Fa'Diel - Forestial Path
Wispy trees, ragged but alive, enclose both sides of this road. It is
several feet wide, firm but damp. Ruts along the side of the road are
brimming with swamp runoff. They trickle away into the forest to the north.

Jillian watches the mechanical monstrocity wheel away, sans wheels, with an idle sense of amusement. However, her attention was quickly drawn back to the current situation... or perhaps a lack of one. She turns to look at Gforte, vertical irises gazing upon him intently. "Other than that which we've given your colleagues, we have no further leads. What would you have us do, then?"

Gforte is silent for a while, rubbing at gashes which had been already healed by magic, before looking up to the sky and sighing. "We go to Viorar, and regroup first." Gforte rolls his shoulders before setting off in the direction of the city at a slow pace, apparentally taking it easy just for now.

Regroup? With whom? Jillian had a feeling there was likely to be an ulterior motive to this situation, but for some reason, she didn't seem too bothered by it. Regardless, she set herself in place behind him, a few paces back, her tail raised in apparent alertness. "You mentioned the repairs on your vehicle, a short time ago. Do you have a workshop, or..?"

Jillian's tone seemed a little prying, perhaps, as if she was curious to know how he planned to handle that specific notion.

Gforte waves dismissively. "I've got a few places, around. Set them up when I was running. The Lobstrocity will head to the nearest one that can support it, and after I take care of business I'll go repair it. Simple as that."

"Do we plan to meet back up with the others, then? Or are we following a different trail?" Jillian's last query seemed a little less pronounced, as if she realized all she was doing now was asking questions. However, she'd been given her task; it wouldn't hurt to know a little more about what said task would entail, at the very least.

"Where did you go?" The tone on Gforte's voice changes, it's less cocky, more... shrouded than anything. He doesn't turn to look back at you, or change his own physical demeanor at all, instead he keeps walking at the pace he had set earlier, waiting for an answer.

She had a feeling that was going to come up, only surprised at the more-later-than-sooner aspect of it. Jillian eyed his back as he leads on. "My superior summoned me. I took care of the mess going on behind the play you were all watching, and had to leave. At the very least, I will apologize for the abruptness of it, but when you're a messenger, sometimes unexpected departures are part of the job description."

Gforte slows down, and stops for a moment, turning his head to look Jillian over. After a few long seconds of examining her, he returns to walking. "We'll meet up with the others if they call us. For now, we've got too many things to take care of. Assuming you're still following me for the time being."

"I would like to see this through to the end, if only because I am somewhat involved in it, as well. Alternately, their methods of doing things don't sit well with me, and I would as soon see things be made proper again." Jillian stops in kind as he turns to look at her, but doesn't bat an eye, keeping an even expression throughout.

Jillian pauses briefly as he begins walking about, looking behind her for a second before falling back in step, watching him again as he heads on. "Some of this sounds almost pre-planned, from the sound of it."

"Yeah yeah. Just wait for the white knight mage and his flunky to do the ground-pounding. They'll probably even wipe out the first base without calling us." Gforte hitches the backpack resting on his shoulder further up, and scans the bushline non-chalantly, making sure no wolves or anything jump out at him.

There are no wolves, but only a short further distance ahead, a flowing-blue-haired woman is seen standing at the end of the trail, encased in a black gown that swirls in obvious supernaturability, given the lack of wind strength to cause such an effect. A brilliant golden trident is grasped firmly in one hand, and she is facing away from Jillian and Gforte, toward the southern swampland.

"You sound like you have significant faith in their abilities. I hope it does indeed turn out that way." Jillian eyes Gforte's backpack briefly, before averting her gaze elsewhere.

Gforte stops again, regarding the woman. "The fuck is this? Oi, Jill, you see that chick?" Gforte eyes the woman from a distance, particularly her trident. "Am I the only one getting a bad vibe off her?"

Jillian looks up at the mentioning of her name (she apparently wasn't scanning too far ahead), and then at the proposed obstruction in their path... as he face goes grim. More than usual. "So it wasn't just an illusion... she's really back."

Whether the woman could hear Gforte and Jillian talking about her or elsewise, she doesn't turn to face them, though she does speak, apparently regarding them. "It's about time you found your way out of that decrepit forest. Why don't you sound happy to see me, I wonder..? I've done you no harm, nor made any perceived threats."

Gforte scoffs, and slings his bag from his shoulder while squatting at the same time. He rests the bag infront of himself, and pops the top casually while looking over the woman. "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me. Got it lady? So who the hell are you?"

Jillian steps out from behind Gforte, going so far as to take one step in front of him, though she doesn't say anything further. She seems almost... protective, in her stance.

The woman is silent for a moment, considering Gforte's tone and words. She only gives a sigh, turning only halfway to face them, tapping the blunt end of her trident against the ground as she glances at Jillian, and then Gforte. "You mortals never change, do you? Always spitting through bared teeth, like every living thing in the world might as well be a snake looking to bite your ankles. Such defensiveness is.. amusing, to be honest."

"I only came to check upon your progress, anyway. Nothing more, nothing less."

Gforte looks the woman over, at least in his mind, the way that one predator would look over another, before a wide smirking grin spills onto his face. "So Jill, going to introduce us? I assume she's someone you know."

Jillian furrows her brow, taking a couple of steps toward the woman, but maintaining some distance. "Erim. The Sinistral of Death, if you need a specific title for accompaniment." She pauses, then adds. "I've lost track of what number reincarnation this is, only that it is pretty high up there." She holds her defensive posture, having put herself directly between the two of them. "Am I wrong?"

'Erim' just smiles. "Dear me, when you add something like that, it makes me seem absolutely hideous, doesn't it? That's not really fair on my part, though I won't go so far as to deem you incorrect." She smiles at Jillian, openly. "Though I will state that it has been awhile since our last meeting. Decades, perhaps longer. You haven't changed a bit."

"One last question before I think I know all that I need to." Gforte puts his arm into the bag, and then stands, letting the bag drop and revealing a short, yet wide barreled rifle looking object. "And trust me, I love the fact that 'immortals' always seem to forget what mortals can do, but does anyone mind if I get the first hit in?"

Jillian looks suddenly alarmed, turning abruptly back to Gforte. "Are you insane?! Do you even know what she's capable of? There's a REASON that 'death' is in her title!" She doesn't seem eager to get out of the way, either, for that matter.

Erim just smiles, never letting it leave her face. "Now now, Jillian darling. Why not let the little man have his fun? You can enlighten both of us once he's entertained himself. Let it be known, however, that I am not here to exchange blows. But I am surprised to see half the shards in your care; that means they are all finally in this realm."

"Or haven't you elaborated on this, yet? That's so like you, Jillian. Always, always hiding things." Erim laughs, an oddly-unsinister giggle of sorts.

Gforte faces Jillian with the same Grin as the one he gave Erim, and then points the weapon in his hand into the sky. "I guess I'll do a little introduction then. I am called Haut, as of now. It makes sense, really, if anyone thinks about it. Not that they do." He pulls the weapon's trigger, causing it to issue a loud 'Bloop' noise. With that, a small projectile flies high into the air. "It's about time someone met Knochen."

Gforte's projectile hangs in the air for a moment before a small parachute opens, causing it to tip down. After that, the laser dot that issues from the tip of the projectile is noticeable, a simple red dot projected on the ground, about halfway inbetween you and Erim. "Now. Someone count to three."

Jillian frowns, remaining silent and not moving from her spot. Erim, however, looks like she is eager to see what exactly is going to happen, though she makes no moves to initiate anything of her own.

Gforte frowns. "Jesus, no sense of showmanship these days."

You say 'Haut, you're making a huge mistake. You can't just go attacking anyone you don't know anything about! It's suici-...'

The red dot shines resolutely on the ground for a few moments before it flickers, something seemingly shifting the parachuted projectile in the air. Then, suddenly, a localized explosion takes place with little to no warning, at least for those who didn't listen. From the explosion, Knochen steps forth to scan the scene ferally, it's chassis glowing red. "Ladies. Knochen." Gforte chuckles at the skeleton as it throws it's head back and roars. "Knochen. Activate beekeeper system, routewords Big Red Nine." As Gforte says this, Knochen's head snaps back down, glaring straight ahead and non-moving. "Attack the bitch with the trident for me, will you?" A screech issues from Knochen as it settles into a fighting stance, claws spread wide to help try and intimidate it's new prey.

Jillian takes a few steps back, looking a combination of horrified and angry; her spade-ended tail curls and uncurls to match her state of mind.

Erim doesn't deny herself her smile in the midst of this, and even goes so far as to gesture, as her trident suddenly disappears from her own grasp... reappearing abruptly in Jillian's suddenly-grasping hands, with a look of bewilderment from the latter. "Be a dear and hold this for me, will you? It seems words won't reach your friend, so you're better off as a weapon rack for the time being." Suffice it to say, Erim doesn't seem intimidated in the least; her robe flickers briefly, the billowing of its form dying down somewhat.

Gforte stops and searches for a moment, before turning around to look around for the last stated target. It spots Jillian, and lowers itself for a moment before turning back to Erim. Somehow, it pulls off a 'mocking' grin, even without facial features to display one. It helps that Gforte is grinning in the exact same way. "Silly bitch."

Gforte shakes his head at Erim. "Do you think my Knochen would be tricked like that?" The skeleton in question turns again, and begins lumbering slowly in the direction of the Sinistral. "Why would a man make himself so easily fooled?"

Jillian drops the trident on the ground, looking at it uneasily for a moment before she looks back up to watch the events unfold, still looking decidedly unhappy about it.

Erim's smile fades somewhat at Gforte's accusations, as she watches the skeletal being close in, but makes no move to engage, avoid, or even defend herself, really. "Trick? Fooled? Is this how you regard every potential adversary? That they're always out to trick you? No wonder you're so quick to judge, so quick to engage. You really do think the world is out to get you! How absolutely delightful! Such fear in a man is a wonderful thing. Too common, but no less wonderful. I stand by my words that I didn't come here for a fight, however. Use this last gesture as you will, but know that I speak the truth."

Gforte shrugs as Knochen draws itself up to Erim, looking at her coldly. "Already said it. Expect everyone wants to kill you. That bird, the mailman, women in the middle of the road with tridents," Knochen flexes it's claws before thrusting them out at Erim in an extremely telegraphed fashion. "Hell, even chaste succubi who follow you around. ... Christ I need to upgrade his attacks at some point."

Erim acts to brace herself for the attack, wince and all; it looks fairly realistic. Knochen's claw finds a home in her upper stomach, soft light issuing forth (as opposed to blood) from the tear that results. The effect is almost spectral, and Erim is only grinning down at Knochen following this attack and her own staging. "Does that feel good? Does it satiate your rage at all?" (Jillian)

Jillian looks significantly taken aback from Gforte's comment; not quite hurt, but more than a little appalled that he would so vocally announce such a thing. Her eyes fall somewhat, still toward the two combatants, and she says nothing about it.

Gforte steps forwards, slapping Jillian lightly on the shoulder. "Tag." He settles next to Knochen, and assume a loose fighting position of his own, next to the much more intimidating looking skeleton.

Knochen cocks his head to the side as Erim speaks to him, and then falls into a similar stance to Gforte. "Knochen. Shall we answer the fine lady?" Knochen is silent for a moment, before both he and Gforte pull back opposite fists and launch them towards Erim as one.

Jillian jumps slightly from the pat on the shoulder, not having expected it. Her expression doesn't lighten, however, even as she backs up a couple more steps.

Erim suddenly throws both arms up, looking upon them both with a goofy sort of grin; the posture she's taken looks like one who is holding their arms up on surrender, more than anything else. Not that she expected it to work, obviously, as both Knochen and Haut's individual fists punch side-by-side holes through her chest!

Light pours out of the 'wounds' these two attacks have created, shining a bit dimly but obviously enough; it gives the effect of something that has just opened a hole in an otherwise-lit room, where there was none before. Erim only stands there, still holding her hands in the air. "Oh, come now. Fists? Hands? Claws? No weapons? Surely you have something... else, around?"

Gforte steps back from the woman, eyeing her suspiciously. "Is this the part where all the attacks preformed on you are unleashed upon the people who used them? Or am I just being paranoid again?" After thinking for a moment after this, he turns his back on Erim, and begins walking back to the bag.

Knochen sits there, claws still stuck inside Erim's chest and makes no move to retract them. Instead, he seems to be waiting on something. Another sign from Gforte to attack? A plan to damage his foe more than what he has?

Erim's grin goes a little crooked, but remains present, though she does lower her hands; the 'holes' in her body remain there, and she goes about completely disregarding the skeleton with its claws still embedded in her body. "Maybe you would do well to listen to people when they tell you something, instead of making your own assumptions."

"Think how you like, but I've said my piece. I have no desire for conflict with anyone on this night; I come seeking only assessment of the situation, as it were. I'm rather... disturbed, by what I've witnessed. But fortunately, not in the least bit surprised." Erim looks sidelong at Jillian, with a knowing smile.

Jillian looks away to avoid the gaze, still flustered. Erim doesn't seem to care, as she makes a clucking noise with her tongue. "You really do have strange taste in mortals, dear. Whatever did you see in this one? 'Cause I'm having a difficult time doing the same."

Gforte picks up his fallen bag, and examines the grenade launcher he used earlier. With a grunt, he tosses it into the bushes, and turns to Erim. "Said your piece? Fine. Then we don't need to listen to you anymore. Knochen. See if destroying her face will make her shut up."

Knochen pulls his claws out of Erim, and then steps back a step. With a bit of a flourish, it holds it's hand out to the side, in the palm of which a small flame sparks into exsistance. Knochen then points his palm at Erim and releases a gout of flame from his palm with the intent to cook the girl where she stands, if possible.

Erim looks straight into the hand as the fire issues forth from it, looking almost... disappointed. Even so, the flames wash over her, not doing much in the way of damage to her face, but her hair and the top portion of her robe do spontaneously catch on fire, flickering brightly as the flames quickly engulf her form!

The Sinistral stands there burning for a good couple of moments, before the flames gradually die down as their feeding source subsides; Erim is nowhere to be found as the flames are extinguished, thusly. In fact, her Trident no longer seems to be in the grass near Jillian, either.

Jillian looks blankly at where Erim just was, then at Knochen, and finally.. elsewhere. Anywhere but at Gforte.

Knochen lets out a short, triumphant roar before Gforte cuts him off. "Knochen. Routewords Blending Bonnet." The Skeleton's roar is sucked into almost a scream, and Knochen's body glows red before the area around it combusts, the aftermath of which leaves Gforte and Jillian alone.

Gforte looks at Jillian directly, not bothering to look anywhere else. "You okay? You look like an old friend just told you to go die in a fire."

Jillian looks up as she is addressed. She wanted to say a lot of things; a whole lot of things. But for the sake of peacetime, she kept her quiet on the matter. Instead, she visibly relaxes, closing her eyes in the process. "I don't understand why she mentioned the shards. Or what this surveillance of hers was supposed to entail. But, the fact of the matter is that she does know. So."

Jillian turns, gesturing across the air in front of her as she pivots on one foot; abruptly, four pieces of black, crystalline material embed themselves in the ground at Gforte's feet, glinting ominously. "These are yours, by the way. Consider it an upgrade for the one I took from you, awhile back."

Gforte looks from Jillian to the shards at his feet, and only after a moment does he collect them. "Master of talking about things other than what I asked you Jill, I'll give you that." Gforte stands again, and tosses the shards up and down in his hand, regarding them.

Jillian turns away, looking down the path toward Viorar. "Lots of things are better left unspoken. Its kind of a running thing for me and mine; lots of people are left unharmed, as a result."

Gforte says 'You're assuming, Jill, that I can't take any amount of harm. If I'm asking you what's wrong, I'm willing to take anything that comes from it, get me?'

You say 'What does it matter, honestly? You have your convictions, I have mine. Nothing's going to solder through either of them. So we might as well just avoid an argument and get a move-on to Viorar.'

Jillian turns, throwing her dark hair behind her as she heads off toward the south, not super-quickly, but at a bit of a stride nontheless.

Gforte just sighs, and walks after Jillian, muttering to himself. "Well, so much for trying to be friends again."