Freyd

Sheer determination drove him, tempered by care that no action might further endanger the poor souls within, Player and NPCs alike. Lines and distinctions faded daily, wrapping around each other like the din of steel on stone to create the background fleshing out the meat of their digital existence. Ever since the first clues and evidence found of the accursed Sundered Spire, a noobish, fledgling Freyd had struggled to think of mobs as naught but disposable things. Especially if they could remember their treatment at players' hands. Some had. Some did. Ferocious conviction in that belief

A wry smile was Xena's only reward, this particular case of cat and mongoose having played out over several recent escapades. Too many raids had gone horribly lethally wrong to be spreading that kind of information around freely. If she kept pressing, he'd have to make up some intricate lie for her to feast upon, enough to sate the woman's relentless curiosity. From Pollux's comments, he managed to discern her trade as an alchemist, making mental note to add her to the list when his potion and crystal stock ran low. Finding a reliable source could prove difficult, especially in the rus

"Sticking to the shadow, eh? Good. That might actually make it easier to spot." Whoever or whatever this thing was had chosen to conceal itself in that which was brightest and most vivid in his sights, save a certain green beacon whose guiding light had always steered him right. But she was already visible, having laid herself bare, in heart and soul, beyond anything he might ever have hoped. Even as Elora followed him into the quaint and cozy depths of their handcrafted home, Freyd scoured every nook, cranny, crack, crevice and hole that might somehow conceal an intruder. Plumbing the v

"Am I okay? What the fuck was that thing!?" All things considered, he thought it quite reasonable a question, even if his eyes had widened more than he'd meant and voice cracked awkwardly in the process. Elora was worried about ghosts and ghouls of a brand you might find in advertisements for children's breakfast cereal, but he'd encountered far worse in this world. Freyd's version of Aincrad carried perils the likes of which would terrify most players by their horrific natures and motives alike. Having just come from a newly unlocked floor entirely overcome by nightmares wasn't exactly h

"Up until Mina addressed you, I thought you were just a manifestation of the custom skill. My own shadow has been strangely silent after the raid." Unphased by the comment, any response of speculation remained locked tight behind an inscrutable facade. Not because it wasn't a fair point. Freyd was just too uncertain about his own fate to offer any real insights, and that was gnawing at him. Whispers like secrets. They also dislike when secrets about themselves are kept from them. Wincing at Mina's kind words for Persi, he still hadn't come to terms with the loss. Pursing his lips, a

Freyd glanced over his shoulder to check on their passengers. Between the heat, gentle rhythmic motion of the wagon, or the trauma of their recent ordeals, all had been overwhelmed and passed out. Tugging lightly on the reigns to keep their reptilian locomotives from driving off a cliff, he chuckled as she wondered what they were. "I dunno... mega-geckos? It has a certain ring, and they seem genuinely harmless. The name might stick," he added with a laugh. that dimmed into a more pensive smile as she revealed her concerns. Fortunately, the blazing sun above was already in it

Admirable courage, and smart. She hid it well, but anyone would have had at least a moment's hesitation before entering. Anyone who didn't wasn't suited tot he task. Morrigan was truly starting to impress him, and in a way not frequently encountered. The administrative angel on his shoulder was already hinting at potential for recruitment to Firm Anima. A compelling suggestion, but hardly the time to enact it. Ah…would it be wise to clear from the inside? Considering the instability out here, it’s plausible that we may room some of the main supports that are holding this up as it is…

Freyd remained silent as she posed her questions about Cassim's potential fate, helping the man up into the wagon along with the others. If anything, he seemed to be assessing her reactions, the dance of her eyes on the others as they ambled across the courtyard with difficulty. Imagination alone couldn't fill all gaps with how her existence here in Aincrad compared to what she'd lived beyond it. Hope offering some reprieve from those difficulties. "If anything happens, keep your heads down and stay in here," he offered as reassurance to their wards. "It will be the safest place for y

Genuinely surprised by her clever suggestion to use her familiar in such a manner, he'd never encountered one that could be relied upon to communicate in any detail. "Impressive," he added, brow already caked with an encrusted mixture of sweat and stone dust, eyes assessing the avian as he readied to bark orders to his assistants. "Is it a scouting familiar, by any chance? That degree of intel gathering is better than I've seen from any other." A small shower of rocks broke loose from the cliff face, Freyd tossing aside one of the NPCs on impulse to take the blow against his armored hi

Demonic dust bunnies? It felt like much was left to unpack there, but he abandoned the thought just to try and keep up. "Why wouldn't we use our names?! I thought Fae were more of a floor three thing? Is the floor above us leaking faerie mojo?!" Where is this all going? "And which names? Am I supposed to start calling you pooky or something?" Part of him, hidden behind his chuckles, couldn't help wonder whether this was some elaborate Irish ruse designed to foster the creation of affectionate nicknames. As much as Elora carried an air of innocence about her, they'd come

Flashes from behind caused him to whirl and face the newcomers, worried that the wrong sort would already have gotten word and chosen daring over prudence. Right hand outstretched before him, the Whisper strode forth calmly to intercept, his other hand already tightly grasped around the hilt of his blade, concealed by a half-turned torso and carefully chosen posture. Eyes darting between swirling icons over the new arrivals' heads, he spoke quietly and steadily as he advanced to corral them near the archway. "A word of caution. The arch is unsecured and this area unsafe. Unless you've

The thought of barbecue-chicken flavoured coffee did not appeal, Sussing out little more than a grimace and a chuckle, he assuming that was her objective. Preferring not to push the matter of her heritage, he’d respect her privacy and leave it to fall from presence of mind. Instead, the not-captain found his head tilting in a beagle-like manner as she caught herself mid-habit, looking like a nun who’d just realized she’d forgotten her rosary at prayer. "Keep at it." A patient and encouraging reply. Lifetimes of indoctrination would hardly be overcome overnight, his smile growing as

A meal? Huh. Probably a good idea. His stomach grumbled again, in gurgly agreement. Following her lead to the gardens, Freyd marveled at how much they had grown over such a short time. For one whom some might politely describe as 'distracted', Elora could sure hit her stride when her passions were inflamed. "I don't think I could have imagined a better life --" Polite and timely self-distraction spared her any undue embarrassment, but his heart fluttered to hear her say it. Whether tease or sentimental slip up didn't matter. Instead, Freyd chose to engage with a particularl

Freyd's grin spread like the spray of fractal shards spreading out on the sands before them, Wulfrin's killing blow confirming his readiness to take on whatever raid boss waited for them round that especially imminent corner. A dutiful scan of the field confirmed by settling stillness and dust struggling to remain aloft in a dying breeze. The snikt of a curved blade into its housing with Whispered praise to a fallen foe, with thanks for its sacrifice. Watching in reverential silence as the last of their foe twinkled out of existence, he knew it was a fate reserved by fate for each of them.

"Ah. That goes a long way towards explaining the formality, and your reaction to the captain thing." Listening with stalwart distraction, his eyes scanning the scurrying bodies all about them, panicking in pre-programmed patterns with excessive use of the same sound effects. He swore he heard the Wilhelm scream at least three times in the span of a minute, but strove for balance between feigned chaos and leaving her feeling judged. Morrigan's revelations were notable, but also seemed best taken with a degree of casual ease. She was clearly bothered by her inexperience and accustomed t

"No gaming experience, but versed in combat tactics? That's an odd pairing. You speak like a captive or prisoner, but much too formally to be uneducated. Nobility? Richesse, perhaps? My parents were academics skirting the fringe of elite circles. Try as I might, there was only so much I could evade, getting dragged to more than a few soirees I would much prefer to have avoided." Dreary memories of playing pawn to his parents parade of expectations flooded his mind, just as quickly shoved aside for lack of caring. It was surprising that he could remember them at all, given the long tensi

"Refreshing." His meaning undisclosed as they kept walking, he listened to her words with interest. "And what comes to those who are not content to remain blind?" A telling question from a man known to walk sighted in darkness and the void linking the nothingness behind shadows. What of those who can't unsee things already seen? Recent events from the raid loomed ominously fresh in memory, gnawing insidiously at the back of his mind. "A thing cannot simultaneously be static and evolve, though parts of a collective might straddle that line. Take the players trapped in Aincrad, as a g

"I am a frontliner," he confirmed, a modest grin curling at his lips' edges. "But just one among many. And a captain informally at best. It's no military rank, merely a title within my guild that makes me accountable for one of our branch divisions. I consider it part of those duties to help along others who wish to improve themselves, whether within the guild or beyond." Her zeal was infectious and admirable, leaving him no desire to dim those burning flames. If anything, it was his goal to fan and foster them into something suitable to forge into proper iron. The weak wouldn't f

Helping the captives back out into the open courtyard took several trips. They were in rough shape. Each severely dehydrated and emaciated, they were weak and had to be helped to the wagon with baby steps. Freyd carried the children in his arms, each of them too tired to make the short journey on their own. All were grateful for the aid and their rescue. Cassim was a bit of a different story. Furtive and cagey, his eyes shifted in every direction as if shadows were ready to jump out at him. They weren't. Freyd checked, just to be sure. "Do you think it might be best to keep him ti

Catharsis achieved, Freyd's stomach suddenly grumbled loudly in protest, causing the wind to falter in his sails and be replaced by heartfelt chuckling. Life always found a way to make things real, even when your spirit wanted to soar high into the clouds. Patting his midsection lightly, he smiled apologetically to Elora, a sheepish blush tinting the parts of his cheeks that could still be seen. "Sorry. I don't think I've eaten anything since the raid began... and that seems a lifetime ago." Corny, yet also vitally important. They needed to be able to trivialize that moment in their m

Freyd just let her talk, nerves seeming to cluster anxiously within her as she sought to fill the void with cluttered words in lieu of uncomfortable self-awareness. With every rambling, eloquently spoken syllable, Freyd's features seemed more settled, until he stood quietly absorbing her display. Captain Fr...? Preferring not to embarrass or correct her, he simply let the moniker slide. Not technically incorrect, it wasn't something he typically advertised, but also made little difference. Those who would want to know likely already knew, and those who wouldn't had no reason to ca

Watching out of the corner of his eyes as the rest of his part descended upon the frenzied bulette, Freyd could sense and empathize with their initial frustrations. "Keep at it! This mob is one of the toughest quest mobs to hit, and more slippery than some high end field bosses. You're expected to miss, if you're just starting out." He was about to whirl and slash low to take out its foremost legs when Eulogy darted between it, nicking the thing square in its softer underbelly and delivering a timely stun. Goddamn crazy kid... Smiling even as he cursed, Freyd couldn't help bu

Yelling was followed by the sounds of a violent scuffle from within and the clashing of steel on steel. It ended quickly, with the barred door next to Ty exploding outward with a spray of what was once a kidnapper - now nothing more than shards. Freyd's head popped out an instant later, turning to search for stragglers and also ensure that she was safe. "That should be the last of them, I think." A waving hand beckoned her inside where a half-dozen NPCs were slumped against the stone walls and floor. One looked familiar, certain telltale features matching those of the man who'd sent t

It still felt weird to watch another taking the lead on these training runs, having done so himself for so long, but Wulfrin knew what he was doing. The red-coated swordsman soon disabled the giant maw-and-tail combo that was the mutant sand-shark. If there was anything more in between those two extremes, they were easily and readily overlooked. Pollux and Xena were no slouches either, each woman leaping into the dust bowl with grace and speed, slicing into their foe's thick hide with equal zeal and efficiency. Once their initial wave rippled across the sandy waves, decimating Terra Fir

Barely a moment had passed since turning away from the sandwich man before the system barraged his interface with a quest notification. Of course. Figures. No sooner had his hand waved off the translucent floating screen than a tiny figure stood suddenly before him, strands of red bobbing in time with her formal and unexpected curtsy. Eyebrow raised along with suspicion at the timing, his index finger still hung where the button had been to accept said quest. "My name is Morrígan," he registered, the rest of her words melding into a flurry of sound mostly lost at the mention of th