[PQ] Better late than pregnant

Frey had warned them not to let the remains of true Void abominations linger. Tal wasn't always quick on the pickup, but at least he'd remembered the god's words before too much time had passed. It had prompted him to post a few hastily written notices around Torchline looking for help with some 'trash removal' across the straits. It wasn't going to be exciting or glamorous. In fact, it was going to be downright messy and maybe a little dangerous.

But it still needed doing, and maybe it was kind of his fault for instigating the encounter in the first place.

So he sat on the beach of the Waterways, the Peregrine floating a dozen feet above him with her ground anchor firmly set into some rocks along the shore. A dozen or so Torchers had made their way by ship or boat to join him, busy pulling on the protective gear he'd traded for in town. Waxed leather coats, heavy boots and gloves, and masks to cover noses and mouths made for an uncomfortably sweaty ensemble in the heat, but no one wanted to risk an accidental infection - or just the general grossness of the giant decomposing carcass.

"Let's wait a few minutes an' then we can get started," Tal called out, keeping his eyes peeled for anyone else who might join them.

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This is a PQ to clean up the remains of the Oerwoud Void Guardian! Please post your characters arriving and any precautions they're taking for working with the giant dead Void monster.

1. Talyson
2. Alys
3. Sohalia
4. Koa

You made yourself a bed
At the bottom of the blackest hole

The Oerwoud Void Guardian had sounded terrifying, when Tal had relayed the encounter to his partner after its demise. Alys had been equal parts glad and upset that she hadn't been there - glad, because she would probably not be here today, but upset because she hadn't been able to have Tal's back. She knew that she would been more of a liability than anything if she'd accompanied him into the Oerwoud that day, and that knowledge stung whenever she thought about it for too long. But this, cleanup? This, she could help with.

So she scaled down the ladder from the Peregrine, clothed in the same waxed leather, boots, and gloves as the other workers, and went to stand by her partner in companionable silence. She tried her hardest not to wrinkle her nose at the stench of decomposition, but the faint frown on her face gave her away. Maybe it wouldn't be particularly pleasant, but it still needed doing, and she would be here to support Tal as much as she could.

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Alys arrives with waxed leather coat, heavy boots, and gloves. She has a basic bow, a quiver with 12 arrows, and a dagger. Sascha stays on the Peregrine.

And convinced yourself that
It's not the reason you don't see the sun anymore

Alys

August evenings Bring solemn warnings
To remember to kiss the ones you love goodnight

Having recently heard from Tal that the Oerwoud had been freed of the Void, and with the knowledge that the courier was leading cleanup efforts in the area, Soh thought that maybe that should be the first exploration destination since her reappearance. After all, if she went with others, then the chances of getting kidnapped or injured or anything else seemed lower than if she went alone. Besides, after hearing a little about Tal’s partner during their recent reunion, she was curious to know more about Alys. Maybe she could ask her friend for more details while they did whatever needed doing in the Oerwoud.

Much to her delight, she arrived at the designated meeting spot to find a short, dark-haired woman standing with Tal. She recognized the woman vaguely from seeing her here and there in the past - she thought she remembered Alys coming to the opening of Stormbreak to the Abandoned, and maybe one or two places before that - and was excited to get to formally meet her.

”Hey, Tal!” she chirped as she arrived, grey eyes clearer and lighter than they had been last time the pair had met. She’d seen several friends since then, and they’d all been happy and relieved to see her, had all soothed her worries and guilt. Now she was trying to move forward. She turned her gaze to Alys. ”Hello,” she said, a friendly smile on her face. ”I don’t think we’ve formally met. I’m Sohalia, but you can call me Soh. You’re Alys, right? I’ve heard so much about you!”

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Sohalia arrives with waxed leather coat, heavy boots, and gloves. She also has two basic daggers. Tarak is with her.

You never know what temporal days may bring
So laugh, love, live free and sing

Sohalia

Koa

Don't take this the wrong way
You knew who I was with every step that I ran to you

Most awkward double date of the year let's goooo!

Having heard of the plan to clear corpses from Talyson, Koa'd been quick to volunteer his services to assist. What he hadn't been made aware of was who else their party might contain - a surprise that leaves him both blanched and flustered, as he emerges from a nearby path. "Hey Tal, Alys... Soh." the Dragoon greets the gathering, the last word becoming slightly strangled as his eyes light upon Soh. Their last meeting had been... complicated, and he's still not sure where he stands with the one-time Heart.

Luckily Pip is here to break the ice, the little dragon too deeply absorbed by her need for attention to mind any awkwardness in the scene. She launches herself from Koa's shoulder, making a beeline toward Soh and Tarak - excited, of course, to show off her incredible flying prowess, which has improved significantly since she last saw the Luminary. Koa watches with a distant expression before quickly clearing his throat, attention shifting to Talyson and the task at hand.

"So. What first?" It's a valiant attempt to regather his composure, and he's pulling it off well. He's dressed appropriately: waterproof boots and oil-slicked clothes, his bracers waxed to protect from the muck. The chakram hangs off its loop on his belt, just in case things go awry. With a soldier's attention he awaits instruction, trying and failing not to glance sidelong at Sohalia and the dragonet who has no respect for his resolution not to let his romantic life get twisted up again.

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KOA IS HERE FOR AWKWARDNESS. He has the stuff on his profile, waterproof clothes, and a flying pool noodle with macaroni for brains.

Only blue or black days
Electing strange perfections in any stranger I choose