[Closed] Urgent Search and Rescue Civilian Quest

[Starlight]

On a Tuesday morning, bright and early, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and most of the town's folks are still asleep, the Port for once seems to be a quiet place. It must have been earlier than 8am, there were very few people wandering about, mostly merchants setting up shop. A lone girl with long straight black hair stood motionlessly in front of small old clothing shop for some times now, her back straight and her hair blew softly along with the wind, the sunlight touches her slightly, she looked peaceful as if she was in a drawing.  


Stella sneezed, "achu, ah, god damn it, why is it always have to be so chilly in the early morning, I thought we are entering summer are we not?" Stella shook her head and return to stood attentively in front of the shop like a good solider, (or a puppy eyeing a bone on the other side of the glass window). There, right there! Inside the dusty glass window, hang a beautiful black dress, armored with leather and decorated with laces and pretty patterns, a little fancy, it looked a little like something that came from an medieval fantasy, and it was super expensive too, not something a beginner like Stella could afford. But she likes to look at it, dreaming that some day she could have it, just thinking about it almost makes her wanted to drool, but the lady shop owner caught her staring so she has to shyly run away. But Stella could not help herself, so every time she passed by this shop located along the common road, she would stopped and stare. After a few days, the lady owner made her an offer, she couldn't have the expensive one, but the owner can make her a cheaper one with similar style, but in exchange Stella has to go gather the materials that were used in making clothes for this shop, for one month. And so, like a solider on duty, continuously, patiently, waiting for the owner to return, Stella has been doing this everyday now, she would get her list on the morning just before opening hour, and with her list she will sneak into the forest, picking stuff off the forest floor, and return with what she gather in the evening right after the shop is closed. The owner is very diligent, she would be here to meet her everyday just before 7am, but today she was late, it was almost 8am now, but the owner is nowhere to be seen. 

The owner of this particular shop is a middle age women goes by the name Annie, she took over the shop and the task of raising her two sons by herself after her husband having passed away, officially stated as killed by spiders in the timber forest when he was out gathering materials. Most shop owners purchase their materials from their own sources, but the materials themselves are expensive, and business were slow and the payout is not looking good, it was ok before but lately there seems to be a downturn. Annie said that at the rate that the business was going, they may have to close down within a year, and out of job, their sons were still young and they absolutely does not want their son to be fighting any kind of monster, so an adventurer or a city guard is out of the question. From what Stella have heard, the husband wanted to save on cost by sneaking into the forest with friends to try to scavenge the materials that the shop needs. This shop specialized in weaving clothes out of wolf fur, leather and enhanced spider web. 

"gosh, she is super late, did she over slept?" Stella think aloud to herself, rubbing her arm trying to warm herself against the morning wind. Just then, the frantic Annie rushed out from a corner of the street, she was trembling and shaking as she run, tripping over her own foot.

"Annie?!" Stella catches the owner just as she was about to fall down, the owner instinctively grabbed harshly onto Stella's arms causing Stella to take in a sudden cold breath out of pain caused to her arms. The owner however, is not responsive, she is taking laboring breath in Stella's arms and appears to be unable to speak or move for a moment, then she looked up, her gaze meeting with Stella's and Stella's eyes widen in shock, taking in the owner's eyes whom is redden by tears. "Josh!! It was Josh!! He went after them, I told him not to!! He promised!! He was not supposed to go there it's dangerous, he promised me, Josh he promised me, he was....he was supposed to be the good kid!!" Stella was shocked for a moment by the sudden loud yelling, but she instantly came back to herself, even though the owner basically told her nothing, she was familiar enough with this history to piece together the puzzle by herself, the young Josh must have went into the timber forest in order to avenge his father, Stella frown and gently removed Annie from her arms.

That is....actually dangerous, a young kid barely in his teens without any combat training went into the forest all by himself? At this point, I hope that he find nothing and return back home, or if he did encounter something, I hope he got caught by the spiders and be stored for a later meal. The timber forest is actually dangerous to Stella too, and not just in a way that she is a new adventurer, but Stella herself personally intensively dislike bugs, not to the extend that it would make her unable to fight, but it may have an impact on her performance. Her feelings aside, a life takes precedent and she pushed aside her fears for her own safety. At this point, her only saving grace would be that she knows the routes to where the Spiders usually gather by heart at this point. Calmly she shook Annie, getting her attention before saying in a controlled tone "Annie, I am going to go into the forest, you should go around and ask for help, posting notes on the walls if you have to, but I need to go right now. Stay focus, it's not over yet. Tell whoever you find to follow the trials that I leave behind, or meet me around the nest."  Stella pulled a few colorful sea shells from the front of her leather jacket and show them to Annie, she was going to make them into bracelet and sell it to people, but it seems that they find a better use for themselves now.

Without another word, Stella stood up, without another glance back, she rushed out passed the now starting to buzzing street, out of the gates and disappeared into the forest.  
 
PS: open for at most 6 other people, if no one join, I will update once every week.

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv5

Leaving her home much later than she usually does. She had to make Tesh stay put for today, which was not an easy task. Their last training session had been rather grueling on the poor man and he could barely move. Finally convincing him to rest for the day allowed her to leave to do a few simple quests while the man rested for the day. Walking along the cobblestone roads passing by players and npcs alike, as they went on with the start of their day. Moving through the marketplace, her leather armor with heavy calcum plating on her right limbs, made he look like a pit fighter or mercenary. Her armor chimed with every step as the merchants yelled out as they tried to hawk their wares. As Rue continued walking through the marketplace to reach the posting board to glance at possible quests for her to take. Looking to the right for her, the blue haired girl saw a rather eye catching black dress. It looked to be a battle dress, and made with rather high quality items. The dress looked to be made of a silky material, possibly the spider's webbing. Leather was placed in areas to protect vital organs. All in all it was a rather nice design, however a battle dress would be impractical in a fight. All of the excess cloth and lace could get caught in a fight and used to hold you down. Rue walked away from the window of the clothing store, a chime of a bell rang as a middle aged women walked out. Approaching Rue quickly with a look of concern and worry. " Excuse me, but i saw you looking at the battle dress i had on display". Moving closer to the small girl her voice became more pleading than before. " You look like a experienced warrior, could you please help me with finding my son". A spark of interest came over the small girl as she turned around to face the women. Crossing her arms and looking with a calm expression. " Your son went missing? What happened"? The women would go on to explain that her boy Josh had gone into the forest. The mother had a right to be worried as the timber forest was not a place to be going to for a picnic or walk. She spoke of how another girl had already left in search of her son, and that she would met at the spider's nest. Saying that the other girl would leave sea shells as a kind of breadcrumbs to track her movements. Taking in everything into account Rue asked why she should help if another was already in search of her son? The store owner became more upset as she talked about how the person she has sent out was not well equipped and not very experienced. Pleading with the small girl she offered the battle dress as a reward to help her get her son back. " No that's fine i don't need a reward, i just needed information. Don't worry if your son is still alive i will find him". Walking away from the women, Rue headed to the teleporter. Passing by the job board and standing on the teleporter, Rue ported to the forest to search for the boy and the other player. Hopefully they are still alive when she reaches them.

[Starlight]

As Starlight was running towards the spider's nest, she was intensively telling herself that spiders are monsters, and all monsters are basically just exp, especially this game, the monsters are literally just a collection of digital data. Even though it MAY had the look and maybe the feel of an actually spider, cannot confirm that part because she would NEVER and I do mean NEVER, actually try to touch one of those....getting off topic here, what she was trying to say is that, the giant spiders of the timberline forest are not actually bugs per say, with quotation marks around the word bugs, it is just electric and zeros and ones running through someone's home computer system! Yeah! 

"Spiders are not scary!" Starlight yelled to herself, eyes frowning, " and I am not scared at all!" She reassure herself of her impending bravery. "For I am Starlight, the bringer of light! I shall caste away darkness" wow, where did that came from, that was some RPG talks, did Sche and Ark's habit accidentally robs up on her? But seriously back on track, how can she, a completely awesome and so skillful level one player be scared of something as messy and and and....ahhh damn it!! Gross, but I am not scared! I am not scared! This does not bothers me! This does not affects me at all!!! (images of spiders currently running through her head like google image search without the safety filter), damn it!!! But even if I am scared...I can't leave him be just like that...damn it that woman gives me a place to stay in the night! I ate dinner with this little boy! I can't leave him!!.....I got to play the hero, so step up Starlight! For just this once! For this one time, you can do it, you have to do it! 

"Ah...!!" Drawing in a sudden intake of cold breath, Starlight stops right in her track, the momentum from the fast dash to a complete stop was such a 180 that her feet drags tracks into the ground leaving brown earth showing in the otherwise green surroundings. Cannot afford to actually stop even for a moment, Starlight quickly steps aside and hides behind the tree, her eyes peering over at the giant spider walking ahead of her, clearing dragging the boy she was looking for. Her heart almost stopped for a second thinking that the spider might have heard her hitting the break in her dash, might have saw her trying to hide behind the tree, might have sense her presence here somehow somehow. But it didn't.

The spider continues on in its merry way, it had clearly just capture the boy and is now in a very happy mode (judging by the way it walks) probably feeling good about itself having secured a...late lunch? From the look of the boy, he had clearly tried to fight it but failed miserably. Josh's clothes had cuts in them, his hair are messed up, he was clearly in a fight before, but now he stopped moving entirely. Starlight freeze up thinking what that could mean, but the boy had not disappeared into pixels yet, he must have been still alive! Even if he was just hanging by the thread, but I have my potions! If I could somehow safe him, and get him away from here, there is still a chance! I can give him the potion, he can still live and return home!

But how am I going to deal with this thing? Starlight look at the spider's health bar....it had a full health bar....wow, Josh.... you really didn't do anything did you, at least soften it up a bit!....well ok. 

Anyway, if it was anything like last time, (thinking about to her solo quest) the spider right now did not seems to want to eat him right away, it is going to dragged him to its home and sew him into a cocoon. Maybe it will leave and tried to find side dish or main course and leave him be for awhile. If I stay quiet, I may be able to follow it home and wait for it to leave...but Josh isn't a timber wolf, there is no way he could have survived being cocooned! And lord knows how much damage he already took, he could die on the road, I have to get him as fast as possible. 

Thinking about that but without an actual workable plan, attacking it head on seems increasingly like the only option. Starlight prepared to get out from her safe hiding place.

And stepped into something, she didn't even have time to react, that something tied around her boots and lifted her leg first into the air, hanging in the air upside down, she came face to face with a red eye spider, appearing much much larger than the one dragging away Josh. Her heart actually skipped a beat as she frozen up in fear, completely unable to move, her lips quiver, but she can't seem to control her own body to make a sound. 

Keep drawing up empty air her mind felt empty and somehow it was a complete mess, filed with running images of random junk of no actual value to this situation all at once, she did not know what to think or what to do.

The lifting sound apparently caught the attention of the smaller spider, it turns around hoping for a potential side dish, but as soon as it saw the bigger spider, it also froze up and in a super awkward fashion it turned around, quickly picked up Josh and hurriedly away, seemingly heading towards its own nest where it shared its web with its many siblings. 

"Ah..." Still hanging, Starlight told herself to calm down it is just digital data, her hands shaken as she reaches for her weapon but completely fails to grab it. The giant giant spider closes in.

Just then, at the corner of her eyes, she saw something blue in the distant and it was moving fast. She didn't know what it was, but at that moment, all of her survival instinct fires up all at once and screamed at her to do something, now or never!

So she screamed...loudly, for the first time since she step afoot into this game, it was true, completely forgetting about being calm or whatever. "Someone please help me!!!!!!" 
 

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv6

Porting to the timberlands, the touch of the wind kissed her porcelain skin and the leaves flutter and danced in the wind. Creating a sort of natural music as the small blue haired girl walked along the natural path. Her armor clinked with every step she took with the crunch of sticks and leaves giving way under the force of her steps. Continuing her progress to the nest, the last time she was there was with Janerio to recuse some workers. Fitting that once again she has been sent off once again to recuse another, you would think by now any smart person would stay away from the timberlands but I guess it's in the code. Rue heard and felt a crack echo from her step. Kneeling down and rummaging through the leaves and dirt, she came upon a coloured shell. It was broken now thanks to her carelessness, the shell gleamed with a smooth luster as the sun hit it side. Remembering what the women said, Rue knew at least she was on the right path to find the other player. It was smart of them to leave a trail to pick up, if they where ambushed or caught up in a fight Rue might be able to meet up and assist. Picking up her pace the sounds of crunching and cracking shot of into the forest as she moved with an assured path. The sounds of a scream echoed off into the distance alerting the small tank that someone was in danger. Reading her shield and drawing her sword, Rue move sprint in the direction of the noise. Coming up on the open area, Rue could see the situation at hand. A boy most likely the one she was looking for, had been tied up by webbing a was being carried away by a spider. Another player had been tied up by her feet and was hanging upside down as a larger spider facing her. Rocketing off towards the smaller spider, Rue would cut through the spider with her momentum. The attack had been much harder then usual do to her sneak attack. The boy fell to the ground as the front and the back of the spider disappeared into blue pixels. Moving and throwing her shield at the spider on the tree causing it to bounce off of the spider and knock it down. Grabbing her sword with two hands and cutting down the spiders body empting it's health bar and turning it to dust. Sitting up and looking around, with her detection skill. She could hear movement near by and see the nesting area. Cutting the web off of the tree causing the black haired girl in beginners armor to fall to the ground. Rue moved over to her shield and picked it back up. Looking back at the fallen girl with pale skin and dark brown eyes. Rue's amber eyes were cold and calm and looked through the girl. What was she doing here, this was no place for her. Maybe she was a high enough level to fight these creatures, but her gear would make it difficult to fight them. Walking past her and over to where the nest was. As the blue haired girl passed by her, she would glance at the boy. " Take him and get out of here, there are more on the way, and approaching fast. I will cover your escape and give you plenty of time to make it back to town". Stopping and holding her shield up and placing her sword above the shield, with her right foot forward and her left foot back. " I'll meet you back at the seamstresses shop, now go you'll just be in the way".

[Starlight]

Finally snapped out of her shock, Starlight landed on her feet. The blue armor wearing girl has someone managed to both save Josh and cut through the webs that tied her foot in one turn, freeing the both of them this round and allowing them to get their bearings. But this place may not be save soon as Starlight heard her saying something about more spiders coming this way? More spiders?! Seriously, I have just about seeing enough spiders for a lifetime already! 

Starlight stands up quickly on her two feet and turns around to look at her rescuer. .... "RUE?!! Is that you? What are you doing here?"  The mysterious hero to the rescue was none other than the lone warrior Rue, Starlight has met her once before, back then Rue was chased by a group of spiders and Starlight and along with another player had tried very hard to come to her rescue before, it was a futile effort since the little warrior somehow managed to free herself and the whole rescuing thingy gets side tracked and turns into something else entirely and there were monsters falling around everywhere...it was bad. 

" Take him and get out of here, there are more on the way, and approaching fast. I will cover your escape and give you plenty of time to make it back to town".

Maybe I am just bad at this whole rescuing business....

But seeing her here granted Starlight a sense of relief that she needed, a high level player with enough strength behind her small figure to back up all of her attacks and even more so importantly, Starlight knows that Rue is with enough courage to stand her ground and fight, and not surrender. Once before, she has witnessed first hand that Rue can fight and hold her own, she was a combatant through and through, and there is no doubt in Starlight's mind that Rue would be able to hold off the incoming spiders and get them the time that they needed to reach to port.

Even though, rightfully, as a player, Starlight should have stayed by the little girl's side and stand with her to fight. However...

" I'll meet you back at the seamstresses shop, now go you'll just be in the way".

Starlight take a quick look at Josh, he was not handling all of this very well, she sense that he might not have much time. If they start now, they can still get back to port in one piece. Duty tells her that she needed to help Rue and not left her alone with a whole bunch of spiders, the spiders, that her little scream has attracted forward. But logic tells her that the best option right now was to bring Josh back to safety and comes back for Rue, if she had not find a way to escaped then....

Taking a deep breath, hesitantly, reluctantly, Starlight made her decision that have leave a sour and bitter taste in her mouth. She closes her eyes for a second, shaking quietly, drawing cold intake of air, knowing that she had just take a gamble on Rue's combat ability, knowing that she might have just left her behind, risking her alone with the spiders. She swallowed hard, and open her eyes, her eyes dark as if covered by clouds. But what choice do I even have?

She stands up and take Josh's arm, and hoist him on her shoulder, carrying him like a bag of potatoes. She turns and yelled at the small blue armor girl.

"Rue! I'm sorry! I need to take him back to the Port, if you are not back I will go after you! I trust you!! PLEASE! DO NOT DIE! I will come back for you!!!" and with that She is off, dashing quickly towards the port with Josh on her shoulder. In this position, it will be very hard for her to fight, but she was not that far away from the Port. If nothing stops her, she will be back to port very soon. 

While she was running, she risked a glance back to Rue, true to her words, there were no spiders chasing after her, and she did not see any monsters up ahead of her, it looks like she will be able to reach the port safely after all!

Don't worry Rue! I will put the nearby player on alert, if you are not back soon we will go search for you! Please hang on and don't die on me!!

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv6

As the black haired girl got her senses back she called out to her and asked what she was doing. Rue pointing her sword at the boy as she looked in the direction of the spiders that were about to be on top of them if they did not move. The spiders started to surround them, and It was looking worse for the group every second that past as Starlight would continue to waste the precious time that she had to escape with the boy. the spiders would get closer and closer Starlight would have to leave now or they would be stuck to fighting at a disadvantage. Rue could not move she had to hold her ground as the girl and the npc boy were still nearby. If the did not go now, they would lose their chance at escaping and be caught in the fight. Star would pick up the boy and apologize to her, saying that she would take the boy back to the town. Rue's voice was harsh at the girl. Her and the boy were in the way, she would not be able to fight and protect them at the same time without one of them getting hurt. " What are you doing hurry up and go your in the way"! Hoping that her words would get her moving a little faster. The girl and boy were safe now that the spider focused only on her. Rue dashed to the side and ran as the spiders gave chase. Dodging the webbing and poison that the spiders would shoot at her. Rue waited until one of the spiders would get ahead of he others, before turning and cutting through the hard outer armor of the spider's exoskeleton. A green liquid gushed out as it faded away. Blocking the poison with her shield, as the spiders would gain some distance from Rue's loss of speed from her attack. Rue would turn and run away again to stretch out there formation. This was an old tactic used to fight against multiple enemies safely. It required stamina and to be faster then your opponent. Cutting down the second one, and sliding back away from the spider lunge as she took down the second one. With two of the four killed Rue would finish off the rest more a less tiring tactic. Keeping the spiders in between her vision ad shield, Rue flicked her shield goading the spiders into attacking. One of the spider lunged forward with it's outer two legs raised and swinging down as it closed the distance. The other tried to catch the girl with it's web. Moving to the right of the charging spider, she dodged the web and the lunging attack. Slicing throw the spider's mid section as she dodged she quickly rushed the ranged spider before it had time to recover from it's futile attack. These spiders had no chance, the small girl was double there level nothing in this floor could actually kill her. The level different was to high, still it's good practice if she fought as if they could kill her with a single attack. Cutting off the first two legs on it's left side with one strike, Rue brought her blade quickly down removing the spiders head. Rue would look around using to see if any other spiders where coming if not she would make her way to the teleporter to see if the two made it back safely.

[Starlight]

"Well Josh...! You sure are a lot heavier than you look, or is it that I'm just slowing down because I am tired...?" Starlight asked no one in particular, because, well, the NPC is currently unconscious on her shoulder so he can neither hear her nor respond to her in any way, shape or form. The two, well only one, had been running for some times now, occasionally Starlight would be brave enough to take a glance over her shoulder to see if any spiders are coming this way, chasing her and trying to eat her. But no spiders are within her eye sight right now...I guess that Rue must have been able to hold them back...good....

Breathing, actually became a little bit harder the longer she run, but she was not surprise that fatigue was not taken out from the game, since that was what the endurance stats was for probably. And now, her biggest weakness and glaring problem that was her endurance stats, was truly taken a toll on her. Distance running was not her thing, and neither is carrying a what, more than 100 lbs NPC on her should while she runs.

But that does not matter, Starlight's heart beat goes a little faster when the sky seems to lighten up a little bit. Trees are not as many as before, as they were breezing pass the forest fast, having seen more sunlight can only mean that they were in fact in the right path, and is now closer to coming out of the timber forest.

Starlight cannot help but trying to pick up her pace even more, quickly! quicker still! I am almost there! Almost reaching safety now.

As the trees in front of her was about to clear up, suddenly, she stepped and tripped over something, and that caused the NPC on her shoulder to glide across the air and fall down to the ground in a loud thump. Starlight's heart beat skipped a beat at the anticipation, but it slowly returned to normal as she sees that the small NPC was not turning into pixels. Josh, the teenager boy NPC had somehow survived the fall and is still in one piece.

But what did I tripe over...?

Starlight frowned and thought angrily as she looked down, her right foot was stuck and glued by a white spider web, as soon as she realize what this could mean, she unsheathed her long sword and cut the spider web loose from her ankle. Standing upward, her eyes following the trail of where the spider webs were leading, it was coming from the other side of the brushes.

.......

It looks like I cannot cross this distance without encountering anything after all....

Starlight holds her sword in front of her as she listen to the sounds of eight legs moving in a creepy sound, coming from the bushes from the other side. Whatever it was, it was really heavily, judging by the way that the movement seems to have bumping the small rocks on the road up and down as it move across the bushes.

Starlight narrowed her eyes and seriously considered the possibility of just running away with Josh right now. Her mind was operating fast, going over how fighting this thing head on could potentially go down. But no matter what kind of tricks she pull out, at this moment in time, with Josh close by, without any more equipment, she seems to not be able to come out of this unharmed. Starlight licks her lips, oh well...she disliked bugs intensively, but after all of that running, all of that hope of getting away to safety in one piece and getting tripped over by this thing's web at the seemingly last second, was seriously starting to take a toll on her mood. Frustrating really. Right now, if she were to fight this thing, she will not hesitate to cut this thing down, spider or no spider, she was way too tired and too frustrated to be feeling scared.

This was when the giant spider finally moves out from the bushes, with all eight of its eyes staring down at her.


Starlight looked at it with narrowed eyes, considering its size, analyzing it, and sighed in defeat. The spider seems to have confirmed what she thought was going to happen just by showing up, and it haven't even done anything yet.

She did not want to fight it, not with Josh so close by. But even if she were to try to run away from this thing. Well, first of all, from previous experience she knows that spiders can be super fast and it might just chase her down anyway, especially with Josh weighing her down. But more urgently then that, if this thing shots web at her from behind while she was retreating with Josh, that will caught them both at the same time. And if she could not move her weapon, that is game over right there. At this moment in time, taking this thing down while she was facing it seems to be, ironically, her safest option. But first, she has to make sure that the spider is not going to charge towards Josh, which will instantly defeat the purpose of this quest.


Starlight starts to move, walking, slowly towards the other side. All eight eyes of the giant spider was following her as she was walking away from Josh, for some reason, it seems to have focused more on her than on the NPC. If Starlight were to take a guess on the reason, she would said that it was becomes she was still mobile and armed with a pointy weapon, and that makes her a precedent target in to be taken down order.

Taking a deep intake of breath and calming down her beating heart beat, she makes a move to slice her long sword across the ground, bring up grasses and dust into the air, in an attempt to momentarily distort the spider's field of vision. The spider, however, is having none of that as it charged straight through her little smoke screen, little tricks like that seems to mean very little to this thingy. Being already half expecting that and on watch out, Starlight stepped aside from the path of the charge and on the same move, brings her long sword upward and letting her long sword slicing across the spider's stomach as it charge passes her. She quickly glare over her shoulder to look at where the spider is going to land, Starlight turns around to quickly follows up the spider in her pursuit.

Having sense that it was, in fact, charging towards the wrong direction, the spiders forcibly tries to stopped itself on its track, just when it was beginning to turn over to look for its prey, was when Starlight finally reaches it. Her metal sword pierced into the spider's image from behind, and without loosing a moment, she readjust her stands and bought up her sword in a quickly two slash movement, that dropped the spider's heath bar to way below half. Sensing that it was losing health, it angrily snapped its jaws, it turns around and countered attack. Because she was standing so close, Starlight was not able to bring her sword up for defense in time and was forced to take the attack head on, but in her annoyances she slash her sword down cutting a diagonal line across the spider, and with a simple flip of wrist movement, brings up the following uppercut across the spider's image. That last slice emptied the spider's health bar as soon as impact.

Turning around and once again hoisting Josh up to her shoulder, with one hand she support Josh's weight, and on the other hand was her long sword, as the spider disappearing in pixels in the background behind her, Starlight renewed her running.

This was not going so well, she was running so awkwardly being so unbalance in weight, she was not nearly as fast as she was before. Not to mention, even though she pull out her sword to ready for encounter, it is almost impossible to fight in this position. Not to mention the fact that she no longer has her full health bar....

But now the surrounding is clearing up, and they were almost out of the woods. But just then, she can hear the sound of howling in the distance. Starlight felt that her heart just skipped a heart beat, but she reassured herself, that it was ok, they were so so close to the Port right now, and whatever howling sound and the sound of multiple legs running across the grass, behind her, chasing her, they were still really far away...! There was no way that they could have close in on her in time.

Surely they could not...!

The sky seems to lighten up as soon as she stepped out of the woods, distantly, she could see the walls of Noir Port within her eye sight, but the sound of her pursuer also sounded even more nearby. In fact, it had sounded so loudly, that it felt like thunder against her heart. She dare not look back to see how many, or how far away.

As soon as she was close enough to be heard by the NPC guards of the walls, she shouted to them loudly. "Guards! I have an injured kid, by ready for impact!!" and just with that, she hoisted the kid up and throw him across the last remaining distant towards the walls. One of the guards stepped away from his position and rush forward and catching the kid in his arms, saving him from hitting to the ground. At her vision, she can see that guard is yelling and carrying the kid back into the walls, presumably going to get him the helped that he needed. Starlight considered this search and rescue a success by this point.

Taking a deep breath, as she willed her beating heart beat to calm down a little, she swipe her left hand against her sword guard and with a flash of red bright light, she activated her own sword art. Silently readying herself, she turns around and stabbed her long sword into the nearest enemy that was closing behind her. That was the first time that she had a good look at what was chasing after her, it was a timber wolf. And behind this timber wolf, there were seven other timber wolf, a group of eight. That was some large group, enough to give her a heart attack if she were to encounter this group in any other place than here, so very close to the walls. But the immediate threat was still there, if she does not take down this wolf soon, it is going to slow her down and grounded her here, waiting for the other seven wolves running and closing in fast to finally catch up to her.

As frustrating as it was, she knows that the NPC cannot leave their position for too far and even if she was to be killed right in front of them, outside of the walls, the NPC guards will not help her.

Grinding her teeth, her air strike pierce through the wolf's head and immediately followed by the metal sword, hitting the wolf twice have forcefully dropped this wolf's health bar down below half. The wolf taken a step back from being hit, and Starlight uses this opportunity to close in and land one more strike against it. Having been hit three times already, the wolf jumped up and clawed at her. Taking this moment, Starlight brings her long sword up and run across underneath the wolf, leaving a red deep cut across the wolf's underbelly.

As soon as she made the move, she realize it to be a mistake, because she really needs to be running towards the other direction right now! The other wolves are so close that she will be within their range very soon!

Turning around just as the first wolf was about to claw at her again, she barely managed to stepped away, taking a scratch on her arm and taking another hit on her already low health bar. Starlight brings up her sword in a fast two hit cut, slashing across the wolves in the center one cut after another, fighting for her life she was not letting it get another shot at her. She did not have time for this, with the last step, she charged and striking into the wolf, that finally emptied its health bar and let it goes up in pixels. Not stopping in her movement she dashes desperately towards the safety of the other side of the walls, sound of pursuit following her seeming just behind her heels.

Starlight rushed into the other side of the wall, behind her, the NPC guards putting up their shields and blocking the incoming wolves in their path. Starlight turns around just as the NPC guards started to pull out their swords and spears and started to hitting the wolves, the sound of the fight and sound of wolves retreating, momentarily drum out the sound of her own hear beat.


Breathing hard, she remember the little girl she encountered in the woods, she remembers that Rue have told her to wait for her in the seamstress shop? Taking another movement to catch up her breath, she considers to just wait for her beside the gate but decided against the idea. Starlight makes her way towards the seamstress shop. Annie was already at the door waiting for her, so Starlight told her that the guards have Josh now and that he should be ok and maybe return to her later on. Annie nodded with a sigh of relief, knowing that her son is now safe with the guards, she takes a big breath and promised to reward her with something and let her out of her obligation for gathering materials early. Annie returns to the shop.

Starlight rubbed against her tired shoulder, she just then noticed that her weapon was still unsheathed, she quickly sheathed it and take a seat on the stone stair step beside the shop as she patiently waited for Rue to return. She briefly wonders if the silver hair girl was handling things ok in the woods.

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv6

The area seemed clear for now, Rue was going to wait around for the monster to respawn. Sheathing her sword, she would try to figure out which direction the town was in. Looking around the forest blocked too much of her vision to see the walls of the town. She had ran to the left as she stretched out the spider's group. Rue thanked her knowledge of ancient battle tactics she had picked up from her interest in history and video games. Using the sun and the known direction of the town, Rue would get her bearings. The timberlands is west of the town, and the sun is dipping down to the west. It would be a somewhat educated guess to say it was around one to one thirtyish in the afternoon. Finding her east and west would allow her to find her north and south. Rue did not know if the was a north and south hemisphere, giving that the floors were flat? Were they, they could not be as you can reach the other side if you walked in one direction you would eventually find your way back to the start of your journey, maybe. She has never tested it as she has never needed to walk around the floor. Since the floors themselves were there own little worlds, it would be safe to assume that you could walk around them since they are not part of a super continent or world. Shaking her head at her getting lost in thought about the lengths that the programmers went to make this world as immersive as possible. She knew where north was by predicting the movement of the sun, she knew that the at least added in a fairly accurate path of the sun. She did not have the time to philosophical about a fake world’s shape, as Starlight could be in danger. Running back to the town, Rue would not be able to tell if Starlight or the boy made it back or not until she reached there meeting spot. The path was fairly clear, her trip must of been uneventful. The sounds of pattering caught her attention as she halted her movements and drew her sword. Her sword rang through the forest as she used her detection to spot the owners to the sounds. The steps of the creatures were not the sounds of spiders, and giants would not be around the timberlands. Hearing a howl as the beast showed themselves to the small tank. Bringing up her shield as they approached. There was seven off the brownish timber wolves snarling and gnashing their teeth at the small girl. Moving back into a thicker part of the forest the trees and brush would make attacking her from all sides impossible. As she slowly moved back staring at the wolves. Backing down showed weakness to the wolves instincts, causing one to lunge at the small girl, going for a quick kill. Putting her sword poking out of the top of her shield. Punching itself onto her blade, the wolf would howl as it turned into pixels. The sheer level gap was the deciding factor that the battle was won before it had began. Two of the wolves would charge at her while the others would look to attack from behind of the sides if they could. Smacking one of the wolves away with her shield it would crumple to the ground as she cut through the second. The thick forest slowed the flanking wolves even more and by the time they could get around to the small girl, she had left the brush and finished off the downed wolf. The grounded wolf freed her blade as it left her plain of existence. Rue could see the fear in their yellow eyes as her amber gaze met the remaining wolves. It seems the programmers added in self preservation to the monsters as they retreated from the tanks gaze. Keeping her sword draw and her senses sharp as she walked back to the town. The wolves might come back for revenge with a greater amount against their merciless killer. Seeing the town in the distance and know army of wolves around to hunt her down for their lost comrades. Rue sheathed her sword. She hoped that Starlight and the boy made it back, as the wounds on the wolves had shown that they had been in a fight prior to their massacre. As she hit the entrance, Rue turned to one of the guards and asked if they had seen a girl with black hair about the same height as her come through here? He mentioned that the guard on duty at the time had indeed seen the two and that she throw the boy over the wall, shocking them with her strength for such a small girl. Rue asked about the state of the girl and the boy? The guard's voice was darker, but it seems that they received some heavy injuries, but they would make it through though. Nodding at the guard and thanking him she would make her way to the seamstress to meet Starlight. Walking in a normal pace as there was no need to rush, as the two were fine. Rue was glad that the two had made it back, but this would be the second time the low level player would of thrown herself in something that was above her ability. She was going to get herself killed if she kept that up. Making her way back to the shop, Rue still did not know how to handle the girl correctly yet. As Rue approached the shop she saw, the tired and ragged Starlight sitting by the stone steps of the tailor. Walking up to her with a confused look, the women did not even invite her in how ungrateful. After all that she did for her not even letting her relax inside is unforgivable. Looking rather irritated at the lack of hospitality Star was giving, “ Why are you sitting out her, you look like your near death that women could of at least let you sit inside as you waited for me”. Rue voice was angered by the lack of respect shown towards Starlight, she was going to give that women more than a piece of her mind. " I am going to talk to that, women she did not even offer you a drink or anything, you saved her son after all". Rue's eyes looked like she was going to give that women a harsh lesson on manners. Even if your son is badly hurt, he is safe now you should show apperception to the ones who saved him.

[Starlight]

Starlight waited lazily sitting by the stone steps, watching as the NPCs around her going about their business. The afternoon sun light shines lazily from above, warming up her leather start up armor. She waited for Rue to return to Port and during the meantime, her health bar was regenerating in a snail like speed, slowly getting back to yellow from the previous bright red. 

Before long, up ahead, she saw a familiar blue armor clad girl walking closer from across the other side of the street, towards this direction, once the blue armor girl was within a few steps away from her, she lit up to her with a soft smile. "Hello Rue...I know you would be able to get back in one piece, and you did not disappoint." She covers up her mouth with her hand and take a small yawn into her hand, and sighed softly, she felt exhausted from the close run in she had with the local residents of the timberline forest. 

Yawning, Starlight slowly open her eyes up again and look up at Rue from her sitting position, her eyes lit up like star light "The second floor...sure is great isn't it, it was pretty big, although not as big as the first floor, but it was so vast and filled with different kind of terraces, and a lot of the parts, have not even been explored yet...." Starlight looks down to the ground and to the side, she rubbed her sore shoulder slowly and said softly. "But currently....I seems to be able to do no more, than to run away and hide...exploring the world is less fun this way."

She closes her eyes solemnly, then her lips curve up into a fainted smile, before she opens up her eyes again and turns to look at Rue. "Have you heard? The floors of this game is floating in the air, like floating islands, isn't that amazing? If one were to look down from the edge of the upper floor, I think, they might be able to see what is happening on the lower floors. I yearn to one day be there....at the edge of the floor, and I would love to see...the "The end of the world", I think it would be, very amazing, indeed. But perhaps not right now...."

Her gaze staring off into the distance, not focusing on any particular things. "I felt...lacking in strength....even though, this world is filled with so many amazing things...so much to see, so much to learn, but I would not be able to see them and be there to explore them. And we haven't even be able to discover the second floor dungeon yet...But perhaps, when we do, by then, I would be able to do more than just being useless...and you will be there, won't you?" Starlight look by at Rue tilting her head to the side, her eyes lit up with anticipation and just a slight hint of excitement. "Little lone warrior. In the short amount of time that I have came to known you, you seems to have won over battles in waves by yourself, but perhaps the next time that we met, I would have gotten a little bit stronger, and that we could have been teammates. That would be nice, and I await for that time in anticipation, but for now..."

Starlight stands up from her sitting down position and as she raises, she dust off the non-existent dust from her lap, and approaches Rue. She pulls the young looking silver hair girl closer into an embrace, her eyes half lit as she says in a quiet tone. "Thank you a whole bunch for saving me, twice now. But for now, this is goodbye. I hope to see you again in the future. Promise me that you will live and that you will be there when we finally discover the second floor dungeon." She releases Rue from her arms, and gives the silver hair girl a big bright smile, feeling like herself once again with the determination for getting stronger and be part of the dungeon discovering team. "I am not done quite just yet, " she holds up an index finger in front of her. "The next time perhaps I will show you my true fighting skill, not to mess around like this time. haha" She chuckles and begins to turn around, her long black hair waving in waves behind her as she looks over her shoulder back at Rue. "Please go in to see Annie to get your reward. You help me out a lot, without you, I would not have been able to rescue Josh and complete this quest, you should get that." with that she begins to make away towards the inner part of the Port.


But when she reaches the cross section of the street, she quickly turns around to look at Rue, arms waving in the air, she is not sure if Rue is still looking at her anymore or not. But with the slight feeling of melancholy and sadness, having just met her once again and leaving once again so soon, she shouted over the sea of people around them at Rue. "Rue!! See you soon! Until next time! (元気で) Genki de!! (take care of yourself)"

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv6

Starlight was rather calm giving all that has happened. Forgetting her manners Rue greets the black haired girl back with a quizzical look. There was no way she could of known that she would of been fine, the girl had no idea how high her level was. Another thing that bothered her was how she was acting, she was going to die and now she calm and sleepy does she not care about her life? Starlight yawned at Rue as she slowly opened her eyes looking about at Rue like she was a celebrity or something... Well she kind of was, but she would not know that. Rue could not understand the black haired girl. Was she insane, she talked about exploring the second floor like it was some sort of picnic. " Sure it looks nice, but it is all just code and drawn pictures. All of it is just an illusion, it's nothing like the real world". Finally sense came over the girl as she talked about her current inability to fight on the second floor. " Then why not stick to the first floor till you get stronger? You would be able to do more and there is many more players around to assist you". Closing her eyes slowly as she looked to be in thought about something, hopefully about what to do in the future. Looking back at her she began to talk about the floors, yes she had know that the floors were above each other and yes you should be able to see the lower floor as each floor is smaller then the next. However what did this have to do with anything? Rue was at her wits end with this girl, she should be thinking about getting stronger if she wished to see the other floors not looking over the end of a floor to the one below. Rue was not in the mood for a talk about dreams rushing out to save the npc and her was enough to occupy her mind for now. The dreamy girl would stare off into space, and got around to talking about her lack of strength. She talked about the world and it's wonders and asked if Rue would be in the dungeons. " Of course I will be there, my end of this world is at the hunderth floor not over the side, I can't wait to leave this place". The girl would tilt her head to the side, as if wanting to leave was a crazy idea. Starlight would call Rue a little lone warrior, Rue did not hear the rest of the her words as being referred to as little by someone the same height as her was annoying. Her eyes narrowed and Rue's voice lowered, " You know we are the same height". Being the same height was not fortunate for what the girl would do next. Sitting and patting the dust from her lap as if it were a habit of her's. Moving closer to the small tank who looked at her with confusion, had her fact upset her? Her body shifted towards the older black haired girl, as she pulled Rue closer and looked at her with half lit eyes. Letting out a high pitched noise out of surprised then noticed how close her face was to the girl's. Being this close to someone she barely knew was embarrassing, what was she thinking holding her this way? Rue trued a shade of red as Starlight spoke softly to her. Starlight would thank the blushing warrior for saving her and wished to see each other again. She also wanted Rue to live and promise that she will be in the second floor dungeon. Trying to get out of her embrace without making it seem like she was uncomfortable, Rue responded to make it seem like the was not bothered by this sudden invasion of personal space. " Of course I will be there, and I promise to meet again now if you are done". Starlight would release her,, Rue stepped back from the affectionate girl. Smiling brightly at the strawberry shaded girl, she promised to show her real fighting skill and to see Annie about her reward. Having been saved by her timely exist, Rue would take a moment to recollect herself from that experience. Taking in a deep breath and exhaling out, she would see Starlight waving her from across the street. Rue would wave back sheepishly, did she see her calming herself down. If she did she was not showing it. Yelling back at her to keep herself out of trouble, Rue would walk into the store to talk to Annie about manners.

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv6

A small bell chimed as Rue entered the store. The walls and racks were lined with all types of clothes and fabrics. The building itself was a simple wooden floor with brick walls, it had that old style charm to it. The clothes were of high quality then the ones on the first floor, due to the better materials available to the npcs of this floor. Many of the more high end clothes seemed to be made of spider's webbing. Rue would have to come back another time if she was not banned from the shop after her talk with Annie. The clothing that caught her eye in question was a nice light blue cheongsam, with a ivory phoenix rising up along the left side of the dress. Rue has never worn that style of clothing before, if her grandparents saw her in those kinds of close she would be in for a never ending rant about her culture. As Rue would look at the silk shimming blue of the enticing dress. The familiar voice of Annie snapped her out of her admiring the dress. " Oh your back i, was wondering when you would show up. I wanted to thank you for saving my son". Rue's head necked towards the middle aged women in a simple yet well made pink and white dress to show her occupation. Looking to the dress that Rue was looking at she her expression lit up at the young girl's interest in her work. " That would suit your body type, hair and complexion perfectly, Why don't we try it on to see who it looks". Looking at the women and trying to say that, she was here to talk about how she could of been more grateful to Starlight for saving her son. However before Rue could even get a word in edgewise the women took the dress off of the rack and dragged the young tank with her. Surprised at the second invasion of her personal space to day, Rue would try in protest to trying on clothes. " I said before that i did not want a reward... Hey what are you doing stop that"! As Rue tried to explain the women brought her to the dressing room and tried to help her change. " Just helping you with the fitting". Rue looked beyond upset with the women how was treating her like a doll. Struggling and pushing Annie out of the changing room. " Fine i will try it on just, stay out there and away from me". Collecting herself from the women's fondling, she would try on the dress. Putting it on, it felt like a second skin. However not like latex, it felt like if silk had a lighter softer sister. Running along the smooth fabric, she felt an empress with the actual clothes that an emperor was promised. Coming out of the changing room, Annie practically squealed as she saw the small girl come out in the dress. " It look so wonderful on you, come on turn around let me see how it looks". Reluctantly turn around slowly to show off the dress, Rue could not helped but feel embarrassed at the women looking at her. This dress clung to her form closely and the two slits on the sides offered unhindered mobility, but added to the rather risqué dress. it felt like she only had her underwear on, how could other girls where clothing like this it was embarrassing for the young tank. " You look like a princess or a beautiful handmaiden to royalty". Rue had quiet enough of this, store and the women. Rue would go back into the changing room to get changed, ignoring the older women's sadness at the end of there little fashion show. Changing back into her armor, Rue handed the dress back to the women. " No no no, you are perfect for each other. Take it as a thank you for saving my son". Rue thanked her to be nice, and to end the conversation as soon as possible. Excusing herself, Rue would escape the store and that women. Exiting the store, Rue would retract what she sad about coming back. Looking at the dress, Rue wondered if she would ever willingly wear it again.

[Starlight]

(OOC: Rue I can't believe you just made it on time! Lucky that I have this in draft so here we go, in one move I shall close this fully and submit slightly before deadline)

Starlight walks along the road, she feels like her heart sinking in with each and every step that she took. She closed her eyes and turn her head down, ignoring the dizziness that she felt whenever she was in low health in any game, this sound that only she can hear in her head, it was so annoying that it will drum out all of the other noises of the surrounding. But it does not slow her down, quite the opposite, it will momentarily re-shape her mental state, this noise in her head will calm her down regardless of the situation, her life could be in grave danger, she might felt scared and unable to move, but when everything around her is being pushed away into the distance and that all that she could her is this buzzing noise in her head, then she is forced to calm down and act in a way of eerie silence and cruelty, that appears, unlike her.

Recently, it had happened more often than she would have liked, she was taking a lot more hit than usual. It could be that because she was taking on stronger enemies, but it may be that she was just getting reckless, and whatever it is, it has got to stop.

Starlight sighed and looked back, she could no longer see the blue armor clad girl.  With all that noise in my mind, she did say that she wanted to reach the hundredth floor and get out from this wrathful game right? That is some high goal for oneself, we have barely find the second floor dungeon and haven't even find the door in yet.


Still...perhaps, one day, she might even reach it eventually.  

Starlight thought back absentmindedly, it was the exact same reason that she thought that Rue can get back to safety, despite being surrounded by multiple spiders. It was the same reason that she thought that Rue might be able to one day, eventually, not sure how long, be able to be there on the hundredth floor. She had the look in her eyes, the one that she saw it in someone else before, the look of determination and to never give up. In her mind, she was sure of it, even if Rue was underleved, even if Rue was level one, under the situation, if she has to do it, being surrounded by spiders and regardless of anything, she will find a way to make it to safety alive. The only question would be, how much damage she is going to take.

Because...that is the what a hunter does, they do whatever that must be done...

But am I a hunter as well? If it were me, under the situation, could I have find a way to make it out alive, even if I am level one and surrounded by multiple spiders?

...I don't know....

I am not there yet, and I will not be there if something doesn't change soon. 

I can's stay a child forever...I can't always counted on someone to be there to save me.

Eventually, I will have to be the one who could be there to save someone else too...

Starlight looked up in the sky, it was so very blue then. There are people all around her in the street. She turns her head back down and shakes her head, trying to clear away the dizziness, trying to clear her head and go back to her cheerful and care free self, but she finds that...she cannot...not after today, having truly such a close call in this stupid game.

Not after having put her own life in such a dangerous state, she can no longer truly goes back to the free of care past once again. No matter what she does now, something has to change, but she does not know what. 

She glance back but caught herself just in time, she turns back and walks ahead. No. No more looking back, a blade will become rusty if it leaves the familiar range of combat, and so am I.  If something truly needs to change, the it is I, I can no longer always rely on other people, I must become self sufficient too. But then, I have hoped, that....

Shaken, her lips trembles as she slowly bring her hands up into a prayer. 

"O Flora, of the moon, of the dream...oh fleeting will of the Ancients. Let the hunter be safe, let her find comfort, and let this dream her captor foretell a pleasant awakening." - Bloodborne, The Doll

Starlight disappeared into the street of the ocean bound Noir Port.