[F19 - PP] The Shadow of Doubt <<Scents of the Wild: The Colossal Shadow>>

[Katoka 0]

Among the ramshackle huts and dilapidated tents of the settlement of Home there stood a blonde haired samurai, her mood as somber as the weather that poured rain into the muddy ground. Katoka felt as hollow as an empty bowl, and her eyes reflected that much. It had been a few days since she had broken up with Sam and she was finally done keeping up appearances. Once Freyd had left a note in her shop that he knew what had happened she knew it was time for her to give him an explanation now. After all, she had been keeping things from him as well.

It had been some time since she had last been to the 19th floor, and it was as dreary and it was just as soppy and wet as she remembered. This was as good a place as any to talk things over. Hell, they could always finish up the quest line they had been chipping away at previously as well. Two birds one stone. "If he even still wants to that is." she mumbled to herself. She wouldn't blame Freyd if he was angry with her. She lied to him. To Elora. To everyone about her and Sam. It was easier than trying to explain things at the time.

Her hand reflexively gripped her sword. It's easier to fight and move and never stop to look back. A shiver ran down her spine and she let go of the blade. Ever since she started using the sword it made her feel.. Off. As if it was eager to kill and be used as a tool to destroy. She had a theory of why it was the way it was, but that was something for her to discuss with someone that has interreacted with weapons that had an odd connection with the system. With a deep sigh she checked her inbox again, making sure the message she had sent to Freyd had actually been sent.

Message:

Spoiler

 

Hey, meet me on floor 19 if you can. I need to tell you some stuff even though you already know.

Thanks, Kat

 

----

Katoka consumes:

Draught of Safeguard | Mitigation 3 | 214723
Draft of Keen Edge | Damage 3 | 218093

Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 112/112 | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:5 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16

Spoiler

Name: Katoka, The Cerulean Storm True Tier: 6
Level: 33
Paragon Level: 24
HP: 780/780
EN: 112/112

Stats:
Damage: 23+3=26
Mitigation: 78+60=138
Accuracy: 5
Evasion: 1
Battle Healing: 43
Stealth Rating: -2
REC: 8
FLN: 16 HLY: 16
Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Muramasa's Legacy | T4/Demonic/Katana | Holy II, Fallen II
Armor/Trinket:
- Oni Haori | T4/Demonic/Light Armor | MIT 2, REC 2
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Aquamarine | T4 Demonic Trinket | ACC III, EVA I

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- ST Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Energist
- Katana R5
- Light Armor R5

Extra Skills:
- Concentration
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Parry
- Survival

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
- Ferocity
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Vengeful Riposte

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
- Teleportation Crystal x
- Tincture of Recovery | HP Recovery x

Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
- Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Storage): +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
- Slime Farm: +5% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
- Trading Hall: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +2 crafting/identification attempts per day.
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Alchemist[1817exp] R8
Gathering Profession:

 

Edited August 11 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

A wisp of dark, fowl-smelling fog wafted over the broken marsh where Katoka waited.  When it passed, the shade of a lone figure remained.  Leaning casually against the trunk of the dead tree solemnly marking the stark harshness of the landscape, he might have been just another figment or stray calling in the wind.  Such was the way with Whispers, summoned or not.  He stood in silence, observing her in silence for several minutes before a stray glance noticed him hugging her peripheral vision.

Freyd couldn't imagine the state of his friend's heart.  He had no frame of reference.  Though he suspected that she would imagine him judging her.  How could he?  Her first words would offer the best clues to how this might go, because - despite his entrance - he didn't have the foggiest.

Stepping forward, mark made, the lanky Whisper stuffed his hands in his pockets and approached.  No words were given.  No prompt made.  Maybe that was harsh and she needed comforting?  Sam had certainly looked like she had lost her mind, but there had been too few real details to piece together another other than the fact that she'd left his friend alone at the altar.  You didn't need to be all that emotionally complex to figure out how badly that sucked.  Maybe a little outreach would be a good thing?

"You called, Katoka?"  Voice gentle and quiet, beckoning to explanations not yet provided.  She would need to let this out at her own pace.  

Smooth, Freyd.  Real smooth.  Dumbass.

***

Note: CS (Shades of the Gemini) is in use.  If any other player objects to this, please state in first post and it will be considered inactive.

Freyd consumes:

Gugnir’s Shard (Untradeable/Unique/Reusable Consumable): Crème Brûlée Tray | ACC 2 | Feast (6/6) - takes 1 portion + [filled], then shared with party
[Draft of Keen Edge] - T1 Perfect Potion | Damage 3 | 214674
Jackpot Pretzel (Snack) | Loot Die 3 | 197261 - gives 197124 to Katoka

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 156/156 | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1                                                                                                                            

Spoiler

Name: Freyd, The Whisper in Shadows

True Tier: 17
Level: 33
Paragon Level: 132
HP: 1180/1180
EN: 156/156

Stats:
Damage: 21+3
Mitigation: 45
Accuracy: 1+2+1
Evasion: 1+1
Battle Healing: 
Loot Die: 9+3
VAMP-D: 130
REC: 8
FLN: 16
HLY: 16
QTY: 1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Samael's Pride | T4 MA | FLN 2 | HLY 2
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Black Cowled Traveling Garb | T4 CA | VD 2 | REC 2
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Small Konpeito Sack | TIER 1 DEMONIC TRINKET | LOOT DIE III, QUALITY I

Combat Mastery:
  - Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
  - AOE Shift

Familiar Skill:
  - Grappling Familiar

Custom Skill:
  - Shades of the Gemini

Skills:
  - Battle Healing R5
  - Charge
  - Cloth Armor R5
  - Energist
  - Extended Mod Limit
  - Extended Weight Limit
  - Fighting Spirit
  - Howl
  - Martial Arts R5
  - Quick Change
  - Searching R4

Extra Skills:
  - Survival
  - Disguise
  - Forgotten King's Authority
  - Parry

Inactive Extra Skills:
  - Frozen Hide
  - Hiding R2
  - Lady Luck
  - Meditation
  - Photosynthesize
  - Assault Mode
  - Brawler

Addons:
  - Focus
  - Focused Howl
  - Nimble
  - Precision
  - Reveal
  - Stamina

Mods:
  - Athletics
  - Detect
  - Emergency Recovery
  - Justified Riposte
  - Night Vision
  - Tracking

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
  - Crystal of Divine Light (Reusable) x1
  - Fight O'er Flight (ACC 2 | EVA 2) x1
  - Hope's Covenant - Resolve +4 (T4 Demonic Weapon (MA) - AA, Phase, Frostbite,,VO x1
  - Mass HP Rec [Inst] (+10% HP) x7
  - Ordsea Crystal-B x1
  - Rhino's Horn (Reusable) x1
  - T4 Vitality (+16 EN) x7
  - Teleport Crystals x7
  - The Thing Behind All Lies (T4 Demonic MA, AA, Blight, Static, Para.Ven (Off))  x1

Housing Buffs:
  - Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
  - Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
  - Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
  - Storage Closet: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot
  - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
  - Attic (Bedroom): +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cannot boost a skill without ranks, or increase a skill past its maximum rank. Cannot boost a skill the user has not learned yet. Ranks obtained using this buff will make the mods of that rank available for purchase. Mods obtained this way are unusable if this buff is removed until the skill is returned to the appropriate rank by way of SP purchase.
  - Basement: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll
  - Guest Room: Players can have one «Amenity» in a «Guest Room» and the «Amenity» cannot be recovered. Players are allowed to change which «Amenity» is in the «Guest Room». Multiple instances of the same «Amenity» do not stack. This buff affects the player and their choice of up to two party members.
  - Extended Workshop: +2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
  - Ornate Fishing Pond: +2 Fishing EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to fishing attempts.
  - Dining Hall: Turn 3 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Feast. A Feast contains 6 portions of the food items sacrificed. Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
  - Mega Slime Farm: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
  - Trading Hall: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +2 crafting/identification attempts per day.
  - Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:
  - Tanos

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
 - Appraising[3478exp] R5

Gathering Profession:
 - Fishing[576exp] R5"                                                                                                                            

 

Edited August 30 by Freyd

[Katoka 0]

Normally she would have acted more surprised at him appearing out of nowhere just out of sight, however this time when she noticed a figure approaching she simply turned and waited for him to approach. She wanted to make a remark, something about arriving like a fart on the wind, but the words wouldn't come out. Instead she watched him. Something that Katoka rarely did, watch people. She could see that he was conflicted himself, as though he couldn't decide what to say.

"You called, Katoka?" his voice soft, like he was walking on eggshells.

She gave him a smile. One that was big, but filled with deep and resounding sadness. "Yeah. I did. Thanks for showing up big brother."

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she collected herself the best she could. Letting out a shaky breath Kat began to speak.

"I think by now you know that I wasn't being truthful with you. Things... Things were not ok between me and Sam." she let out a half chuckle half sob, "She was smothering me. She was so afraid that I was going to die that I couldn't leave the house without us having a fight half the time. And things just kept building, and building."

For the first time in several days she felt her eyes begin to well up again. She had thought that she cried every last bit of moisture out of her body but there was suddenly more. It must have been the rain. "We made a compromise at first. You knew sort of. We were going to get married that night and... and...." her eyes spilled over, like a dam that had finally cracked. She stepped closer to the Whisper, her personal space be damned. "She didn't show up Freyd. We were supposed to get married and she left me there. She left me alone for weeks before coming back home like nothing had happened."

She grabbed ahold of the front of his clothes, gripping them tight and shaking him, "I don't understand what happened. I don't know what went wrong. I was so mad then and I just exploded. After that things were never the same. We just went through the motions, never really saying much to one another. I didn't even tell her about the skydocks, or the stupid Sundered wolves." sobs escaped her throat as she tried to continue.

"I kept things from her. I kept things from you. I kept things from Elora. Finally it was all too much. I couldn't take the meek and quiet dinners. The sneaking in and out to avoid one another. I sat her down and talked." she buried her face into Freyd's chest, tears soaking into his clothes. "I think I had already come to the conclusion a while ago but was too afraid to pull the trigger. I told her that we should break up." she pounded her fist into the man's chest. It wasn't hard, she didn't want to hurt him. Though she probably couldn't to be honest. "I ended it and it hurts so damn much Freyd. But now that it's over I feel like I can breathe again and I hate that."

She looked up at him, "I hate that I'm relieved. I hate it so fucking much. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for lying to you and for being a shitty person."

----

Katoka consumes:

Gugnir’s Shard (Untradeable/Unique/Reusable Consumable): Crème Brûlée Tray | ACC 2 | Feast (5/6) - takes 1 portion
Jackpot Pretzel (Snack) | Loot Die 3 | 197124

 Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 112/112 | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Spoiler

Name: Katoka, The Cerulean Storm True Tier: 6
Level: 33
Paragon Level: 24
HP: 780/780
EN: 112/112

Stats:
Damage: 26
Mitigation: 138
Accuracy: 5+2=7
Evasion: 1
Battle Healing: 43
Stealth Rating: -2
REC: 8
FLN: 16
HLY: 16
Loot Die: 0+3=3
Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Muramasa's Legacy | T4/Demonic/Katana | Holy II, Fallen II
Armor/Trinket:
- Oni Haori | T4/Demonic/Light Armor | MIT 2, REC 2
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
- Aquamarine | T4 Demonic Trinket | ACC III, EVA I

Combat Mastery:
- Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Combat Shift:
- ST Shift

Familiar Skill:
- Rending Familiar

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:
- Battle Healing R5
- Energist
- Katana R5
- Light Armor R5

Extra Skills:
- Concentration
- Forgotten King's Authority
- Parry
- Survival

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:
- Ferocity
- Precision
- Resolve
- Stamina

Mods:
- Meticulous
- Vengeful Riposte

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
- Teleportation Crystal x
- Tincture of Recovery | HP Recovery x

Housing Buffs:
- Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
- Bathroom: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down)
- Basic Kitchen: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
- Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
- Attic (Storage): +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
- Slime Farm: +5% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

Guild Hall Buffs:
- Trading Hall: Reduce LD needed for Salvage by 5 (10+ for Alchemist crystals, 6+ for everything else). +2 EXP per craft. Rank 9 crafters and Rank 4 merchants/performers receive +1 crafting/identification attempt per day. Rank 10 crafters and Rank 5 merchants/performers receive +2 crafting/identification attempts per day.
- Treasury: +5% bonus col from last-hit monster kills and +10% bonus col from treasure chests.

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:
- Alchemist[1817exp] R8
Gathering Profession:

 

Edited August 11 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

Even from their earliest days spent together in the death game defining their existence, Freyd had never seen Katoka look so shaken or vulnerable. Sadness pouring from her smiling eyes initially made him flinch, unaccustomed and unprepared for the intensity of witnessing his friend's raw and unbridled agony.  Even the Whisper's chronic intensity, perceived as harsh by many, softened in the face of so much unspoken anguish.  As Katoka's heart opened its floodgates, he felt lost to do anything other than stand and become a sea wall against her surging emotional tides.  This was her moment of catharsis; desperately and brutally required to be purged of grief, and giving her chance of steering some sort of course through such an unfathomable storm.

He said nothing as she closed the distance between them, words spilling out ever faster.  Her tears burst free, overflowing every vestigial bulwark braced to bottle them up inside.  Somehow, no matter how many came, more could always be found.  Katoka seemed to shrink, shriveling into herself and collapsing into unexpected frailty as she buried her face into his chest.  Will alone kept him from tensing, arms spread apart and bracing on a half backstep as her trembling muscles gave way. She had reached her limits, crumbling under the exhaustion of bearing the unbearable for far too long.

Unexpected warmth wove its way through the tangled blonde mess of hair as long, slender fingers gently cradled her head against his chest.  Heartbeats melded as one sought to steady the tempest in the other, providing a pulsing beacon to guide hers through its turmoil.  A flurry of grey flapped around them, snapped open with a flick of his free hand to wrap around the floundering captain.  His old cloak, freshly mended by Setsuna's own hand after warding off Valentina and her goons, had once sheltered Elora in much the same way.  Maybe the thing had a hidden talent for keeping villainy at bay, of any sort?  Even from the people whom you care for the most?

Katoka would notice the hands - bare.  No wrapping strands of every-hungry oblivion was to be seen casting their nihilous shade over a moment of purest sincerity.  Gazing upward, the cowl was gone too.  Only a mop of unruly black hair swaying in the chilled breeze framing a pair of saddened, sympathetic blue eyes gazed back down at her.  No hint of a cowl in sight, not even languishing upon his shoulders.  There was no greater show of trust in the Whisper's world, and Katoka had earned the privilege in spades.

"Accepting isn't the same thing as believing," Freyd finally said softly, breaking into a shallow smile.  "You were never that good a liar, Katoka. But who was I to call your bluff? Friends don't do that to other friends, or so I've been told."  The smile deepened, hoping to break a tension with a bit of branded humour the likes of which had always defined the bond between them.

Pulling a dampened clump of hair from her face, he dried her tears with a tender pass of his fingertips.  

"You have nothing to be apologizing about, little sister.  I should have reached out sooner. If I'd only known how."  Standing against the silhouette of the broken tree trunk, sheltering his comrade as best he could, Freyd let her take all the time she needed.  "Come spend some time with Elora and I, at Witherwind Rest, when this is over.  We have guest rooms, and it seems to me like you could use some company.  Maybe I'll even burn some boxty for you.  Elora taught me how."

***

Vanity tag: @Elora

Freyd uses Tracking on Colossus

[Katoka 0]

The warmth that radiated from Freyd into her as he held her, wrapped in his tattered cloak, melted away the chill that had seeped deep into her bones. Seeing his unwrapped hands and de-cowled face caused her to pause ever so slightly, her mouth agape as he smiled down at her. Tears flowed even harder at the complete and open vulnerability that he was showcasing, audible sobs reverberating from her just before she slammed her had back into his chest. At this point she was certain that he NPCs around them were probably staring, wondering if a child was being consoled.

As she gathered herself, Katoka sniffled as she pulled back from her friend, her head hanging low in embarrassment from her outburst. "I would love to come over to stay with you both. Even if it's just for a night. Also I don't know what the hell a boxy is but you can burn it if you want." she looked up at him, hiccupping and wiping the tears from her cheeks with the palms of her hands. Pouting ever so slighting she unwrapped the cloak from herself and handed it back to the Whisper. "Thank you. For letting me vent all of that. And for like, holding me and stuff."

Kat kicked a nearby rock, not sure how to continue the conversation after that. She had emotion vomited all over him and he had stood there and taken it like it was nothing. Well, not like it was nothing. He had removed his weapons and uncovered his face in a place that wasn't even the comfort of his own home. Freyd had changed so much since finally getting together with Elora, and it filled the samurai with warm fuzzy feelings in her now broken heart to see him coming more and more out of his shell. She had worried about him for a long time, wondered if he was going to crack under the pressures of fighting and gathering and preparing. But now she didn't have to worry, not as much at least. She knew that he had a wonderfully cozy and welcoming home to return to, and someone would be waiting there for him. She felt a longing in her heart for a love that would be like theirs, but that could wait for now.

"You really are an amazing guy Freyd. Thank you for being there for me. For Elora too, but I'm sure I don't have to thank you for that one." she smiled at him. It was a weak and sad smile, but there were the slightest tinges of happiness there. She would heal over time, she knew that, but it would be a much faster recovery with her friends there at her side.

"Want to go kill a big rock man with me?"

[Freyd 0]

Blushing at the unexpected compliment, Freyd wasn't used to such attention in the slightest. 

"Erm.  Yes?  Smash.  Smash is good!"  The flush of colour nearly reached the full length of his ears before he could summon and retreat before his cowl once more, a hint of warbling, reassuring smile still visible beyond its edges.  Poking her in the side seemed only fitting, as she so often did the same to him.  "And, you're welcome.  I think?"  Ribbons of purest night spun themselves back into existence, twisting and twirling like the most menacing of magical girl routines Katoka could imagine, throttling the man's hands with aggressive, devouring intent.  "This whole thing is really rather new to me.  I just want to do right by you, and Elora. You both deserve medals for putting up with my ultra-edgelord shenanigans."

For the first time, Freyd truly considered whether his deep dive into darkness had been worthwhile.  Up until now, it was merely a means to an end; something to be borne and struggled through as a price to achieve the relentless advance up the castle.  There had been nothing more.  Well, there had, but he'd just been too emotionally stupid to even notice it, let alone embrace its potential.  A weight felt lifted from him, like some hidden burden had been loosened by epiphany, spilling over into the potential for a different path.  Behind them, unseen within his own umbra, Montjoy smiled in delighted silence.

"Come on.  Big rock man is this way.  Make sure you climb the outer thigh.  You don't want to know what happens if you try to take a shortcut up the middle."

[Katoka 0]

"Wait. Climb?" Kat cocked her head to the side like a dog hearing an odd sound, "Uhh, just how big of a guy is this?"

The samurai hurried after her friend attempting to keep up with his long stride. She hated being short and trying to catch up to people walking. As the two pushed through the depressing landscape of the nineteenth floor, Kat did her best to look about for any signs of something large that had pushed it's way through the area. If this thing was large enough that they had so scale it to attack, it would definitely leave some sort of noticeable trail. After about fifteen minutes of searching, the blonde let out an audible sigh. "How hard is it to find a big rock man anyways?"

Knowing full well that Freyd could locate the creature in a short amount of time, but Katoka was determined to contribute even a small amount of progress to their goal. If all else failed, she could at least shave off chunks of the monsters health come fight time. She hoped.

"So, how are things with you and Elora? She making sure you get proper sleep?" she turned and a grin pulled at the corners of her mouth, "Or maybe she isn't?" her eyebrows bobbed suggestively before she let out a laugh. 

----

Roll ID#: 226362 invalid do to Tracking being implemented

Edited August 17 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

"Yes. Climb.  Think... uh... well, it's kinda like beating up a mountain, actually.  Or, I suppose you could substitute your favourite Kaiju, if you prefer.  The point is that we need to hit its weak spots to do any notable damage to something that big.  Go for the joints.  Stone doesn't like to bend.  We can help it break itself apart with selective applications of force."

Pausing for bearings, Freyd merely smiled a little smile at her innuendo about Elora, offering nothing concrete, yet hinting that things were also going swimmingly.

"We're doing just fine.  It's been an adjustment, but also good for both of us."  He wanted to say more, but held back out of concern that it might re-open fresh grief.  Katoka's passions needed something else to latch onto without being reminded of her feelings for Sam. Despite this, Freyd couldn't hold back completely from a few friendly teases, if only to plant seeds for their inevitable girl talks.  "She does this cute thing when she sleeps like..." He raised his hands, as if about to explain some strange bodily contortion, bit his lip and let Kat's imagination run wild.

Katoka kept searching the horizon, her brow furrowed as she strained her eyes, wondering where this supposed colossus might possibly hide.  Moments later, a ping came through her interface.

From: Freyd To: Katoka Turn around.  Look up.  You coming, or what?

Already a tiny speck halfway up the leg of the rocky titan she had somehow completely misseed, Freyd waved from on high, then continued to climb.  Maybe he should have warned her about how this thing orgasmed every few steps.

"Nah.  More fun if she finds out for herself." 

And the grin broadened once more.

***

Freyd climbs (1/2 posts)

[Katoka 0]

The ding of a received message appeared as Katoka was lifting a large rock to look underneath for some reason. Dropping the thing with a loud thud she swiped her menu open with confusion, "Who could be messaging me right now?"  the confusion was short lived as she whipped around and managed to see the hulking behemoth that Freyd was now climbing.

"How in the hell did I miss that..."

Breaking out of her momentary stupor, Kat rushed forward and with a flying leap, grabbed onto the side of the thing to begin ascending. She found that it wasn't terribly hard to find hand and footholds to grasp on to, her thoughts settling on to this being a bit too easy. This thought put the samurai on alert since she knew that quests like these were almost never as easy as they seemed. For the moment though, she focused on climbing the leg of the colossal rock creature and doing her best to follow Freyd.

****

Katoka climbs (1/2 posts)

[Freyd 0]

Even his infamous cowl couldn't resist the sheer force of the winds whipping by as the colossus stomped at its own trudging pace across the landscape.  At its size, that meant clocking at least forty miles per hour in ground speed.  

Gods forbid this thing ever take up jogging. 

Life would only get more difficult if they couldn't cut this massive mob down quickly.  Finding a convenient nook in a crevice concealed between the tectonic plates of the thing's thighs, Freyd braced for what he knew was coming.  

"KAT!  GRAB ONTO SOMETHING!"  Screaming into a hurricane while suffering from strep throat might have been more effective, and sending a text wasn't an option unless he wanted to face the full brunt to the coming quake too.  The cacophonous clatter already crashing around them from the simple action of a mountain walking only became worse as it started to shiver and shake.  Could it even detect them, or was the golem just naturally unstable?  Both seemed viable options, given its size.

***

ID 228930 | Cling to Resist Shake | LD 16+6=22

Edited September 8 by Freyd

[Katoka 0]

The massive monster continued on it's path, seemingly headed off in some direction to do whatever it was programmed to do. Kat wasn't sure what something of this size would have the urge to do other than constantly walk and walk until it decided to rest. The wind whipped past her making it difficult at times to reach the next hand or foot hold. It was beginning to get difficult to hear as well, with the rhythmic booms and rumbles of the moving stone she clung to and the constant howling of the wind, it was a wonder she was able to hear Freyd call out to her at all.

"What are you talking about?!" she called up to him, "I've been holding on to something this entire time!"

She soon realized what he meant as she felt a different rumbling begin to spread through the form beneath her. "What the hell is happening?"

----

ID#: 229533 | Cling to Resist Shake | LD: 12+3=15

Edited September 8 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

"GAH! Even Avalanche doesn't make this much racket!"   Bracing himself as best he could within the constrained crevice, Freyd weathered the walking earthquake.  Waiting until the titantic body shiver simmered, he then turned and pressed is hand in search of a weak point anywhere in the mob's massive stony surface.  

"Here! A fissure... well, maybe just more of a stress fracture, but it's something to work with." Repeated strikes, like performing kata in the guild dojo after hours when no one else would bother him, Freyd slammed his fist repeatedly into the target.  "Goddamn.  It's like The Boulder 2.0, on mobile!"  Stone flaked and splintered, the crack gradually spreading, extending beyond his present location.

"Kat," he screamed, hoping she might hear.  "If you're still with me, seize the day.  This is our best chance to take this benemoth down before..."  Words failed as he spotted the small homestead in the distance, tiny rivulets of a morning breakfast fire signaling an early start to what might prove an utterly devastating day.  Each fist struck harder, faster, with growing urgency beyond that moment.  

"Hurry!  HURRY!"

***

Enemy's Action: 

Spoiler

Having the mob act at the beginning of the rotation.  This is rotation 3.  Shake repeats on rotation 6.

ID#: 230476 | The Colossus uses Shake | LD: 11
Freyd (LD 22) - resists
Katoka (LD 15) - resists

Freyd's Action:

Spoiler

Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 15 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 12 EN.  
Free Action | None

ID #230477 | BD: 4+4+2=10 (hit).  DMG (15*24=360-150=210) vs. Colossus (Weak Point 1 [1/3] | CD 10 | ST-B Unlocked

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 144/156 (156-12) | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 112/112 | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 1290/1500 (1500-210) | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

 

Edited September 8 by Freyd

[Katoka 0]

When the rumbling began to intensify the samurai's grip tightened and she managed to hold on with every bit of strength she had. Bits of rock and dirt were shaken loose, falling off of Colossus and onto the the players as they managed to cling to it's body. Katoka sputtered, spitting and coughing the sediment that had found its way into her mouth and all over her face. Once the dust seemed to settle the small woman looked up at the crack that had opened up.

Seeing Freyd pounding into the fissure, Kat's eyes scanned the area for an opening close to her. Her eyes fell on a similar looking series of cracks not far from where she was hanging and scurried up the rockface until she reached the opening. Drawing her blade she reared back and swung, only for the metal to miss it's mark just slightly. The resulting twang of the metal sent rough vibrations down her arm and through her body. Had she not had a good enough grip she probably would have slipped and fallen who knows how far onto the ground below.

"Damn!" she called out as she attempted to readjust herself. "This is a bit harder than I thought it was going to be!"

----

Spoiler

 

Post Action | [x15] ST-I (12 EN +2 ST Shift) 14 - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 11 EN -2 EN
Free Action | None

232730 | BD: 1 Critical Miss!

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 144/156 | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 110/112 (112-2) | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 1290/1500 | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

 

 

Edited September 22 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

Flailing his fist into the stone, wishing he'd had a jackhammer instead, Freyd spotted Katoka as the flew by in another part of the giant golem while it went to scratch at an itch: meaning him.  Pausing just long enough to wave and keep from being plucked like some pesky mosquito, it was clear that his friend was struggling a bit with the mobile dynamics of this particular fight.

"Come on, captain.  This is what the big leagues are all about!"  She probably couldn't see him grinning, but if any part of his message got through she'd certainly be picturing it.  Just as surely as she'd be imagining elbowing him in the ribs.  Phantom pains were real.

Try as he might, Freyd also found it hard to pummel a mountain with clenched fingers.  They were chipping away, but the constant unsettling motion of their ride made it awkward in the extreme.

***

This is rotation 4.

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
CD 7 (+8 REC proc) ID #233022

Post Action | AoE-II (x18, 14 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 18 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 15 EN.  
Free Action | None

ID #233021 | BD: 3+4+2=9 (hit) | DMG (18*24=432-150=282) vs Colossus

Checking CD because the original roll is too far back in the roller | ID 233922 | CD 4 | ST-B locked.

Current weak spot has been attacked 2/3 times.

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 141/156 (144+4+8-15) | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 110/112 | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 1008/1500 (1290-282) | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

Edited September 29 by Freyd

[Katoka 0]

"The big leagues are really testing my patience!" Katoka gritted her teeth and adjusted her grip. Her blade began to glow again as her sword art charged, audibly growing louder in her ear. However the sound of rocks grinding and crunching together were much louder. With a shout the samurai rammed her blade into the crack in front of her, sending a shockwave of energy into the stone. The opening grew wider as she jerked her weapon free in a panic, she didn't want the pressure from the creature's body to snap the sword in half.

"I'm not a fan of having to climb around this guy like a bunch of fleas. It's a long way down if he swats us off!" Kat did her best not to look down as she hung on for dear life. She wasn't afraid of heights, but hanging like this with no ties or rope was just asking for an express trip to the ground floor.

----

Spoiler

 

Katoka regains +4 EN
CD 11 (+8 REC proc) ID #234122

Post Action | [x15] ST-I (12 EN +2 ST Shift) 14 - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 11 EN
Free Action | None

ID#: 234125 | BD: 3+7=10 HIT! | 26*15=390-240 DMG vs Colossus

CD: 10 ST-B Unlocked!

Current weak spot has been attacked 1/3 times.

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 141/156 | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 101/112 (141+2-11) | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 718/1500 (1008-290) | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

 

 

Edited September 30 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

Trying to keep the distance to ground from the forefront of his mind wasn't helped by Katoka's reminder.  He'd probably bounce, and likely wouldn't feel it overmuch due to the system's pain suppression routines, but the embarrassment of belly flopping from eight stories, then probably getting stepped on, was more than he wanted to consider.  A sudden keening wail from his fist, fortunately shattered his daydream and promised to do the same to this titan.  As the seals around Samael's Pride cut loose, Freyd drove his fist as hard as he could through the gigantic golem's limb, drilling through like a jackhammer with zoomies.  It reminded him of various video games where you drill through rock to collect coins and other sundries, the stone just vaporizing as he went. 

Emerging on the far side, Freyd knew he'd done some damage, but also needed to find another weak point if he hoped to have any additional effect.  That meant more climbing, more quakes and more time.

"Uh, Kat?  Now would be a really great time for one of your special Shazam moments!"

***

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
CD 10 (No REC proc) ID #234152

Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 15 EN - (Stamina) = 13 EN.  
Free Action [Item] | Crystal of Divine Light

ID #234 | BD: 7+4+2=13 (hit, Fallen +24).  DMG (15*48=720-150=570) vs the Colossus

Freyd takes double damage until his next turn.
Current weak spot has been attacked 3/3 times.  Exhausted.

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 140/156 (141+4+8-13) | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 101/112 | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 148/1500 (718-570) | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

Edited September 30 by Freyd

[Katoka 0]

"Right!" she called from the spot that she hung from, "One of my Shazams!"

Feeling her grip starting to loosen Katoka placed the handle of her weapon in her mouth, gripping it with her teeth as she used two hands to find a better handhold. With both hands now free it took her very little effort to find a more convenient place to hang from. Gripping a new chunk of rock with her left hand, the samurai withdrew her blade from her mouth and reached deep inside herself, looking for the hunger that paced within. Brushing it ever so slightly with her consciousness she directed it's attention to the target before her.

Electricity sparked and cracked from her body as she felt the her power swell, being fed by whatever dwelled within her weapon. Her sword snapped forward, driving deep into the weak point before her and sending blue white lighting erupting from the hilt of her weapon. "Hanami! I could use a heling hand right now!" Kat called, her sword arm glowing bright as the tattoo of her familiar sprung to life. The spectral form of the dragon wrapping around her arm and driving the katana deeper into the wound.

"SHAZAM!" the small blonde yelled just before her sword shot out of the crack with a twang, the force nearly sending it flying from her hand. A loud and mournful sound echoed from the creature, like hundreds of large rocks were grinding together to create a whale's song. Katoka felt a deep sadness flow through her just before the boss they clung to began to crumble apart.

----

Spoiler

 

Katoka regains +4 EN
CD 3 (No REC proc) ID#: 234173

Post Action | [x23] ST-B (20 EN + 2 Shift EN) = 22 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 19 EN
Free Action | Rending Familiar Activated [28 DMG] CD 0/5

ID#: 234174 | BD: 9 CRIT! | 35*23=805-150= 655 DMG vs Colossus

Current weak spot has been attacked 2/3 times.

Freyd | HP: 1180/1180 | EN: 140/156 | DMG: 24 | MIT:45 | ACC:4 | F-SPIRIT | EVA:2 | BH:65 | VAMP-D: 130 | REC: 11 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD:12 | QTY: 1 
Katoka | HP: 780/780 | EN: 101/112 (141+2-11) | DMG: 26 | MIT:138 | ACC:7 | EVA:1 | BH:43 | REC: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | LD: 3

Colossus | HP: 0/1500 (148-28-655) | MIT: 150 | EVA: -2 [Rend 1/2 | 28 DMG]

• Weak Points | Weak points can be found on both hands, chest, and head. These can only be attacked up to three times each before the weak point is gone, and you have to move onto the next one. If you miss attacking it, it will not count as using one of the three chances.
  • [Note: To climb to a weak point, you must spend 2 Posts climbing to it, and this goes for every weak point.]
• Oblivious | Since the boss is so large and you have to hold on and climb, players have no way to get space to <<Charge>> for extra damage.  Hiding, the Surprise Attack mods and the Tracking mod similarly have no effect on the creature.
• Shake | This boss does not attack directly. Instead, every three rotations after the boss is found, <<Colossus>> will try to "shake" the player(s) off of its body. Players have to grip onto the creature, rolling an LD as a Post Action to see how strong their grip is on the creature. The next post, <<Colossus>> will roll his own LD. If his LD is greater than the player, the player is thrown off, dealing 250 Unmitigatable damage to the player. They will then have to restart their climb to the next Weak Point.
  • [Note: LD equipment and consumables can come into effect when rolling, but no skills or mods that give an LD bonus can help.]

 

 

 

Edited October 1 by Katoka

[Freyd 0]

Slipping from shadow to shadow, a giant casting no small offering, Freyd rapidly reached Katoka's back, offering a gentle tap to let her know he was there.  

"Nice!"

Grasping her wrist, deep azure eyes gleaming like beacons in the midst of a proper rockslide, they asked for her trust as he pulled her towards him and into the void.  It felt weird; dark and utterly devoid of anything, including sound.  In a world without anything, including light, the only tether to her sanity she could sense was the gentle press of his grip upon her sleeve.  She couldn't see him, nor even her self.  There was nothing to breathe, nor any need to do so.  This place did not exist, making their presence anathema and necessarily fleeting.  Pressure bore down upon every part of her being, as if she somehow stood at the very apex of a black hole seeking to swallow her into oblivion.  And then light.  Sound.  Crashing thunderous sound as a mountain dissolved a few hundred yards away, then burst into a thermonuclear cloud of scintillating fragments.  

"Quite the fireworks show, isn't it?"  Katoka caught a glimpse of oily black something receding from her friend's eyes as they emerged from the shadow of a dead three on a hill within sight of their battle.  The Colossus, defeated, prompted the system to recognize her accomplishment with its standard celebratory tone.  It seemed too small and quiet for the scale of what they'd just encountered.

"Everything alright?"  Freyd glanced at her sword, momentarily, raising a question only she could answer.  "That was quite the Shazam, back there.  And well-timed."

Thinly veiled concern was about the best he could manage, the Whisper's secretive nature rarely allowing more obvious displays.

[Katoka 0]

Katoka had just started preparing herself to fall. She had devised a plan, albeit not a great one, just before she felt a different sort of weightlessness engulf her body. Sinking into the darkness triggered a memory of the what happened after the Storm of Shadows, however that feeling subsided when she realized it didn't feel quite the same. When she emerged from the inky black she felt herself gasp for air, as if she had been under water for too long despite not really feeling the need to breath in that space. She turned around quickly and saw that it had been Freyd that had pulled her into that space.

Relief quickly replaced the panic and she gripped the front of her clothing as she attempted to regain control of her breathing. "Jeez, warn a girl next time will you?" Once her nerves had settled she looked back over the destruction that the Colossus had left in its wake. "I'm fine. Well, I'm not fine but after some time I think I will be." She turned to the Whisper, a small smirk appearing on her weary and sleep deprived face, "Thank you Freyd, for always being there when I need you. I couldn't have asked for a better friend, or a better brother."

Kat stepped forward and hugged him once more, quickly, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Now let's get the hell out of here so I can take a shower."

[Freyd 0]

Freyd just laughed at her protest, marveling at the preposterous critique.

"Pfft.  Just how long do you imagine freefalling takes from a hundred feet up?  We didn't even get close to the top of that thing, and its body might well have pulverized us as it collapsed, well before we hit the ground.  But, yeah, sure, I'll warn you next time."  A snort wrapped up his half-hearted retort, knowing she was just reacting to the adrenaline.  It never even crossed his mind that Kat would react to Shadow's power with dire recollections of the the villain's worldwide flood. Irredeemable grin plastered once more on his face, it was eased by a careworn softness around the eyes.  He was more the type to show than say it aloud, but it was clear that he cared about her wellbeing.  Whatever manicured facade Freyd was concocting for himself vanished the moment she kissed him on the cheek, wholly unaccustomed to such symbols of affection.  Eyes wide, he merely nodded, dumbly, pointing back the way they'd come.  

"Yeah.  Ummm... shower.  You stinky," was about all he managed before his lips stopped working completely.

***

Thread Closing:

Katoka receives:

4,386 EXP (Word Count [5396/10*5*0.7] + Quest [2500])
6,057 col (1 page [400] + Quest [5000] + 15% P5 Reward [657])
Unlock Tanos Key
+1 Guild Token

Freyd receives:

6,414 EXP (Word Count [5396/10*17*0.7] + Quest [0])
962 col (1 page [0] + Quest [0] + 15% P5 Reward [962])
+1 Guild Token

Edited October 4 by Freyd