The World of Astrial

"Okay, great! I am glad of your enzusiasm. You'll need to take zings a little more calmly though, we're trying to be sly about zis. Ze first zing we're doing is observing zeir movement patterns to see what we can learn.

We need to be very careful, its very possible the wolves will know we are zere and attempt to set a trap of zeir own. Wolves are very cunning creatures, mi Fazer always took me hunting wiz him.

One time, when I was little, I underestimated ze wolves. Zey sent out a single wolf, and I moved slyly and slowly towards the creature. Mi Fazer had given me a crossbow, because he wanted me to learn all sorts of combat styles.

As I was about to take shot Fazer grabbed me. I was very angry wiz him, kicking and flailing. He put his hand over mi mouth and pointed.

Off in ze not-so-far distance, zere were wolves. Zey lurked in ze shadows. Zey were ready to pounce on me, had Fazer not grabbed me when he did."

She said she was fast learner. Hopefully zat story I made up will give her ze right impression.

Zough, it was partially true. I was hoping putting miself into ze story would make it sound more personal. She seems like ze type who might respond better to it zat way...

It wasn't me who made zat mistake, I'd never be so foolish. Zere's a reason I don't have an older brozer anymore. He was foolish, bringing shame to Mozer Russia!

Eliana's face had a hint of sadness on it. She hadn't done the best job this time masking her feelings. Somewhere, deep down, she really was sad about what happened to her brother. She just buried it, controlled it, and even convinced herself that she didn't care.

Many had died to the hand of her father. Those who were "unworthy" were removed. They were not worth Father's time and resources.

She walked along next to Eliana like someone who was experienced enough with traveling, her pace was economical.

Kris nodded, "Yes, we'll have to be stealthy." Her demeanor grew more somber with the story, and she didn't miss the look of sorrow that ghosted over Eliana's face. The cleric wondered what could cause such a look, if something had happened to her father. She nodded her understanding, "Oh yes, I'll keep from chattering the entire time. Since we'll be traveling together, I ought to tell you that my full name is Krisuvial Moonshadow. But I settle for Kris most of the time."

"Eliana Vladmira."

Eliana sighed. Korbin was lagging behind.

((We should wait))

Korbin had been trailing behind a bit since he was more focused on going over a few possible contingency plans, as was by habit. He quickly left his thoughts and jogged up next to Eliana.

Having a healer will throw a monkey wrench into my plans.

Korbin's eyes remained unfocused since he was deep in thought.

Arisa was behind the group but she did give Kris a little wave. She was like a little follower.

John was leaning against the wall when he saw the new group of hero's leave. Plus the elf. Kris waved at John and he waved back.

"Wolves huh. Are they ready for that. Either way it's my job to take care of them" he thought to himself.

"Nahh. They should be ok Arisa is with them. Plus if thins get bad they can always blow the whistle."

John stopped leaning onto the wall and walked to the quest board and saw a copy of the quest they were looking at.

"Located in a small forest to the north west..." John walked over to a shelf containing maps of Orion. He looked it over almost fully memorising it in one go but still took it just in case.

"Better safe than sorry."

By this time it had been a few hours and John's gear was just about finished being enchanted. He left the guild about nd went right next door to the magic shop.

"Korbin? What is it?"

Is zis girl zrowing him off? He seems left to contemplate zings.

Kris warmly greeting both Arisa and Korbin, waving and introducing herself. She could see that Korbin was distracted and thought that perhaps he was just thinking about tactics involving the wolves.

"Do any of the rest of you use magic?" she inquired of the other two, "I don't want to fire off any redundant spells or anything."

"Y-yes I do. I'm a s-skilled magic user but as of now, I'm only a g-guide for the heroes. So I will only support from the side line..." Arisa replied back a little nervous.

"Yes, Kris. I use ze magic as well. My magic primarily augments my bow skills. I'm still discovering my powers....

Right now, my only magic is ze.... teleportation arrow."

Eliana explained her spell in high detail. Go here for more info.

"Zis sim-"

Eliana stopped for half a second.

She began confidently speaking again "Zis world is different from my own. Our 'magic' is somezing called electricity. Ze discovery process seems fundamentally different in zis world zan my own.

At home we make use logic. Zis logic we discover our technology. Like how ze bows and swords are made here. Trial, error, and logic. But much grander scale.

Here zis..... magic seems to reveal itself when it is ready... no when it is earn.

Arisa, care to expand?"

"Well m-magic is more of an innate ability....but it can be learned just the way I taught you the skill Analyze" Arisa explained, "J-just like how some people are natural swordsmen or archers..."

"Interesting. Is ze innate magic inherently more powerful? Is zere more potential?"

"N-no...not necessarily...it's just that they're easily mastered compared to other people" Arisa replied.

Korbin snapped out of his inward reflections.

"Sorry about that. I was reevaluating some of the possible scenarios for the mission. The name's Korbin." He spoke with a tone that wasn't quite friendly or hostile. This has been a habit of his for many years now when meeting new people.

She seems eager but also somewhat impatient potentially. That may prove problematic. Best I keep watch on her behavior for now.

Eliana gave Korbin a look of I know.

"Unless someone else has somezing to say, we aught to get going."

Eliana began leading the way. She had spent a good amount of time observing the map, and she pretty much knew the way.

Kris happily followed Eliana, she did not quite skip along but there was a certain youthful bounce in her step. The elf blinked whenever Eliana skipped over a word, but she figured that Eliana had been about to use a word from her native language. From the heavy accent, the elf could tell that English/Common was not her native language, and didn't pay much attention to her misspeaking for a second there. She listened with interest to the few details that Eliana gave of her world and it's own variation of magic, and to the details of the spell as well. "A teleportation arrow sounds very interesting. I've only seen such things done with scrolls or spells that were very complicated."

Addressing Korbin as they walked along, she asked, "So are you more of a fighter or tracker?"

To Arisa, she asked, "So you will just intervene if we need you, and otherwise keep an eye on us?"

"If o-only needed to. Else I'm just a guide..." she replied.

Korbin deliberated for a moment before speaking.

"I'm more of a fighter though I do have a little experience in tracking. Most of my abilities stem from adding an elemental charge to my attacks or movement." Korbin brought his hand up to eye level before igniting it with his magic. The fire then extinguished itself as quickly as it began.

"Well Kris, zere is no magic in my home world. Ze magic I've been using... it awakened wizin me when I was brought to zis world.

I've been able to quickly learn ze specs of my new.... weapon. Fazer told me one should always research before utilizing...

I have ze feeling zat more magic is soon to be discovered.... it seems to reveal itself in strange way."

Kris thought it was strange, how timid Arisa seemed, if she was supposed to function as an arbitrary party. The elf shrugged it off, she had observed people who had more abilities than their appearance gave them credit for.

She was surprised to see Korbin make a bit of magic flare up, she had not expected such talents from him. "Well, I'm sure we'll be able to complement each other's abilities well, with some planning," she said.

The cleric had to keep herself from falling into deep thought over someone discovering magic abilities upon coming to a new realm, this was not the time to reveal the more studious aspects of her personality. Seeing the patch of woods off in the distance, she figured it would be big enough for a pack of mundane wolves, and a herd of their prey animals, to occupy. Kris admired the view of the trees swaying back and forth in the wind, stretching on her tip toes to get a better look. "Sometimes they can reveal themselves under stress or because of a strong need. You will likely discover more in time . . . is this it? We were going to lie in wait and watch for them, correct?"

Her manner was more serious and thoughtful now, some of her youthful energy gone and focused into serious business now.