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[GRP]; Zaffy
Topic Started: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:39 pm (334 Views)
Marianne
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"So if the cabal refuses to share their wealth of grain with the oncoming drought the Forgotten Harvest will awaken and slaughter the entire village!" One of the villagers pleaded with Marianne. She stood there after arriving from hearing the call for heroes. This was definitely a time of need for these people. This was a farming community and just packing up and leaving would be a huge chore compared to just getting some greedy punks to be good willed. Out of the entire explanation though, there was something bugging Marianne to her core and she had to get it out of her head.

"So you're trying to tell me that you all individually own land and aren't in service to a Lord of some kind?" She asked in her heavily foreign accent sounding extremely confused. Who was probably even more confused was the group of villagers that were desperately seeking her help. Sounding practically dumbfounded, the spokesman of the group vocalised once more. "Yes? What kind of question is that?" Marianne pondered for a moment and had trouble accepting that these peasants were self-run. "Imythess really is a backwards continent." She muttered and such only seemed to stir unrest in the small group of villagers before her.

"So will you help us or not?" The spokesman requested, a bit more dignity than the bubbling miserable story he went on about. Marianne shrugged in response before answering. "I'll have to do a bit more research on this Forgotten Harvest you speak of. If you need me, I'll be around." She said and waved dismissively at the group, realising that they wouldn't respond to that she turned around and walked off herself towards the heart of Heberen. Maybe these farmers had a library or something.
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Zaffy
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“So if we refuse to share our grain during the oncoming drought the Forgotten Harvest will awaken and slaughter the entire village!”

One of the cabal members was pleading with her. It irked her how when it came time to pay up on their end of a bargain people became squeamish and tried weaseling their way out of it. Her demeanor spoke volumes of the contempt she felt for them. Covered in a drab overcoat Zaphira wasn't openly armed but still spoke with an obvious arrogance that came from confidence. The fact that her confidence came from dozens of mercenaries loyal to the paycheck she provided them and discrete armaments rather than an inflated ego was not lost on the cabal.

“You weren't concerned with that when my household bought all your stocks for triple the projected market price. You weren't concerned when we provided a platoon strength of mercenaries to ensure any local unrest would be dealt with. You weren't concerned while you ate as much as you wanted, whenever you wanted while they were cutting their flour sawdust and killing rats for meat. And you are going to keep being unconcerned until the Forgotten Harvest arrives, I kill it and we take our leave. Then, and only then, are you allowed to become concerned for the welfare and fate of this community.”

The older man's face twisted into a representation of anger and despair. For a few moments Zaphira secretly hoped he'd grow some manner of back bone. It would disrupt her plans no doubt, but she would not hate him absolutely. Zaffy had also decided you could depend on someone with a bit of moral fiber, even if their actions were contradictory to your own. The weak willed would blow to whatever wind was upon them at the time. She needed to keep an eye on the cabal. If they grew desperate enough it was possible they might try some act of rebellion against their financial oppressors.

“...all right.”

The resignation in his voice hit Zaffy like a weight. Suppressing the disappointment at his character she made a slight nod, the wide brimmed hat dipping in conjunction with the movement.

“Good. If you have anymore conflicts of interest, either let some of my help know or contact Bartholomew. I promise to do as much as I can to alleviate your concerns.”

Leaving the study at a brisk pace, Guurium fell in step behind Zaphira silently besides her footfalls. Keeping her voice low while looking directly forward, the young noble addressed her maid.

“I want them watched. Him in particular. Let me know if they talk to any of the mercenaries in particular. Have Lavender do it.”
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Marianne
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After spending her morning talking to about a dozen or so villagers and farmers, Marianne had realised one thing: Nobody here knew anything more about the Forgotten Harvest than that it was some kind of avatar of death that will kill them all if the cabal didn't share their stuff. Marianne sat on the edge of the fountain, eating the lunch she bought from one of the markets in the heart of the village. "If greed really got people killed like this there would be less empires in the world." She told herself before finishing her meal and getting to her feet.

Behind one of the buildings, a small glint of metal caught her eye. Attached to it was a man that was staring at her, as if trying to hide himself. Stepping closer to inspect him, she realised that the metal glint was coming from the top of his head. Some kind of soft looking metal formed a hat on his head. When he noticed she was approaching, he tried to compose himself before coming out of hiding to meet her. "Hello Ma'am, my name's Gred and I've heard that you're looking for information on the Forgotten Harvest." He said while presenting himself like he was some kind of wealthy lord. It was easy to tell from looking at him that he was poorer than any of the other farmers here and bathed even less than that.

"Who did you here that from?" Marianne asked with a questioning looking, checking behind the short chubby man, that introduced himself as Gred, to see if there was anyone else with him that directed him to her. Seeing nobody, she looked back at his dirty face when he started to answer her. "Well from myself! See, I've been following you all morning. I wanted to get a feel for your personality and make sure you're the kinda gal that'd be willing to help us! Most people in this village disregard me but when they see me and you stopping the Forgotten Harvest we'll be heroes and people won't laugh at me behind my back anymore. Dirty rotten populace!" Gred said and turned away and had an upset look on his face at the last sentence but it was returned with a hopeful smile. "Uh... Huh. Then tell me about the Forgotten Harvest, porco." She requested and waited patiently as Gred looked about and over his shoulder as if he was making sure nobody was eves dropping. "I've got lots of stuff back at my home. Come, come." He said and started leading her away.

Marianne later found herself sitting at a clutter filled table, cup full of muddy water in hand that she hasn't even bothered to taste in the past three hours as Gred went on and on about the origin story that was leading up to what the Forgotten Harvest really was. The noble felt her patience slowly slipping away as he dragged on and on and talked in circles. He didn't rehearse for presentations very well, she could tell. "So the Farming Cabal here is a direct descendent to the Free Carpenters Group that formed over three hundred years ago by the Old King of Cascadia, who was in fact an Elf and Alien hybrid. His whole family was--" He was shortly interrupted by Marianne who wasn't exactly following all of this. "Wait, wait. Where are these aliens from? What country? And what was it, Dwarf or something that makes this King so vile?" She inquired and Gred shook his head.

"Not from Chaon! From space!" He said and pointed upwards. "The Old King and his family were the offspring of Elf and Fierungs. They infiltrated all royal families like this. Beings much greater than any on this planet and their hybrid offsprings had their powers but could only unlock them by eating the flesh of other Elves. This is the secret behind the revolution that happened in Cascadia that dethroned his family. Of course the Free Carpenters, being puppets of the Fierungs used the revolution to further their goals and took control of Cascadia by making it a merchant city. The entire economy is controlled by them and them alone, using the disgusting monetary system to their advantage to further the goals of the Fierungs." And Gred went on and on, Marianne found herself rolling her eyes and zoning out more than once.

It wasn't for another hour that the Forgotten Harvest was mentioned again. Of course there had been a fifteen minute break inbetween this time for Gred to catch his breath and get a drink. Marianne could only glance around at all of the handwritten papers and charts Gred had showed her during this time but now for the important stuff. "So the Hunithsals are another space species that are in galactic warfare with the Fierungs. The Fierungs are just using us to get a stronger foothold and we'll eventually be cattle for them but the Hunithsals recognises that we should be free and have been trying to help us in subtle ways. The Forgotten Harvest is a by product of this help, one of their quicker pieces. The Hunithsals realised that the Free Carpenters are following the Fierungs out of greed, the Fierungs promising them immense wealth and power. The Forgotten Harvest was put in place to root out sources of greed and destroy them and all those possibly affected by them. It's been a long time since and the Fierungs and the Hunithsals haven't been around, too busy with their cosmic warfare and politics to bother with us but the products of their efforts here remain. We remain until the day one of them comes back."

Gred took in a breath and sat down on the other chair across the table from Marianne, she couldn't see him over all of the clutter on it. She waited to see if he was done and he didn't say anymore, sighing she realised that didn't help her too much. She guessed it was question time. "If you like these Hunts so much, why stop the Harvest?" She asked and tried to look around the junk to see his expression, not liking talking to someone she couldn't see. "Hunithsals. Not Hunts. And because if we stop it, we can prove to everyone I'm right and we can stop the Free Carpenters and the Cabal under our own power! And then uproot all Fierung influences in this world! It'd certainly impress the Hunithsals and they may even let us join in on their galactic council!" He said cheerfully, as if doing such meant the entire world to him.

"Can the Forgotten Harvest even be killed?" She asked and jumped a little when he suddenly stood up shouting. "Of course! It's just a genetic monster created by the Hunithsals! Whatever is created can be destroyed! It'd be a tough fight but I'm sure the two of us will be able to do it together!" Marianne sat there in silence, wondering. The Forgotten Harvest could be killed, hopefully that wasn't as nonsensical as everything else he was saying. Standing up, she put the still full cup down on the table and turned towards the door. She doubted he'd be useful in a fight against such a being. "We'll see what we can do." She said to him before leaving. It was starting to get dark out already, how long had she been at that filthy house? "Time to start finding recruits to fight this thing." She told herself and went off looking for the local pub or tavern, if this poor village even had one.
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Zaffy
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After spending her evening talking to about a dozen or so villagers and farmers, Caroline had realized something: Nobody here seemed willing to commit any efforts to forcing the cabal to stop. There were numerous individuals selling charms or special candles said to ward off the Forgotten Harvest, as well as concoctions one could spread around their home or anoint their bodies with to protect them from the demon. She'd seen this before in times of desperation. Charlatans and swindlers offering a fool's hope to those desperate enough to throw money around but stubborn enough to stay put in the cursed place. Granted with the amount of knowledge that was abound, it was quite possible some of these people believed they were offering legitimate protection. For all she knew some of them might know what they're talking about too.

Engaged at the moment in a knife throwing contest with Barrian, a wood carver who Caroline decided was even half as skilled at his trade as he was at throwing knives was a prodigy. She was planning on introducing him to her employer.

The wood carver arced back another knife while the muscles in his defined arm tightened up before delivering the blade with near pin-point accuracy into the painted board. So close to her own blade Caroline heard the chink of metal as they touched.

Maybe a bit later.

The tavern door swung open and a woman came in. It wasn't uncommon to see people from out of town lately, Caroline could already pick out half-a-dozen mercenaries her mistress had bought to protect the Cabal drinking here. What caught Caroline's eyes was the quality of the cloth she wore, she well cared for skin and bearing that no lower class individual could manage. She couldn't place the woman's face on anyone Zaphira had introduced her to, but the families of nobility were unfortunately extensive. Her inspection was drawn off when a labor-calloused hand caressed the curve of her hips and raised a giggle from the maid. Turning back to the game she daintily took her from his outstretched arm, pulled it back and embedded the blade into the very marked board with the ease of experience.

~ ~ ~ ~

Zaphira quietly took a meal in the cabal's study, overlooking some compiled texts on the Forgotten Harvest. Second hand accounts and some theoretical knowledge. Only one small section was written from a first hand account, detailing the summoning process and requirements to bring the beast about. The writer was part of some band of demon hunters who were intent on raising the beast to put it down for good. Considering there were no further accounts written by the individual, Zaphira safely disregarded the methods they planned on slaying the creature with. Over time she grew more and more frustrated, her half eaten plate of food cooling while the candles burnt through. The more she read the more muddled everything seemed to be and the more worry she felt growing when Zaffy was no longer certain she could simply kill it with the End.

A physical shiver ran through her, Guurium's emotionless face snapped up at the motion and the maid briskly crossed the room. Setting a blanket across her mistress's back silently she pulled back to a respectful distance. Snapped out of her focus she rested an elbow on the desk, supporting her head with one hand. “Thank you, Guurium.”

A soft nod was all the response she got.
Edited by Zaffy, Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:38 pm.
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Marianne
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Marianne sat at one of the tables and did a survey of the people in the room around her. Surely some of them would be good enough to help her fight against the Forgotten Harvest, cosmic genetic mutation or not, it was a danger to the lives of people around here. She turned back to face the bar and saw one of the barmaids coming over to her table. "Is there anything you'd like?" She asked and Marianne nodded before responding verbally. "Yes, do you have pastilla?" The noble requested and the barmaid shook her head. "No, but I can get you some pigeon stew." She offered in response.

Marianne frowned, "Very well. I'll also take some wat-" She cut herself off and froze for a few seconds as she went through traumatic flashbacks of sitting in Gred's house, holding that muddy cup of water. "Actually, I'm not thirsty yet." She finished and the barmaid nodded and headed off towards the kitchen. Leaning back in her chair, she realised her shield was still on her back and she took it off, dropping it onto the floor as she waited for her meal to come.

After receiving her food, Marianne casually paid for it with a coin worth almost twice as much as the meal and not demanding the difference. It was the least she could do since it was the start of a famine. The barmaid said she'd be around if Marianne needed anything else and left excitedly. She stood up and stepped back onto her chair and whistled loudly. "Hello citizens of Heberen! My name is Marianne Victorine de Banister!" Her foreign accent amplified as she raised her voice so that everyone could hear her over their chatter. "I'm here searching for volunteers to help fight off this Forgotten Harvest if it ever shows!" She announced and waited, some people stared at her, others laughed and there were a few that completely ignored it and hid in their coats to lower their existence. "...Well, I'll be waiting here if anyone's willing to volunteer." She said and jumped off the chair and sat back down.
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Zaffy
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When no one rose to answer Marianne's request, particularly Barrian, Caroline made a saddened sigh. She could not hold their hesitation or disbelief against them, but the fact that not a single resident was willing to hear Marianne out and help her in the undertaken quest of hers. Her mistress likewise would have taken a keen interest in a high class woman who was after the same quarry. With that in mind Caroline downed the last of the spiced cider and swaggered over to Marianne's table. Spinning a chair around she sat in it and leaned forward, her arms folded in front of her around the back of the chair.

“So Miss...Banster, was it? You seem pretty sure the Forgotten Harvest isn't just a story. What makes you so certain? And just what'll you do when it gets here? And why is your accent weird? Where are you from?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most reoccurring elements in the accounts was wounding, warding off or even killing the Forgotten Harvest with a piece of a tree no older than five years. The younger the sapling the more potent its effectiveness was. Other points was that it could not abide still water and that ashes had a dazing effect on the entity. She grew fixated on the sapling idea. Any account it occurred in where it was killed she ruled out, the others mentioned simply using it in desperation out of chance than any planned event. If she could weaponize it into a bolt for The End, it would likely be the best chance of killing the beast. An aversion to fire was mentioned more than once, but given the drought like periods that frequently roused the beast it was potentially more dangerous to start a wildfire than it was to face the demon.

“Guurium, see if you can find any records kept by any logging outfits. Preferably related to anything they planted.”

It wasn't typical for companies to actually go through the effort of planting a new crop of trees or something else with a long gestation time without a cheap source of magic users to boost growth. On the off chance they did have such records and crops, Zaphira would know exactly where to go tomorrow to get some special made bolts. In the mean time the silent maid started going through the numerous books, tapping one when she thought it was relevant before shelving it again. Her systematic search was yielding some results as Guurium pulled a handful of books scattered about and set them in a tidy pile on the desk.
Edited by Zaffy, Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:05 am.
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Marianne
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Marianne inspected the woman that took a seat at her table. If one person came, maybe more would get interested. At least it wasn't Gred, his presence would probably scare possible volunteers off. Marianne was about to nod to the name before she realised that was wrong. "Banister, actually." She corrected with a light interrupt as the rest of the questions formed into existence and floated into her mind. "I'm from the Island Nation called Rosewall, halfway across the world..." She answered the last question first and took a moment to think fondly of home. She missed it but her adventures in Imythess were only beginning.

Returning to the major question, Marianne shrugged. "I'm not certain. But in the times I've been in Imythess, I've seen quite a few things that would wipe away suspicions of such creatures but I mainly think it's better to be safe than sorry. I sure hope such a monstrosity doesn't exist." The noble said with such uncertainty expressed. The hope that the Forgotten Harvest didn't arrive true, but hidden beneath that was a desire for the glory of defeating such a beast. "And I plan on fighting it, now tell me. Are you here to volunteer and do you know anyone that is willing to fight it?" She founded dire in the need for allies.
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Zaffy
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Caroline wasn't aware of a nation called Rosewall. An island nation at that, it was likely there was some manner of trade between them and the continent. Perhaps her mistress had heard of them in schooling or her travels. Otherwise it seemed like this woman was simply a less boisterous errant knight. Out and about to do good and fight back against the shadows of the night. It was possible she was a con artist though, making up a far flung nation and dressing herself up nicely to cement the story. Whether Marianne was simply faking it all or was in fact someone versed in these esoteric threats, Caroline had decided Zaphira would want to meet the woman herself. Albeit the hour was growing late and she knew her employer was planning on studying before going to sleep. It likely would have been a poor idea to interrupt Zaffy at this time with this outside factor. Best to wait till tomorrow.

“Hmm. Marianne. I can say I'm here to volunteer to help you! And I even know someone else who is more than willing to fight the Forgotten Harvest.”

The girl leaned in closer as if sharing a conspiratorial whisper.
“I can tell you that she picked a fight with the Harvest.”

She leaned backwards with a smile, continuing before the implications could sink in. Caroline hadn't meant to suggest that Zaffy had actually engineered the situation as she had, but rather that she was going to fight it already. With any luck the girl's foreign linguistics might jumble the slight slip in the conversation.

“It's a bit too late to meet her tonight, I could take you to here tomorrow if you'd like. Are you staying here by chance?”
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Kemi
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Guildmaster

Marianne raised an eyebrow and pondered what was said. It didn't make much sense to her at the moment but she let it sink into the back of her mind for now. Taking a glance to the stairwell leading to the upstairs, she shrugged. "I don't see why not. After sleeping in the woods a couple times, any bed will do." She said while getting to her feet. "I may as well retire now. I'll be waiting down here come morning, meet me then." She said and followed up with formalities before heading to the barkeep to pay for a room.

The next morning, Marianne met up with Caroline in the main room of the tavern before they set off to find this Other that Caroline had mentioned. The two arrived at a large and well paid for building. Was the one that Caroline mentioned part of the Cabal? Might explain why she hadn't gotten a name yet. They went inside and the noble girl was led through hallways before coming to a door. She could hear people talking and sometimes yelling from this side, not exactly sure what about though.
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Zaffy
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“The demon is coming tonight and you have given no viable evidence that you can kill it when it gets here! We are done with this agreement. The money isn't worth it.”

The cabal seemed to have met and grew a bit of spine, particularly when Zaphira was unable to reassure them that it would die “when she shot it”. Their concern wasn't entirely unfounded, during the night she and Guurium had uncovered records of some trees that fit the qualifications she needed. Having dispatched her remaining help to harvest some of them in time for tonight, their mistress found herself under attack from the individuals she had thought pacified. She was willing to bet that if the merchants were so boldly being disruptive they had paid off or replaced the mercenaries in the area of the mansion if not the town. A problem to be certain especially if things got messy later on, but so long as she could get out of this place she could throw enough money at her problems to drown them with greed or hired swords. Either solution at this point would work.

“Be very certain of what you're deciding to do. Make certain that you know you are crossing not only myself, but my family and all the individuals who are our friends, partners and employees...are you prepared to stand against all th-”

Over flowing with rage at either the situation the young noble girl had generated around him and his fellows or at the condescending attitude Zaphira was using towards him, the cabal leader had finally snapped and smacked her across the face with his hand. Her white cheek was already reddening from the blow and the silence that followed was overwhelming. Neither of the mercenaries in the room made a sound and suddenly Zaphira found herself absolutely regretting sending Guurium out to fetch wood. The light sting from the blow was nothing compared to what had happened before but her pride had suffered a devastating strike from it. Without speaking, making a sound or moving the Peltam was making a mental check list of names, places and buisnesses that would be put to the torch, scattered to the winds and purged from records.

She didn't like being struck.

The door opened suddenly and Caroline was there along with another woman. The scene they came in on was one ready to explode. The cabal member was just a few feet away from Zaphira, his face a dark purple from poor blood pressure and stress. Zaphira herself was near stock still sitting in a chair, wearing an elegant dress. Flanking the door were the two armed and armored mercenaries who had moved to bar the way for Caroline and Marianne. The noble woman locked eyes with Caroline for but a moment and in the near silence uttered two words softly.

“Take them.”

The young and playful maid snapped into action with a performer's grace and speed. Caroline's stance was flowing and swaying, avoiding the jabs and blows from the mercenaries. With a mechanical clicking a pair of elongated katars emerged and embedded themselves three times a piece into the mercenaries. One blow to their throats and two in the chest to each lung in a span of time before they drew their weapons. The whole display really undermined the confidence Zaphira had felt in hiring them and paying them such a large retainer to stay here. On the other hand it made her greatly appreciate her cadre of maids and the variety of tasks she could entrust them.

The cabal member sufficiently cowed into submission, Zaphira daintily picked up the cup of tea resting nearby. “I'm sorry you needed to be present for such an altercation, but time was of the essence and Caroline was the only one at my disposal. You would be, I presume, the individual who was interested in slaying the Forgotten Harvest?”

The young noble took a sip from her tea, pausing only to move her high quality boots from the spreading blood pools of the two mercenaries previously in her employ.
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Marianne
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Marianne rolled over of the dead mercenaries over with her foot. "Seems to be a bit of a nasty business, this farming." She said in her foreign accent. Walking over to the table, she inspected the group there with judgement heavy in her expression. "I still think the lot of you farmers should be peasants under a Lord or Lady and can't make decisions like this on your own." She said to the men there before turning to the woman. Marianne assumed this was the 'she' that Caroline had spoken of.

"Yes. I am Marianne Victorine de Banister and I'm here to kill your monster." She said, finally giving the other woman her attention, and used her hand to jostle the sword at her belt slightly. She shifted her shoulders under the chain mail that covered them. "What is your name, your friend here kept her mouth sent when prompted about your identity. And what is your plan to deal with this Forgotten Harvest?" She tried to keep serious in the conversation and not jokingly add in 'the Alien Construct' at the end.
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Zaffy
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I like her.

Zaphira had decided, this Marianne had a good out look on the way society ought to be run. It would make much of her family's actions that much harder, a noble is after all much harder to persuade with money than a merchant in a middle class. On the other hand it would be much more pleasant to travel abroad knowing there were like minded individuals in power wherever one went. Day dreaming about wants and desires was a luxury she could ill afford, much less tolerate.

Nodding at Caroline in silent thanks while the maid was quickly at work binding the cabal members and hog tying them.

“I am Zaphira Thella Mosrin Yozai Peltam the third to bear this name and title of the Peltam dynasty. Frankly I like your attitude Bannister, so you may call me Zaffy for short.”

In that study she elaborated on the research she had come up with on the Forgotten Harvest and her plans were emphasized when Guurium and Lavender arrived with the bolts. There was a bit of chastisement that Lavender had not caught the Cabal's treachery, but it turned out only the mercenaries at the mansion had been compromised. Lavender had followed Bartholomew and the mercenary captain appeared to have kept his loyalty to his original pay master. With that taken care of Zaphira spent much of the night questioning Marianne over what she knew, what she brought to this effort.

The Peltam made it evidently clear she wanted to have the demon killed, stuffed and mounted over the fire place in one of the vacation homes she had in Cascadia. With this in mind she planned to organize the mercenaries to serve as a first response system through out the town. They would sound the alarm, quietly by use of runner, to let them know the demon had manifested. Then making use of the specially crafted bolts she intended to put an end to the beast. In an effort to draw possible other uses out of the records kept there were a large number of runes dug into the town using the ashes as described in the entries. It was possible that by luring the beast onto one of the ruins it would be vulnerable to more ordinary means. Not entirely certain what Marianne was capable of, Zaphira shockingly had a large amount of laxity in allowing the noble girl to place herself in the town so long as she wouldn't destroy the demon entirely.

It was with this knowledge that Zaphira was reclining in the upper levels of a bell tower affixed to the town meeting hall. The place afforded her a near eagle eye view of the village and in conjunction with the End, Zaffy felt the core of confidence that she could kill this demon.
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Marianne
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Marianne patrolled around the town on her own. Her mind refreshing over everything that she had talked with Zaffy about. It seems like she had a much more reliable resource available than some nutter living in a dirty old house with dirty water. She shuttered at the thought of remembering her time there. It was almost like a nightmare come true when she saw his fat frame running towards her. That metal wrapping still fitting over his sweaty and unwashed head. The noble tried to greet him nicely, despite the repulsion she was currently feeling.

He instantly started going off about his plan to fight off the Harvest. He sounded really excited and wouldn't stop talking in a rushed manner despite being out of breath from running all over town looking for her. He had heard that people were preparing for the Forgotten Harvest to arrive and wanted to plan with his partner. Marianne tried to interrupt him to tell him that a plan was already in motion and that he would just get in the way and endanger his own life.

He would have none of it though and Marianne felt the need to ignore him when one of the Runners turned around the corner and came at her. He told her that the Forgotten Harvest had been spotted and pointed in the direction that he came from. He looked most positively spooked. At least he did his job. Marianne put her hand on Gred's shoulder to push him off to the side. "Stay here." She said before running off towards the reported location of the monstrosity.
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Zaffy
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One of the runners came up the bell tower where Zaffy was waiting. She didn't bother asking him why, it was obvious. All she needed were the details that he gave in between breaths. The entity had manifested to the west and apparently butchered a patrol out there. Heading up to the roof she slid on the breathing apparatus over her face, comforted by the close in sounds of her breathing. This was a hunt, nothing more. She could kill this thing. The thoughts were reassuring, but not so much as the satisfying sounds the End made as she loaded in one of the special-made ballista rounds. A number of monocular devices were attached to it, by flicking a few into place the image of the streets were magnified to a satisfactory extent. Panning the bizarre scope outwards she caught sight of the Forgotten Harvest.

The first thing she noticed was the ground taking on a grey hue before the demon's advance. The dry and desiccated earth cracking open as what little moisture was present was consumed. The main body of it was surrounded by a storm of dead leaves that whirled about as if controlled by a strong storm. Even from here she could hear the howling of that wind and the frightening aspect of screaming it carried with it. If she had been present when the mercenaries died, she would have noticed their voices in amongst the screaming. Behind the leaves she could see the human body of it. In what snatches she caught it looked like a desiccated person of indeterminate gender, their body withered up to what would have killed someone a long time ago. The skin itself had taken on the grey dead color of the ground and leaves around it. From a distance it was as if the Forgotten Harvest was feeding on color. When the demon got near another structure the building started greying and decaying into dust. She hadn't anticipated warding the ammunition, it was possible that the round could decay into dust before reaching the Forgotten Harvest.

Willing to gamble on her preparations she sighted the End on the beast. Passing over what looked like a crown of dried up thorns around its head she aimed the bolt at its chest. Breathing steadily she paused, holding her breath as her finger hovered over the trigger. The harvest turned towards her position on top of the bell tower, noticing her in spite of her distance and stillness. The eyes deep set into its skull flared a bright orange and Zaphira pulled the trigger.

The bolt flew true and swiftly. Upon reaching its aura the out edges of the vibrant wood started to grey and flake away, leaving a dust trail behind it. Enough of the round survived the demonic aura and penetrated its body. Embedded inside of its deathly corpse the demon began screeching with a wail that sounded like a dozen wolves in pain. Whoever had written the account on the effectiveness of new trees was right, mostly. The thing wasn't dead, evidence by it ripping out the bolt in a spray of dust. The Harvest gripped the remains of the bolt until they dissolved away. To busy reloading, Zaphira wasn't certain if the wound had gotten smaller after it killed the bolt. It was entirely possible the creature's death-aura was a method of feeding. That by killing, dissolving and taking in previously living matter the demon fed.

If this was the case she sincerely hoped Marianne was warded in some way.
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Marianne
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Marianne turned the corner to see the Harvest just in time for it to screech in pain and rip a bolt out of its chest. Marianne stood her ground and drew her sword. With a flick of her wrist, the beautiful steel blade quickly turned into energy. A light rainbow glow coming off of it. Her shield quickly filled the lack of defense on her other arm. She was ready to fight it, but hesitated at the sight of the wood around the being decay. It certainly wasn't a monstrosity that she was expecting but still, the sight of it wasn't very heartwarming.

The Harvest turned to look at her and started walking towards her at a slow pace. Arms reaching out as if trying to grasp her. The grasp that would surely turn her into dust like everything else in its path. She was pushed to the side a bit as a portly fellow rushed past her screaming that he was going to stop the Forgotten Harvest. She could tell right away that he was breaking apart from just going through the storm of dead leaves. As soon as he got through the gale, the Forgotten Harvest took his head in between his hands and very quickly Gred turned into decayed dust leaving only a scream of agony left behind.

Marianne backed up as the Harvest picked up its pace as it approached her. She was more than willing to fight this creature, just not pointlessly die against it. It was in pain from the bolt that hit it. So it didn't seem invulnerable, just close range combat seemed out of the question. As Marianne stepped back again, the Harvest stepped forward and stopped. One of the runes drawn all over the city started to light up beneath it. The storm of dead leaves died down and it shrieked yet again. She noticed the houses nearby stopped decaying for the moment.

Taking this moment, she charged with her sword. Swinging it, she cut one of the arms. The arm fell to the ground and turned to dust itself. The Forgotten Harvest stepped away from the rune. Unfortunately it wasn't bound there. Almost instantly the leaves came back to it in a swirling barrier. "No you don't." She said and dropped her shield and reached through to grab the abomination. She yelped in pain yet grabbed it by the face and dragged it directly back onto the rune. She threw it onto the ground to stop the burning pain she felt and stabbed her sword into one of its legs, pinning it there.
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