Madison involuntarily sneered at being called a goblin again. She preferred to have her face described as "bird-like", or maybe Evil Christina Ricci. Yeah, that one wasn't so bad. "I'll agree with you there," the plagueslinger said stiffly as she looked at some of the others who had gathered around the stand. "What the Brotherhood pulled on us was pretty bullshit." "Granted, I don't know much about them; but when you're calling yourselves a bunch of wizards who are masters of the arts but you can only save a handful of people who didn't really do much of anything at all?" Madison rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You're pretty much a bunch of lying scumbags. Or goblins, as you'd probably say." Of course, Madison managed to escape the dying, collapsing horror's body by forcibly taking the place of an NPC. He wasn't going to last long on the other side of the portal out, anyway. Not at the rate he was leaking blood everywhere, making a mess of the place. She was still incredibly sore about the Brotherhood's attitude. Doh ho ho, look at us, a bunch of weak noodles who can't even save those who saved the friggin' world! Nah, let them die; they're immortals! They'll just come back, it's alright! Nevermind the fact that some of the other players were unable to log out of the game--which meant that their bodies were probably wasting away in the real world, nobody around to check on them or take care of them and keep them alive. Madison had to wonder if this whole Witch Ops thing was part of a plan by @Grand Witch Majolica to take on the Brotherhood. It didn't hurt to ask, either way. "So, tell me about this Battalion of yours. What's it all about?"
@Sean Poteitoku Following his line of sight, Kepler came to see to some of the cutesy witch frogs. Nodding, she followed it back to the young man's slightly paling face... maybe? She tilted her head. "Hmmm...?" She blinked twice with a smile. "Is this like something that I should just ignorrrrre, orrrrrr... maybe you need some sort of help? What's the matter? Just reply 'nothing' and I'll just play it off saying 'ok, i must've been mistaken,' I promise!" Reaching into her bag, Kepler removed an item and held it up for the guy to see: Dr. Kepler (Heal, Buff, Delcious) Tasty carbonated potions. Variety of Flavors. Variety of Effects. *Coming to a store near you~! "Maybe we're a little low on sugar, yeah? If I've been lost in thought for awhile and feeling a little dizzy, a Dr. Kepler always helps~" Twisting the cap, the glass bottle went KSSSHT, a familiar sound from the real world. Shamelessly handing Sean a beverage named after herself, she smiled. "Cherry flavor, ya know~? On account of your hair. Play taste tester, okay? They're delicious, I promise----in fact, they're my favorite things in the world!" Kepler winked. ***** Earlier... @Grand Witch Majolica "Dancing...robots...? Like Chuckie Cheese?" Kepler laughed making this face: XD "Tell ya what! You fund it, I'll make it! It's a promise~okay?" Kepler paused. "Whoop! Well I'd have to pass first... or maybe not? Even if I don't, no hard feelings, I'll make it anyway~" Pass or fail, Kepler was happy she wouldn't be bashing things with a stick.
As Sean was busy dealing with his curse's whiplash from being near what it considered a "small creature", he quickly got it out of his sight so he could calm down a bit and shakily took the potion. "T-thanks... I have a curse that makes me scared of small creatures..." He lifted the potion to his mouth and downed it in one gulp. "Ah, that hits the spot! Thanks!" He turned to the recruiter. "Hey, what should I expect to do? Lift something? Solve a puzzle?"
Stokbon wasn't a place that Luna visited often, but even she was pretty sure that the girl dressed as a witch, standing in front of some banner which had a very Uncle Sam feeling to it, wasn't exactly something that could be traditionally found in a place like this. After all, what sort of town advertised something called a 'Witch Ops' anyway? In fact, what even was a Witch Ops? She vaguely recognized the witch, she'd seen her during the fight against the Bandit King and, if her vague memory was correct, she'd been there to fight against that awful monster that had apparently killed so many whilst she'd been away, dealing with the portal and exploring the crystal forest. Still, even if she was shy by nature, Luna was a curious creature too, which often got her in trouble. Still, maybe this wouldn't be so bad? She shifted, her ruby tipped staff resting on her back, ramrod straight between her shoulder blades as Natiri wandered by her side, carefree and easy all the same. The tigress never really had anything to worry about. People didn't scare her and working with Luna had only made her stronger. Luna hummed as she approached the witch in question, shuffling from side to side awkwardly. "Umm, excuse me?" She called out to her, feeling ever so slightly awkward. "Uh, is Witch Ops some sort of magic group? Because I'm uh, I'm a mage and if it is, I'd like to learn more and maybe join up?" The Ynglar brotherhood didn't like her much. Her magic was VERY destructive after all.
@Madison Freebird "Hehehe, interested in The Witch Ops, huh?" Majolica gave the woman in black a wink which was uncalled for and weird. "The Witch Ops is a group led by me, Hehe Grand Witch Majolica, tasked with the duty of saving the world! Hehehe, so anytime there's a big monster or an uppity noble person think they can walk all over common people, hehehe, we kick down the doors and show them otherwise! Hehehe, we're dark hero outlaws sworn to protect the world form all of it's enemies! Hehehe, and to do that we do fun things like train, go on camping tricks, and go on quests to tackle dangerous monsters! Hehehe." Majolica cupped her hands as if telling a secret. "Hehehe, and since we're dark hero outlaws, it's obvious why we oppose the brotherhood! Those dummies can't save anything, hehehe, and they think they can police the people that can? Hehehe, dumb magic police goblins don't understand anything! Hehe, they should just disband, follow me and give me all their resources. Hehehe, which is why I have spies on their ranks. Hehe everything they know, I'll know soon enough! Hehehe, the Grand Witch plays for keeps!" Feeling that she had admirably expressed how she felt about the brotherhood, Majolica crossed her arms. "So that's pretty much it, hehe. Why, interested in joining up? Hehehe, I'll warn you, the trial is pretty difficult... hehe. But it needs to be! Witch Ops aims to be a team of god-tier level warriors that can eradicate enemies with a flick of their finger! Hehehe, could you imagine if five people could have taken out that monster all by themselves? Hehehe, no one would have gotten hurt! Hehehe, a peaceful world relies on powerful protectors, hehehe and The Witch Ops Battalion is just the team for the job, hehehe."
"Hehehehe, ooooh is someone else interested in recruitment? Hehehe." Majolica told everyone she would be right back. Hopping up on her broomstick, Majolica floated over toward @Luna Avalbane with a wide grin on her face. "Hehehe, we're more than just a magic group! Hehehe, we're a battalion of evil destroying dark heroes! Hehehe! It's the Witch Ops sworn duty to protect the realm from any and all enemies! Hehehe giant demons, cyclops', dragons, tentacle monsters, corrupt nobility, hehehe, and really anything else that would harm innocent people! Hehehe!" Majolica got close enough to Luna to whisper. "Hehehe, and we believe that any magic or weapon pointed at a world devouring monster, hehehe, is a good one! That's why we're dark heroes! We defend innocents by any means necessary, as long as it doesn't hurt those same innocents! Hehehe, but our use of forbidden techniques, sabotage, and dangerous magics makes us outlaws!" Majolica floated back to give Luna space. "Hehehe, but while our main objective is to be the strongest group of dark heroes ever, we also like to have fun! Hehehe, we will be going on a beach side camping and training camp soon! Hehehe, we also take care of each other and defend each other when needed! Hehehe, if you're interested, then sign up to take the initiation trial! Hehehe, the trial will be difficult, and will test you mentally, physically, and team work-ally, hehehe, but when you finish, you'll be apart of the team! Hehehe!"
Luna gasped, leaning a little bit forward with each word that @Grand Witch Majolica spoke to her, feeling her eyes shine ever so slightly as she listened to what the girl was saying. A group of heroes that destroyed evil and fought to protect the innocent? That was super cool! They were like the Power Rangers or something! And they were recruiting openly like this, so casually? That meant that they had to be strong, to be that confident that they wouldn't suddenly be attacked by a legion of evil minions! She almost squealed, before she controlled herself and continued listening. For a small, very brief moment, she was terrified that her own destructive Arcanamancy would be shunned by a group of protectors, but the Witch's words were reassuring to say the least. They didn't turn people away because of whatever their power was, that was good. It made sense to want to have everything they possibly could have on their side, didn't it? Just because a power was dark or dangerous, didn't mean it was inherently evil. Though, she wasn't sure team work-ally was a word. Still, this was all super exciting! An actual group of heroes and she might have the chance to join! "Umm, yes please! How do I sign up for t-the uh, trial?" She stuttered for a moment, cursing herself. She couldn't appear weak or cowardly in front of the witch. Natiri rubbed against her leg, purring slightly as she leaned down to scratch in between the tigress' ears. "Umm, as you can see, I'm quite used to teamwork and coordinating attacks." She felt like this was a job interview.
Madison tapped her lips with a finger, her brow scrunched in thought. "Well, I like that you said dark, outlaw, god-tier, kicking down doors, tackling dangerous monsters, and camping trips." Each of those words and phrases were right up her alley. Even the camping--despite being a shut-in VR diver, Madison quite enjoyed long nights by a campfire, wrapped up in a blanket on the shores of Lake Ontario. Comes with the whole Upstate New York thing. She was also incredibly interested in Majolica's venomous hatred for the Yngar Brotherhood, claiming to have spies in their ranks and the ultimate goal of taking them down. The blightmage wouldn't mind seeing them humbled, or even having a hand in it herself. Especially after the fiasco with saving the nobodies that didn't matter back inside Titanius. Madison agreed that the Brotherhood was in no shape to be telling other practitioners of the arts what they could or couldn't do when they barely had a handle on their own abilities. Madison's gaze narrowed in interest. "The Brotherhood could stand to be taken down a peg or two, definitely." And sent straight to hell, where they can be eternally consumed by that giant fucking tentacle monster. "Sure, I'm interested. What's the next step?" @Grand Witch Majolica
@Luna Avalbane "Hehehe, excellent!" Floating back to the table she picked up her quill, ink, and notebook and floated back. "Hehehe, all you have to do is sign here! Hehe, once I have you on my list you'll good to go! Hehe, the initiation will be on a later date after I've filled up my roster! Hehe, you'll receive a message explaining where to go and what to do! After you arrive at the destination, the trial will begin! Hehehe, you'll be going through it as a group with all the other people signed up! Though there will be parts that you have to do alone! Hehe, the trial can be difficult, but as long as you do your best and show that you're Witch Ops material, you'll get through! Hehehe!" Majolica held out her quill and journal. "Now, hehehe, all you have to do is sign here! Then I would rest up, hehehe, the trial can take a lot of you! Hehehe!"
@Madison Freebird "Hehehe, all you have to do is sign..." Majolica picked up her quill, dipped it in ink, then handed it and the notebook to Madison. "Hehehe, once you sign you're name you'll be registered for the trial. The trial itself, hehe, will happen on a later date once I've filled out the roster. Hehehe, you'll get a message with your instructions on where to go and what to do! Once you arrive at the destination, the trial will begin! Hehehehe, the trial will be a test of mental fortitude, physical ability, and team work! Hehehe everyone who's signed up will go through it as a group, though there will be some parts you have to do alone. Hehehe, the trial is difficult, but difficult things only make people stronger right?" Majolica gave Madison a thumbs up. "Now all you have to do is sign, hehehe! Then, if you want, you can talk to some of the others who signed up! Hehehe, after all, you're going to be relying on each other soon! Hehehe!"
A trial, eh? Madison didn't see the need for a trial. She just helped defeat a giant tentacle god, after all. A slew of powerful spells were at her fingertips each time she shuffled her tarot deck. Stacks and stacks of tomes were scattered in her wake, each incantation and effect written in them memorized. But if the tiny little witch felt that a trial was necessary, then Maddy would begrudgingly go through with it. Anything to get her a little closer to wringing the necks of those paste-eaters in the Brotherhood. "Well, I'm not the best at working with others," the woman admitted, "but I'll give it a go." The plagueslinger picked up a registration form and filled out the important bits before handing it back to @Grand Witch Majolica. She then silently turned around, casually gauging the others that the girl roped into her little party.
@Madison Freebird "Hehehe, being apart of a team is the same as working with others. Hehehehe, besides haven't you ever wanted to do a cool combo attack? Hehehe, a slipstream attack or something where someone shoots magical oil and someone else shoots fire making a fire pit! Hehehe, there's lot of options when you work together! Hehe, also you don't have to worry about getting stabbed in the back by stinky Backstabbing Goblin because someone is their to help you! Hehehe!" Majolica took back the notebook and put it in her bag. "Other people here are also taking the trail. Hehe, maybe you could talk to them? Hehehe, you're going to be working with them later anyway. Or you could wait for the trail. Hehehe, I would rest up though. The trial can get pretty dangerous... hehehe."
As others were signing up, Sean had himself deep in thought. How will they treat me when they find out about my curse? Can I even have my curse? Making a grunt of anger, Sean turned to the recruiter. "Hey... Am I allowed to have a curse on me? I sort of have an irrational fear of small creatures because of one." @Grand Witch Majolica
Majolica turned to Sean quizzically. "Hehehe, a curse?" Hehehe is there another witch that can cast curses? Hehehe, if there is she's clever. Fear of small things... hehehe, I should write that down! Hehehe! I could just imagine hitting someone with that curse, hehehe, then using illusion to make everyone seem small! Hehehehe, they'd be so scared they'd run away, and we wouldn't even have to fight them! Hehehe!" Then Majolica realized that Sean was probably talking about one of the death afflictions. "Ohh... hehehe. That's fine! Hehe. Think of it this way, like I said, the Witch Ops is all about getting stronger right! Hehehe, you'll just have to surpass your limits and get over your fear eventually! Hehehe, if an enemy send out a bunch of rats or something at us, we have to be able to handle it in order to save the world! Hehehe, growing strong is a process though, so we can work on that together. Hehehe, we're a team, so help each other get over our weaknesses! Hehehehe, that's why we'll definitely become the strongest group of heroes in all of the world! Hehehehe! Step by step we'll gain power until even the most powerful abominations fear us! hehehe!" Majolica threw @Sean Poteitoku a thumbs up.
Madison's ears perked up when she heard @Sean Poteitoku mention curses. She even started to inch closer when the Grand Witch questioned whether or not she was the only one who could throw curses around in Terrasphere. She suppressed the urge to push her non-existent glasses up the bridge of her nose, raise a finger in the air, and butt in with a "well, actually..." Anyone with a decent knowledge of Black Magic could pass out curses and status to anyone who asked nice enough, she figured. Hell; most of her time spent in Dunnstads revolved around developing and experimenting with different kinds of curses and hexes. Most of them involved melting the flesh off the victim's bones. Not very creative, to be sure; but incredibly messy, and gets the point across that you are not to be trifled with. The witch slid closer to the redheaded boy. "So, you're cursed, eh?" Madison sized him up with a quick glance. Didn't look like much of an adventurer, but if Majolica was going to let him take the trial then he could be of some use to the briar witch. "Tell me. How did you come across this curse? What did you do to make someone believe that you deserved to have a fear of smaller monsters?" Madison also suppressed the urge to pull out her notebook and jot down anything the boy might've said that would give her ideas for her own work.
