In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 28, 2021 18:06:13 GMT -5
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POW
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007
60
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MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Usually, it was the White Tiger who had put in a request to go dungeon exploring. That was his thing, after all. Dungeon exploration was without question a favorite thing of his. However, Verena had mixed it up a bit; she was the one who had put in a request for any willing Magic Knights and explorers to come to the Fringe to visit explore the Ancient Tower of Quinteps. It wasn't that she felt more confident; she really wanted assistance, but instead, she felt like taking a more proactive handle on things so she could become more familiar and potentially join that organization Cyrus Elwood would unquestionably startup.[break][break]
In this case, the Ancient Tower of Quinteps had caught her attention; supposedly this dungeon was somehow intertwined with ancient pre-history, in the time of monstrous mana beasts that existed well before the era of the Clover Kingdom. For someone like Verena, how could she not be curious? It was only natural that she wished to explore it.[break][break]
Conquering it was not really on her 'to-do list'; she only wanted to examine into the mirror of history offered by this dungeon. She wasn't even particularly worried about the dangers that had popped up; mostly because she was certain that Satori would show up. She only hoped that a Magic Knight did show up as well; it was illegal to enter this dungeon without one being in the area, though she did not quite understand why. If one was strong enough, it shouldn't have mattered. Was it just a concern of just allowing anyone to reap the rewards of a dungeon?[break][break]
Well, there was no need to ponder it. The Reinsberg had arrived far earlier at the Fringe than when the appropriate meeting time she had posted was. She stood poised in her usual garb; her long hair had been cut down so that her twin tails only went to her back instead of her ankles. One could argue that it was still far too long, but she was quite content with it all the same.[break][break]
Verena also adorned her trademark white coat alongside her reading glasses. They didn't really affect her vision all that much, so she often forgot she wore them, to begin with. For now, it was just a matter of waiting to ensure that anyone would bite. In hopes of getting someone to take her request for the dungeon seriously, she had signed it as 'A Four Leaf Grimoire Holder'; her name had little weight. Similarly, she had sent a request to Bengal personally to inform him of what she was doing here today, in hopes that the White Tiger would accept.
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COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR verena just waiting at the outer limits of where things get fucky for bengal and a not-so-mystery magic knight [break][break]
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 28, 2021 19:19:36 GMT -5
Satori was going to tease the hell out of her.
Verena had put in a request for his help in a dungeon, one he'd already run himself at that alongside Eve. However, the way she'd signed the request is what got him. She'd signed it as a 'four-leaf grimoire holder', and he had no intention of letting that be said without a word. Not after their little talk about how the grimoire itself meant little, even if the magic was rare. Satori had to snicker to himself, he knew full well why she had chosen to sign it in such a way. It was to attract a knight's attention.
But it was too easy to use as material to tease the woman in the end. An irresistible idea. Smirking to himself the White Tiger walked toward the entrance of the familiar tower that was so close to his own lands. Ryuu was continuing to grow, so there was little harm in diving into the dungeons and taking a bit of extra gold and treasure. It wasn't as though this one was a difficult dungeon anyway. It should be fine to let the greenhorns handle it and see where it went.
After his ascension to Anax, Satori had stopped wearing his usual black leathers and white furs to fit in. The man was wearing the full official uniform of Ryuu at this point. A black hakama, with a simple white kimono top was the main outfit. However, over his shoulders, the man wore a bright crimson Haori lined with gold trim and the symbol of Ryuu engraved into the back. The long spear of bone rest across his broad shoulders as the monolith of a man pushed back the long black wild locks of hair. Feline grey eyes scanning the area carefully in search of the tower.
Noticing it on the horizon, Satori grunted before digging his geta into the sands and launching forward toward the oasis in a blur of black and crimson. Suddenly coming to a halt about ten meters from Verena, the man lifted a hand in greeting. His wide grin causing long dual cuspids to flash in the bright day sun.
"Good morning, miss 'Four-Leaf Grimoire', how shall I bow in your presence?" Satori inquired playfully, clearly teasing the young woman a bit as he walked up toward her. Reaching out with his ki as he did so, curious if anyone had answered her request for someone to join them within. If not, they could always do it illegally. It's what he'd done last time anyway technically.
Filtering through paperwork was his speciality. Nothing had caught the attention of Remy's golden hues, it was all small odd jobs or reports. When the request for entrance to the Ancient Tower of Quintips came up, his eyes gleamed in excitement. It wasn't every day that a civilian requested entrance to a dungeon, in fact, Remy was unsure if it was common at all. But what sold his decision on even accepting this request was but how the form was signed. Unsure if this was a prank or something more serious, Remy had no choice but to investigate. He hadn't met someone holding a four-leaf grimoire before, he knew of some by word of mouth, but no one personally.
He gathered his things, making sure to adorn a form-fitting outfit. This consisted of; a silken black robe, dark ashen pants and leather boots. Don't forget though he also wore the mantle of the Azure Deer with pride. Not a single crease folded into the social symbol that identified Remy as a magic knight. Setting out to The Fringe he aimed to arrive on time, no job was going to be done half-assed, under his watch.
In truth, Remy could only be described as excited. He had personally never been involved in a dungeon exploration before. Yet, that wasn't what made his skin crawl in excitement, dungeons were known to hold incredible loot for all. He wondered about the chances of finding a treasure that exceeded all others, what would happen if he could find a spirit of his own? An ancient artifact? Would he hand it over to the Clover Kingdom, or would his greed get the better of him. Regardless there was but a big payday waiting to be claimed upon completion of this dungeon and potentially some gold stars could be thrown his way.
It looked like he was the last to arrive, he was shocked though. Was he really the only magic knight to have accepted this request? He could tell just by looking at the brooding, animalistic man and the slim, much smaller girl that they were both strong, much stronger than he. Remy thought to himself about how he had just signed up to become a glorified baby sitter, these two didn’t need his help but regulations stopped them from entering the dungeon alone. If anything Remy Krane was but a hindrance to the presence of these two grimoire holders.
Remy had yet to meet someone he needed to look up to, it was ironic that this man was so much stronger than he because now he could look down upon the magic knight with both his power and height. He didn’t let it phase him, the Krane knew it was best to not show signs of weakness, especially when they were about to gamble their lives in a dungeon. “Greetings, Azure Deer Junior Fifth Class, Remy Krane at your service.”
He tried to act professional, first impressions were always important and when you couldn’t size up to others physically, Remy’s philosophy was but to show his charismatic and noble side. There was no time to be lazy today, his blood was boiling in anticipation as to what would happen, he wanted to get under the way straight away. “I should preface this before we start, I am but a simple navigator. I will guide us the least dangerous path possible, but dungeons, as you know, are quite unpredictable and I really would prefer to not be given even more paperwork if someone dies. But from the looks of you both, I can tell I am with capable hands. With that said are we ready?”
Remy leads the way as he walks past both Verena and Satori, a dignified and air of grace accompanies him. He did not mean to come off cocky or arrogant, in Remy’s mind, he was but simply stating a hard fact even if it did make him sound a touch lazy. The party ventured forth and the calm, quiet desert of the Fringe had quickly turned into a violent and unpredictable sandstorm. His hands shielding his face as the sun beat down on his fair skin, Remy would be but burnt if he stayed out in the open long. How long the trio would need to walk across the soft sands to their destination was entirely unclear, from all the information Remy had gathered leading into this exploration, there wasn’t a whole lot. Or if there was the other Magic Knights weren’t willing to share, it was rather counterproductive but his sense of wanderlust would keep the drive to push forward.
wc: 771
Last Edit: Jan 29, 2021 6:34:08 GMT -5 by Remy Krane
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 29, 2021 14:06:49 GMT -5
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POW
DUR
SEN
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CON
007
60
010
040
042
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MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
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Satori was the first of the two to show up it seemed. She had specifically sent him a letter with her name and all that, making sure that Bengal would not take notice of her request that was signed in such a manner. There was about her that would have piqued the interest of another from just a letter; the fact she had a four-leaf grimoire was the only 'asset' she had to a Magic Knight, and it was just for the chance to see her magic in action.[break][break]
In truth, she didn't quite think it anything special; she was grateful for it, as it allowed her a unique perspective into the natural state of mana that others wouldn't ever truly be able to appreciate. But at the end of the day, it was just a type of golem specialty magic. The fact she could learn a variety of elements was what gave her an edge.[break][break]
However, that was her personal opinion and she knew Clover at large wasn't likely to share in that sentiment. That was fine; that just gave her a bit of an edge she was willing to exploit when trying to recruit others for little escapades like this without worry.[break][break]
However, despite her best attempts, the woman should have known Bengal would have known about the way she signed it in a public setting. The man did frequent areas where dungeons were a frequent place. And if she hadn't personally sent one to him with listing the same location and time, maybe he wouldn't have picked up on the fact that it was she who had submitted the application. However, if that were the case, then the man simply wouldn't have made it on time, and that would be a little concerning for her in a different sense of the word. And so...[break][break]
"Good morning, miss 'Four-Leaf Grimoire. How shall I bow in your presence?"[break][break]
Immediately, her cheeks lit up a rosy hue as she (very weakly) stomped on the ground in defiance. "Don't call me that! No bowing!" she protested in her embarrassment.[break][break]
"How else could I have managed to get anyone interest-"[break][break]
"Greetings, Azure Deer Junior Fifth Class. Remy Krane, at your service."[break][break]
No, no, no! Not only had she just made a total fool of herself before Bengal, she had also made a fool in front of herself in front of a Magic Knight--a Krane no less! Similar to her own family, the Kranes did not hold much status compared to the other Noble Families, but they still held far more status than the Reinsbergs. They were, after all, part of Upper Nobility.[break][break]
After this awkward exchange occurred, it seemed as though the man tried to keep things professional. That was fine; she'd rather it be done. She only prayed that this would never be talked about again. Ever. The brunette did not like getting worked up like this, after all. The Deer had introduced himself, explaining what his own capabilities were, but also reminding everyone that dungeons were dangerous. Verena nodded her head, confirming that she was ready but said nothing.[break][break]
Frankly, she would prefer not to speak for a while; she was too embarrassed. She didn't care about how he came off; this was a stark improvement to the last Azure Deer whom she had met. If anything, she was certain he was just trying to cover his basis; she could tell that the white-haired male before her knew that these two civilians were a bit stronger than he was; or well, in Bengal's case, he was much stronger. Still... there was one thing she had to say.[break][break]
"I'm... Verena," she said, omitting her last name per usual. "I use Summoner Magic; I can create a variety of golems of different elements. And this man is..."[break][break]
Verena stopped herself, looking up to Bengal.[break][break]
She felt it would mean more if he introduced himself. Perhaps the Deer already knew who this was, and just needed a name to go with the face. Once introductions were taken care of, the woman ventured into the territory where the rumors said things began to alter drastically.
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COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR verena wants to fkn die but she going to the dungeon once introductions are fin [break][break]
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 29, 2021 15:20:16 GMT -5
Satori was overjoyed as he saw the bright flush decorate Verena's cheeks and her little adorable stomp. A deep rumbling laugh filled his chest as he leaned down toward her a bit, a smirk painting his features.
"But you're so cute when I tease you, how could I not?" he replied smugly to her comment on not bowing before he straightened slightly. Feeling the ki of the knight approaching as he glanced back over his shoulder while he introduced himself.
"I'm Satori, a pleasure to meet you, Remy," the large man rumbled easily, unperturbed by being recognized or not he would instead incline his head slightly in greeting. Straightening and shifting his gaze toward Verena and smiling at her words.
"You can always ask me to use my connections too you know, Verena," he replied easily to her half-finished question.
"I'm your friend. If you need help you can ask me to bring someone along too." With that, he would shift his gaze toward the Knight--Remy, he'd introduced himself as. Unlike Verena, the fact the man was a noble meant nothing to Satori. It hadn't from the day he'd arrived as a weakling in Clover, it wouldn't change now either.
Stepping forward he lifted a hand and idly reached out, noticing Verena was in her own mind once more and chuckling.
"So cute. I'm going to touch you, Verena," he warned simply, not caring how that sounded as he instead made gentle contact with the woman's shoulder. His magic washing over her in a wave of semi-transparent aura. Great bladed wings bursting from her back alongside the legs of a lion, and the arms of a bear glimmering over her own limbs. Crackling energy akin to a tiger's torso wrapping around the rest of her as her raw speed and recovery jumped immensely.
Satori didn't bother enhancing himself at all. Instead, he lifted a hand up and offered it toward Remy as he spoke, as if offering the man a handshake but also the glimmer of magic coated his fingertips. Should he accept the handshake, Satori's magic would wash over him as well. Augmenting his strength, speed, and recovery just as much while the large wings of glowing semi-transparent energy formed. Edges of feathers like blades.
"Don't worry about it. This one isn't that bad," Satori explained idly, glancing back toward the Dungeon's entrance as he nodded toward the thick exotic plants overgrown from it.
"I've beaten it before with Evening, my second fiance," he mused idly. Stating the last bit for Verena's benefit so she would be able to remember which one he'd been talking about. The dark-skinned young woman with a lightning affinity that he'd pointed out to Verena during their training session at the Blood Festival.
He then moved on to explaining the dungeon. "Couple of reptiles but nothing too strong. Two big boss monsters at the bottom but you only need to help one beat the other, technically. Honestly, Verena could clear it along without any help. But, this is safer." Satori grinned slightly as he stepped forward, not enhancing himself with magic at all. Instead stepping forward alongside and then past Remy toward the Dungeon itself while they walked.
"The first room has no enemies. It's just a swamp of much that'll try to suck you in. I recommend using the wings to fly over it. Verena your golem's should be able to handle carrying you, though." As he glanced back at the pair his ki reached out--nothing had changed. The same amount of life signatures as last time. Predictable as all dungeons were.
"The second floor has two rooms. There are fifteen snails down there on that level," the number had been ten before. But if that's all that had changed it was normal Dungeon evolution.
"After that is a room full of fifteen little reptiles with claws. Smart, hunt like wolves," with this he halted his explanation as they entered the tunnel. Pushing through into the damp, wet stone and moss so that they faced the large semi-underground swamp before them. Ignoring the scent despite its potent stink Satori casually stepped into it. Instantly the mud seemed to stick to him, sucking him in with such force that it seemed stronger than even natural quicksand.
But Satori didn't even need magic to push through it. The large man simply waded through the muck as if there was no resistance at all, trusting the other two to make decisions as they wished.
Post by Remy Krane on Jan 30, 2021 18:59:45 GMT -5
The short girl who claimed to use summoner magic was named Verena and for the sake of all things she did look familiar. Or perhaps it was her name? He couldn’t figure it out, not that it mattered but Remy felt like the two had met before but he didn’t feel like it was the time to ask because the other party in this expedition took the spotlight. If Verena was impressive for being one that held a four lief grimoire, then the man before them both was a real urban legend. The pair spoke casually with each other it made Remy nervous, he didn’t show it, he had to stay professional after all.
He shook the hand of Satori and instantly could feel not only the man’s immense magical energy but his physical capabilities. The more the royal knight thought about it, the more in denial he had become. Surely this wasn’t the Satori...Right? He didn’t know how to react because as the man’s mana eclipsed over his body and bladed wings sprung forth from Remy’s back he felt like an ant. Why did these two need him? Verena was clearly strong and the man of legend was stronger than the pair combined. There was nothing Remy could do here, he was, in fact, the one being babysat. His stomach sank as his body felt better than ever thanks to whatever Satori did to him. He still couldn’t speak to confirm his suspicion and eventually, they found their way to the entrance of the dungeon.
He sighed to gain composure, “Well, Mr Satori should I just wait for the two of you to be done then?” Remy asked annoyingly, he didn’t like this feeling even when the man could crush him with a breath, he didn’t like to feel as useless as he was now. Something in his belly was sparking an ignite, perhaps it was stupidity or some form of dutch courage but he was on edge. The other two acted like old friends, perhaps they were in on this joke together? It just wound him up the wrong way as Remy cracked his neck and followed the man
There could be six hundred reptiles, fungus and bosses battling one another but it did not matter. This wasn’t a dungeon exploration, this was a how fast can we potentially find loot. Remy felt like he the rule for having a magic knight entering a dungeon with civilians at this point wasn’t needed, sure for some of the more dangerous dungeons it made sense but for this one? He shook his head in frustration as he watched Satori march through the swampland.
Why was he feeling competitive? He wasn’t going to beat this man racing through the dungeon, in fact, Remy had completely ignored the existence of the small girl. He turned and gave a smile, it was easy to tell he was more than upset with how the situation was. Normally he would love to be carried through something like this, but his pride was on the line and it was hurt. “You ready to fly miss?”
Using the power of Satori’s magic Remy started to levitate and moving at a speed he hadn’t felt before quickly accelerated. It felt like he was riding a broom but he wasn’t, knowing he could do this with his own magic in the future gave him ideas, he hated to admit but Satori knew what was up. He was starting to become too competitive as he trailed behind the living legend, the girl keeping up as well as Remy still tried to keep whatever composure he head, he was acting childish. It was extremely unbecoming of him and yet he yelled it out anyway: “Don’t look down on me!”
Satori wasn’t even looking down on him from a normal person’s perspective, he just for some reason rubbed Remy the wrong way.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 31, 2021 13:25:59 GMT -5
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POW
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007
060
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MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
It wasn't the first time Satori was so blatant in his teasing with her. It was just who he was, and he thought it fun, perhaps even a game. She knew that there was nothing more to it, and so actually getting upset at him for what would have amounted to a harmless joke would have seemed a bit excessive. Even her own ki didn't show her discomfort. It was probably because she just wasn't used to being treated in such a way, she felt.[break][break]
Even still, she didn't think it cute; she thought of her reactions as child-like. That was unbecoming of one in her position, and she couldn't afford to have such outbursts. She didn't know why she reacted in such a way; it wasn't just because it was Bengal. She was certain that it could have been anyone and she would react in such a way. In many ways, she still acted like a child and she did not understand why even despite all her thinking on the matter. Even the third member of their team didn't seem to be enjoying it.[break][break]
Remy did not look familiar to Verena, but she knew of his family. It was possible they had met; after all, of five main families, the only possible allegiance that the Reinsberg would agree to was with the Krane. Another family who was down on their luck, and seeking to restore their own image. The issue was that the Reinsberg never had anything beyond their initial honorary introduction. There was nothing to their name worth considering.[break][break]
Bengal seemed to be getting quite ahead of himself with that comment. She knew it was just to fluster her, the innuendo not lost on her, and thus her cheeks maintained a rosy hue. It'd be easy to tell him to shut up or be quiet, but the woman did not feel like focusing on that. She was her with two very specific reasons in mind, after all.[break][break]
"Uhm... Bengal, I'd prefer to focus on the dungeon, so if you can not... I'd appreciate it."[break][break]
Verena knew that the purpose of it was to make things easier; his magic allowed for the enhancement of one's physical abilities, and she was pretty sure he had a spell that allowed for flight; that was the sole reason she was okay with this. But that didn't mean the transformation to her body's own physiology didn't hurt. The pain was, however, neutralized by the healing magic that accompanied it.
Satori explained the basic layout of the dungeons and what to expect. As expected, the man had already cleared this dungeon. It was wise to bring him along after all. In that case, it would only make sense to listen to what he said about the dungeon in order to make it as safe as possible for the group. And so, into the wilds they went.[break][break]
Floor 1, Room 1
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Hot. So hot. Verena wished that Bengal would have mentioned this in advance; she had to get out of here. She would not be leaving her coat, but she immediately felt the heat. The woman's own mobility was something terrible so this swamp basically forced her into a stop. Immediately, she decided that it was in her best interest to fly above before it was too late. The woman had little interest in showing off right now, anyway.
Verena lacked the ability to read ki as Bengal did, but she was one who observed body language. It was how she had lived this long without too much help aside from her initial year, she felt; to be able to discern friend from foe. And that was precisely why she understood a bit of where Remy was coming from. She offered him a silent nod but said nothing.[break][break]
Perhaps she wouldn't do too much then and would let him handle the bulk of things. That was probably what Satori had intended anyways. The fact he had used his magic to give all of them the ability to fight on their own and overwhelm enemies in this particular dungeon as well as to get over the initial swamp that was above them was proof of that.[break][break]
...Though, Remy's body language expressed irritation. Discomfort.[break][break]
Her crimson eyes were set upon Remy as he seemed quite eager to prove something. Looking over to Satori, she hovered around him, taking advantage of the wings granted to her. She wanted to tell him something quietly, so the other member of their team wouldn't hear. In hopes to, at least.[break][break]
"Can we let him deal with the most of it? I set out to this dungeon for reasons beyond just exploring it. The Krane family is in a slightly similar position to the Reinsberg, so... I'm sure he wants to prove something. I'd rather be examining the plant life than focused solely on fighting, so being able to divide my focus would be preferred."[break][break]
The woman didn't feel as though she had anything to prove here. This was a dungeon that was, after all, a glimpse into ancient history. If a cure could not be found in the modern world, perhaps a glimpse into the ancient world would have the answers she sought. She knew it was unlikely, however, but she was willing to try anything. After all, if left unchecked, she would...[break][break]
Either way, she wanted to quickly leave this room; mosquitoes and flies did not point in the direction she was looking for. It wasn't as if she was poisoned, after all.
[break] verena's just using bengal's stuff to not show off. she also asked bengal if he'd be chill with letting remy handle most of the work so he can work out this frustration, not being aware that just asking that is just as disrespectful to pride lmfao. also I'm doing this without a working mouse so it's a tad difficult for me to do things. [break][break]
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 31, 2021 17:55:58 GMT -5
Satori's lips parted in a wide grin at how red and flustered Verena had become, it was amusing to see this side of the young woman. She always tried too hard to be taken seriously it felt like. A refreshing change of pace. Her ki wasn't too disturbed, she was just sulking a bit. As she requested that he lean away from the teasing he smiled slightly.
"I won't within the Dungeon, Verena. Don't worry," with that he infused his magic into both of them before his gaze slid toward the Deer. Remy, he'd introduced himself as. As well he seemed to be misunderstanding him, as his ki was wound up and competitive. A bemused smile formed on his lips. He would have thought that the man was too old for such reactions, but a competitive spirit was still a good thing.
As the two flew above him, Satori flickered through the muck. Glancing up as Remy went flying past yelling something about not underestimating him. A hum filled his chest as Verena floated beside him briefly, murmuring down to him. A slight smile formed on his lips once more as they had the same idea it would seem.
"Don't worry, I don't intend to be anything more than insurance within these walls. I intended to let you both handled it yourself and only intervene if the need arose." As he explained this, Satori launched upward, pushing through the muck effortlessly and landing on the opposite side of the large swamp before shifting his gaze back down toward the pair.
"Mr. Krane," Satori called after the man simply as the dungeon ended, stepping forward and offering an apologetic smile.
"It would seem I've insulted your pride, my apologies. But my information was purely to provide you with the information and tactics you'd require in order to handle the Dungeon yourself. I think you underestimated yourself far too much when you said you'd be a 'mere guide' at the start of all this." Satori hadn't underestimated the Krane at all. The opposite in fact. He'd planned to ensure that he gave Remy the tools to complete this place himself.
"Dungeons are valuable combat experience, but as you said they can be incredibly dangerous and deadly. I tend to join these dungeons to remove that risk while still allowing others to gain use out of them." As Satori explained this he lifted a hand up and motioned to the tunnel into the next floor.
"You can handle them on your own, but I'd recommend some assistance despite that for some practice working with a hunting partner. Verena, I encourage you to assist him." He knew the young woman was trying not to make the Krane uncomfortable, but she needed combat experience too. Kikka and their own missions and runs had given her some access to that experience. But she needed far more for the goals that she held.
"Again, I'm here in case things go badly and either of you are injured." Satori smiled slightly to Remy, bowing his head slightly to the Magic Knight.
"My apologies if my words seemed antagonistic instead of informative." With this, the large man straightened and moved back toward the doorway. His mana signature suddenly completely disappearing as he controlled it to shut down entirely. Purely letting Remy and Verena handle their opponents in the next room themselves.
<Entering F2 R1>
Stepping in, and sidestepping at the musty cave of fungus, and great massive snails. The mana beasts releasing low hisses as their eyestalks turned toward Verena and Remy, as both were glowing with various bright silver magical auras.
Blood of Monster's and intimidating aura lowers *all* monsters stats by 10 each, and causes them to suffer -30% speed.
Maintaining the following spells as well. Mana conservationist via the Relic reduces the costs. Between non-combat mana regen and when he activated them last post he is back to full mana. Notably not buffing himself, just Verena and Remy.
Name of Spell: Lion Totem: Moderate Elemental Type: Beast Aura Rank & Spell Type: Senior (Physical Enhancement + Healing) Range & Speed: Self/Touch & 50m/s Mana Cost: 30 & 15/Post 24 & 12/Post Stats Affected: +20m/s Speed Applicable Perks: Full Blitz, Quick Shot Description: Satori infuses his body with flowing mana that takes the shape of glowing silver claws extending from the tips of his fingers and toes. Coating his limbs in mana that appears similar to lions limbs, granting him the speed of a sprinting lion during a hunt. This magically energizes the body, mending the body as well as amplifying speed and reaction time. Increasing speed by [20m/s] and healing the user for [Senior] damage following standard healing rules, per post. This also removes [Debuff/Curses] on the target following the standard rules for such, per post. This can be used on another but requires skin contact in order to place it on another, it can then be maintained in the normal range limits [80m] of the spell.
Name of Spell: Bear Totem: Moderate Elemental Type: Beast Aura Rank & Spell Type: Senior (Physical Enhancement + Healing) Range & Speed: Self/Touch & 50m/s Mana Cost: 30 & 15/Post 24 & 12/Post Stats Affected: +Intermediate Strength Applicable Perks: Quick Shot Description: Satori cloaks part of his body in glowing silver lines that cross over his body before solidifying into large bear-like limbs covering his limbs. This energy amplifies his body buffing his Strength with [Senior] power and healing the user for [Senior] damage following standard healing rules, per post. This also removes [Debuff/Curses] on the target following the standard rules for such, per post. This can be used on another but requires skin contact in order to place it on another, it can then be maintained in the normal range limits [80m] of the spell.
Name of Spell: Tiger Totem: Moderate Elemental Type: Beast Aura Rank & Spell Type: Senior (Physical Enhancement + Healing) Range & Speed: Self/Touch & 50m/s Mana Cost: 30 & 15/Post 24 & 12/Post Stats Affected: +20m/s Speed Applicable Perks: Full Blitz, Quick Shot Description: Satori floods his own body energy that focuses on jumpstarting his immune system, purifying the body and amplifying raw speed and mobility. This spell causes glowing silver stripes to spread across his body and form a glowing, aura-like jaw of a tiger around his mouth. Buffing speed by [20 m/s] and healing the user for [Senior] damage following standard healing rules, per post. This also removes [Debuff/Curses] on the target following the standard rules for such, per post. This can be used on another but requires skin contact in order to place it on another, it can then be maintained in the normal range limits [80m] of the spell.
Name of Spell: Bird Totem: Moderate Elemental Type: Beast Aura Rank & Spell Type: Senior (Transformation + Healing) Range & Speed: Self/Touch & 50m/s Mana Cost: 30 & 15/Post 24 & 12/Post Stats Affected: (Optional) 20m/s Speed Applicable Perks: Predators Mutation, Apex Predator, Build-Up, Quick Shot Description: Satori floods his own body with raw magic, altering his physiology to that of something new. Two massive white and teal feathered, hawk-like wings burst from his back glowing with a faint silver aura, these wings are akin to blades allowing flight as well as being used as weapons using the user's physical speed dealing [Senior] damage on hit. As well, his arms and legs gain elongated claws, allowing him to now hold greater speed and mobility. In this state his eyes turn bright teal with large pupils akin to that of a hawks. His base physical speed is now [20 m/s] unless his base speed is already higher than such, and he gains the ability to [Fly] while supporting up to [3] passengers. He can choose to charge this spell, augmenting the power even further through the [Build-Up] Perk. This can be used on another but requires skin contact in order to place it on another, it can then be maintained in the normal range [80m] limits of the spell.
The hulking man known as Satori decided it was befitting of him to apologize. As if he had the right to make things right after making him feel such worthlessness. Remy was fuming, his pride certainly getting the better of the normally composed man. Sometimes people needed to lash out and act childish, it was definitely unbecoming of a noble, however, Remy in this state of mind did not care. Perhaps it was linked to the magic Satori infused within him. He felt good, he felt strong, he felt like he could take anything on in this dungeon alone.
“Don’t you worry Mr Satori, I don’t take offence to such trivial things. Let’s just get this over so I can return to being a mere guide.” He spoke with such distaste, his voice much deeper than normal as if he was growling back. A puppy bearing its canines to but a beast much stronger, much bigger than he. This was the metaphor that represented the situation, and while Remy didn’t want to offend the man as he was but a respectable figure, he did not want to lie down and submit to someone who was not apart of the magic knights. There was a reason you needed to comply with someone from the magic knights to enter a dungeon, and if this man had been to so many Remy could place a solid gambit on him doing so alone. A world without order is simply chaos incarnated and perhaps that’s why Remy felt as if he needed to say something.
Verena, on the other hand, was fine. She knew of Satori but that by itself isn’t a reason as for Remy to bare fangs at her. Regardless, Remy took off ahead because as Satori mentioned the next room would be up to him if the small platinum grimoire holder wanted to catch up and help that would be on her own volition, but in this state, as Remy started to become more accustomed to the cackling mana flowing within him, he felt like he didn’t actually need the help.
Floor 2, Room 1.
The heat from the room full of the swampland was still apparent here, the humidity is what made him feel disgusting though. The environment was much different here, the room felt more open and universally more diverse even if the environment was a simple cave leading into a jungle of some kind. It truly was amazing how such an ecosystem lived underground, but one could have chalked this up to the magic within the dungeon keeping everything in check. Remy would have been more amazed and willing to explore the various fauna around except his eyes were set with battle as a wicked, sinister smile crossed the magic knights face. He rushed into the first enemy he could find, a large one-eyed snail and this interaction alerted a flurry more, fifteen to be exact.
The wings fluttering and giving Remy this extreme speed and flying capabilities were also a weapon, as he zoomed back and forth cutting into the snails with relative ease. Punches were thrown, kicks also as Remy who normally wasn’t a combat-focused mage felt like he was a gladiator apart of a combat arena as he quickly became surrounded by the dozen remaining snails. Perhaps he did in fact bite off more than he could chew, yet the gamble of throwings one’s life in danger was this exotic ecstasy that got his gears going.
Instead of holding for Satori or even Verena to come back him up, Remy jumped forward engaging again into battle. His blood boiling in excitement, his bones cackling from the thrill as his clothes quickly became covered within the various innards, slime, blood, and whatever other body fluids these snails secreted. There was still a fair amount, however, these snails seemingly didn’t end. The dozen soon became ten, however even Remy with the various buffs that he had received was not capable of clearing the room alone.
wc: 667 total: 2088
tldr: Remy charges into the next room, engages with the x amount of snails we have, takes some down, is surrounded by the rest yet won't retreat and instead continues the engagement knowing Verena or Satori would help. Or he assumes so, unsure if Satori would keep his word of not engaging or not.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 2, 2021 13:05:01 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
060
010
040
042
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Bengal had both agreed to refrain from teasing while they were in the dungeon, as well as confirmed that he would largely be staying out of things, only acting should the need for it arise. Verena wasn't going to sit here and pretend she was suddenly incredibly strong, but from what she had heard from the dungeon, she could largely do this by herself as long as she didn't make a habit of using many high-level spells in quick succession as Bengal noted.[break][break]
To her surprise, Bengal even offered an apology for wounding the man's pride. He must have picked up on that then. And why wouldn't it? One who wasn't even a Magic Knight, one who wasn't born into one of the five Upper Noble families, had far more power than Remy could probably even imagining ever having. Not to mention as Bengal was quite familiar with this dungeon, Remy's role as a sensor (presumably, as the man was an Azure Deer), was effectively pointless. That was likely how he felt.[break][break]
...Yet Remy did not accept that apology. His tone, his choice of words all pointed towards malice and discontent. And yet, Verena could not help but think of one thing to herself as she heard Remy's comment. It was not a word she tossed around lightly. The brunette did not like tossing around insults even with her own head. There were worse things one could call a person, but in this case, the Reinsberg couldn't help but feel this word was the aptest to describe this Krane.[break][break]
"What a fool,"" she thought as the group made their way up to the second floor via the staircase, though waiting for Bengal (presumably not much of a wait, however) before entering the next level.[break][break]
"...Uhm... Bengal, I'd like to speak to him if that's okay. Though, I ask you not to listen in. It'll be a little secret between Remy and me... if that's alright." she mused, letting Bengal respond before moving into the next room.[break][break]
Floor 2, Room 1
It wasn't as if she didn't understand Remy's feelings. Verena knew full well where he was coming from. It was a similar sensation to when she was in Kikka, where she was completely powerless before the likes of Ardere, Zaven, and Rosalia. Even Joseph and Chisana had far more use in that place than she did. She realized instantly how outclassed she was.[break][break]
And that was precisely why she could not accept the Wind Mage's feelings. It was because this was a low-level dungeon with an Archmage that there was a degree of safety. In Kikka, everyone counted. She absolutely needed their strength if she was going to survive, of that there was no question. Remy was letting it get to his head.[break][break]
The brunette watched as the mage engaged in effectively fisticuffs with the rest of the group, not bothering to slow down for a second even despite the fact he was getting grouped up on, being encircled. The damage these snails were capable of hitting on him was effectively rendered moot because of Bengal's own healing spell, but if he wasn't careful he'd still end up dying.[break][break]
Verena let out a sigh, finding herself disappointed that even a Krane would end up acting like the type of Nobility she detested. Pride was good to have; she hadn't quite found hers yet, but it was also a detriment if one let their own pride get to their head. Verena disliked showing off, especially given how fragile this man's ego seemed to be, but he was going to be struggling otherwise.[break][break]
As if on cue, ten golems popped up, made from stone and cloth. Both types were equal in height, dwarfing even Bengal. These were just Junior golems, but they'd be more than capable of dealing with the remaining enemies. Remy had managed to take out five of them on his own by this point, a feat that would have only been possible because of Bengal's help most likely. Physical Reinforcement was not an Azure Deer trade, after all.[break][break]
"Destroy the snails quickly," Verena ordered her golems while she stood and watched as Remy fought.[break][break]
Her golems might have been slow, but they still had an impressive range that allowed them to make up for that. Their sheer size allowed them to take on multiples at once, sometimes even squashing them. The snails fought back too, of course, but at most they only managed to land a single hit, weakening her golems but never enough to outright destroy them.[break][break]
It was over in just a few seconds, while Verena hadn't even wasted enough stamina to even drain herself thanks to her mana regenerating prowess. With that over, she immediately flew over to Remy before he could advance to the next room.[break][break]
"...Do you know why House Krane is in the position they're in right now, Remy?" the brunette asked.[break][break]
"It's because House Wilhelm understands that it's better to work together than to stand alone. Connections build social standing. Those who possess more standing than you will always have more power than you do in this world. If you care for your family--if you care for yourself, you should understand that in your situation that is an absolute. So befriend those people. The powerful have equally powerful friends."[break][break]
"I'll admit, Bengal is not like others; nobility does not matter to him, and so it's easy for me to be around him. It must be harder for you as one born into Upper Nobility, but you're in a similar position to my own; perhaps even worse off precisely because you were born into Upper Nobility."[break][break]
"I say this as a Reinsberg, the most laughable in the Noble Realm: get over yourself. Change isn't going to happen if you wallow in your own hurt ego and pride or your own fears and traumas. Bengal gave you the opportunity to fight on your own two feet here; the fact you haven't cast spells is proof you're not suited for combat quite yet. You don't need to kowtow to him, but this spoiled act you're putting on is upsetting even me."[break][break]
"Continue acting this way, Remy, and you may lose your only chance at getting back at the Wilhelm."
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR verena deals with the remaining enemies using golems and chews remy out.[break][break]
-20 mana for junior golem spells cast[break] +25 mana regen[break] 120/120
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability, Power, and Sensory Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability Stat. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Guardian Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Utilizing earthern mana, Verena constructs a bipedal golem made up of various types of rocks and stone. Various rocks protrude from it's forearms, knees, and from the back of it's head down it's back, akin to spikes... but if spikes were blunt, like incredibly small hills, no larger than a full grown man's leg, though each of these tend to differ in size. These rocks are placed over thicker and more durable rocks that function akin to an armor plating, but don't offer any defense beyond the normal body itself.[break][break]
A golem created via Gaia's Blessing's head is stretched out just a bit, giving it's forehead the impression of a hammer due to the bluntness in which it appears. Though it possess' decent strength as a result of it's size and build, the more devastating thing it can do is headbutts. Of course, it is still a Junior ranked golem, so it is incapable of dealing any truly devastating damage. These golems will usually stay near Verena, and rarely leave her side. She often uses them to ride upon.[break][break]
Verena is able to create one (1) golem per ten (10) control she has at once, maxing out at five. Due to Summoner, she gets an Earth affinity bonus (+1 Durability), in addition to her Puppet Master and Reinforced Golems perk.[break]
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Guardian
15(+3)
20(+9)
5(+3)
10m
3m/s
Intermediate
Summoner Creation Magic: Arachne's Heartache (cast 1, ammo limit to summon 4 more)
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability, Power, and Sensory Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability Stat. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Guardian Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Arachne's Heartache takes the form of a many layered bipedal creature wrapped in various layers of cloth. Due to its nature as a Guardian Golem, it is four meters in size, with one arm large enough to carry a person in the palm of its hand--specifically, its right arm. The golem is incapable of moving faster than three meters per second when transporting a person.The fabric itself semes to be folded alongside a variety of other fabric, though the main color seems to be various shades of brown. On the left part of its chest, one red patchwork is visible in a circular shape, albeit rough. The golem lacks a clear head despite being bipedal, instead just containing arms and legs.[break][break]
The golems left hand is what it uses for attacking as well as defending due to it's massive prportion, easily being roughly the size of its body. This arm is especially bundled tightly together, and a variety of cloth has been seemingly stitched in red fabric across the golem's entire arm, giving the impression this arm was sewed on.[break][break]
This same arm serves as its primary form of attack and defense--that is to say, it shields whomever it is transporting in its right hand with its left. Due to the many layers of cloth all interwined so tightly together, it can cause blunt damage to whatever it hits with it, while also having a three meter reach. When using the arm in a sweeping like motion, it can cause knockback damage to occur, starting at 2 meters but increasing by an additional 5 meters for every 10 [POW] it has.[break][break]
The golem's lower body is designed to support the massive left arm, but as a result it has poor mobility, befitting of a Guardian golem.[break]
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Feb 4, 2021 18:46:23 GMT -5
Satori was... unimpressed. When he was willing to bow his head, and offer an apology for an unintentional insult to begin with, and the man still decided to be petty and naive about it he'd met his limit. Releasing a slow sigh, the relaxed demeanor of the man became complete disinterest.
"Very well. If you wish to be a mere guide, I can arrange that," he stated simply, filing the young man as not worth his time. If he wished to ignore Satori's compliments and earnest desire to help, then so be it. His hand lifted, preparing to end the spells that were enhancing Remy, before Verena suddenly hovered by him.
Requesting that she get to talk to him first. Satori released a bemused sigh, shaking his head. Unlike Verena, he saw no reason to quiet his words and spoke in the same tone had been the entire time.
"I doubt it will do any good for one with a childish mindset, but perhaps it will in the future. I won't have him going diving headfirst into the dungeon, however." He let Verena speed off, stepping forward and exiting the swamp as he watched the pair clean up the snails.
The difference in Remy and Verena was instantly clear. It wasn't raw magical power, not at all. Nor talent. The spell Verena used was one that any beginner mage could perform after all. No, the difference was in their experience. Tactics. Clear-headedness. As usual, Verena proved she had a decent grasp on such things as she handled the situation quickly and efficiently.
Remy, had charged in relying entirely on magic that wasn't even his own after throwing his little hissy fit. Satori lifted his hand up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Removing the spells seemed like the best option, but he'd wait and see if Verena's words would help the young man cool his head and be logical.
But, if he saw him acting like a child once more, he would end the spells. If he wished to act like a child, then he would be 'babysat' indeed. Satori would not have his death on his conscience.
The two could treat him like a child and make comments all they want but they did not know what was going on throughout his mind. Remy wasn’t insulted because of his heritage nor practically cared for it. Unlike many other nobles he had grown up with a title alone, money was never around or if it was Remy wasn’t showered in it. He had up to this point fought his own battles for himself, his name did give benefits he will admit but he was never one to exploit such things. After all, within the den of gambling name purely means nothing.
“You’re mistaken.” He mumbled as he saw the golems appear out of nowhere and started to mobilize towards the snails. “I don’t care for my status nor yours, the Wilhelm’s or even the Kranes. My family mistakes aren’t any of my concern, but I will not be made to feel inadequate and making friends is nothing but a gamble. My strength does not depend on you or his, I shall get stronger on my own accord and prove my worth. You didn’t need me here, could have broken the rules and went in yourself, I may be weaker but I am in fact not as little-minded as you’d think.”
Remy fought more snails off and the golems had finally come in and finished them off. Verena’s magic was incredibly strong, it was no wonder she was a platinum magic holder. The golems were fierce you could tell they were incredible constructs just from their appearance, the radiating waves of mana were almost overpowering but Remy needed to show his mettle, his resolve and his determination. He didn’t fool heartedly he wouldn’t race off to his own demise, in fact, he had been given info from Satori just earlier so he knew what to expect. The odds were in his favour to continue and push forward.
“Don’t mistake me rushing in for stupidity, or having something to prove. I am doing my duty as a magic knight, I may be a mere guide but no matter what you both are civilians. Let’s go to the next floor and get this done. Just to clarify also, I do not hold ill contempt for you but I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about matters regarding my family.” His words held a harsh tone but let out as Remy sighed and took a deep breath he did, in fact, need to calm down and while he followed suit of the others who were getting ready to descend to the next floor, Remy made one more remark. “I will catch up to both of you, regardless if we don’t see eye to eye, I will gamble my life until I am strong enough to face you on equal footing.” His eyes held conviction.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 10, 2021 13:18:52 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
060
010
040
042
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
...A Noble who did not particularly care for his family, huh. Self-serving. Well, that was fine. There was nothing she could say that would sway his mind one way or another. Even Satori had called it... well, not that the man was a fool regardless. Still, this was an instance where she had hoped he would be wrong.[break][break]
"You're right," began to say, letting out a soft sigh. "I am mistaken. I apologize for bringing up your family as well."[break][break]
She had no reason to say anything more.[break][break]
While she wasn't going to blame or hold it against him for seeking independence from his own family, she could find plenty of fault in his attitude right now. How was he going to seek strength on his own? He couldn't fight without Bengal's own enhancements, surely. Did he have offensive magic then? Or was he just going to allocate his time to be a guide?[break][break]
Don't mistake rushing it in for stupidity? As something to prove? Verena was finding herself more and more disappointed with every word he spoke. Who was Remy trying to fool here? Verena and Satori, or himself? Perhaps it was everyone, in truth.[break][break]
She wasn't going to completely dismiss his duty. She knew full well that a Magic Knight had every obligation to protect civilians. But he was an Azure Deer; she had every reason to believe Remy could gauge the level of enemies in this room and compare them two the two civilians here. They were much stronger than the threat. Verena preferred to do things through official channels, by the book. That was how she was raised.[break][break]
Ultimately the only person she truly needed here was Satori. Nobody here was going to pretend otherwise. Sure, she might have been able to try this dungeon on her own. She might be able to run through it on her own.[break][break]
Verena went on ahead, readying to go into the next room as she whispered to herself. "So you're willing to gamble on your own strength, but not for the sake of establishing comrades or connections? I'm afraid you've already lost then..." she mused with disappointment.[break][break]
Verena dismissed her golems. There was no reason to keep so many around for the proceeding areas.
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR verena is disappointed.
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Feb 10, 2021 13:31:56 GMT -5
Satori was done with the farce. He wasn't listening to reason, and was mumbling about proving himself when no one here but him was thinking he was weak. Satori had even clearly stated that the man was underestimating himself. Running a hand over his face, he turned on his heel as his mana compressed around his body. He'd keep the enhancements on Verena and Remy, but he had no intention of dealing with such a disappointing individual any longer.
<F2 R2>
"I was trying to let you get training in, but if you're so intent to do everything with 'your own power', you can do it without me around," Satori stated dryly. Mana flowing up his limbs, before suddenly disappearing from view. Moving even faster than the other two as the large man spun his spear once. Appearing in the next room and waving a hand once as the reptiles burst from the foliage, snarling and snapping as electricity erupted outward. Coating the entire area and causing all fifteen of the creatures and much of the foliage to hiss with the scent of ozone.
A few were dead, most unconscious. He stepped over them without concern as he approached the next room with a sigh. Shaking his head slightly. If he needed too, he'd finish the entire thing in these next few moments. He'd intended to let Verena and Remy have some time to train but he was already done with the man's immaturity. It was no business of his if he wanted to go charging in, risking his life. But he wasn't going to deal with fools that held such mindsets.
Enjoying battle was all well and good, but planning, understanding and open-mindedness to acquire allies is what allowed one to gain strength. It was what allowed him to grow strong despite his weakness and lack of talent. This was no longer something Satori felt a need to deal with.
<Used Intermediate Hex Bolt via Ammo to nuke the whole floor, KOing/Killing all of the almost-raptors> <Momentum and Berserker active> <shifted his spells over to himself as well instead of just these two>
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 16, 2021 5:21:10 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
060
010
040
042
[break]
MANA SKIN intermediate+junior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 120/120
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Floor 2, Room 2
[break]
It seemed as though Remy had decided to leave. That was... disappointing, and a tad concerning. Or at least, it would be if not for the fact that he could not afford to report the two here. There was a myriad of witnesses who saw her request, so he couldn't say that they had gone in unsupervised. And he couldn't afford to inform his order that he had just left two civilians in a dungeon.[break][break]
Satori had expressed his disappointment, and it seemed as those in the next room paid the price. Without so much as breaking a sweat, Bengal had fallen the beasts. Verena didn't recognize them at first glance, as the White Tiger acted quickly. However, as she looked at the bodies, she was surprised to find a Falkhasaurus. Most of the species in this dungeon were either near-extinct or had drastically changed to adapt to the modern era. However, there weren't any creatures even related to the Falkhasaur in this day and age. Her eyes met Bengal's as if expecting some sort of answer but ultimately sighed.[break][break]
"...If memory serves, you've stated that dungeons are effective areas of rogue mana that are capable of repeating events in an infinite loop. A sort of hellish prison depending on how you look at it. What do you make of this dungeon, Bengal?" Verena asked.[break][break]
"My personal hypothesis when basing it on yours is that this entire dungeon is the result of mana that has been around since recorded history, showing us a glimpse into the past. I feel like this should be impossible, even by conventional standards. But..."[break][break]
The woman frowned, recalling her father's words. She was a product of a reality that shouldn't have been. A reality that had been fought to prevent happening, but was failed to stop. Her existence was as accidental as it got.[break][break]
"...The Shattering. You know of it, correct?"[break][break]
A pause.[break][break]
"Is it possible that its effects are still being felt, creating rifts in some form to produce a dungeon like this?"[break][break]
After letting Bengal explain all of this, Verena sat up as she made her way through into the next room. She didn't want to stick around too much longer. It was far too hot. If it got any hotter, she would have to remove her coat, something she didn't feel like doing when he had been already teasing her quite a bit. Perhaps his current state would cause for a different reaction--ideally, one where there was none, but she did not feel like leaving it to chance. What mattered was that he dealt with it quickly and in one shot.[break][break]
That roar was cause for concern, and so she decided to hurry along. Whatever was going on was causing quite a disturbance and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. So far, she wasn't finding anything related to what she was looking for, so it might have just been for the best to advance ahead.[break][break]
Floor 2, Room 3
[break]
It was tighter than she thought it would be but manageable. She had chosen this path due to the abundance of flora present here. Her eyes were all over each one, carefully examining it and recalling the book she had read before coming here. There was supposedly an ancient plant that was supposed to have a 'miracle healing' factor. According to legend, it was revered as a sign from the Gods and was thought to have possessed its own magic. She deduced that if that was the case, it was a plant that somehow contained Angelic magic, a magic she had seen once but some time ago.[break][break]
At the same time, she was careful to avoid anything that could have been poisonous or bad if touched. The ancient world of Clover was not exactly a forgiving one, and so it was for the best she give it due attention as she began inspecting the foliage. Supposedly it was a very small plant, with white petal-like tepals and stamens layered in whorls of three. She was effectively looking for a magnolia but on a much smaller scale as far as she was concerned.[break][break]
She displayed an unusual level of focus as she was doing this. Whether or not Bengal had decided to tag along with her given there was another route was another story altogether. She could have flown above the canopies to avoid a possible sea creature attack, and scale through this dungeon quickly enough, but she had a very different reason than most had for visiting this dungeon.[break][break]
One could argue that she was looking for treasure, but to Verena, she was simply looking for any chance to survive. It was unlikely there was any cure at this point, and there was a part of her growing desperate. She did not want to die. Not after coming so far. She was so close. But she knew she had a few more years left. Her body was falling apart on her, and it wouldn't be long before she couldn't even do something like this.[break][break]
Assuming that Satori was with her, Verena stopped what she was doing despite her complete and near-total silence the entire time that the group had been in here. "If I am poisoned in a dungeon but leave it, would I still be poisoned?" she asked.[break][break]
It was a strange question. Satori likely knew that she knew the answer, too. The answer was no. The effects of the dungeon left when a person left the dungeon's area of influence. Anything that the person did to themselves would still be in effect, but remnants of the dungeon were only capable of existing within that space.[break][break]
It wasn't like Verena to ask questions she knew the answer to. Perhaps, to seek more clarity on something, but something like this Satori assumed she would have caught on when he explained things to her the first time. The only thing 'real' about dungeons was the treasure at the end, but that was owed to the fact that the dungeons warped around the treasure itself, rather than the other way around.[break][break]
"Hey... Satori?" Verena asked after another long period of silence, as she stared at the flora. Her eyes met the ground.[break][break]
"...Can I fight the enemy at the end myself? I don't want any help. It's not like with Remy though. I know this timing might be bad, so please forgive my imprudence. If I am in trouble, feel free to intervene, of course. But... I... I want to see something." she requested.[break][break]
"...No, it's not quite that. I'm feeling a little frustrated, and I ... I think there's a part of me that just wants to let out a bit of stress. Using your own magic would make things too quick and a little too easy here. I hope you don't mind this request," Verena said, looking up to Bengal now, before letting out a sigh.[break][break]
She didn't want to die. She wanted to live a long life. She already knew the answer before she even stepped into this dungeon.[break][break]
Even if that flower did exist, even if it was to be found in this dungeon, it would not save her. Nothing could. She winced a bit in pain. Was it the curse, or...?[break][break]
Oh.[break][break]
She didn't realize it, but at some point her entire arm had gotten caught in some thorns. That must have been why she had stopped where she was. She was so caught up and lost in thought that she hadn't even realized she'd hurt herself. [break][break]
"...uhm... this doesn't change my request."
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COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR olawd she thinkin.
