April Adventures

[mayoninofukucho]

WHO: Hijikata and... YOU?
WHAT: Moving to summer quarters, fighting skeletons, investigating the Forest of the Fisherking and the Unnamed Marshes, and questing!
WHEN: Throughout the first half-ish of April
WHERE: Camelot City, Forest of the Fisherking, Unnamed Marshes, Red Springs
WARNINGS: Nudity and probably battle violence in Prompt 3B!



1) Back at the Campsite

[Once again it's time for CameCon... and once again Hijikata doesn't attend. He'd rather not tempt his suppressed inner otaku to come out once more! Besides he has other things to do. With winter finally completely over he decided to move back into the camp by the lakeside just east of Camelot City. It's less cosy and sturdy than the hut he's been spending the cold half of the year in, but it'll save him and his ghost subordinates the frequent totem travels between the two locations.

It's rainy and muddy, but he doesn't let that keep him from getting the camp ready for use. There's a lot to be done, and having to do it in his sun protection gear - a double-layered, high-collared black outfit and a dark-tinted visored helmet, plus gloves and boots - doesn't make it easier, but eventually he gets the place in a shape where it can be inhabited again. Riou, who originally set up the camp and lived there until he was sent back to his homeworld, could surely have done it better, but Hijikata is content.

As night falls his ghostly subordinates awaken from the tinted bottles and other small containers he wedged into branch forks and bushes - the area isn't quite forested, but the camp is somewhat hidden by foliage regardless - and assemble around their commander, who by now changed into his usual uniform and pinned his knight sigil to his chest.]

Are you guys happy to be back here?

Yes, but the rain is falling through us!

[There's laughter in the group, and Hijikata snorts a little.]

I'll see what I can do about it. Maybe I can get us one of those party tent things. I already had to reinforce my own tent too.

[He essentially put a smaller two-person tent he bought for expeditions early on last year up inside the larger campsite tent to improve the sun protection, but he'll still need to keep himself covered from head to toe during the daytime hours... this giant hogweed potion really is taking a toll on his quality of life.]

Anyway, today the Sword Lily Division stays here to train, and the White Eggplant Division has patrol duty. Everybody knows their assignment?

[Should anyone be taking an evening walk in the area around the camp they may accidentally walk into the OtoMAX perimeter alarms he set up - strategically placed music-note-shaped little systems that will play a magically amplified song (Hijikata programmed in the Wellerman sea shanty he learned from Venti, which gained enough local popularity to make it to the radio covered by a semi-famous bard) that'll knock any intruder on their butt via sound waves.]


2) Trickle Down

A ⦿ Springtime for Skeletons

[Upon hearing the reports of the Lands of Rot recovering into fertile grounds Hijikata can't help but see a pattern. First the cursed and haunted Forest of the Felled, now this... yet life returned to both areas at a questionable cost. The spectres that haunted the forest were largely devoured by the ancient stone giant, gone without hope for salvation and an afterlife, and the disappearance of the Fisherking's corpse was decidedly not in anybody's plans either.

He has half a mind to visit the Lands of Rot himself when news reach Camelot of a good number of skeletons being on the march there, so naturally he stays to defend the city. As the undead approach he's right there in the melee, again in his helmeted sun protection outfit, but with his knight cloak more visibly identifying his allegiance at least. Finally he gets to put his boosted elemental magic to the test in a real battle after the various magical malheurs that beset the outworlder population over the last months! He makes the soil break open and swallow the bony warriors, throws them against each other with wind magic so forcefully that it breaks them apart... so far he hasn't had to use his swords. He smirks with excitement.]

About time we got full control of our magic back! I've missed this.

B ⦿ The Battle of the Fisherking's Forest

[As soon as the skeleton problem is mostly taken care of the next call for help reaches Camelot: the Archivist from the Forest of the Fisherking tells of invasive species wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem. Hijikata never liked the place, having bad memories of mortifying questions from the gnome at the entrance to the archive and of the deadly animal- and plant life deeper in the forest, but he ventures out to investigate nonetheless.

Anyone who runs into him there will again find a mysterious helmeted figure (and miss out on the sight of his Magic Mask, which will hopefully protect him from the dangerous spores and took on a black colour with a golden rectangle design on either side). He's currently observing a pair of cattails that seem to be destroying a thick climbing plant growing up a moss-covered tree.]

As if there hadn't been enough monsters in these woods... what the hell brought this on?

C ⦿ The Unnamed Marshes (for silvergarden)

[As it becomes clear that the intruders in the Fisherking's Forest are all natives to the Unnamed Marshes the loosely organised expedition naturally moves north to investigate what happened there. Given the recent events it seems pretty clear to Hijikata what (or rather: who) caused this great migration, and he hopes to capture the culprit sooner rather than later. However that doesn't appear to be an easy task: the swamps are a hazy, foggy maze.

When he meets Rinea in the eerily lifeless marshlands he immediately feels obligated to escort her, so before long they're on a raft together, slowly gliding through thick fog while animal(?) calls and other noises that sound positively prehistoric waft over from the unseen shores. Hijikata honestly isn't surely which direction they came from anymore, but his helmet hides the frown on his face. He's about to suggest turning around when he spots a faint light, like from a lantern, ghosting across the dark water.]

...

Lady Rinea, do you see that too?

[He's on high alert. He's heard stories of will'o'wisps leading people to their deaths in the swamps, and also of gases causing hallucinations... that's about the last thing they need right now.]


3) Quests

A ⦿ Garrrrr! Goyles (for rustyhoney)

[It's always something in Camelot City. Having seen the quest asking for help with the overly mischievous gargoyles Hijikata liaised with fellow knight Jean, and they soon devised a plan to tackle the matter. Jean worked during the daytime, collected information from eyewitnesses, compiled descriptions of the gargoyles in question, and mapped known gargoyle locations throughout the city; Hijikata worked at night, compared gargoyle movements with Jean's map (to exclude stationary protective gargoyles from their target group), spoke with as many gargoyles as he could, and narrowed the perpetrators' identities down as much as possible.

Soon they have enough information to know which gargoyles are the troublemakers and where they'll be able to find them the coming night. Time to go over the plan one more! Half of Hijikata's ghost subordinates will also come along - Jean may not be able to see them, but they'll play an important role, depending on how things go.]

Alright, we're giving those stone assholes one chance to book it out of here. I heard they can't be harmed at night, but this warhammer from the armoury better impress them, 'cause if they don't play along I'll seriously smash the bastards come morning. I don't see why we should arrange a transport to cart them off to some ruin or whatnot, especially since there's a good chance they'd come back for revenge if we did that.

B ⦿ The Missing Mindful (for groundzeroes)

[After successfully partnering up with Rei to take out the I.C.E. robots blocking the mountain path to the Unnamed Marshes a couple of months ago Hijikata contacts him again to investigate the Realm of Restoration & Relaxation in the Red Springs Resort. It's been the last known location of multiple missing people, and Hijikata is goddamn sure that that isn't a coincidence - however espionage isn't his strong suit, so he's glad for any help.

He and Rei check in individually, given that apparently the missing individuals all visited the establishment on their own, with the plan to "coincidentally hit off" once inside... only as soon as Hijikata enters the doors to the spa proper his sun protection suit, helmet and all, plus his swords and his bag full of magical items disappear. Luckily he isn't in an area with windows but an ~atmospheric~ lounge with mood lighting, but he screams nonetheless.]

What the--!! Shit! I'm-- my clothes..!!

[Yeah, he isn't taking this well.]


[OOC: If you'd like any additional prompts please hit me up on my plotting post! Also here are Hijikata's permissions.]

Comments

2C

[silvergarden]

[Rinea didn't recognize Hijikata with his helmet on... but once the initial surprise at being hailed by a "stranger" in the marsh had faded, Rinea was quite glad to see he was being safe. (Well.. safe-ish. She does worry what might happen if the helmet gets knocked off.) Adalhard was too slow and heavy to ride or wade his way through the swampy landscape with her, so having a dependable companion like Hijikata was reassuring in its own way, too.

Any residual worry Rinea harbors about inadvertent sunlight falls pretty quickly by the wayside. The dreary, dense fog blanketing them feels thick enough to prevent the sun from reaching them all by itself. The silence is heavy too, and the eerie sounds echoing around them do nothing to lift that feeling.]

Goodness... [Rinea grips the wooden stick she's been using to steer tightly, peering out over the water at the spectral sight. She keeps her voice low, afraid to attract its attention even as the wisp seems absorbed in its task.] Is it a spirit?

[mayoninofukucho]

[He just couldn't stand only being outside at night; she must cut him some slack!! (Or he could try to make an actual effort in getting healing treatments more often, but who has time for that?) However the fog truly is so thick that he'd probably get away with only faint symptoms before covering himself back up.

As they carefully steer the raft closer to the light - not too close, just close enough to follow it at the same distance as it floats along - he strains to see it properly through his dark-tinted visor.]

I think it's a lantern... but there's a will'o'wisp accompanying it, yeah. Oh! Look, there's another lantern.

[He points ahead where a second faint light floats a little farther in the distance. On an impulse he looks back... and sure enough there's another one appearing from the fog. He holds his rudder still for a moment.]

I'm not sure if it's safe to follow them. These look like lures. But...

[Something isn't adding up. The few will'o'wisps he can see flitting around seem to be far more preoccupied with the lanterns than with Rinea and him - as a matter of fact they're completely ignoring them. And the lanterns don't meander like an enticing apparition, they rather seem to follow a fixed pattern.]

I don't understand what they're doing.

[silvergarden]

Hmm...

[Knowing Hijikata has death magic is a bit of a comfort in this situation. If any spirits other than those she could see were around, he would surely point them out; that he hasn't means Rinea can probably trust her eyes on what she's seeing.

One of the candles in the lantern near them begins sputtering. The will-o-wisps closest by leap to action, frantic to re-light the swamp's gases and send the lantern back on its way in the strange procession.] My!

[As they watch, this candle-lighting ritual continues upon each lantern, taking up most of the wisps' focus. How odd! Lanterns and lamp posts and the like are used to illuminate paths and direct people, aren't they? So then...]

Who could they be lighting these for? It doesn't seem to be for us...

[mayoninofukucho]

Maybe they're for the Fisher King. He's got to be hiding somewhere in this area. Let's see where they lead.

[He cautiously starts moving the raft along again. As it glides through the water black fish follow it just beneath the surface, and bubbles rise up here and there besides and in front of it. At one point two pairs of large reflecting eyes stare at them from a barren tree, the skeletal outline of which is barely visible in the dense fog. This area sucks!!]

If nothing else I guess these lanterns will help us find the way back later on; we just have to follow the trail back.

[The trail, though, seems to following a fairly regular curve... he isn't sure, but at this rate he almost feels like they'll end up going in a circle.]

[silvergarden]

Yes... let's do that.

[They pole carefully alongside the string of lanterns, surrounded only by the sounds of water gently lapping against their raft and distant wails of banshees. The weather is clammy, wet, hemmed-in by fog. Rinea shivers, but not from the chill: thoughts of the Fisher King being nearby are a little nerve-wracking.

She chews her lip, almost afraid to break the silence that settled in. The atmosphere around them is just so eerie!]

...So much strife has happened these past two months. It's frightening to think it might not be over, with the central individual out like this...

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata's helmet slowly fogs up, which is annoying... he sporadically lifts the face shield, hiding his head under the jacket he took off (he's got a skintight turtleneck-like top on underneath, so he isn't going to break out into blisters). God, this potion is such a pain in the ass!! He snaps the visor shut again just as Rinea speaks up.]

Yeah, this year has just been one big problem after the next... although Queen Mab's cavern could've been worse.

[His expression, though hidden from her view, grows fond. While he had to partly re-experience a traumatising attack on Lunatia, the capital of his "second home" Prismatica, he also got to see the two cherished women he had to leave behind there again. One of them he only observed from afar, not wanting to push into her life again after already having left her behind on their shared homeworld, but the other stayed with him throughout the adventure. Seeing them again was invigorating and heartening for him.]

Avalon throws us plenty of sh-- nasty challenges, but ultimately it's all going to be worth it.

1

[queenofkur]

G-Gah!

[ That scream? Was a certain goddess falling face first against the ground after she had triggered the security system. She hadn't intended to go for the camp, she didn't even know it was there. She'd simply been going after spirits and her senses had led her there.

She slowly got on her knees, shaking her head from the shock. ]

Ugh... What's with the music...?

[ And then, lo! Her eyes widened with panic as she looked around her. There were plenty of little lights flying around Ereshkigal— None of which were fireflies. No, they were all souls. And they had escaped from the cages that was now open on the ground. ]

N-No, come back in! [She immediately went for the cages and worked on fixed the opening.] I know it's a bit stuffy, but I'll get you individual cages once I'm home! [Once this done, she tried to lead the little lights back in.] You-you don't want that giant to eat you up, do you?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Of course the chipper shanty breaking the quiet of the evening isn't missed by Hijikata and his subordinates, and within moments they're there to investigate. At a glance the girl doesn't look like a threat, frantically gathering her belongings, so Hijikata is about to apologise, but then he notices the souls escaping the cages and instead draws his sword at her.]

You!! Capturing ghosts on Camelot's soil? This is a punishable offence!

[As soon as she looks up from her efforts she'll see not only an irate man, but 20 ghosts of various species, ages, shapes and sizes with him. If the spirits she collected are also ghosts of mortals they may behave similarly to them when Hijikata takes them along with him in containers and retake their human(oid) shape once outside the confinement, but perhaps they'll stay in the smaller form, especially if she already found them like this - either way, if they're scared the ghost patrol will protectively float forward and let them hide behind them.]

[queenofkur]

[ The ghosts do not scare her, though she is surprised to see so many of them willingly following a human... The spirits she'd been chasing were so weak and on the verge of fading, they couldn't even regain a ghostly appearance. They're scared, but mostly because they're about to vanish.

No matter. Ereshkigal doesn't show any fear at that sword pointed at her. If anything, the fact a human caught her like that... Now it's terrifying. But she doesn't have the time to think about that. Souls are in danger! ]

I am not capturing ghosts, I am saving them from that abominable giant!

[ Ever since she'd heard about it, she had thought about nothing but that. She couldn't get up with that sword pointed at her, but... A blade of light materialized in her right hand. Ugh, how she missed being almighty in her realm. She didn't want to fight that human, but the alternative was unacceptable. ]

I-I am Ereshkigal, Keeper of Death and Goddess of the Underworld! [Said with about as much charisma as can be expected from someone on the ground trying to get little lights in a cage.] And no matter the world, I shall keep the souls of the dead safe! If-if you intend to stand in my way, prepare to face my wrath!

[mayoninofukucho]

[A light mage... this could get dangerous. But of course Hijikata isn't about to tip her off to his current vulnerability against particularly powerful and bright light magic, and the weapon in her hand doesn't pose a problem he can't handle.]

A goddess? You better not be pulling my leg!

[To be fair, there are other deities here - Thanatos, for one -, so he's not going to instantly dismiss her claim, but... somehow she just gives off strong clutzy schoolgirl vibes. Sorry, Ereshkigal, that's his opinion!]

Anyway, if you want really want to keep the ghosts safe, then you shouldn't capture them! Did you even ask them if they were okay with that? And the stone giant - if that's what you're talking about - hasn't been a problem for half a year now!

[Unless... he just left the Forest of the Felled where it ominously towered over the trees, still and petrified since the autumn equinox. Did something happen?]

[queenofkur]

[ Half a year? That was a laughable time for souls. She let his transgression slide for the time being (mostly because she didn't want to fight) and instead answered his assertion about the giant. ]

Do you have the certainty this giant will not wake again? Do you have a plan to protect those souls if it does? Can you ensure their safety beyond the shadow of a doubt?

[ Ever since she'd learnt about that giant, it had become something of an obsession. Her long-term plan was to destroy it, but till then she planned to make sure the soul be safe. She got up finally, letting go of the spear of light. The man wasn't going to attack... So she turned away and gently guided one of the lost souls back into the cage. ]

The souls of the dead are fragile. Left alone, they may nurture negative emotions. Give up on themselves and fade. Resent the living and become monsters. Stagnate and freeze eternally. Bereft of life and guidance, they are drawn to the forbidden and destroyed, like moths drawn to a flame.

[ She'd sounded somewhat... More charismatic while saying those words. It was always easier when she spoke of what she did. What failed her was speaking of herself, so of course she didn't remain charismatic in the least. ]

T-that's why I offer them a place where they can be safe from those dangers...! There exist fates worse than death. And it is my duty to ensure the dead are spare such fates. [She looked at him defensively.] I have existed for tens of thousand years and have the dead safe since my birth, human. I will not let those souls burn merely to satisfy your absurd concept of morality. Call me evil for that if you wish, it makes no difference...!

[ That's what they did back home anyway... Should you let someone run to their demise just because they don't want to be saved? She disagreed with that notion. Ad so she gave him her most intense and angry stare...

... It didn't really look impressive at all. ]

Now-now help me get them back in the cage now or begone with you!

[mayoninofukucho]

[He likewise sheathes his sword, having determined her to not be a threat. In fact she seems to know a lot about the dead, which lends credibility to her claim of being the goddess assigned to their realm in her world. Still, he scoffs at her order.]

I'm not helping you with that! What even is your plan to stabilise them?

[If such death magic exists he doesn't know about it - but to be fair, his focus has been on exorcisms above all else. One of his division leaders chimes in.]

Commander, all of them are trying to hold on to this realm, but they're fading away.

Why's that a problem? The underworlds are where souls are supposed to go.

[Whether the poor souls are no longer able to communicate with death mages or their voices are simply too faint to hear clearly, he turns back to Ereshkigal.]

Did they tell you what their concern is? The underworlds are fine, they're not affected by the calamity! My people here can confirm that; many of them came from there for last year's autumn equinox celebrations. As for the giant, it was awoken by the most powerful necromancer on the island, who skipped town once it had fulfilled its purpose of devouring the souls in the Forest of the Felled. I don't think anyone else would be able to reanimate it.

[Still, the very prospect leaves him feeling uncomfortable, because he can't guarantee any ghosts safety in case it does activate again. He barely managed to save two dozen souls during the incident, and only thanks to his Familiar Fusion's magic boost. Perhaps they should blow the giant up or something.]

3B

[groundzeroes]

[Rei was quite pleased to be contacted again! The last time he did an espionage attempt was with Izumi back in that knight abducting strip club... and while this spa isn't quite as much of a frog-on-a-lilypad tier environment for Rei to blend in at, he's still pretty comfortable. Way more so than Hijikata is, apparently... though really Rei is just lucky Hijikata wasn't there to see his own surprise at being suddenly disrobed.

Checking in separately means they're supposed to act like strangers. But that doesn't stop Rei from laughing at the poor man from where he's reclined on a chaise lounge.]

What's the matter? Too much breeze for you?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata is so angry and flabbergasted, he just sputters for a moment. He makes a half-motion to cover himself up (they don't even have censor mosaics here!), but Rei looks so relaxed and self-assured that he abandons the move halfway through and instead just half-heartedly pushes his hair back (naturally it immediately falls back into its V shape).]

What the hell kind of bullshit is this?! Where are our things?! Did they put them in some hammerspace compartment, or what? Couldn't they have told us that beforehand?!

[If nothing else this only highlights how shady this business is!! And now he definitely has an excuse to talk to this "stranger", after all misery loves company! He turns around himself in a circle as if to try and see if his belongings aren't still somewhere within sight (they aren't), then resignedly slumps on the next lounge chair over. He's lowering his voice, but the scowl on his face would make any observer assume that he's continuing to bitch about the sudden disrobement.]

Okay, this makes things way more difficult! You'll have to take the outdoors- and outdoors-adjacent areas I'll cover the windowless parts. Again, we're looking for any hidden pathways, compartments, and the like.

i probably should have put this on my first comment CW: ITT THEYRE NAKED LOL

[groundzeroes]

Wa ha ha! [Hijikata is so cute and fussy! It cracks Rei up. He does rise from his reclining position, at least, to listen to the poor guy properly; but there's no attempt made to be modest, manspreading and all. Losing whatever gear they'd prepared is a shame, but Rei's obnoxiously-overflowing self confidence is clearly high enough that he might even be enjoying himself.]

You've got elemental magic, don't you. [Rei doesn't know many people with it (Ichiro has it, but lol Ichiro), but it's got wind control, right?] Any leads you can sense from the airflow?

THAT'S RIGHT

[mayoninofukucho]

[Rei's carefree laughter makes an angry vein pop up at Hijikata's temple, but he does manage to keep calm. He lives with 300 other men back home; he can deal with this! Rei's question, though, makes him deadpan.]

Sense leads from the air flow? What do you think I am, a magician?

[Wait...]

Never mind. No. I'm not that fine-tuned, sorry.

[Now that Rei has said it he tries at least, but there's no suspicious draft to be felt... it looks like they'll actually have to peruse the different relaxation options and inspect each as thoroughly as possible.

What neither of them could possible be aware of right now is that the employees are already debating if both or at least one of them might still be a virgin and appease the spa's valued downstairs neighbour... but then again said neighbour might appreciate a little snack, too. It's been a while. Or perhaps someone else will mysteriously disappear on their watch...]

[groundzeroes]

[Rei's eyebrows raise, though his grin only gets bigger. Hijikata setting up and falling for his own punchlines is advanced humor...]

Right. Well, I want to try the sauna. [Rei stands up from his seat, stretching an arm over his head. The unconcerned ease with which he comports himself might be annoying, but at least it makes their vacation premise convincing.] You coming?

[Meanwhile, the employees are conferring. Rei, being visibly old and visibly nonchalant about nudity, clocks his chance of virginity in at a rapidly diminishing percentage... and he probably doesn't taste good, either. Hijikata, though! That youth! That shame and embarrassment! Surely he could be a blushing virgin bride!!!! (Wrong.) Maybe they can catch him with the sauna's false wall if Rei leaves before him? If the old man gets caught and dies in the process, well... that's business!]

1/2

[mayoninofukucho]

[Normally Hijikata would probably have taken Rei up on the offer (and there's a 50% chance he'd also have turned it into a stupid competition of who can hold out in the heat the longest, despite this being a reconnaissance mission), but he shakes his head.]

No. They probably won't take any risks and will only strike if we're alone. Let's meet up here after each service we use, though, so we'll know where the other one went missing if that does happen.

[He grabs a small laminated overview of the various offers from the little side table and reads through his options.]

I guess I'll go for a deep tissue massage. I could actually use one.

[He's not a big fan of being vulnerable under a stranger's hands, but frankly, all the training and fighting of the last... damn, it's been over a year... has left his muscles in dire need of being loosened up a little. So in the best case he'll be able to accomplish both objectives in one go!

Little does he know that the employees would totally have been reckless enough to just kidnap him from the sauna once Rei would have left, and little do the employees know that their esteemed downstairs neighbour would probably raise a hefty complaint about Hijikata's taste if he ate him - he brings lean flesh to the table, but also he's a chain smoker.]

hello it's me again | 2A

[inevitablerest]

[It's not been so long since he last saw Hijikata, but taking up arms next to him is another thing entirely. Thanatos wields his scythe with far more confidence in the foreign kinetic magic than he had had since the last time the man saw him attempting it, and between the two of them they can easily cut through the shambling skeletons that come their way.]

I have to admit that this is preferable to an entirely unreliable version of my own power.

[Because... godly abilities can go very wrong even without problematic glitches.]

Hold a moment, these ones need taking apart before we continue.

♡

[mayoninofukucho]

Oh! Right.

[He makes the ground spit the buried skeletons back up, then has magically enhanced gusts of wind waft them all over to him until they rotate around him in a circle, not unlike a macabre carousel, so he can break out the individual bones and toss them onto separate piles (he frankly hopes that some non-combatants will come pick them up and bring them over to the big heaps so he can focus on the fighting). He recently learned that these animated skeletons don't possess souls anymore, so he's not exactly reverent in his treatment of them.]

You got really fast! I can barely see your scythe when you swing it.

[It feels so damn good to be powerful again and see his allies equally strong! Since his other elements won't be ideal against these enemies this is a perfect opportunity for him to hone his wind- and earth magic in particular.]

[inevitablerest]

[He lets out a small sound of acknowledgement at the compliment. Not because he doesn't appreciate it but because he rarely knows what to do with such things, and it would just be rude to ignore it entirely.

Still, with kinetic magic being his primary focus and its full strength returned, he isn't giving the creatures they face any quarter.]

You aren't doing too badly, yourself.

[Though this kind of thing would probably be too tame for the likes of Ares, Thanatos is perfectly content with the more pedestrian effort that needs to be taken with this kind of threat. It isn't difficult, and it's even less difficult to use the same magic he has been utilising to wield his scythe in carefully parting the skeletons into their component parts.]

But it's going to be problematic if they keep on coming.

[mayoninofukucho]

They can't keep coming forever! As far as I know there's no skeleton generator in the Lands of Rot.

[Honestly, he wouldn't put it past Avalon to have something like that... but they do seem to making good headway, given that quite a few fighters and helpers showed up to defend Camelot. In fact there's a break in the undeads' advance, so they can use the moment to personally carry their bone heaps to the collection points after all.]

These guys are probably my favourite everyday enemy: easy to fight, they don't get you all messed up with blood and guts, I don't need to use my sword, so I save money on smithy visits... what's the best thing you've fought here so far? Or the most interesting one?

[inevitablerest]

Tch--

[All right, that first comment was a little funny. Thanatos doesn't quite smile but his expression turns wry for a moment as he shakes his head. At least with the brief break they have the time to properly see to these remains before they have to deal with the next wave of shambling undead.

Though Hijikata does have a point - there has to be an end to them, doesn't there?]

I'm not in the habit of fighting anything if I can help it. [Thanatos tells him.] I leave such things as that to the more war-like of my kin. [Those like Ares, who relish such battles.]

Here, I suppose... the dragon. Though I wouldn't call that 'interesting' so much as 'tragically inevitable'.

3A

[rustyhonesty]

[It's about time they finally confronted the gargoyles. Jean could do collecting information just fine, but he was better with confontration all the way. Even if that had definitely been good practice for him.]

The warhammer is definitely a nice touch. I don't really understand the point of that either if they won't co-operate and play nice.

[mayoninofukucho]

I'm glad we're on the same page about that. Do you want to get yourself a hammer too?

[There'll be plenty of time for that - it's evening now, just the turn of their shifts, but they'll only meet up again about an hour before dawn. They are taking a bit of a risk by confronting the gargoyles, after all - if the stone creatures attack them they'll be unable to cause them any damage, so if they end up having to defend themselves it better not be for too long before the gargoyles are turned immobile by the sun again.]

Oh, also I'll bring some of my subordinates along. They're ghosts, so if the gargoyles refuse to leave and manage to beat our asses they'll follow them to wherever they'll go hide and inform us. I don't think gargoyles can see ghosts, so they won't be any wiser.