(Open)

[politicallyinclined]

🧙 WHO: Padmé & Open
⚔️️ WHAT: Quest!
🕒 WHEN: Early March?
🗺️ WHERE: Ruins of Lestari.
⚠️ WARNINGS: Zombies, skeletons, spooky spooks~

(Our Neighbor Growboro)

Armed with only her magic and her sword, Padmé sets out for the ruins, her familiar flying above her. She purposefully caged her sweet owl, Veruna, for this mission, making sure he had food and water before she left her rooms. Her familiar is bright enough to protect herself and, besides, Padmé is almost certain she wouldn't be able to leave her behind. Milla is incredibly stubborn.

Sheathing her sword against her back in a leather contraption someone in the city made for her, she uses a horse to cross the distance between her home and the ruins. However, on the last leg of said journey, she ties the beast to a tree near grass and a water supply. She won't be risking any animals if she can help it. And, besides, walking is good for her.

The ruins send a chill down her spine when she finally reaches them and she soon learns that using her power (Light especially) in conjunction with her sword is her best bet. With her spells she can create illusions and confuse her foes before she strikes with her blade. She can also form a shield for when they try to attack her.

Yet her power has its limits - unless she can find someone to use her Siphon spells on. Thankfully she has wits enough to run for cover before she calls out:

"Is anyone alive out there?"

(Aftermath)

Considering she is well over sixteen, Padmé has to keep her distance when the spirits appear. Settling herself a little ways from the ruins, Milla her Peko-Peko perched on her lap, she smiles. Her hair has come loose from her braid and she is tired, but seeing the spirits makes everything worthwhile.

"How cute."

Comments

Our Neighbour Growboro

[markedfordeath]

She sat perched in a tree not far from the ruins where the threat was. No one had come by yet and she was hardly in a rush. While Elza had no interest in taking up quests, she did at times read up on them before travelling to areas that could provide her with entertainment. This was one of those days. She'd heard the stories of the Shield Rune bearer's fight against Necklord and his zombie army. Clive had fought alongside him during that time as well. She hadn't even seen a living zombie and the gunner found herself curious. Of course she had no intention of helping the quest giver, but found there could be some entertaining moments watching those who take up that quest.

Movement caught the gunner's attention. Glancing back over her shoulder, Elza caught sight of a young female beginning to approach the ruin's entrance area. Eying the other woman, the gunner watched while she approached and made a quick assessment. This woman didn't exactly look like much, yes there was a sword but she didn't appear to have the same ease or confidence with the weapon that she'd seen so many other sword bearers hold. Perhaps she was masking it well but Elza reasoned that she'd find out soon enough. If she wasn't proficient then it could prove to be a most entertaining event to watch.

When the voice called out, the gunner said nothing. Instead she masked her own presence and watched. Would this woman head in on her own? This could be rather interesting.

[politicallyinclined]

The lack of answer proved to her that she was alone. Erecting another Light shield around her, she rolled out from her hiding spot and buried her sword in the neck of a zombie. The monstrosity kept biting and she gave a shout as she beheaded it. Disgusting. But she had no time to think too hard before a skeleton found her. Darting to another hiding place, she picked up a stone and threw it at the bones. The skeleton wavered, giving her an opening to bury her sword in its spine. Cut it in half, she reasoned, and its mobility would be greatly reduced.

Her arms were beginning to shake again and she sought higher ground, using her Light spells to confuse any pursuers. Where was she? Here? There? It was difficult to tell.

And though it was likely useless, once she had some height, she looked for other fighters. Or any sign of life. Was she really alone in this place? If so, she needed better tactics - and to find an easier way to kill ("kill") the zombies. Padmé might be small and inexperienced, but she wasn't giving up.

[markedfordeath]

So... there was some training there, but what training was either new or what she'd seen and begun practicing on her own. Heh, she was definitely right about this being interesting. Elza watched as the woman took down the first zombie, and then smirked to herself at the shout of exertion when that head was finally removed. This kid had spirit, there was no doubt to that.

The gunner shifted on her perch so she could better see how the events unfolded. A skeleton was taken down next, and she had to mentally tip her head at the fact that this girl had figured out that much. So, there was a brain behind that determination as well? It would definitely prove to be entertaining.

Her quarry moved to higher ground to search for something... cover? Aid? The gunner hadn't missed the flash of light as the girl had cast some form of spell. As of right now, she had no interest in joining in. No, not when the one fighting still had so much potential to show her. Maybe then she might offer some assistance. Potch was useful to some, but to Elza... she much preferred other forms of payment - such as information or entertainment - before she'd decide to take on any 'jobs'.

[politicallyinclined]

Elza's logic wouldn't make a bit of sense to Padmé. When someone needed help, she was willing to give everything she had to assist them. Of course that was sort of insane too considering it had the tendency of leaving her utterly drained physically and emotionally. If she wanted to become a knight, she had to be smarter about the jobs she accepted.

This job...well...it was a handful. But she was quick on her feet and that saved her from the sluggish zombies and discombobulated skeletons. Her problem was eliminating them. Their numbers were too large.

However Padmé had always been blessed with a quick mind. As she found higher ground, she saw that the ruins could be used in her favor. There were stone monuments - perhaps where buildings once stood - and if she could find a way to knock them down, they could take out a sizable number of her foes.

So she outran her pursuers to one of said monuments, testing the foundation until she found a weakness.

These things were likely only standing through sheer luck. She kicked and pummeled the loose rocks with her foot and the hilt of her sword. Then she hurried to the other side to do the same. If pure physical blows weren't enough, she would fall back on her Light Magic and distract the zombies into trying to climb the damn thing.

Surely then it would fall over and take them with it.

[markedfordeath]

She continued to watch from her perch while the other woman broke away from the zombies and began running for the stone monuments. Her quarry was following behind of course but at a slower pace which allowed for the girl to put distance between them.

Just what was she planning to do...?

Oh?

A smile of amusement curved on her lips when the other woman began to hit and slam against the stone monument to try and get it to fall over.

How interesting. This was proving to be entertaining and well worth the effort of travelling here.

Would her efforts work?

[ooc: FYI - Elza will probably begin lending a hand in the dramatic sense when Padme is in dire trouble :) so maybe in another reply or two. Hope that's okay! ]

[politicallyinclined]

If only she had some explosives... Padmé knew exactly where she would place them too! But she had to make do with what she had, which meant she had to stay in danger's way until the monument began to fall. Otherwise the zombies and skeletons might follow her to safety.

With an ungainly wobble, the monument began to crumble and she threw herself, hopefully, out of the way. A large rock hit her shoulder regardless and she threw up her shield to prevent herself from further injury...or worse.

The zombies who were following her were trapped beneath the rubble and some of the skeletons had been smashed too. At least her plan hadn't been a total wash?

(OOC: Fine by me! :) )

[markedfordeath]

Bringing her knee up, the gunner leant forward to relax her hands and chin comfortably against it while shy watched her show.

The undead wanted their target as much as their target wanted to escape. Would this girl's desperation to live out-maneuver those basic desires of her undead pursuers?

The monument in question began to titter and totter before the remaining supports crumbled and gave way. There was a loud crash and it fell oni the bodies, bones and dirt, kicking up clouds of mess in all directions around it.

She had briefly glimpsed the girl attempting to get away, but hadn't seen her fate from her current position.

Was her fun over already? Or did this girl survive? Either way a large number of the undead fell crushed to the large stone monument's fall.

[politicallyinclined]

She held her shoulder as she left the rubble and tangled bodies behind. Pulling some salve from the bag on her belt, she rubbed it into the injury to prevent bruising and stiffness. Then she was on the move again, using her good arm to knock skeletons into pieces.

Frustration was playing a part in her strength, but it couldn't last forever. She kicked some still wriggling bones out of her way and tried again, cupping her hands around her mouth:

"Can anyone hear me?"

Apologies for the super delay. RL got in the way

[markedfordeath]

That same voice echoed out throughout the area when the woman in question attempted to evade those after her. If there was one thing Elza would at least give the other woman, it was a continued persistence to not give up. There seemed to be a number of individuals similar to that here which was rather interesting to watch unfold.

She still didn't say anything. What was the point? She held no interest in saving this woman. Elza did, however, pull Sturm (her rifle) from its resting position along her back and moved to lay along the branch. True to her word she held no interested in helping, Elza would, however, find great amusement in toying with her when more of the undead reared their rotten heads.