Private - Witch Ops Initiation | Page 2

With eyes as big as saucers, Nom Nom watched as a big dongo plant grew out of the ground. They almost popped out of her head when Auntie Lady shook a fresh carrot from it. Nom Nom wasted no time. She leapt---and hugged---Auntie Lady. Who was this crop goddess?! The little blonde rabbit burried her face where ever her 4ft height reached and nuzzled the young woman. Half out of affection...half to remember this scent.... As it were, Nom Nom had just hit the jackpot. Today was a good day.

However, taking the biggest carrot she had ever seen, everything went black...

Nom Noming the carrot, the bunny girl took it in stride. She was like a typewriter as she ate and ate and ate some more. Would this be the day she finally felt full? Probably not. But strides were being made. Nearly lost in bliss, Nom Nom none the less sensed a presence. Hugging her carrot close, she growled.

"GAOWRRRRRRRR~~~~~~~~~ GURURURURUURUURURURUUUUU~!"

Her brows furrowed as she barked at the darkness.

"GAO! GAO! GURURU!"

!


...Oh... it was... Hee Hee Witch...

Nom's Nom's fuzzy tail, which should of been nothing but a decoration, ceased standing on its end in static fury.

"draf--ted..."

The bunny tilted her head as she continued eating her prize super carrot.

"What...is...?"

There was a long pause between contemplative nibbles.

Do I get... "Mushrooms?"

 

Before Iván could walk inside the breached cottage himself, things went dark. Darker than Portia’s heart. Iván knew there was something strange about the place. Outside, things weren’t normal. That much was obvious. The trees served as his first clue. Noting first how they were physically twisted, he proceeded to easily notice how everything else looked and felt amiss. But that wasn’t unexpected, to be honest. They were, after all, summoned to this place by someone who called herself the “Grand Witch.” Iván did not know if that was a legitimate title or not, considering how many others he’s come across calling themselves one thing or another: kings that weren’t actually kings, gods that could not live past their prime, heroes that wouldn’t risk their lives for others.

He didn’t have to think about all that any longer when the darkness came to engulf him and his thoughts outside of his mind. At least, he believed this came from out of his mind. While others would’ve looked around, started walking, called out names, Iván just stood there, where he was, not moving, not saying anything. He just let out a sigh. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to look around him without moving his head, but that amounted to nothing. Nothing else but the darkness was around him, close to him. He wondered if it was an illusion, if this was the trap he was expecting. He did not have to wonder about one thing, though. He did not have to wonder where the Grand Witch was.

Her laughter made Iván raise an eyebrow. He turned to its direction and waited for her to appear, which she did. He had no idea where the spotlight came from but he smiled, under his hood, when he noticed she had a broomstick with her. Grand Witch Majolica introduced herself to him, calling herself the Witch Ops Battalion Commander, calling him a sneaky guy that would be right at home, sneaking around, gathering info, and such. She wasn’t wrong. Iván could pretty much play that role to a tee. He was masked all over. He was trained in illusion magic. He could be her info guy. But what would he gain from it?

“What am I getting into?” Iván adjusted his goggles to appear indifferent. “Is this another personal war or is there a bigger point in all of this? What am I going to gain from joining your battalion?”

Iván was actually pretty interested in doing something, being a part of something, that was outside the control of the Aristocracy. He also needed, wanted, to improve his illusion magic, which he could do in the company of other great magic-users. A Grand Witch would most definitely have great knowledge regarding magic. This was an opportunity he could not pass up. But he had to pretend to be cool about. Like subzero cool.

 

The door easily flew, but still no signs of Majolica. After several seconds of looking though, a spell began to materialize, enveloping darkness around her before Majolica herself showed up in a showy fashion under a spotlight, complete with her signature laugh and the broomstick ride that never gets old. But there is no other people here, so the magic that was put into them must be designed to separate the experience with another.

The first sentence quickly hits her, in which she replies "O-of course I like Majolica, who doesn't? Hehehe.." she nervously laughed.

Is Majolica's laugh contagious? Because it looked like that she has been infected. The Grand Witch then presented her with the opportunity to ask questions.

Wait, aren't we normally questioned in interviews, not the opposite? Then her brain finally processed that this is a Majolica interview, why do she expect it to run like a normal interview?

"Ehm" she cleared her throat first "So, the purpose of the Witch Ops is to defend Astorea. From what, exactly?" Corvella stopped for a while to think before correcting her question "Sorry, let me rephrase that. What is the true enemy? The end game."

The knight did recall something along the line of 'the group associated with Blank'... Megan? What kind of group did Megan align herself into, anyway? Majolica might know it better than her. Getting this info might be a sign of perks being a Witch Ops member, who knows?

... Did she just considered joining in?

 

Janet had no sooner handed off the healthy snack™ to the grateful little blonde girl than the world was swirling away into darkness. At first, Janet thought it was similar to the sensation of “logging out” and had a brief heart attack as she wondered if something had gone wrong with the connection. Had there been a power outage? She’d gone over the manual and it had said the device had a backup generator in case of situations like that, so why—

A light was appearing. Janet walked towards it. “Haru? Ivan?” she called as the spotlight grew brighter. She heard no response. Her heart sunk. Is this—oh! Someone was approaching her—someone so distinctly out of a seasonal Halloween Party Store commercial that Janet took a step back in surprise. Little did she know that the distinctive giggle (cackle?) would be the first of many, many times she’d hear it in the future. For this was (of course) the Grand Witch Majolica, and this was the Witch Ops Initiation.

She firmed her resolve and stepped into the spotlight to meet the pink-haired witch, determined not to judge her by her appearance (the presentation of the letter certainly had not misled her about its sender.) Majolica was younger than Janet had been expecting from someone who claimed to be the commander of a future battalion, but who was she to judge? As she knew very well, anyone could make themselves any age in Terrasphere—even a teenager. “I-I see! I’m glad to finally meet you,” she answered, attempting to keep cool and focused and not betray her bewilderment. Tough and strong? Her heart swelled with pride, so much that she could almost look past the “your face” comment, to which she gave a neutral hmph.

“Questions,” Janet seized on this gratefully, still feeling stupidly rooted to the spot. She reached into the pocket of her blouse to retrieve the letter and scanned over it again, wishing it hadn’t been on purple paper so she could have highlighted it properly. She pointed, looking up at Majolica on her broom. “This part, here—dark heroes? How do you define that?” she asked primly, hastily adding “Ah—if you don’t mind explaining.” She went over the letter further. “And I assume this nation that the Witch Ops defend is… Astorea? What threats do you anticipate?” Janet lowered the paper, giving the distinct impression of looking over invisible glasses. She wasn’t quite daring enough to ask about the several mentions of “blood” and “sacrifice” near the end—she hoped those were just theatrics.

@Grand Witch Majolica

 

When everything went black, it was about what Emerath had expected. Here he was again, face to face with the so called Grand Witch Majolica, and she seemed just as annoyed to see him as he was to be here. As she spoke, he closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Look, it isn't my fault if the first impression you gave me was that of a childish person. You've not exactly proven me wrong with the destruction of the forest. But I won't deny that you have power. But so do the rest of us. So what makes you so qualified to lead this battalion besides the fact that you simply came up with the idea before anyone else did?"

It wasn't so much a question as it was a challenge. Emerath could be just as capable of leading this band of heroes as this witch could. In the case of Emerath and Majolica specifically, they were both of the Lion's Pride. And sub factions within that group could just as easily be led by both of them. What made Majolica so special?

As Emerath thought about it, he put his hands up and let out a sigh, "Look, despite how harsh things may come off, I'm just being honest. It's how I feel, it's what I see, and I'm going to tell you straight. If there's one thing you need to know about me, it's that." As Majolica circled him, Emerath began to walk around her in turn, creating a sort of orbit between the two of them during her chiding.

"You've shown me that you can be a Lion, that you can have good intentions. But the ends don't always justify the means. Sure, I blew up a part of the Bandit King's fortress, but that part of the fortress wasn't full of innocent animals and nature. It was full of enemies and was collateral damage. You try throwing bombs around in a blizzard and tell me how easy it is."

Emerath pointed a finger at Majolica, "Honestly, if you need anything, it's not a mad scientist, but an adviser, someone who isn't afraid to stand up to you and tell you what's what. I'm not here to ruin you, or tell these people that what they're doing is wrong. We're both Lions, and if we're both heroes, then you shouldn't have any problem with that."

"But look, I'm brooding, and antisocial. Some look at me as too serious, and usually I'm okay with that. But maybe it's time I joined something bigger than just me," Emerath admitted, folding his arms across his chest, "So far, you're the only one that isn't an Astorean Noble that is trying to make a difference. I can at least get behind that much. Just don't think you're all that much more powerful than me. We each have our strengths. You listen to what I have to say, and maybe I'll accept you as a leader of this merry band of misfits."

 

Haru turns to his friends while halfway into the doorframe, if only to beckon his friends in. "Please, don't be-" The rather kind face he had put on cracked and shattered at the black void he had turned to greet, leaving only a silent exasperation. Couldn't she have timed herself just a little bit better..? Regardless, he could see Majolica approach even now.
"-Shy. Hello, Majolica." Running a hand through his hair, Haru thinks to himself the issues he should probably bring up before she had a chance to talk. "It's good to see that you're getting better at this trick. Thank you for not choking me with it this time. If you were planning on riding my deer while talking to us, I advise not to. He gets really violent if you sting at his pride. Ha, ha ha."

But enough talk. He had time to listen now. -Hey, did she really have to poke at his fashion? He liked the white. It made him look like a beautiful snow fairy. Thinking back a few seconds at that, Haru decides that it's probably safe to say that not looking like an evil witch was most likely the problem, though. He gestures along his robe. "Well, if it appeases you, I'm wearing black underneath this robe. I could simply take this off if you're asking me to."

Haru takes a long look around him. Dark as the eye could possibly see. He wasn't uncomfortable this time around, simply because it was an open, empty void. This place was so similar to the eye yet so very different, for he could move and be free here. This alone made all the difference in the world. The spotlight didn't exactly hurt either. He was calm here. He looks back to the witch, a wide, lazy smile stretched along his jaw. "My will and sacrifice were what you wished from me, yes? I have no questions to give, so I'll skip right over to those instead. I'll have you know me to be quite a fine servant, Commander. A witch should surely have her heralds."

 

Witch Ops Iniation Trial Part 2: Show and Tell

Hidden: Interview Thread Rules and Notes

• One post, 800 words Maximum.
• Do cool stunts, show off your abilities, and be awesome!

Hidden: Haru

“Hehehe, I only choked you because we needed to get through the mission, hehe I don’t hurt my allies! Hehehe, the stag is yours. I only ride my broomstick! That’s what a witch does after all, hehehe!"

Majolica looked over Haru.

“Hehehe, there’s no dress code. If we have a secret mission, then maybe, hehe, but white is fine for now! Hehehehe!”

Majolica listened to Haru’s statement with interest and excitement, then once he finished she gave him a thumbs up.

“Hehehe, well said! We’re going to do big things Haru! Hehehe, with us around, Astorea will finally have the heroes it deserves! Hehehe, Now then! Hehehe, the interview is over! Let’s get things started! Hehehehe…"

Hidden: Ivan

Majolica nodded along as she listened intently to Ivan’s question.

“Hehehe! Good question! You’re getting into the Witch Ops Battalion! The Witch Ops was formed by me to defend the Astorea from her enemies! Hehehe, but what you’re asking is what enemies specifically correct? Hehehe…"

Majolica’s face darkened a bit.

“I’ll tell you a story. Hehe, not so long ago I, along with some others, hehe, went on a mission to help some church people and magical star nuns. Hehehe, something like that, I wasn’t really sure what they were. Then, all of a sudden, this black fog started circling us and these monsters began forming out of nowhere! We won the battle, hehe, but not without a great amount of effort and some losses."

Majolica hopped off her broom, crossed her arms, and began pacing.

“Hehehe… more recently, an ice witch tried to defend The Bandit King the lion’s were trying to take out. Hehe, I don’t know much about her but when she escaped, I noticed… hehehe… what I thought was the same fog… if that fog were to be unleashed on Astorea, many would die… hehe and I won’t have that!"

Majolica turned to Ivan and grinned.

"Someday, hehe, I’ll be the ruler of all of Astorea! Hehehe, but you have to have people to make up the country you rule, which is why I formed the Witch Ops! Hehehe, it’s our duty to defend our people and at times use some… hehehe… dastardly means to do so… like sabotage! Hehehe."

Chuckling, Majolica continued.

"But, Witch Ops does not hurt innocent people! Hehehe, the people of this world deserve a peaceful life with a ruler that treats them well, which will be me someday! Hehehehe! So is this a personal war?! Hehehe, no! I, Grand Witch Majolica, have a personal goal, but the Witch Ops does not exist to serve me! Hehehe, I’m the commander, not the Witch Ops ruler! Hehe, the purpose of Witch Ops is defending Astorea from the shadows, hehehe! Why you want to do that is your own choice! Hehe, but someday we will have a reputation as a group of legendary warriors! The most powerful in all of Astorea! Dark protectors, on an ever-vigilant watch over the whole of Astorea! Hehehehe!"

Turning, Majolica faced Ivan directly and pointed at him.

“Hehehe, so what can I offer you!? Hehehe, I offer you a chance at glory! Hehehe! I offer you training, power, and the opportunity to become a legend! If that doesn’t sound good, you’re free to go! Hehehehe… but if it does, then let’s get started!"

Hidden: Janet

Majolica listened intently to Jane’s questions and concerns the responded warmly.

“Hehehe, good questions! A dark hero is a hero that the enemies may not respect, hehehe, but they certainly fear! We don’t always fight fair after all, Hehe! Also, Witch Ops is a commando unit that goes where bigger groups can’t! But, since we’re dark heroes, we can also use more, hehehe, shadowy means to defend Astorea, like sabotage! Hehehe, as long as it doesn’t hurt normal people though. Hehe, we are heroes and it’s still our job to keep people safe! Hehehe, eventually as we all get more powerful, Witch Ops will become a legendary group of warriors known and feared as the shadowy protectors of Astorea! Hehehe, the fact that Witch Ops even exists will be a deterrent to anyone wanting to hurt the people of our country!"

It was obvious that Majolica was excited about her vision for the Witch Ops.

“Hehehe! Now then, what threats do I anticipate?”

Majolica’s face got a bit darker.

"Hehehe, let me tell you a story. Hehe, not so long ago I, along with some others hehe, went on a mission to help some church people and magical star nuns."

Looking a bit confused, Majolica continued.

“Hehehe, something like that, I wasn’t really sure what they were. Anyway, as we were talking to them, all of a sudden, this black fog started circling us and these monsters began forming out of nowhere! We won the battle, hehe, but not without a great amount of effort and some losses. Hehehe… more recently, an ice witch tried to defend The Bandit King the lions were trying to take out. Hehe, I don’t know much about her but when she escaped, I noticed… hehehe.. what I thought was the same fog! I, Grand Witch Majolica, will not allow my future subjects to be destroyed by whatever that stuff is! Hehehe, and while I’m at it, I won’t let them be destroyed by bandit kings, demons, undead, hehehe or anything else! Hehehe!

Majolica jumped off her broom and began to speak with an air of pride.

“So, I decided to put together a team! Hehehe, the reasons for joining are your own, and… hehehe you do not serve me! I am Commander Grand Witch Majolica, not Queen Grand Witch Majolica! Hehehe, yet! But, your reasons for being here are your own! the Witch Ops is only meant to protect Astorea from any threats that come our way! Hehehe! Also, as Witch Ops is a team, we’ll be a community of adventurer’s that help each other out! Hehehe, we can also have training camps, and fun camping outings! Hehehe! Just because we’re defending Astorea, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves and have fun too, right? Hehehe!"

Facing directly towards Janet, Majolica held out her finger.

“Now then! Hehehe, the interview is over! If you wish to leave, the choice is yours. But, hehe, if you’ve decided to stay… Let’s get started! Hehehehe…”

Hidden: Corvella

Majolica listened intently to Corvella’s questioning. Then hopped off her broom and began pacing.

“Hehehe, I’ll tell you a story! Hehe, not so long ago I, along with some others hehe, went on a mission to help some church people and magical star nuns."

Looking confused, Majolica scratched her head.

"Hehehe, something like that, I wasn’t really sure what they were. Then, all of a sudden, this black fog started circling us and these monsters began forming out of nowhere! We won the battle, hehe, but not without a great amount of effort and some losses. Hehehe… more recently, an ice witch tried to defend The Bandit King the lions were trying to take out."

Majolica looked upward while thinking.

“Hehe, I don’t know much about her but when she escaped, I noticed… hehehe.. what I thought was the same fog! I, Grand Witch Majolica, will not allow my future subjects to be destroyed by whatever that stuff is! Hehehe, and while I’m at it, I won’t let them be destroyed by bandit kings, demons, undead, hehehe or anything else! Hehehe!”

Crossing her arms proudly, Majolica continued.

“So, I decided to put together a team! Hehehe, the reasons for joining are your own, and… hehehe you do not serve me! I am Commander Grand Witch Majolica, not Queen Grand Witch Majolica! Hehehe, yet! But, the Witch Ops is only meant to protect Astorea from any threats that come our way! Hehehe! Your reason for being here is your own, and you’re free to go at any time!"

Majolica began pacing again.

“Hehehe, the difference between Witch Ops and The Lions, is that the Lions, while good, are too many! Hehehe! Witch Ops can go where they lion can’t! Hehehe, we’re specialists specializing in eliminating Astorea’s enemies! Hehehe, also, since we’re dark heroes…"

Majolica gave a sly wink.

“We can use means a little more, hehehe, despicable… like Sabotage! Hehehe, but, that doesn’t mean we hurt innocent and peaceful people! Hehehe. Those who raise their weapons against Astorea will feel the wrath of the Witch Ops! Hehehe, those that don’t are left alone! Hehehe, of course, if retaliation is required, hehehe, we might have to burn an enemy army to the ground and take down a king, hehe but we’ll be sure to help the normal people after it’s all over. We’re dark heroes! Hehehe, heroes being the important term! Hehehe!"

Then, Majolica straightened up proudly and crossed her arms while facing Corvella.

"Now then! Hehehe, the interview is over! If you wish to leave, the choice is yours. But, hehe, if you’ve decided to stay… Let’s get started! Hehehehe…"

Hidden: Emerath

Majolica massaged the bridge of her nose.

“Hehehe, you know you’re not my dad, right? Hehehe. That’s your problem gear goblin, hehe, it’s always, ‘you need to show me’ or, hehe, ‘you need to prove to me’ hehehe except I don’t. I don’t have to prove anything to you, hehehe I’m a Grand Witch!"

Majolica hopped off her broom and faced Emerath.

“Hehehe, what makes me qualified? How about that when I invited people to join, they did? Hehehe, maybe it’s the fact that Grand Witch Majolica DID come up with the idea that qualifies her to lead? Hehehe… and I, Grand Witch Majolica, am not the Queen of Witch Ops, I’m the commander. I lead, hehehe, because it’s my job. But, everyone is here of their own free will, hehehe, and can leave of that same will. Their reason for wanting to be in Witch Ops is theirs, hehe, Grand Witch Majolica is only giving them a place to gather, grow strong, meet allies, hehehe, and defend the home of our people!”

Pacing, Majolica shook her head as she looked downwards in thought.

“Hehehe, so there will be no advisors because there are no ranks! Hehehe, Majolica is simply the first among equals! Hehehe, everyone in Witch Ops has a say, everyone can voice their opinion, and we can go with the majority! Hehehe, but Majolica is still commander so her opinion weights a bit more! Hehehe, whatever our enemy, hehehe, Witch Ops Stands together to defend Astorea! Hehehe, but since we’re dark heroes, we can use means a bit more dastardly than the Lion’s… hehehe. Though, those means do not mean harming innocent people! Hehehe, we’re heroes after all! And, someday, after we’ve all become master’s of our fields, we’ll become a force so strong that we’ll be a deterrent for anyone wanted to harm Astorea! Hehehe a legendary band of shadowy defenders! Hehehe! We’ll all remain friends and allies even after I’ve peacefully become ruler of all Astorea! Hehehe!"

Majolica stopped, crossed her arms, and faced Emerath.

"Now, if you want to be in the Witch Ops, hehehe, fall into line with your future comrades, if not, then go! Hehehe, and if you think you can do a better job, then do it! Hehehehe… but no more naysaying, hehehe, The Grand Witch has work to do building her commando unit! Hehehe…"

The Grand Witch hopped back on top of her broomstick.

"And with that, hehe, the interview is over! Make your choice! Stay or leave, hehe, but now things get started! Hehehehe…"

Hidden: Freja

“Hehehe, no questions! Good! Hehehe! Now then! Hehehe, the interview is over! Make your choice! Stay or leave, hehe, but now things get started! Hehehehe…"

Hidden: Nom Nom

“If you’re good, hehe.”

Her speech now ended, the Majolica in front of each adventurer giggled and snapped her fingers. All at once, the shadows and darkness all dispersed.

Looking around, the adventurers would notice that though they were once again in the Brisshal Forest that had traveled too, the area was much more lively now. From the forest edge, Bipedal frogs walked into the forest cottage clearing carrying fishing poles and baskets filled with fish. Further back, other frogs tended to a patch of crops that looked enough to feed the community. Across from the farm, a couple of other frogs chopped lumber. Another frog in a dress approached the two lumber frogs with a pitcher and two glasses of a yellow lemonade looking liquid. The two frogs wiped sweat from their brow, grabbed a glass and took deep gulps.

Though it was difficult to determine any emotion from the frog’s facial features, it could be assumed that the community was happily living out their lives as they croaked at each other and worked together.

The cottage that one of the adventurers had barged into was no longer where it was, instead, it was several yards behind and completely untarnished. Through the window, two frogs in dresses appeared to be cooking and baking.

In comparison to the eerily desolate and quiet scene the adventurers had first beheld, the Witch’s cottage now appeared to be a small yet thriving community.

“Hehehe, Bobo! Jojo! A little help, please! Hehehe!”

At her call, two frogs in overalls, each carried a sturdy, but primitive looking humanoid manikin made of wood, and straw. The frog’s placed each manikin evenly apart and nailed them into the ground for support.

“Hehehe, good work! Thank you, Jojo and Bobo!”

Majolica turned back towards the group of adventurer’s.

"Now begins Witch Ops Trial Part 2! Hehehe, each Witch Ops hopeful will now introduce themselves to the group, then give a demonstration of their unique powers! You have to introduce yourself even if you already know everyone so no one gets left out! Hehehe! Then, show off your powers and feel free to blast the target into nothing! Really show off! Hehehe, shoot the target from really far away then run fast enough to catch the arrow right before it hits the target, then punch the target in the face like a trick! Hehehe!"

Majolica thought that move would be extremely funny if someone could actually do it.

“You don’t have to do anything that extreme though! Hehe, just show off a bit so everyone can see what you can do! Hehehe!”

@Nom Nom @Janet Reilly @Emerath Katou @Iván Carl @Corvella @Freja Sitka @Haru

 

Majolica’s story was far too much for someone like Janet (only recently indoctrinated into Terrasphere, much less the high fantasy genre) to really grasp. She was in a position where she felt she had to, however, or at least do her best to understand. Failing to comprehend the full picture would only lead to messy complications later on. A cloud of darkness. It sounded vaguely apocalyptic. The end-of-the-world imagery resonated with her in a way that mere monsters or political threats might not. In any case, sabotage was never something Janet would condone, but… if someone was doing something unfair, like the neighbors were having a garage sale on the same day as you, she supposed certain actions had to be taken.

After the darkness cleared and she’d gotten her bearings, the first challenge was presented. “Ahem. I don’t mind going first,” Janet said firmly, stepping forward. Doing her best to ignore the bipedal frogs hovering nearby (how bizarre…) she closed her eyes, placing a hand on her mannequin's chest. Yarn-thin, thorn-ribbed vines suddenly whispered past her fingers, snaking like arteries away from the heart and up the mannequin’s shoulders, its neck, past its chest and waist. Tiny rootets wound and buried themselves in the creases and crevices of the body’s joints as if seeking out the fissures in stone, testing, trying. Prying. It took almost thirty seconds for the blackberry vines to form an eerie map of veins and vessels across the mannequin’s torso. Focus.

Janet’s fingers, which had been open, slowly curled as if scrunching up a tablecloth, pulling. They became a fist. The slender vines binding the figure stretched, leaves unfurling against the mannequin. From afar, the flora-covered figurine’s arms stretched as well as the vines levered them from their sockets, the lynchpin holding the head vibrating as its skull was lifted an inch off its bearing, its hips threatening to separate like a woman’s in childbirth as the plants strained to tear the mannequin apart at the very seams—

And then a handful of white flowers budded along its length, transforming into red berries. Janet let out her breath and the vines loosened again, letting the head drop back into place and releasing the limbs which had been threatening to tear free from their body. Sweat soaked her shoulders, her white blouse sticking messily to her skin. They’re not even ripe, she thought, disappointed and breathing hard. I have to become stronger. She felt like she’d run half a mile. The still, strange air in this magical place didn’t help. Janet pulled her hand back from the mannequin’s torso and saw, with shock, that the figurine’s chest had crumpled like a tin can beneath the pressure from her fingers. With the strength of one hand, almost effortlessly, she’d caved in one side of the mannequin’s sternum.

As she stepped back, the vines seemed to lose their energy. The leaves turned brown all in a ripple, and those few berries which had clung to them grew dark and ripened. Despite still feeling winded, Janet managed to step forward and pick a handful of them before the dead vines fell to the forest floor like severed bonds, releasing the mannequin. “I look forward to seeing everyone else’s demonstrations,” she said to the others, still a little out of breath. “I... think there’s enough here for everyone.” She passed down the line, methodically passing each one of them a plump blackberry, and took her place again with the rest of the initiates.

 

It seems that Majolica herself doesn't know the identity of the threat surprisingly. Yet, Corvella doesn't sense any ill intent from her, and she know people like Majolica wouldn't lie when they say that they want to protect Astorea. "If it is for Astorea.. I'm sticking. After all, we fight for the same cause." The blonde spoke. Only few moments after, the illusion was promptly cleared and they all are now gathered for a talent show, just like in high school, interesting! Well, except now there's magic and combat. She tried to focus on the "auntie" girl's nature magic performance, ignoring the highly distracting bipedal frogs. Fascinated at the growing blackberries, Corvella let out a small 'wow'. The girl then proceed to give blackberries to all of them, which the knight received with a smile "Thank you. I don't think I've got your name?"

After slipping the berry into her pocket for later, Corvella walked up front to introduce herself and to demonstrate her power. It might be more interesting to make something of a performance like what the girl before did earlier. "My name is Corvella and let me begin the demonstration." The girl bowed down in a polite manner before raising her hand to the front while chanting. The ground around the mannequin, which is standing just beside her started to split and from it, red sparkling ember glows. The people watching her performance can feel the earth rumbling, watching as lava bursts out from the cracks like it's a B-rated disaster movie. And as the blonde raised her left hand higher above, they can finally see a tall, gigantic creature of pure flame emerging hundred feet from them, so big that the flame and smoke it emitting covered the whole sky.

People familiar with the creature could identify it as the late Azog, prince of fire. The whole forest starts to catch fire, you can almost feel the heat. Corvella starts to sweat heavily, her arm trembling while maintaining her hand in the air as the creature raised his fist, ready to deliver a massive punch to the splitting earth.

The next split second, it was all gone. No fire, no flame giant, and certainly no ground cracks. Everybody could still see the exhaustion in the phantasmal knight's face though. Of course, a mere adept illusionist couldn't invoke an illusion of that scale. "Sorry! Looks like there's been a technical issue..." she slowly spoke as Corvella tries to regain her concentration, focusing the magic on the ring on her left hand. "Let me try again" This time, she will invoke a much simpler illusion. Multiple copies of the black-clad knight began to appear and continue to multiply themselves into such number that it slowly resembled that shield formation from your parents' favorite Spartan movie.

There's no difference between two or a hundred clones really, since the one factoring in the spellcasting was the area of effect, how many people involved, their senses and how real it should feel. But since non-illusionist wouldn't know about the details, fifty clones should strike as a grand illusion, right? And the energy consumption isn't even half the earlier fiery illusion!

The fifty Corvellas marched towards the mannequin with their shield up like a mobile fortress, and they start taking turns punishing it with their shields, while some starts doing maneuvers, jumping from one's back to strike the mannequin from the air. It might be seen that there is only one that consistently deal visible physical damage to the mannequin, while the others do not.

After finishing beating up the mannequin, the formation of fifty identical girl rotated facing the other initiates, bowing while speaking in unison "A little simple, but that is it for my performance! I will be looking forward to watching the rest of you." The illusion dissipates and Corvella walked back to join the group to see who's up next.

 

Nom Nom GLADLY took the berry from Auntie Lady in .2 seconds flat. It was like throwing a marble into a black hole, it may as well have not even existed. Had she even chewed? Right around then though it got hot from some reason and suddenly there was a Ragnaros. Crouching low and protecting her giant carrot, Nom Nom was poised to attack it.

"GAO GAO GAO GAO GURURURURURUUUU!!!"

She barked at it until seemingly taking the hint, it apparently vanished. Lots of Metal Mountain Ladies bothered Nom Nom much less, so she went back to working on her afternoon snack...

Some time passed, and sensing something, Nom Nom decided it was her turn. She looked at each attendee in turn, then back to Hee Hee Witch, and tilted her head. She then nodded.

"Nom... Nom..."

She said, blinking. That was her name. Apparently.

Nom Nom turned toward the scarecrow thingy and plodded toward it. If she was good she would get mushrooms. But what was good? Hee Hee Witch seemed pleased when people did the thing. Maybe she would get mushrooms if she did the thing too... Walking up to the scarecrow she frowned and for a moment and tensed.

"Hhmph!"

The sound was the absence of sound. A WHOMPH rang out fractions of a second later...

With an uppercutting swing, the thick side of the carrot connected with the scarecrow instantly snapping what secured it to the ground. For a moment of a moment, it looked as if the thing would sail in an arc through the sky, but Nom Nom's eyes flashed red. The carrot having followed through in its swing, was in an instant, brought back down the other way smashing the target into the ground where, being pulled by the momentum of Nom Nom's backhand swing, it was dragged under the makeshift club around her in a semi-circle. Taken for a ride, the target gave way from the friction and disassembled into its component parts as Nom Nom's powerful legs forced her into a stop.

It had been like a sudden and unexpected bomb. One loud bang and it was over.

"..."

Nom Nom waited for the dust to settle before letting out a breath and studying the aftermath. She nodded, she had done the thing. And, if she did the thing, surely that meant that she would get----

"Mush...rooms...?"

 

Going into the darkness, Freja hadn’t expected the first part of her “trial” to involve, well, a one-on-one interview like she was applying for a job. Something so surprisingly mundane that it threw her off. It was a subtle reminder that, behind the thespian avatar, there actually was another, flesh-and-blood person, playing the game as she was. Thinking of that, she began to feel a little more conscious of her actions.

Questions? Freja could think of a few. Why start this splinter faction? Why scout her specifically? What sort of challenges would they anticipate meeting as self-proclaimed “dark heroes?” And then there was the matter of sorting them out, weeding out the trivial things from more intriguing matters. She had to wrestle with herself, with Emma, to curb curiosity and stick to her own persona, in which she led a simple life with little thinking required. Even though it was curiosity that brought her to this series of events.

After a long and awkward half-minute of silence, Freja looked up at Majolica with a calm, straightforward expression. “Nah, I’m good,” she quipped. Many of the questions Freja had, she decided, were things she would learn in due time, rather than gain from carping at the girl in front of her.

Majolica, seemingly satisfied with this response, lifted the illusion of darkness that had blanketed the group. They were brought back to the cabin in the forest clearing, now populated by the same frog-men Freja had seen in Stokbon. Curiouser and curiouser.

Watching “Bobo and Jojo” place the mannequins before them, a lightbulb went off in Freja’s head about what “Part Two” of the initiation would cover. Majolica was quick to confirm what they were supposed to do.her suspicion. The others lined up, ready to demonstrate their abilities.

Just looking at how the first person, who Freja recognized as the girl she had spooked with her joke about being turned into newts, had created an overgrowth of plants on the first mannequin, even if she strained to do so, had already set up a good enough first impression that Freja instinctively applauded. “Nice work,” she said, giving a quick thanks as the girl handed Freja her blackberry. She popped it into her mouth, quick to notice a crunch where she expected only some soft fruit. “Ack! Seeds.”

The next initiate, introducing themselves as Corvella, set the bar yet higher with her display of Illusion Magic. The whole area seemed to undergo a cataclysmic shift. A fire giant rose from the fissures, blanketed the sky. The great elemental rose a fist, a bracelet on his wrist reflecting the light of the fire as brilliantly as sunlight, and just as quickly threw it down to the earth. . . . It lasted only for a moment, but the illusion was so impressionable it left Freja speechless, jaw agape in amazement.

Then came a third initiate, one bringing not magic, but a giant carrot she used like a club to match her rabbit motif. Freja had to admit, she was a little tense after having seen two impressive examples of magic in this little orienteering segment. Of course, magic was to be expected in a group called the Witch Ops. Watching two of the other initiates, however, had Freja become aware of her own shortcomings. She was no mage, couldn’t hope to be, had little interest in investing in magic in the first place. Seeing someone else with a similar mindset show up, taciturn as the girl herself was, made Freja feel much less like the fool who walked into a gunfight, but left behind the ammunition. Again, she applauded. “Guess I’m up next,” she said, stepping up to the mannequin. “Name’s Freja. No fancy magic show from me, sorry! I guess I’ll have to get a little creative with the chopping block.”

Taking a boxer-like stance, Freja opened with a quick, wide swing from the right with her axe, cutting the mannequin’s body about an inch in; had it have been a real person their spleen or kidney would have been gashed. Not stopping there, though, she used the momentum of that swing to carry the axe in a vague circular motion, raising it over her left shoulder, hammering the blade down into the mannequin’s right, and letting that swing spin her once in a clockwise fashion, the axe biting into the dummy’s “liver,” stopping it from falling over when the ground fastenings started to buckle.

Freja let go of the axe with her left hand, spinning counter-clockwise once, and her right arm snapped the axe out from the mannequin’s side, carrying it with her for an upward swing that cut into the hapless thing’s featureless face. She leapt upward with that swing, bringing the axe behind her, grabbing the axe with both hands once more; her descent brought the blade plunging down the center of the dummy, mimicking the attack she had tried to attempt on the Bandit King, and the force of her blow actually connecting not only split the wooden, life-sized doll into two but knocked it off its fastenings, into the ground.

“Whew! That is satisfying to pull off. All right! Who’s next?”

 

Iván crossed his arms as he listened to the Grand Witch's response. He knew it was called the Witch Ops Battalion. That information was shared with the letter. What he didn't know was why it was and what it was, incorrectly guessing that the Grand Witch was just a cog in the machine when she actually was the machine herself. Not only was Majolica the leader of the battalion but she was also its founder. Iván was mightily impressed.

His curiosity was piqued by the black fog that the Grand Witch mentioned. She started with a story about her and a couple others helping some church people and magical star nuns, whatever the latter were. Every story here in Terra Sphere starts with a mission and ends with an epic battle. Iván was not surprised when Majolica's story went down that route. The black fog, however, and the ice witch defending the Bandit King... Iván realized that he knew who the Grand Witch was talking about. He and the ice witch were part of the team the Aristocracy sent to help the Bandit King with his problems, which was started with the letter Z, the lions' king himself, the legendary Zeus. Unfortunately, Iván was not present during the ice witch's defense of the Bandit King. He was busy elsewhere. With Zeus. It seemed that he missed something grand. He wondered if he would ever come across the ice witch again, and if he would be lucky enough to witness that black fog himself. If lucky was even the word for it.

"Ruler of all of Astorea..." Iván muttered to himself before sighing.

Of course. Everyone at the top of the ladder always have that craving regardless of how much. Majolica was the same. She wanted to rule as well. She sounded like she would do anything to make that a reality, including underhanded methods, which Iván did not look down on. It was smart. Plus, she seemed strong enough.

Iván raised an eyebrow when she suggested kindness and compassion as part of her rule, as her vision of the order of things. No innocents would be hurt, peace for everyone, vigilantly defending Astorea... She made it sound like the defending part would always come first, even before the ruling part. Iván wasn't sure if that was such a great idea, as he believed a ruler must rule first, defending second. That's why kings have knights, generals, lord commanders. But Iván didn't exactly have any experience being a king, so he might not be the best source of information on that.

He did smile at Majolica's offer. He needed training, wanted it, craved it, not for any noble reason, not for any selfish reason, but mostly to find out how much he can learn and grow in this world. He had been training his illusion magic with one of the best this world had to offer and he was doing the same with his tinkering with another expert in that respective field. Majolica and her battalion could very well give him all that she was promising. If anything, it was going to be quite an experience.

"It does," Iván stood his ground, keeping his eyes on Majolica as hard as he could, as the shadows and darkness were replaced by a much better, familiar version of Brisshal Forest. There were too many frogs, bipedal and some even wearing human clothes, but it was still better than too many physically twisted trees. When Iván saw the humanoid manikin of wood and straw, he knew the trial was progressing. How was it going to progress? That part he had no idea, but he didn't need to overthink it, as Majolica provided them with the answers he sought. Iván turned to her again, arms crossed, "My skills are more suited to combat against sentient creatures, but I shall indulge you. This time."

From where Majolica stood, she laid witness to Iván Carl suddenly charging towards the target, brandishing his hammer. A blink and a half later and four Iván Carls were now charging at the target. As soon as they had appeared, Iván's three other clones were nowhere to be found when the original got into position, right beside the target. Iván swung his hammer and hit the target as hard as he could, half of it anyway, sending it flying away. Yawning, he put the hammer away, carrying it against his back. He turned to the target, still in the air, "3... 2... 1." The target suddenly exploded, still in the air.

"Does that suffice?" Iván grinned under his coat, crossing his arms once again. "A friend helped me make that in Stokbon. It's basic, not that wide of a range, but if the material is flammable, it will pack a wallop."

 

"Well dangit, I had reversed the coordinates. Hopefully I will not be late."

Bradwynne uttered these words under his breath as he started to run towards the... right coordinates that was specified by that letter that he had received. Although he did not know why he was selected, and how he was picked by this being named Grand Witch Majolica. All he knew was that he had been with her in the quest to vanquish the Bandit King. They were in the same wagon, exchanging protections, singing, and having fun. Little did he know that she intended to form a faction that would counter the evils raging within Terrasphere. Bradwynne had his fair share of encounters with the evil forces that were engulfing the game, and, regrettably, he had never truly vanquished them. There were many questions in his head, like the history of Saint Nor, Merkaba who was associated with that legend, the sudden paranoia of the former king of Falderen, and now there was a new dark threat looming within Terrasphere, one that was associated with the mage that helped the Bandit King. And apparently the Grand Witch knew all about this. By himself Bradwynne would not be able to discern if that mage was a part of a greater scheme of things than aiding the Bandit King, but since the Grand Witch knew all about this, it should be best to aid her in her aspirations to root out all evil in Terrasphere. After all he was as always a dark knight despite his appearance right now. Although he knew that there would be trials in the initiation process, he was confident on his abilities that he should be able to pass them. And so, with the aspiration of ending evil in Terrasphere in his mind, he set off to the coordinates specified by the Grand Witch... which he unfortunately jumbled on the way.

Sighing at his blunder, Bradwynne then started to go towards the right coordinates. Although the journey was riddled with monsters, they were not something that really posed a problem on Bradwynne as he easily cut through them on the way. They were the common monsters that he had encountered before when he had first logged in, and when before he had a hard time defeating them, once even limping on the process, now he had a greater power these monsters stood no chance. After a long while, he had finally reached the coordinates, and sure enough there was something of a landmark here, unlike before where he did not see anything other than trees. In here stood an oddly-shaped cottage that seemed to be inhabited given the smoke that emanated from the chimney, which, being sparking with purple lightning, was odd enough. Odd enough that it was indeed the habitations of the Grand Witch. From the outside it seemed that there were no people there, and the view from its windows seemed that they spanned almost the whole inside of the cottage. There were no creatures around the cottage either, save for some green thing that walked somewhere, but when Bradwynne turned around to view it, there were none.

"Looks like I am not late after all," Bradwynne thought as he moved towards the cottage to open it. Maybe the trials would start here. But as he opened the door, he then noticed something. There were people inside, which defeated his assumption that there were no people in the cottage, given the views in the windows from before.

"Dangit, I am late," he muttered under his breath as he entered the cottage.

 

It was odd to him, their differences in opinions, but Emerath couldn't find it in himself to fully disagree with Majolica. Sure, she was a bit abrasive. Sure, her constant laughter mid sentence often got on his nerves. But they were on the same side, and she was right. Emerath had come of his own free will. So had everyone else here. And they were all good guys.

"Fine, fine!" Emerath said, exasperated after her little speech, "But if you so much as sneeze wrong at another forest that doesn't deserve it, I'm gunning for you." But it was a playful chide at this point, and Emerath couldn't help but smile. He probably had taken things too seriously. He was really good at that. But he was interested what Majolica had to offer, and it would give Emerath some direction. Although, she did have a point about leading on his own. He'd have to mull that over later.

For now, Majolica pulled back the curtain to reveal an odd sight, one that could only exist in a game such as this. A community of frogs, and helpers of Majolica herself besides. He pulled on his coat to hide the shiver from the idea of being turned into one of these creatures and set to live out the rest of his days as a frog. No thank you. Though, at least they seemed happy enough. Or was he just imagining that? Could frogs actually appear happy? Focus, focus.

Emerath brought himself to watch the introductions and show of skills. It was all a good showing, and Emerath nodded at each person's attempt, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed in thought. But really, the person he was most interested in seeing her power was Majolica, though he knew she would do no such thing. Not yet at least. So, instead, Emerath took a step forward once Ivan stepped back, and gave a smile to the others. "Hello everyone, I'm Emerath Katou. I'm a Tinkerer, an electronic bard, and a martial artist. But rather than tell you, the point is to show, no?"

So Emerath spun on his heels to the mannequins, and pulled out a bunch of what appeared to be water balloons. They were, in fact. But not filled with water. They were filled with a highly flammable vegetable oil.

Four mannequins, four balloons. He shifted them all into one hand, and then pulled out his lute, the Rainbow in the Dark. He muttered an incantation, freeing his hands, as the winds picked up around them, and held the balloons in the air. To set the mood, Emerath began to play, his fingers lighting up the darkness around them with the rainbow colored strings from each strum of his electric lute.

Another incantation as he played, and the wind carried a balloon to each of the mannequins, looking as if they had been thrown, as Emerath carried the song into its crescendo, and just as he started to hit a high point in the song, he called for another incantation, this time a cloud forming over the mannequins and the suspended balloons, and in a flash, lightning rained from the heavens to strike each balloon in the air, causing four explosions on each of the four mannequins, timed with the music.

He finished the riff on the electric lute, as the others no doubt looked on in awe, and then turned back to them with a satisfied grin. "Just enough, for now. I hope it will suffice," before returning back to the line so that the rest could resume as normal.

 

Haru rubs his eyes as the darkness recedes, the change in environment, light and creatures within them too great to not throw him off. He makes a promise to himself to figure out some possible way to get around illusion work, as this seemed like an incredibly potent danger to not have a way to survive against. He takes a look around.

"Jeez, how many people do you have like this, Commander?" This was a lot of frogs. If he hadn't already seen her in his short time with the pride, Haru would have doubts as to whether this wasn't just another illusion made to bait people into showing incompetence or something. Majolica did say things would be getting harder. As it stood though things were simply too weird to not be real, as was the wonderful standard of this game. Once things got strange was when one was truly playing around.

It seems that he had been trying to reorient himself for quite a while, as the others were already getting to work on something. It seems that the group were giving a display of skills and abilities at the moment. Haru knew himself that he wasn't really cut for the whole witch thing, so he thought that he might as well let Majolica down now. "Right, here I go, then."

He pulls his right hand out of his pocket, already writing the script of a formula in nebulous green light. The process takes about eight seconds, sped up with memorization. Free mode could result in some seriously fast spellcasting, muses the caster in question. Quickly he lets the light loose, snapping it into the grass like a stone over water. It ripples through the green and stops beneath the dummy before exploding upwards in a flurry of green vines amok. Arms, legs, torso and neck were latched and snared, slowly being pulled into the dirt by his favored spell, Strangleweed. "...Right, that should do. Headwind!" With the simple call of a name, all Haru needs now do is step to the side as a mass of pride and horns comes barreling through into the training doll. Charging with the pent up force of sitting around for hours, the stag simply blows right through it, wooden bits flying around like shrapnel.

He turns to where he last saw his so called commander, he gives a lazy smile to Majolica. "That should be good. As you can see, I'm hardly the kind to look at and think 'Ah, a witch!'. I really seem more like a druid or something-" It may have taken a while to register, yet a burning sensation makes itself more than simply known onto Haru's face. Ah, there were quite a few cuts on him- splinters?
Haru understands quickly enough. He must have been a tad too close to the dummy and paid for it in scratches. "Ah, jeez... Hang on a minute." Reaching into his robe, Haru retrieves a paper charm, tearing it up before it even leaves the confines of his white cloak. What departs the confines of his robe is not a magical charm, but a translucent silver arm. It protrudes from his chest, and looks as if it were some integral part of him, yet it was pale and shimmering, almost like a spirit of the dead. As it wipes his face down the cuts simply vanish, though the blood that had already dripped out remains. It retreats back into his body soon enough. Haru turns back to Majolica once more. "As I was saying, I doubt I have anything you could call scary or witch-like. My sincerest apologies that I don't look the part for the job."