[Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

Archives of Occultus Magica's beginnings, ten years prior to the current story.
CadetNewb
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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As Ruarc and Miller worked on the not so little girl, they could both see her pain and exhaustion be steadily replaced by something else entirely.

It was sheer, utter curiosity.

Coco watched in complete fascination as her grievous wound healed up under her clothing. The bleeding came to a complete stop easily enough as her pipe work was knitted back together. But it was the lead and copper fragments that really held her eye! Those ruby coated bits of gold and silver simply fell out of the small hole in her tummy as muscle weaved itself back together. Even some of the color went back to her cheeks as both of them worked their healing magic on her. It naturally made sense that she'd watch in wonderment however - this, all of this was new. "I-it tickles!" she suddenly yelped, bursting into uneasy laughter as her skin finally bubbled and melded back together. "I think I'm fine guys, really!" Coco spoke, getting back up on her feet with hint of uncertainty - she prodded at the still damp hole of her Mahou Shojou uniform and tickled the fair flesh underneath with a fingertip, transfixed at the changes happening to her body.

But, that wasn't the end of the day - far from it. "Uh, guys? What was that?"
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Straken
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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“Thanks for the help, Sakura, that arrow was becoming a pain. I owe ya one,” Ruarc said to the girl with a light chuckle as he rubbed his shoulder to ease the pain, once again thankful to his robe for minimizing what would likely have caused a lot more damage. “And by the look o’ things Coco is back in the land of the living, so to speak.”

The upbeat feeling Ruarc faded rather quickly when a distressed cry came from off in the distance, and more than ever the Irishman felt compelled to go find Raiko. Fearing for her safety, and driven to resolve this situation as a whole, Ruarc stood up and got ready to move out. “Alright, let’s get moving, shall we? Places to go, people to rescue.” With that said, the Druid began walking away at a brisk pace.
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Gwathdraug
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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Gulping as she still clutched her arms about herself Riley blinked away her exhaustion as she peered towards the ruins from which the scream had emerged. Rubbing her hands in circles around her elbows the little girl nodded towards Ruarc with such forlornly dredged up confidence that it would be amusing if there weren't lives riding on the group's current actions.

“We-” Riley stopped speaking momentarily as her cloak shivered in its hiding place beneath her shirt. “We gotta get going and rescue everyone and then just get out of here.” The stage magician's dislike for where they were was clearly shown on her face as she looked about them with distrust and a tinge of panic etched into her features. Looking towards the group's Paladin a wain smile appeared on Riley's face. “You don't mind catching up with our druid and taking lead do yah Mr. Miller? I think your armour as proved that you'd be the best choice to be in front by now.”

Not waiting for a response or having the energy to muster up any theatrics Riley just waved to the rest of the group as she turned and followed after Ruarc.
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Kokuten
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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The Druid pressed on ahead of everyone, in best hopes to find a quick solution to their severe issue at hand. Statues coming alive, worlds coming apart, and now a missing Raiko. Upon approaching the ruins, the group could take notice of a few things. These buildings, however old, had seen recent use, as in the last few days. There were fresh banners on the walls, the pathway had fresh stones lain on the approach, and the door, however open, was apparently of a freshly sharpened wood. This place appeared to be a mystic dig-site turned into a base, or a club house of some sort, and just inside the ajar entry, were the sounds of feverish panic.

It sounded like a woman fretting, fretting silently, but failing to do so. A step closer confirmed what it was, though.

She was a relatively attractive woman, and by relative, one could say very plain. Her eyes were very tired looking, her blonde hair was a mess and frazzled from what one could assume a lot of mental stress. Her robes were of a saintly white color, with the occasional stain, marking of some kind of herb. A scent, much like an alchemy shop, burned heavily off this woman. Though, most notable were her wide, thick glasses that decorated her tired face.

Just how was Ruarc so capable in seeing, knowing, and even smelling this woman?

"HIIIIIEEEEYAAAAUGGGH!"

Because this lady, of a strangely sheltered, yet astral quality, came charging him out of the dark of the door-way. Then, before he could react, Ruarc was struck most unceremoniously across the head with a bag that felt like it was filled with a small chest.
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Straken
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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Ruarc progressed forward at a steady pace while glancing back occasionally to make sure the rest of the team was present as well. If he had not been pressed for time at that moment he would have greatly enjoyed taking time to study and appreciate the scenery that he was rushing past, but his concern for Percy, and for Raiko now as well, left him with little else on his mind other than resolving the issue. After advancing a fair distance, the Druid began picking up evidence of somebody in the area. There were signs of passage as well of signs of recent alterations to the environment, there was the powerful scent of fresh herbs hanging on the air, and up ahead he could hear sounds that suggested that someone or something was moving around a lot.

Now proceeding cautiously, Ruarc moved closer to the hovel that the sound and scent emanated from. Squinting into the dark interior, he tried to make out the source, but before he was able to find out on his own he was detected by the entity inside. In no time at all a crazed looking woman rushed him from the doorway and struck him with a heavy sack. Caught off guard, the young Irishman was dazed and stumbled back several steps as he tried to regain his senses.

“Ach! What in the world was tha’?!” Ruarc exclaimed as his right hand raised to put pressure on where he was hit, while his left hand readied a rune. With his senses clearing some he now tried to figure out the attacker’s strategy. “Why in the world would ya hit me with a sack?! D’ya run outta statues ta sick on me?”

With a few quick glances over his shoulder, Ruarc checked to see if the others were nearby, but he did hope none of them had seen him get rushed by the blonde with the bag.
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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Coco's eyes quickly darted over to the scream!

Or, was it a grunt-scream? Or maybe, it was more like that kind of yell that a person did when they were all worked up and trying to do something really hard. In fact, it sounded kinda like, "HIIIIIEEEEYAAAAUGGGH!" or so. Yes, that sounded more like it! It was a battle cry! The youngest Mahou Shojou of their group leaped to her feet and quickly ran to the source of the noise. "Ruarc! Ruarc!" she yelled, her feet sounding off of the hard ground and stones as she did so. When she rounded the corner, Coco came to a skidding halt however - it was someone new. But she didn't let her guard down! Bending her knees into a fighting pose, she called out at them.

"Ruarc, who's she?! Is this another one of the things, like a trial or something in Percy's head?"
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Gwathdraug
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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As Coco rushed by Riley to figure out why the screaming was going on the young girl shook her head and then picked up her pace rounding the corner sharply and skidding. Staring from Ruarc, who was clutching his head in obvious pain, to the woman, who wouldn't have been out of place in an old styel asylum, the little stage magician absolutely knew what she would of done if this had been a normal encounter for the group.

It would start with an illusionary pipe, then be followed by a very detective like observation made in a most recognizable accent. Then it would end with an insightful question directed to the good Watson followed by whatever action was necessary.

The problem with all that though was Watson wasn't around and the girl was sure as sure not even going to think about having someone stand in for him for the time being.

So, as quickly as the playful light in Riley's eyes appeared it weakened and disappeared. The Alstad girl instead growled to herself and snapped two fingers together as loudly as she could.

“Ruarc, step to the side please.” Was all Riley said as one of her spectral wolfhounds appeared in front of her; already in mid leap and aimed straight at the wild woman's chest. The hound's pristine white teeth snapped and gnashed as flames dripped and curled from out of its maw, clearly not in the best of moods.
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Kokuten
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

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Just as the spectral hound made a leap for the woman, she spun around and knocked a few of it's gnarly white teeth loose with a swing of her bag. Worse yet, the hound began to convulse and shake as it hit the ground.

"Hah! This box in my bag is filled with the leaves of an ancient willow, washed in the blood of a banshee!" roared the woman in a shaky, shuddering voice. Though she was putting on a brave face through her coke-bottle glasses, her knees were shaking immensely. Seeing so many people simply stride up to her caused her to panic a bit. Quickly, she reached into her small robe, tugging out an hourglass shaped vial. "D-don't think be-because you hav-have numbers, I'll be e-easy to go down! This is a Stardust Bomb! I throw this on the ground it mixes with the Ma-magma Water in the bottom vial, and I blow this wh-whole valley sky high!
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Gwathdraug
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

Post by Gwathdraug »

“Agh! Doggy!” Riley shouted as her hound was thoroughly smote into the ground by the strange attacker. Sniffing loudly and rubbing her eyes with her arm the little stage magician clapped her hands together once to allow her spectral construct to disappear. Glaring at the almost bipolarly aggressive and skittish woman now brandishing a bottle before the group Riley stomped forward to point an angry finger towards the woman.

“That's not fair play at all!” The little Alstad girl shouted in retort to the woman's claims to mass destruction. Riley's face went slack for a second after she finished speaking before scrunching up in obvious confusion.

Dropping her finger down and taking a step backwards Riley gave the odd woman a look that clearly recategorized her from 'imminent danger' to 'freakish lab experiment gone wrong that probably involved beetles in some way'.

Placing both her hands behind her head casually the stage magician still had a quizzical expression on her face. “Why would yah ever think up a plan like that? 's kinda stupid.”
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Straken
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Re: [Episode 4.1] The Mantle of Responsibility

Post by Straken »

Still in a daze from the strike to his head, Ruarc did his best to stay steady and think clearly. From what he saw he did not think this woman looked overtly antagonistic, and if she was responsible then why wouldn’t she have more, or at least better, defenses around her home; after all, a heavy sack was not a very reasonable weapon when the fall back plan was to cause an explosion.

“Look Ms. Alchemist, just take it easy. There is no need to use tha’ bomb, if ya think ya even have the stomach for it. We’re lookin’ for someone, well two actually, ya seen ‘em around ‘ere anywhere?” Ruarc said to the woman as he relaxed a bit on the surface. He was calling her bluff as he banked on her not having the nerve too actually blow herself up, but while he was sure she wouldn’t intentionally do it she did look like the jumpy sort, as the bump on his head proved, so she may do it on accident if he wasn’t careful. “So how’s about ya put tha’ away an’ we can talk. Sound good?”
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