Elora

Something was definitely off. If there was one thing Elora knew about Katoka, it was that her body language could be read like an open book. Normally, the small-set woman would be wobbling anxiously from side to side, or at the very least, feigning some sort of optimism as she attempted to conceal an overwhelming worry. Today, she just seemed...deflated. A vacant stare drifted among the crowds of pedestrians until eventually settling on her. She hardly seemed relieved because of it. "Hey Elora. Thanks for c-coming out here with me...", she started before Elora knew what to say, "Sam and I

It would be difficult to miss the droning matriarch as she spawned beside the dwarfing nest. At first, Elora assumed the shadow that passed over her was from a cloud that intercepting the sun. Only a few seconds had proven enough to prompt additional investigation. Turning her head, the amorphous peripheral mirage morphed into a wicked shape - the angular body of a wasp, and one that was pissed. Reorienting her attention to the stronger foe, she began to shake with worry. "Yeah --", her resolve began to crack, "She's big!" With an angry whirr, the queen thrust her abdomen forward. Elora n

"Not yet", she started, "But I'm sure if we follow the bees, we'll have our answer." In any realistic scenario, Elora would reel at the thought of getting closer to the swarm of raging insects. But in Aincrad, uncomfortable encounters tended to be the source of any reward worth receiving. Hesitant at first, she shuffled forward, spear held diagonally across her chest. The nearby hum of activity quickly morphed into a roaring frequency. Dozens of worker bees darted and crawled outside of a papery hive, its base woven securely to the underside of an oak branch. Normally, Elora would expect

Accidental blank post

Dreams fizzled into obscurity as the familiar ping unraveled scenes of taupish cliffs and rolling hills. Tired blinks ushered in the furnishings of a new environment and it became clear that she had fallen asleep within the walls of Witherwind Rest. With a sluggish huff, Elora swiped open her menu to blacklist whatever sociable lunatic was messaging her at this hour. Certainly, it was not her responsibility to mute the chime of notifications at the end of every day. The highlighted text trailed behind a profile photo that depicted an amorphous blob. So the slimes are soliciting players n

Elora's elven ears seemed to perk up at the question. "Well, yeah --", she started with some enthusiasm, "Chemicals have always interested me." She paused momentarily before correcting her phrasing, "Chemistry, I mean -- the way that different solutions can work together to create unexpected reactions. I've...never been great at the math behind it all, but I like the experimentation." Something appeared to cross Elora's eyes at the admission. Her attention gradually retreated inwards as ears sank back and into their usual position. Where she'd intended to retrieve an appropriate story, sh

Her imagination was briefly whisked away with a montage of comforting smells and tastes. Kiluia's reasoning was sound. There were few staples of home that came to her mind more readily than food. From boxty for breakfast to shepherd's pie for supper, Elora could recall the warmth of many meals she'd tried. "Your idealism is admirable", she offered sincerely, "There are few tasks more difficult than that. How do you recreate real-world dishes without their ingredients?" It seemed impossible, in her mind, to harness the taste of home without so much as a recipe. "I don't envy you, Kil", she

Her brows furrowed briefly at the assessment, rebounding to a more optimistic expression after he arrived at the compliments. Bahr seemed a more honest player than she was used to. At least, he seemed more inclined to say whatever had crossed his mind. In a world where so many strove to befriend one another and vanquish their enemies with the power of friendship, she appreciated such frankness. Elora appeared contemplative as the pair retraced their steps to the labyrinth's entrance. Lit by the thrumming glow from rows of reliable torches, the once-unfamiliar corners felt far less sinist

Elora silently swooned as Kil shared his history with Haine. It was adorable to imagine how a fledgling romance to blossom into a long-term relationship. As they walked her mind began to wander, wondering whether or not she would meet someone special one day. "I can see the appeal", agreed Elora after a long pause, "Desserts are sugary and pack the most powerful punch to our tastebuds. There's few things better than cool gelato on a hot day or biting into a square of chocolate during...", she trailed off, "Anytime of day --" Nice save. She found herself nodding along with his remarks on i

"I didn't distinguish anything unique", started Elora, "But the way he looked...almost frozen, I wouldn't normally think anything of it, considering the climate." She knew they all had caught glimpses of it. The man, though exuding a feral vitality, appeared to inhabit a body succumb to frostbite. Pale skin mottled with bruise-like patches could be seen just beneath a pelt of frosted facial hair. "Where do you think he could have come from that was still that cold?" A timely chill directed her attention to the snowy peaks that loomed in the distance. "I agree. There's something else to come of

Coming eye to eye with the ragged man made Elora's skin crawl. She had slaughtered beasts before and even snuffed out the lives of many elves. Never had she encountered an enemy that looked so human, yet so monstrous at the same time. Rusty streaks trickled from the mouth of the man, ensnaring the stench of something revolting within his beard. She'd barely managed to stop her fall as the butt of her spear lodged into the thawing mud. In an instant, she was cast in the other direction. Whether by instinct or force, her legs stumbled backwards, clearing a distance between the two of them.

"Well it's working, isn't it?", she sang back in a smarmy voice. The words streamed from her with an unbridled sincerity that she was scarce to allow. Normally, self-praising remarks hemmed the pattern of a confident disguise. Only recently had she begun to feel a genuine pride in her own abilities. It was bittersweet to question whether or not she deserved that even that. So instead, she rushed back into the fray. With their enemy teetering on the brink of collapse, there was precious time to waste. Careful leaps around pools of lava placed her just beneath the Warden's hulking form. Eye

Elora would have shaken her fist in anger if she wasn't desperately attempting to steady her beer. What were the two of them thinking, sprinting off like that and leaving her to to trail after them like some sort of hound? Dexterity failed her as she struggled to dodge thawing pitfalls and protruding conifer branches. Finally, she escaped the evergreen canopy, stumbling onto the scene of an ensuing battle. Freyd was doing whatever he was. Meanwhile, Oscar had already begun to unsheathe his weapon of choice. Katana? Nice -- Not far off, a bear of a man had begun his feral dash toward their

She spared no hesitation. With heels springing her forward, Elora raced toward the Warden in a zagged pattern. In a moment's notice, she had approached its faltering knee. Magma silhouetted a rippling cape as she leapt into the air. Her spear positioned for an opportunistic attack, blade plunging deeply into a gap between the armored plating. The behemoth reeled, spraying magma into Elora's sights. Using all of her strength, she ripped the weapon from where it had been lodged. The retreat was sudden, though without second-thought. In such haste, Elora had robbed her senses of what preciou

Maybe not so boring after all, Elora assessed the unfamiliar player, He could make for good company. Following after the both of them, Elora began to pluck the smorgasbord of pastries she'd collected from the basket of her skirt. It was more than a little awkward to alternate between using her free hand to carry her stein, then bring the food to her mouth, but she was determined to make it work. Perhaps I should have finished this before we left, she thought, regarding the beer. "So what are we actually doing?", she called out after dusting stray crumbs from her dress, "Finding Darian? Is