[The quest read part time work but, well, with the little “pep talk” the owner gave them one would think they enlisted into the army. Probably should have been a bit more detailed with about how strict she was with her quality and with experienced she wanted her part-timers. Along with that there was Bishop, who was half asleep or half-interested in what she was saying and dozed through some parts of her speech much to the quest givers annoyance.
The only time he seemed to be paying attention was when she had everyone sample a bit of her signature pies and demonstrating how to decorate them. She didn’t expect much from him, maybe you didn’t expect much, but the moment she said to begin he was a completely different person. His hand moved about the kitchen with ease, filling piping bags, chopping chocolate, fruits, and whipping cream with ease. When it came to decorating it was like watching a machine as moved fluidly, stopping only to adjust his grip on a piping bag or grab one of the decorative pieces of chocolates or fruits.
The owner was also hanging around, frowning but she can’t say anything about how efficient and skilled he is. As for him, he still looks sleepy but whenever Bishop notices the owner he waves and she stomps off to attend to other matters. When she leaves, he goes back to his task with a sly grin on his face.]
B. A Pirates Life for We
I - Weigh Anchor, All hands
[One of the sad things about being born in the modern day is that he never got a chance to go on a ship, like an old brig or schooner that relies only on the wind and crew. It’s an old childhood dream to experience life on a ship, sailing around like a pirate or an explorer, and he finally gets to experience it even if it’s just brief.
It took him a bit of time to get his sea legs, what with the swaying and tilting of the ship on the sea. Sure, it wasn’t the open sea like he would have preferred but it was still exhilarating none the less. The sailors immediately set out to teach him the ropes…literally. They started with the basics, areas of the ships, followed by basic terminology along with the more intricate parts of the ship, maintenance and storage of supplies and tools, and then knot making. Maybe you’re learning right beside him, maybe this is getting a bit much all at once, maybe it is a bit much, but the eager young man was doing his best to commit everything to memory.]
So this goes here and then here….loops around there…..Is that right?
[He looks to you as guidance, or assistance, at the way he’s securing a line.]
II – From the depths they rise
[A short journey by ship isn’t really that short as a few hours have passed and they’ve only just passed the half way mark. He’s gotten a better grasp of the workings of the ship at this point and has earned himself some respite.
He’s kept an eye on the horizon for any pirate ships but mostly he just wanted to enjoy the breeze and the gorgeous horizon as the sun starts to set. At least until he looked at the water’s surface and his brows start to furrow, and a frown formed on his face.]
The quest…[He says leaning towards you.]…it read that the pirates were….merrows, right?
[The moment he said that a pair of harpoons shot out from the water towards them, but he’s quick to grab your shoulder and pull you back and the polearm soars past just a few inches from your face.]
We’re under attack!
[Bishop shouted as from all sides of the ship the Merrow pirates rose up from the waters, blades drawn and eyes mad with a lust for carnage.]
C. The Dorchacht Devil – Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here
[He had feeling of dread crawling up and down his spine since he read the details of this quest. A devil with a head of a goat, wings of a bat, body of a horse, walking on its hind legs, red eyes, and long teeth and claws. He wanted to very much believe it wasn’t true that it’s some bandits dressed up or something of the sort, but the descriptions match the features of a creature he knows all too well. It made him…angry.
But theorizing and wishing won’t get to the bottom of resolving this matter, so he was off to Dorchacht after a quick supply run and upon arriving immediately set out to find this beast. He went from farm to farm, notebook in hand as he interviewed the farmers about his quarry, visiting the site of the incidents, and even talking to the children about what they know.
Perhaps you seem him just finishing his chat with another farmer. or just analyzing the information he’s gathered, but the calm expression he wears on his face is betrayed by the fire in his eyes. He wants to find this creature…and kill it.]
[Even now Gil has been here for almost two months they can't help feeling awfully nostalgic about this. Here they are, side by side, chasing some beast. Like hey did all those thousands of years ago.
Still, it is difficult to find such a beast when the ground underneath their feet did not speak to them anymore. There is no energy coming from it, no tremors, nothing. Just like it has been for a long time now.]
Gil, maybe we should ask around this time.
[They point at a dark haired young man not far away from them who is obviously busy questioning one of the farmers.][Enkidu nudges him.] Let us join them...and listen.
[ Enkidu is correct. this is just like ancient times -- truly, it is as though no time has passed at all. at least, that is the case when one considers them journeying together; that is the case where the matter of the hunt is concerned. in other matters, things are different. can Gilgamesh even remember a time when his powers were so depleted? even in his youth, he was a force to be reckoned with. on the other hand, it does not really matter. all other beings are forced to conform to the laws of this world, so his ego shall still put him in a triumphant position. ]
I did not see a value assigned to this quest, but it had best pay well.
[ that is to Enkidu -- as Gilgamesh gradually takes notice of their line of sight and the other man speaking to the farmers. ]
Though it is all the same to me if it does not. My manner of kingship is like the north wind... and all the evils of this or any world must be rooted out, hm?
[ the last part, however, is said only audibly for Enkidu. as Gilgamesh walks, he looks over to them, then he follows their gaze as they both approach Bishop. ]
... ahaha. Imagine that. [ no, really. he recognizes this man now. well, Gilgamesh is definitely smiling a bit wildly, gesturing to get his attention. ] It seems you may rejoice, as your earlier wish shall now be granted, Bishop. My friend and I are also partaking in this quest, and we shall require information. To accompany two heroes from legend -- that is a great honor.
[The farmer he spoke to was more than a little troubled. He had lost three sheep to the devil and a bunch of chickens, anymore and he and his family would be in trouble, he claimed. Even with quick empathy and assurance, the frazzled farmer still shook and begged Bishop to do something about the menace. Probably wouldn't be easy, but he'll get it done.
Or rather they. He knew he wouldn't have been the only one to see the quest but he certainly didn't expect to see Gilgamesh so soon.]
Oh! You humble me with your presence, your majesty.
[He says with a small bow to both of them.]
And you must be the famous Enkidu. I'm Bishop, it's an honor to meet you.
[He takes a moment to look the two of them from head to toe, honestly a little awestruck.]
Two legendary heroes in the flesh. Wow. This should make things a lot easier for us, but right. Information.
[He holds up his notebook and flips a few pages back, the expression on his face going from child like wonder to steely focus in seconds.]
What I've gathered is that the farmers so called "devil" only appears at night and it's gone from end of the farm lands, starting from way over there- [Pointing in one general direction.] - and made it's way to the other end when it first appeared. I suspect it was doing something similar to a taste test. The farmer I just spoke with seems to be the one who suffered the most losses, so I can deduce that he must have had the most appetizing livestock.
[A beat.]
I don't recommend talking to him. Not in his current state.
I believe Gil is far more well known than I am. Yet, I am honored you wish to praise me so, Bishop.
[Of course, they know they're one of the first heroes known to mankind, but then again they're also a mere weapon, a tool serving humanity.]
Ah...you do not have to address me formally. [They gesture with their hand.] Enkidu will do fine. And I am not made of flesh. But you must know that as well. [It is still a mystery what they are here, though.]
Hmm, but did the beast leave any tracks? Perhaps some droppings?
[The question is directed at the farmer but also a little at Bishop himself.]
Tch. Not bad, mongrel. I will acknowledge, you do have an eye for detail.
[ Gilgamesh says it somewhat rudely... well, of course he does (!!), but that smirk is a rather pleased one. Bishop is attentive and he clearly takes notes; perhaps in Uruk, he might have made a decent recorder for the court, an assistant of some quality. ]
Proceeding from my friend's question, there is also the matter of footprints, or disrupted ground.
[ he is a hero-King, not a hunter or a tracker, but this is where their magic will also come into use. ]
-- ha, but perhaps we needn't mind about that here. [ this should be rather fun, actually. ] Speak freely. I shall not mind. What is the status of your divination abilities?
[ because, you know, that could be a nice little short-cut. ]
Well, I don't take any divination classes, never had the need for it and still don't. I have yet to scour the fields for footprints and the like but, from the description of the farmer who saw the devil, I know what the beast is.
[ He flipped to a new page and started to draw the described features of the monster with a little more detail. It's not the most artistic but it's close enough to get the point across. He tears the page out and hands it to them to examine. At least it's not a doodle. ]
It's a demon called a "Baphomet", at least that's what we called it in my world. Head of a goat, body of a man that's also half woman, black wings, and legs with hooves either horse or goat. The one here is...slightly different from my world. Evidence also suggests that it's not intelligent, or as intelligent, as what I know. Baphomets use temptation, deception, and magic to lure victims into forming a contract to torment them them suck out their soul once they're in the deep is despair.
[ He tilts his head. ]
The one here attacks sheep so this could be a primitive or undeveloped specie of the demon. The only things I haven't checked are it's escape routes, and feeding habits although there haven't been cases of it attacking humans so I imagine it hasn't gotten a taste for it just yet.
[Enkidu listens closely and watches silently when Bishop draws an image of the demon they must be looking for. Really, it would be much easier if they could just sense something. Just ask the ground underneath them to pinpoint the location of this demon.]
Perhaps it is not the same demon. Just one looking like the ones you are used to. Unless it wishes to contract sheep.
[They hum a little before they turn towards the farmer.]
Will you show me the remains of your sheep? Perhaps there are tracks as well. [Then they look at Gilgamesh and Bishop again.] Flattened grass, holes in the earth. Even if it is a flying demon there might be some oddly placed leaves.
Ah. I see. In that case, then, I shall proceed with my own magic.
[ -- considering what the other two are speaking of, this may seem like an abrupt statement, but for Gilgamesh, it is a natural extension of his own proposed short-cut. Bishop looks to clues methodically, as befits a man of his career. Enkidu thinks of the ground, of footprints, as befits one who had been tied to the Earth. but Gilgamesh -- Gilgamesh is thinking in terms of treasures. in the strictest sense, he has not acquired many treasures here, but his magical studies have involved repurposing the abilities of his vault.
for now, the feats are still relatively small compared to what he was capable of before, but he still looks entirely confident as he removes a small mirror from his robes (in this world of mirrors, this small magical item is a courtesy of the Coven).
the surface of the mirror brightens with sunlight and the reflection shifts. rather than showing Bishop, Enkidu, Gilgamesh, or the farm and the open lands around them, the lens suddenly zooms into the forest of the Wilde. as if a telescope were activated, they can all now see across a distance -- clearly and immediately. the woods themselves are thick with tree shadows. ]
Look at this mirror as you would a map. [ the vision before hovers, then pulls back, revealing an increasingly wide view of the forest. the woods are ominously empty at this hour, or seem so at a glance. ] It is daylight, so we shall not see the creature properly. [ it is probably sleeping. it is, based on the description, certainly nocturnal. ] Yet that is no matter. It is not necessary to do so. We need only find its den.
[ he touches his chin, considering. ]
To combine two searches into one, let us look into the Wilde and find the prints there.
[ Gilgamesh's eyes are fixed on the mirror, staring intensely as its roaming gaze continues to drift. trees float by, as well as grass, dirt, and so much dead growth and decayed land. ]
[ Leave it up to a king to come up with an idea like this. Maybe he should look into these divination classes when he has a bit more space on his plate, might be more useful than he thought.
He does as Gilgamesh instructed and studied vision on the mirror and immediately noticed something. ]
The forest is too quiet. [ He peers closer. ] Beside the passing birds overhead there's no animals on the ground. Wolves, hares, deer, squirrels...nothing. The beast is disrupting the flow of nature in the area, meaning it's an invasive specie.
[ He dips his head to one side and cocked his brow. ]
That makes narrowing the location of it's den a bit easier but...[ Bishop's brows furrow as he crosses his arms and rubs his cheek. His visage wasn't grim but something weighed on him about this situation. ] Something about this situation isn't fitting right in my head, but I can't quite pin it down.
[ A picture of someone assembling a puzzle and finding one piece doesn't fit the way he thought. ]
[Enkidu watches the mirror as they lean over Bishop's shoulder. And they cannot help it, it is exciting to chase a creature and the battle is going to be even more exciting. Maybe, if they play their cards right it could become a battle worthy of the battles they've had in the past.
But for now they listen, eyes scanning the forest. To be fair, they cannot work with a mere image. They have to feel and be there. But it is good that Bishop seems to draw some solid conclusions.]
Ah...that makes sense. [But...] Even evasive species have to poop. And perhaps...maybe they have come with more. But that depends on how desolate the forest really is. If it is only a small part of the forest, it can be one. But if the forest is entirely silent, there might be many.
[ his friend has a point -- there is nothing to say that there is only one of those creatures.
Bishop may be convinced that this beast is one with which he is familiar, but that would seem to be a mere presumption.
that it is an invasive species is unsurprising, but then, this is Aefenglom and much of this continent would already seem to be dead; this devil, such as it were, at least sounds to be a living monster of some kind, though not a capital-M Monster.
or is it? thinking upon the matter, Gilgamesh wonders, considering certain among the shades and other beings he has encountered. but no, from all accounts, this is a true, living, if potentially irksome, animal. ]
Oh? Speak freely, then, mongrel. [ that was to Bishop, obviously. Gilgamesh regards him with that same appraising look. ] It seems as though you have some matter of contemplation to pursue. Should your instincts instruct you, you may do well to follow them.
[ maybe Bishop has caught the scent of something. Gilgamesh will acknowledge him to be perceptive; he is keen, not so unlike that trapper in Uruk who encountered Enkidu prior to their entry into the city-state.
Gilgamesh heeds Enkidu's request. like a camera in motion, the view pans in another direction as the King's eyes begin to narrow, a moment of contemplation. ]
[ Enkidu made a very good point. There could be more than one, a whole pack maybe. It'd have to be if the forest is this disturbed. Of course, they'll have to be there to make certain but the chances are certainly looking to be great. Gilgamesh's scrying shows more and more of the forest and the elusive thought finally comes. ]
This beast is nocturnal. We've been looking at the forest for sometime and we haven't seen horn or hide.
[ He flips through a few more pages and stops at certain parts of his notes. ]
By my estimation, this thing appears when the night is at it's darkest. Midnight. That could also imply it's eyes don't do well in the light, probably even incredibly sensitive. So it'd have to live in a cave, big, wide, and very dark...
[ He looks at their surroundings and studies the forest, the density and the size of the trees, their proximity to one another and thickness of the foliage. ]
There. [ He says pointing to dense shrubbery between two trees . ] There's barely enough room between the trees for a person to pass, and the shrubbery is practically a wall, but if you were a giant bipedal beast it's big enough to hide you when stalking, and small enough to push through or step over. We may just find tracks.
The recent showers brought a new arrey of pleasant greens into the scenery and left the air clean and fresh with the temperature just right. Though a bit on the wetter side of things, it still promised a nice stroll around the neighborhood, the kind that would go well with a nice hot drink and a pastry. It sounded perfect and he could see it so clearly that he could almost taste it.
He's keen on doing just that but first he needed to get his chores out of the way, the last one being the repair of the tears on his coat. Folded neatly and tucked lovingly into his arms Bishop headed out, bright and early, making a beeline to the tailors.
"Excuse me, hello?" He called out amidst the jingle jangle of the doorbell, sheepishly poking his head out from behind the door. "Are you open yet?"
Saber has been working in the tailor's shop part-time for a little while now, mostly lending her hand to making minor repairs and helping around the shop with restocking and moving things around. Occasionally she has to mind the shop while everyone is out. This is one of those times. She looks up as the bell rings and she comes out from behind the counter, setting down the pair of trousers she's working on patching.
"We're open, but I'm afraid that the best I can do is show you around. What can I help you with it?"
He smiles with relief as he enters, gently closing the door behind him before laying the black long coat on the counter.
"I have a longcoat here. It's kinda worn but sturdy, although the other day it got a little roughed up." He unfolds it showing how it's torn in a few places, nothing too major but there's quite a few. "I was out on a quest and ran into some nasty beasts out there." He chuckles. "A couple of ancient heroes helped me get out of that bind so here I am. Is it salvageable?"
He smiles, a bit pleading in appearance. "I'm hoping so, it has a bit of sentimental value to it."
"Ah, I understand. It's quite dangerous out there, isn't it?" She examines the coat, turning it one way and then another, trying to see if it can be effectively repaired. She imagines it can be, it will just take some time. Her gaze rises with a faint expression of surprise.
He's pleased by what he sees so far. It seems like his old coat will live to see another battle. Thank goodness.
"Their names are Gilgamesh and Enkidu, if that means anything." A beat. "Oh wait, no. It's King Gilgamesh." He chuckles as he affectionately rolls his eyes.
"In my world, their names were just part of an old story, a myth, so imagine my surprise when I met them. The King is quite a character." He chuckles as recalls the day he met Gilgamesh.
Oh good, she seems to know them. That saves him some trouble in explaining who they are.
"Well, I'm still here with only a few bruises and sores. I have those two to thank for me still being around." He means that. He admittedly, overestimated himself and underestimated his quarry, a fatal combination. It's hard getting used to being powerless again but he'll have to make do.
"I believe it can be," Saber muses. She isn't exactly an expert but she's done this before. She holds the coat up and examines it from a few different angles.
"It will be mostly intact, although I will likely need to patch it in a few places."
"Fantastic! Thank you!" He clasps his hands together as a big bright smile lights up his face. "I was worried for a second there. This old thing serves me well. So how long would it take? Sorry if I'm being pushy, just wanted to know."
Now onto more intriguing matters. "You said you knew Gilgamesh to be less than helpful at times. Mind if I ask what you meant by that?" He says with a smile and curious gaze in his eyes.
Someone with something to say about Gilgamesh, that's worth more than his weight in gold if he gets something substantial from it. Not that he's plotting anything against him but, life is strange and one never really knows where it's twists and turns may take it's traveller.
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Quests!
[The quest read part time work but, well, with the little “pep talk” the owner gave them one would think they enlisted into the army. Probably should have been a bit more detailed with about how strict she was with her quality and with experienced she wanted her part-timers. Along with that there was Bishop, who was half asleep or half-interested in what she was saying and dozed through some parts of her speech much to the quest givers annoyance.
The only time he seemed to be paying attention was when she had everyone sample a bit of her signature pies and demonstrating how to decorate them. She didn’t expect much from him, maybe you didn’t expect much, but the moment she said to begin he was a completely different person. His hand moved about the kitchen with ease, filling piping bags, chopping chocolate, fruits, and whipping cream with ease. When it came to decorating it was like watching a machine as moved fluidly, stopping only to adjust his grip on a piping bag or grab one of the decorative pieces of chocolates or fruits.
The owner was also hanging around, frowning but she can’t say anything about how efficient and skilled he is. As for him, he still looks sleepy but whenever Bishop notices the owner he waves and she stomps off to attend to other matters. When she leaves, he goes back to his task with a sly grin on his face.]
B. A Pirates Life for We
I - Weigh Anchor, All hands
[One of the sad things about being born in the modern day is that he never got a chance to go on a ship, like an old brig or schooner that relies only on the wind and crew. It’s an old childhood dream to experience life on a ship, sailing around like a pirate or an explorer, and he finally gets to experience it even if it’s just brief.
It took him a bit of time to get his sea legs, what with the swaying and tilting of the ship on the sea. Sure, it wasn’t the open sea like he would have preferred but it was still exhilarating none the less. The sailors immediately set out to teach him the ropes…literally. They started with the basics, areas of the ships, followed by basic terminology along with the more intricate parts of the ship, maintenance and storage of supplies and tools, and then knot making. Maybe you’re learning right beside him, maybe this is getting a bit much all at once, maybe it is a bit much, but the eager young man was doing his best to commit everything to memory.]
So this goes here and then here….loops around there…..Is that right?
[He looks to you as guidance, or assistance, at the way he’s securing a line.]
II – From the depths they rise
[A short journey by ship isn’t really that short as a few hours have passed and they’ve only just passed the half way mark. He’s gotten a better grasp of the workings of the ship at this point and has earned himself some respite.
He’s kept an eye on the horizon for any pirate ships but mostly he just wanted to enjoy the breeze and the gorgeous horizon as the sun starts to set. At least until he looked at the water’s surface and his brows start to furrow, and a frown formed on his face.]
The quest…[He says leaning towards you.]…it read that the pirates were….merrows, right?
[The moment he said that a pair of harpoons shot out from the water towards them, but he’s quick to grab your shoulder and pull you back and the polearm soars past just a few inches from your face.]
We’re under attack!
[Bishop shouted as from all sides of the ship the Merrow pirates rose up from the waters, blades drawn and eyes mad with a lust for carnage.]
C. The Dorchacht Devil – Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here
[He had feeling of dread crawling up and down his spine since he read the details of this quest. A devil with a head of a goat, wings of a bat, body of a horse, walking on its hind legs, red eyes, and long teeth and claws. He wanted to very much believe it wasn’t true that it’s some bandits dressed up or something of the sort, but the descriptions match the features of a creature he knows all too well. It made him…angry.
But theorizing and wishing won’t get to the bottom of resolving this matter, so he was off to Dorchacht after a quick supply run and upon arriving immediately set out to find this beast. He went from farm to farm, notebook in hand as he interviewed the farmers about his quarry, visiting the site of the incidents, and even talking to the children about what they know.
Perhaps you seem him just finishing his chat with another farmer. or just analyzing the information he’s gathered, but the calm expression he wears on his face is betrayed by the fire in his eyes. He wants to find this creature…and kill it.]
Dorchacht Devil
Still, it is difficult to find such a beast when the ground underneath their feet did not speak to them anymore. There is no energy coming from it, no tremors, nothing. Just like it has been for a long time now.]
Gil, maybe we should ask around this time.
[They point at a dark haired young man not far away from them who is obviously busy questioning one of the farmers.][Enkidu nudges him.] Let us join them...and listen.
slides in here
I did not see a value assigned to this quest, but it had best pay well.
[ that is to Enkidu -- as Gilgamesh gradually takes notice of their line of sight and the other man speaking to the farmers. ]
Though it is all the same to me if it does not. My manner of kingship is like the north wind... and all the evils of this or any world must be rooted out, hm?
[ the last part, however, is said only audibly for Enkidu. as Gilgamesh walks, he looks over to them, then he follows their gaze as they both approach Bishop. ]
... ahaha. Imagine that. [ no, really. he recognizes this man now. well, Gilgamesh is definitely smiling a bit wildly, gesturing to get his attention. ] It seems you may rejoice, as your earlier wish shall now be granted, Bishop. My friend and I are also partaking in this quest, and we shall require information. To accompany two heroes from legend -- that is a great honor.
\o/
Or rather they. He knew he wouldn't have been the only one to see the quest but he certainly didn't expect to see Gilgamesh so soon.]
Oh! You humble me with your presence, your majesty.
[He says with a small bow to both of them.]
And you must be the famous Enkidu. I'm Bishop, it's an honor to meet you.
[He takes a moment to look the two of them from head to toe, honestly a little awestruck.]
Two legendary heroes in the flesh. Wow. This should make things a lot easier for us, but right. Information.
[He holds up his notebook and flips a few pages back, the expression on his face going from child like wonder to steely focus in seconds.]
What I've gathered is that the farmers so called "devil" only appears at night and it's gone from end of the farm lands, starting from way over there- [Pointing in one general direction.] - and made it's way to the other end when it first appeared. I suspect it was doing something similar to a taste test. The farmer I just spoke with seems to be the one who suffered the most losses, so I can deduce that he must have had the most appetizing livestock.
[A beat.]
I don't recommend talking to him. Not in his current state.
no subject
[Of course, they know they're one of the first heroes known to mankind, but then again they're also a mere weapon, a tool serving humanity.]
Ah...you do not have to address me formally. [They gesture with their hand.] Enkidu will do fine. And I am not made of flesh. But you must know that as well. [It is still a mystery what they are here, though.]
Hmm, but did the beast leave any tracks? Perhaps some droppings?
[The question is directed at the farmer but also a little at Bishop himself.]
no subject
[ Gilgamesh says it somewhat rudely... well, of course he does (!!), but that smirk is a rather pleased one. Bishop is attentive and he clearly takes notes; perhaps in Uruk, he might have made a decent recorder for the court, an assistant of some quality. ]
Proceeding from my friend's question, there is also the matter of footprints, or disrupted ground.
[ he is a hero-King, not a hunter or a tracker, but this is where their magic will also come into use. ]
-- ha, but perhaps we needn't mind about that here. [ this should be rather fun, actually. ] Speak freely. I shall not mind. What is the status of your divination abilities?
[ because, you know, that could be a nice little short-cut. ]
no subject
[ M-Mongrel? ]
Well, I don't take any divination classes, never had the need for it and still don't. I have yet to scour the fields for footprints and the like but, from the description of the farmer who saw the devil, I know what the beast is.
[ He flipped to a new page and started to draw the described features of the monster with a little more detail. It's not the most artistic but it's close enough to get the point across. He tears the page out and hands it to them to examine. At least it's not a doodle. ]
It's a demon called a "Baphomet", at least that's what we called it in my world. Head of a goat, body of a man that's also half woman, black wings, and legs with hooves either horse or goat. The one here is...slightly different from my world. Evidence also suggests that it's not intelligent, or as intelligent, as what I know. Baphomets use temptation, deception, and magic to lure victims into forming a contract to torment them them suck out their soul once they're in the deep is despair.
[ He tilts his head. ]
The one here attacks sheep so this could be a primitive or undeveloped specie of the demon. The only things I haven't checked are it's escape routes, and feeding habits although there haven't been cases of it attacking humans so I imagine it hasn't gotten a taste for it just yet.
no subject
Perhaps it is not the same demon. Just one looking like the ones you are used to. Unless it wishes to contract sheep.
[They hum a little before they turn towards the farmer.]
Will you show me the remains of your sheep? Perhaps there are tracks as well. [Then they look at Gilgamesh and Bishop again.] Flattened grass, holes in the earth. Even if it is a flying demon there might be some oddly placed leaves.
no subject
[ -- considering what the other two are speaking of, this may seem like an abrupt statement, but for Gilgamesh, it is a natural extension of his own proposed short-cut. Bishop looks to clues methodically, as befits a man of his career. Enkidu thinks of the ground, of footprints, as befits one who had been tied to the Earth. but Gilgamesh -- Gilgamesh is thinking in terms of treasures. in the strictest sense, he has not acquired many treasures here, but his magical studies have involved repurposing the abilities of his vault.
for now, the feats are still relatively small compared to what he was capable of before, but he still looks entirely confident as he removes a small mirror from his robes (in this world of mirrors, this small magical item is a courtesy of the Coven).
the surface of the mirror brightens with sunlight and the reflection shifts. rather than showing Bishop, Enkidu, Gilgamesh, or the farm and the open lands around them, the lens suddenly zooms into the forest of the Wilde. as if a telescope were activated, they can all now see across a distance -- clearly and immediately. the woods themselves are thick with tree shadows. ]
Look at this mirror as you would a map. [ the vision before hovers, then pulls back, revealing an increasingly wide view of the forest. the woods are ominously empty at this hour, or seem so at a glance. ] It is daylight, so we shall not see the creature properly. [ it is probably sleeping. it is, based on the description, certainly nocturnal. ] Yet that is no matter. It is not necessary to do so. We need only find its den.
[ he touches his chin, considering. ]
To combine two searches into one, let us look into the Wilde and find the prints there.
[ Gilgamesh's eyes are fixed on the mirror, staring intensely as its roaming gaze continues to drift. trees float by, as well as grass, dirt, and so much dead growth and decayed land. ]
My friend, what do you see?
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He does as Gilgamesh instructed and studied vision on the mirror and immediately noticed something. ]
The forest is too quiet. [ He peers closer. ] Beside the passing birds overhead there's no animals on the ground. Wolves, hares, deer, squirrels...nothing. The beast is disrupting the flow of nature in the area, meaning it's an invasive specie.
[ He dips his head to one side and cocked his brow. ]
That makes narrowing the location of it's den a bit easier but...[ Bishop's brows furrow as he crosses his arms and rubs his cheek. His visage wasn't grim but something weighed on him about this situation. ] Something about this situation isn't fitting right in my head, but I can't quite pin it down.
[ A picture of someone assembling a puzzle and finding one piece doesn't fit the way he thought. ]
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But for now they listen, eyes scanning the forest. To be fair, they cannot work with a mere image. They have to feel and be there. But it is good that Bishop seems to draw some solid conclusions.]
Ah...that makes sense. [But...] Even evasive species have to poop. And perhaps...maybe they have come with more. But that depends on how desolate the forest really is. If it is only a small part of the forest, it can be one. But if the forest is entirely silent, there might be many.
[They tap the mirror Gil is holding.]
Gil, can you focus on another part of the forest?
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Bishop may be convinced that this beast is one with which he is familiar, but that would seem to be a mere presumption.
that it is an invasive species is unsurprising, but then, this is Aefenglom and much of this continent would already seem to be dead; this devil, such as it were, at least sounds to be a living monster of some kind, though not a capital-M Monster.
or is it? thinking upon the matter, Gilgamesh wonders, considering certain among the shades and other beings he has encountered. but no, from all accounts, this is a true, living, if potentially irksome, animal. ]
Oh? Speak freely, then, mongrel. [ that was to Bishop, obviously. Gilgamesh regards him with that same appraising look. ] It seems as though you have some matter of contemplation to pursue. Should your instincts instruct you, you may do well to follow them.
[ maybe Bishop has caught the scent of something. Gilgamesh will acknowledge him to be perceptive; he is keen, not so unlike that trapper in Uruk who encountered Enkidu prior to their entry into the city-state.
Gilgamesh heeds Enkidu's request. like a camera in motion, the view pans in another direction as the King's eyes begin to narrow, a moment of contemplation. ]
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This beast is nocturnal. We've been looking at the forest for sometime and we haven't seen horn or hide.
[ He flips through a few more pages and stops at certain parts of his notes. ]
By my estimation, this thing appears when the night is at it's darkest. Midnight. That could also imply it's eyes don't do well in the light, probably even incredibly sensitive. So it'd have to live in a cave, big, wide, and very dark...
[ He looks at their surroundings and studies the forest, the density and the size of the trees, their proximity to one another and thickness of the foliage. ]
There. [ He says pointing to dense shrubbery between two trees . ] There's barely enough room between the trees for a person to pass, and the shrubbery is practically a wall, but if you were a giant bipedal beast it's big enough to hide you when stalking, and small enough to push through or step over. We may just find tracks.
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Saber [Closed]
He's keen on doing just that but first he needed to get his chores out of the way, the last one being the repair of the tears on his coat. Folded neatly and tucked lovingly into his arms Bishop headed out, bright and early, making a beeline to the tailors.
"Excuse me, hello?" He called out amidst the jingle jangle of the doorbell, sheepishly poking his head out from behind the door. "Are you open yet?"
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"We're open, but I'm afraid that the best I can do is show you around. What can I help you with it?"
It feels strange, being a shopkeeper.
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"I have a longcoat here. It's kinda worn but sturdy, although the other day it got a little roughed up." He unfolds it showing how it's torn in a few places, nothing too major but there's quite a few. "I was out on a quest and ran into some nasty beasts out there." He chuckles. "A couple of ancient heroes helped me get out of that bind so here I am. Is it salvageable?"
He smiles, a bit pleading in appearance. "I'm hoping so, it has a bit of sentimental value to it."
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"Ancient heroes? Who would that be?"
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"Their names are Gilgamesh and Enkidu, if that means anything." A beat. "Oh wait, no. It's King Gilgamesh." He chuckles as he affectionately rolls his eyes.
"In my world, their names were just part of an old story, a myth, so imagine my surprise when I met them. The King is quite a character." He chuckles as recalls the day he met Gilgamesh.
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"I know of them."
Well, more than knows of them. She doesn't know if she wants to go into details, though.
"I hope he was helpful. I have known him to be less so at times."
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"Well, I'm still here with only a few bruises and sores. I have those two to thank for me still being around." He means that. He admittedly, overestimated himself and underestimated his quarry, a fatal combination. It's hard getting used to being powerless again but he'll have to make do.
"So, can this old piece still be saved?"
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"It will be mostly intact, although I will likely need to patch it in a few places."
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She's mentally going through the list of repairs and adjustments they still have to do. Hmm.
"It shouldn't be any trouble, though."
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Now onto more intriguing matters. "You said you knew Gilgamesh to be less than helpful at times. Mind if I ask what you meant by that?" He says with a smile and curious gaze in his eyes.
Someone with something to say about Gilgamesh, that's worth more than his weight in gold if he gets something substantial from it. Not that he's plotting anything against him but, life is strange and one never really knows where it's twists and turns may take it's traveller.
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"He is... arrogant and vain and grasping, at the worst of times. He views the world through the eyes of a tyrant."
Although she's caught glimpses of something more beyond all of that, she hasn't yet seen enough to really feel comfortable with Gilgamesh. Not yet.
"Why?"
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