Group 2: Hope Quest

[lucifina]

The two hounds that followed halted in their tracks, Their deformed plated heads thrashing when witnessing what happened to the large hound in front. Fear seemed to overcome both hounds, their jaws snapping with their screeches and shrills. The two hounds slowly backtracking towards the cave, The large one following along side. Their snarls and growls being audible while they continued their way back to the cave. Once the hounds disappeared into the cave entrance; Their wails becoming less noticeable.. In fact, from inside the cave a new sound could be heard and felt. The sound echoing like clashing metal onto something solid, with small vibrations becoming more noticeable with each metallic impact made.



If the group were to enter the cave it would seem much bigger than what it seem from the outside, moving downwards they would continue to hear the noise and the vibrations shaking the earth beneath their feet. The further they travel down the pathway, signs of broken rocks and crude slash marks could be seen on the walls. On the cave’s floor, to those who looked, the hounds tracks could also be seen. Their tracks traveling further into the cave.

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”Oh great they went into the cave” The deep voice she had used while in crow form rumbled out her snout. Bones began to crack again as her form shrank and morphed into that of a tigers. The strain of species that Adrains usually present feline happened to be. Her claws shifted in the dirt; mulling over what to do next. ”We’d be confined once we go in there; and there’s a possibility of a larger pack below. That and there will be possibilities of sharp turns…. I can scout ahead, however there should be someone strong at our back. There’s still the possibility of something coming in from behind. Once in there that means our escape routes will be blocked. So umm what name are you using again?? Either way I request you take the rear, Gabriel, you’re behind me. You’ll be the first line of defense if I give the signal something is ahead. Yuki stay in the middle and keep your senses sharp. Remember we’re here for the armor not to kill everything in here. If we can slip in and slip out all the better.”

She waited to see if those who were in the party agreed with her. It wouldn’t do them any good to rush into this without a plan. She rubbed her nose with her paw, the dry air was already starting to bother it. ”Yuki you do know the signs of heat exhaustion yes? Keep an eye out for it and make sure the others take water breaks. If we run into trouble we don’t need someone passing out. Gabriel; if I spot something ahead I will double back and brush against your leg. You’ll let the others know quietly; I don’t know how good the hounds hearing is. With that let’s go.”

Aria’s form shifted as she suddenly disappeared form site, the only evidence she was still there was a shadow, and the paw prints that she left behind. She slowly made her way into the cave, making sure not to get too far ahead of the others. They’d be able to get to her if she needed it fairly quickly. Her paws silenced her steps as she slunk forward. Her nose taking in the scents of the hounds….she paused for a moment to sniff the claw marks. If something other than the hounds were down there she’d be able to tell the difference in scent.

[Deleted]

Esper raised an unseen brow at Aria's declaration of a plan, but it was sense enough to run with it. He goes to the entrance of the cave and draws a number of glyphs for a variety of purposes: one to create a wall, one to form a lock for a teleportation spell, and a few other utility spells. Afterward he turns to watch over Yuki and the otheres, ready to charge if something ran from the depths toward them.

[Deleted]

“If this was any other situation i’d complain some more but right now seems like there is some sense in what you say. Aria was it?” Trying to get used to seeing someone shapeshift would take some time for Gabriel, though he’d ask some questions about it he figured it wasn’t the time or place.

Hearing everything that Aria said Gabriel nodded, holding his staff he looked back at Yuki “Becareful Yuki, just stay between everyone” Gabriel said before turning back towards the cave and slowly moved into it. To anyone waiting outside only the outline of his body would be shown.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

“So… they not going to eat us.” Yuki said as she allowed the spell to drop, since the hounds were now gone. Watching Aria shift into a tiger she smiled it reminded her of Serai and now made her wonder what Adrain and the tiger was up to. She listened to the plan of action so she was to stay in the middle and be protected by both Gabriel and Esper that wasn’t too bad of a plan while Aria scouted ahead. Nodding her head when Aria asked if she knew the signs of heat exhaustion.



Getting into formation she followed behind Gabriel her little dagger in her hands as they walked into the cave.

[lucifina]

At what seems to be the end of the cave, there was a large wall with pillars lined up in two rows towards what seemed to be scriptures and pictures carved into the large wall. If the wall was examined properly, they would see four circular holes which seem to fit into the picture. To the side of that there would be two large stones.

In the middle of the large room, they would see someone surrounded by the morgg hound. It seems like the trembling and the sound of metal originated with her. Her hands held a completely unconventional weapon on one side would be what seems like a sickle on her left hand, there was a barbed wire attached to it and on the other side seemed to be a metal ball. The woman would continue to swing it around crashing into the walls leaving craters in the middle of various pictures on the sides, There were a few Morgg Hounds on the sides using their claws to gouge the walls.

The woman would stop and turn to look at the group “Visitors? What are you doing here?” She said as she pet one of the Morgg hounds “My name is Liz, a Beast Tamer. And i’m here to take care of some unfinished business so if you would leave this cave that would be very helpful” Liz said in an unhostile voice as she waited for one of the adventurers to speak.

[Deleted]

Esper approached after setting up the flank defenses and looks as a strange woman was smashing a wall furiously. Curious: The parties from Nova were sent in groups deliberately. The dogs were apparently under her control, but they were hostile to the wisps. A cautious group from Nova would likely not provoke the natives, plus this tamer seemed to know what was back there, in there. Something very curious indeed. It was pretty obvious to the shady looking mage that this was a hostile opponent, but Yuki was a sensitive sort, to make an alpha strike against a not as obvious enemy might traumatize her. He would hold his action for the moment, waiting to see what the others do.

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Noting the indecision that seemed to take on the others present, Esper would slide to the back and subtly use a pair of spells. The first was to create a few very small rifts in the area near the chamber where the dogs and the tamer were. The second was one that would begin to drain the air itself, reducing the oxygen volume in the room. Should it work appropriately, the beast tamer and her beasts would steadily get more and more tired ultimately falling unconscious from the low air content.

[Deleted]

Gabriel watched the person as they seemed to be purposely destroying the cave, as he was about to say something it seemed she noticed them first, as she spoke Gabriel noticed the hounds around her seemed to almost listen to her. Deciding she was the enemy he waited to see what the rest of the group would do. As he waited for the others his eyes glued to the weapon the person called Liz held. Seeing the chains on it gabriel’s mind began to wander trying to figure out how the weapon should work and the point of such a long chain.

“Hmm so it's similar to a whip? The wire seems to be barbed though so holding it normally would be difficult.” Gabriel muttered as he continued trying to figure how the weapon would work efficiently.

After a few moments he noticed Esper seem to move back slightly, though he didn’t understand the reason for it.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki flashed a warm smile at the female who soon introduce herself as Liz. “It is nice to meet you Liz.” She said as she looked around the cave a bit. Not much was to the cave it had a lard wall with pillars, narrowing her eyes she notice some scriptures and pictures were carved into the walls. Turning her eyes back to Liz, “Well as for us being here. We were sent to help you why else would we be here.”



Her eyes moved towards the strange weapon what Liz was holding, it looked like nothing she ever seen before. From the sickle to the chain attached to it and the metal ball at the end. Reminding at her distance, “That is a lovely weapon you carry as well. The craftsmanship is beautiful and suits you very well, but you would damage the weapon if you keep swinging it into the walls.”

[Deleted]

Aria had doubled back once coming across the lady and stayed with the group in her invisible form. She made sure to walk in the groups shadows as they approached the room. No reason to let the woman know there was more than three of them. Aria was amused that Yuki jumped on the deceitful ban wagon so fast. Ahhh the skills of a noble. Aria approved, given their situation that was probably the best direction to go in. Her eyes glanced up at Adrain who was doing…something. She couldn’t put her finger on it right now. But whatever it was it probably eliminated the opening for her to sneak up on the group. The best thing she could do at the moment was sit tight and watch for an opening.

[lucifina]

“Is that right? I didn’t think any help would come and though it sounds nice you guys are in some weird outfits for us to be on the same side” The Eye of Hel said to the blonde haired girl before realizing that the Manna flow around the area seemed to change, though deciding its potency was low to prevent detection she decided to answer the blonde hair first. “Thanks, it took alot of time to be able to get this weapon. I’m glad someone else respects craftsmanship like this but don’t worry it’s enchanted, a few swings here and there wouldn’t harm it.” Looking at the Blonde hair Liz continued talking “ Speaking of harm, Sorry about this but it doesn’t look like your friend over there came to chat if he’s going to be changing the Manna around me like this, so no hard feelings I hope”

Liz readied her weapon before leaping towards Esper, The Morgg Hounds followed though they seemed to avoid harming Yuki, Once Liz reached about 5 meters from Esper, she did a front flip while letting the sickle go to its max range to slam onto Esper and no one else.

[Deleted]

Esper senses the entity approach, tracking it, annoyed that the air drain spell seemed to fail. He calmly waits for Liz to approach. As the scythe approaches, he sidesteps it, leaping a short distance away and raising his hand as his mastery of shadows comes into play, all signs of light and visibility rapidly draining.

Esper looks at the Eye of Hel as his form begins to turn draconic, a pair of dragon wings coming from his back as scales cover over the armor, horns manifesting in his head and claws emerging on his hands and feet. Mysu begins to flow violently through him and around as he glares.

"You have one chance to leave with your life intact." he says simply as he began to emit an oppressing presence, his voice becoming deeper and more beastly, the darkness growing deeper and deeper.

[Deleted]

Well that didn’t work; Aria quickly got out of the way as Adrain was targeted. Aria moved around to behind the woman. Thankful that Adrain made the cave darker; their years as a team worked in her favor as he already guessed what she needed for her style. As soon as the opportunity presented itself; as in the woman’s weapon was in route to Adrain, and her back exposed. Aria sprang forward putting her entire 400 pounds of pure muscle into the pounce. Her claws extended and her large powerful jaws opened and clamped shut on the woman’s neck; in for what most prey would be a fatal crunch of the spine. Her long sharp teeth would bite into flesh, likely severing the woman’s jugular; her claws more than likely doing a large bit off damage to the woman’s back. Niceties were done with they were wasting valuable time. Hopefully the others would concentrate on the hounds; as she would not be letting the woman’s neck go until her movement’s stopped.

[lucifina]

The Eye of Hel looked in shock as she was bit in the neck, the hounds hesitated when they saw that though it only lasted a second. Before circling below were Liz was preparing to bite Aria off. Liz then pulled the wire back, holding onto the wire on the sickle side she threw it to aria’s side before throwing the blunt side towards one of the Morgg hounds closer to the adventurers. The sickle would impale aria’s side and drag her down landing near Adrain

Liz would land on her back as a few souls exploded from the Morgg hound, Luckily before Liz was unable to move she was able to grab a few of the souls and devoured them, her body convulsed a bit before she slowly got up her wounds were slowly healing. The Morgg hounds would then form a small wall between the adventurers and her., One would bite onto the metal ball before bringing closer to Liz. Using her third eye she reached for the wire and pulled on it, pulling the sickle out from aria.

“That was a close one, I’d prefer if you at least do the threats before you actually tried though. Unknown to what this room even is and even tried to attack a person who was peaceful. I even had to kill one of my beloved hounds because of you”