Fantasy To The Gods!

[KingofAesir]

Valkri watched, rather amusedly, as Juniper seemed to become somewhat....high off Sam's song. She herself honestly thought he wasn't that good but Juniper seemed to have a very different reaction. Valkri was too occupied with watching Juniper to notice that someone, or rather, something called out to the goblin creatures. Perhaps it was a bit odd that she hasn't heard such a loud voice, she was so invested in studying Juniper's face, but she couldn't care less.

Sam grabbing Juniper's got her attention though. Sharp eyes shot down to the space and a less than nice glare accompanied them. Valkri said nothing though, only quietly vowing to herself that she would have to slit the young bard's throat in the middle of the....

Wait.

WHAT?

Valkri shook her head and blinked. There would be no throat slitting. Whatever that was, she had no room for that. With a heavy sigh, she followed after the two of then toward the now trembling goblins. She noted, with curiosity, that they seemed to have been playing a card game. Valkri picked up a card and twirled it between her fingers with a grin.

"Well, isn't that interesting." The terrified goblins made no move, still searching for whatever had spooked them. Valkri crossed her arms with an indignant huff, "Rather drab little creatures. What are they so terrified of?" Valkri turned to her companions with a questioning look.​

 

[Birdsie]

Athgoth followed the group. Although he was with them, his mind was absent. He felt anxious over the unmistakable reality that there was a paladin in the party. This made his plan to prolong his life through lichdom all that harder. He hid behind a bush when the group stumbled upon goblins and felt his eyesight get better as Sam started chanting a tune.

"Excellent idea, Sam. Enhanced perceptions are a good advantage to have in this environment," he said, somewhat losing himself and calling the bard by his name. Were they that close yet? Who cares! Athgoth focused on the goblins, his vision improved. He noted, however, that Juniper seemed to have suffered from some kind of feedback. He formed theories as to the cause. Maybe it was her inherent magic interfering with Sam's own. "It seems the sorceress enjoys a state of bliss instead. Are you sure you didn't botch the spell?"

Not that it was important. The effect probably wasn't permanent, as no magic is permanent. Nothing is. It's one of the first rules of necromancy taught to new acolytes; eventually the body withers and the spirit lives on, but eventually, even the spirit can be destroyed, and after that, there is only the Nothing After Death. Even if it lasts too long to be tolerable, Athgoth was confident some alchemy could work to fix her.

A loud sound rang through the forest, like the mating call of a dying whale. Athgoth had a hard time piecing together what was said.

Athgoth didn't have a proper weapon for fighting. His quarterstaff was mostly to help direct some spells, acting as a focus for energy. Then there was his ritualistic dagger, mostly used to draw blood sacrifices or the like. His surgical tools like scalpels would be useless in a fight. Athgoth decided to let the rest of the party do the work and use his quarterstaff if need be.

He noted the gesture of Sam taking Juniper's hand and suppressed a chuckle, going further with the group. He looked at Valkri, answering her question. "Didn't you hear the roar? I can recognize the accent, it's kind of orcish, but I highly doubt any orc tribes live here. If we do see an orc, that'd be anomalous to say the least, but nonetheless possible. We should decide what to do. If we kill the goblins, the smell of fresh blood may attract whatever released that roar, depending on how well it can smell. We need to be careful about this," he said, kind of expecting deep down that at the moment he uttered the last sentence, someone would yell a war-cry and rush at the goblins out of the bushes with an axe. That was how Athgoth imagined most adventurer parties worked.

 

[Lappi]

Mill Hammerhead Mill stared out at the,...the..... he could swear they looked like green gnomes. Mill waited a few seconds, watching the little green gnomes cower in fear. He chuckled a bit under his breath and observed them closely.
"hmmmmm" Mill rubbed his stubble of a beard and thought for a moment. Devoting all of his brainpower to this one moment, these words could make him a very rich man. What were they talking about earlier? Sorcery right? It must be printed on those tiny pieces of paper their using. Once again Mill's voice boomed across the field.
"Run away fast enough and you will not be harmed, you have 3 seconds!!!" After all why wouldn't this work? Once they run all Mill has to do is swoop in and professionally steal the tiny scrolls their using. Something that powerful would allow him to buy alot of gold. Then he will be one step closer to that golden armor, he could imagine it now!
He walked around a bit, coming down from the small hill, getting a better angle. Failing to notice the small party of people barely 30 meters away from him to his left. However he surely made enough noise getting there. breaking limbs, snapping saplings, in half that are in his way. Afterwards he squatted down and stared at the goblins from the brush, feeling like the stealthiest man alive.
"ONE!!!"
Mill's voice boomed out even louder than before, shaking the leaves on the trees near him. Mill realized right afterwards that blew out his voice.....a weak cough coming afterwords. After a coughing fit he pounded on his chest and stared at the goblins to see if he had to really start counting more, he honestly felt like he couldn't keep going, even in his normal voice. had still failed to notice the party of misfits to his left. Maybe he's deaf, maybe he's stupid.... we dont know.​

 

[Randomfella]

This feeling was strange, to say the least, though the lyrics burnt through the small paladin's ears. This was no hymn, no wonder it didn't work as he intended, perhaps the bard would need to be taught a thing or two. Yet there was little time for that, and the howling from afar confirmed it, though it did little to waver the armoured servant.

Arlos drew his sword, kneeling on the ground with the blade pointing on it, facing toward the hilt. As the girl spoke up, whose face was familiar in a way he could not place a finger on, he turned his attention toward the group after a great deal of silence. "They know Zenith's wrath comes for them, that is why they are frozen in fear." He stated, glancing back over toward the vile fiends, his tone proud and sure, if not still slightly high in pitch. The foul necromancer's words only bolstered the thoughts in Arlos's mind. "Enough waiting like cowards! An army of Orc could sit behind the brush and it would not matter, the lord is with us, they are proof." Arlos announced proudly, indicating toward the green figures, rising with great strength, though even standing he was barely above his cowering companions. "I knew I should have led them..." He thought to himself, before swinging the blade above his head, and sprinting toward the group of yellow goblins... Well, figuratively yellow.

"In Zenith's name I will smite you, vermin!" The war cry escaped the halfling, powerful, instilling further fear into any who heard it. His sword held above his head, a blade that was larger than his own torso, it wasn't long before he brought it down, his face turning wet with!... Mud.
Like a child sprinting with a stick, the pitter patter of his footfalls made humorously quiet by the bard's tune, only a few meters from their hiding Arlos had tripped due to the sudden shift in weight experienced. Nevertheless! He rose again! Charging once more with haste! Hollering in a screech at their opponents.

 

[Neon Valkyrie]

Juniper's face was still tight with fear as she noticed the lack of it in the other members of the group. The bard looked worried, the REAL wizard looked amused, and the paladin looked irritated by the whole situation. Then there was the fighter, she was just staring with those big, green eyes. Defensive as she was about currently being considered an invalid by at least half the group, she couldn't help but smile back at Valkri, absently twirling at her hair with her free hand. Her gaze lingered as Sam clutched at her hand, offering a similar smile to the blushing bard. He turned away quickly, taking charge of the group with a gesture and leading them all around behind the goblin camp.

Still hidden in the treeline, they could all see the goblins cowering near the fire, weapons raised. Who could blame them ... Well, apparently Valkri could blame them, but who else could. Athgoth cleared thing up, though his thoughts on what might be lurking in the woods was unsettling. Juniper couldn't help but imagine an orc war-band waiting in the darkness beyond the trees. Maybe they could join forces with the goblins, just for tonight?

Arlos wasn't having any of it. The frustration was clear in his voice, and before anyone knew exactly what was happening, he charged out of the darkness, toward the goblin party, his sword raised. So shocking was the sight that Juniper failed to notice the cacophony of snapping twigs and shuddering leaves announcing Mill's approach just metres away. Though his feet made little noise, and his armour was silences in kind, the goblins immediately noticed the impossible shine of the halfling's armour. Bracing for the attack, and against their own confusion, they froze, stunned, when the little man landed on his face in the mud.

Juniper wanted to scowl ... the fall reflected poorly on them. Or, perhaps more accurately, reflected accurately on them. While his armour and equipment made it easy to forget, Arlos was as green as any of them, even the goblins. Green, in this case, meaning inexperienced, unskilled, or daft. Much as she wanted to scowl, a laugh burst out of her. A roaring, clamorous laugh that echoed off the trees, and doubled her over slightly. Taking the opportunity, the goblins exchanged vexed glances, and whispered amongst themselves. It wasn't as funny to them. Arlos, meanwhile, pushed himself up and resumed his charge, mud dripping down his face. Juniper just laughed harder, even as the goblins raised their weapons in defence.

 

[Birdsie]

Athgoth saw what Arlos was doing and he facepalmed. His hand fell down, and holding his hand over his mouth, Athgoth muttered. "Does that halfling not know any self-restraint, or did his theological recitations defile his mind completely?"

Sighing, Athgoth opened his spell tome and stepped out of the bushes. Not knowing how to 'be glorious' like the halfling, he blandly yelled out the only warcry he could think of: "I fart in your general direction!" He looked at one of the pages and scowled wickedly at the goblins. "Stultum ignavo!"

A translucent skeletal hand appeared in the air and clutched itself on the neck of one of the goblins, keeping it in place and slowly strangling it. Athgoth cackled, trying to play along with people's expectations.

 

[Reis]

"Botch the spell? ...Me? Th-there's no way...." Sam responded to Athgoth in a hopefully confident voice. After all that practice, was he really just as bad at barding as he was knighting? The thought was too depressing, so he instead tried focusing on the situation at hand. What was that monstrous thing coming towards them? Clearly it was something they absolutely couldn't handle right now. Who knows what kind of beast could let out such a frightening roar? Their group couldn't even handle a few terrified goblins, much less whatever behemoth was slowly approaching them with such an extreme killing intent. Just before he could plan their escape, the monster...spoke to them?

"Run away fast enough and you will not be harmed, you have 3 seconds!!!" That voice, it was... "ONE!!!" Sam flinched a bit at the loud shout, but he suddenly wasn't as terrified as before. Yes, that was definitely an orc over there, it wasn't even hard to tell at this point. And orcs weren't quite the sharpest swords in the armory. If they could just regroup and finally make their stealthy escape--

Arlos suddenly drew his sword and charged at the goblins. His innocent charge at the enemy would have been adorable if it wasn't so utterly dangerous. Why is he charging straight into the middle of a warzone?! Not even Zenith can save you from a mace to your tiny skull! Sam's inner strife was made worse by Juniper's laughter. Did she just crack under the pressure? Already?! We didn't even do anything adventurous yet!

Sam's fears somewhat fell away, however, as Athgoth stepped from the bushes and used a spell. It wasn't quite the stealthy escape that he wanted, but...finally! Finally, they were actually killing monsters like normal adventurers! Sam was excited enough to step out of the bushes along with his necromancer ally, the adrenaline of battle already flowing through his veins. "Arlos, Athgoth! You two take care of the goblins, I'll go and handle the orc!" With a dramatic nod to his brothers-in-arms, Sam went the short distance towards the foot of the hill where that orc stood.

"You wanna fight those goblins, huh? Well, first you gotta get through me!" The idea of battle was too exciting for Sam, and he up and challenged the orc to a head-on duel. His subconscious reluctance was clear, however, as he challenged the orc all the way from the bottom of the hill. He drew his sword with a wild grin on his face. Finally...I can actually use this thing! He flourished it, readying the blade for orcish blood. Oh wait... Sam gulped. I don't even know how to fight, do I?

 

[Randomfella]

A stern expression overcame Arlos's face as a skeletal hand appeared to choke one of the goblins. At least it seemed more magic than necromancy, but nevertheless, it was a foul sight, and he had no doubt from where it came. He thought of this, instead of thinking over the fact that the spell caster was helping him, while the wanna-be bard seemed to be attempting to charm orcs, while the would be wizard-girl simply continued to laugh. It didn't matter, he would strike each of the vermin down himself if need be, at least in his mind, Zenith was with him, after all.

"Zen-Lumico!" As Arlos roared with might these holy words, the oversized tome by his side began to radiate a glorious golden light. His sword held in his right as he continued his righteous charge, Arlos threw his left hand up toward the goblins. As he did so, the same shine from his tome seemed to flash from his hand. The goblins cowered in fear, hiding their eyes from the burning intensity of Zenith's light. Well, they were about to anyway, until what looked like a puff of yellow dust fell from the halfling's hand anticlimactically, followed soon after by slight giggles from the clearly scared... Or maybe confused would be a better word, goblins.

Arlos however, the mighty champion that he was, ignored this minor setback! His charge continued! Not faltering for even a second! Hey, at least he had spirit, probably enough to fill a whale in that small body of his. The display, while draining him slightly, at least worked to distract the vermin. Bringing his left back almost instantly after announcing his holy scripture, it worked to grip the hilt. Now both hands holding the blade firmly behind as he ran, Arlos swung the holy sword around his side with a mighty "Argh!". Taken aback, his target awkwardly moved their primitive weapon to block the attack. Blade clashed against wood, and while the blow was firm enough to snap the weapon in two, the block was more than enough to prevent Arlos from reaching their flesh with the edge.

"Zenith would have cleaved such a heathen, alongside their hatchet, in two!" Arlos thought as he cursed his own weakness, before pulling back his blade, readying another strike. He, however, was outnumbered. The goblins began to retaliate, apart from the one still gagging for air and another trying to pry the skeletal grip from him. For what he lacked in strength, Arlos more than made up for in his natural agility. Though it would shame him to admit unlike other holy paladins of Zenith, blocking a blow with his breastplate would be more than enough to waver him. With his left still on the hilt, and his right gauntlet holding the blade, Arlos moved to deflect and avoid the numerous oncoming blows, walking backward as the goblins moved upon him, though they were still clearly weary of what else was out there, holding back in anticipation.

 

[Lappi]

Mill Hammerhead
Mill stared at the human-like figure for a second- the half orc could not help but wonder if he was talking to the wind. Mill even glanced behind himself, but alas. But what orc was he talking about, Mill is a half orc. He might have gotten caught but maybe there was something else he was referring to, after all he didn't refer to him properly. He tried to remember training for when he got caught.

There was no real training for this, so he just stood up and stared at Sam, before just trying to walk around Sam. Acting like he wasn't there, he had no reason to speak to Sam. After all- someone as skilled as Mill knew that he was referring to an orc, not a half orc! there was no reason to waste his time on someone. Of course Mill had the smallest, happiest smirk when he saw the tiny half-ling charge the goblins and end up snapping the tiny green gnomes weapon in two. Though Mill was getting antsy, he wanted to get to those spells before anyone else!

"Im not orc- Move"

Then Sam drew his sword and it made Mill scoff, any true sneak knows how to fight. Drawing his short sword he stared Sam down. Crouching down and taking a 'nimble' stance, though his form was better suited for peasant militia rather than a warrior. His cobbled together armor giving a dim shine with a breastplate. It was poor quality but well taken care of, and his short sword was of similar quality. Overall he came off how he acted, dull; but with spirit. It was all for intimidation though, as a half orc. His many scars might give off the impression that he is a veteran.

"Why don't you move- and I walk past?"

Reis Randomfella Birdsie
​

 

[Neon Valkyrie]

Juniper straightened up, wiping a tear from her cheek as their ACTUAL spellcaster stepped from cover to lend assistance. Sam, in turn, ran off toward whoever was yelling from the bushes. Ahead, a cloud of sickly yellow dust had just set the goblins giggling again, but they were definitely starting to form up around the similarly-sized holy man, and the scene was getting less amusing. Swallowing her last chuckle, Juniper broke into a jog, watching with only momentary confusion as a translucent skeletal hand began to assault one of the little green figures, distracting another, who started trying to pry the supernatural fingers back.

Despite his foolish charge, Arlos was doing a surprisingly capable job of deflecting blows as Juniper arrived on the scene, the goblins turning menacing stares up at the obviously unarmed half-elf. Stepping away from the armoured halfling, one of the goblins took a swing at her. Twitching backward, out of reach of the little spear, Juniper stumbled backward and fell onto her skirts. Puffing himself up with pride, the goblin advanced, sending Juniper scuttling backward in the dirt until her hand struck something small and flat, possibly a blade. Without thinking, or looking, she readied it against the little green man. Both paused for a moment, peering at the collectible card clutched between her fingers. The goblin began to giggle, a mean smile on his face, as Juniper turned the little card over in her hands.

While she couldn't read the tiny little words printed on its cover, she could indeed discern the stylized lightning bolt printed in the upper square of the little red-bordered card. Frowning at the giggling goblin, Juniper wound up, and flicked the card with all her might. It's worth noting that, along with dart-throwing, spoon-racing, quarters, and various other barroom games, card-fighting was among Juniper's few skills. However, unlike previous card fights, as the little piece of card-stock struck the goblin in the forehead, a rumble sounded from overhead, and a flash of electrical power bounded down from the sky, sending the goblin flying a few feet backward, where he landed, smoking.

Juniper's eyes were wide as saucers, even as the smoking goblin sat upright, a similar expression branded across his face. The other gobins huddled around Arlos were also staring, back and forth between their electrocute comrade and the fallen farm girl. Suddenly one sprang toward her, lifting a card from the ground and flicking it with all his might. It flitted through the air, bouncing harmlessly off Juniper's nest of hair, the little fireball printed on it showing as it landed face-up. The irritated half-elf just stared at the goblin, who shrugged. To be honest, Juniper didn't know why his card was any different than hers, but whyever it was, the blackened goblin pushing to his feet a few feet away didn't look interested in charging her again.

The choking goblin, Icky, had stopped twitching, while the others were starting to look like a relocation was in order, backing rapidly toward the far edge of the camp.