The Phantom Maiden (Private)

[Priest]

Priest slowly walked along the winding stone path that was suppose to leading towards Tolbana, he had gotten the directions towards the first dungeon from a man he had met in the pub the day before. Though he was not entirely trusting of the information that he had gotten from the man that kept spouting off about some sort of apparition that haunted this very path he was walking. It was not of any consequence, he knew that he had to get to Tolbana as soon as he could and gather up with a party to take on the dungeon before he headed up to floor number two. The man kept going on and on about how there was this woman that kept drifting among the ruins of this city just off the main area.

"According to the legend, the maiden is in search of a trinket her long lost husband left her before he disappeared..." 

Priest of fact and logic found the man to be annoying more than anything, it may have someone to do with the fact the man made Priest spill his drink on the table when he bumped into it while walking his drunkard off and out of the pub. The more and more Priest thought about the situation the more he began to wonder...logically of course. That the more likely scenario was it was some NPC looking for something that it had lost. He reached a branch in the road and looked down the path ro the right leading through a thicket of trees and brush, by all counts just beyond the thicket was the ruins. He sighed softly feeling bothered by the fact he was even considering checking out the ruins for himself. He pulled the piece of wheat from his mouth that he had been suckling on and stared at it, as if it held the answer to his inner most thoughts on the topic.

As swift as he bit the soggy end off and spat it on the ground before placing the now fresher end into his mouth, the decision was made. He shook his head knowing that time was very short for him and that he had wanted to get to his location in a timely manner. But the potential of a quest or possible items was far more enticing in the moment then a goal in the future. He turned his body and began walking the pathway towards the Thicket...but in the back of his mind that ghost nonsense plagued him...could it be true?

(Participants: Priest, Scheherazade, Starlight)

[Scheherazade]

-reserved-

[Starlight]

Taking a deep breath, Starlight set off onto the roads just outside of the Town of Tolbana. Now that she had submitted in her solo quest to the NPC, now would be a good time to head back to the Town of the Beginning. The dungeon can wait, cleaning off her own mess of inventory must take precedent...for now. 

Rising one hand to cover her eyes against the beaming sunlight, Starlight narrowed her eyes as she gazed to the sky, trying to give her best estimate about the time of day. It was before noon. She could always check her HUD for the exact digital time, but being as old fashion and unconcerned for details as she was, she did not. Only a rough estimate will do, as long as it leaves her with enough time so that she could travel between the Towns and reaching her destination still within day time, that would be good enough for her. She has no preference for travel condition one way or another. 

Every single time, before leaving a safe zone, she needs to do her standard procedure to check to see if she is indeed ready to head out. Her weapons and equipment are not damaged in any way or form, she is feeling alright, had enough food and enough rest yesterday to return her to her full green health condition. Inventory is still messy but there is nothing she could do about them right at this moment. 

Alright, I am ready to head out. 

Stabbing her beginner's long sword into the ground beside her, she puts on her black combat gloves and reached back into her inventory, switching her long sword with her new copper great sword and in a clean move, sheathed her new weapon to its sheath hanging behind her waist on her back. She dust off the non-existent dust from her dark brown jacket and her dark brown skirt and her combat boots for one more time for luck, re-warp her long red wear out scarf to a more comfortable position, and walked onto the road. Preparation takes time, and sometimes was completely meaningless, but it was not like she was in any hurry to go anywhere.

In fact, although it might be too early for me to head out onto the road again so soon, but I haven't had enough hunting yet, and could use a little more. 

Licking her lips a little bit, as her eyes gaze around the greenery surroundings, looking for anything that she could grab for easy. Are there any easy monsters nearby. Not paying a lot of attention to her subconscious thoughts, she walked casually on the main road leaving the Town of Tolbana, somewhat watching the surrounding for monster activities. There are some boars wandering around off the main road, they were all in a group though, munching on the grass peacefully, so Starlight left them alone. Not really here to pick a fight with boars, if she did that with every single boar encounter, she would never be able to go to anywhere, since boars are everywhere on the first floor expect the dungeon. 

Walking along the road, up ahead she saw something close to a little forest or a large group of trees. Although she was not so close to the black forest just yet, but she did take a glance over that side, and her eyes catches something familiar. It appears to be a human figure clad in black walking towards the trees.

??

What could be over there? There is no Town, or famous spawning spot over there, at least, none that I known of. Tilting her head, she paused in her track and thought to herself for a few seconds, before she slow run over to that side. 

When she reaches to the figure, she finds out that it was indeed who she thought it was. "...Priest? Is that you? What are you doing over here?" Stopping beside him, she turns over to the trees, raise one hand above her eyes, leaning forward and tries to peer over to the trees, trying to discover what the big deal was. What was he looking at before. 
 

[Scheherazade]

Priest  Starlight My faith is seared into my skin; burned into my worldly flesh with ink as a reminder that I can never give it up. It is a burden that is worth nothing and everything. It is my pain.

There was always so much mystery around Sword Art Online, Scheherazade mused, letting her blonde hair flow down her back for once in waves of shining gold, a liquid, material treasure. She curled a lock around her finger and then let it go, the bouncy strands of hair returning to where they once were, curling around her face and allowing her to quietly walk around the grounds of Tolbana, footsteps light. Her cream-white dress fluttered slightly, a fit and flare design that was off-shoulder with straps and then a delicate piece of fabric around her shoulders. Like that one princess from Disney... Belle's gown, that was right. The golden, gorgeously glittering garment had a sort of sleeveless design with fabric off the shoulder. Kind of like her own dress. She paused and stopped by a tree, recounting why she was here again while her fingers traced the rough outline of the bark, secret truths pressing on her hands in a language she didn't understand. It was alright, though. Some things should remain mysteries. So why had she come here, again? That was right, the mystery of the game, one of the things you could either love, be repulsed by, or be indifferent to. There were always fantastical stories and myths around Sword Art Online, since no one could tell what really existed. The War Hog, for one, and then this huge spider named Archane inside of the second floor, spinning webs in the name of revenge to Athena. Athena? She startled. The name of the guild master of Elysian, the guild that she had applied to with a duel with Rue. How interesting. She did't anticipate that, though perhaps she might need to be more observant. She ducked down by a stream, admiring the way water glinted off the rushing waters, dipping the edges of her fingers into the water, watching them leave little paths which were easily filled in, her skin gliding against the surface, a pleasant smooth sensation, nice and cool, which she admired briefly before stepping closed, bending down. The blonde was careful to not make her dress dirty, as light-colored as it was. She caught sight of the same glittering fish as she had seen in the Town of Beginnings with Rue. Scheherazade spent a brief moment wondering whether Rue was alright before deciding to meet up with her at some point in time. Her lilac eyes flickered as she was deep in thought, much darker than usual, a shade of dark purple. But her eyes lightened and she managed a quiet smile. The myth of the Spring Goddess was what had brought her here. The story of a goddess who brought spring, like Persephone, had walked through the paths of this area. Of course, there were other stories. But this one was the most appealing to her, and so she walked through the wood, touching leaves gently and caressing the velvet-soft petals of newly blossoming flowers. Her gaze was suddenly caught by two twin flashes of dark black, and she pressed herself against the bark of a tree, the smoothness of her motions temporarily making her off guard before she recognized one out of the two. Starlight. The girl she had met in the woods. Scheherazade sent a self-conscious look at her white dress and golden hair that fell to her ankles before calming herself and stepping forward. She didn't have business with the two, and she didn't want to intrude, so she merely inclined her head to recognize both of their presences and stayed quiet, moving off slightly as to go on the other side of the path.

ψ

[Priest]

	Friend's list: Starlight | Tag List: Starlight | Scheherazade
	Priest Lv1 | | WordCount: 398 |822

"...Priest? Is that you? What are you doing over here?"

In stride his attention was diverted to the call of his name, turning his head towards the direction of the voice while bringing his hand upward to shield his eyes from the sun above. Shifting the wheat stock in his mouth to the opposite side he saw Stella approaching him, he nodded his head softly to her as she approached him. He stopped his stride to allow her to catch up with him so that she was beside him before explaining his presence, and his direction and path moving forward.

It was in that moment out of the corner of his eye a flash of golden hair caught his attention...seriously? he must be distracted to have two individuals sneak up on him before he was aware. So he was having an off day, that mattered little to him, what was he doing again? OH right! He blinked a moment and looked at the lovely lady with cascading hair the color of gold. He inclined his head softly to her and her presence, his demeanor not dismissive to her but not inviting as well...but as far as Priest goes, that would be inviting would it not?...Focus...

"Hello Stella, it is nice to see you again...Who is your consort?"

He asked her softly as he turned and looked to Scheherazade, he found her choice in clothing to be...very fashionable. Nodding his head softly to her as if approval was needed in the instance, he did find her danty...he was wondering if she could hold herself in combat well...a thought for another time. He turned his head back to Stella and offered her the briefest of smiles in his normal Priest way.

"I know this may sound silly, but I was informed while at rest tavern about this Legend of a apparition that lurked in a pair of ruins on the farthest edge of this forest. Curiosity always my weakness, I figured I would check it out."

He stated softly pulling the wheat from his mouth slowly and snapping the end off once more and flicking the end aside before placing it back into his mouth tracing his finger on the farthest and fuzzy end of his oral fixation. Priest folded his hands behind his back softly and adopted a one sided stance as she placed the majority of his weight to one side.

"What are you up to?" he asked. 

[Starlight]

"Hello Stella, it is nice to see you again...Who is your consort?"

Consort...?

Starlight's eyes widen a little bit, she turns around to look at where he was looking and saw a ray of golden hair and white fluffy dress. It was Sche, the lady knight that she met at the black forest. Feeling a little uplifted to see yet another familiar face, Starlight happily waved to her, before turning towards Priest again. "Consort is a kind of weird word to use for friends, but yeah I know her, that's Sche, she wields an axe and a shield, she is super cool and protected me back when I first started, at the black forest..." Hold on one second and let me go get her....<---is what she was about to say before Priest was starting to say something.

"I know this may sound silly, but I was informed while at rest tavern about this Legend of a apparition that lurked in a pair of ruins on the farthest edge of this forest. Curiosity always my weakness, I figured I would check it out."

Apparition...? Wow, people are using some big words nowadays. "Apparition? ...you mean like a ghost?...an actual ghost or something? That is nuts, is that even true? I mean, if this was the real world I might have a bit of problem with that, I am not too comfortable with ghosts. However this is a game. Maybe it could be real? Like a special kind of NPC or a new unknown kind of monster? I wonder what level it could be.... No...is it more like a rumor around the Town, or is it like an actual quest...hm...this is getting interesting...just around the this forest you say?" Starlight considered that. She was not in any rush to be anywhere, and a chance to investigate a potentially new type of NPC and for a story quest is interesting...She was going to ask to join in the quest.


And if it turns out to be a new type of monster, she would need some extra help with defeating it, who knows what kind of level it could be, and if it could go through walls like actual ghosts. That is anyone's guess right now. 

"What are you up to?"

Starlight paused at that. "A lot." for a moment that was all she said. "It was quiet the ordeal, for real! I could tell you stories of where I have been to, how I run away from just about every kind of monsters, the fights, the people. But just my most recent solo run had me running for days and camping outside in the fields, I dare not to sleep in fear of monster ambush and finally returned to Town to submit for quest. But I can't go into details right now, it would take too long, and I really need to get her before she slips away! Sche is a girl who is really hard to pin down, I have only met her once before and that is crazy! Considering I been circling around the Town of Beginning so often and you could meet just about anyone in the Town of Beginning. Ok, wait over here I need to go get her!"

With that, Starlight wave to Priest and slow run up to Sche. "Sche!! Don't go! Wait a minute!" she called out to the blonde girl a little away from her. My god people...just come up and say hi, don't be shy.

Once she catches up to Sche, she stopped to catch up to her breath for a little bit. Before giving the blonde player a big smile. "Long time no see, it was not since the black forest. How have you been?" She asked as a way of greeting and waited for a responses before turning to pointed at where Priest was standing, a little bit away. "That over there is Priest, he said that he finds out about some really strange new quest. Something about a ghost or a spirit, that was haunting the edge of the forest or something I think. It sounded really interesting and I was hoping to check it out. But I think if it turns out to be a monster or some kind, we need some more defense power since my defense at this point is trash, let's headed over there, you coming?"

Is what she said, but she was not giving the lady knight much in the way of option at all, as she grabs her hand and drags her to the other black hair player. "Hey Priest! You don't mind teaming up with two ladies do you XDDD, 'cause we were thinking about joining you to this strange new adventure! Come on! I want to check out this new ghost thingy! It was just around this forest right? Is it a rumor or is it true, is it a NPC or is it a monster, there is only one way to find out for sure! Unless you guys really didn't want to go...?" Starlight let go of Sche's hand and started to look at the two other players awkwardly, feeling a little bit of self-doubt, she knows herself to be a little bit of rush and kind of ignored other people's personal space, but maybe it was a little much? But she met both of them before and thought that both of them should kind used to her random let's go explore behavior by now. 

[Scheherazade]

Priest  Starlight My faith is seared into my skin; burned into my worldly flesh with ink as a reminder that I can never give it up. It is a burden that is worth nothing and everything. It is my pain.

"Sche...herazade?" She introduced herself, not accustomed to Starlight's cheerful, brisk manner. It was like...an unexpected downpour. A summer thunderstorm, warm and full of lightning, flashes of intense emotion. She smiled privately and stretch noncommittally, her smile light and polite as she inclined her head to Priest back as a greeting, exceptionally lost. What was she doing here, again? And then the player mentioned coming here because of his curiosity, a myth, perhaps, and her eyes sharpened in interest, her intuition flaring up, assessing the man that stood in front of her subtly, silently. As Starlight chatted on, Scheherazade smiled and added on, but her mind was clicking, gears whirring in her head, analyzing, assessing. Myths are fantastical, to be sure, but each myth has a ring of truth to it, and that must be what this man is searching for. She hums quietly as she thinks, lilac eyes shielded but letting her mind click and whir from within, little thoughts flitting past her ears, filling her head with thoughts that were as easily dismissed as water sliding off the cupped leaf of a tree. She listened blankly for the quiet fluttering humming of birds' wings, tried to immerse herself in her environment so she could think better, noting absent details about the scene that she herself didn't anticipate. Priest seemed to be as reserved as she was, if not more, his formal word choice making her blink at surprise at first. Consort...that could refer to the lover or romantic companion of someone. How odd. Did he believe they were companions, or something more? Internally, she resurrected her shields, instantly wary. How odd. If he was attempting to be clever, then he had failed. His manner had automatically put her off of trusting him. And that word...she internally shook with something other than anger. Her eyes flashed behind the veil of her hair, mask of calm and politeness so perfectly constructed that not a soul who didn't know her intimately would understand that she was angry. No, more than that. Fearful. Did this man mean to state something about her sexuality? Panic welled up inside of her, like the overflowing crystal streams that fattened in rain. She closed her eyes, not willing to believe. Anger and fury came next, bubbling inside of her like a furious volcano, making her writhe in self-induced pain. Did he understand how painful it was? To be cursed by something that you believed was not a curse, to be seen as vile by the rest of the people who should have cared for you? Of course he didn't. She bowed her head to Starlight, absently touching the spot Starlight had touched her earlier, and felt something breaking inside of her. Some players were nearing the patch of path they were on, and so Scheherazade spoke up. "Excuse me, if you will. If you do not mind, I would suggest moving this conversation elsewhere." Her tone was warm and polite, if not distant, and her lilac eyes burned with a quiet fury, mask dropped for a second, a moment too short to be understood, a moment too long to not be noticed. It was sickening, the way that her sexuality made her feel. She had long come to terms with the fact that she liked girls, but had struggles implementing it in her religion. The Qu'ran, the words of Allah himself, could not be wrong-but how-how...where did that leave her? She had believed that she would be confronted before Him one day and would repent then, if all her endeavors ended in single-minded pain. But...if she had been alone, she would have emitted a cry, but as she was now, she firmly fixed her mask in place and stayed quiet. Did he know how much she had hurt? Did he know how much she had wept and then cried herself hoarse? Did he know about the days when she had done nothing but murmur prayers until her throat was hoarse, and her legs gave out, her head spinning with the scent of incense? The way she refused to let herself touch anyone, days on end, fearing that she would be infecting them with her corrupt soul? The way she refused to talk and watched blood drip down a paper cut she had received with a horrifying captivation? No, he didn't. Scheherazade felt all the anger in her dissolve and breathe out of her, leaving her tired and listless and with a true sense of hate towards the other. How could he know? He was purer than she was, most likely. After all, he didn't seem to have any haunting memories. Only her. She chuckled internally, feeling her hate and pity and anger pour into her soul and then leave her, spirit trembling as she fixed the others with a polite look, as if nothing in the world was amiss. She wasn't part of their world, after all. Who cared about her?

ψ

[[GM] Julie]

Thread closed with spring cleaning. One participants active, One rewards distributed.

[[GM] John]

Thread closed due to spring cleaning. This is a flat reward, no bonuses will be added. I apologize in advance for the cut taken to your hard work of the past, however full credit cannot be issued due to the nature the thread ended in. You will be rewarded similarly to how solo threads do just without the cap, enjoy the xp from dead threads

The following players were credited for their posting: Sche

Sche word count: 1428
Flat XP rate: 142