[Closed] March Quest Catch All

[unyieldingmarch]

Who: Edelgard von Hresvelg & Various
When: March
Where: All Over
What: A Catch all log!
Warnings: General Edelgard warnings for human experimentation, psychological abuse, violence, etc.

[If you would like a starter for something, feel free to PM me, or shoot me a plurk at intercession! This long will be a collection of closed starters for quests]

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For Hubert (The Hungry Grass)

[unyieldingmarch]

[Standing outside the farmland, the night wind making her cloak ripple, Aymr casting distorted shadows all around her. Arms crossed, she eyes the grass and takes in the facts. The grass makes people hungry, and there's clearly some strange magic afoot here. It's not really her area of expertise, but she's willing to give it a look, since Hubert had seemed interested.

Turning to her bondmate, she lifts an eyebrow, sidling closer.]

So, are you sensing anything?

[bloodypath]

[Hubert doesn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed out over the affected farmland, seemingly focused and distant at once. Finally, he shakes his head.]

...Were we in Fódlan, I would say without a doubt this was a working of dark magic—a curse. The air is thick with malevolence, and we aren't even upon the grounds.

[He cautiously lifts a hand, hovering just behind where the line of the grass would be, as if touching a window that was wasn't there.] I cannot truly explain why, but I do not think this is Cwyld. The Cwyld is lifeless. This... Why, I almost expect it to whisper, just as dark magic did.

[Hubert's wary, more so than usual—but he's also intrigued. This was different from his prior experiences with Geardeas' magic.]

[unyieldingmarch]

Whisper...

[That's interesting.

Edelgard raises her axe high in the early night sky, casting shadows all around. Her other hand strays towards the flask of blood at her hip, just in case.]

Do you want to test the effects first, or should I? I'm well fed, and have both mundane and magical sustenance on me.

[bloodypath]

[His eyes slide over to Edelgard, protest sitting on his tongue that he knew well to be futile. Hubert didn't want to send her out there for a variety of predictable reasons, but...]

As reluctant as I am to suggest it, you should. If the effects are as severe as the request described... I should observe them first while my concentration is unafflicted.

[And boy does he hate to suggest it. But it's the most logical course of action, risks considered.]

[unyieldingmarch]

I agree. If it's a trap, my armor will protect me as best it can.

[She takes another step forward. And then another, standing in the middle of the field.

The effect is slow, somewhat creeping, but she does feel the gnawing bite of hunger slide into her belly.]

...It feels...odd. Like I haven't eaten in a few hours...

[bloodypath]

[A faint worry gnaws at the back of his mind, but it's easily shoved aside in favor of that clinical, cold logic so common to him.]

Walk. Does it worsen with each step, or with time alone? Is it stronger in any one part of the field?

[unyieldingmarch]

Alright.

[Edelgard takes a step, and then another, and doesn't feel anything immediate.

Just more of the same. At least, for the moment.]

So far, nothing. I think perhaps time?

[With a bit less caution, she moves a few more steps, feeling a gradual increase.]

Definitely time...

For Corrin (Continuing Conquest)

[unyieldingmarch]

[Armed and armored for battle, with Aymr and her imperial war-plate ready at her side, Edelgard is prepared for far, far worse than what they've seen so far. Some infected plantlife, some afflicted wolves, but nothing as serious as the necromancers and the like. Good, that. Once was enough for a whole year, thank you.

Still, as night falls, she's ever vigilant, making certain to stay near Corrin. Yes, her bonded is a warrior capable of caring for herself, but it's become second nature to defend those around her.]

Stay alert, Corrin. I think...I heard movement up ahead.

[betweenduskanddawn]

[Moving near Edelgard in her black leather armor, Corrin felt decidedly underdressed for the danger they were going into. She was sure she could never have learned to move or fight in the kind of plate mail that Edelgard wore, but she still felt like she wasn't exactly going to protect the older woman if things got bad. If anything, Edelgard was a walking wall, and Corrin was more of a...sword?]

[Eh, she didn't mind that comparison as much.]

[She had the yato out, the formerly magic sword hanging loose from her left hand, and her grip tensed at Edelgard's command, coming to a stop next to her.]

We were bound to run into something eventually.

[She whispered. It was sort of the point, right?]

[unyieldingmarch]

Unfortunately, yes.

[She'd have liked an easy evening heading to the next outpost. But, fine. This wasn't great, but it was something they could handle. She wished she had her wyvern with her, but alas, that wasn't to be.

So, she unslung her axe.]

Have you experience working with armored partners?

[betweenduskanddawn]

Some. I tended to be more of a hit and run person during battles.

[Corrin was definitely faster than she was durable.]

What do you have in mind?

[unyieldingmarch]

I'll move forward, draw it's attention. You stay behind me, come out and flank it.

[She's not concerned about her safety, not with anything short of a mutant dragon.]

[betweenduskanddawn]

[Corrin hesitated, because it felt like hiding, but Edelgard was clearly much, much better designed to take a hit than she was. So after a few seconds she nodded, stepping back so she could move behind the armored woman.]

...Just be careful.

For Bernadetta (Strae)

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard is not really an expert on plants even at home, so when this opportunity had come into her sights, she'd known just who to turn to. Bernadetta, the girl obsessed with strange plant-life, would probably know what to look for, and so she'd brought her friend out of the city on hopefully what wasn't a wild goose chase.

Yes, it was night, but a nearly full moon and several magical lanterns Edelgard had acquired gave them plenty of light. It wasn't as though this was any more threatening at night than during the day...]

So, where did you say we could find these plants? [There's probably a Wilder station up ahead where they can ask, but Bernie might know already.]

[bravelyathome]

[She's still shocked that Edelgard wants her help. Sure she knows a lot about plants but to actually want her help? Bernie is having to continually remind herself not to freak out some. Don't disappoint her. Don't do that. Definitely don't...

Huh?]

Oh. I was reading about plants and I think they'd be at the base of this one tree. They like to grow at the roots. What was the tree called again?

[She hums as she searches through her mental files for the name.]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard taps her chin in thought, going over it all in her head.]

Um. I think it was the Sorrowful Ceder? Sorrowful...something?

[Sorrowful sapling, but she doesn't remember. The sorrowful part stood out to her more than anything else, but she's hoping to jar something loose in Bernadetta's thoughts by giving a partial name.]

[bravelyathome]

Oh! The Sorrowful Sapling. It grows at the roots.

[And so if they find that one then they can be sure to find the plant. And a tree is sure to stand out more than flowers. Well, unless it's like a field of flowers? Though if it's a sapling that's probably not the case at all...]

So we could look for the tree instead.

[unyieldingmarch]

Ah, yes that was it!

[She snaps her fingers in agreement.]

A good idea, Bernadetta. I trust you'll be able to recognize it?

[bravelyathome]

Well, I've never seen one before. But I read a couple bits on it once. I hope it'll be enough. Sorry I'm not better for this.

[But she can look for it! That will be good! Bernie at least feels confidence when it comes to plants. So that's such a relief.]

I think we should start...that way.

[She points.]

For Kor (Outside the City)

[unyieldingmarch]

[Ever since her change, Edelgard has been more restless at night, and she'd taken to leaving the city to patrol the outer city at dusk sometimes. Tonight happens to be one such a time. Clad in blood-red battleplate, with a dragonbone axe that glows an eerie orange slung over one shoulder, she cuts quite a strange figure as she heads out to relieve whoever had been stuck in this quadrant of town for the evening.

Waving politely to the stranger, a young man, she offers a small smile.]

Any trouble so far?

[spirialink]

[Kor had been thankful for the patrol work he could take on. It wasn't his preferred line of work, considering he'd rather be out there fighting monsters, or ideally, solving the emotional distress of others, but in his current depowered state, neither of those were very feasible right now. At least this was money in his pocket.

When Edelgard approaches, he gives her a cheerful wave back.]

Honestly, you're about the most out of the ordinary thing I've seen all day.

['A strange figure' doesn't even begin to describe it. If it had been just a little darker out, there's a very real possibility that he might have mistaken her for an enemy. Thankfully, there was just enough light left in the day that he could tell she was no foe of his.]

[unyieldingmarch]

[She can't really help the need to travel at dusk, with an enchanted veil to ward off the last rays of the sun, and her axe is...what it is. The Emperor isn't exactly someone that needs to hide often, either, so her armor was cut in such a way to draw the eye of friend and foe alike.]

That means you've had an eventful afternoon then. Is there anything I should be aware of?

[Lingering problems were something she was used to.]

[spirialink]

Nothing too out of the ordinary from what I've heard about this area. I was hoping I'd get to see a little more action, if I'm gonna be honest. [So just your usual pickpocket and thievery cases. No serial killers or drug trafficking rings to report here.

And yet when Kor says that, he doesn't look too happy about any of what he'd seen here.]

...I can't believe the people here live like this.

[unyieldingmarch]

I'm more appalled that the government hasn't tried to expand the Bright Wall to help these people, personally, but I understand the sentiment.

[Edelgard's nose twitches slightly.]

Though, there's plenty of Shades lurking on the fringes, if you're bored. I would not recommend going alone though.

[spirialink]

[Kor frowns heavily. He was still getting used to how things worked here, but he didn't like this situation here at all.]

There has to be something somebody can do for them...

[That bit about the Shades, though, that catches his attention.]

Shades... Those are the monsters causing all the problems in this world, right? He couldn't help but notice some similarities between what he knew about them, and the monsters attacking his world, Xeroms.]

They're lurking that close by, huh...