[It's cold, and the snow has turned into a deep red, a coagulated crimson, in the wake of a terrible fight.
A fight that has not ended, but one that is presumably going not so great for Maxim, for whatever reason that may be. Maybe the monster is too large, too overbearing. Maybe it's too fast. Maybe luck is on its side and it got a tricky hit in.
But either way, it's certainly not fortunate enough to avoid a silver bullet slamming into it from afar, right on the heels of a gunshot. It rears back, wailing in pain.]
You there! [Says Vincent, a hunter dressed in dark garb, who has sludged through snow like this more than once before, approaching swiftly from a distance.] Let me aid you!
[Winters in Crownfrost brings forth terrors new and old.
Hunting is not only for keeping the creatures out of the capital and surrounding provinces; it was imperative that useful parts were harvested; fur, skin, blood, and bone. Anything was fair game to be stripped down to the marrow as long as it wasn't poisonous or had negative long term effects.
Every other year, a new monster would manifest and the archivist of the hunting party would have to put it on record and share the knowledge throughout the Empire. Some only appeared once, others would increase in number and add to their never-ending labor.
It's just another day for Maxim Vasiliev; he grunts and dodge-rolls away from his current prey thinking cynically in that split second:]
I really hope we don't see another fucker like THIS the rest of the winter.
[A tall man and his three companions, clad in dark and warm clothing are currently struggling against a skeletal creature as tall as the pine trees surrounding them in the grove. Within its ribcage, four heads reside (a fox, a bear, two human heads). It's own head is a grey and bald with large blunt teeth.
And they're all screaming.
Maxim had lost his sniping spot when the beast swiped at him with its large paddle hands. The rest of his team are shouting to distract it while he gathers his bearings. But before he can think of his next move, the sound of a bullet rings through the air and the monster screeches in pain, falling to its knees.]
Let me aid you!
[There's no second guessing; though his companions are baffled, Maxim's one blue eye catches Vincent's and he nods.]
"Stagger it again!"
[Maxim speaks in the Empire's language but the meaning should come across loud and clear. He shouts directions at the others to back off and make room for Vincent. Meanwhile, he'll assess if he can fight up close; he changes positions with his rifle and it snaps into place to become a lance.]
[This would be a far more wretched and terrifying sight if Vincent had not been in this situation countless times in the past; and often on his own at that. He's seen awful creatures much like this one (though not exactly like this one), just as he's had to fight against the snow underfoot and the chill threatening to cut through his garb amid a fight. It means nothing to him. His instincts remain clear and focused. he's leveled up a lot since he turned into a slug
His own weapon is the saw cleaver, now extended to give him further reach, and he doesn't hesitate to close the space between him and the creature. Even if he doesn't understand the language, the intent is very clear. There is only one thing a true hunter would do in a situation like this, and it's to volleyball distractions to keep the beast on its toes.
Vincent's turn, then. He won't rely on his gun, now holstered. Instead, he leaps forward and swings his weapon in a sharp arch, to cut into the skin of the monster. Distantly, he notes the weapon that Maxim is wielding, but he's no time to really focus on it.]
[The cleaver's aim is true and the creature has no time to avoid Vincent's strike. Maxim would be impressed if they had the time to ponder it more but not now; the other hunters have taken out their rifles and are changing formation. They distance themselves from Max and the mysterious hunter as they circle the beast.
Maxim dashes at the monster with his lance and performs multiple strikes at its knees. The effort is rewarded; the monster cannot run anymore but it can still attempt a palm slam while rasping for breath. The scarred man keeps stabbing at its knees and then its thighs until a satisfactory amount of blood is spilling into the snow.
He creates some distance again close enough that Vincent should be able to see him. Maxim makes a gesture with his thumb, slashing it across his throat. And then he shouts:]
Behead!!
[He speaks in a familiar tongue this time, a singular word with an authoritative tone. It's all decisive action right now, nothing else, and instinctively he feels like he can trust this stranger to deal the final blow.]
[What a weapon that is, with reach and piercing ability enough to break a monster to pieces. Again, it's something he can appreciate later, after the fight has come to a close -- and this fight will come to a close.
Blood spills into the pristine white. Vincent only takes to the command with such an ease that he might not have required any command at all; he knows when to strike, to take advantage of vulnerabilities when they are presented to him.
He cleaves his weapon across hard and horizontally. The serrated edges of the blade slice through the monster's frame, sending its head detached from its body and landing harshly into the snow.]
Wretched thing.
[Of course, one must make sure such a monster will not be getting up a second time.]
[The screams die with the monster as its head lands on the snow and sweet silence fills the air with the exception of the harsh breathing of anticipation from Maxim and his other hunters.]
The tension starts to lessen in Maxim's body but after a minute he speaks up, commanding his unit to dismantle their prey. They move in closer to the body unsheathing machetes and another a pistol.
While they work on that, Maxim rests his lance across his shoulders and moves towards Vincent, his voice gruff as he properly addresses him.]
Good work. Thanks, stranger.
[He doesn't flinch when four bullet shots ring through the air. One of his men is quadruple-checking the monster by shooting the heads that were in its ribcage.]
Your weapon. Never seen before. Not a local hunter?
[ Wherever this is, it's snowing quite heavily. And from what Barghest can tell, she was not brought here by ordinary means. Which could mean anything. Perhaps the land itself has called for her, requires a warrior, a hound restrained within a more humanoid form.
It doesn't matter right now. She's glancing around, thoughtfully, but as soon as she hears the snow crunch underfoot, she whirls in a single motion, blade out and pointed at whoever it might be. ]
I have no quarrel with you, but if you seek a fight, I will not be inclined to be merciful.
[The man in question halts. He's wrapped from head to toe in warm clothing, including his face which only shows the upper half of his facial features. What is visible is striking; one dark eye, the other an icy blue with a scar that runs straight down across his eyelid.
Maxim's first thought upon coming across this stranger while going out for a quick hunt?]
Ah. Can't believe I found a woman bigger than Instructor.
[If said aloud, it might have been taken the wrong way, but the young man is good at keeping his thoughts to himself. Slung around his back is a tall rifle. At the sight of the woman's sword, he slowly moves...
And tosses the rifle to the ground between them.]
I mean no harm.
[His accent is thick, almost Eastern-European, but not. His one blue eye stares unwaveringly up at Barghest.]
[ She's tense the instant he reaches for the rifle and that tension doesn't just immediately vanish when the rifle hits the ground. Any warrior worth their salt could still make it dangerous, even if it laid at their feet.
But she stares back at him, rather than look at the rifle, lowering her sword just enough so that she's not just pointing it at him. Similarly to him, her eyes are mismatched, one a solid blue-green, the other that same color but mixed through with orange. ]
Such a thing does not bother me. What is "this land"?
[ She hadn't received any sort of knowledge regarding it... also strange. ]
The more he looks up at her, the more he finds it fascinating. Her bearing felt noble and overwhelming but for a man who has faced many monsters for his entire life, in and out of the wild, he can stand his ground.
... More importantly, she is definitely not one of the Empire's citizens. Perhaps not even of this world. Usually, this wouldn't be the first conclusion he'd jump to but after visiting a certain cafe several times he's bound to be less surprised.]
This is province of the Vasiliev Empire in the land of Crownfrost. We are in our third month of winter.
With such a name, I wouldn't be surprised if your winter were to last the entire year. Unless you change the name of your land at the whims of the seasons.
[ Crownfrost to Crownflora, perhaps? She doesn't mention it. ]
Regardless, my arrival here was not by choice. You have my thanks for your willingness to answer my questions.
[It wouldn't have been the first time that the alchemist had adventured out into a land beyond her tiny island and it certainly wouldn't have been the last. If Ryza were her younger self, she might've been more scared and underprepared. But she was an adult now... She knew how to live all by herself and make use of her skills all out on her own. Her mother and father were still bound to worry about her due to that reckless adventurous spirt of hers, though.
In the midst of her travels, she had stumbled onto a gate... She assumed that it would take her to the Underworld just like she did in her previous travels, but instead... It looked like it was a snowy land. She was far more used to summer weather than this. The good news was that she had a cloak to cover her body from the intense cold, but the bad news was that she was alone out here. She could already hear Tao and Lent making fun of her for letting her curiosity getting the better of her.]
Ugh, great... Those two would really let me have it if they were hanging out with me right now!
[She was less scared and more exasperated with herself right now. But what she doesn't notice was the sounds of growling inching up from behind her... Even if she was experienced with fighting monsters, Ryza was still capable of making mistakes. Especially without her party supporting her through it...!]
[It's not unusual to come upon stragglers in the wild. What is unusual is that they're alive enough to talk to themselves and sound sane. And with just that cloak? The girl was going to need more than that.
Ryza is lucky that Maxim was making one last round with his unit to make sure everyone was accounted for before returning to the capital. He was about to make himself known before he froze in place. His ears are sensitive enough to make suspicious noises and he settles into the bush, camouflaged by his clothing.
Sorry Ryza, he's going to dip into some bushes and ready his rifle. As much as he wanted to warn the girl away, it may actually draw it out faster.
He's a fast and accurate shot. He'll get this over with.]
[The animal itself just so happened to be a wolf who was creeping up from within a bush to jump in for the attack. Ryza looked defenseless, but they say to never judge a book by its cover. It's not until the wolf digs its feet into the snow that her ears perk up and her senses sharpen... There was clear bloodlust in the air. Her battle instincts and training with Lila reminded her to be more aware of her surroundings and not space out so much. That's right... If she were here, she'd say "Don't hesitate. Go for the kill, Ryza."
That's why whenever the wolf jumps out, Ryza whips around and pulls out her staff to bash its skull in with the force of a hammer! The animal whimpers and there's sound of bones cracking to follow.]
--Hyah! Don't sneak up on a lady like that!
[Not that the wolf heard her since it was already down on the snow and laying there dead. Ryza lets out a sigh as she minimalizes her staff back into a smaller object for carrying.]
[Then she claps her hands together in an apologetical fashion with a sweet smile on her face to boot. Nothing personal to the wolf, but she wanted to survive more. Now this next part was the highlight of monster extermination in her opinion.]
Ehehe... Sorry about that, but you really picked on the wrong girl! Don't worry... I'll make sure to harvest your parts into something better.
[She says as she bends down to examine the head... Thankfully, it looks like some of its teeth were still in tact, so she could put those in her item bag for starters. Not to mention, the wolf had beautiful fur. Good thing that she had a knife or two for moments like this.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
A fight that has not ended, but one that is presumably going not so great for Maxim, for whatever reason that may be. Maybe the monster is too large, too overbearing. Maybe it's too fast. Maybe luck is on its side and it got a tricky hit in.
But either way, it's certainly not fortunate enough to avoid a silver bullet slamming into it from afar, right on the heels of a gunshot. It rears back, wailing in pain.]
You there! [Says Vincent, a hunter dressed in dark garb, who has sludged through snow like this more than once before, approaching swiftly from a distance.] Let me aid you!
no subject
Hunting is not only for keeping the creatures out of the capital and surrounding provinces; it was imperative that useful parts were harvested; fur, skin, blood, and bone. Anything was fair game to be stripped down to the marrow as long as it wasn't poisonous or had negative long term effects.
Every other year, a new monster would manifest and the archivist of the hunting party would have to put it on record and share the knowledge throughout the Empire. Some only appeared once, others would increase in number and add to their never-ending labor.
It's just another day for Maxim Vasiliev; he grunts and dodge-rolls away from his current prey thinking cynically in that split second:]
I really hope we don't see another fucker like THIS the rest of the winter.
[A tall man and his three companions, clad in dark and warm clothing are currently struggling against a skeletal creature as tall as the pine trees surrounding them in the grove. Within its ribcage, four heads reside (a fox, a bear, two human heads). It's own head is a grey and bald with large blunt teeth.
And they're all screaming.
Maxim had lost his sniping spot when the beast swiped at him with its large paddle hands. The rest of his team are shouting to distract it while he gathers his bearings. But before he can think of his next move, the sound of a bullet rings through the air and the monster screeches in pain, falling to its knees.]
Let me aid you!
[There's no second guessing; though his companions are baffled, Maxim's one blue eye catches Vincent's and he nods.]
"Stagger it again!"
[Maxim speaks in the Empire's language but the meaning should come across loud and clear. He shouts directions at the others to back off and make room for Vincent. Meanwhile, he'll assess if he can fight up close; he changes positions with his rifle and it snaps into place to become a lance.]
gomen for not having my fighty icons available
he's leveled up a lot since he turned into a slugHis own weapon is the saw cleaver, now extended to give him further reach, and he doesn't hesitate to close the space between him and the creature. Even if he doesn't understand the language, the intent is very clear. There is only one thing a true hunter would do in a situation like this, and it's to volleyball distractions to keep the beast on its toes.
Vincent's turn, then. He won't rely on his gun, now holstered. Instead, he leaps forward and swings his weapon in a sharp arch, to cut into the skin of the monster. Distantly, he notes the weapon that Maxim is wielding, but he's no time to really focus on it.]
such is icon life
Maxim dashes at the monster with his lance and performs multiple strikes at its knees. The effort is rewarded; the monster cannot run anymore but it can still attempt a palm slam while rasping for breath. The scarred man keeps stabbing at its knees and then its thighs until a satisfactory amount of blood is spilling into the snow.
He creates some distance again close enough that Vincent should be able to see him. Maxim makes a gesture with his thumb, slashing it across his throat. And then he shouts:]
Behead!!
[He speaks in a familiar tongue this time, a singular word with an authoritative tone. It's all decisive action right now, nothing else, and instinctively he feels like he can trust this stranger to deal the final blow.]
the real eldritch horror is having 15 icons only
Blood spills into the pristine white. Vincent only takes to the command with such an ease that he might not have required any command at all; he knows when to strike, to take advantage of vulnerabilities when they are presented to him.
He cleaves his weapon across hard and horizontally. The serrated edges of the blade slice through the monster's frame, sending its head detached from its body and landing harshly into the snow.]
Wretched thing.
[Of course, one must make sure such a monster will not be getting up a second time.]
no subject
[The screams die with the monster as its head lands on the snow and sweet silence fills the air with the exception of the harsh breathing of anticipation from Maxim and his other hunters.]
The tension starts to lessen in Maxim's body but after a minute he speaks up, commanding his unit to dismantle their prey. They move in closer to the body unsheathing machetes and another a pistol.
While they work on that, Maxim rests his lance across his shoulders and moves towards Vincent, his voice gruff as he properly addresses him.]
Good work. Thanks, stranger.
[He doesn't flinch when four bullet shots ring through the air. One of his men is quadruple-checking the monster by shooting the heads that were in its ribcage.]
Your weapon. Never seen before. Not a local hunter?
no subject
It doesn't matter right now. She's glancing around, thoughtfully, but as soon as she hears the snow crunch underfoot, she whirls in a single motion, blade out and pointed at whoever it might be. ]
I have no quarrel with you, but if you seek a fight, I will not be inclined to be merciful.
no subject
Maxim's first thought upon coming across this stranger while going out for a quick hunt?]
Ah. Can't believe I found a woman bigger than Instructor.
[If said aloud, it might have been taken the wrong way, but the young man is good at keeping his thoughts to himself. Slung around his back is a tall rifle. At the sight of the woman's sword, he slowly moves...
And tosses the rifle to the ground between them.]
I mean no harm.
[His accent is thick, almost Eastern-European, but not. His one blue eye stares unwaveringly up at Barghest.]
You are stranger in this land. Are you not cold?
no subject
But she stares back at him, rather than look at the rifle, lowering her sword just enough so that she's not just pointing it at him. Similarly to him, her eyes are mismatched, one a solid blue-green, the other that same color but mixed through with orange. ]
Such a thing does not bother me. What is "this land"?
[ She hadn't received any sort of knowledge regarding it... also strange. ]
no subject
The more he looks up at her, the more he finds it fascinating. Her bearing felt noble and overwhelming but for a man who has faced many monsters for his entire life, in and out of the wild, he can stand his ground.
... More importantly, she is definitely not one of the Empire's citizens. Perhaps not even of this world. Usually, this wouldn't be the first conclusion he'd jump to but after visiting a certain cafe several times he's bound to be less surprised.]
This is province of the Vasiliev Empire in the land of Crownfrost. We are in our third month of winter.
[He holds up three more fingers.]
Three more to go. You should have appeared later.
no subject
With such a name, I wouldn't be surprised if your winter were to last the entire year. Unless you change the name of your land at the whims of the seasons.
[ Crownfrost to Crownflora, perhaps? She doesn't mention it. ]
Regardless, my arrival here was not by choice. You have my thanks for your willingness to answer my questions.
no subject
In the midst of her travels, she had stumbled onto a gate... She assumed that it would take her to the Underworld just like she did in her previous travels, but instead... It looked like it was a snowy land. She was far more used to summer weather than this. The good news was that she had a cloak to cover her body from the intense cold, but the bad news was that she was alone out here. She could already hear Tao and Lent making fun of her for letting her curiosity getting the better of her.]
Ugh, great... Those two would really let me have it if they were hanging out with me right now!
[She was less scared and more exasperated with herself right now. But what she doesn't notice was the sounds of growling inching up from behind her... Even if she was experienced with fighting monsters, Ryza was still capable of making mistakes. Especially without her party supporting her through it...!]
no subject
Ryza is lucky that Maxim was making one last round with his unit to make sure everyone was accounted for before returning to the capital. He was about to make himself known before he froze in place. His ears are sensitive enough to make suspicious noises and he settles into the bush, camouflaged by his clothing.
Sorry Ryza, he's going to dip into some bushes and ready his rifle. As much as he wanted to warn the girl away, it may actually draw it out faster.
He's a fast and accurate shot. He'll get this over with.]
1/2
That's why whenever the wolf jumps out, Ryza whips around and pulls out her staff to bash its skull in with the force of a hammer! The animal whimpers and there's sound of bones cracking to follow.]
--Hyah! Don't sneak up on a lady like that!
[Not that the wolf heard her since it was already down on the snow and laying there dead. Ryza lets out a sigh as she minimalizes her staff back into a smaller object for carrying.]
2/2
Ehehe... Sorry about that, but you really picked on the wrong girl! Don't worry... I'll make sure to harvest your parts into something better.
[She says as she bends down to examine the head... Thankfully, it looks like some of its teeth were still in tact, so she could put those in her item bag for starters. Not to mention, the wolf had beautiful fur. Good thing that she had a knife or two for moments like this.]