. Truly a hurdle to overcome. If she were a true ninja she could just walk up! Right, Seigi totally forgot to add the "Nin-Nin!" to her last sentence.

"Where's a will, there is a way!...Nin!" Seigi opened her virtual inventory before dragging out a bunch of what appeared to be trash. "Behold, my trusty companions! For this is the beginning of the road to my heroic power-armor! They will call me Seigi Da Lingci! Alberta Lingstein! ... or simply Seigi Ling the smarty person! Nin-nin." That said, being the daughter of a a family that took their own business serious enough to even teach things that would be left to the 'experts' rather than just business-stuff had its benefits!

Nonetheless, despite Seigi's big words what she had was just... trash? Some metal scraps, a bunch of wood and other maybe the various ropes could be used for something? "Someone stand watch that nobody hears me while I conduct my wizardry! I mean, my Jutsus, or something! Nin-nin." Ninja magic was called jutsu, no?! With that though, Seigi started to construct some make-shift climbing gear on the spot that looked like it could fall apart any second.

When she was finished, the girl was so proud of herself before dropping a pair of 5 more climbing tools to the ground. "There we go! Help yourselves! Time to put it to test! Nin." With these words the super proud Seigi equipped some sort of 'jagged boots and gloves' around her feet and hands before trying to punch the wall.

*CLANK*

"...!"

It didn't make a hole yet alone a dent.

*CLANK*

Again.

"Seigi Ninja Special Jutsu GUTS Nin-Nin Technique!"

*CLANK* *CLANK* *CLANK* *CLANK*

It was hopeless. The wall was simply too solid for Seigi's stuff to work. The heroine wouldn't give up so easily, though! After all the power of friendship was on her, their, side!

Group Climb with @Megan Tritor @Kaede Hoshi @Alonso Thorlion @Emil Trevelyan @Aerana @Seigi
Tracker / Roll
54 + 10 = 64
Group Climb: 64 / 390​

 

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"A wall of ice?" Megan said turning towards @Emil Trevelyan with an excited grin plastered upon her face. It hadn't occurred to her of course when the spy had said they'd need to climb up the wall Megan had been dumbfounded thinking of a way to use her magic to their advantage. The best she could think of was large ice pillars erupting from the surface of the moat, but the wall was just too high for it to be anywhere near possible. That, and it would likely be totally noticeable as well. Nodding happily Megan raised her staff summoning her inner mana forth, "One ultimate ice spell coming up!"

Megan took in a deep breath as she mentally recalled her chant, "Oh mistress of ice, oh mother of cold, I call upon your gaze once more breath and come before us. Freeze the air, stop all life, encase the world in an icy tomb in a single word of obedience..." As Megan chanted, she became shrouded in an eerie blue glow, unbeknownst to her, high above a single star began to glimmer, and a cold wind began to pick up, Megan's mouth continued to move on its own, "Lady Shiva, mistress of ice, let us hear your voice, .... Οι Ανεμοί ακούσουν την κλήση μου, χρειάζομαι την παρουσία αιολικού για να με βοηθήσω. Ελάτε, and let us see your 'Breath of Ice!'"

As soon as Megan finished her chant a large storm began to brew, painting the sky black, and filling the air with crackling thunder, simultaneously a loud gust of wind erupted from behind the party, filling the nights air with a chill before slamming into the side of the wall, magically coating it in a thick layer of ice. Sadly as they all would immediately notice, Megan's spell wasn't large enough to cover the entirety of the wall, she'd need to cast it at least one more time if not more. Despite this she seemed rather content with her handiwork, laughing with a large smile plastered upon her face, "Take that wall! Feel the wrath of the ice gods!"


((Megan uses Hydromancy to cover portions of the wall in ice, additonally uses Astramancy to try to start a storm) )

Group Climb with @Kaede Hoshi @Alonso Thorlion @Emil Trevelyan @Aerana @Seigi
Orange Rescue/ (Roll) The Rescue Teams
95+ 15 = 110
Group Climb: 174 / 390​

 

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Seeing Megan’s magic work its way up the wall in a glorious frozen sheet of ice, Emil couldn’t help the tiny green monster inside him that suddenly became very jealous. Having wasted his one free re-roll on turning his magic from Phantasma to Pyromancy had seemed like such a good idea. But Pyromancy couldn’t do anything close to what the little ice witch could.

He cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the feeling. He just had to learn more spells, go on more adventures, get more experience. Maybe he could concoct something to that degree if he knew more! Then again, fire was a very selfish element…

That’s amazing, he said with a low whistle of appreciation. He was, if anything, very good at deceiving others when he needed to. The top isn’t covered, but if we get halfway up, you should be able to cast again. He paused, walking forward and placing his hand against the flash frozen wall. The cold bit at the skin of his palm and made him wince. Glancing over his shoulder, he spoke again. Here’s what I was thinking…

Concentrating, his leather-bound grimoire appeared with a puff of grey smoke in his free hand. By its own will, the book opened, and pages began to rapidly flip until they miraculously stopped nearest the middle of the book. One good eye turned to the yellowing pages, the scrawled notes and incantations that were there. Under his breath, he began to chant while the scent of burning wood slowly perfumed the air. Beneath the hand that was still pressed against the cold wall, the ice began to melt until it was a small shelf instead of a sheet. It was enough room for someone to either grip with their hands or rest their foot.

See? Hand and footholds, Emil said with a smirk, the book closing and disappearing with a sharp command word.

I’ve memorized the spell so I can go first and start making them. Ah, if you guys can reinforce them for, ah, Sir Alonso’s weight, that’d be great.

As so, Emil began to climb. ​

Group Climb with @Kaede Hoshi @Aerana @Seigi @Megan Tritor
Tracker • Roll
15 + 10 = 25
Group Climb: 199 / 390​

 

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Seeing that everyone had started to climb the wall of frost, Aerana had a simple idea to help. She handed out some of her Greatarrows out for people to use as picks to navigate easier. Not the most reliable or greatest of solutions considering but considering the situation, she thought it was an elegant one. Regardless, she began her climb and tried to help others along the way. It was quite clear that some of the other group members weren't all that suited for the task but they were still a group. Just like in Alchemy, if you mixed two things together, you might as well commit to the end and see what happens instead of cutting it short and living with the knowledge of lost opportunity.

(Aerana gives out makeshift climbing picks made of big arrows to the group.)

Group Climb with @Alonso Thorlion @Emil Trevelyan @Aerana @Seigi @Megan Tritor @Kaede Hoshi
Tracker / Roll
55 + 20 = 75
Group Climb: 274 / 390​

 

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Both eyes widened at the sudden reveal of the rope, magic causing it to bind around the group's little stubborn ninja chick. In a sudden movement he found one end of the rope grasped in his enormous hand, a slight tug indicating he had control of Kaede. "You know, it was bad enough that I had to play bad cop when my kids were younger considering the wife made me hold those toddler leashes," Alonso said, narrowing his eyes with a stare meant to spite the red rope. Granted, it was not meant for him, but the Felis was still having to deal with some child struggling against a form of restraint and apparent torture. Might as well get it over with.

"Just... don't run off unless we're nearby, even to scout, okay," the big man said to Kaede. He wandered over to the young woman, bending down and untying her from the wretched knots insisting she stay put. Giving the rope back to the scout was his first thought. However, he figured that keeping it for a moment might prove to be quite handy.

A rough plan was sorted out between the group concerning how to get up the wall. Looking over at Megan, he gave a nod, "All right then, climb on my back and I can get you up there to reinforce your ice wall." The Felis knew there was not much he could accomplish in this situation. None of his abilities allowed the man to punch through walls or reshape them as he willed it. Regardless of whether or not their ice witch took up the offer of holding onto Alonso's back, he began the climb up the makeshift wall.

Not that it was unable to support the large player, but obtaining a steady grip on the ice proved to be more difficult than he thought. At this point he was going to have to suffer through it. What did not help much was the potential weight of Megan hanging on top of Alonso.

Group Climb with @Kaede Hoshi @Aerana @Seigi @Megan Tritor and @Emil Trevelyan
Tracker / Roll
11 + 20 = 31
Group Climb: 305 / 390​

 

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_____Kaede was not liking the idea at all to trust someone who did not even seem that friendly, it was like expecting people to trust her. Growling at the scout while she was set free, a slow nod to agree to what was asked of her in exchange for her freedom before watching the group’s approach to the wall. To avoid making much noise she once more reached out to her astral spirits for something useful, this time taking the step to slightly real herself into where she could speak with them to see rock face tapping the table where a spell was written before leaving, a small smile and silent thank you as she returned focus to see the wall now coated in ice and the group making their way up.

”Spirit’s of earth march across all grounds, marks only evidence but blown away from sand.”

_____Not the strongest spell Kaede felt but as she brushed her hand along part of the wall and watched the remaining area of the wall start to shift, small areas turning to sand and drifting down to reveal more grip spots for the group to use. Moving last to the top Kaede would simply sit down and wait for the group to decide what they would do next. So far she was the one who was likely to get them killed so rather they pick and she laugh if it was worse than anything she was thinking of doing. Despite her relaxed nature she was keeping ears and eyes peeled for anything she should be worried about, or anything not from the group.

Group Climb with @Seigi @Megan Tritor @Emil Trevelyan @Alonso Thorlion @Aerana
Tracker / Roll
45 + 70 = 115
Group Climb: 420 / 390​