mcd900

Laniva was almost satisfied watching Aly go to work on Rustal; she was about to nod in approval when the second arrow slipped through her armor, interrupting any train of thought she might have been forming. "Uff - should've run when you had the chance, you - oh." Cin and Miria had been a bit quicker than her... Laniva to 11, 15, Iron Sword Myrm 2.

There he was, the bastard. Seems his yelling had inspired one of his friends enough to do something stupid - there was an arrow in her now, and it was making its presence known quite painfully. "You, with the bow! You're next!" Between Cin and Aly, he was looking quite haggard already. Still, there was no such thing as too much of a good thing. "Nice knife. Shame it can't compensate for your missing arm," - she feinted high - "or your leg!" Laniva to 8, 15, Iron Sword Rustal.

She was lagging a little behind the fighting; but that was fine. She'd earn her keep soon enough. Laniva to 7, 15.

An alarm rang out, and then stopped shortly after. Nessraya called out to be wary of the figures arriving from the stairwells, which was quite reasonable; they most likely had been prompted by the alarm. There was probably nothing wrong with being preemptive... Seilan Elthunder (S) Construct 10, Hit and Away to 3, 32.

Either they were fighting well, or the Crows were genuinely proving to be a rather incompetent lot; they hardly knew how to fight together. The majority of them were probably more used to ganging up on locals than anything that could properly be called combat. "Nicely done. That was an embarrassing throw on his part." Laniva to 8, 13.

Laniva stepped out, taking in the sight of the approaching Crows. Nothing they wouldn't be able to handle. "Okay, Chief. Let's show them how professionals do things." Laniva to 5, 11.

Laniva nodded in reply to Alvira, caught in the middle of a bite, then sighed slightly hearing Cin's response to Tasha. "The food is definitely nice, yeah. And the ground doesn't shake under me every other minute here. Could almost mistake this town for being pleasant if you can ignore the people who hate us... which isn't possible anymore, if what he just said is true." She huffed slightly, propping her head up on the table with her arm. "No problem with work if it pays well... though it seems less like a serious job and more like stirring up some entertainment..."

Laniva filed quietly back into the inn, doing her best to maintain somewhat of a neutral expression. She'd woken early; an old routine from her training that she hadn't seen fit to break, which had become more of a personal habit in recent times. She'd gone for a short walk outside, which had ended up being more of a short run, as well as some practice on her sword form. None of which particularly helped her mood significantly, but it kept her occupied, at least. It wouldn't do for the others to see her sulking overlong, and that aside they were still on the job; they had a reputation to uphold. Her appetite sufficiently worked up, she took a rather hearty serving and sat down, glancing around to see who had already arrived. Cin was looking rather tired; a bit of surprise, honestly, given that he'd had enough fights in the arena to give anyone a sound night of sleep. Renais, Miria, Gean, Ingverd... Alvira, looking particularly relaxed. Mm. At least we're not on the damn boat anymore. Can keep a meal down for once...

The heat had been draining him on the surface, and Seilan recalled Lucille heading off to investigate... something, though with the wastes sapping his magic things had been rather far from clear. Suffice to say when a hole had opened up in the middle of the ground, and a sudden sensation of falling beginning despite being rather certain this had been firm ground, it might have been dismissed as a dream, perhaps a nightmare - though it became apparent that something had certainly happened. For one, his vision seemed to be focusing on what was a blue stone surface, tilted on its side - no, he was on his side; his cheek was pressed against the stone, which was rather cold in contrast to what felt like moments ago. He stood, somewhat groggily and uncertain, though as he fumbled for his bearings there was a sense of clarity; odd as a place this might be, it seemed to at least shelter him from the effects of the environment. The voices of Nashwa and the general rang out nearby, and he called out in response. "I'm here... what is this place? There wasn't like this in the briefings." There was something odd on the ground, but he was still a bit too far to make out exactly what it was from here... Seilan awakens on 3, 36, then moves to 3, 31.

After stumbling off from the healers' area, Laniva had been quietly skulking about the arena's entrance, hoping to avoid any pointed gazes or gloating. She hadn't stuck around to watch Aly's fight, but catching sight of her growling as she left the arena alongside Cin and Renais told her enough about how things had gone. She walked over to rejoin her comrades, shoulders hung a little low, catching the last of what Renais was saying. "...Hey. Ready to leave here whenever. Nothing worth staying here for, not after... that. I don't doubt that's the last we've seen of that bastard, though. Much as I'd hate to be right, he must be either a serious idiot, or have a very good reason to be that... confident." She sighed, heavily. "Doesn't matter, though. Just so long as nobody wanders off alone."

"Noticed, huh? Would be surprised if you didn't. Wasn't trying to be subtle." Rustal stalked off before she could say much more, but Cin looked about as ready as she did to charge in there. "Right. Good luck. No mercy for him, okay?" Cin's run through the arena was impressive, to say the least. Making quick work of the arena's challengers was no small feat, and his battle against Rustal had been quite the show. The last contender - must have beaten Rustal consistently, to take the top spot - went down in a single blow from Cin; something of a victory lap, it seemed. Her own fights, though, were a different matter. The first two fights were hardly anything of note - she barely registered the single blow they'd delivered against her before she cut them down quickly. The third - frustratingly evasive, or perhaps her aim was wavering in her anger, but she focused enough to deliver the last slash she needed to floor the lancer. The fourth missed his opening strike, and as she dodged she cut across his side, flipped her sword in her hands, and delivered a strike with its crossguard directly into his stomach, flooring him. As she stepped back into the arena for her fifth bout, she focused intently on the foe in front of her; but before she'd taken two steps, she was flat on her back, a strong magic strike having laid her out. Her vision fogged, then faded. She awoke under the care of the healers, and a moment passed before she realized her bout had ended before it began. More frustrating than the loss even was the fact that she wouldn't even get to give Rustal a taste of her swordsmanship; hopefully she wouldn't see him again, lest he inevitably gloat at her loss. Cin's victory was a consolation, at least, but a small one at that. Bastard.

Their welcome to the arena was hardly the professional arena-runner's greeting she'd expected. She bristled rather visibly at his provocations, frustrated but unsurprised to encounter such blatant hatred. There was an inch of iron drawn from her scabbard as Rustal continued to speak, and it would have emerged further had it not been halted by Cin's tail slamming and offer to fight first. She'd been looking for a fight, was more than willing to give it to him on the spot, even if that wasn't what the rat of a man wanted; but she had enough respect for her fellow Clouded to wait her turn. She set her blade back in its sheath, scowl on her face. "I don't need your generosity. If you want to do something for us, go walk off the docks and do us all a favor." She turned briefly to the other man. "Laniva. I'm going second." The man's mask was hiding something. Scars from lost fights? The fact that he was a local noble on a flight of fancy in the town's arena? Who knew; but if he had something to hide, it was foolish of him to be picking fights.

Laniva sighed a little at her seeming unwillingness to... not climb buildings, but she supposed that was simply something they'd have to deal with. It was probably not particularly worth the effort to continue to attempt to dissuade her, given how set she seemed to be. She followed the two of them towards the city center, finding few who were unwilling to make way for her in her armor. The three of them soon came upon the arena, and easily enough; it was a pit-like arena, rather distinctly featured at the city center, and for a moment Laniva felt almost excited to finally get a good fight in. "Alright. This ought to do. Not sure if either of you are interested in the arena here or would rather watch, but I'm going in there and signing up. Let's see if there's anyone here who can hold their own properly..." As she made her way down, she glanced around at some of the others around. Fighters probably stood out some from the eager crowd, and it would be helpful to have a little knowledge of what she was to be up against...

Aly joined them quietly enough that Laniva didn't realize she was there until she offered to help out, which gave her a moment's pause. Her suggestion of climbing buildings to find the arena was certainly rather... out there, as far as ideas for navigating the city went. It was clear that she honestly wanted to help, but with her lack of sense, it was something of a surprise that she'd been left to wander on her own. Maybe she'd snuck away from whoever her guardian was for the day; or perhaps the matter had just been overlooked in their hurry to get off that damn boat. Fortunately, though, Cin was already cautioning her against her idea. "I'm not trying to avoid attention, but climbing some buildings is a bit much... We can head towards the city center for now. Hopefully we can find it there; otherwise, we might have to rely on asking some of the locals. Which would be less than ideal, but if we've no other choice then we'll have to do it." She shrugged slightly. "Shall we be off, then?"

Laniva's ears perked up slightly at her name being called by a somewhat unfamiliar voice, turning to find Cin... something. Cin. She hadn't expected anyone else to tag along on her trip into town. "Ah... sure. I don't mind the company. I doubt either of us would get into any trouble, just looking at us, but... yeah. She'd probably complain that we went off on our own." It wasn't the full truth, necessarily, though in all likelihood she'd just end up at the arena instead of... in a fight elsewhere. It wasn't the most sociable of activities, though, admittedly. "Listen, I was thinking that I felt like getting some practice in, look for an arena. I heard there was supposed to be one here. You don't mind, do you? Because if you don't, I could... use some help finding it. I don't have any idea where it is..."

Laniva sighed deeply as she finally stepped off the boat, more than glad to have returned to solid ground. She took what felt like the first few steady breaths in far too long as she caught sight of Marianne performing her dance, beginning to watch curiously. While she'd caught parts of performances here and there before, she'd never really had the opportunity to see one in full, and hardly one so elaborate. It made for a rather heartening return to land, and she found herself with a small smile, though she hesitated to clap, suddenly feeling somewhat shy. She rolled her shoulders under her armor, glancing around. Eibar was a proper city; one you could get lost in for quite some time, if you were unwary. And while the locals might not be very universally fond of the Clouded, she felt rather confident that she wouldn't get into any trouble she couldn't get out of; that was a problem for some of the others to consider, perhaps... There was, perhaps, just a tinge of frustration at having felt too sick to fight on the boat within her; and perhaps it was that tinge that drove her footsteps into town, looking for an arena that might or might not be present. And if, say, it wasn't, perhaps there might be a fellow or two around with strong, bigoted feelings in need of a decking. It would... keep someone frailer from running into them. Yes, certainly.

After a few moments spent easing herself into a state where she could consume the herbs, Laniva managed to stomach some of the herbal remedy. Perhaps she was being led on by her own hopes, but she could have sworn that she might have been feeling slightly better already. As she began to regain her composure, it sunk in slightly more who had offered her the herbs, and instinctively snapped back up, then into a short bow. "A-ah...! My thanks, m-milady." She was halfway through the last word when she kicked herself mentally for falling back into her old habits. Laniva, you fool, this isn't the castle, you're a mercenary now, what are you doing...

Four weeks traveling the Wastes in... what, two months? Seilan bristled slightly under his cloak at the thought of the trip, though truth be told he was still all too aware of his own excitement at the idea of returning home. All things considered he really hadn't been away too long, but fighting another country's battles for a short period of time had him anxious to start on the liberation of his own. As Lucille approached, he couldn't help but dimly consider what felt like the distant future; that after Hwein, their whole group might yet find themselves marching on Coteon, next. At her question, though, and Marina's following hers, he brought he focus back to the present. "Ah. No, I hadn't decided on a cart yet; though I certainly wouldn't mind sticking together for the trip there. And you as well, of course, Marina." Though I must say I'm somewhat surprised she'd ask us... surely she's spent longer with some of the others, become more friendly, more familiar.

"I... I'll be fine, thank you. Everything is... ugh... u-under control, you won't need to lift a finger..." Laniva continues to be incapacitated by seasickness. [Pass]

"Bunch of fools - throwing your lives away for a bit of coin..." Laniva huffed slightly, bringing her blade back to the ready... before a sudden wave of nausea assaulted her once more, and she groaned loudly. "Ugh... s, sorry, t-take over for me, would you, Miria, Alriana...?" Overwhelmed, Laniva backs up to 6, 12.

"Pirates? Ugh, not now..." Alvira's remedy had helped, somewhat, but it would be a stretch to say that she was at full strength. "Alright, let's... just get this over with so I can get back to... holding myself together." Laniva to 6, 10.

"Uuugh... o-oh, hey, Alvira..." Terrible as she was feeling, there was little she could do... but maybe Alvira could help. "S, seasick... do you have any remedies, or anything...?" This is... so embarassing... how is nobody else sick... "I, uh... I'm not... not great with boats... Everything's just so- so wobbly..." She paused for a moment, leaning a little more over the side of the boat, still gripping the railing. "And we... we haven't even left yet... Maybe I can just get someone to knock me out for the whole trip, ugh..." Taking a deep breath, she took a step back, glancing around. "Are, are we going to leave soon, at least...? The sooner we leave the sooner this is over with..." As Syndra walked over, Lanvia weakly raised a hand in greeting, leaning back against the railing for support. "Ah... hey, Syndra. Hope you, ah, don't mind..."

"Sure, I'll wait. No rush." Seilan stepped into the arena, an ordinary tome at the ready. Apparently a few of the others had already made their attempts at the arena, though he hadn't been around to see any of their battles. What he did know, though, was that none of the local fighters were mages; unpleasant as it was, he was going to have to rely on defeating his opponents before they caught him up close for too long. The first bout began; his foe, a human bearing a rifle. Thinking to gain the upper hand, he cast quickly at the man, wincing when he saw the spell go wide, and once again at the answering bullet. Not to be deterred, though, his next two strikes of lightning found their target, bringing a quick end to the fight. The second fight saw a similar start, and frustratingly enough, either Jin was rather nimble or his aim was poor. He managed to catch him unawares eventually though, and Jin crumpled rather quickly. The third, Jerid, fell quickly - two casts of his to one missed swipe of Jerid's blade. The fourth nearly toppled Seilan, wildly firing their blunderbuss; but he pushed past the injury, finishing it before could fire a third time. The fifth - the elf with a quick sword hand - fell quickly, though not before getting a hit in of his own, Seilan only managing to remain standing from a lucky evasion. He was able to take the next fight as a breather, though; surprisingly enough, light as his cloak was, it held up well under his foe's katars. The sixth - his last, win or lose, as there were no more combatants at the arena - was a fistfighter. Though both his spellcasts struck Jiminy, he found himself knocked to the ground, unable to stand, after two swift counter punches. From the ground, he could see his opponent barely standing himself. Just... just a little more...! Agh... hell of a punch...

Laniva was dimly aware of what was happening with the latecomers. Alvira's frustrations, which were starting to feel rather familiar, were plain to see, though she personally didn't fully understand the reasoning behind it. Renais was performing her clerical duties, healing one of the new faces' injuries, and some of them had gone off to meet the captain and the chief. Of course, it was rather hard for Laniva to see any of this, as she was facing out to the sea, with a white-knuckle grip on the ship's hull, her face turning a rather uncomplimentary light shade of green. Boats were... one of her greater adversaries, to say the least. It was going to be a long ride; hopefully she wouldn't be disturbing her roommate too much during the journey. She'd been assigned with... Who was it, anyway...? Damn, can't even... think properly with this nausea... Syndra. I'm with Syndra. Right, that was right. They weren't particularly familiar with one another... illness was a poor way to make an impression. Maybe Renais has some remedy for this...

Heavy Cat