The Harsh Reality of Questing - catch'all

[futhark]

Who: Caster (Cú Chulainn), Alex Benedetto, Archer (Emiya), Oda Nobunaga, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, princess Zelda whoever else wants?
When: second and third week of May
Where: Outer City, Haven, Coven
What: Wilde Quests #1-2, Full Moon meeting, some Coven lessons of various disaster levels
Warnings: Will be added if necessary

｢Note: prompts are added in comments, so let me know if you want anything in particular, wildcards also welcome ｣

Comments

for Alex - Wilde Quest #1 - Out of the City - Entertainment

[futhark]

[ The Bright Wall means safety, but it is also a cage. A self-imposed one, a necessary one, but still, that's what it is. The Coven lessons shine more light on the everyday problems of the residents, on everyday threat. But there comes a time that you have to see it, experience for yourself, especially if you're at risk of fighting it someday.

Or maybe it's just that safety is overrated?

Heading to the Outer City feels like a first step. Why these people live outside the walls, what awaits there? The view is... maybe even grimmer than Caster initially expected. The place for the lost but even here sun can shine sometimes. A hard life is still a life, and there is a place for a moment of laughter. Caster finds himself dragged into few games children on the streets play ]

This is the last one. Fine, fine if you win I'll tell you a story- Gimme a sec, I'm being outnumbered here, I need someone for my team too. [ He tilts his head, not trusting to be assigned one of the urchins to a team - they will play him, they are on the other side after all. Suddenly he notices a familiar face and within a few steps, he gets close to Alex and pokes her in the shoulder to get her attention ] I volunteer you for my team.

[ Boom ]

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex was helping with distributing food, an easy enough task. She actually felt a lot more comfortable out here, the setting of the outskirts much more similar to the streets of Ergastulum. While the Haven was nice, she felt a little out of place there. This time, she was actually able to contribute and help others out, a sense of fulfillment easing her into this new environment.

Monster things aside, maybe she could actually start anew here. That was still up for debate, but nothing crazy has happened yet. Maybe this time she could have a do over and keep to herself. No more surprises--

Until now. ]

..Team?

[ She looks him over. She knows this guy. ]

For what?

[ Wasn't volunteering supposed to come from the person themselves? ]>/small>

[futhark]

[ Not the first time Caster would completely ignore the definition of word "volunteer." All he does is a point with his thumb at a group of street urchins that are definitely not standing still ]

For a game of hide&seek. I can't accept any of them on my team, conflict of interest, see?

[ He got some other job to do! He can't say and play with kids for the whole day! ]

[sing_for_me]

[ She peers behind him to see the kids very eager to kick his ass and win their prize. ]

Uh-huh...

[ Now back to looking at him. ]

Alright, so which team would we be?

[ It was a little hard to say no to those faces, no matter how devious they may look right now. ]

[futhark]

[ Strangely enough, this both makes the kid happy and also keeps them safe, as they are under the supervision of adults while their parents/caretakers are busy with everyday duties. ]

The Seekers. [ That name sounds so proud. ] The ground rules are pretty simple. Count to 100, the kids hide. When we find someone, they have to follow us around, but here is the catch. If a found kid, notice another one in hiding, without Seeker noticing they are allowed to run away and hide again.

[ So it's basically the game of herding cats, featuring "hide and seek" as a mechanic. Yes, it is needlessly complicated, and it is absolutely designed to keep the Seeker losing forever. But no one ever said how many Seekers they can be, and Caster latched on that loophole. ]

for Archer - Wilde Quests: #2 Herbology Help

[futhark]

[ "Flaming Herbs" got it. This looks like an opportunity to kill a few birds with one stone. Money, update on local herbs and an exploration trip, 3 in 1 package! Caster hears there is someone else willing to help on that particular day and so agrees to meet with them. It might not be a trip deep into the forest but- it's still The Forest. The one outside the city. (You know, THAT forest)

The more the merrier, as they say, Caster pack and paces quickly, the staff might for the first time be actually useful. It's not yet noon when he gets on the spot on the edge of the outer city. ]

...

[ He- just looks around to make sure no one else is waiting here, but of course, of course. ]

It had to be you, eh? [ He laughs loudly approaching Archer and giving him a (friendly) punch in the arm ] C'mon, let's get it done quickly.

[boneofsword]

[Of course Archer agrees to help. This sounds like a perfect opportunity to see for himself how things are outside. He spends some time asking or rather interrogating the guards, sacrificing part of his pay on beer. Thus, he considers himself prepared for every opportunity.

Okay, not the one he sees approaching him in designated meeting spot. Talk about fated meetings and all, but personally he's sure that fate gets a kick on dumping them together and watching the resulting chaos.]

My bad, were you expecting someone else? [Archer quips in friendly manner, his smirk getting wider.] I see you're prepared.

[As is he. With no ability to dismiss his swords Archer had to create two sheaths to strap to his thighs and exchanged his red overcoat for sandy cloak. The additional supplies - food, water, and some first aid supplies - are in the satchel slung over his shoulders.]

okay i guess it's before the DREAM ahahaha so earlier May

[futhark]

You got the instructions too, right? [ Caster asks as he starts going. The dangers of Wilde are very real to the natives (to them too but alas) but that makes scouting into the forest all more exciting. Playing it safe is boring. And he really wouldn't be as skilled with magic if his mentor wasn't who she was... her training methods were unique but definitely successful. Without that kind of motivator here, Caster finds himself picking odd jobs rather than working on earning back that title. ]

Keep your eyes open, bowman- [ He pauses glancing at the swords. ] Guess you don't really have that here anymore, hah

[ An Archer without a bow. ]

sounds like fun~

[boneofsword]

[Archer just shrugs, because he considers this question pointless. He wouldn't be here without the instructions, and all the additional info he managed to gather. The jab, though, irks him.]

Hn. I'm working on one. [in a way. Without his abilities Archer is unable to create one, but that doesn't mean he's unable to find a new one. Securing a part-time job as well as odd ones here and there is a way towards this goal. Nevermind the fact that his class rarely uses bows.]

How much do you know about the outside of the city?

for Nobbu - Quest #1 - Out of the City - Fight

[futhark]

[ While it feels strange to being untrained in the realms of magic, the knowledge and skill he had no longer applicable no longer working- at least there is one particular skill that was not lost in the trip to Geardagas. The skill is, of course, bashing heads in a conventional way.

Hand-to-hand combat preferred? Good. Magic can do more harm than good? It's not like he knows much about local magic anyway.

An experienced witch offered assistance and said assistance included providing two sets of gloves and facemask. He's told to wait for someone else who has also signed to assist with the problem and so witch shushes him away. What the problem is though? ]

Rats... [ The building is in a poor state but it works as a granary, or rather did until infected rats showed up. ] We're going to be killing rats today.

[ Caster says as he hears someone approach (his partner in this job he assumes ]

[atsumoribiito]

BANG!

[Instead of offering a greeting or anything of the sort, Nobunaga fires off a round from the lone gun she somehow managed to bring to the realm with her. The squeak that follow confirms that she hit her mark, somewhere in the gloom nearby, but her eyes are already on the much more alive figure nearby. ]

If they wanted to give us target practice, they could have at least found faster rats.

[Yes, this is her only issue with the job so far. If nothing else, she can offer a grin to a familiar face.]

Or did you already get all the good ones before I could get here?

[futhark]

[ Things that one could expect to hear in such a run-down building? NOT A GUNSHOT. It does startle Caster but when he turns around it's to see a familiar face. He offers a lopsided grin and throws an unopened pack featuring "gloves and facemask" ]

There's plenty left for you- I think that rat was the one evacuating from what lies ahead. [ A strange sound that follows his words seems to give credibility to this theory. It is also coming from the ceiling

Surprise! A large, Cwyld-infected rat drops down in space between them- it's movement erratic and both size and form strange and partially twisted. Caster bludgeons it with the heavy head of his staff, and it stills (is it really dead tho?) ]

You're on your own here? Or did the coughing one got dragged into as well?

[atsumoribiito]

[If it isn't dead, maybe they'll find out while Nobunaga's poking at it with the end of her sword. She's more than a little curious about this infection the locals seem so afraid of.]

If she's made it here too, I haven't heard one of those coughing fits yet.

[Her tone is perfectly conversational while leaning over the still form of the rat at their feet. Hm. Well whatever this is, it sure isn't pretty.]

Nobukatsu's here, though. But I wouldn't expect to find him outside the walls anytime soon.

few days after moving - wildcard we discussed

[boneofsword]

[Things have been relatively uneventful, aside small scuffles with the evicted owners. There's no logical reason for the irritating itch that's been bothering him for the past few days. Archer can take a guess what it's the symptom of, as well as certain restlessness.

He haven't seen Caster during the move into Haven, but thought nothing of it. With the amount of people it's been easy to lose sight of familiar faces. His guess was that Caster has found a different roommate, That's why he could scarcely believe his ears when he hears the unmistakable voice, and following it arrives to the scene of a scuffle between the guards and-

Caster. Caster who is camping in someone's garden without permission, and it's neither the first nor the second time, according to the bits he hears as he intervenes to stop the fight.]

Caster, what the hell?

[Archer isn't as calm and collected as usual, even when he attempts to curb his temper.]

you can say you wanna adoption during full moon b-baka

[futhark]

[ Caster sure has his reasons for deciding to hermit it up instead the moment the moving-out of Coven happened. If not for Cwyld, he'd prefer to camp in the woods. Stay in town for business, part-time jobs, and other assignments, then return to the campsite later. But sadly, that's impossible and he had to choose abandoned silent places- until the guards caught a whiff of him (or got enough reports).

And so here he is, packing and leaving (and maybe a bit shouting) as another person joins the fray ]

Piss off Archer, not your business.

[ `Hey, do you know him?` one of the guards catches on their "first name" basis. ]

full moon for extra flavour

[boneofsword]

I do. [Archer adresses the guard, ignoring the "warm welcome" he gets from the other Servant. He's still keeping an eye on Caster to not let him get away. Not like that.] What happened?

He's a vagabond, sir, we've had several reports of him camping on others' property. [guard informs him, glancing forth and back.] Sir?

[Wonderful. Now he can feel a beginning of a headache, which is the last thing he needs. Seriously, what was the idiot thinking? Gardens rarely are abandoned, he'd have much more luck in Haven.]

Caster, you know you can camp in my garden, right?

[futhark]

[ Caster's not the one to hiss but he surely is close to that right now ]

Listen, I told you— [ Wait, he's being presented with a way out. It pisses him off it's Archer who is offering it, but he's just not in a mood for getting into more arguing right now. He has that short moment of pinching the bridge of the nose to calm down and then he walks past Archer and just grumbles ] Sure, sure, whatever lead the way

[ There is "lawful" part in his alignment for a reason. Getting in conflict with the guards was never on his list of "plans-to-do" Once they will be out of sight he can just, uh, choose his next location more carefully. ]

for Diarmuid - Coven, May 19+

[futhark]

[ Apparently, Caster found himself with quite high magical potential in this new world. Added bonus of familiarity with the runes and magic knowledge in the past means that he must be quite a studious individual using the gift to the best of it right?

—sadly, that's wrong.

Magic was always a useful skill to have, true, but it was never his true focus (or favourite subject). And while he does find the working of Geardagas magic intriguing, he does spend more time outside the Coven's lessons than on them. Recent few days were extremely bad on that, because of reasons, but hey, he's back on track.

If by back on track means skipping the theory lessons and going straight into one of the rooms for practical exercises. A warning against exploding things and levitating objects since be very sound since he has to duck right after opening the door, so a mug can fly past him. The accident gets laughed off and Caster just delves into a room to find an empty spot and—

Oh, how's that for a familiar face. ]

Yo, Lancer. [ Instead of picking a spot of his own, Caster leans over Diarmuid's shoulder to see what he's doing. ] Having fun with that?

[ua_duibhne]

[Truth be told, Diarmuid's not in the best of places either. Since that dream, he's been spending more time in at the Coven, soothed by its structure and easy atmosphere in the face of such unease. Of course, it's just as comforting to go home and feel like he has a purpose again in keeping watch of Waver when he's around.

... but only one of these two places stands a chance of improving his frankly embarrassing track record with magic. The other night, he melted a fork without even realising it after thinking about how he'd let his food get cold.

The bandage from that incident is still wrapped around his palm as, listlessly, Diarmuid flicks through one of the handful of books he's pulled out to study. Basic casting, runic languages, spoken magic... any other time he'd be making notes but his heart's just not in it today. He's about to give up entirely and move onto the next when a shadow falls over the page, followed by a lock of blue hair and a bright voice. One that sounded very different last he heard it.

It's utterly surreal- but he forces a smile and glances up at the other man anyway.]

Ah, C- [The name nearly slips out- but, thankfully, phonetics has his back this time around. In spite of his hesitation, his smile stays easy and unwavering.] Caster. It's been a while.

[Or has it?]

[futhark]

[ I feel this bro.jpg that Dreamy Berserker left a mark on more than one person. And it's incredible Caster is, for now, unaware of that fact, but he does notice the slight hesitation, the wound— Ain't the last on surreal on a Servant? Their healing jinxes, spirit forms and bodies made out of magical energy gone. Everything is off-kilter here.

He drags a chair nearby, and sits on it using its backrest, not as it's intended, but as a frontrest. Arms loosely crossed on it, chin propped ]

You look like you could use a break. [ Because Lancer is simply tired, right? ] I can provide a good distraction, you know?

[ua_duibhne]

[Tired. That about covers it, really, and Diarmuid makes no move to offer any other explanation. As for being a distraction? Well, he has no idea how much of a distraction he is right now, what with being the bright light that cast the shadow in his dreams.]

That's probably for the best. [With a little laugh, he sits back in his own chair and rubs a hand over his face.] Right now I'm just knowledgeable enough to be dangerous through ineptitude.

[He's trying not to let it show, he really is, but Caster's likely perceptive enough to notice that his gaze never stays in one place for long. Those eyes, those features, all the same but-]

for Zelda - Coven, May 19+

[futhark]

[ Procrastination aside, time to Actually Cram a bit. The Coven library is a place to behold, a place of arcane knowledge and SILENCE PLEASE. Caster finds himself there initially just traversing one or two aisles, that soon turns into one or two floors, starting at the piles and shelves full of books. A nerd paradise. ]

Where to start.

[ He muses to himself. Most of the titles either unreadable or not telling him much, but his interest, for now, lies in some basics of the runes. A familiar topic, a familiar alphabet, might as well start there, right? Eventually, he decides to go at random taking the book and finding a seat at the reading table (why do they always come in pairs? it's not like you can chat here). Spoiler: it ends in a minor disaster

The timeline of the events goes like this:

- the book is put on the table, with a dusty thud
- Caster reaches to turn on the magitech lamp
- the moment light is turned on, the table turns out to be... covered in piles of near-identical copies of that book, albeit with very slight differences in font, cover images, titles, etc. ]

Oh— Hell, no...! [ Caster groans seeing this sudden multiplying. Was that an illusion book, or what- also sorry neighbor, that table is suddenly drowning ]

rolls in here a million years late

[sageprincess]

[Engrossed as she is in her own studies, Zelda hardly takes any note of the musings of someone else searching through her part of the library. It's easy enough to ignore them, so long as they remain relatively quiet.

Except they don't remain relatively quiet at all.]

What the--

[The princess hops out of her seat and away from the table as it is consumed by books, watching with bewildered horror as her own notes are buried as well before springing into action. Drawing some shapes in the air, she shouts--]

Shield! [And a shimmering wall grows to surround the growing pile. A wall that may or may not bump into Caster a bit as it forms. She's still learning, okay.] What-- What did you do?!

I've been blessed

[futhark]

[ Not only first the pile of books grows right before his eyes but next moment he gets knocked away with a wall. He takes a step back and knocks over the chair that he was supposed to sit on. OF COURSE, it makes a noise, and few robed figures raise from their study-spots to give a slightly annoyed "shhhh"

It's normal to make disasters, just do it quiet!

The problem starts when the book seems to multiply slowly along the walls of the Wall. ]

Nice save, phew... [ He at least makes an effort to keep his voice down now. ] How long can you keep it up? Once it goes down there will be a tower— if it's a Conjuration spell.

[ If it's Illusion then at least they would be safe but if it's not. Congrats, looks like you found yourself one of those pesky "Training" books ]

[sageprincess]

I-- I don't know...! It is not as though I've had the opportunity to be tested in such a way!

[She's been waiting until she's had the basics down pat before trying any practical tests! It seemed only natural at the time! The barrier seems to be holding for now, but Zelda's luck is absolutely not good enough for that to last for long and she knows it.]

Either make it stop or find someone who can!

[WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BEING LOUD WHEN IT'S PANIC TIME IT'S ZELDA--]