Nari-Lanreth

The sudden movement and strike had caught Nari by surprise. She hadn’t expected the figure to move anywhere near as quickly as it had, covering the limited amount of distance between them and slamming the spear into her shoulder and forcing her torso to spin slightly with the strike. Retaliating to the strike, she forced her shield up, driving the spear skywards and attempting a return attack of her own. Pulling back the spear, she let herself anchor into the ground, before twisting and driving the weapon forwards. Whatever this NPC was, Nari had seen her health bar drop significantl

“I wish to test you.” The words echoed from her mouth. The voice so similar to her own, it was eerie to hear. Her spine tingled in response, forcing her to shiver. This was nothing like what she had expected to occur, but her mind suddenly remembered something that NIGHT had explained about the Gemini. How it was expected to take the form of the one facing it. ‘So, I’ve found you after all. Alright, then let’s do this.’ “How do I know this will be a fair fight, considering you’re connected with the system that controls this entire world?” She was stalling for time, preparing herself for t

“I wish to test you.” The words forced Nari’s attention back to the figure, the hood still covering anything that would be a face, hiding it away from sight. She glared at the figure as she tried to figure out what exactly it wanted, knowing that it was after something. “Test me…how?” Her voice was filled with pause, her apprehension at the situation coming out in her tone. She felt herself shifting ever so slightly, raising the shield in preparation for…whatever was about to happen. Somehow, she was sure this was about to get violent. “A trial, of combat. A truly fair, equal fight.

She wasn’t quite sure how long had passed, when the figure suddenly stopped. Glancing around herself she saw only trees, and a larger pond – the area entirely foreign to her somehow. It was reminiscent of the floor itself, the general environment not having changed or shifted dramatically, but something about it all seemed…different somehow, in a way that Nari couldn’t put into words. “We’ve reached our destination, then?” A hypothetical question, but words nonetheless that she hoped would get the figure speaking. During her walk she had pulled the armour and spear from her inventory, the

The figure passed through the settlement back towards the outer walls, walking through the gate to the wilds beyond without any hesitation. Nari paused for the briefest of breaths before following, unsure how wise her decision was, but promising herself that she could find a way to escape if it became too dangerous. The figure continued through the few open areas towards a pathway that led through the jungle – one that Nari didn’t remember seeing previously in the few times she had passed through the area. The figure paused long enough to ensure that she was following, before continuing a

‘Alright, that’s a bit creepy.’ She eyed the NPC for a moment, wondering if they would announce themselves or their purpose. She was relatively confident that it was the same cloth she had spotted earlier, and had an inkling of a feeling that this NPC may have been who was watching her. ‘Which only makes this whole encounter…weirder.’ “Can I help you with something?” She forced the words out, trying to keep her voice emotionless even as she fought the urge to strike the NPC and run as fast away as she could. Something about this entire encounter felt uncomfortable to her, and Nari’s inner

“Well, that’s unusual and highly concerning. I should definitely not look into this further…” She whispered to herself, even as her body turned her back towards the alley that the figure had disappeared down. She knew that it was likely dangerous, and pondered if she was doing the right thing as she crossed the distance. Turning the corner, she found nothing more than an empty alleyway awaiting her. ‘No way it would’ve been that easy. If someone was really following me, they’d not let themselves get caught that easily…probably won’t be seeing them again, now.’ She turned back towards

Nari’s head snapped back slightly at Jomei’s commentary, and it took her a few breaths before she was able to provide a response to his commentary. Blinking heavily, she ducked her head slightly, before whispering out her words, a minute amount of nervousness in them. “I’m…not a native speaker. It’s the second tongue in my family. I guess I just…picked it up, with a lot of study.” It was a horrible excuse, but it was the best she had. “Are you fluent? You must be, if you understood the prayer… Is cúis áthais dom bualadh leat.” She turned at Koga’s question, bringing up her own loot m

Unable to stand the heat any longer, and clearly making no headway with her search for the illusive figure, Nari decided to call her exploration early and return to the settlement. She hated giving up, but it was clear that Cardinal was refraining from sending the quest her way at the current time, and although she hated to admit it, she knew she may need to ask NIGHT for help. ‘Or one of your info brokers, maybe?’ Sighing to herself, she turned and made her way back, crossing through the forest path that she had shorn on her way through earlier in the morning. Taking her time, she avoide

The heat of the forest felt oppressive to Nari. She wondered, not for the first time that day, why she had decided this was worth her time. The fee bits and pieces that NIGHT had provided her regarding the Gemini should’ve been enough to force her away from the encounter in general, but something about it had eluded to her – driving her towards this. She wasn’t sure whether she should consider it nativity, or some other odd self fulfilling desire. Whatever the case may be, she was here now, had been here most of the morning, in fact. Another of the creatures burst into shards as she let h

The message came almost to the hour, three days later. More than surprised by the punctuality, Nari made her way back to the first floor, trying to keep the shop owner from waiting. She found the individual tucked into some paperwork upon her arrival, and hesitated at the entrance – not wanting to disturb what might be important work. Taking a deep breath and realising the other was likely just busying themselves while they awaited the pickup, Nari pushed her way into the shop, giving a small smile and corresponding wave. “Hey, here for the pickup. Thanks for the rush on these!” Collectin

It felt weird, stepping into the recording studio for the first time. For so long, her work had been at the heat of the forge – the hammer ringing out against the steel and metals she had worked with to create her final pieces. Now, she would rely upon her voice in order to complete her work – something she was still coming to terms with. “Well, Yuki, it looks like you get a private showing today. Don’t judge me too hard, alright?” She gave the fox a sly grin, before turning to the crystals laid out on the table before her, hoping that she would be able to make good on her success today.

Morríghan's Descants A single sign hangs against the brick wall surrounding an otherwise homely looking building, the main structure of which contains a rustic Japanese style living space. Two entrances - one enclosed behind metal gates that remain closed and a reminder of their privacy, and one leading up a set of stairs into the building's side - cut into the otherwise continuous brick wall. The small sign, coloured dark with bright white lettering upon it points in the direction of the stairway, noting only 'Morríghan's Descants Entrance' to any passing it by. Making

“Miss him? No. It’s just…our last time out together things started off a little…hostile. I’m just hoping we’re past that now.” She shook herself, trying to force away the chill she’d felt running up her back – caused by neither the environment of floor four, nor her companion at her side. Leaning in towards NIGHT, Nari let a smile spread across her face. “Anyways, the focus here is on the ghost, and figuring out what that’s all about, right?” The teleporter pad was empty as it usually was at this hour, and Nari let her companion head up first -taking a moment to give the girl a quick hug

Shop Post: Eleanór a Rún Cost of Transaction: 1 material Crafter's Profession: Performer Crafter's Rank: 0 Item Name: Eleanór a Rún Item Tier: 1 Item Type: Support Song Item Rarity: Uncommon Item Enhancements: HP Reovery I Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: ID208181 Item Description: A small sapphire octahredon that seems to glimmer with the reflected sunlight. When played, the celtic tones of Eleanór a Rún

“I-…I just need to….to you know, get into it…and…” Her words were full of a fear that she felt deep within herself. It had been a long time since she’d purposefully sung in front of anyone else. She’d kept up the habit in private, but few had gained her trust enough to hear her outside of accidents. ‘I just need to do this…let it out, like you used to…’ She closed her eyes again, thinking back to the stage many years ago. Thinking back to the song she had performed, during her single public appearance. She could still feel the heat of the lights upon her face, the brisk air on her lungs,

“Well, it’s just that…when I started out with blacksmithing, and even up until recently…they’d always be these shiny metallic looking bars of varying colours – sometimes gold, sometimes silver, or copper.” She began walking towards the town again, determined to get the quest completed so she could begin the real trouble. “But now, as I was thinking about…things…they suddenly changed. Now, they’re all crystals – beautiful, no doubt. But they kind of remind me of gemstones. Likes this one –“ Picking up a red one as she walked, she held up the small, octahedron looking piece to show to NIGHT

“Hey…” Her sentence fell short as she pulled into herself. Something in NIGHT’s tone had hurt, even if it had been nothing more than a bit of friendly jesting. Something about it had hit her deeper than she’d expected, however. Pawing silently at the dirt for a little while, she tried to keep her focus on the goal at hand. Her search for materials had been less than productive so far, and her foraging skill had appeared to be of limited use, at least at the moment. She wondered – not for the first time, if there was some sort of emotional tie to her success. As her hands grasped the

“I said or so. And it wasn’t like…a professional recital or performance or like…it wasn’t like I was auditioning on the Idol of something.” Her voice had taken on an almost alarmed tone, as she slowly slid sideways on the grass, as if trying to put some distance between her and NIGHT. “It was just…a local thing. And my agent at the time said that it was just…normal. Like, a school play?” Even to her, the words sounded uncertain and unassured. She forced her hands back into the dirt, frantically pulling at bushes and grasses in an attempt to find the final materials she needed. She felt h

Her strike had caught two of the creatures, and she barely had a moment to revel in the achievement before Jomei had launched past her, slamming his own strike into the four creatures. Caught by surprise, she missed the approach of Koga, his own strike eliminating three of the creatures, and leaving on the fourth standing before them. Shaking the shock off herself, she forced her mind back into the situation. Sliding her left foot backwards, she brought her spear up and level against the rounded left corner of the shield, dropping her weight slightly as she prepared herself. “Morrígh

“I-It wasn’t anything like that!” Her spine had gone straight as she realised NIGHT could hear her. She’d thought that the words had been whispered so that only she would hear them, but her partner had no trouble catching them on the air. Her hands paused again as she turned to glance out of the corner of her eye at NIGHT, not quite looking at the girl. “It was just…a little performance. Like a talent show…” She forced her hands to continue their digging, softly pulling aside the dirt around the base of a tree in the hopes that something would appear. Her eyes remained disconnected, stari

“Well, I wouldn’t call it…professional training…I mean it was but I never really went anywhere with it…And it was only for a few years. Just during high school, mostly…and a year in college…” She’d begun fumbling her words again, the embarrassment at the admission taking over her normal calmness. Her frantic search had found nothing, but she wasn’t ready to give up quite yet. Pausing only long enough to watch as NIGHT dispatched a few of the local boars, she returned to her searching, mumbling to herself as she went. “I mean, it’s not like I was Taylor Swift or anything. I just…did a few

Nari’s ears peaked up at the girl’s mention of previously completing the quest. She glanced over at NIGHT, a look of curiosity on her face as she pondered how best to approach the question. “You…used to sing?” She kept her tone filled with a tone of interest, trying to convey in her words that she wanted to hear more without making the girl think she was judging. “I…took some lessons in the real world, a few times. But…well, Aikido took up too much time and I never really went anywhere with it.” She made her way towards the gate of the city, waving at the guard – was his name Merv? Marvin

Nari paused in her response – the attended recipient appearing before her, a look of wakefulness still some degrees outside of the realm of visibility. She cocked her head to the left, staring at NIGHT with a stoic impression. Did the girl truly just get out of bed? Nari was more surprised the girl was up and moving, while still somehow appearing to be half asleep - something that was some cute, and concerning all at the same time. “I have food here, if you’re just looking for something to eat.” She waved a hand at the kitchen around her, pointing out the fridge and numerous appliances th