Sethera

Penelope and Gunther With everything going on outside, the kitchen itself seemed too still. Like an eye in the center of a great storm. No noise stirred the mansion but the soft sounds of Hanikap’s murmurs from the next room over. “Never shoulda got caught up in all this. What would me dear Ma say now if’n she could see this?” And then, above their heads, nearer to the parlor exit, Penelope and Gunther both would hear the startled coos of pigeons. A familiar voice accompanied the cries with a shout, “Who has this many birds?!” Alois One could forgive the fighter for letting his guard down. After all, birds—doves and pigeons both—filled the dovecote. It would be difficult to make out much of anything in the flurry of wings and round bodies. From the sheer number of birds, the flapping of their wings alone generated enough noise to surprise most people. But combined with the screeching, it produced an overwhelming cacophony. It would not be surprising if the noise reached the people outside or downstairs, even. Amidst the hail of feathers, a shadow dropped on the boy, sending him crashing to the floor. “Sorry, but I don’t much like being chased,” a low voice whispered in his ear. “Don’t worry, I’ll have you chasing after sheep soon enough.” Edrick, Citron, and Raki Edrick, Citron, Peaches, and Raki could also hear the ruckus in the dovecote above, though it would be harder to make out over the sounds of the outside and Peaches’s pained roaring. The arrow had buried itself grievously close to the wyvern’s heart. Had Gaston a little more time and a little less urgency, Peaches would be dead. As it was, the wound lay a little closer to the center of the wyvern’s chest, and so she could still count herself among the living. The Isaurians at the scene would know that the weak points of a wyvern were their wings and soft underbelly. Wyvern riders dreaded archers for this reason. A well-aimed shot could take a wyvern out of commission forever. The belly scales had furrowed up like a small hill around the wound. To those unfamiliar with battle, it would have seemed innocuous. A mere stick poking into the chest. Barely any blood. But below the surface, bits of wood splintered off, creating slivers resting amidst dark blood and pale flesh. The arrowhead itself remained intact, but it had ruptured a blood vessel. To remove the arrow now, without taking proper steps, would be a fatal mistake. Link It did not take long for Pylauses to realize he was being chased. The man turned back once and cursed. “Damn you, fellow!” he shouted. “Can you not at least have the common sensitude to know when to capitulate?!” He lashed the reins against the horse’s neck. It whinnied but increased its pace to a gallop. The ride carried Link through the streets of Phar. In the dusky twilight, the village houses shone in only two colors—sunset gold or a brown so dark it seemed black. The sun glared directly into the mercenary's eyes as it set behind the village wall. Few villagers ventured outside at this hour. The scant few that remained disappeared at the sound of hoofbeats, till the streets were empty of all but dust. This road would be familiar to the mercenary. Hours earlier, he had walked this same path, following Alois’s mother Mene to her house. But rather than a pleasant stroll, he now raced to catch up to Pylauses Gaston. Ciela At the front of the mansion, a single horse and rider had been resting near the food trough Gaston had laid out for his horses. Miraculously, the rider had remained asleep through the earlier commotion. But considering the extent of her injuries, perhaps it was not so surprising, Were she to wake now, she would feel much more rested than before. And much more herself. Tsetseg and Cora Acantha snorted, “Of course, ya get on her horse.” However, despite her words, the girl didn’t look like she minded. “Come on! Let’s go! You said Pylauses’s house, right? In that case, we need to head this way.” The redhead took the group down the main road leading toward the back gate. They hadn’t gone far when Phai caught up to them on a dark blue roan. “I’m here, I’m here!” she cried out with relief. “I’m sorry, it took a while, and I uh, well, ye don’t need to hear the details, I guess.” The girl wilted under her cousin’s annoyed glare. “Humph, well, as long as you’re here, it don’t matter, I guess,” Acantha sighed, voice slipping into the same drawl as the other villagers. As if she had tacitly accepted Tsetseg as trustworthy. "Let's go." However, the redhead stopped the group before they could even walk fifty paces. “Hold, there’s something ahead.” Now that she had pointed it out, the rest of the group would hear hoofbeats in the distance. But they were not the slow clops associated with a walk, nor the clip-clop of a trot, nor even the three-beat sounds in a canter. No. Instead, they could hear the four-beat patter of a gallop. Somebody was racing recklessly through the village on horseback. Horses weren’t supposed to go much faster than a walk in the village proper. “Do ya think that could be the militia?” Phai asked. “But… ain’t that a mite dangerous?”

BGM: Awakening - Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX The Pokémon continued to blink, and for a few seconds, it looked like an owl. But then it stopped, revealing doll-black eyes. But unlike doll eyes, these shone with a light and life that could not belong to anybody but a living creature, and a happy one at that. A wide smile stretched its face as it cheered. "Whoa-a-a-a! Hey now! My eyes are wide open!" No longer mumbling, but using the full force of its vocal cords, everybody would realize where they had heard this voice before (if they hadn't already): their helpful guide in the mystery dungeon. It stretched its arms then. First the left one, and then the right one. "Huh? Oh, you're all awake!" It paused. "You know, I just saw you in my dream! In my dream, you were… engaged in a heroic battle. Or some of you were." It bobbed up and down in the air. "Whoa! That's so strange… Feels like I've had this happen to me before. Where people from my dreams appear in front of me…" It giggled. "Fancy that! ♪" In the brief (and likely dumbfounded) silence that followed, the Pokémon turned its attention to Z., "You know, in my dream, you said some pretty mean things. But… since it was a dream, I won't hold it against you!" Then it twirled in the air, catching sight of Es and Hector. "Whoa! You're not looking so great. But don't you worry, I'll Wish away your aches and sorrows." The goofy grin disappeared then. And at that moment, the entire group would feel the lack of it, as if the sun's light had grown a little dimmer. But not just dimmer. The entire area darkened in a false night. Even the outside sounds disappeared as the Pokémon clasped its hands together and closed its eyes in concentration. Not long after, a single glowing yellow star descended from the heavens. It circled around Es and Hector, and then spread out to circle the entire group, but touched nobody. And if anybody reached for it, it would wink out of existence, reappearing in a twinkle as soon as they gave up. Eventually, it stopped its spinning to climb back into the sky, stopping directly above everybody's heads. Then it exploded into multicolored lights, sizzling like a firework. But the flash of light brought with it not a searing burn as expected, but a gentle warmth like that of a candle in the darkness. At that moment, all pain evaporated, and all lost energy returned. The closest comparable feeling would be that of awakening from a long, restful sleep during a midsummer vacation, with no school or work to worry about. The group could bask in that feeling for a few seconds. Then, as if beckoned by the star’s disappearance, the daylight and surrounding noise returned with a vengeance. The Pokémon opened its eyes, a slow smile spreading across its face, separating its hands to spread them wide. "All better now, right? All right! ♪" Not even waiting for them to reply, it twirled in the air again. "Before you all say anything, and I know you all must have a lot to say, I have a question of my own!" It turned to Marv. "Weren't you different before? And… wasn't there one more of you?" It paused, shaking its head. "Or… never mind. I wasn't actually there with you, so I must've… made a mistake?" Its bell-like voice rose in pitch from confusion. The entire group would share this confusion, their thoughts and memories scattered like dewdrops under the sun. But the gloom didn't stick around for long. Because the next second, the Pokémon had returned to its beaming countenance. "Well, whatever! If I can't remember, it must not be that important." It giggled. "Before I forget this too, I'll introduce myself. My name is Jirachi! But you can call me… Jirachi! ♪" OOC: Okay, this is the actual start of the round. I say round, but since there is no fighting, a round isn't really necessary. Just post what you want, when you want, and if you want to post again before I post, go for it! I also might not wait for everybody to post before posting since this is mostly interaction, and so my posts will probably be interaction posts.

All the interest! NEET do-over

The sleeping Pokémon frowned after Chester's two-punch attack, the steady rise and fall of its chest quickening to a rapid staccato. Still, it did not open its eyes. Instead, it yawned, releasing with it another Confusion in a random direction, this one hitting the Falinks a little behind it. The attack was stronger than last time, perhaps because the Pokémon was in less of a deep sleep than before. Not to mention, because of his typing, Hector could not stave off the move as effectively as Es. The attack incapacitated all five troopers, leaving the lone brass up front barely staying upright. The sleeping Pokémon let out a "Hngh, sleepy," before settling back down into its doze. However, its breathing was lighter this time, as if one good hit might wake it up. OOC: Sorry for the short post! But I will also be posting again once the fight is over, even if not everybody has posted yet for this "round." So, in that sense, you can consider this mini post to be a half host post or something, and the next post I do will be a full host post.

In the air, the land below and the Pokémon there would grow smaller. Like the view from an airplane, lifting off from the ground, nose tilted toward the sky. Mixed vegetation ran amok between deciduous trees, caught mid-curtsy in dresses of emerald green. Towering palm trees stretched out their fronds in supplication toward the sun. A rind of golden sand bordered the greenery, protecting it from the encroaching blue of the sea. Both sand and sea glittered as if made up of diamonds. Here and there, driftwood logs lay on their sides, some bleached white by fungus, while others kept their original woodsy hues. With the group gathered around the newcomer, the coast was right behind them. Noibat had flown up toward their left, and further that way, the shore wrapped around and slid into the sea. On the far side, a small island rose out of the waves. To the right, however, where Z. struck out, ran a fast-flowing stream that made crossing difficult for any but a water or flying type. The Zorua would soon find their way barred by the powerful current. Meanwhile, the strange Pokémon still hadn't opened its eyes, instead muttering responses in a voice everybody there would have heard before. "Hrngh… Am I awake? I guess not… Bring you here? Storm? Hmm…" It trailed off. "Dead asleep… Question… Are you here for that… or a wish? Sorry, I already used them earlier…" An awkward pause seemed to show it would drift back to sleep. But then it continued to speak. "By the way… I've been told I toss and turn in my sleep… Zzz… Snorf… So, if you're nearby… I will probably attack you… Sorry if I do…" It let out a snore. BGM: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon OST - Legendary Boss Battle: Rock Version! And with that, it turned on its side, releasing a Confusion attack. Miraculously, the attack targeted neither of the two fighting types nearby, hitting Es instead. OOC: Battle time! This will also be the start of my new idea of mixing NCM with a VTT (virtual tabletop) and partially Discord to get a fuller, more streamlined experience! The link will be in Discord.

BGM: Growing Anxiety - (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Explorers of Sky) The fight was raging, and things were looking grim for the group of Pokémon. Z. had fallen asleep, Clobber was overwhelmed, Es was panicking, Marv was attacking, Noibat was flying higher, Chester was defending Cross, Hector was holding up a barrier, and Cross was curled up into a ball. And then the wind picked up. In the heat of battle, it had already stirred through the tunnels, bringing with it an ominous scent and a low whistle. Now the wind charged through the mystery dungeon, growing claws and snarling at the Pokémon within. It howled and ravaged the fighters, tearing their meager possessions away and slamming them into the walls. The dungeon Pokémon vanished in flashes of light. All that remained were the humans, tossed around by the eddies like snowflakes in a winter storm. Cross was the first to leave. Behind him, the group could see a portal, and through it, a bedroom from the human world. The Cubone vanished through the portal and reappeared on the other side as a young boy who stared at his hands in disbelief before bursting into tears. The others had no time to process this, however. The portal snapped shut, sealing like a mouth. The human-Pokémon glowed much like the dungeon Pokémon had earlier. And then they, too, vanished. — BGM: Southern Island - Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX The wind woke the group up first. Not the snarling beast from before, but a tamer, softer creature. It brushed over with a cooling hand and stirred the human-turned-Pokémon from their forced unconsciousness. Hot sunlight lanced down on their bodies, contrasting with the cool air of the mystery dungeon from before. No longer were they lying on hard stone, but on soft, sweet-smelling grass. By the fragrant air and the utter lack of urban noise, it was clear that they were nowhere near civilization. A few scattered palm trees stretched up above their heads toward a spotless blue sky. On one side, the ground turned to sand and slid down into a glittering turquoise sea. The two adjacent sides led to grassland, and on the opposite side stood a small copse of trees. As they inspected their bodies, the Pokémon would find most things about themselves remained the same. Any items or money they found in the dungeon had disappeared, however. And Marv discovered a completely unique transformation in himself. However, the more he or anybody else tried to remember if he had ever been anything but a Froakie, their thoughts would mist over and their eyes would turn blank before snapping out of it, wondering what they had just been thinking about. After gaining their bearings, each of them would immediately notice one thing. A small white-and-yellow Pokémon floated in place nearby. Its head ended in three points, like the top of a star. From each point hung a single teal-colored tag. Two yellow streamers fluttered behind its back. The most remarkable thing about it was its state of slumber. It somehow floated in the air while fast asleep. OOC I'm back! Let me know if you are confused or have any questions about the post.

Penelope and Gunther “Y-you really won’t toss me outside?” Hanikap whimpered. “It’s so scary out there. Lord Gaston, the scary flying thing, the wolfydog…” He held his head. “I just… Just wanted to be better, is all. In a better situation. I thought, if I followed Lord Gaston, some of what he had would rub off on me.” He licked his lips, slipping back into his accent. “I ain’t meant for things to get this bad. And now I… I just…” The man sniffled. “I jes’ wanna forget this e’er happened!” He glanced between both Penelope and Gunther. “If’n you can promise to protect me afterward, ‘specially from that angry-lookin’ boy just now. I’ll tell ye everyfing I know. But it ain’t much, I tells ya.” Alois First, Edrick ran out of the room and entered the master bedroom to climb down the window there. Then Citron clambered out of the window in the smaller bedroom they stood in, landing on the roof of the dovecote below and leaving Alois alone up top. Edrick’s way was safer. Citron’s way was faster. It did not take a sage to guess which way Alois would choose. He vaulted out of the window to drop directly onto the roof below. Before the fighter could finish the leap to the ground; he saw another person near the roof he stood on. An unfamiliar young woman with her hair tied up in a bonnet climbed up the side of the wall, arms and legs spread wide like a spider. She held up a hand with several kitchen knives fanning out like silver claws before she threw them all at once down on the ground. A brief flash of satisfaction crossed her face when Link shielded his own face, but she spared no further time to gloat. Instead, she took that opportunity to climb directly below where Alois was standing. The woman cast the boy a quick glance but said nothing, swinging into the window like a trapeze artist and closing the door. Raki The first thing Raki saw upon entering the kitchen was the notable lack of the woman, Dille, who was here before. Next was the knife rack lying on its side, empty of knives. Lastly was the window to his left, swung ajar and shaking slightly from the vibrations caused by the motions outside. Were he to look out and up, he might glimpse the same woman Alois had seen, and perhaps recognize her. But the kerfuffle outside the window was more likely to seize his attention. Edrick, Link, and Citron Miscreant (Intro) - Fire Emblem Awakening Edrick was fast catching up with Pylauses Gaston, but the man did not have the look of a wounded deer fleeing from the hounds. He did not snort in fear, his eyes did not roll backward, he did not even gasp for breath. No, instead his eyes were dark and glittering with anticipation. He was the hound. Perhaps that should have been the first sign that something was off. But his blustery demeanor had thrown everybody off. A fool is a fool, and not to be taken seriously. That is what everybody says. He reached Peaches, but instead of balking, he pivoted to let her stand between him and his pursuers, dropping both bow and sack. And then, he grabbed each of her legs, one giant hand per leg, and lifted. Miscreant - Fire Emblem Awakening For a second, the man stopped. It looked as if the weight of the wyvern would be too much. But then he clenched his teeth, his muscles bulging with the effort. Peaches ascended into the air outside of her own volition. Pylauses’s eyes turned bloodshot from the effort as, with one last roar, he held the wyvern above his head, shirt ripping open and falling from his torso in tatters. The group then beheld the full extent of Gaston's strength. He was built like a boulder, his waist showing off a six-pack. The man’s body shook from the effort of holding Peaches up. He roared again, spittle flying from his mouth as his muscles bunched in anticipation. And then, with a savage heave, he threw the wyvern at both Link and Edrick. Even if the two avoided the throw, they would lose precious time in doing so. Time enough for Pylauses to surge forward in this game of hunter and hunted. Gaston did not stop to look and see if Peaches smashed into either of the two. The man, now gasping for breath, picked up both bow and sack and continued to run. It didn’t take long before he reached one of his horses—the lighter, cream-colored one. The silver bay snorted and stepped away as soon as it saw its owner, hoof kicking out. The man growled and bound the sack to the other horse. He vaulted over the side and clumsily planted himself in the saddle. Pylauses backed the horse out of the open stable and whipped the reins forward with one hand, the other still holding the bow. The horse whinnied and raced forward like the wind given physical form. Gaston was getting away. Tsetseg (and Cora) Acantha hurried into her house, and for a long, tense minute, it was just Cora and Tsetseg standing outside. And then the girl exited, a scowl on her face, before hurrying to the back. A few minutes later, she returned atop a handsome chestnut stallion. “Let’s go. Phai will catch up soon.” The redhead matched the others’ speed, and her hands loosely gripped the reins, but the crease in her brows bespoke her impatience. Eventually, Cora’s house came into view again. Only her father, Posostro, stood in front of them now. “Heyo, I see you found Acantha!” He smiled. “The missus went off to gather the rest of the militia. They’ll be guardin’ the other way, in case this is a ruse or summat. So you can have no worries. The village’ll be well-protected.” “Well, I suppose that’s the least she could do, as head of the militia,” Acantha muttered. Posostro laughed. “As sharp-tongued as ever. Yer mother chose well in namin’ ye.” Acantha flushed. “That’s…” She glared. “Never mind. Just hurry and get Abel!” The man chuckled and left, returning soon after with Abel in hand. “Here,” he held her reins out to Cora. “He’s all yours.” “Yeah, yeah, let’s get going already,” Acantha snapped, then turned to Tsetseg. “You’ll slow us down if you remain on foot for much longer. Get on a horse with one of us. Pick whichever!” OOC I'm back!

Oops missed an update. But glad I can stress heal. That seems pretty useful in a game where everything is out to get you. Also, the shambler looks super creepy. Also, dang it, I hate mosquitoes! And anything that sucks blood! No wonder I was so hard on that croc. But it looks like we'll be seeing more of those bloodsucking spawn soon.

Penelope, Gunther, and Raki "Shouldn't say, shouldn't say…" Hanikap repeated himself in a low mumble. The group might have been able to press the man for more information. But before they could, a familiar roar shook the walls, followed by the clatter of metal pans falling to the floor in the kitchen. Hanikap tore himself free and bolted under the table. "It's that flying thing again!" he shouted. "It's gonna eat us all!" Alois and Citron The roar reached all the way to the open window in the guest bedroom. Anybody still watching could see Peaches, wings outstretched to bar the way, while a maroon-clad figure glanced between her and the bleeding form of Edrick. They would also bear witness to the following scene. Edrick (and Peaches) Edrick would not recognize the man in front of him, however, he would recognize the expression he wore well enough. Arrogance and contempt. An amusing sight on one who looked a little worse for wear himself. Flyaway strands had escaped his neatly slicked-back ponytail, and dirt had smudged his otherwise spotless silks. "Pah! As if I would hand my lady over to a Pontic rapscallion!" He sniffed, seemingly unconcerned about his situation. But another glance told why. By the time the lancer arrived, the man had already dropped the human-sized sack beside him. Leaving both hands free to aim a large hunting bow straight at Peaches. Edrick was too late to stop the arrow that flew toward the wyvern and embedded itself in her chest. "Were I less abstracted, I could have aspired for the eye." The man sighed and scooped up the sack. Then, without hesitation, he bull rushed the wyvern. Link Belowground, Link would hear most of the goings-on outside. However, with the cellar doors barred, he could not leave and join the activity himself. Tsetseg Acantha rolled her eyes at Cora's "not bad folk" but didn't protest, an action which Cora would know to mean reluctant agreement. Phai giggled. The redhead sent her cousin a withering look before turning back to Cora and Tsetseg. "Okay, so Pylauses and Hanikap. Gotcha." She frowned. Unlike Phai, she didn't seem surprised, just concerned. "I suppose you're right. We need to move." She sighed, then looked at Phai. "How much good do you expect to be without your horse?" Cora was next. "You too. Remember, as cavaliers, our horses are half of our fighting power. Phai, meet back up with Frey. We'll grab Abel on the way. Right now, I'm going to go get Cain." Phai nodded and mouthed a "Be back soon" to Tsetseg before haring off down the street. Acantha hurried to the house, leaving the door open, and soon enough both Cora and Tsetseg could hear whining from inside. "We wanna go wiv ya!" "Wiv ya." "Oh, be quiet! Just sit still and behave, okay? I'll be right back." "No way! Us too!" "Way!" "Argh! Stop tackling me! No, you're not allowed to come, okay?! Dinner's already made, so just eat and then go to bed." It seemed like it would take Acantha a little longer than expected to get ready. OOC

Oh, dang. Well let's hope the pigs don't vomit on us anyway.

Nice! Now hopefully we won't have to worry about pig vomit...

Penelope, Gunther, and Raki Dille did not look up again. She kept at her task with quiet diligence and did not see the nod directed her way. However, the group, Penelope in particular, had fully captured Hanikap's attention. "A fine job?" The man smiled shyly. "D'you really mean it?" His eyes twinkled, and he looked quite handsome—the sort of earthy attractiveness found hand in hand with laughter and grins. Then the twinkle dimmed, and he was just a slumping, dough-faced man again. "Gaston always says I make a right ass of myself." He almost didn't seem to hear Penelope's following words, but then he straightened, shaking his head. "As for the door, it just leads to the dining room. I can take you through it if it pleases you." Without waiting for a reply, he trotted to the door with pathetic fervor and opened it. It showed a bare space with another door that he opened, revealing a wider room that was a study in contrast to the kitchen. The walls were a dark-paneled wood lit by glittering chandeliers hanging from the ceiling like golden bouquets. An intricate woolen rug covered most of the floor. Large windows showed off a view of the surrounding village under the gloom of twilight. Another door remained on the right wall. In the middle stood a long, wine-colored table balanced on claw-footed legs, with a row of high-backed chairs down each side. A marble bust of Pylauses rested atop a small countertop next to the door. He stared not at the dining table, but slightly above it, as if it lay beneath his notice. His prominent nose tilted toward the ceiling, and his lips and brow wrinkled into a proud sneer. "And this is the dining room!" Hanikap bowed. "You can stay here if you want. I'll ask Dille to bring some food out for Lord Gaston's guests!" He made to hurry back to the kitchen. — Team Country On the third floor, Alois—and anybody else with him—would hear a noise. It wasn't a house noise—the creak of boards underfoot or the wheezing in the walls that comes with age. No, it was a human noise. A gasp of breath, followed by several brief grunts, and then a dull scrape. They came from the northern door. The door they had yet to open. — Link Compared to the rest of the house, the cellar seemed cramped. A couple of small torches lined the brick walls. Wooden kegs cast long shadows that swooped toward the arched ceiling. Long shelves with dark bottles took up most of the wall space. The cool air smelled of dirt and spiced wine. Nobody appeared to be here. Tsetseg As if summoned by their shouts, a familiar-looking redhead exited the building. She stomped to the group before stopping in front of them, annoyance written across her face. "What's all the commotion?! Can't a girl make dinner without getting interrupted? And you," she turned to the twins. "Are you bothering people again? Didn't I ask you to help set the table?" Mara spoke first. "B-But Sissy 'Cantha, we saw Cora! And Cuzzy Phai and archer!" She pointed at Tsetseg accusingly. Her sister Nara did not echo her words for once, beaming up at the archer. "Big famiwy? Wike ouws?" Phai seemed to have forgotten her brief grudge with the twins at Acantha's arrival. "Guess what, Acantha! There are bad people in the village! Really bad!" she spread her arms wide as if to emphasize the issue. "We need your help against the bad people!" The redhead smacked her face. "Wait, let me get the twins back inside first." She turned to them. "We're going to talk militia matters, so you better go inside now, okay?" "Can we stay? Please?!" "Pwease?" "No!" The two flinched at her glare before returning it with pouty lips. Eventually, they broke into sighs of "fiiine," and began the short walk back to the house. The two stopped and turned to glance behind every few steps. A "get going!" from their older sister had them breaking into a giggling run. Acantha watched the twins till they entered the house. "Okay, they're gone now." She sighed. "Phai, you should know better than to bring up stuff like that around them. Especially after they followed us to the river. I'm only glad that Gunther ended up being a nice guy and didn't hurt them." She muttered the last sentence under her breath. "Sorry, Acantha. I got excited there. I'm just really, really hoping you can help us against the bad people." "Can't you be any more specific than just 'bad people?' You're not a kid anymore." The redhead turned to Cora and Tsetseg. "Can either of you tell me anything more?" She gazed at the archer. "Since you're here, I take it the 'bad people' aren't from your group, right?" She crossed her arms. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if they were, with how suspicious you all are." OOC

The Cleffa were still angry. They bounded forward on tiny feet that seemed to skim over the stone flooring of the ruins rather than touch down fully. The one next to Z. used Pound but stopped when it found its small fists had no effect against the shielded Zorua. It Splashed in place, hopping over the fox before coming down. The Cleffa facing Hector also Pounded against a shield, mouth curling down into a frown when the attack failed. It completely ignored Chester's Growled order and instead rejoined with its own vocals—a pleasant tune that somehow sailed right over Hector's six heads. All three shields failed in that moment. Reluctant to leave the water, the Staryu instead glided into the space its peer had recently vacated and released a high-pressure Water Gun against Shawn before retreating into the corner. Finally, the Minior charged forward in a Tackle against Marv. Though it was slow, its solid body dealt out a decent amount of damage. Cross sniffled in the corner and stared up at Chester with dewy eyes. "Dag you, modawuda Abbadun!" His stuffed nose distorted his words, but their meaning was still clear.

Penelope, Gunther, Link, and Raki Hanikap jumped at seeing Link and Rohns. "Eek, izzat wolfydog! Gettim away!" in his panic, his voice shifted to a rural accent that matched the rest of the villagers. At Link's comment on his lack of training, his mouth soured. "So's I heard. It bit Lord Gaston on the leg! A right little terror is what it is." When the mercenary asked about accompanying them, he sighed and slumped. "Well, so long as ya-you keep that thing from biting me, then you can come along." The man kept sending nervous glances over his shoulder at Rohns, but stopped once he reached the left-side door. Turning away from the wolf, he opened the door and bowed low with a clumsy flourish. "This here is the kitchen! Where food's made. And drink. And more food. Oh, and there's a lavatory in the back." He scratched his cheek. The kitchen was both smaller and less lavish than the parlor. The floor was cobblestone instead of wood. Sunlight poured in from the windows and blended with the hearth's warm glow to gild the room in red and gold. Copper kettles nudged sides with earthenware bowls on tables of polished walnut. From soot-blackened rafters hung hams, bundles of dried herbs, and nets of various vegetables that gave off fragrant aromas. There was a door in the corner. Presumably, it led to the lavatory. Another door was against the right wall in the back. A woman with her hair tied up in a bonnet was deftly cutting onions. She gave the group a wide-eyed look before ducking her head. "That's Dille," Hanikap dismissed. "She's the kitchen help. Doesn't talk much." He stood there awkwardly for a second before coughing. "Yeah, guess the tour's not that interesting." — Alois, Edrick, and Citron a.k.a. "Team Country" After ascending the staircase, it was clear that both sets led to the same location—a large, square loft clean of dust. Large wooden pillars burst through the floor and crossed with the rafters above to form a gable over the middle of the attic. Large windows let in the dying sunlight, bouncing off stacks of crates to cast lumpy, elongated shadows against the angled walls. Wooden chests lined the sides, their metal bands gleaming gold. A few beds stood in the center, their pristine white sheets smelling faintly of lavender. But there were neither people nor doors to explore further. The only way out was back down the stairs. — Tsetseg At Tsetseg's words, the girls finally extricated themselves from Cora's leg. Their wide green eyes widened further when they met the Locrisian's. The bun girl pointed up at her rudely. "Yer the archer! You hit cuzzy Phai!" "Awcha," the braided girl echoed. "Ehehe, that was just because we attacked first," Phai laughed nervously, peeking out from behind her two companions. "Hello, Mara," she smiled at the girl with the bun. "Nara," she addressed the girl in braids. "It's cuzzy Phai!" Mara pointed at Phai next. "Fa." "Yeah, it's me," Phai waved them off before they could run at her. "Can you two see if Acantha is inside?" But the girls were not listening. Instead, they had turned their attention to Tsetseg. "Hey, hey, what wazzat about rock burns and bandits?" "Wazza twibe?" "And where's big armor guy? He played wiv us! Does that mean yer gonna play wiv us too?" "Pwease." Nara held up her arms. "Oh yeah! You two were there too! Why did you follow us to the river?!" the younger militia girl demanded. But instead of answering, the girls stuck their tongues out at her and hid behind Cora. "Cuzzy Phai's not as fun as before now that she's older." "No fun." "Ehhh?! Not as fun? I'm plenty fun!" Phai looked genuinely indignant at that statement. OOC

Dang, sounds like a rough time of it.

BGM: Tiny Woods | Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team The sensation was much like before. One by one, the Pokémon ascended the stairs. And one by one, when they emerged, the others were already there, spread out like plush toys in a children's playground. "You made it to the next floor!" The joyful cheer resounded throughout the group's heads. "Congrats! That means you all are one floor closer to the end. Keep up the good work, okay?" There was a pause before it resumed. "Oh, I almost forgot! Be careful... You're not alone." As if awakened by the voice's parting words, several Pokémon stirred to life. Three Cleffa stepped toward the group in unison, expressions as distant from the previous Cleffa as could be. Their eyes blazed with anger and their mouths pulled back into snarls. Between them nestled a pile of coins. To the side sat a curious tile with a green arrow. A small pool gathered in the corner. Three more Pokémon stood stiff and still—two Staryu and a newcomer. It looked like a cracked shell or boulder but for the five white spikes poking out from various hollows. Two larger cavities pitted its front like gaping eye sockets. Darker triangles lined each hole. Cross held his head and curled into himself. "No… More bad guys." OOC

The Cleffa gazed blankly at Hector, uncomprehending. It made no reaction to his words, moving forward to attack mindlessly. — Cross was lagging. He was tired and scared, and Hector had gotten ahead of him. He didn't know Hector, didn't know any of the others. But he could rely on them because they were all from the same website. Maybe? He'd read some of Order Shadow's posts and the Treecko's characters always seemed brave and honorable. And NewGamePlus. Hadn't he been into competitive battling? From what Cross had heard, he was a reliable person. And he also felt comfortable with Hector because… There was something familiar about him. Warmth. Laughter. "Jamie! Come here, you little runt. Look! This is—" "Pokémon Blue," he muttered. "Huh, what? Why was I…?" “Little help guys?” Oh. That was Hector. The Falinks was the only one that sounded like six Pokémon talking at once. It was strange and hurt Cross's head to think about. But that also meant that Hector was in trouble! Scary, was the first thought. Stay away, was the second thought. And then he remembered the voice that was light and warm and happy all at once. Already the sound and the feel of it were fading from his mind. But his feet moved anyway. — The Cleffa jumped toward Hector, fist shooting forward in a Pound. And then— "Don't you hurt him!" Cross charged out of a nearby corridor. He shoved past Noibat, barely paying attention to Hector or Marv, eyes fixed on the Cleffa. Without thinking, he slammed into the other Pokémon with all the force of a half-baked Iron Head. But it was enough. The fairy Pokémon fell to the ground, eyes closing in unconsciousness. And then it disappeared. Cross stood there, panting. "I... I did it." His legs trembled, and he sank to the floor. "Uh... Uhuuuh... Waaagh!" The Cubone burst into loud, sniveling tears.

That is also suitably creepy and cool.

That beginning quote is suitably creepy and cool. Anyway good job ABC, Cow, Skaia, and rando Joan!

Feel kind of bad for Tales, but Xenoblade is a classic.

I liked Radiant Dawn all right, but Super Mario Galaxy is just really good.

Wait, we have a bank? Also, wow, thanks, pig vomit, exactly what I wanted. It was cool to see I was the only one chilling out in that one fight though.

Penelope and Gunther The man peered up at Penelope and Gunther, chin as red as his nose. His eyes and lips trembled. "Th-that hu-uurt!" He answered the other questions with an "uh-huh, uh-huh." Accepting their help, his legs twisted like a pretzel as he almost fell over again, shoes slipping against the soft fabric of his too-long pants. Eventually, he was back to standing on his own two feet. "Thankee, youse two." The man coughed. "I-I mean, you two. My happy thanks." His tone shifted up at the end, as if he were asking a question. "But I'm right as roosters, see?" he brushed dust off of his vest and arms. "Now, what brings you all here?" He looked around. "Huh, did I miss the others? Oh no oh no oh no, that's no good!" The man pulled at his hair frantically. — Alois, Edrick, Link, and Citron The hall was almost a mirror reflection of the one Link had walked earlier. Wooden walls and floors covered with a thick red velvet carpet. Portraits, most of them of Pylauses, grinned and winked at the group while they walked by. A door to the left leaned slightly ajar. Through the opening, dark eyes and antlers peered out at the passing band. Further along, another door was completely closed, though its bottom glowed orange from the crack beneath. There were stairs around the corner. To the left, an enormous staircase descended to the first floor, each step widening the further it reached the bottom. It was as if it were melting into the floor. At its base, Penelope and Gunther stood conversing with the man who had tripped. Ahead, another staircase climbed up to a landing before turning left, sailing somewhere over their heads. Ascending the stairs would bring Alois, Edrick, and anybody else higher and higher, till they walked through the ceiling of the second floor and up to the floor of the third. There, they stood in another hallway, red-carpeted like the ones below, though the paintings showed horses instead of Pylauses. To their left stood a closed door, and ahead of them, another closed door. The hallway itself continued before turning left. — Tsetseg "Another wyvern?" The woman's shout lashed out like a whip. "That's no good. That could pose a danger if left unchecked." Phai jumped into a salute as well, hand trembling and askew. "Goodwife Gatti, t-the wyvern is of no threat. The rider seems friendly, and Timmy knows him personally." "In that case, I will rely on your word, but if any danger befalls the village, it'll be on your head, Phaidra." "M-Ma'am." "Wells, if'n young Phai says it, then I'm inclinin' to trust her word, Seuda." The man patted the woman on the shoulder, causing her to relax a fraction. He turned to Cora. "Cora, I won't argue 'gainst yer choice, but be careful." Phai puffed out her chest. "We will take good care of Cora, Goodman Posostro—I mean Gatti." She shrank back at Seuda's look. Posostro laughed indulgently. "What a brave 'un. In that case, we're countin' on ye." He winked at Cora. At his side, his wife shot him an unimpressed stare, then closed her eyes and sighed. "Take care." Phai, who had missed the subtle exchange, turned to Tsetseg and Cora. "N-Now, I think we should go find Acantha then! If you haven't met her before, you'll like her—I think." This was to Tsetseg in particular. "She's not as nice as Cora, but she's really cool!" The trip to Acantha's house took even less time than the trip to Cora's. This time, Phai looked more confident and less intense, having relaxed after talking with the Gatti family. Now, however, she tensed up once more. It soon became clear just why when two yellow blurs shot forward, clinging on to Cora like burrs. "Iz Cora!" a blur squeaked. Standing still, it was clearly a small girl wearing a red shawl tied over a yellow dress. Her brown hair was tied in a loose bun at the back. "Cora," the other blur echoed. She also was a girl, and plainly a twin to the first. Her own hair draped over her shoulders in two braids. "Come play wiv us!" "Play wiv us." The two hadn't noticed Phai or Tsetseg yet. OOC

I still don't get Darkest Dungeon, but looks like you know what you're doing. Also sending Hakima to the sanitarium to get rid of his antsiness will never not be amusing.

Tbf it's a decent game...but yeah City Folk is one of my favorite ACs so a bit disappointing. Oh well lol.