Arcane Tales

*The bartender serves him some water*

Bartender: <Heya, James. Ya heard of the monsters going crazy?>

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*The monster backflips, landing on the statue, and then leaps forward, slashing at Kari's face while growling menacingly*

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*The birds circles around the incoming spears and dives down towards Soul, cawing out loud*

Girl: <Ahhhhhh!>

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Woman: <This isn't good... the monster attacks have been increasing lately, I wonder what's going on?>

*Her husband helps her up and they stare at Jade*

Merchant: <Jade, thank you so much. You truly are a skilled swordswoman.>

"Thank you, hopefully I can be as skilled in the tournament."

*Jade stops, thinking for a moment*

"Then again, the monsters have been getting restless, maybe I shouldn't go. At least until I can find out the source of what's upsetting them."

Alto blocks, "Tch, run along pup, you aren't worth my time. Maybe when you grow up you can come back and fight me!" he knocks at the beast with the flat of his sword.

Kentaro:<Damn it!>

*Kari screams and ducks dropping the gun. Kentaro runs over to her, crouching beside her*

*James' eyes shift to the man named Jim, then back to the bartender.*

James:<Hey, yeah... what's up with that, anyway?>

Bartender: <Seems the guards are havin' some trouble with them bastards, aye?>

*A beautiful young woman with long black hair and a barmaid uniform walks in through the door behind the man, carrying a wooden box with great effort*

Barmaid: <...M-Morning, dad.>

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*It flies right over Kari's head, crashing into a tree. It falls to the ground, stunned. The kid that was playing the flute and the woman are now watching them through the large hole*

Boy: <It's so ugly!>

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*The girl won't stop crying and she runs behind a tree, watching the battle. The bird dodges the scythe and flies around, trying to find an opening in the fire barrier. An armored man shows up with a large silver sword*

Soldier: <Another one!? Miss, please step back and let me handle this!>

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Woman: <That is true.. but I'm sure we'll be fine for a few days.>

Merchant: <Yeah, you need to focus on your tournament.>

Woman: <Oh dear, look at the time, I need to go and make lunch.>

Merchant: <Haha, no way. What you need to do is get that leg healed. Come on, dear.>

*He helps her up and they take off after thanking Jade one last time.*

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*The large wolf opens his mouth and roars loudly, blowing a blizzard at the men.*

Creed moves swiftly as does Alto as they cross their swords to block the blast.

[Ya...they probably would be fine...but still the monsters seem to be unusually aggressive...]

*Jade heads for the entrance to the town, looking out into the vast open terrain.*

[I can afford to explore one night and be back by morning.]

*Jade rushes home to fetch her traveling kit with rations and water and a tent. Ready to explore, she sets out into the desert hoping to find a clue to the monsters' anger.*

*James sees the girl holding the box and continues drinking.*

James: <What's in that box?>

*James stares curiously at the box.*

Kentaro:<Are you all right?>

"Ye... yeah."

*Kentaro picks up the other gun, standing up and fires at the monster.*

Barmaid: <Apples. Want one? They're only 1 Dyne each.>

*She drops the box and leans out the window next to the door*

Bartender: <What are ya doin'?>

Barmaid: <Seems a few monsters managed to get in the city... But the soldiers are taking care of'em.>

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*The shot slams the monster into the tree again. It gets up, small glowing sparkles floating out of its wound, and dashes towards Kentaro, jumping and slashing at his hands*

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Soldier: <A Sephiran soldier, what else? Remove this wall immediately, this kind of monster isn't very hard to handle!>

*He stands by in a battle stance*

Girl: <..I want my mommy!>

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*Since it's still around noon and it is the hottest time of the day, it isn't more than 5 minutes until she starts sweating in the scorching heat of the dry plain. Not very far off the village, she's hit by a sandy gust. Two Sand Lynx come flying out of nowhere, slashing at her*

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*Their armors and swords are covered by a thin layer of ice. The Blizzard Howler steps back and turns to the unnamed soldiers, blowing another blizzard at them. The same happens to them*

Soldier: <It's so cold!>

OOC: Just a refresher, neither Alto nor Creed typically wear armor.

Creed: "This is going to prove to be a problem if this thing keeps freezing us. Why didn't you kill it Alto!?"

Alto: "Dunno, something about it seems off."

*James' eyes grew wide at the mention of monsters in the city.*

James: <Erm, I'm sorry but I have to be going now...>

*James bursts out of the bar and begins running down the street, searching for any signs of monsters.*

*Jade's extremely tired in the heat and isn't able to evade the Lynxs fast enough. She's knocked back a few feet*

"Damn, this is not good."

*Jade gets to her feet, sword drawn, ready for another attack.*

*Kentaro swings a gun attempting to slash the monster with the spikes along the guards of his gun.*

*The bartender and his daughter are left somewhat confused. He reaches an alley with 3 nice houses. There's a large hole on the brick wall at the end of the alley, through which a woman and a little boy are watching a man and a woman fight a Shadow Trodent. The monster is knocked back by Kentaro's slash, and jumps onto Kari's head, scratching at it*

Woman: <Be careful!>

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*The bird dives down towards Soul as soon as the wall fades. The soldier hurries in front of her and slashes at the monster with his silver sword, killing it. The Sky Raptor falls to the ground and its whole body turns into a small glowing sphere of light that quickly fades. The girl runs to Soul and hugs her, crying*

Soldier: <It's okay now. Be careful, there are more monsters out ther!>

*He takes off, running down the street*

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*One of the Lynx rams her in the belly as the other one swings its tail at her face*

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OOC: Same, difference.

*The Blizzard Howler rams a soldier, knocking him down, and tries biting at his face. The other unnamed soldier dashes towards them and sinks his sword into the monster's body. It rolls over, gasping for air and yelping, small white sparkles floating out of its wound*

Alto is the first to free himself from the ice and the next one to jam his blade down into the Howler.

*James quickly pulls out his sword and runs to the monster on top of the girl's head.*

James: <Stand still....>

*James begins wildly hacking away at the monster on top of her head.*

*Kari scream pulling it at trying to get it off, Kentaro drops his guns and bites the monster's head.*

*Jade takes the pair of attacks and falls to the ground*

[Get up.]

[If they don't kill you, the heat will...]

*Jade struggles to her knees. She scours every ounce of effort she can and charges the pair of lynxs, giving a wide slash at both of them.*

*The sword hits the monster sending it flying against one of the walls before Kentaro manages to bite it. It falls to the ground, glowing, and its body turns into a small glowing sphere of light that quickly fades.*

Woman: <Thank Origin! Are you all right?>

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Girl: <T-Thank you for saving me.. Can we go find mommy now?>

*She tries to help Soul up*

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*The Lynx are knocked back a few feet, falling down and rolling across the dirt. They get back on their feet and blow sand gusts at Jade, growling*

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*Its whole body glows and turns into a small sphere of light that disappears. The ice on their body begins to melt*

Soldier: <Phew! What's up with these monsters lately?>

Soldier2: <T-That's what we're to Sephira to find out.>

*They get back on their horses, waiting for Alto to carry on with their trip*