Nari-Lanreth

With the leader gone and dead Nari found the two remaining creatures more animalistic than they had been earlier, their movements and strikes given over to a pure collection of swats and slams rather than any coordinated assault. She wondered for the first time if perhaps they would be able to overwhelm her, her steps being forced backwards towards the water as the two launched their entire form against her without hesitation or restraint. Shifting even as she moved, she turned herself in a slow circle, allowing the strikes to impact the more protected parts of her body and avoiding the

The large form of the creature seemed to become frantic as the escape route it had been determined to use was cut off. Screeching in a way that Nari hadn't previously heard from it, it seemed to lurch and sway in the air before her, as if hoping to cause her to retreat in fear. Gritting her teeth against the sound, she instead jabbed forwards, pushing the spear into the centre of the thing's form and twisting it in a way that activated the explosive skill, causing the very scaled exterior to explode slightly. She watched as flames and frost mingled together over it's hide and tore away at what

The sudden shift in momentum caught her off guard, as steps forward ceased motion and the body before her spun in an almost sinister, naturally defying manner to face her, Nari felt her heart rate rise. Adrenaline shot through her entire form as she felt her hands twitch; the motion reactive in nature in response to the sudden face she found herself before, it's eyes piercing through her in ways that she hadn't felt in quite some time. The question was simple, one which Nari herself had asked once or twice before. Who are the real monsters? She found herself, however, unable to answer it. She'

As the creature burst into shards, Nari's eyes shifted towards the waterfront, looking for the shifting lapse of waves that would signify another of the creatures emerging from the depths. She held her breath, sighing after a few seconds as nothing emerged to greet her vision - and she realised that she was finally heading in a direction where the finality of the fight was becoming clear. She could feel the sudden shift of the battle, an almost relief like feeling having washed over her the moment she realised that no reinforcements were arriving. "Looks like we're finally coming to the

The creatures had rushed upwards to swarm at her again, and Nari prepared herself, bringing her shield up and leveling the spear across it's top corner. She waited, watching as they crossed the short distance without care or worry. She felt the reverberation as one of the creatures slammed directly onto the spearhead, apparently unbothered as it wiggled up the spear's length, it's body slowly frosting over as the weapon released it's core effects into the creature. No sooner had the thing impaled itself than Nari found herself swarmed by the others, their forms closing over her and batt

No sooner had she made her realisation than she felt a measure of energy course back into her. Once more she returned to her dance of dodging the assaults of the creatures, letting them slash and whip about in the trails of her movements, focusing on avoiding as much as deflecting. She was careful in her return strikes, stabbing outwards only during those openings she was sure would not leave her ready for retaliation, knowing all too well that she had as much time as she required in this conflict. Instead of pressing her attacks, she found herself falling back, leading the gaggle of creatures

The fight had already gone on too long as far as Nari was concerned. She was almost out of energy, and what little damage the creature's had done was beginning to wear on her mentally. She doubted she was in danger of any actual death, but there was a rush of adrenaline that had been flowing through her veins that had begun to subside, the energy of it leaving her feel drained and doubting her success. She knew that if more of the creatures appeared and worked together in swarm, she would be in trouble. For a brief second she considered the teleportation crystal, wondering if it wouldn't be sa

The weapon had struck true as the create leapt forward ahead of it's companions, almost impaling itself upon the spear's tip in it's rush to engage Nari. She had been quick to react, letting the weapon slide across it's side and engaging the explosive art as it came close - watching as the frost spread from blade to skin as it contacted the creature and forced it to retreat momentarily. The respite was brief, and before Nari could truly take a full breath the remainder of the creatures had rushed towards her in a blind fury meant to overpower and overwhelm her. She raised her shield, blocking

It didn't seem to matter how much they slashed and slammed into her, and Nari found herself sighing in a mixture of boredom, frustration and slight disgust at how easy it was to overcome the monsters of this floor. She figured, the more aware and realistic part of her mind at least, that it was likely good that these things were easy enough to face and bring down alone. But she would be lying if she didn't admit that a part of her wanted nothing more than to find a small challenge in the fight. To find that difficulty that all gamers looked for when it game to their games - just difficult enou

They came in a single rush, allowing Nari to dodge out of the way and dance around them. There was no thought, no planning, no tactical nature to their movements, and Nari found it almost appalling how quickly they were to simple throw themselves to their eventual deaths. She knew there was assurance in her victory over the creatures - she was running lower and lower on energy, something that would eventually cause her to fall and fail in such a situation - but she also doubted their ability to overcome her defences in any meaningful way. Already she'd absorbed what she felt were the strongest

Even as she struck down another of the creatures, she could see a replacement appear from the depths of the water, trudging it's way onto land and making her feel as though her efforts were in vain. Frustration taking over, Nari brought the spear around in a large arc, slashing outwards at the various targets that seemed determined to overwhelm her. She knew it was desperate, wild and overall doubtful to do anything of actual damage to the creatures - but as two of them froze in place, it gave her a bit of space to back away and clear her mind as she considered what needed to be done to surviv

Nari couldn't help but wonder at her luck, drawing up a quest that was quickly becoming more nuisance than actual benefit to her. She'd taken it, originally, only to strike a box off on an ever growing list that had been of little consequence to her. Now, however, as the thing rushed towards her, Nari was beginning to wonder if checking off boxes was worth it in the long run. Especially those boxes that seemed to provide her with little of value in return, other than some experience. "I just need to finish you off quickly and find the real threat..." She mumbled to herself as she dodged

The responses had come quickly, albeit in limitation. Still, Nari was pleased to see that there was at least someone else out there - and from the looks of it, a few someone else's - who were still interested in tackling the horrors and challenges that Cardinal designed for them. Her movements had been quickly following the confirmations, a collection of goods and materials that could be useful, before collecting Mio and making her way out towards the teleportation pad and the thirteenth floor. Her arrival was mere moments before the others - and although she may have looked collected an

Nari had slipped backwards, providing the opening she knew would be required by the more aggressive attacker of their duo, her eyes flitting about and looking for anything that could be used towards their advantage, even as she danced around the limbs and branches that seemed to grasp towards her. She could hear the shifting of movement from the Treant, the sound of her own breathing, and the sliding sound that she had associated with Freyd's own existence. She'd fallen into the lull of combat even as she'd continued speaking - her words only cut off when the shockwave had struck her, causing

The walk back to the entrance of the cavern had been, thankfully, uneventful. She could see Wulfrin's eyes darting around as he kept a watch for anything of danger, and she couldn't help but smile at the action. It was a sign of someone setting out on their adventures for the first time, a leeriness of the surrounding areas and the danger they presented. She could still remember her original walks through areas like these - reflecting on how different things were now, and she found her smile broadening naturally. "Consider yourself wholly invited. I've enough other things to keep myself b

The mention of someone willing to drag the lower levelled player through the fifth floor sounded familiar to Nari, and gave her pause. She found herself thinking over the possibilities, before shaking her head as she settled on the most obvious of them all. "Freyd? He does love to get involved with new arrivals, wherever he can. Assuming it is him, he's a good mentor. Take what you can from him. He understands things that go beyond anything I could teach...although I'm not the most capable instructor myself." Her eyes shifted towards the pathway leading to the door as they passed it, befo

Nari couldn't help the squeak of surprise at Wulfrin's findings. She felt a moment of excitement as she realised they'd successfully come to a conclusion on the puzzle's secrets, deciphering it as a team far faster than Nari would've ever been able to do alone - something that she found was a wondrous experience for herself, if not the other player. But as the other explained the, obvious now that she considered it, expansion upon the singular quest which would lead them into sequels and continuations, she couldn't help but release a sudden squeak of frustration. "I shouldn't be surprised

Surprise was the first thing Nari registered when the woman accepted her offering to tag along. Somehow, through even her most positive glimmer of hopeful thoughts, Nari had never actually expected the brunette to decide to accompany the bubbling mess that was the armoured knightess - if she could even be called a knightess, in truth. Pausing in her stride as she tried to take in the reality of the other's acceptance, Nari held her entire form motionless for a few breaths, mouth agape and a look of pure surprise on her face as she considered her response. "Oh...the quest...yeah, I have a

Nari's head may have bobbed in agreement or acknowledgement of the commentary that Wulfrin was providing, but she found herself lost in the sense of the words themselves. She'd quickly failed to keep track of his ideologies and mumblings, and as he leaned back to break away from the tablet itself, she found herself giggling slightly. Shaking her head, she took her own turn over the tablet, looking for anything obvious that would stand out to her eyes, letting them range over the surface in what felt like a desperate attempt at being helpful. "The unmoved titan who is callous and free...t

Nari considered everything that Freyd was saying, even as she dodged the whiplash of a nearby branch. She could feel the very wind on her skin as it lashed outwards and around, trying to hamper her movement and catch her unawares. Her entire form flashed and flowed with an agility that should've appeared near impossible with the weighted gear she wore, and yet she moved without any signs of hindrance or restriction - as much at home in the heavy plate as she was in her own skin. For long breaths she was silent, focusing on dodging the attacks of the living tree and the conversation that had be

No sooner had Nari returned to the fishing pole, than another of the creatures came swimming up to the edge of the inlet that they had situated themselves on. From the corner of her eye, she saw the NPC slink back into the woodlands, well out of the way of danger once more. Sighing to herself, she picked up the spear and shield once more, determined to bring the thing down as quickly as she could, knowing that the quest was only being delayed longer and longer each second that she spent playing with the thing before her. "I should be fine here, Mio...you relax." She kept her voice low a

Nari sidestepped to allow Wulfrin more room to engage with the tablet, taking a standoffish approach as the other showed a greater aptitude for the situation at hand. She smiled to herself, almost laughing as she realised that she'd been ready to attempt this alone. She didn't doubt that'd she'd figure it out eventually, but she knew that it would've taken forever if she'd come at this without the assistance that the other player was providing. He's as much a help as I am a protector. Her eyes flitted to the directed symbol as the player pointed out a possible vowel among the tablet itse

The creature exploded in a shattering of shards that seemed to reach for the sky before disappearing into the light. Nari found herself calm, despite it all, and it took her a few moments to notice that her companion had returned to the edge of the water, returning to his fishing with an almost questionable calmness. She couldn't help but feel some unease at the situation. She was well aware of the limitations of the NPCs, and the unnatural acting that occurred with some of them. Yet something about the entire scene, the way the man had retreated, to the way he calmly returned to his original