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Darkflame Studios Productions Presents:

Etrian Odyssey: Fall of Yggdrasil

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ STORY CONTENTS: Violence, Blood, Adventure, Love, Romance, Language

COPYRIGHTS: Story and Characters are © R.J. Nebeker Rajan Wolffang is © Himself Evangeline Duskwing is © Herself Mica Mortar is © Herself Etrian Odyssey & Related material is © Atlas Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hold on Max, we can do this!" a woman's voice called in the distance, her voice muddled by the pounding in his head, her figure clouded and blurry beyond recognition as poison ran through his veins. He tried to move, to get closer to the woman, her spells could recover his health, could purge his body and mend the numerous wounds seeping blood through his heavy armor. But that very armor was what kept him from moving. The marshy ground seemed to pull at him, clinging to his armor with powerful suction every time he tried to move to his hands and knees. What was worse, the beast that had done this to him still lurked in the area, and his party was in danger. He was a Protector, a soldier trained for defense of his party members.

Yet, here he was, unable to perform his very role. A sudden weight slammed against his armored back and he felt his adamant plate snap under the blow, cracking open as a metallic talon sank through the metal. He felt the cold appendage push through his flesh as he had several times now, and a fresh dose of venom seep in to his muscles. The beast didn't dig deep, just pushing in until it felt the flesh split from the tip of the tenticle barb now driven in to his back. A shriek filled his ears, and for a brief moment, his eyes focused. To his horror, he watched his wife, an unparalleled medic, being savagely bitten by the very beast they had stumbled upon. Her life blood soaked the wool like fabric of her robes. The last thing either of them saw was each other, a smile of reassurance to see one another on the other side shared between them.

Even as their corpses fell to the ground, amidst the three other bodies that made up the exploration team. The beast's shadowy form lumbered with unheard steps through the wet marshland. The trees seemed not to mind their new fertilizer, but the thick mist coiled around their roots seemed to hover lower over the marsh surface, masking the graveyard just as it had done before the intruders. This revealed the canopy of the trees, a mass of red vines enshrouded by violet leaves that billowed up like plump mushrooms, flared at the tops in most cases, but many still hadn't "opened" fully. Many in the city, only twenty miles away, called it the Bloodmoon Forest. Explorers from all over the world had attempted to enter the forest, none had ever pierced the Misted graveyard, only those smart enough to flee at the sight of danger returned to tell a story of a horrific monster.

But even the story of the Monster couldn't stop the wanderlust many had the sight to see from the tops of the city, for just beyond the Bloodmoon Forest rose sheer onyx colored mountains that rose up and twisted in to a mangled mass of claw like tips of foreboding danger - ensuring no Airships could glide over the forest to reach the prize almost every person in the world wanted. The Tree that rested at the center of those mountains, hidden safely behind the Bloodmoon Forest, was Yggdrasil the world tree. Or at least, one of them. Four had been discovered in the world, but none of them connected to each other, and only three had been fully explored. The very first had awoken over the course of a thousand years and destroyed the cities nearby before going dormant once more, as if dead.

But in the last thirty-two years, this fifth tree had been spotted by an Airship that had managed to hover over the forest, but as if testament to the Tree not wishing to be found, a beam of light sliced through the Airship, nearly claiming the lives of everyone on board. It crashed just a half mile from the forest entrance, the survivors fleeing for their lives lost several more members to the beast the guarded the forest. The discovery started a rush of explorers to show up, sparking a new economy for the city of Estaria

A city formed by half-breeds, Human and Bushi from the east who sought to explore the worlds in the far south. These half-breeds, known as Hibushi, created their city much like their Bushi ancestors had using heavy stones carved by hand around the cities perimeter, creating a massive wall of defense that catered to the Human method of softening up a target from a distance before closing to Bushi Melee. But the inner city itself carried a wonderful blend of Bushi stone craft, with Human ingenuity, clean streets and tall buildings as well as use of space for various functions like Airship landing strips, and boat dock at a wide river leading out to the open ocean.

But now the city had to expand, creating a sort of Ghetto that put the other races together in a large northern portion of the city. The Hibushi were called hypocrites, separating themselves from the other races in their city when they themselves were a race born from two separate species. Bushi and Human were welcomed in the main city, as were the races that were parts of Exploration Guilds - but those guild members were limited to the Guild Hall, Sea Dock, and Airship Docks. While many Hibushi agreed that the segregation should be stopped, the Council of Nine held power and a six to three vote kept the segregation in place. The guild Halls were established by one of the Council families that wanted all people to be together, and in fact was the first Actual Guild formed that mixed several races together and held a reputation.

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A large black furred wolf Bushi stepped through the double doors to the Ancients Guild House. Few Guilds gained the reputation, money, and power to own a Guild House, but the Ancients were the first, and funded by a council house to boot. This one was seated near the Ghetto, allowing quick access for its non-Bushi, Human or Hibushi members. But Rajan was there for a reason; his massive six foot nine inch frame hulked through the main hall. Passing several younger members who were in awe of the brute they rarely saw in the hall. Strapped across his back left shoulder was his prized Katana 'Ink' and on his right shoulder a massive club he often dubbed 'Beholder' for the very reason, the last things his foes saw, was that club.

Those who had seen the Bushi in combat knew to steer clear of his swings, his Blood rage let him tell who was who, but even getting in range of the wind trailing from one of his swings could send a person flying... or so it was said. He wore no shirt, providing a wonderful view of the snow white fur on his belly and over muscled chest, but many of the female Bushi thought his soft sapphire eyes were the greatest allure to him, that and the spiky black hair that traveled from his head down to the middle of his back. A pair of simple black pants covered his lower half, with moonsteel pauldrons on his shoulders as well as covering the sides of his thighs and shins, the old wolf looked ready for battle at all times. And he was.

He marched up a set of stairs, through another set of double doors and looked around the lounge. He recognized a few of his fellow guild members, and gave a toothy smile that revealed all thirty-one of his sharp teeth, only one missing since he was a pup and put it out taking a bite out of a Cave turtles shell. "TWIG!" he said, his voice booming with a deep baritone matched with mirth. His massive arms swept up a human female in his arms, practically crushing her with his lightest grip. She was petite, barely ninety pounds and only five feet and four inches with a full curve to her bosom and rump and long flowing black hair tipped with red and green highlights.

She kicked her legs, squirming as she tried to breathe, her red eyes hinting at her mixed blood. She wore a set of white robes with a gorgeous pink stripe angled from the left hem at her ankles, right up her front and over her right shoulder and back down again. The pink band holstered numerous vials and pouches on the front, and a large staff of black metal with Crimson orb set in to the top of a dragon's maw. A small scar across her right eye the only thing that marred her alabaster skins beautiful tone. "Ra-hajin" she wheezed, finally scoring the hit to his thigh with one heeled foot she wanted. He blinked at the small ounce of irritation, and then smiled.

"Sorry twit," he said, putting her down. "I keep forgetting your Bushi blood is thin." He smiled as innocently as he could, even as a raven black tail slapped his face from under her robes. Though her robes opened in front and showed a knee length blue skirt with white hem, and a sea foam colored blouse over her top, she hid a dagger along the small of her back, and Rajan noticed it. "HAH! But you do your ancestors proud Twig!" he said, slapping her on the back and sending her tumbling head over heels.

"MICA!' She snapped, rising to her feet. She huffed an inhuman like sound and returned to her table. "My name is Mica. Don't forget it. I don't forget yours." She said "Wall." She issued under her breath.

He heard her, and smiled. "Yes, big wall." He laughed and sat down beside her. "I have news though... Sad news." He frowned.

Mica shook her head, holding up a mug of steaming coffee. She blew on it and sighed, "What's new? Another team dead I take it?"

Lowering his eyes, he held up his hand and dropped a small stone of red wrapped in twisted gold. Mica's eyes opened wide, and then closed as tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew the ring, she was at the wedding, hell she had made that ring with her own hands. "I found it, twenty meters in. But something was odd... the Beast did not come out when my team arrived... it let us claim the bodies."

"That is... odd." She said, trying to fight back the choking sound in her voice. Death was common when it came to the Labyrinth's of Yggdrasil, but this was just a forest not even the tree itself. "How many?"

Rajan flicked one of his large ears, shuffling in his chair a moment. "We claimed the fallen of several guilds before I thought it to dangerous to continue. Thirty-nine will be laid to rest respectfully. But of Ancients, only twelve fallen."

"I suppose the Guild Master doesn't know yet?"

"No. I thought you'd want to know of your friends first. Their bodies will be in within the hour."

Mica nodded her head, sipping some of her tea, but otherwise looked emotionless. She had too, she was one of the first Guild members, and to look week in front of the other Member's would bring about their own doom if they saw one of their best looking weak. When Rajan rose, she gave his arm a pat in thanks and let him go.

He marched from the lounge, back through the double doors at the top of the steps and turned to the right. The Guild Masters office and room wasn't far, and it took the large wolf only a few long strides to reach the doors. He knocked respectfully, even if it wasn't the Guild Master's office, the Master was still a Council member and one of the good ones who fought for the people and not his own pocket.

"Enter and be known." Came the common Hibushi greeting.

Rajan walked in, "Rajan Wolffang, of the Bushi, Member of the Guild Ancients." He proclaimed in his full voice, his name; species; and affiliation as was custom. "I bring unfortunate news Master Darkflame."

Behind a fine desk of Steelreef oak, carved and trimmed in Gold and silver filigree, sat a six foot one inch tall Hibushi. Human for the most part in appearance, but with another four inches worth of triangular fox like ears of azure fur tipped in violet. A mane of silver hair flowed in a straight manner down his back. Emerald eyes peered out from under the golden hued skin, though fangs of an animal rested in his maw. Unlike the Bushi, the Hibushi didn't have sheer bulk and muscle, nor like Human's did they have frail figures. He cloaked himself in a long sleeved kimono that looked like soft fabric, but in fact had the rare and sturdy zyrite fibers woven in to the material, making for incredibly durable and functional armor.

His hands stuck out from wide, open sleeves, revealing sharp claws tipping each of his fingers. When he stood up from behind his desk, nine fox tails with azure fur swept from behind him, each tipped in violet fur. Every council member had nine tails, it was a magical right they underwent at birth so that when they took over, and it was clearly known who they were. His Bushi blood showed clearest in his lower half, animal legs and feet held him up as he adjusted his Kimono and flexed his powerful thigh muscles in a few short squats. He seemed to be waiting for the right time, admiring the two swords hooked to his sword belt that hung on a coat rack nearby. Finally, he turned and rubbed the choker around his neck, a small band of the violet colored Zyrite metal with a beautifully crafted platinum butterfly on the front that sat against the hallow of his throat.

"Maxamillion, Idalia, Talorn, Zyke, and Myrim... they're dead, aren't they?" he asked, frowning. He knew every member in his guild, every last one of them. It was one of the reasons the Guild and most people loved him, he got to know them and didn't treat them like most members of the Council did. "Did we get their bodies at least? Tell me we can bury them."

"Them, and many others, Master Allester." Rajan quickly pointed out.

Allester's ears wilted to his head, but he nodded slowly. "Surprising... the creature let you, or did you have to hold it off?" he inquired.

Rajan puffed up his chest, pride taking over for a moment, but then he deflated as he realized that question wasn't a shot at him. "No, the beast sat back, we collected bodies for three hours before I felt we needed to leave."

Nodding his head, Allester smiled a small bit. "Maybe it has a heart after all." He laughed, but it was hollow. He walked over to a book case set across from his desk and withdrew a book. "The Council voted against me. Eight to one, Guilds are to be permitted to enter the Bloodmoon Forest to attempt to kill the creature. A reward of twelve hundred En." He laughed "A pittance, for a beast that has slain thousands!"

"They're fools."

"I know that, you know that, everyone knows that!" Allester retorted shouting and slamming the book to a nearby nightstand. "They're getting as corrupt as the politicians in every city known to creation. Etria fell to corruption, High Lagaard was just as bad, and Armoroad was the worst of them all!" he growled a low, feral sound "Tharsis was the minuscule one, but there was still enough corruption inside of it that it withered away at many of the places near it! Now, here we are again, a budding city, segregated by old fools! It's been two hundred years since the last Labyrinth of Yggdrasil in Tharsis was shut down. But now that a new one has been found, the rush to control its secrets is corrupting the minds of those around it."

Rajan frowned at his friend. "Pup, do not forget I was there. I was one of the many Bushi who stood tall and proud the day that Labyrinth fell. You were conceived that day as I recall, in celebration." He laughed heartily and smiled. "Your mother was good friend of mine, though she be human. Ahh how jealous I was when your father was in her eyes and not I... hehe that's funny." He smirked, smiling at his own pun. "You are third eldest of the Council; they do not listen to your knowledge that is their problem. But there is ways we can help to stop many deaths. You will find a way, I know this. In the mean time, I and a small team will go and stand guard at the entrance, letting none enter."

"You can't do that Rajan; the council would have you arrested."

Rajan crossed his arms over his chest. "I'd like to see them try and take this Bushi in." he said with a smirk so broad on his muzzle, that his teeth seemed to grow ten inches in size.

Allester just shook his head laughing and waved a dismissive hand. "Send for Symphony, please. You better take Melody or she'll have your head and you know it." He laughed.

With an even broader smirk, Rajan turned on his feet and left through the door, his tail wagging excitedly behind him. A fight he enjoyed, but a fight joined by his wife was one he lived for.

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Tromping through the double doors to her husband's office, Symphony smiled at him. She was a giant. Ten feet and nine inches of bovine beauty Bushi, a beautiful waterfall of bouncing red curls on her head, startling green eyes set in short white furred features. Broad shoulders laden with muscles born of her breed, along with a set of bosoms most women would break their backs looking at let alone carrying with ease as she did. A tight fitting linen blouse with woven zyrite covered her bosoms with beautiful colored ink that lead down to a dress bell that weaved all the way down to her hooved feet. Zyrite, once more woven in to the fabric, but with a clearly eastern design to the coloration of the fabrics dye. Beneath the dress bell she kept a multitude of white lace skirts that shuffled with her movements, and a white wool jacket slung over her shoulders and down her arms.

A set of pouches hung from her right hip, vials and satchels tangled on her left hip and around her back some. Slung across her back was a massive Katana meant for two hands but she could wield easily one handed. It had been engraved with ancient runes that helped her focus far better and channel more life energy with it, while still retaining a keen edge. She looked just like her mother, except her mother was slightly shorter. She looked over her husband, and then sat down across from him at his desk. "We're going right?" she asked, looking at him expectantly.

He cocked his left eyebrow at her, even sitting down she dwarfed him considerably but oh how he loved her, and when she smiled at him like that, he couldn't help but answer. "Yes. Dawn, we'll meet them there." He said and then rose to open the door to their room. He gave her a playful wink and then slipped in without even the slightest whisper of movement. She chuckled and marched in right after him, but with a lot less grace or stealth.

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Melody glowered at the pair standing in front of her. Her daughter and son in law lounged at a picnic like setting about a mile from the forest entrance. She looked just like her daughter, except she was two feet shorter since her mixed blood was a fourth human. Still, she had a black patch along her jaw and one of her eyes, along with a black polar star exposed on her cleavage thanks to her low lying plate armor. Like her husband Rajan, she carried a Katana and Club, though hers were slung across either hip and less over sized. She preferred finesse in her strikes combined with raw power, and that's what she named her weapons 'Finesse' for the Katana, and 'Power' for the club.

Rajan and Mica too, were confused when they saw the Guild master and his wife there. The members of Ancients that had followed to help hold the front gate stared in awe at the sudden weight of the situation. If the Guild master himself had come out, then things really were dire.

"We're not holding the entrance." Allester said firmly. He rose from his seat and strode forward, the Bastard sword and Long sword he kept on his left hip made no sound when they tapped each other. "The creature dies. Today." He said sternly, looking to the assembled guild members, he was surprised at the sheer number that had showed, every last Veteran, and quite a few newbie's, ninety-seven in all not including the top ten guild members. "Anyone who wishes to remain outside, I will think no less of and still respect. The Council has crossed a line announcing the free entrance to the Forest when such a menacing creature has held the gates for so long."

He paused and noticed not a single person looked away or even fidgeted, by the Gods was he proud of them right now. They held their heads high, a few even unsheathing their weapons as if ready to follow him right in. He held up his hand, "I'm taking five in. If we do not return in an hour, five follow. The creature is fearful of large numbers; it will strike from a distance until we're thinned. I intend to find it and take it by surprise. For that reason, the Alpha's go first." He said referring to the original five guild members formed twenty-eight years prior when the Council approved Guilds.

Everyone let out a riotous cheer, weapons drawn and held aloft as Rajan, Melody and Mica marched forward to join the Guild master. "The rest of you hold the Entrance. Do not let a single damn Guild member past. If the council sends guards, tell 'em to piss off, The Ancients aren't listening."

Another cheer filled the air, there were only two Guilds that rivaled the Ancient's in size, but neither had the experienced adventurers or soldiers to compete, even the City Guard would be hard pressed. It was for this reason, that the council spent five years in debate about Guilds being formed since the discovery of Yggdrasil. But at this moment, Allester was happy; his Guild showed courage and loyalty, they would do as he asked without fail. Now it was on him to complete the challenge he'd set for the Alpha's.

"Don't worry about it pup. Twig can keep us healthy." Rajan piped in.

"Mica!" Mica responded, giving a hard punch to the wolf's muscled chest, and wrenching her hand back in pain. "Fucking waaaall..." she hissed through her teeth.

Rajan flexed his pecks several times with a chuckle, only to receive a slap to the back of his head from his wife. "Behave runt." She grumbled. Her head turned to the forest as she fingered the pommels of her weapons. She then looked at her daughter and tilted her head. "To young." She stated.

Symphony smiled at her mother, hefting her bulk up from the ground and shaking her head. "Guild Master's life mate. Laws of bonding say I fight and die at his side if I wish to." She said, invoking the Bushi's laws even her mother couldn't argue with.

The Alpha's grouped up and marched ahead of the army towards the forest entrance. A song of Victory on the lips of Humans, Bushi, Hibushi, Forest Folk, even the Bird folk of Lore. Never before had an army of races like this existed. But today, they would fight as one to protect the foolish.

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Each step was like walking through deep mud for Melody, Rajan, and Symphony, their heavy weight making them sink further in to the marshy ground than the two light weight and light footed Hibushi in the group. Allester practically glided over the mess, not a sound issued from his feet as he stayed on point with his ears raised and tilting randomly at the slightest sound. All nine of his tails weaved around him, providing uncanny balance for the man even as his left hand rested on the hilt of Lutalo, a strange sword he found hidden in a lava cavern during the years of travel the Hibushi had. Its strange hilt was shaped like a pair of harps aimed at each other from the pommel, complete with tiny silver strings. The blade itself a perfect gold in color, but not made from the rare metal, instead it was pure Zyrite, a metal so rare that many smiths never got to touch it, let alone forge it.

The Hibushi had been lucky and found a mine with a deposit that lasted three years. But this sword cut through metal like a hot knife through butter, and any movement the blade made sounded a harp like string of sound. The music was different depending on how it was swung, and how it struck, even what resistance it met changed the melody. But the sound was always pleasant to those who followed him, invigorating like a Troubadours tunes would be. They had been walking for an hour, taking their time to pick their way across the marsh and find suitable ground for combat or ambush should the need arise. They'd only gone roughly a quarter mile in to the forest; they could still see the edge of it on the horizon.

"You three sound like a herd of Warbison." Mica piped in as she nimbly navigated several low rocks to avoid getting her dainty hind feet stuck in any mud.

Rajan smirked at her, breathed in deep, and let out a hard rush of wind in Mica's direction. He grinned all the more as he spotted her steps waver just a little bit and then her head snap to glare at him. "Nursery Rhyme, yeah? Huff and Puff and Blow your house down little Twig!" he chuckled.

His noise was rewarded by another slap to the back of his head by his wife, but then a snap of fingers silenced and froze everyone in place. That sound was an alert they had all trained for, something was close. Something dangerous. Allester seemed to have vanished, but they all knew how to find him, they followed spots of violet flames from his tail tips - nothing dangerous or big enough for monsters to heed, but a small enough spot let them track where he was and the direction he was heading. Suddenly, Mica's skin got gooseflesh, and she shuddered. Her eyes spotted the silver glow of a monster's glimmering rage.

From the bushes ten feet ahead, a massive lizard like beast charged through the foliage right for her. She didn't budge; she set her feet since she knew what came next. Just before the Lizard got to her, the large frame of Melody got between them. Her Katana jammed in to the lizards scaly neck, even as her hooves slid backwards in the swampy mud and her large rump did it's thing by bumping Mica just enough to make the woman shift her weight and use the momentum to jump to a further rock. When she saw Mica was clear, Melody brought Power down on top of the beasts head, just in time too as four more of the large beasts ran from cover charging the group.

A roaring inferno formed in front of two of them, Symphony's fingers weaving through the air as she channeled the stars divine power in to the air and scorched the beast's scaly forms. The third one was intercepted by Rajan, a hearty laugh on his lips as he laid in to the monster with heavy slams from Beholder, the beast weathered the blows and snapped at his legs, only to be rewarded with its lower jaw snapping shut violent as a circle formed around its jaws. Mica stood on her rock, her staff in hand while she channeled her natural Anarchists abilities through it.

When the creatures finally dropped dead, the group looked for Allester. He wasn't anywhere to be seen, nor were his markers. Symphony opened her mouth to call for him, but paused when she felt a chill run down her spine. Slowly she turned her head, and saw six sets of eyes, one set on top of the other, all violet and glaring at her. A low rumble echoed from that direction, and she saw vine like appendages sliding from the darkness around the trees. She held up her staff, ready to ward off attacks. Two vines shot out at her from different angles, as six more shot after the others. A loud cracking sound echoed in the air, followed by five more and then a metallic clang as Allester appeared in front of his wife, both of his blades drawn.

The eight vines slithered back, each one bleeding repulsive smelling orange ooze. Lutalo in his left hand, with the blade aimed down along his forearm, and Rykuva in his right hand held naturally. The Bastard sword, an ancient weapon from the Bushi's history, was four feet long - almost a Great sword in its own right. The blade held a violet toned edge made from some unknown metal around a black core of metal. It radiated a power that made even Rajan a little fearful of the sword. Its bulk didn't seem to phase Allester's size, and he hefted it as if it were weightless, just like a true Bushi would. His tails all dropped spent guns, each one held only a single round, but the shots were powerful.

The group formed up on their leader as the beast slowly crept forward. It was massive. It towered over Symphony's frame, she reached its knees as it stepped. It lumbered on eight heavy and thickly muscled legs, two in front, four in its core, and two more near the back. The body of the creature was simply a round bulb like an oval with a teardrop tip in the back. The head looked like it was ripped from an enormous lion, the same size as Melody stood tall. The wings of some bird stuck from its back, useless at their size compared to the beast, but the scorpion like tails that swept in three places over its back were usable enough, and then there were the whip like vines. There were hundreds jutting out from its back, each tipped by a metallic blade, almost all of them stained with blood and dripping venomous green ooze.

"Wall...." Mica said her voice almost silent as it caught in her throat.

"Yeah..." was all Rajan could respond with, even his Bloodlust was waning against such a creature.

"Pin its vines Mica, don't let it move them!" Allester ordered, "Symphony, burn its face as much as you can. Rajan, Melody get me those tails!" he finished, picking up his guns after his tails had reloaded them. He started the fight with another cannonade volley, nine bullets peppered the beasts face, barely making its eyes winch, but it was enough. The Hibushi was gone, leaving in his wake a pair of Bushi warriors already airborne with their weapons raised!

Mica was quick with her circles, throwing down all the energy she could in to the binding seals to hold the creature's deadly vines in place. She had to find the right circle, they weren't arms, or legs or even the monsters head which she could have bound easily without a thought, but those vines were unknown appendages. Eventually the binding stuck and she sighed heavily as the vines and the tails all froze in place! So delighted was she, that she didn't even see another lizard monster rushing up from behind.

Rajan and Melody, seeing the tails frozen in place, scaled the monsters face using their Katana's and heavy feet to make their own foot hold and hand hold places. It took then a few moments to get over the creatures back, but once they had, they went to town cutting off as many vines as they could while rushing to the monsters backside. Ohh how the pair were having a field day, they sang in time with each other, their attacks synchronized perfectly as they almost danced along the monsters back. Neither of them noticed that every vine they cut away grew back, and some of them were starting to twitch and writhe again. They saw their target as the three massive scorpion tails, and focused solely on them in their blood rage.

Meanwhile, Symphony raised her staff, calling on the stars powers and roasting the fur on the lion head with quick fire spells. She didn't want to risk anything larger with her parents on the monsters face, even when they were clear a longer spell would cast too much time and she couldn't find her mate anywhere. Her spells incanted quickly, rasping along the monsters face even as it roared spittle in to the air. It was fighting its aggressors as best it could with its lumbering bulk and most of its weapons held back. But even then, the massive paws could crush anyone of them with out a second thought if they weren't careful of where the beast reared its paws.

In the haze of battle, no one heard the shriek from Mica. But Allester finally showed up at the monster's mouth. Symphony screamed, but not for her mate. She saw the vines and tails suddenly animate again, only one tail had been severed, another was only half through, but she saw clearly the vines turning to aim at her parents... all of them. They heard her though, she knew she couldn't alter the plan though, she had to continue - but she screamed again when she saw the monster eat her husband! That did it. She reached behind her and gripped her mace. It was small compared to the ones her parents held, but the magic in it tripled the strength of each blow the user put behind it. She summoned the stars power with her staff, putting everything in to the spell she could to protect her friends and family from poison, and then slung the staff in to its holsters along her back and charged.

The marshy land slowed her run, but it wasn't enough, when she reached the monsters forelegs, she delivered a strike to the monsters ankle. The blow was thunderous, it split the air with such a sound wave of force the whips diving for her parents actually went off aim and hissed passed them, drawing blood along their arms and seeping the venom in to their veins. But for the beast, the blow hurt. Its ankle popped and if it hadn't been for its other legs, the beast surely would have crumpled over. But instead, Symphony bashed again, this time along the monsters shin, she reveled in the sound of its bone breaking like a tree felled in the forest. Once more the monster roared... but then it choked.

Another tail landed on the ground hard, her parents had torn another one free. She knew they'd work on the other one, just as the strategy called for... and she realized she had both failed and helped them. She broke the plan, but her hits may have saved their lives. She turned to retreat, Mica was missing, but once she was clear enough, she saw that the vines and final tail no longer moved again, so Mica must be somewhere close by. Again the monster hacked, and choked. It sounded like a house cat choking on a hair ball. Then she remembered her husband and she chided herself in anger for her own stupidity. It was her mates plan to get swallowed all along. She redoubled her efforts; cooking off fur on the monsters face and making it snarl and hack even more. It still breathed around its mouthful.

That last tail fell to the ground and both of her parents followed it to the ground. They took up her queue from her attack and began working on the monsters back legs, Melody's katana severed the heel in it's back leg with the first swing and her club powered through the muscle and sinew to cripple the beast further. It was teetering suddenly, two of its back legs on one side crushed, while one of its front legs was useless. It began to thrash around violently, it was an animal fighting for its life for once, and it had never known fear, because it never had to fight its enemies head on like this. But the more it thrashed the louder and harder it retched, trying to dislodge the Hibushi in its throat.

Inside, Allester's blades cut sweetly through the monsters throat muscles, not enough to sever the wind pipe on the first few swings, and the more the creature fought, the tighter those muscles clenched, making it harder to use full swings. He made sure to fan his tails as much as possible, trying to irritate the monsters breathing tube so it would cough harder and longer, suffocate itself in choking gasps for air. But the wind pipe was just too large, so he changed tactics. His tails started to load a different kind of shot, rounds that worked with magic. His mother was a trained Gunner, as his father had been Bushi; they trained him in their skills. While he favored the blades like his father, his mother's skills came in great use at times.

Just like now. He channeled his energies and focused on the rounds. Then he discharged the guns and the magic at once. An eruption of flame burst out of the creature's mouth for a second, inside, the monsters throat was charred. Every gapping stroke his blades had done was now hissing from the eruption of flames. He sighed in pain, the flames had scorched him as well in the tight quarters, but it had paid off. Much of the seared wounds he had made all melted together and caused the creatures wind pipe to shrink considerably. The pseudo-scar tissue blocked so much of the monsters throat that the air traveling space was barely the size of his chest.

His tails were frazzled, much of the fur burnt off. He shivered and bent low as he felt the monster buckle and shift wildly. His team was doing their jobs, wearing the beast out and making it fight for its life. He shifted his attacks to continue slicing, but this time he sliced to carve off a large chunk of flesh. The explosion had eaten most of his air supply and with the beasts shorter breaths it was making it harder for him to breathe as well. So he moved fast, and once the seal of flesh came free, he slammed it against the remaining hole on the creature's throat! A violent rumble hit the beast's throat muscles as it gulped hard, slamming him against the barrier he had made. The contractions held seal the flesh to itself, and he could feel the muscles working franticly even as the monster continued to vainly fight for its life against his group.

The creature's frantic movements shifted, but there was too much movement, and its legs received no air to power its muscles. For an agonizingly long time, Allester had to take tiny breaths, using what air the beast could choke in to its throat around the seal he had made. But eventually, the deed was done, he felt gravity shift for a time as the beasts massive form toppled to the ground, strangled.

*****************************************************

By the time Allester cut his way through the monsters throat, a base camp was set up and the blood spill that preceded his exit was met with cheers from his guild mates and several groups he didn't recognize. There were twenty fire pits set up, and a hundred more tents for each fire! Symphony was sitting at a fire closest to the creature's throat, and she ran up to embrace her husband, coated in gore and spit be damned in her mind. He was literally squashed in to her breasts, lifted right off his feat and smothered for air yet again. But she relented and smiled. "It was a good thing you set up the timer. Otherwise we'd all be dead." She said with a solemn nod to Mica.

The Hibushi female was bandaged up along her right arm and leg, with part of her head and face. She smiled brightly, attended by a young Bushi male who would be considered handsome, and she rather liked the way he doted on her, admiring her and practically worshipping her for her part in the monsters downfall.

"What happened to her?" Allester asked.

"Another one of those lizards attacked just after we assaulted the beast. We were gone so long; the first timer team came in looking for us. They got to her just in time, killed it within seconds of it grabbing her." Symphony elaborated, pointing to the team well known as 'Strikers', a Team Rajan had trained himself. "Forest is open, but there are still a lot of monsters no one's ever seen before. So far, no other guardians thankfully. So how was the trip?" she asked with a smile.

Allester rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Delightful, Fetid Air, Blood covering me, and the most relaxing muscle message ever." He teased in return.

"Better than the other end." His wife chided with a bovine like chortle.

It was at that second Rajan decided to join, slapping Allester so hard on the back, he went flying forward a few feet. "Masterful Job Pup!" he laughed, his voice booming and gaining the attention of the entire base camp. "Were it not for this man, our Guild's Master, Allester Darkflame. The beast would be feasting on the flesh of countless Adventurers. All of you did your part perfectly, holding off the smaller monster's while we tired the beast in to its Death throws. We return home, Drinks are on me!" he laughed and paused "One drink each, any try to get more out of me will learn why Bushi fight with Clubs!" he cackled.

Allester shook his head. "This is only the beginning. One beast this strong... I can only imagine the power of those hidden in the mountains, and beyond those, Yggdrasil itself." He sighed, and looked at his friends, those of his guild, and those of other guilds, and he couldn't help but wonder just how many would die in their explorations. No matter how hard he tried, he'd never be able to stop adventurers from venturing in to the Labyrinth and its dangers that was part of the world now.

~~ To be continued... ~ Allester E. Darkflame