melodiesoflife | We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

WHO: OPEN! Those setting out towards the Crystal Tree~
WHAT: Terra has arranged an expedition. Keep in mind that this takes place after the January Event!
WHEN: January 17th - January 27th
WHERE: Plains of Sorrow, Crystal Forest & Crystal Tree~
WARNING: None.

[ooc: Information and plotting about this adventure is posted here. If you have any questions please post them here as well. It's assumed that Terra posted up a help wanted for the heroes who don't know her to see if they want to come along. Settings will be described in top posts to keep thing organized!

Please note that the Friendly Monster and Crystal Tree sections will be one long thread.]

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Kidd kept a wary eye as her group moved through the dense trees. It wasn't the fact that the group was split up that concerned her about this place as it was the creatures that were said to inhabit it. Had she come as an Assassin then it wouldn't be difficult to climb the trees and scout their surroundings. With the mage jobs she came as she was stuck strictly as support.

Still, this place was beautiful. It at least had that going for it. And once they found the tree and rejoined with the others it would likely be easier to leave.

She looked to the other two. Duster was new but he seemed capable enough. And the military air that Tear carried herself with was ironically comforting to the pirate.

"What do you two think? I'm afraid I'm more used to navigating the seas than forests. At least, not from the ground."

While Duster did not have the Jobs that would allow for ease of climbing trees, as a Monk, he had strong arm and leg strength that agreed with muscle memory. Despite what Kidd and Tear could have thought when they first saw the limping, scruffy man, he knew how to navigate forest terrain. He took the lead, scouting ahead for enemies by climbing onto smaller trees and rocks. This was almost like old times, just him and his friends walking through the wildnerness, fighting off chimeras until they reached their destination.

He held out a hand to the others as the group approached a hill and ran up. He stopped mid-step on top, and with an unconcerned face, turned back.

"There's some skeletons on the road ahead," he stated in a monotone, unsurprised tone.

"I've navigated a number of terrains, but as no two are alike there is only so many precautions you can take." For the time being Tear was taking her usual place at the rear of the group, equipped with Bard to provide support and Red Mage at the ready for any closer attacks. Also at her disposal was Mognet Central, allowing them the flexibility to change jobs in between battles if they needed to. For now though, they seemed to be doing all right.

Up until Duster mentioned the skeletons, the girl narrowing her eyes just slightly in anticipation. "Skeletons? Can you share more information than that before we get any closer?"

"...They're walking skeletons." It didn't occur to him that there could be any more to say about walking, aggressive skeletal remains of humans, but then again, Tear and Kidd might not have seen of anything like that in their worlds.

"Well, some of them have daggers, but the aren't really paying attention to me right now. We should keep a safe distance from them, anyway." In that case, the mages of the group would be primary attackers while Duster provided support on his ocarina.

Kidd was impressed with Duster's prowess. It didn't seem like he was trying to hide his skill but rather adapted himself well to his situation. She was happy to have him on her side.

The talk of skeletons though was a bit more disconcerting. There had always been legends and tales of walking dead guarding treasure back home, but here in this world they were a reality she'd rather avoid if at all possible. Looking to Tear, she gave her a nod.

"If it comes to it I can use my time magic to aid our escape." She said in a hushed tone before crouching down and raising her hood. It wouldn't help her stealth in any magical way, but she could still act as she was trained. Her lone Illusionist skill would allow her to copy Tear's combat actions, but she wasn't going to bet a fight on it.

The girl is just as surprised about Duster's prowess, as well as his casual attitude in regards to talking about what sounded like the walking dead. Throat going slightly dry, she swallows and nods to both of them to communicate she understood their intentions.

"If there are as many as you say there are, then avoiding confrontation would be the best plan." Tear then carefully drew her sword just in case, keeping it loose at her side, eyes narrowed as she began to move forward as quietly as the forest would allow her.

"There might be fewer than we believe, but that doesn't mean we should let down our guard."

Just as Kidd could only sneak as well as her memory let her, Duster took several quiet steps closer to the skeletons and stopped. He hadn't gone close enough for them to notice him, but just to be sure, he'd wait for Kidd and Tear to come closer. If the monsters stopped them attempted to sneak past (and in his experience, they always did), it would be better to have powerful allies by his side.

He trained his eye on the the closest of the tall, lanky skeletons. They seemed to be...confused. Like they hadn't decided which direction to head to as a team. If the team were under attack, it wouldn't be an organized assault. Duster marked that as a positive.

Even as the other two approached, he watched the monsters. "It'll be better to do a preemptive strike," he whispered.

Kidd nodded and followed Duster's signal. She crept over, keeping as quiet as she could. She kept her breathing steady and didn't allow any irrational fears it. Still, it didn't help that this world always found new was to surprise her.

"Right...I can cast Slow on them. That should give us the advantage." She didn't know if the spell itself would catch their attention or not so she'd wait until the moment that they made their move. She shifted her hands to begin the casting, "You two go ahead. I'll cover you."

Tear moved a split second after Kidd did, the grip on her sword tightening as she also nodded in agreement. It was a sound plan, and even if it failed she would be ready to cast a spell once they were in close range.

"Ready?" Granting them a few moments, she then motioned for Duster to follow as she pushed forward with weapon poised to pierce any who might come her way.

Duster's instinct was to rush into battle before Teat, almost forgetting that in this world, he wasn't as powerful as he thought to be. Luckily, he recalled his power of song and and pulled back for a few minutes.

"Keep going! I'll get there!" He pulled his ocarina out to play Battle Scene. He didn't know how powerful these skeletons were, and as a precaution, added a boost to his and his allies' abilities.

Kidd was grateful for the boost that Duster's song offered her. She wasn't completely sure on this whole magic thing still, but as she felt the song run through her body she found the confidence and power she needed to boost the effect of the spell.

The casting, the gathering of arcane energies, catches the attention of the skeletons, and they all turn to look at her just as the spell hits them. The skeleton's movement speed is cut in half. They remain ominous threats, but it should be the opening that Tear needs.

A ghost of a smile brushed across Tear's lips upon hearing the familiar melody, keeping the same pace even knowing she was currently moving forward alone. Noticing Kidd's spell taking place, she cut forth with a careful yet powerful swing of her blade, already striking the first of the enemies as she pushed forward.

But even with the aid she remains cautious, keeping enough distance between attacks and ready to parry should one of them have the ability to move quickly enough to counterattack.

Feeling invigorated, Duster grips the ocarina in one hand and ran into the fray. While Tear focused on one end of the group, Duster leaped at the nearest skeleton with a kick. His shoe caught the monster in the chest, and it staggered backwards.

Duster let out a small tch. This wasn't his usual strength. That skeleton should have at least fallen over if he were on the Nowhere Islands.

While it regained its balance for a counterattack, Duster took a deep breath to steady himself. The ocarina went back into his belt pouch. With only a second to react, Duster took off towards the middle of the group of skeletons, stood on his hands, and unleashed a Kick attack on all of the monsters. If he wasn't as experiences with the Monk job to be strong, he could at least strike all the enemies and make it easier for his teammates.

The skeleton Tear was fighting collapsed into a pile of bones, but the others were still standing.

Watching that skeleton drop lifted Kidd's spirits. Fighting the undead was unsettling business. The fact that something that shouldn't be moving was made her wonder about how possible it would be to make them stop again. As the creature crumpled under Tear's attack however she knew that they could win this.

While it may have perhaps been smart to stick back and continue with her spellcasting, she much rathered to see the playing field leveled and this battle ended swiftly. Focusing on her lone Illusionist skill she reared back and leaped through the air following Duster's attack. The Imitate skill sent her on a flying kick that ran perpendicular to the one that Duster had launched, sending the group of skeletons reeling from the double blow.

Knowing Kidd had also entered the fray made it all the more important to deal with these monsters quickly. Thus, Tear rapidly moved to the next one, aiming her blade carefully before taking a quick leap back, bringing up a hand to begin casting an Ice spell. Not only would it be useful in taking out more of them at once, it would make a good tactic for Kidd to imitate should she choose to continue doing so.

She could only hope that the first spell would hold long enough, given how thick into the group they now were. If it didn't she could always fight as their offense, but it was a situation she would prefer to avoid.

With another skeleton down and the remaining ones weakened, Duster focused on one enemy while Kidd and Tear worked the the others. He spun on his right leg and struck the skeleton on its skull. A crack spread from the tip of its head and thin lines spread downwards, reaching it's jaw. The skull broke apart into three pieces, and the monster raised a bony hand as if to plead for its unlife. Duster responded with another kick, and the monster collapsed into an unmoving pile of bones.

With only two enemies left, Duster took a moment to catch his breath. "Tear, good job!" The thanks was overdue, but her spell helped even the odds.

As much as Kidd would like to throw herself into the battle the way she was used to, she was also used to making do with what she has on hand. And there was no shame in using a trick that works as long as it will work again. She kept up with the Imitation, following Tear now as she summoned the frosty air against the skeletons.

She grinned as she watched them ice over, slowing down and leaving them vulnerable to Duster's attacks. "Aye. We keep this rhythm up and we'll be done here in no time."

"And we'll be able to get to our goal that much faster." Even with all the effort and focus she was putting into the flurries of ice and the parries of her weapon in between, Tear didn't seem tired in the slightest. If anything, their continuing progress was a boon in her drive to win this battle as she noticed the last of them begin to speed up little by little.

By no means was her guard down, but with this tactic they would be able to handle them as they did the first round. But just in case, she was prepared to switch to defense and employ her songs to provide what protection she could.

The two weakened skeletons did not put up much of a fight against Kidd's and Tear's spells, and the magic that held their bones together was lost. Where there used to be a horde of monsters was only a pile of scattered bones.

With the battle over, Duster played a victory fanfare on his ocarina. A soothing wave of magic descended on the party, and the injuries they sustained during the fight healed over.

"I think that's all of them."

Kidd likewise was not about to let her guard down, even as the skeletons fell apart around them. Whatever magic it was that allowed them to move in this state, she didn't trust it not to bring them back to fighting shape once more.

But the sound of Duster's victory song brought a soothing warmth to her body and as she looked around she nodded in satisfaction.

"Seems so. Good job, both of you."

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

Group V: Kidd, Tear, Duster

Re: Group V: Kidd, Tear, Duster

Group V: Kidd, Tear, Duster

Group V: Kidd, Tear, Duster

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Sorry, inbox ate the notif

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the notif got lost, I am so sorry!

No problem!

Re: No problem!

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