Open - Campfire Song Song

The sun was just setting, and Eyas had finally logged back in. Getting away from everybody was hard enough, but now she was back in Terrasphere. Of course, she was still out in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, but that was fine. It was peaceful, the sky was clear, and nobody was going to go ahead and stab her in the ass out here because with all the leaves and dried plant life on the ground, it was just damn impossible to sneak up on her. Well, she thought she did anyways.

So now here she was, in the middle of the woods, somewhere out around that town to her south. The soft and fading light to the sky seemed to beckon her to a fire, and while she was somewhat limited in the means of making one, she went ahead and tried anyways. Stacking up logs, branches, leaves, anything that could burn really, the long-haired brawler set to work and before all things, fireproofed the area. Rocks around the burn pit, kicking away all the leaves, sanding the immediate area to make it harder to let a fire run away from her, the whole nine yards.

One thing left to do, and that was to get comfortable. Rolling up a log too big to burn and putting it upwind so that she wasn't going to have smoke blowing in her face, she did the best she could to make a passable seat. Grabbing her flint and steel, stolen from the guard before, soon she had a merry little fire going, hungry for more and more wood. Just as soon was a tall, thin column of smoke rising into the sky, backlit by bright orange and red as the sun slipped below the horizon.

 

The sun was beginning to nestle down into the trees, off in the horizon, and night would soon descend upon the game. It was an annoyance that when logged out, the character was not safe from danger. Temperance had no camping gear, no magic stones to port to town, and no allies to watch over her. No offensive skills to protect herself with, either, unless you counted a sharp tongue and what little harm white magic could do.

She was dismayed at the idea of strapping herself to a tree's branches with some belts and logging out, because nothing guaranteed she'd be safe upon logging back in, and waking up to The Morgue was an annoyance she never wanted to contend with. She knew she was too far from any towns to make a reasonable journey, but... was that?

Yes, there was a column of smoke drifting up through some trees a ways off. It was light and wafted with the gentle snaking rhythm of a campfire, rather than the dark billows of a burning caravan or magical fighting. Unsure whether it was friend or foe that lay beyond in those woods, Temperance became determined to find out. Brisshal was miserable with new players after all, and if she could strike up some kind of camp with one, all the better for her. The newbie would benefit, too, by having a healer about. Provided they didn't try anything stupid.

She began to move through the woods, her Incognito skill masking any sounds she might have otherwise made, disappearing her form into the shadows of dusk. Truly she loved that skill, for it saved her from aggroing things in the midst of a large fight or when wandering about alone. Plus, it was fantastic for pranks.

She considered hopping out into the clearing and roaring like some kind of bear, but remembered she needed to stay on good terms with this person if she wanted to share their campfire. So instead she stepped out of the shadows before Eyas, effectively appearing out of nowhere as she stopped using her Incognito to stealth about and removed herself from the cover of the woods.

"Not a private encampment, I hope?" she asked, glancing around to see if the relaxing girl had any allies on guard, or coming back with more firewood. Nobody else appeared to be around, though. Temperance raised her hands and smiled thinly, as if showing that she had no weapons and meant no harm. Of course she could have just unequipped her weapons, in which case they wouldn't be visible... but this girl was likely too new to know that, considering it was Brisshal and almost everyone in Brisshal was a newbie.

"I could use a place to kick off my boots and rest my weary head," she continued calmly, as if reassuring Eyas that she had not come to cause trouble and was merely interested in the fire. Still, she waited for an invitation before coming any closer. Not out of respect for the girl's feelings of security, but because if Eyas happened to, like Temperance, be a highly skilled player just passing through the area... then it could mean trouble for Temperance, and she wanted to be near the edge of the woods so she could run away faster.
"And, I am alone," she concluded as if that was obviously the next thing Eyas would care about. In the girl's place, Temperance certainly would be worried about an ambush... so the rogue held her ground and gave Eyas a moment to look around, if the girl felt it necessary, to confirm her words.

Just hurry up and invite me to sit already! Temperance thought, her patience wavering.

 

There were a lot of campfires these days and as Majolica believed that Brisshal was pretty much her territory, the campfires in her territory were obviously also hers.

Floating through the forest one night atop her broom, she came across yet another campfire.

"Hehehe, this one has to be the junk goblin! No doubt about it! Let's take a look... hehehe!"

Floating silently towards the campfire while ducking under tree branches and hiding behind foliage, Majolica eyed a girl by the fire. She was hard to make out due to the shadows, but she seemed to have a mean face... like the Junk Goblin's...

Hehehehe! This time I've got her!

Majolica whispered her incantation as quietly as possible.

"Hehehe, One over Festive times four!"

Witch Clone

As the campfire bathed the surrounding trees in light, from the darkness beyond... four Majolica's walked into view! They addressed the mean-faced girl in unison.

"Hehehe! We've got you now Junk Goblin! This fire is ours so you have to go sleep somewhere else now! Hehehe!"

It was then the four Majolica's got a good look at the girl.

"Ehhhhh... you're not the Junk Goblin? Hehe, who are you?"

Another Majolica chimed in looking at the other person.

"Hehe, here's another one with white hair?"

The third Majolica responded.

"She's not the Junk Goblin either, hehe..."

Finally the fourth...

"Ehehehe... who are you people? Why are you in Grand Witch Majolica's woods? Hehehe?"

@Temperance @Eyas Amari

 

"Not a private encampment, I hope?"

Aaaaaaaand somebody snuck up on her.

If she had a knife or a sword, that would've been drawn and she would've readied up, and it showed as she immediately went for where it had stayed on her side for all those years. So she had to forgo that particular tool, and instead grabbed her face-breaking rock, the trusted brown stone. Somehow, she got the feeling it wouldn't be earning her any titles or riches anytime soon, but it was good in a pinch to improvise.

This one seemed to be conveying they were no threat, something she found hard to believe. Everybody was a threat here, everybody. But they hadn't drawn any weapons, and weren't rushing her into a fight, so she was at least non-hostile for now. Still, she paused a moment, taking her time to listen around them to see if she could pick up on any other odd sounds, aside from a fire snapping and popping. If she were an elf, her ears would be twitching from everything there was out there, but no sounds of an ambush waiting, like she said. Well, it was better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

"Fine. Sit wherever." Obviously snappy and twitchy, she wasn't taking anything for granted, and for good reason. It wasn't more than two seconds after she began to sit that somebody else showed up. Or, more accurately, four of the somebody else. Back on her feet immediately, she stood tall and proud, glaring at this new trespasser. At least the first had the courtesy to announce herself a non-threat. This witchlike person seemed to just want to kick her out of her spot, which was NOT happening. "Alone, huh?"

Her glare shifted from the witch to Temperence back to the witch. Looked like things might come to shove, and if they didn't, thank god. She didn't want to be teamed up on in her own campsite. Would be a nightmare to explain. "Don't know what that junk goblin thing is, but we ain't it. Look somewhere else."

 

Temperance waited for the invitation to join Eyas, her patience a mask as her legs ached to find a place to sit down and rest her weary soles. It was obvious from Eyas's reaction that the woman did not trust Temperance. Good, she was smart not to! She was, after all, still a rogue even if she was also a healer. And while it may not be possible to loot from people, the White Haired Bitch of the forest was still a terrible prankster. But she had no intentions of pulling a fast one on the woman, she was interested only in-

What. The. F-bomb.

From out of the woods came four identical forms, obviously the works of spellcraft... they spoke in unison, of odd things, but Temperance ignored all of that and focused on the one thing that mattered to her at this moment.

"Alone, huh?"

She could hear it in Eyas's voice... See it in her guarded stance. Hell, in that woman's place, Temperance would already be throwing attacks out and running for safety to get away from what appeared to be an OBVIOUS AMBUSH. And all of this JUST after she had said she was alone! If she had been just a few minutes slower getting here, then she could have interrupted whatever nonsense this newcomer was on about and earned a spot at the campfire for the night!
Instead, she appeared to be in league with the babbling witch-figure, and she was about to lose her place at the fire.

"Oh, FUCK MY ASS!" she shouted in anger and exasperation, apparently not the most polite or proper of sorts when it came to being upset.
"What the FUCK is a junk goblin and why the hell did you have to come floating into view and making me out as a god damned liar?! And what do you mean these are your woods?!"
A thought occurred, then. Either this was a bizarre NPC that lived in the area and was meant to plague weak players, or it was a PC that was super, super, SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER into their roleplay. Either way... it could be killed if necessary. If it was an NPC then it'd be a nuisance no longer. If it was a PC, they'd respawn... and it'd take them time to get back here, and that was time she could be napping by a fire.

But Temperance had no offensive masteries, aside from what White Magic could throw down.

She glanced at Eyas, deciding where to place her bet. Hands glowing brightly with White Magic, she threw the largest [Damage Buff] she could at the... rock-wielding woman? A ROCK? Clearly, Temperance was shocked at this site.

"Oh my gooooooooooooood, a rock... why is this my life?" Temperance groaned, burying her face in her hands as if ready to sob.
"Just kill each other... I don't care. I'm going to sit down now." And she did, taking a few steps towards the fire and plopping down onto a patch of dirt nearby, falling onto her side, and lazily kicking off her boots.

@Eyas Amari @Grand Witch Majolica

 

One after another, the four witches spoke up while pouting.

"Hehehe, Do. Not. Talk. To. Me. Like. THAT!"

Above the camp, clouds grew dark and began to spiral ominously. Uncommonly cold winds slowly began to breeze through the forest whisping around the site's perimeter. Outside the campfire's light, giggles came from all directions along the sounds of bat wings flapping and low guttural growls. Black and purple lightning flared through the sky. A stray bolt struck the ground feet from the camp dragging along the dirt and up a tree while leaving a dark black wound in its wake. Trees and foliage around the campfire began to droop, turn black, and decay.

Suddenly, something could be heard coming through the forest. Its heavy breath reverberated along with the sound of trees cracking beneath its heavy steps. It was picking up speed and getting closer. The thing roared uncannily, sending a blast of its foul-smelling breath directly towards the campfire. This was not a boar, not a man, definitely was not native to Brisshal, and was definitely heading straight for the group.

As the thing neared ever closer, the sounds of wings scratching against foliage became clear. It was bipedal. As it walked, its clawed toes could be heard ripping through brush and dirt. Finally, in the direction of the noises, two brightly glowing red eyes could be seen in the darkness. A glint of firelight shone off a fang and a set of horns. The rest of the fire's meager light seemed to die on the creature's body, leaving the monster shrouded in darkness and shadows. It took one final step towards the camp, then...

It was gone. As if a cutaway to the next scene of a movie, the withered plants were healthy again. The night sky was again awash in stars with not a cloud to be counted. The cold winds died. All that was left were four Majolica's pouting and looking upset.

One of the Majolicas plopped down on the ground, opened her bag, and pulled out a skewer filled with mushrooms. Placing them over the fire, she began to grill them. The other two sat closely next to her in a consoling fashion. The Last Majolica stood like angry big sister behind them and spoke up to the mean-face and the white hair.

"Majolica made a mistake and thought you were someone you weren't, hehe, but she didn't do anything bad to either of you, and you yelled at her ugly, hehe. Especially you, white hair! Do. Not. Pick on Majolica! Also, you, mean-faced girl. I wouldn't do any attacking if I were you. Majoloicas explode into Witch Frost shrapnel when attacked, hehehe, so unless you're feeling lucky I would put your weapon down, hehehe."

As the two flanking Majolica's patted the center one's head while she roasted her mushrooms, the big-sister Majolica spoke up again.

"Grand Witch Majolica is not here to harm you, hehehe, but she is going to borrow your fire, hehehe, and offer some mushrooms as an apology for her mistake, hehehe."

 

Fucking mages. It was ALWAYS the mages. No matter the game, no matter the place, if you wanted trouble, you went to go see some mages. Case and point: whatever the hell was out in those woods there. Eyas watched with a steely glare as things died, and cracked her neck as it approached, tightening her grip on the rock as a strange feeling of strength ran up her spine. She was more than glad to pick a fight with something well out of her league, and was about to get into the fight when- what, it was gone? Had to be that fucking lame, huh.

Whatever. The mage knew lightning. Or was that lucky. Well, she'd always been unlucky, this wouldn't be any different, if it came down to it. And then she was cooking mushrooms? Fuck it. She wasn't getting any sleep tonight anyways. "Fuckin' fine. Whatever. Clean up your shit when you go."

 

Well, this was the bottom of the barrel as far as situations went...
All she wanted to do was find a safe place to log out so that her character would be well enough guarded it wouldn't die while offline. But it appeared as though such simple luxuries were beyond her this evening...

The witch... witches...? made demands, issued orders not to insult them, and conjured forth something in the nearby woods. It seemed to leave as quickly as it had come upon them, never really entering the clearing...
She suspected it was illusion magic, but did not care one way or the other. As soon as the storms gathered, she was rolling onto the heels of her boots and sprinting into the woods, away from this all. Nope. Nope. A thousand times nope. Even if it was all a harmless situation, that didn't mean it wasn't a stressful one, and she needed to find a place to log off. She wasn't about to do so, here, with those two at each other's throats. As she sprinted into the woods, she could hear Eyas inviting people, rather brusquely, to stay so long as they cleaned up after themselves. Temperance had been to college and knew the sort of petty undertones of bitchiness that were likely to seep into conversation at this point, and had tasted the awkward silence that would exist if nobody did talk. She wanted no part of it.

Maybe she could just tie herself up in a tree again, and hope for the best...

(leaving thread)

 

"Good, she's gone. Hehehe."

Majolica watched as the white-haired woman left.

"Hehehe, I don't like it when people use language like that. It's a game, hehe, we're supposed to have fun. Hehehe, it's not fun getting yelled at, hehe, and I, Grand Witch Majolica won't stand for it! Hehehe."

Majolica turned back and faced the mean face.

"So... were you just born angry? Hehehe? Would you like to talk about how I'm the strongest witch of all? Hehe, or do you just feel like scowling? Hehe, don't worry. Majolica will be your friend, mean little goblin. What's your name? Hehehe."

As one of the Majolicas spoke the other's watched the mushrooms being cooked. As the smell issuing forth from the mushrooms declared them ready to eat. Majolica popped one in her mouth savoring the taste.

Speaking with a mouth full of mushroom, Majolica offered one to the girl.

"Hehehe, want one? Hehe, I can make it taste like anything you want it to. Hehehe, though it's already a mushroom so I don't know why you would. Hehehe! Don't worry, they're not poisonous."

The Grand Witch popped another into her mouth.

"So, hehe, how are you liking the world so far? Having fun? Fought anything neat? Joined a guild? Hehehe, I'm in the Lion's Pride making me a real hero! Hehehe! I'm also Commander of the Witch Ops Battalion! Hehehe! We're a group of a group of dark heroes that will work to defend Astorea! Hehehe! Pretty neat huh? Hehehe!"

Majolica again offered some food.

"Are you taking a mushroom or not? Hehehe. Let's talk, I'm a good guy. Hehehe!"

 

Hm. Eyas wasn't sure which she preferred. Probably the one that didn't show up and immediately threaten her. But it wasn't like she had a choice anymore, considering that the other was gone. Shame. Honestly, she might've liked the other one. They seemed to be wary, sure, but it wasn't a matter of just wariness but she had an energy to herself that made herself seem much more... guarded. Hard to get through. That was something she looked for in an ally: if they didn't trust anybody, then they would be suspicious of everything. Which was very good.

Instead, she had this witch person. Who... she didn't know what to think about. On one hand, they certainly seemed like a powerful enough person, but on the other hand, that power was liable to be turned on her if she got pissed at herself. Could she take a witch with just her natural gift and a rock? ...maybe. BIG maybe. But she didn't want to take an unnecessary risk, that could get her killed. And that was a setback.

So instead, she just sat on her log, whittling away at the broom handle she had. It wasn't perfect, not even really suitable for more than a few hits. But it would be a nice practice weapon to get used to. Could line it with lead, anyways. Seriously, what could she even say to this witch person? Nice magic? She already had a grudge against pures. And she already disliked pure mages. No, it was better to just shake her head, and keep her eyes on her work before she said something out of line.

 

"Hehehe a quiet one huh? Hmm... hehehe, how about a trick?"

Majolica took stood up and took off her hat. Holding the hat top down, she smiled and shouted.

"Hehehe, for my next trick, I, Grand Witch Majolica, Witch Ops Commander, will now perform the impossible! Hehehe, from the dawn of time man, has attempted to pull physical animals from his hat! Hehehe, but ladies and gentlemen mankind must strive to push the envelope further! Hehe, and since I'm an elf, I can do that! Hehehe now then, behold as I, Grand Witch Majolica, perform the impossible! Hehehe!"

Majolica reached into her hat. Bringing her hand out of the hat, on top of her palm sat a gloriously golden goose.

"Hehehe! Behold! The golden goose!"

Setting the goose on the ground, it honked and waddles around.

"Hehe, but that's not all ladies and gentlemen! Watch now, hehe, as reality bends to my will! Hehehe!"

Holding her hat away from the fire, a muffled roar could be heard. Then, the hat's bottom magically expanded until, fwop! Out slid a bear in a clown outfit.

"Hehehe! Behold! Clown Bear Clarence!"

The bear honked it's nose and began dancing.

Majolica eyed the widdling girl while waiting for applause, then whispered.

"Pay attention to me..."


@Eyas Amari