[Quest] A Player Killer - Part 1

Quest Info: http://spherical.link/terrarp/threads/a-player-killer-questline.2630/
Difficulty: Rank F (3 posts per person)
Repetition: Non-repeatable

Party Size: 3-4
Location: Brisshal (Local Villages)

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Harveste

@Roland Rutledge, @Kaede Hoshi! You guys were the first I noticed online...Did you hear? The rumors of the Player Killer? I just heard the rumors in one of the villages...Think you can come help me look into it? I'm kind of too scared to do it alone...This message should include my coordinates. I'll be waiting in front of an inn!

It was rare for Harveste to bother with looking for who was online- normally, she just wandered into people and prayed she found someone she knew when she wanted to play without being alone. With the idea of a murderer in her head, however, her anxiety had reached it's peak. She'd been very careful as she looked through her list of who was online that she knew, opting to choose people who might actually be able to hold their own, unlike her, and not necessarily mind she'd be a nervous wreck.

Sitting at the stoop of a small inn, the petite faerin stared vacantly into the distance. "I probably should've at least kept some notes on what I heard...I just know there were some events said to have taken place here. What if we can't find anything? I'm just wasting their time..."

Her head shook violently for a moment as she stood, hands balled into fists. She couldn't just let strangers die because someone was being a bad person- and this was why she'd chosen to ask Kaede and Roland, two people she at least knew were strong enough if she couldn't help them in a fight. If they were lucky, no fight would be needed, of course- but Harveste knew luck was rarely on her side.

"But...With Roland and Kaede, even if it's already safe, I'll feel safer..." She mumbled. With a soft sigh, she began to sing. Putting her fear into her melody, she found it slowly calmed in tempo. Her heart began to stop racing, her breathing becoming more at ease. "Music really does soothe the soul...And I didn't accidentally grow anything dangerous this time from being scared, too."

At least some sort of relief came out of her awkward coping skill, right? If she was lucky, seeing friends would just help more so!

 

_____Needless to say Kaedé was not expecting a message from someone. Her frame quickly sitting up before a loud ‘thunk’ filled the area and she fell back down holding her head. Someone mumbling beside her drew Kaedé's focus to see two girls sleeping beside her as she tried to recall the what and where. Eyes blinking slowly as she noticed she was in a bunk bed, and there was rum, a lot of rum bottles resting around the bottom bunk where she was laying. That was enough to explain as Kaedé carefully got out of bed and checked her UI.

_____A message from Harveste, and she also mentioned someone unknown, maybe a male lover the girl had and wanted a three-way? The idea quickly burnt out as she kept reading the message. Most times she would avoid this sort of thing, but anyone who chose to scare Kaedé's little spider lily was going to get a visit from Kaedé without a doubt. Checking the coordinates and her own she had to hold back her laughing to avoid waking the girls sleeping behind her as she gathered up her clothes and got dressed.

_____After a few moments she would be slowly closing the door taking one last look at the girls and the note she left for them before stretching and exhaling. Legs slowly waking up more before Kaedé started running across the paved paths. She was not exactly super far away but the chance to maybe quickly tease Harveste before the other person showed up got the girl moving despite her hangover. After a few minutes of running Kaedé could see the girl from the east and grinned happily. Sneak triggering as she made her way closer before tapping the girl’s shoulders and making a faint roar sound from deep in her throat to make it sound dark and scary.

”You don’t need to use code for a three-way with me little spider lily. If you want to do something just have to say it.~ But if this is serious and not some code… I’m going to fucking torture this person for making you scared!”

_____Kaedé went from playful and silly, to enraged and dripping with her own bloodlust for a couple of moments before she changed back and hugged her little friend. Not wasting the chance to give her butt a light slap if she was not stopped before moving away and grinning happily. And taking the chance to stretch more unless the other person was already there, or if Harveste seemed to want to get more than a light spank from Kaedé.
@Roland Rutledge | @Harveste

 

Roland squinted at the instant message he had been sent by @Harveste. It seemed another player killer was on the loose causing all sorts of mayhem. Quickly he responded that he would indeed help and headed towards her direction. Before going to the inn, however, Roland headed towards village square, the village itself was neither small nor was it large, and was comprised of roughly two hundred residents whose jobs were primarily farming related. For a brief amount of time, he asked the locals what they knew or had heard.

After hearing what they had to say, he turned towards the inn, nodding at Harveste and another girl who was likely the Kaede he had been tagged in the message with him. With a friendly grin, he approached the two of them, nodding towards Harveste before turning to Kaede, with his hand outstretched, "I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting, I am Roland Rutledge, you must be Kaede." As quickly as he had summoned it, Roland's grin faded as his face hardened while turning his gaze away, "It's a shame we had to meet under such auspicious circumstances, death in this game is frighteningly real, for people to want to force others through it... Well.. Let's just say that it's not nice." Roland let out a soft sigh before turning back towards the group, "But several things bother me about this. I asked several people the details of what's been happening, and everyone said relatively the same thing. 'A variety of deaths have occurred, around here lately and the victims always seem to be the new or younger adventurers.' This kind of a generic statement likely means that the townspeople aren't involved, and probably have a single source of information for this."

Roland scratched his head, "So I sent a few probing questions to a few players, and apparently the deaths have been so bad even Trinity has stepped in asking for help resolving them. Whoever we are dealing with, is likely high level, and rather crafty. Sadly I don't think we're going to find much information in town, but I'm open to suggestions on our next move."

 

Kaede's attempt to humor her let a small, awkward laugh escape her quivering lips. "It's not code...It's a fact I found out about." She was quick to hug her friend- no, lover? It was hard for her to explain relationships, often times. All she knew was hugging onto Kaede certainly made her feel better.

As the man Harveste remembered primarily as 'the giant' arrived, she twirled to wave him over, glad when he joined them so quickly. Roland was rather fast to tell the girls what he'd found out so far- which, frankly, wasn't very much. But surely, there was something hidden in it...

"Well, if we start asking how they were found, that might help. I mean, in all great crime dramas...The important part is finding the body. I'd rather no one else dies, obviously, but...If we could see one of the sites of the attacks, we might find more clues as to how it's being done. And if we can do that, we can cut down the list of suspects based on skill sets, right?"

Her hands were crossed over her petite chest as she tapped her foot, brow furrowed in trying to think. Not good with heavy logic, she was already getting a mild headache- but not as bad as she was sure some of the victims must've gotten. "We know he's been in this area, and always goes for new adventurers..." Tap, tap! Her toes seemed to be dancing to an unsung rhythm.

"To me, that sounds like someone who either has a superiority complex or is just kind of...nuts, but knows their limits. I have this feeling it's a newer player themselves...But I could just be thinking too much. I binge-watched NCIS last night again, hehe."

 

_____Kaedé was not exactly the best person with this sort of thing. The whole think and theory stuff was really not her mug of rum. Stretching a bit more as she just listened to Harveste and Roland before letting a faint yawn and rubbing her eyes. ”So… Time to go ask around? I’ll start with the girls in the inn.~” Kaedé spoke up happily before she turned and went towards the doors of the inn giggling lightly. She was not so free willed to forget there was a reason for this, but being serious was something she got real sick of just from reality.

_____If the two had something against it they would likely need to speak up soon as Kaedé opened the doors to the Inn and inhaled the not so fresh air of the place before a slight grin crossed her face and she started walking to a girl behind the counter. Right hand tapping the counter as Kaedé smiled to the girl and did a small bow after she had the girl’s attention. Left hand reaching out to pull the girl’s hand closer to kiss her hand before she laughed lightly as the girl blushed and backed away a bit.

”I’m sorry for the sudden approach my dear but I need to know if those docile, and perfect ears might have heard a certain rumor or two about the recent player killer activity. I'm sure it has crossed the lips of some of these… fine patrons who likely might have used it to try and ‘protect’ you around the area from this killer.”

_____Kaedé smiled lightly as the girl looked around for a few moments before she began to whisper into Kaedé's ear. A light nod and kiss on the cheek was the last of their interaction before Kaedé started walking towards a table occupied by a few larger men that started to whistle at Kaedé. Her frame moving as right hand slammed one of their heads to the table with a loud thud before she knelt down to eye level.

”If you have seen this Killer and know his next spot enough to try and get close to a girl you got just that. Shall we go find this ‘next target’ you rudely spoke of with such a fine lady?”

_____Kaedé laughed as the group rose and threatened her, her hand still firmly pressing the male’s head down before she kicked the next square where it would hurt the most and used her free hand to slam a mug against the third member of their group after a quick sip of the drink. Sadly due to the taste she spit it out at the male’s face and hit him with the mug again. Kaedé was not in the best mood due to her hangover and these men trying to scare a fair maiden only worsened such.
@Roland Rutledge

 

Roland nodded towards Haverste as she spoke, her words made sense to at least some degree, "While a body would be nice, we could likely do one better in finding a victim, since it was only players who were killed, they should have re-spawned by now. Sadly, I don't know any of those specifically attack, but it might be worthwhile to adjust our questioning to find a victim, or as you said, a place where they had been attacked." After speaking Roland winced slightly at Kaede's laugh before she turned towards the inn.

Under his breath Roland whispered to Harveste, "Clearly she hasn't experienced death in this game world yet, I'd watch out for her, it can be dramatic." With the advice dispensed he headed into the inn where it seemed Kaede had already found a fight with a handful of men. Judging from what she had said, Roland pieced together that she believed they were using knowledge of the locations of the next attack to force the other young woman's company upon them. Roland sighed as he watched the ensuing brawl trusting Kaede could handle herself alone since she started the fight that way.

After the fight concluded he called out, "I think there may have been a few better ways of approaching that, that said Im not entirely sure they know anything to begin with." Casually Roland crossed the room crouching near the man who had been kicked in the crotch, "Who supplied you with the information regarding the next attack?" In response the man groaned more rolling over away from him. Roland sighed, before producing a sword and pressing it to the man's side, "I'll be needing an answer...." he said in a disinterested tone as he pushed the sharp blade forward with a steady hand.

The downed man, gasped in shock, speaking through closed teeth, "Raph told us, or sold it to us, a town back, said he knew the group was leading them around helping them plan." Roland's eyebrows twitched, not a player, but a group according to this 'Raph'. "And who exactly is this Raph?" Roland asked the man prodding him slightly with his sword as he tried to ring out another question. The man yelped in response before adding, "He's a huntsman, hunts deer all nearby, but he occasionally helps travelers plot courses and the like since he knows the area so well." With a frown, Roland returned his sword to his sheath, looking at the other two, "I think it would be best to hear more from this other fellow before doing anything else, but I'll follow your leads."


@Harveste @Kaede Hoshi

 

Roland's whispers about the way death worked in this world only left her sighing softly. If Kaede had never experienced it, Harveste hoped she never would. She hoped that no one would, but that was fairly over-optimistic even for the faerin.

She'd died once before, and seeing how many others were dying due to this pesky player killer was far from savory in her mouth- but so did the upcoming brawl as Kaede's temper flared, a fine specimen to behold over time. Knowing she wouldn't be useful in a fight, she at least tried to separate them, but there were too many people for her spell to reach properly. As Roland called out there were better methods, Harveste could only agree. She wandered over as Roland took control of the breathing booze-hound, opting to keep an eye on Kaede instead.

"You shouldn't just pick fights even if you do it for good reason. You don't want to get in over your head...Trust me on that. Death here may not be permanent for us, but it's not pleasant. If it were simple, it wouldn't scare me as much that there's a PK, you know?"

Lots of games had PKs. But there were probably few games that had such heavy consequences for dying without the intense extra of being stuck. "Raph the hunter, huh?" It wasn't someone she'd heard of, but she could tell by looking at the fear in the ruffian's eyes he was being honest.

"Yeah, definitely a good place to look. After all...He's too scared to lie. We should hope Raph isn't the killer himself, though. A hunter of his caliber might very well be able to sneak a kill on his own...We should be careful while we look for him."

@Kaede Hoshi @Roland Rutledge

 

_____Kaedé heard the other two loud and clear, however it did not stop her from getting mad at the males and take it out on the unlucky one still in her reach. Arm moving back before slamming his head to the table cracking the wood as she growled and moved his head to face her. Eyes boiling with anger for a number of reasons most unknown as she growled trying to find the words and not more aggression to the male so he could hear her clearly and not be passed out.

”If I EVER hear you are trying to force your way into a girl’s life with darker methods a bloody skull is the least of the problems I will rain down on your sorry fucking ass!”

_____Kaedé let go and pushed the male away with her other hand before turning and seeming to lose every bit of anger as she looked to Harveste. She did not want to show the rage inside her to the girl and if that cost her some sanity to make her anger more violent she would take the risk to preserve the better image of herself towards the girl. Nobody needed to see what rested under her smile and teasing, that was a fate far worse than she ever wanted another person to witness.

”Just a note, while I have not suffered a death just yet my life has been rather close a few times. Cuts, falling off roofs into piles of glass. I have danced with death enough times that if we need bait I will be fine if it stops any other girls from getting this type of treatment.”

_____Moving away from the short brawl as she tried to act like her words did not hold such heavy prices. To Kaedé protecting others from darkness was the only real task her life still had, if dying to some player killer got her closer to getting rid of that darkness so be it. Frame falling over slightly as her hangover struck her harder and tried to get her to relax. Sadly knowing someone could harm a girl before Kaedé got to play with her kept the girl struggling to get up and start searching.
@Roland Rutledge | @Harveste

 

Roland grimaced as @Kaede Hoshi ignored his advice almost entirely attacking the now defenseless man with utter brutality. Clearly she wasn't going to make this quest any easier, he just hoped if they did run into player killers soon, that she would be capable of dealing with them. Her tirade aside Roland turned towards the exit as he spoke, "Honestly I think your instincts are right @Harveste I think there is a good chance that if Raph isn't the killer himself, he works with him, we should approach this as if he were just to be cautious. Luckily earlier quest in this area have allowed me to meet other hunters in this area, I've not heard of Raph, but I can send out a few feelers."

Within a few moments Roland produced a small crow from his inventory that served as the messaging device for NPCs within the game. Opening up an invisible screen, he pounded out of a few sentences before sending the bird flying. "Now all we need to do is wait, and we should at least get some directions to Raph's current location, and if we are lucky another clue to the killers identity... in the meantime..." Roland said as he stepped back inside and past the now fleeing victims of Kaede's rampage. Heading straight for a table Roland shot the local barmaid a soft smile before ordering an ale, "Might as well enjoy ourselves, that crow will take some time to deliver the message and return..."

Thrown die:

96

@Pandora