[PQ] A scientific approach

Maea

It's not a demon at your door

Dawn was perhaps too early to expect cheerful demeanor from anyone. The air held a chill bite that made for an uncomfortable experience for the Ancient participants, while a lingering mist lent a damp to the fallow woodland that the Halovians might dislike in turn. And if someone despite it all found themself content with weather and time, location and the amassed company in general, their reason for gathering was serious enough to somber the mood all on its own.

Maea Valair was not smiling as she took count of those gathered. It was a motley assortment, some invited for their skills while others had volunteered; all would no doubt prove essential to completing this endeavor in a safe way. While she very much desired answers, the safety of everyone would take priority.

She had brought them outside the entrance to the Spire and watched as assistants handed out individual bags of protective gear, writing tools and a single plain dagger to each guest. Behind her were crates and cages filled with creatures that emitted a nasty aura tasting faintly of purple, and standing so close to them left a sour burn in the back of her throat – doubtlessly also negatively impacting the contingent of armed soldiers, who watched the crates like hawks.
On the other side of the tower another set of creature crates waited, untainted, likewise watched over by guards who nevertheless looked like they would rather be anywhere else.

She didn't blame them.

"Thank you all for coming," she began simply, as the assistant stepped back. "I am Maea Valair, Loreseeker and Ambassador of this region. Today we are going to perform a series of experiments in the hope of learning more about the Void infestation. While there is much we don't know, in this instance I want to focus on three questions.

"One; How does the infection spread?
Two, How fast does it spread,
And three, Do different types of magic have any noticeable effect on the infected creatures?

"Before we begin, please be aware that we will be handling infected specimen here today. They are dangerous. Make sure to protect yourselves at all times, wear the gear you have been given, and keep a close eye on one another to make sure no one is hurt. Should anything at all happen that derail this experiment and you don't feel confident in your ability to defend yourself, I ask that you immediately ensure your own safety and retreat into the first floor of the Spire. Should any Void infested creature escape it will be immediately killed; if the situation becomes unmanageable I will authorize the use of the Spire's weapon, as a member of the Hollowed Grounds council, to ensure the safety of everyone present."  

Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, Maea steeled herself; it was going to be a long and tense day. Speaking in front of so many made her nervous, and her face moved stiffly from the effort of keeping her concerns from showing through.

"Before we begin, please introduce yourself and let everyone know what your abilities are, if you posess any. If you have any questions, now is also the time to ask. I shall begin;

"I am, as I said, Maea. I have a Molten Tiger shift, upgraded Fire magic and basic Disintegration magic. I will function as the head of this project - thank you for cooperating."

Catching and releasing the gaze of everyone present, she hoped it was an encouraging look; hoped, too, that these accomplished and highly individual persons wouldn't mind leaving her in charge. It was only for this one event.

---

Welcome! This PQ+ will attempt to discover more about the spread and magic tolerance of Void Critters.

No post order.
Please reply within 48 hours as much as possible.
To be successful the quest need to be completed the 30th of April.

** UPDATE

I did an oops and forgot the character limit. Thanks to our benevolent Admin we can proceed with the extra number of participants anyway! Instead of the usual requirement of 4 pages we will be required to complete 1 page per character.

This means that we need to ensure as few holdups as possible to make it within 30 days, but I'm sure we can do this anyway!

I'm terribly sorry for any confusion, and thank you for your patience. <3

Participants:
1. Ellyra
2. Thalassa
3. Talyson
4. Sah
5. Edmund

Round 1: Please begin by having your character introduce themself and their abilities, if any. They have each been given a sack of protective gear, 1 plain dagger and writing equipment.

It's just your shadow on the floor

You steal the air out of my lungs, you make me feel it

Ellyra was more than willing to pick up packages these days, after having met a literal living legend on the docks just a few days prior. This endeavor, though, she hadn't prepared for before she jumped headlong into it. The murmur on the skyboat docks had been that a woman named Maea was hosting a science endeavor in her homeland. Ellyra, being familiar with that name, took note, and with her brave spirit took the first open seat on a skyboat towards the Hollowed Grounds. Parting ways with the captain that allowed her a seat, the man called her back and placed a rather large, sheathed knife in her hand and told her to be careful. She smiled and assured him with a nod, but as she made her way towards where the group was gathering, she felt the pit in her stomach begin to form.

Standing in the middle of Maea's gathering, Ellyra started to look more uncomfortable and less eager as the ancient gave details. But, it seemed that she would be useful. Maea's questions gave her some confidence as the ambassador went on. This would surely be good information to take back with her to the clinic in Stormbreak, and for that alone Ellyra began to steel herself against her own nerves. Stepping up, she introduced herself.

"Hello, everyone," Ellyra gave a half wave, "I am Ellyra Fox, I grew up here in the Grounds and I have a lion shift. Oh, and I'm a nurse."

---

Ellyra has everything on her profile, a knife from a skyboat captain, and whatever Maea has given them.

Ellyra

Code blatantly stolen from the fantastical, wonderful Odd

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

The chill of the air was nothing compared to the cold sense of dread settling in her stomach. Although she had volunteered to assist in the experiments, the thoughts of finally seeing a void creature up close was disconcerting; however, she kept her face stoic, refusing to show vulnerability. Pain and fear were appropriate responses to dangerous threats, but they were things to be acknowledged and pushed aside. She would not let them control or weaken her.

After listening to Maea spiel, the hesitancy within vanished. This was important and they were relying on her to help solve the mysteries. After all, a little danger sounded like something right up her alley. She had been starting to feel a little bored.

Pulling her hood down, Thal glanced at the surrounding group consisting of a myriad of different people and smiled. She nodded to Maea before stepping into the front to solidify her role in the experiment. "Captain Thalassa Sanguis. I have a lava wyrm shift but currently no magical abilities. Although don't underestimate my physical capabilities. I will do everything in my power to see this experiment through." Satisfied that she had said her piece, Thal retreated back to the group with her head high, her bag thrown over her shoulder.

---

Thalassa only holds the bag of items Maea has given them.

Thalassa

Tal had also offered to help out with the experiments, in one of his moments of reluctant generosity. Or had it been gratitude? Hail, he couldn't even remember why, but he knew he'd done it, even if he was uncomfortably regretting it now.

Only a little, sure, but there was plenty of time for that to change.

The Peregrine was docked with Boreal guarding it (aka asleep in the rigging) back at the skyport and he'd made his local deliveries first before heading out to the Spire to join the others trailing in that direction. He wrinkled his nose at the sight of the void-touched critters that had already been gathered, and his hand fell uneasily to his knife and stayed there during the whole of Maea's explanation of the day's activities.

Well, he was already here, so he might as well see it through. He listened to the introductions of the other two. He visibly perked up to hear that Ellyra was a nurse - chances were good they'd need one of those before it was all over - but he wasn't sure what to think about the Captain. Then he realized it was his turn and cleared his throat awkwardly, scowling instinctively at realizing that everyone was looking at him.

"Tal Seawright," he said, almost belligerently. "From Ha--uh, King's End. Courier an' captain o' th'Peregrine." He gave Thalassa the nod of equals. "Got no shifts, but I can call down a god if it all goes t'shit, an' I've got some items. Magic armor an' a dagger that can hit things thirty feet away, Goggles that c'n see through darkness an' illusions, an' I can Heal someone in a pinch." He didn't see what good his other items might do in the current circumstances so he left it at that, jamming his other hand in his pocket and trying not to hunch his shoulders as he met the eyes of the others.

---

Tal has the provided bag and brings his armor, weapons, healing ring, fancy goggles - and his Bag of Holding, with food, fuel, and woodworking tools, as well as various bits of odds and ends that sometimes come in useful in a pinch.