Tests

“Works for me!”
Cantrelle backs up slightly, launching a rock at the Dagon with Telekinetic Shot.

"I don't think splitting up is a good idea! For all we know, it could be a condition for failure, and we have no idea how many of these are in the forest. If Balthazar were to be attacked on his own, he wouldn't be able to protect the container."

Misha continues to sling gusts of wind around at the area as she backs up towards the container. "Form a defensive barrier around Balthazar and the container. We'll move as one formation. Erin, up front. Ray, take the right and rear. I'll take the left and rear. Face out, backs in. Balthazar, focus on carrying and moving. Don't rush, we take it steady. Follow my lead."

Misha, Ray (Erin, Balthazar)


Misha fires a gust of wind down at the ground and notices a spot where the leaves aren't being blown, as if something is blocking them.  There's a loud squeak, followed by what seems to be something tumbling along the ground until it impacts a log.

Ray concentrates Soul Heat on Balthazar who hoists the crate onto his shoulders.  "Yeah, I've got it...!" he calls out.

"I'm in the front?  Fine with me!" Erin yells.  "This trick worked well before..."  She fires a gust ahead of herself as you start moving.  There's a sound of something being blown away.  "There, got another one!"

You continue down the trail, with Misha and Ray limping along the rear.  Erin continues to fire the occasional gust of wind every few paces.  Soon the finish line comes into view, with Niamh and a dozen armed soldiers waiting at attention.

"Retreat!" a disembodied, squeaky voice calls out.  "Run away, run away!"

By the time you make it to the exit, Erin is panting and struggling to cast another spell.  Balthazar is sweating heavily, but doesn't struggle too much setting the crate down just past the finish beside Niamh.  The old lady nods encouragingly.  "Well done, well done..."

"Not so fast."  One of the soldiers, his uniform decorated with an insignia that seems to mark him as a low-ranking officer, steps forward.  He pops open the crate and inspects what appears to be a few glass containers of vegetables with a half-dozen blankets wrapped between them.  After a cursory inspection, he steps back and nods.  A pair of the other soldiers grabs the box between them as he turns to Niamh.  "Pass."

"We... did it...!" Erin immediately flops onto her back.

"It would... appear so, yes..."  Balthazar stumbles over and sits on a stump, wiping his forehead.  "Ha...  I can't wait to get back and rest..."

Erin's stomach peeks out as she adjusts her tail.  "Mishaaaa, come sit with meeee."

"You'll have the rest of the day to rest, once the others finish and we can return," Niamh says.  "You'll have a free day tomorrow, as well, whether you wish to train or rest."


Rishan (Fenian, Hero, Gwyn)


"They said it was stalking us," Fenian explains.  "It is supposed to get in our way and prevent us from delivering the package.  It is waiting up ahead."

"Is it, now...?" Hero mutters.  "It seems they did indeed hire some of the forest creatures to slow us down for the test!"

"Then we remove them," Gwyn hisses.

"Or we just go around," Hero suggests.

Fenian crosses his arms.  "If it is supposed to stop us, and it knows the area better than us, then I do not doubt it will simply move to another path.  We will need to confront it, or trick it.  This will be difficult.  Spriggans are strong."


Selfless, Cantrelle (Iora, Alice)

Cantrelle takes a shot at the dagon.  It bounces off its head with a dull thud, the monster's neck twisting as it freezes in shock.  It slowly turns and looks at Cantrelle.  "You... flesh, too.  Not as tasty, but sill good."

"I am NOT failing again!"  Alice yells, hopping onto the crate and springing into the air, casting Leap onto herself and twirling in the air before dropping her heel into the creature's face.

The dagon staggers back from the blow while Alice splats onto her butt.  It clicks angrily as it recovers itself, looming over her as she scrambles to her feet.  In a rare display of speed, Iora grabs the dagon from behind, throwing herself over its shoulders and dragging it back towards the water.  "You can grab the box and go-o-o-o-o.  It's 'kaaaaaaay, I can handle this weakling aloooooone."

While seeing how Erin and Misha interact with each other, Ray seems to let a smile slip, accompanied by a very quiet "huh...", reaction which he quickly seems to supress.

"Yes, we all did good... Sorry for doubting you Balthazar... I know we started on the wrong foot... I'll try to keep my trust issues to myself from now on...

With that said... Hum... I might need help to walk to the infirmary..."

Misha, Ray

Balthazar shrugs.  "Yeah, well...  Yeah.  We passed, that's what matters."

Niamh, already hunched over, doesn't have to bend far to examine Ray's leg.  "Mmm.  Don't even need Quentin to handle a little thing like this."  She holds out her hand, glowing white, and waves it over the cut.  It starts to close immediately.  "There."  Niamh puts her hands on her back and straightens herself up with a loud grunt.  She looks over at Misha and Erin and raises her hand, flicking a spray of a few drops of water in their direction.  "Behave, you two."

Erin squeaks.  "We're not doing anything!" she protests.

Niamh frowns suspiciously.  "Mmm.  Keep it that way."


Rishan

"Navigating through the forest instead of the path?  It would be easy enough."

"And you want to send me and... Gwyn to distract the thing?" Hero asks.

"What does that mean?" Gwyn demands.

"You're just a bit... aggressive to be a distraction," Hero says.  "If we're going to fight, I'd rather bring everyone."

"I can be a distraction without starting a fight!" Gwyn huffs.

"...Right..." Hero says.

"We could create a stretcher with a cloak and some sticks and load it with the supplies in the crate.  That would let them bring the empty crate with them to be more convincing," Fenian suggests.

Misha frowns, seemingly confused for a moment, then suddenly realizes what they must look like in that position. She blushes, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face, but doesn't actually seem embarrased by the realization. She sits up, but stays next to Erin.

"So, we just wait here for the others to finish? Does that mean we were the first to pass?"

"Look at us... I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case...

But we shouldn't inflate our egoes yet...

I feel like we can't assume anything over here..."