Witchers of Nifelheim - Part 3

C̷O̴N̴S̶U̸M̵E̵ wrote:Rain looks up at Kaylee, "Just let them dual. Damage isn't permanent, I see no reason to stop them. Sure it's solving it with violence but it seems to be respectable violence."

"No violence's respectable violence" Rogue says, "Guys, please. There're better ways to blow off steam - chess, dominoes, battleships?"

"It seems reason is lost here." Twilight says with a sigh.

She looks at the elderly man. "Um, not to be rude, but is there more you can tell about the king of Rakshata?"

Radiance tightens his grip. The fingers partially digging into the shoulder joint

"Circi, stop antagonizing her or I will consider you a threat to this team. I dont think Urusula would want her long lost friend injured. Or where to too stuck up your own ass to remember that?"

Circi looks back, "oh no I remember that Diana here is an old friend. It's more the fact that she's calling this Witcher with 60 years of service a Deserter. She insulted him but she can't handle the same insults directed at her?  What's the word for that? A Hippocrate?" She glances back at Radiance, quietly removing his hand from her shoulder, "Please don't touch me. I am very sick." She clears her throat, "I antagonize her because that's what she does to many others. There's always a bad guy but it's never her, and the moment it's even insinuated that her or the witcher's thinking is wrong, or ass backwards, or incorrect, or anything not positive. They lose their shit, if she wants to fight to prove that point then so be it."

"It's always a witch Hunt. Never a dull moment. Witcher's can't spend a moment without putting some do good speech out, while standing over a field of dead "Deserters" or "Rogues" yet their constantly thanked for the small goods they do, it's like looking at the opposite of reality all of the witcher's good gets spread around like it's the best news anyone's ever heard, vs the bad which doesn't seem to go anywhere. I wonder why that is. It's not like the main governing force mixed military, could be hiding anything right?"

C̷O̴N̴S̶U̸M̵E̵ wrote:"I wonder why that is. It's not like the main governing force mixed military, could be hiding anything right?"

"Well... We've come across that before, but I'd like to hope we could break that stereotype here" Rogue says.

"I wonder if it's because of our group. We, who came from the machine world, where met with hostility. Our mission to save our children and fix things was almost prevented via a single spell

And yet we managed to convince Ursula otherwise. This course of action went against what a Witcher should do. I believe,"

He looks at Ursula "that you are questioning whether or not you made the right choice. That some feeling of guilt over not killing us all then and the cold and distrustful manner the other Witchers are treating you is partially why you are becoming so angry.

This fight is not going to fix your issues, issues that need a proper sit down with a therapist. Would either of you be satisfied when the other wins? Or kills the other accidentally?"

"I'm done with this" Ursula hissed under her breath:

"Its now clear to me that both of you are disconnected from reality"
She scowled at Radiance: "You've been here for two months" Her gaze shifted to Circi: "And you are a hermit.

I doubt either of you had the chance to see the front lines, that separate us from the parasite horde. I doubt you ever walked through an infected village, saw the look in the eyes of civilians, most of whom will not survive the Glasgow Synergy. Knew what it felt like, when you realized there's nothing you can do for them, but watch them slowly die from infection.


We are being exterminated. Humanity is in a state of total war. And in the battle for existence, the only options are to fight or to die. To think there are other options is to be completely divorced from reality.

If we were to start giving vacation time to soldiers, without any regard to the actual situation on the front lines... the front lines would collapse, and eventually, humanity would cease to exist."



Ursula angrily stood straight, lowering her fists to hang alongside her body:

"I don't need a bloody therapist. And I never regretted my decision to initiate you into the Witchers. Nor my decision to bridge the gap between the Machine World and Nifelheim.



But its clear to me now that you will never understand us. Our culture, our customs, our way of life.
You will never understand, what it means to be a Witcher of Nifelheim, because you haven't grown up here, you haven't lived here. Not really.


If you ever fall under siege, from a parasite horde, maybe. If you ever walk through burned, infected villages, maybe. If you see a Witcher loose control of his parasite and butcher a village, including his loved ones and friends...

Maybe. Maybe then, you'll understand, what it means to live here. Maybe then you'll understand, the full weight and responsibility of the word 'Witcher'"



Ursula's entire face became distorted by an ugly scowl: "...until then, I'm done talking"

She turned on her heels and walked off, somewhere into the edges of the visible plane.












The elderly Witcher released a very exhausted sigh: "..idealistic, hotblooded and not open to compromise... three cornerstones of youth that I can't stomach." His gaze briefly traced Ursula, as she walked out of earshot: "...well, it doesn't matter. She'll grow up at some point.

And realize that, bending the rules is the only way to survive... much like... how most Veteran Witchers stay alive, by utilizing the Parasite Spellbook.
Their spells are inherently stronger. It would be foolish not to.

I won't start casting Mitosis in a crowded village, mind you. But if you're out in the wild and surrounded by parasites? You better believe I'll conjure some of my own, so they will draw fire while I make my escape.

They number in billions. Four more won't make any difference... anyway..."


He briefly looked up at Circi: "I appreciate you standing up for me, I really do. I only fear your kindness is wasted on me. I did leave my post and I didn't look back.
My family's the most important thing to me in the world and I want to be by their side when the horde comes, so that I, and not some stranger, will protect them."












He sighed again, then looked at Twilight:

"The White Flame... was but an infant, when he first made his appearance in Lieselotte, carried in the arms of General Alstreim.
No one knows where he came from, but the General adopted him all the same. He had no children of his own you see. I guess, he felt something missing in his life, as later he adopted quite a few others kids. Raised them as his own.

With Alstreim being the High King of Lieselotte, its a small wander his kids decided to follow in his footsteps. We always knew the White Flame would become King of one of the Castle Towns at some point... but we didn't think it would happen this soon.



You know how the kings are selected, yes?
They aren't chosen by bloodline. Instead, the chain of succession is decided by the Anual Tourneys of Lieselotte. A series of contests where Witchers compete against each other, to test their might and wit, culminating in a series of duels.

The results of the Tourney are brought together and a list is compiled, comprised of every participating Witcher. The one with the highest score, becomes High King of Lieselotte. The ones directly below him, become Kings of the other Castle Towns.

Those below them, become part of the Royal Chain of Succession. If something happens to one of the ruling kings, the list moves up and the next Witcher in line, with the new highest score, becomes the new king of the city, where there is a free vacancy.

Each year, the list is updated when the next Tourney takes place. Any Witcher can apply, there's no restrictions. And hundreds of people travel to Lieselotte, to participate or witness the Tourney. But I digress.




Two years ago, the Witchers suffered a catastrophic defeat, at the hands of the Treasurer. He set up a sick, twisted gambit. And they fell for it.
They saved Lieselotte from destruction, that much is true. But the price was too high, 70% of our officers perished in that battle, and in the end, its what the Treasurer wanted.
The remove the heads behind our battle strategy.


The officers that survived, where slowly and systematically assassinated by the Treasurer.
And soon... following the Royal Chain of Succession, before he even realized it, the White Flame had become king of his very own Castle Town.. years, perhaps even decades before his expected time.


He stepped up to the task and made due. But the grief he felt for the loss of his father, was stronger than we imagined. General Alstreim died in defense of Lieselotte, two years ago.
The Treasurer killed him...


It wasn't long after, when the White Flame supposedly went into the woods and earned his full title... although... I don't actually know his real name"
The elderly Witcher sighed.




"Viktoria and Ryuuken Alstreim" Kaylee quietly said: "..there's actually two kings of Rakshata. Ryuuken and Viktoria, both are king.. I thought it was.. known.."


"What?" The elderly man raised his brow: "That's nonsense. There's only one King of Rakshata. Pretty sure he's only one person"

"Well then, seems diplomacy is another thing I can mark is being shit at," he looks down at his hands, shrugs then back up again.

Radiance draws his attention to the fire and the conversation around it. He moves over and takes a seat.

"So that's how their lives were." Twilight said.

"A catastrophic event that essentially forced them to take on a roll that they weren't ready for, no wonder they became so harsh to the world." Despite it, she smiled. "I'm glad their cold hearts can still be warmed."

She looked at the man. "I can confirm there are two kings. During our capture, I briefly saw both of them at once. One with a sword, one with a scythe. Victoria is a girl, Ryuuken is a boy. And, those twins, they are my..."

She shook her head. "I'm sure that sounds ridicilous right now."

"Mm?" The old Witcher looked at Twilight.

Kaylee trotted off to speak with Ursula in the distance.
Johan waited a few moments, then looked at the Witcher:

"Say.. you were captured after we were, right? We must be in close proximity for the collective unconsciousness to work. Have you seen our bodies in the real world? Do you know where we are? Where we're headed?"



"Mmm.." the elderly Witcher thought, then waved his hand. Off to the side, a part of the nothingness became something, like a hazy round window into another world.

Its edges were borderless and misty. Through it, you saw the inside of a carriage, with metal bars and wooden walls and ceiling. Several figures were sitting closely inside, tied up and unconscious.
After several seconds you recognized yourself in that image. Seeing yourself outside of your body felt weird.


Outside the carriage, you could only see snowdrifts and heavy clouds through the bars. The carriage was in motion, rolling somewhere.


"They picked me up near Rakshata" the elderly Witcher said: "Dunno where we're going.
But when the king shakled me, he said -

'You were ordered to guard the line and fled, betraying the trust your people have placed in you.
So now you will guard a line from which you cannot escape.' Whatever that means.

Looks like we're all going in the same direction though. In fact-.." the Witcher thought:
"I think you were headed there before me. It seemed like the king just picked me up along the way"



"Any idea how long it will be?" Johan grimaced.

"The journey? Dunno. Weeks?" The Witcher indifferently shrugged.


"...any chance we can kill time with training, in this realm?" Johan asked without much hope, looking around at everyone.


"Ha!" The old Witcher looked at you with admiration:
"You folks don't waste time do you" he nodded: "Yes, its possibly to train your mind here. But not your body. This is happening all in our heads, afterall"

Kaylee Brown wrote:The officers that survived, where slowly and systematically assassinated by the Treasurer.
And soon... following the Royal Chain of Succession, before he even realized it, the White Flame had become king of his very own Castle Town.. years, perhaps even decades before his expected time.

"Why didn't Kaznachey assassinate the White Flame?" Rogue asks.

"As a parasite you can technically do more damage by causing people to lose sanity and become another creation point for parasites. Kaznachey, from the brief interactions we've had, seems to be the type to let his minions do the physical damage and just be a background fear"

He seems to watch the fire a moment before directing his conversation to the elderly witcher

"You also mentioned a list of spells that veteran witcher's use. Even if we can't attune to them here I'd be very interested to know the names and what they do. Speaking of names, I don't believe we got yours"

Rogue wrote:"Why didn't Kaznachey assassinate the White Flame?" Rogue asks.

"Who says he's not planning to?" The old Witcher looked up at you: "The White Flame is widely regarded as the strongest mage in all Nifelheim. Its likely, he's close to the top of the hit list.

I'm sure the White Flame is aware of this as well. That's why.. I'm not sure why he decided to risk leaving the safety of his Castle Town"


The Witcher looked at the campfire, frowning: "...originally.. I thought the White Flame was heading back to Rakshata, when he nabbed me. But.. it seems he intends to personally escort us to this phantom prison.
I can only assume its located far from population centers, which is even more odd, considering kings don't usually stray far from their castles.

Wonder what made him decide to venture off so far, especially with Kaznachey potentially breathing down his neck" The Witcher narrowed his eyes, looking at the dancing flames:




"...although.. its also possible the White Flame was never assassinated.. because Kaznachey believes him to be the least adequate ruler. Perhaps.. that's why he assassinated everyone above him, in the Chain of Succession, but left the White Flame unscathed...

If that is the case... perhaps Kaznachey plans to do the same thing, with every other Castle in Nifelheim.


A very... very troubling thought..." The Witcher collected himself, slightly shivering from the cold:

"Its almost as if... its all a prelude to something"




Johan uncomfortably shifted his weight: "...soon, it won't matter, right? Parasite's can't approach Castle Towns, because of the Obelisks around them. And the Great Migration is less than a year away right?"

"Right..." The old Witcher grunted.

Radiance wrote:"You also mentioned a list of spells that veteran witcher's use. Even if we can't attune to them here I'd be very interested to know the names and what they do. Speaking of names, I don't believe we got yours"

"Tristan of Berynhard. Category 3 Witcher" The elderly man said in a raspy voice:

"The main twist of the Parasite spells, is that most inflict Sanity damage, on top of something else. Used in the right moment, a lot of them can be very nasty.



In the Utility section, there is:

Mitosis - Spawn new parasites from your body, by having your parasite multiply by mitosis. The stronger the level of the spell, the more parasites spawn.


Avatar - Have your parasite materialize next to you, in a physical form. Your Health, Mana and Sanity stats become split in half and distributed equally between you two. The stronger the spell level, the longer the parasite can remain by your side, and the further he can stray away from you.
You're still connected, do not forget. You can't leave your parasite in one city, while you move to the next. He will eventually be dragged after you, until he dissipates, returning back to your body.

The beauty of this spell is..." the Witcher released a conspiratory smirk: "...you actually don't need your hands to cast it. It's cast from your heart.


Which means... even if your hands are bound... with some object tied between your fingers... you can still escape. By spawning your parasite next to you, so he can undo your bindings...
HE, won't be tied up when he spawns."



"Wicked..." Johan quietly said in awe: "Shame we don't have a catalyst for that spell. Could have escaped"

"Shame" Tristan nodded:





"In the Status Effects category, we have:


Eyes of the Basilisk - Causes Sanity damage. Inflicts 'Blindness' Status Effect on the target.


The Cocytus Veil - Causes Sanity damage. Inflicts 'Thunderclap' and 'Silence' Status Effects on the target.
It leaves you deaf, unable to cast magic and paralyzed by fear. Nasty thing.




And in the Offense category, we have:


Fear - Causes Sanity damage. You probably already ran into this one in battle."


Tristan grew serious, grim: "...and there is one more spell... so devastating and vial... almost everyone who was subjected to it... didn't survive.
We know for a fact.. Kaznachey holds it in his permanent arsenal. And it was used.. two years ago.. on the vast Lieselotte plateau.


We call it, the Shimmers Hellfire

It inflicts Health and Sanity damage, and causes the 'Poison' Status Effect. Cast strong enough and over a wide area... I've never seen anything more devastating... more cruel" Tristan looked away:

"Watching people writhe in insanity, as their flesh melts away.." the old Witcher closed his eyes: "...you never forger that"

Kaylee Brown wrote:

Rogue wrote:"Why didn't Kaznachey assassinate the White Flame?" Rogue asks.

"...although.. its also possible the White Flame was never assassinated.. because Kaznachey believes him to be the least adequate ruler. Perhaps.. that's why he assassinated everyone above him, in the Chain of Succession, but left the White Flame unscathed...

If that is the case... perhaps Kaznachey plans to do the same thing, with every other Castle in Nifelheim.


A very... very troubling thought..." The Witcher collected himself, slightly shivering from the cold:

"Its almost as if... its all a prelude to something"

"Like he's setting the cities up to fall from the inside out?" Rogue muses, that would be one way to get around the monoliths.

"Yeah" Tristan grimly nodded: "I don't know to what end though. Kaznachey's only goal was to escape Nifelheim. I don't know what he hopes to gain, by destabilizing the castles politically.

The Obelisks around them will still be in place, whatever the situation inside.."

Kaylee Brown wrote:"Yeah" Tristan grimly nodded: "I don't know to what end though. Kaznachey's only goal was to escape Nifelheim. I don't know what he hopes to gain, by destabilizing the castles politically.

The Obelisks around them will still be in place, whatever the situation inside.."

"Can you think of any reason why they might be dismantled - faulty foundations, or accidental damage perhaps?" Rogue suggests, "From what we've seen of him, Kaznachey's more than happy to get others to do his dirty work. He's had a while to think this through."

"A nice history lesson indeed." Circi croaks, "The trash collector is smarter then he appears."

Rain stares at the fire, "Yet when we first arrived he was camping... as if he were waiting for us. Like he knew we were coming. I think I know why they took the machine, I think its the same reason we want to take it. To eliminate the parasites, however they had no intention of using it here." She glares into the Fire, "I think those inserts dont care what happens to the people here. Their taking the machine back to protect earth."

Circi takes a glance at Rain her emotionless mask suddenly falling off into something resembling a mix of fear and anger, "I'm not dumb! I know what you mean when you say that!" Circi wheezes, "You mean to tell me the goal the witchers are working towards, Thousands of years of research, millions of lives spent to work to a single goal, all of thats going to be useless because the parasites are in the mechanica!" She grits her teeth, "I dont see any other explanation for what you just said apart from that." Her head snaps to Rogue, "Is this true green child?"

C̷O̴N̴S̶U̸M̵E̵ wrote:"A nice history lesson indeed." Circi croaks, "The trash collector is smarter then he appears."

Rain stares at the fire, "Yet when we first arrived he was camping... as if he were waiting for us. Like he knew we were coming. I think I know why they took the machine, I think its the same reason we want to take it. To eliminate the parasites, however they had no intention of using it here." She glares into the Fire, "I think those inserts dont care what happens to the people here. Their taking the machine back to protect earth."

Circi takes a glance at Rain her emotionless mask suddenly falling off into something resembling a mix of fear and anger, "I'm not dumb! I know what you mean when you say that!" Circi wheezes, "You mean to tell me the goal the witchers are working towards, Thousands of years of research, millions of lives spent to work to a single goal, all of thats going to be useless because the parasites are in the mechanica!" She grits her teeth, "I dont see any other explanation for what you just said apart from that." Her head snaps to Rogue, "Is this true green child?"

"One, I have no idea what the Machine Folk's plan is, nobody here really does. Two, I'm older than I look, I've just aged amazingly" Rogue replies.

"One parasite now lives on Earth" Johan quietly said: "Axis the Colorful String, she called herself.

We don't know what she plans to do, but we know time flows differently there.
One day on earth equals to something like 4.7 years on this end. And we know it takes a parasite 4 whole days, before she can multiply by mitosis.

It means, by the time we get back to Earth, the lone parasite there wouldn't have enough time to multiply. So technically speaking, Earth isn't infected yet"



Tristan frowned: "It only has its 'Patient Zero'.
Unfortunate, but manageable. The infection of the whole planet can still be prevented, if we are fast. Tracking her down should be the number one priority after the Migration takes place.

Nothing a Witcher can't handle. We were born to track and sense parasites"







Tristan sighed: "Ways for Obelisks to get dismantled? Plenty, they're not indestructible.

About a dozen Obelisks surround a castle town in a circle, creating a 'Parasite Repelling Sphere'.
Parasites can't get closer than 5 kilometers to them.

But, if a single Obelisk falls, it will create a hole in the Repelling Sphere, allowing the parasites to charge through and attack the castle.




As you know, the strongest known spells have an effective range of 4 kilometers.
It means, even if Kaznachey stands as close as he can to a castle town, and unleashes his most powerful attack, it will still fall out of range.
He physically can't hit the Obelisks.





That said, in theory, if an explosion did happen at the base on an Obelisk, it could cause it to fall down, creating a hole in the Repelling Sphere.

A fault in foundations can also cause an Obelisk to fall. But the Witcher were very careful about where they placed their castles.
A strong earthquake could theoretically cause an Obelisk to fall. But we build them in stable geo locations, far from fissures between tectonic plates and in areas where earthquakes were extremely rare, or non existent.



To summarize,

The parasites can't physically approach or fire at the Obelisks.
The Obelisk foundations are strong and the possibility of an earthquake is approaching zero.
Thus, the only possible way to destroy an Obelisk, would be a direct attack on it. And the only ones who can do that are humans."



Tristan sighed: "But... no human would ever do that. Not even Rogue Witchers"

He shifted in place, taking a seat closer to the fire and looking at you:
"Every creature on Nifelheim shares one thing in common. We all want to escape this world.

No human would attack an Obelisk. Not even someone like Alder's Marauders. Because they all know, if an Obelisk falls.. the parasite horde will kill everyone... and then no one goes home."




Johan uncomfortably shifted his weight.

Alyx was still sitting atop Twilight's shoulders, resting his hands on her head, absentmindedly waving his feet back and forth, and watching the conversation with peak curiosity.


Johan looked up at him in mild confusion: "...Alyx why you sitting up there?"

"This is where I live now! This is my place of being!" Alyx defiantly called, crossing his arms and bringing his head high.

Kaylee Brown wrote:Tristan sighed: "Ways for Obelisks to get dismantled? Plenty, they're not indestructible.

About a dozen Obelisks surround a castle town in a circle, creating a 'Parasite Repelling Sphere'.
Parasites can't get closer than 5 kilometers to them.

But, if a single Obelisk falls, it will create a hole in the Repelling Sphere, allowing the parasites to charge through and attack the castle.

"They don't've overlapping fields of effect, seems a bit of a design flaw?" Rogue says.

Kaylee Brown wrote:As you know, the strongest known spells have an effective range of 4 kilometers.
It means, even if Kaznachey stands as close as he can to a castle town, and unleashes his most powerful attack, it will still fall out of range.
He physically can't hit the Obelisks.

"Maybe horizontally, but what about vertically? If they were flying above the pillars, they could drop something from more than 5 kilometres, let gravity do the work?" Rogue suggests.

Kaylee Brown wrote:To summarize,

The parasites can't physically approach or fire at the Obelisks.
The Obelisk foundations are strong and the possibility of an earthquake is approaching zero.
Thus, the only possible way to destroy an Obelisk, would be a direct attack on it. And the only ones who can do that are humans."



Tristan sighed: "But... no human would ever do that. Not even Rogue Witchers"

He shifted in place, taking a seat closer to the fire and looking at you:
"Every creature on Nifelheim shares one thing in common. We all want to escape this world.

No human would attack an Obelisk. Not even someone like Alder's Marauders. Because they all know, if an Obelisk falls.. the parasite horde will kill everyone... and then no one goes home."

"I can think of one group of Humans that might be up for it, the Machine Folk. They wouldn't light any candles if everyone else here didn't make it back." Rogue muses.

Rogue wrote:"They don't've overlapping fields of effect, seems a bit of a design flaw?" Rogue says.

Tristan sighed: "You must understand, the mineral used to construct the Obelisks is extremely rare. On average, it takes us 18 years to find enough for a single castle.
We had to ration what we had, so we could cover all nine castle towns.

If we had more, maybe we could've placed more Obelisks around a castle, or even place them in two rows, to create overlapping fields of effect. But with things being such as they are, we're lucky we managed to find this much"

Rogue wrote:"Maybe horizontally, but what about vertically? If they were flying above the pillars, they could drop something from more than 5 kilometres, let gravity do the work?" Rogue suggests.

"Mm" Tristan fell into thought: "It should be theoretically possible. Although, flying parasites are rare on this planet.
Non the less, if they tried something like that, our boys wouldn't sit by.

Each Obelisk is guarded on ground, by a contingent of veteran Witchers. If they spot an aerial attack, they have massive Shield pentagrams already in place. They can be activated, if something unforeseen happens. The Obelisks will be shielded."

Rogue wrote:"I can think of one group of Humans that might be up for it, the Machine Folk. They wouldn't light any candles if everyone else here didn't make it back." Rogue muses.

"The Machine Folk... yes" Tristan grimly nodded: "They have machines that fire long range explosives. From both air and ground.
Our Shield spells should hold them off for a while... but under a continuous, prolongued barrage, they may not hold. I just hope the kings increased security around the Obelisks. Especially now that we're so close to the Migration"





Tristan rubbed his hands together, trying to stay warm, then directed his palms at the fire:

"...well... we might be in for a long haul, while the White Flame cartwheels our bodies to prison. Thought of what you're gonna do with your time yet?"



"That's right" Johan thought: "..we can't actually study magic or language on our own, we need a teacher" he looked in Ursula's direction.

She was far enough away that you couldn't make out what she was saying, but it looked like she was in the middle of a heated rant, waving her hands around, as Kaylee listened to her.



"Eghh.. Ursula looks... really pissed. Might need some coaxing if we want her to continue training us"
Johan said with a small grimace.

Kaylee Brown wrote:

Rogue wrote:"Maybe horizontally, but what about vertically? If they were flying above the pillars, they could drop something from more than 5 kilometres, let gravity do the work?" Rogue suggests.

"Mm" Tristan fell into thought: "It should be theoretically possible. Although, flying parasites are rare on this planet.
Non the less, if they tried something like that, our boys wouldn't sit by.

Each Obelisk is guarded on ground, by a contingent of veteran Witchers. If they spot an aerial attack, they have massive Shield pentagrams already in place. They can be activated, if something unforeseen happens. The Obelisks will be shielded."

"IF they spot it coming..." Rogue nods.

Kaylee Brown wrote:Tristan rubbed his hands together, trying to stay warm, then directed his palms at the fire:

"...well... we might be in for a long haul, while the White Flame cartwheels our bodies to prison. Thought of what you're gonna do with your time yet?"



"That's right" Johan thought: "..we can't actually study magic or language on our own, we need a teacher" he looked in Ursula's direction.

She was far enough away that you couldn't make out what she was saying, but it looked like she was in the middle of a heated rant, waving her hands around, as Kaylee listened to her.



"Eghh.. Ursula looks... really pissed. Might need some coaxing if we want her to continue training us"
Johan said with a small grimace.

"We should probably leave her be for now, let her get it out of her system" Rogue suggests.

Johan reluctantly shuffled his feet "..gonna have to speak with her eventually. The journey may last weeks and we need someone to train us."

He thought for a moment, then looked at everyone: "..have you guys decided what you want to focus on? What did Tristan say.. that this is all happening in our heads? We can only train our mind so, we need to choose between magic and language.


I'll focus on magic this time" Johan said after some thought: "Our enemies are getting more ferocious and bigger. We might need higher level spells to counter their status effects and hold our own.


..but its also possible we may need to know Nifel better, for our impending interrogation.." he looked down, narrowing his eyes.

Kaylee Brown wrote:Johan reluctantly shuffled his feet "..gonna have to speak with her eventually. The journey may last weeks and we need someone to train us."

He thought for a moment, then looked at everyone: "..have you guys decided what you want to focus on? What did Tristan say.. that this is all happening in our heads? We can only train our mind so, we need to choose between magic and language.


I'll focus on magic this time" Johan said after some thought: "Our enemies are getting more ferocious and bigger. We might need higher level spells to counter their status effects and hold our own.


..but its also possible we may need to know Nifel better, for our impending interrogation.." he looked down, narrowing his eyes.

"I'll always pick language" Rogue nods, "The pen's mightier than any sword."

"Not when you're dealing with an illiterate." Twilight dryly replies.

"Despite that, I'll go with language and magic. I have to talk to the kings in private as well. And was language not required to advance in magic?"

She looks at Alyx. "Is my shoulder that comfortable?"