WC: 1,504
Yagi had been saved by this old woman from the deadly moss, but now she wants him to help her with a job. Yagi has accepted and now is leaning against a wall of her home and folding his arms across his chest with his winter coat on.
"I am grateful that you saved my life. So what can I do in return?"
The woman cackled to herself, whether it was due to old age or any malicious intent behind it, he had no idea. She just spoke as she started to gather her things.
"I am willing to pay you for this job. Because this means so much to me and the other citizens that live here. Based on the fact that you survived that cave encounter, you must be a powerful mage."
Yagi chuckled to himself and scratching the back of his head.
"I wouldn't exactly call myself a powerful mage. I am a C rank mage is all."
She was baffled at first and simply shrugged it off.
"Nevertheless boy, you survived that cave where others have failed. I will need you to protect me while I am performing my ritual in the cave. I will silence the spirits and put them all to rest. After that, just take me back here and that's it."
Yagi nodded and they were off. The old woman was riding on top of the snow wolf, while Yagi was walking right beside her with his hands in his pocket and hood over his head.
"So, I take it that you have had some experience with that moss over there in the cave?"
She nodded with sorrow to her voice.
"Yes, I actually saved my husbands life when he had it. But right after I had removed the poison and cured him, he had died due to the frostbite that he had gotten from being in the cave. I don't know how he was able to escape that cave in the first place. But I have only known a slight few who have escaped."
Three dire wolves started to surround them and looking hungry as can be. Yagi halted his wolf from intervening and Yagi stepped forward and now was surrounded by the wolves. One of the wolves coming from behind and biting down on his back, stealing his blood in the process and chewing on it intensely. Before the other wolves could do anything else, the wolf that bit him, immediately began to attack the wolf next to him. The two had fought and the wolf that was attack had died. The other wolf was also attacked, being killed the same way. Before the wolf could realize what was going on, Yagi placing a knife straight into it's neck. The old woman was quite surprised, as her eyes lit up.
"You are a blood mage aren't you?"
Yagi placing his hands back in his pockets.
"Yes I am, I don't particularly like using my magic."
The old woman and himself continued to travel, her being curious started to chatter.
"Is there a reason you don't like using your blood magic?"
Yagi sighed to himself, not because he was annoyed at her asking. It was because of the reasons that followed it.
"The reason why I don't like using it. Is because I grew up in Motor City. My neighborhood didn't like any blood mage users. Due to how evil they were and used it to their advantage. I have seen it happen before. I try to keep it a secret that I use blood magic."
She smiled and before they knew it, they were at the entrance of the cave. She hopped off the wolf and walked over to Yagi, holding his hand.
"Its not the power that makes others don't like you. Its how you use it. A kind hearted man like yourself uses it to save others."
They both walked hand and hand, the woman was now brought to the place where she would start her ritual. And so she began, with Yagi standing in the cave with his hands in his pockets.
Just when he thought this would be an easy mission, his pet wolf was biting down on some red bulbs which appeared to be five of them. Yagi was curious to what they were, but it was already too late. The bulbs had shined and the wolf had now ran away from them. The five diseased mages had shown up and ready to fight.
Frustrated, Yagi immediately rushed over to the mages, trying to box them in place. Right and left hooks were effective but not enough. Every slam they took, they would rise back up. They were indeed more powerful than they looked. The two mages started to send right hooks over to him and sent him down to the ground. Aiming both their hands straight at him, they fired one lighting and one ice burst explosions at him. It was more than enough to cause open wounds towards him, and was more than enough to stun him in place. He simply chuckled, grabbing his blood and hurling it straight at both of these mages open wounded skin. Before they could finish the job, their minds were taken over. Turning to their friends, they fired their burst straight at two of the mages, ending their lives in seconds. The last mage was confused and before he could retaliate, he was also killed off by the lighting mage. Now both mages aimed towards each other, firing away their mage attacks at one another, ending their lives as well. Yagi was beyond tired at this point. The magic he had used was definitely draining and lucky for him, the old woman was done with her ritual and the wolf had came back.
Just when they were about to make their leave, the former bodies that were still around and covered by the poison spores, had a ghost hovering over their former corpse. These ten ghost were now heading towards the three of them. Yagi was quick to hope on the wolf and holding onto him.
"Hold onto me, we are getting out of this place."
The old woman held on, and the wolf charged straight ahead and avoiding these ghost. Leaving the cave behind and now out in the open. Two javelins were thrown at the wolf's legs. The piercing lighting was enough to cause the wolf to collapse and Yagi holding onto the woman to protect her from getting injured from the landing. Now rolling around on the snow hugging her. He let her go when things began to subside. He rose to his feet and headed over to his wolf, who was okay but injured. He looked to those two dead mages were now rushing over to him. Yagi was quick to send a straight fist straight to one of their faces. Along with placing his blood straight into the mage's open skin. Before the second mage could grab a hold of Yagi, the mage he had just punch, sent a straight burst ice attack at the mage. Causing the disease mage to die upon impact. As for the last remaining mage before him, he sent a burst attack straight at himself. Now the three of them getting out of there and heading straight back to the woman's place.
Upon coming back to her home, Yagi aided her off the wolf and back to her home. Which he then proceeded to hand him his reward. The woman smiled and patted his head. Giving him some advice before he took off.
"Don't let others judge you based on your blood magic abilities boy. One day it can save the people you care about most. You have an ability that others could only dream of having. Don't let it go to waste. You can truly change this world and all those you meet with your magic."
Yagi then looked to the woman being curious.
"Are you sure your ritual worked... When we left those two mages had attacked us.."
The old woman smiled and patted his shoulder.
"The ritual takes time to get everyone within the cave. But trust me, it worked alright."
After sitting down and eating a meal with the old woman, the wolf also having the luxury of trying her cooking.
"This is truly amazing food you have prepared."
After the dinner was over, he said his goodbyes to the woman, hoping to see her again in the future. He got on his wolf and now was heading towards another city. Upon traveling to a nearby docks and meeting a man on the boat. The boat man looked at him.
"Where are you headed partner?"
Yagi smiled and folded his arms across his chest.
"I would like to head over to Lavanitir Port City. I getting pretty tired of this cold place."
The man nodded and Yagi getting on the boat with his wolf. Placing the straw hat on his head that the old woman had given him.
- Spoiler:
- Job Title: Cave of the Hitodama: Ghostly Reprieve
Rank: C Rank
Player Requirements: 1,500 words solo / 3,000 words group
Job Requirements: Take the religious old woman to the cave, help her set up her ritual and put a deceased mage to rest. Bring the old woman back home safely.
Job Location: Silent Glaciers
Job Description:
An old woman from a nearby rural outpost is familiar with the Cave of the Hitodama. For years it was believed that the dead must be put to rest and kept at rest using a sacred ritual. The old woman has plenty of money, gathered from believers of the ancient rituals and has hired you to escort her to the dangerous frozen cave, across the cold glacier pass, and into an area rumored to be well traversed by the dead. She wants you to guard her inside of the cave from angry spirits and then escort her back home safely.
Description of the cave:
The cave is located near a loosely-frozen delta facing the ocean in a northerly direction. It is about five miles long, stretching into the arctic mountains of the region, with several deep crevasses spanning the narrow width of the cave. Frozen pathways and stone pathways alike are layered in frost and ice, but lead back to the rear of the cave. The polar cave has ceilings as high as 8 m and as low as 1 m. There are no secret or hidden pathways, just one direct route that the sea itself carved out of the land during times of storms or floods. Along the length of the cave runs a slow moving, 1 m wide river which culminates in a small but deep hot spring in the very deepest point in the cave. This river occasionally freezes over, though due to protection from wind, can more frequently be found moving from the back of the cave to the sea, starting from the spring itself.
Enemies:
Weak: Wild beasts: Wild animals traverse the tundra looking desperately for food. The wild animals most likely to cross paths include lone Reindeer, Dire Winter Wolf, a pack of Frostfur Weasels, or Blue Horned Ram. These animals (or in the case of the weasels the whole pack together) can deal D rank damage and take 2 D rank damage to take down.
Normal: Wayward Ghosts: In their former lives, these ghosts were simple civilians with simple minds and a curious nature who found themselves killed in the cave from either frostbite, wild beasts, or the poisonous spores of cave moss. Now, the ghosts which are usually gentle have become angered and strike out against those entering the cave. They deal C rank damage and take 2 C rank damage to disperse.
Strong: Angry Hitodama: Spirits in the form of small glowing bulbs turn red when disturbed and form into deceased mages. These dead mages use various kinds of elemental magic and take 2 B rank hits to take down. They tend to use javelins if their foe is at a distance and willfully target any who enter the cave. They tend to use burst spells first, and bladed weapons second. Their spells include elemental versions of the following:
Thrown elemental javelin: In the form of ice, lightning, or fire, these javelins deal D rank damage each and two can be thrown at a time (one in each hand of a ghost mage)
Elemental blades: In the form of ice, lightning, or fire, these blades can be as long as a katana, as short as a dagger, and be functionally whatever blade desired once drawn. The weapon deals C rank damage.
Elemental burst: An explosion burst of ice, lightning or fire around the angered ghost mage can deal B rank damage.
Yagi had been saved by this old woman from the deadly moss, but now she wants him to help her with a job. Yagi has accepted and now is leaning against a wall of her home and folding his arms across his chest with his winter coat on.
"I am grateful that you saved my life. So what can I do in return?"
The woman cackled to herself, whether it was due to old age or any malicious intent behind it, he had no idea. She just spoke as she started to gather her things.
"I am willing to pay you for this job. Because this means so much to me and the other citizens that live here. Based on the fact that you survived that cave encounter, you must be a powerful mage."
Yagi chuckled to himself and scratching the back of his head.
"I wouldn't exactly call myself a powerful mage. I am a C rank mage is all."
She was baffled at first and simply shrugged it off.
"Nevertheless boy, you survived that cave where others have failed. I will need you to protect me while I am performing my ritual in the cave. I will silence the spirits and put them all to rest. After that, just take me back here and that's it."
Yagi nodded and they were off. The old woman was riding on top of the snow wolf, while Yagi was walking right beside her with his hands in his pocket and hood over his head.
"So, I take it that you have had some experience with that moss over there in the cave?"
She nodded with sorrow to her voice.
"Yes, I actually saved my husbands life when he had it. But right after I had removed the poison and cured him, he had died due to the frostbite that he had gotten from being in the cave. I don't know how he was able to escape that cave in the first place. But I have only known a slight few who have escaped."
Three dire wolves started to surround them and looking hungry as can be. Yagi halted his wolf from intervening and Yagi stepped forward and now was surrounded by the wolves. One of the wolves coming from behind and biting down on his back, stealing his blood in the process and chewing on it intensely. Before the other wolves could do anything else, the wolf that bit him, immediately began to attack the wolf next to him. The two had fought and the wolf that was attack had died. The other wolf was also attacked, being killed the same way. Before the wolf could realize what was going on, Yagi placing a knife straight into it's neck. The old woman was quite surprised, as her eyes lit up.
"You are a blood mage aren't you?"
Yagi placing his hands back in his pockets.
"Yes I am, I don't particularly like using my magic."
The old woman and himself continued to travel, her being curious started to chatter.
"Is there a reason you don't like using your blood magic?"
Yagi sighed to himself, not because he was annoyed at her asking. It was because of the reasons that followed it.
"The reason why I don't like using it. Is because I grew up in Motor City. My neighborhood didn't like any blood mage users. Due to how evil they were and used it to their advantage. I have seen it happen before. I try to keep it a secret that I use blood magic."
She smiled and before they knew it, they were at the entrance of the cave. She hopped off the wolf and walked over to Yagi, holding his hand.
"Its not the power that makes others don't like you. Its how you use it. A kind hearted man like yourself uses it to save others."
They both walked hand and hand, the woman was now brought to the place where she would start her ritual. And so she began, with Yagi standing in the cave with his hands in his pockets.
Just when he thought this would be an easy mission, his pet wolf was biting down on some red bulbs which appeared to be five of them. Yagi was curious to what they were, but it was already too late. The bulbs had shined and the wolf had now ran away from them. The five diseased mages had shown up and ready to fight.
Frustrated, Yagi immediately rushed over to the mages, trying to box them in place. Right and left hooks were effective but not enough. Every slam they took, they would rise back up. They were indeed more powerful than they looked. The two mages started to send right hooks over to him and sent him down to the ground. Aiming both their hands straight at him, they fired one lighting and one ice burst explosions at him. It was more than enough to cause open wounds towards him, and was more than enough to stun him in place. He simply chuckled, grabbing his blood and hurling it straight at both of these mages open wounded skin. Before they could finish the job, their minds were taken over. Turning to their friends, they fired their burst straight at two of the mages, ending their lives in seconds. The last mage was confused and before he could retaliate, he was also killed off by the lighting mage. Now both mages aimed towards each other, firing away their mage attacks at one another, ending their lives as well. Yagi was beyond tired at this point. The magic he had used was definitely draining and lucky for him, the old woman was done with her ritual and the wolf had came back.
Just when they were about to make their leave, the former bodies that were still around and covered by the poison spores, had a ghost hovering over their former corpse. These ten ghost were now heading towards the three of them. Yagi was quick to hope on the wolf and holding onto him.
"Hold onto me, we are getting out of this place."
The old woman held on, and the wolf charged straight ahead and avoiding these ghost. Leaving the cave behind and now out in the open. Two javelins were thrown at the wolf's legs. The piercing lighting was enough to cause the wolf to collapse and Yagi holding onto the woman to protect her from getting injured from the landing. Now rolling around on the snow hugging her. He let her go when things began to subside. He rose to his feet and headed over to his wolf, who was okay but injured. He looked to those two dead mages were now rushing over to him. Yagi was quick to send a straight fist straight to one of their faces. Along with placing his blood straight into the mage's open skin. Before the second mage could grab a hold of Yagi, the mage he had just punch, sent a straight burst ice attack at the mage. Causing the disease mage to die upon impact. As for the last remaining mage before him, he sent a burst attack straight at himself. Now the three of them getting out of there and heading straight back to the woman's place.
Upon coming back to her home, Yagi aided her off the wolf and back to her home. Which he then proceeded to hand him his reward. The woman smiled and patted his head. Giving him some advice before he took off.
"Don't let others judge you based on your blood magic abilities boy. One day it can save the people you care about most. You have an ability that others could only dream of having. Don't let it go to waste. You can truly change this world and all those you meet with your magic."
Yagi then looked to the woman being curious.
"Are you sure your ritual worked... When we left those two mages had attacked us.."
The old woman smiled and patted his shoulder.
"The ritual takes time to get everyone within the cave. But trust me, it worked alright."
After sitting down and eating a meal with the old woman, the wolf also having the luxury of trying her cooking.
"This is truly amazing food you have prepared."
After the dinner was over, he said his goodbyes to the woman, hoping to see her again in the future. He got on his wolf and now was heading towards another city. Upon traveling to a nearby docks and meeting a man on the boat. The boat man looked at him.
"Where are you headed partner?"
Yagi smiled and folded his arms across his chest.
"I would like to head over to Lavanitir Port City. I getting pretty tired of this cold place."
The man nodded and Yagi getting on the boat with his wolf. Placing the straw hat on his head that the old woman had given him.
