WQ - Fading Further

Death, despair, disease, and despondency ran rapidly through western Astorea, and at the sight of all this, it was clear to Cain that the universe itself was plotting against the land of the New King. It had always been a shitty place before, but now that the rumors of some foul influence stretching over the lands was becoming more prominent, it was clear that someone had to investigate.

And by someone, they obviously meant a trio of badass Healers, two of them Master class while another of them a fledging prodigy under their tutelage. @Temperance , the White Mage of Twenty Faces, a disturbed healer with an edgy past. @Healer Q , the sister of the well reputed Mysterious Lady N, eyes sparkling with a determination that did not suit her low levels. And then there was himself, the renowned Flagbearer of Miracles, the Double Blessed of Idna and Iedi, the Madman Muse himself, Cain Darlite! Before their triad of healing magics, no mysterious curse or plague would be able to set their teeth into the region for long!

Nevermind the fact that magic was also supposedly weakening here. Or the fact that it may just be natural causes. Or the fact that magical solutions were always short term solutions. Nevermind any of those things.

It was all going to work out a-ok!

The two horses pulling the caravan snorted as their reins snapped, picking up the pace while Cain guided them through the wasteland. All around, he could see evidence of nature dying off. The grass was of the coloration of sandpaper, while many trees were bare, toppled over with no sign of moss or fungi growing over them. The villages that the trio had passed were all abandoned, and if memory served the midnight haired muse correctly, Vintergard had been receiving plenty of refugees from the west as of late. He sucked in another breath of the musty, dry air, before reaching into his pack for a sip of well water. Carrion crows picked at the diseased corpse of a deer a few dozen meters off, while the warped structures in the horizon made everything look much too similar to the badlands.

Unpleasant. Not a monster in sight to kill as mid-journey entertainment, while the post apocalyptic landscape could only interest him for so long.


“Yo, Temp, Q,” Cain said, turning his head back to the occupants of the caravan, “We’re all down for heading to the Canyon, right? It’s obviously the most suspicious place for evil things in west Astorea, and I’m willing to bet that all the other half-measure adventurers would be chatting it up with peeps in the villages and all. Best to get fresh info rather than regurgitated word-vomit, eh?”

 

It did not take all that long for Healer to get the hang of the game. It was extremely innovative. How anyone could take weeks or even months to figure things out was beyond her. Of course this did not make her very strong in the games terms. Experience and gaming skills meant little in something this realistic.

She still lacked equipment too. It was a good thing she knew a thing or two about evading and fighting in other VR games because she would never have kicked that many wandering chirpers as she had so far otherwise.

Feeling that the best way to get a idea what the games plot or general direction may be. Healer went on a quest as soon as it appeared. The mysterious 'Fade' as it was being called. It looked like a fledgling nation built by players for players had been formed and it was now dealing with some sort of plague or curse that was sweeping it's western borders. Talk about jumping into a mid tier assignment right at the start! Nothing wrong with going all in. That was the best way to see how things worked as well.

" Y-Yes, I'm fine with that."

Healer said keeping a bit of distance from the other two. She had not met many players yet so there was still some adjusting to her character in this game.

"I'd prefer Healer to Q by the way. That's my mastery set so it's fine to just shout healer! Ahem so... Cain, Temperance. What are your abilities? It may be good for..."

Was it smart to give away her level of team management? That wasn't fitting was it? No not now. Better to play dumb and just be a newbie so that if something that Leon's experience could not handle came up, Healer would not be expected to know what to do. This game was definitely more than it appeared after all and she had to not stick her neck out too far this soon. Going on a quest like this was enough for now.

"Ahhh... I'm just curious what kind of neat spells you might have! You can fight too right? Because I can't. ...Like at all."

@Cain Darlite @Temperance

 

The genial plod towards their destination lulled Temperance into a half-awake state, hypnotized by the rhythmic trod of the horses. She was oblivious to where they were going and what they were doing, having ignored any debriefing and now napping through the journey, her own mount expected to just follow the others out of herd instinct. As Cain spoke up and addressed her and the other travelling with them, her eyes fluttered in muted awareness.

Pay attention? mmmmm... no. Not yet. She'd just let them choose the where and the what, and get herself involved once there was actually something worth paying attention to. Until then, she rested.

As Healer Q spoke up and began to pitch in her two cents, Temperance was already determined to sleep through whatever conversation was going to take place. She was no snorer, but her breathing was slow and even in the manner of a person at rest. Though she stayed in the saddle, her body swayed one way or the other with each wind of the trail, head slumped forward, shoulders fallen, clearly vacant of any consciousness.

@Cain Darlite @Healer Q

 

Healer? That’s a problematic title when the rest of them were healers as well. Turning to grin at Temperance, Cain paused only when the white haired white mage was flat out napping during all this, before he laughed and shrugged. Well, they weren’t in hell yet. There was no need to put on any air of caution this early on, when he could spot a monster coming from a mile away…unless these were subterranean blood wyrms. Fuck those blood wyrms.

“Aha,” the midnight haired muse replied, leaning against the caravan, “Temperance here is the Healer of Twenty Faces, an expert impersonator with mastery of the arts of White Magic, while me, I’m the Flagbearer of Miracles, Double Blessed of Iedi and Idna, Cain Darlite. Also a healer, specializing in Harmonic Magic while dabbling into Arcanamancy as well. Essentially, as you can see…Q is definitely better off than Healer as a name, eh?”

He chuckled at that, even as the horses began to slow down, unwilling to progress much further. The canyon was in sight now, that accursed valley filled with a thousand maledictions. The howling of the wind, strengthened in this neck of the woods, certainly wasn’t all that pleasing, while the sheer malignant aura of the place was…he clicked his tongue.

Disgusting. But exactly what he was looking for.

His foot tapped a steady rhythm, pale amethyst light exuding from his form like ripples in water, as the horses calmed. Emotional manipulation went a long way, after all, and after some more peaceful plodding, the trio reached the very edge of the canyon. Disembarking from the caravan, Cain patted the horses’ sides affectionately, before releasing his hold over them. Immediately, terror returned in their eyes, and they brayed horrifically, sprinting off in the opposite direction.

“Phew, guess that’s that,” the muse said, taking a peek around, “Guess we should head down super quietly, eh? Looks like we were a bit late, what with all these tentacles attacking all these other adventurers, so…eyy, Temp, show us the way of the stealth!”

Indeed, it looked like almost every other group of adventurers that had descended into the canyon was fighting some eldritch abomination in the vein of Cthulhu, and though a part of Cain did want to test his mettle against such horrific fiends, it was clear that encounter tentacles here was standard.

He’d like to have a unique experience, thank you very much.
@Temperance @Healer Q

 

"...Eh."

Healer made a funny face as she heard her traveling companion, Cain Darlite, give some really excessive titles to himself and a lot of praise to the sleeping or barely awake Temperance. This was one of those very enthusiastic players... or just a show off. That was actually how Leon used to be for a little while. In his prime he would love to give as much over exaggeration as he could. Just for fun and to increase the epicness of the game world. Worse graphics also did that to you. It just felt weird now. In this much more realistic game with a much more serious agenda in his mind. Shows that good things don't last.

"Flagbearer of Miracles, Cain Darlite. I know who to let hold any flags I come across then. Do you use a flag in battle? Th-"

She decided not to delve to deep with questioning. It would just make her seem too caring about mechanics. Sticking to being a newbie was hard. Even after years of being away and honestly getting a bit rusty. Healer was not sure about Temperance either. The woman looked like a rogue more than a healer. Although that look fit someone who turned into others through illusion or disguise. Sleeping through something like this was telling of how they felt about this game.

It was just a game so no matter what, who gives a shit.

Yeah... until your sister ends up hospitalized from it.

Seeing they all were supposedly healers, Healer had to agree that Q was going to be easier for everyone involved.

"Q it is then. So..."

She made a annoyed look at Temperance and shouted in her direction.

"We need to get off the caravan! Mind waking up and being a proper team member in this party!?

She gazed around the area as they had moved on to hoofing it over through this... wasteland did not even begin to describe it. This made her think of something that might impact a world closer to the end of a game or the end of a MMO's life cycle in order to give a good finale. Did that mean the server was going to close? That meant...

Healer shook off the thought but her face was pale and her worried expression was painfully obvious.

"Whatever happened here isn't going to be solved quickly or easily. I think.... uh... I don't know about this. It's creepy... I'm just getting started in this game... "

Healer wrapped her arms around herself and used the inner concern of what will happen to Wendy if the server shut down to appear frightened or bothered by this event. Being a magic character. She could feel the mana in her body reacting strangely to this environment. In truth she was curious more than anything else. This could be quite the first quest.

@Temperance

 

So much nooooooooise... Between their conversation, the braying of frightened horses, and finally Healer Q's loud protest of Temperance's resting, it was finally time to X the Z's and get on with things. Rubbing at her bleary eyes, the rogue/healer glanced about the forsaken canyon they had ridden to, and immediately lost her ride as whatever magic Cain had been using to keep them pacified waned and vanished. Now, ruled by their fear, she watched as the animals ran off and left them stuck near the canyon's edge. Fuck-riffic.

Glancing to Healer Q, the white haired woman looked the kid up and down, yawning as she was clearly unimpressed. The small fry wanted her to pay attention and to contribute to the team... Clearly, Cain hadn't gone out of his way to inform her of how Temperance 'do.' With a smirk she nodded to the musical man that stood nearby and was instructing her to begin stealthing into the canyon. She was more than happy to do so, but before all that, she had to address Healer Q in a low whisper so that this whole posturing could be put to rest.

"First rule of stealthing... shut your trap, brat. Second rule of stealthing, don't dress like an obnoxious ladybug. Cat Noir ain't coming to save you if you mess this up. In fact, neither am I, since apparently you're a healer and can lick your own wounds. Sound good? Don't care- now..."
With nothing left to say, Temperance closed her own mouth and went Incognito. Having mastered the skill, she stepped into the shadows of the canyon's downward trail and all but vanished from sight, from sound, from smell, but not from mind. She was too irritating and hate-worthy for one to forget.

Wasn't she supposed to be leading them down into the canyon? Well... they'd have difficulty following, with her stealthed completely. But oh well. That was their problem, not hers.

@Pandora end of 2nd cycle.

 

Well, things certainly did get... interesting... fast. As they continued to descend further and further into the canyon, a darkness and fog began to encroach upon the scene, rapidly reducing one's visibility and sense of hope. Ahead of them, in the darkness, a shape stirred and began to near their small party of three supports. Luckily... uh... Hm.

Oh, wait, this creature might be comprised of the most vile darkness, which meant holy magic would work wonders against it, in theory? Yes, that sounded about right. Remaining hidden in the cleft of the canyon wall, Temperance glanced back at her allies, barely able to make them out in the fog. Her hands glowed ever so briefly, illuminating the entire area in a blinding glow, like high-beams in thick mist, but the brightness was gone as quickly as it had come. She had conjured up her powers and sent holy magic rushing, not at the dark figure before them, but at @Cain Darlite and @Healer Q... hoping to enhance whatever combative abilities they might have, with magic of her own.

Buffmom could suck a dick.

 

+30 mastery mod
+25 tool mod

Thrown dice:

34

89

178/750

 

Was this the best way to investigate?

Yes, it was. This canyon was clearly the source of the maledictions that were placed upon the land.

Should they not turn back?

No, they should not. The path back was just as fraught with danger as the path forward, but the path forward at least promised a result.

Is this group of all supports going to bring only death to them all?

No, it would bring life instead. For the darkest of magics would not be cleansed by an equal darkness or the natural elements, but by its opposite: light and music, chasing away the horrid moans, the encroaching shadow.

Was he thirsty?

Of course he was. He unbottled a flask of river water and chugged it down, forcing painful gulp after gulp, steadying his heart rate and placing a hand over his throat. The phantasmal noose was there once more, searing away the words that he wanted to speak. He’d have to break it again, had to progress down a single path so much that it no longer became possible to consider alternative routes. Push and push and push and break.

The midnight haired muse felt the beating of his heart, the roaring of his blood, and slowly, slowly pushed himself towards madness. The shadow before him was naught but a monster. The fight before him was naught but simplicity. And as holy magic coated his body, he added upon it the chant of heroes as well, a guttural, rhythmic growl creeping out of his constricted throat as the muscles on his body tightened, his battle focus rising dramatically. Each millimetre of movement, each shift in the weather, each pulsating of the dragon veins within this binary avatar, he caught it all.

Healdad may think it was a one man show, but Buffmom, even through the Berserk haze, could understand that everything was a team effort, as another set of buffs was laid upon the temperamental Temperance and the…insert adjective here Healer Q.

With his requisite supporting complete, the Flagbearer launched himself upon the shadowy figure, a predatorial grin carving into his handsome features as he pulled the orcish club from the ether. No masteries? No problems! He had more than enough buffs to make up for it!

“Oi, Q! Keep a lookout for any other freaks!”

Thrown dice:

80

90

+30 Mastery mod
+25 Equipment mod
80 + 90 + 30 + 25 = 225
403/750​

 

The moment she stepped into the canyon, Healer got shivers. This pace was going to be dangerous. It was obvious to Healer that danger in Terrasphere may mean more than just having a no death run ruined.

Death was not something she feared though. She couldn't fear it. If she did, she'd never find Wendy or figure out what was going on in here. Being as weak as she was did not help though. If shit hit the fan... Healer would just be a heal bot mostly. Could these two fight? They both were definitely experienced enough, considering Temperance's smart ass 'tude' and Cain's bravado. Those types of things usually don't develop or maintain for long unless they survived enough to warrant them.

Or they were just idiots.

Temperance's ability was pretty op though Healer had to admit. What if a enemy ever could do that. Perhaps she should rethink her setup. It was meant to be a cover for her play through but if she was too useless it would not go well. This was not the time for self made challenges either.

Then came the feeling of dread. The darkness that began to peer into her soul... Leon's soul. What the hell? This was a clear sign something was wrong. What kind of game felt this way?

"...Something's off here. Be careful."

Before she put another word in. The other two took action. A buff came her way and Cain was swinging a massive club... that looked almost siilly... in the middle of the thick fog. Attacking some shifting shadow monster.

So... what can a healer do in this scenario? Time to see how strong Cain was for now.

"O armor of light. Let us don your ethereal glow! No magic can impede the rightful victor! Force Veil"

A bubble of light wrapped around all three of them. Her low EN immediately pummeled but screw it. Surviving this took precedence.

No Mods Available

Thrown dice:

29

69

501/750​

 

Alright, things appeared to be off to a good start. Whatever that thing was, it clearly hadn't counted on the three supports to be able to hold their own against it. True none of them were exactly throwing around thermonuclear-grade fireballs, or cutting through trees with a karate chop. But they were strong in their own right, and though as people they may not have been that supportive of one another or gotten along well, as supports they were on point. Temperance had enhanced Cain and the girl, and they in turn had set into action.

The music man went up swinging against the beast, muttering his incantations... or perhaps a litany. The girl summoned a force field, which proved useful when waves of dark force came radiating from the... thing. Whatever it was, they'd have time to investigate it later on. Once they had killed it... once they had time to fight the feeling of dread that it conjured up.

Raising her staff, Temperance pointed at the thing from where she was hidden, summoning up her magic into a single point at the oak staff's head, needle-prick small but intensely bright. She didn't have any true blue offensive masteries, sure. But she had honed this one craft nearly to its limit, and it could be made to burn things that got in her way. Like a lense, focusing the sun, she channeled magic through the staff and sent a beam cutting through the darkness. It was small and it was narrow. An inconsequential and unimpressive thing by all appearances, but burning with white-hot intensity as she aimed, aimed, aimed into the dark fog and hopped to hit the monster. It would be better to miss it entirely than to, say, shoot Cain in the back.

But at least there were plenty of healers on hand, in case she did. Ha ha. Ha. Ahhhh...

+30 mastery mod
+25 tool mod

Thrown dice:

90

61

707/750​

 

It surged within his blood, the holy magic of two White Mages, giving the midnight haired muse both the might of a demigod and the armor of a blessed paladin as he battered away at the shadowy figure. It felt great. It felt exhilarating. It felt wonderful, as he blew past fear and indecision, a battle mantra flowing out of him as the phantasmal noose tore itself to pieces. His own confidence was surging now, the Trinity Resonance weaved within a single person as he embodied the very nature of an enraged warrior. This would not stop them. They would not fall so easy against such a creature!

Prismatic brilliance shot past him, boring a hole through the shadowy figure, and Cain took that as his signal to finish it. With one hearty roar, he closed the distance, thrusting the end of the orcish club into that very same hole. It widened with a sickening shuuuuk, miasma eating at the Force Veil even as the shadow shuddered. It still lived. It was still capable of attacking.

So Cain released his grip on the club and dug his long, slender fingers into both sides of the hole.

And he ripped it in half with his bare hands.

Two uneven halves fell to the ground as he let out a deep, deep sigh. The blackness returned to his gaze, and the Harmonics Berserker wiped the sweat off his brow.

“Well then,” he said, finally, “Let’s see what we can make of this, eh?”

Thrown dice:

97

77

+30 Mastery
+25 Equipment
936/750​