>>36896621

The muscles in your back sting with every step you cut into the shaped sands. Thankfully the oasis didn’t appear to be more than an hour’s journey away from the tower.

You walk for many minutes in silence until Erin’s soft voice sounds up again. “Hey Ed?”

“Yeah?” You respond in a slightly fatigued voice, the heat and the condition of your body getting to you.

“I’m a mage right?” She keeps her eyes pointed forward as to not lose her footing on the sands.

“Of course.” You answer, confused at what she’s getting at.

“That’s right, isn’t it?” She looks down at her own robes. “When others say the word ‘mage’ something deep down in my mind reacts to it. That’s what I am.” She pauses briefly. “It made me wonder what you think you are.”

Her question catches you completely off guard. Since coming to this world you’ve remembered nothing more about yourself other than your name. You look down at your old sword and wonder what the purpose was for you and it.

You look back to her. “Actually…”

>”I’m probably just a soldier."

>"I don’t know."

>Write in.

>>36896621
Woo made it this time!

>>36896653
>"I don’t know."
i can honestly say i am not who i was, but as to what i am or what i may yet be? Not a clue.

>>36896653

>”I’m probably just a soldier."

>>36896653
>"I'm probably just a soldier."
Seems most likely, also heya auri!

Hello everyone!

>>36896695
>>36896760
>Writing

>>36896806

Your fingers wrap around the hilt of your sword. A sense of purpose always surges through you when you take hold of it. “I’m probably just a soldier.” You look back at Erin who has a rather skeptical look upon her face. “What?”

A bead of sweat slide down her temple as she shakes her head. “I think you fight too well for it to just be a job to you.”

Her words float about in your mind. “No.” You think. Your skill is only a result of training and experience, but maybe it would be interesting if you had more than a soldier’s life waiting for you to return.

The loose sapling whips into the sands with some force, and is lost from view shortly thereafter.

She stares at her feet in silence for a long time, as your group scales a rather large dune. “I don’t know if I’m right…” Erin starts again suddenly, huffing for air as her feet take her over the top of the dune. “When I look at you, I’d say that you are-“

“We’re here!” Autumn runs up next to you. “I’m so glad that you were right.”
[1/2]

>>36897585
The deep blue water catches your eye first, reminding you of the ever present thirst and heat. The huge body of water is a simple sight, but from your perspective it’s delightful. The lush green trees feeding off the waters seem impossibly normal for this world, yet, there they are, extending into the distance.

“I don’t see anything.” Cecilia grumbles sadly, especially when she finds out that she’s the only one.

“Follow me.” You grin at Cecilia. “I’ll be your guide.”

Your group wastes no time in reaching the cool shade of the oasis, of which, even Cecilia could appreciate the temperature difference. The water is everyone’s goal.

You lead Cecilia to the edge of the water. “It’s only about a foot in front of you, be careful.” You hardly finish your sentence before she plunges her hands into the water and then splashes her face. Most of the rest of your group has already taken to enjoying the water, albeit in a more reserved way than Cecilia. The dark blue water calls out to your primal needs, the journey from the tower has probably left you dehydrated.

>Drink and cool off.

>Write in.

>>36897621
>Drink and cool off.
Ask Erin what she was going to say earlier.

File: oa2.jpg (806 KB, 1920x1109)

806 KB JPG

>>36897621
Forgot the image~

>>36897621
>>36897640
This.

>>36897621
>>36897640
Giving my vote to this.

>>36897640
>>36897658
>>36897735
>Writing.

>>36897749
You kneel down and dip your hands into the blue waters, and rapidly, heat and dryness are washed away. With cupped hands you bring the water to your mouth to drink, the coolness of the liquid is greedily absorbed the flesh of your mouth before reaching your throat. Not to worry, there’s plenty more to drink.

Erin sits close by drinking handful after handful of the water, hardly swallowing before dipping down to reach for more. She was probably the most affected by the heat in your group, having to carry those robes.

You recall that she was cut off earlier before she finished speaking. The thought of asking her what she was going to say occurs in your mind, but is quickly replaced by the urge to drink more water, which you quickly obey.

After a few more handfuls of water, you can confidently say that the thirst is gone, but you’re still not satisfied and scoop more water into your hand insatiably.

“Ed!” You hear your fairy companion’s voice behind you yell to you desperately. You think it was only her that didn’t dip down to take a drink of the water. What a shame, there’s plenty for everyone, you see the rest of your group drinking up plenty.

“Ed! Everyone you have to stop!” Vi continues to plead, while yanking at your ear with all her force.

She sounds serious. Part of you wants to pull away from the water, but you just have an incredible urge to drink more and why not indulge that urge?

>Try to pull away.

>Continue drinking.

>Write in.

>>36898195
>Try to pull away.
uh oh uncontrollable urge.... magic. Fucking really?

>>36898195
>Try to pull away.

>>36898195
>>Try to pull away.

Listen to Best Girl dammit!

>>36898195
>Try to pull away.
>>36898255
Best girl is Autumn.

>>36898228
>>36898238
>>36898255
>>36898283
Roll 1d20, best of three.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>36898315
our will is stronk

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>36898315
Pull away!

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>36898315

>>36898283
Die usurper!

>>36898370
>Writing

>>36898329
>>36898349
>>36898370
>16
You're welcome heretics.

>>36898370
Oh, thank the dice gods, we won't die of over hydration.
Also, please. Vi had already accepted that she lost. Only competition now for Autumn would be a new girl.

>>36898399
Shut up
At least it wasn't a 5th 1
I don't have the best roll record.

>>36898423
Oh please, New Girl's a plot device and Metal Gear Autumn will forever be #2.

New girl might be the only one we'll have a chance of seeing again after this is all over.

Like any of this is going to end well. I have a gut feeling that we already messed up somehow.

>>36898570
That's pretty common in an Auri quest anon.

>>36898389

Why are you drinking so much water anyway? Something isn’t right. Your stomach screams at you in pain, and suddenly you pull away from the water in a panic. Immediately you vomit waves of water onto the earth.

You take only a moment to recover before rushing to the rest of your group, still voraciously consuming the water. First you lift Erin, and with a rough, but unfortunately necessary act, toss her several feet away from the water. You follow up with the other two, only receiving a painful elbow from Autumn in the process. All of them empty the content of their stomachs onto the ground.

“Well, it looks like you managed to save yourselves.” A male’s voice announces behind you.

You unsheathe the warden’s sword and turn around to see nothing, but then an older looking fairy with black hair and wearing brown tunic floats in front of you. “We had absolutely no intention of killing any of you, we just had to have you incapacitated.”

This does little to calm you down, you quickly glance at the rest of your group who are still recovering. “You’re the one who sabotaged the water?” You demand.

Vi lands calmly on your shoulder.

The male fairy glares at Vi. “Last forest fairy. Explain to him.”

She remains silent.

He sighs in frustration and turns to you. “Human, I implore you. I will have the curse removed from the water. All we need is for the forest fairy to come with us. It's crucial.”

You take a step forward. “Why would I listen to anything you have to say after that?” You point to the water.

He looks at you with desperation. “If I could tell you why, I would. Just know that what flows in the water, flows in the air.” He shakes his head sadly. “If you don’t, my brethren and I will have to try to take her by force.” He pulls out two small spiked daggers from his back.

Vi still remains silent, she’s keeping something crucial to herself. But if she is, it could be for a good reason.

>Refuse outright.

>Ask Vi to explain.

>Write in.

>>36899325
>Write in
Ask Vi what he means by "last forest fairy"

>>36899325
>>Refuse outright.

If Vi doesn't want to talk that fine.

>>36899325
>Refuse outright.
It's not like we can breathe too much air.

___________I hope.

>>36899325
>Ask Vi to explain.

>>36899325

>Ask Vi to explain

We have 5 anons now hallelujah!

>>36899325
>>Refuse outright.

>>36899486
6 now

>>36899505
Woo!

And one cheater apparently.

>>36899522
7 unique users 6 votes
I dearly hope no anon would violate the sanctity of an Auri quest to samefag.

>>36899554
Oh. Guess my page hadn't updated or something. I was seeing 6/6.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tied vote, rolling.
1 is Ask to explain.
2 is Refuse outright.
>Writing the winner
Also Last night, I searched images of male faries for the quest, did not find what I was looking for.

>>36899593
Hehehehehehheh, poor auri.

>>36899593
I do hope your mental scaring wasn't too bad.

>>36899554
Don't look at me, I don't need to samefag to ruin these. I'm just too good at rolling enough 1's.

>>36899593

Your mind is caught on a small detail that he let out. “What does he mean by ‘last forest fairy,’ Vi?”

She flinches, but recovers quickly. “Don’t be an idiot, Ed. You didn’t see a single other fairy the whole time in the forest, right?”

Thinking back to that bizarre forest you remember your less than cordial first meeting with Vi, but no fairies other than her.

She’s the only member of your group with recollection of her past, a fact that angers you slightly when you think that she’s neglected to tell you about it. “Just explain why he needs you to come with him.” You state.

"Damn it." She sighs and looks down at her hands and allows her hair to cover her face. “This world is falling apart, Ed. It may not be apparent to you, but the sorceress is failing to maintain it for some reason.”

Vi plays with her fingers for a moment in silence. “She is our god, the sole reason we fairies have existed for countless eras in this world.” Her fingers stop. “All of us fairies owe her more than we can ever repay.”
[1/2]

>>36900555

She floats off your shoulder and stops in front of your face staring off into the distance. “Our plan was to help her, by sacrificing our existence. It was unanimous, among all fairies.” She stops for a moment as if stunned by her own words, but continues with tears beginning to well in her eyes. “We would stop siphoning energy for our own existence, but instead channel it to keeping the pieces intact.”

Vi turns to you with reddened eyes and nose. “I have betrayed everything I loved. I would push my duty from my mind over and over again, but I can do so no longer. I have to go with him. You might not make it to the end of your journey if I don't"

The revelation stuns you into a silence. You open your mouth to speak, but are stopped.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Vi.” Autumn steps forward angrily. “You have a place with us.”

Cecilia pops out from behind you. “Don’t do this, Vi, please.”

“Stop.” Vi insists. “I will play pretend no longer and you will not stop me. I agreed to do this, and I will.” She turns to the male fairy and yells. “Hurry and take me.”

It all seems so surreal, only hours ago you were having a chat with her like any other day. But now she floats away from you. Is this what she truly wants? Do you have no way of stopping her?


>Plead that she reconsider.

>Attack the male fairy.

>Let her go.

>Write in.

>>36900602
>"I implore you to reconsider."

>>36900602
Tell her she made a deal with you to help you leave this world and that comes first before her dying.

>>36900602
You do realize you have no proof that doing this will do anything other than get all the fairies killed right? If you think your magic is hurting this place just go mortal and reject it back into the land.

>>36900602
>Plead that she reconsider

This place is dying, with or without her help, and we're trying to get out of her anyway. She should come with us.

>>36900756
Get out of here*

>>36900602
>Kidnap Vi
Nope, ours.

>>36900660
>>36900724
>>36900735
>>36900756
>Writing...

>>36900831
Well if we messed up then it's only Vi that's out of the picture.
only joking, I like Vi

>>36900831

“Wait!” You call out to her.

She stops midair at the sound of your voice, with shoulders clenched, but doesn’t turn around.

“I implore you to reconsider.” You continue with desperation.

Vi sighs and shakes her head. “Ed, I’ve been reconsidering since the moment I agreed to do this. Just let me go.”

You clench your teeth in frustration. “You have to realize there’s no proof that this will do anything but get you all killed? Can’t you channel the energy back to the land without dying?”

She turns around irritably and flies to close to your face. “You don’t understand because you are not of this world. You owe it nothing.” She jabs into your chest with her hand. “If we could help this place without dying, don’t you think we would have considered it? My people had generations to think this over! We agreed to this.” She flies away from you in a flurry.

“You agreed to help us leave this world too.” You respond quietly. “You can’t do that if you’re dead, you know? Idiot.”

Vi stops suddenly and floats in the air in complete silence, brooding. She begins to giggle at first but then soon builds up to a laugh without any reserve. Her bare legs kick helplessly in the air as she clenches her stomach from how hard she’s laughing.

“An idiot calling another person an idiot.” She lets out in between her laughs. “I do suppose you’re right, I did agree to help you.” She floats back to your shoulder and lands. “But I can’t do that if I’m dead.” She points ahead with her foot at the male fairy flying silently in front of you.

You raise your sword pointing toward the male fairy. “Your call on how this ends.”
[1/2]

>>36901959

He shakes his head dejectedly. “It was a bluff. My people are all dead and I will soon follow willingly or not.” He returns the spiked daggers to his back and calls out to the air around him. “I served you, warden until my chosen end and now no longer.”

He stares at you with empty eyes. “The water will be fine now, if you plan on drinking it.” The fairy points behind himself. “You will find the warden not far to the north of here.” He flies slowly off into the trees without another word.

You turn to the rest of your group. “Everyone alright?”

“We’re fine, just a little queasy.” Autumn responds holding her stomach.

“Ed?” Erin call out while staring at the water.

“What’s wrong?” You ask, concerned.

“There’s something in the water.” She calls back to you.

You step forward to the edge of the deep lake and stare into it. A brief large flash of white appears, and then quickly returns to the depths.

There’s definitely something in there. Although you did lose almost all of the water you drank from vomiting, maybe it would be best to move on without disturbing whatever’s down there.

>Try to get water anyway.

>Leave without.

>Write in.

>>36902001
>Try and get water cautiously.

>>36902001
Don't we have water skins have Cecelia or erin fill the skins while we stand over them to defend, i'd prefer cecilia to do it since she'cant fight and Erin can. Also try talking to whatever is in the water before filling the skins.

>>36902001
>Try to get water anyway

We all need it. Erin especially.

>>36902001
>>Try to get water anyway.

>>36902001
>Try to get the water, guard each other as you do.

>Carefully get the water.
Writing

File: ax2.jpg (64 KB, 825x520)

64 KB JPG

>>36902200

Your whole group needs the water, especially Erin. “Autumn and I will stand guard, as the rest of you get your fill.” You state.

Erin, Cecilia, and Vi oblige your order and kneel down to start drinking. They start hesitantly at first, but the fairy was true to his word about the curse, so they continue.

Bubbles rise to the center of the blue lake and the glimpses of white beneath the surface seem more frequent.

You have Erin switch guard so that Autumn can get her fill.

Autumn wipes her mouth when she finishes. “It seems like we’ll be fine.” She smiles to you. “Your turn, Ed.”

Kneeling down to the blue water, you hastily fill your hands with water so your group can move on.

“Move!” Autumn yanks your collar just as the water touches your lips. You’re pulled back a few feet just in time as a huge white mouth shoots out of the water to clamp down on where your legs where.

You rise to your feet and unsheathe your sword as a strange faint pink amphibious creature crawls out of the water. It stands at waist height, several feet longer than any man. It bares a terrifying set of small pointed teeth before plunging back into the water, as another shoots out of the water behind you.

The other creature remains under the depths waiting to resurface possibly in front, flanking, or possibly behind you. You’re not sure how many there are, but given the morphology of the creature you surmise that retreat from them would be easily successful.

Autumn stands at the ready next to you, while Erin carries a very concerned look on her face.

>Attack, (Assign You, Autumn, and/or Erin to attack the creature, the rest to watch the water.)

>Retreat

>Write in.

>>36902742
Erin can you freeze the oasis?

>>36902742
>We attack up close, Erin supports at range with magic, Autumn watches for more creatures.

>>36902795
This would require a great amount of focus on her part and someone to defend her. The whole lake would have to frozen to stop them.

>>36902833
Or the whole surface of the lake rather.

>>36902803
I'm putting my vote behind this.

>>36902742
>Retreat

It's a fish in a lake that we've already finished drinking from.

We're don here, just leave.

>>36902878
Ed didn't get any.

>>36902833
Vi Cecelia get back Autumn Guard Erin work your magic. I'll keep their attention.

>>36902878
Water was cursed we lost it all when we vomitted it back up.

>>36902878
Everyone but Ed did drink. Also it is amphibious so it can remain on the ground if so chooses, but it won't want to go far from water.

It was tied, but someone deleted their vote.
>>36902803
>>36902871
Roll 1d20 for Ed, Autumn, and Erin respectively. Best of three.

>>36903029
Roll 3d20*

Rolled 11, 1, 11 = 23 (3d20)

>>36903029
rollan

Rolled 3, 4, 11 = 18 (3d20)

>>36903029

Rolled 14, 10, 6 = 30 (3d20)

>>36903058

Rolled 10, 7, 3 = 20 (3d20)

Kill that axolotl.

>>36903058
>14, 4, 11
Writing.

>>36903143

You step forward with the Warden’s sword at the ready. “I’ll deal with this one. Erin, keep your eyes open for a shot like last time. Autumn, watch our backs.”

“Got it!” Autumn confirms and Erin nods stiffly.

The pale pink creature steps forward slowly as if sizing you up. Its webbed feet hang in the air briefly before settling on the ground on every step. The dark beady eyes stare into your own, watching what it considers to be its next meal.

The small feet of the creature pose no threat to you. The tail would only be a problem if it has decent control over it, but the large mouth is your main concern.

“Easy enough.” You think, as you advance slowly on your still sore limbs.

The creature’s mouth opens in response, showing the deep red inside. It plants its legs firmly into the ground, and when it’s satisfied with your distance quickly lunges forward with its mouth, razor teeth trying to clamp down on your body.

You quickly backstep in response to the attack and slash your blade down on its face. The creature’s head is bisected nearly at the center as shards of teeth fly out from its mouth.

Icicles stick out from the legs of the creature, a little late on the attack, but if you had missed they would have helped immensely.

A commotion of splashing and yelling behind you makes you turn around in great haste.

Autumn lies on the shore of the lake clutching the ground with one arm, the other a prisoner in the jaws of a larger version of the creature trying to drag under the surface of the lake.

She kicks at the face of the creature with her long legs, but it only serves to anger it.

Your thoughts shoot by in an instant. You could cut off its head easily from that angle, although, you’re quite far away. Erin could shoot her icicles into it much quicker, but if the pressure of the shot gets to her, it would be disastrous.

>Charge and slice the creature yourself.

>Have Erin shoot icicles into the creature.

>Write in.

>>36903899
>Have Erin shoot icicles into the creature

>>36903899
>Charge and slice the creature yourself.

>>36903899
>Charge and slice the creature yourself.
Seems like the less risky of the two.

>>36903899
>Have Erin shoot icicles into the creature.

>>36904009
>>36904129
Roll 1d20, best result of three.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tie breaking vote instead because the vote was before I posted.
1= Charge and slice.
2= Erin shoots icicles.
Still roll 1d20, best result of three.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>36904239

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>36904239

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>36904239

>>36904290
Critical Success.
>Writing

>>36904290
>>36904253
very nice anons very nice in deed.

>>36904316

Instinctively you find yourself charging ahead without a second thought. All the sore and aching muscles are forgotten about as you set eyes upon your target. Part of Autumn’s arm is in the creature’s mouth so you have to aim lower.

The deep red slits of skin around its neck catch your eye as you raise your sword above you and slam down upon it with perfect accuracy, severing head from body as blood spills out on the ground beneath your feet, staining it, and the water of the lake, red.

Autumn falls on her backside the moment the creatures head was severed. Although the fake skin of her arm has torn from the bite, she is completely injury free.

She quickly collects herself, wiping off the dirt, blood, and saliva from her body. “Thanks for that, Ed.” She laughs as she looks down at the body of the creature which is still spasming on the ground

Vi curiously pokes at the skin of the creature, hanging off from the clean cut you made. “Maybe we can use this to hold some water.” She looks up at you. “Anyway, aren’t you going to get your drink? You’ve earned it.”

Taking more than a few steps away from the corpse of the creature, you kneel down to have your well-deserved fill. You rise rejuvenated and take in your surroundings. The sun is already low in the sky, so maybe it would be best to start a fire and have an early rest.

You take a quiet moment to enjoy the chatter of your group, still fully intact, and watch as the oasis trees blow lazily in the desert breeze. The sand dunes are colored a harsh orange color by the setting sun as you stare to the north where your next target lies. Perhaps it’s just a trick of the light, but the smooth perfectly carved dunes seem have jagged lines carving through them like scars.

You shake your head, returning to reality and start looking for material suited for a campfire.
~

Okay, that's where I'm ending it for today. Thank you to everyone that played today, I had a lot of fun! If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the thread, and I will do my best to answer them.

If not, then I wish you all a good day/night, and I hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri
>(Previous threads)
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=otherworldly+arboretum

>>36905264
>>36905264
>>36905264

Thanks for running Ari. You a best.

>>36905264
Thanks for running. See ya next time.

>>36905264
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>36905200
Thanks for running Auri!

>>36905264
See you next time Auri

>>36905320
No problem at all! I feel the same about all of you.
>>36905329
You're welcome! See you around.
>>36905333
You're welcome! I had fun running.
>>36905340
You're welcome too!
>>36905407
See you next time!

>>36905264
Thanks for running, Auri!
I said I would get here late, and I did!