middaeg | [Closed] We work hard, and then we work harder.

Who: Edelgard von Hresvelg & Various
When: Early June
Where: Aefenglom and Dorchacht, and At Sea
What: Edelgard does some quests with her CR
Warnings: Violence, and Edelgard's usual warnings of human experimentation, blood in a vampiric context, and talk of death and war.

At Sea (For Corrin)

It's strange being on a ship, the rolling motions of the waves against the wood not enough to really bother Edelgard, though how much of that was her vampiric body and how much of it was her own fortitude was anyone's guess. Either way, she wasn't in her element and it probably showed in the stance she had adopted, staring stoically out over the moonlit water. The glimmer of silver off the horizon was entrancing, beautiful and distracting...but she couldn't deny that she was any less afraid of the water, no matter how it looked. Maybe it was strange since she didn't exactly need to breathe, but fears weren't easy to let go of.

Either way, she's definitely making waves in the bond, mulling over various things, and likely subconsciously calling out to at least one of her Bondmates.

Below Decks (For Byleth)

During the early hours of evening Edelgard's more active and attempts to be more social, since she can't exactly come out of her vampire-proof room during the daylight hours, or risk bringing people into it. It's simply a bad idea. She's not restless, exactly, but she has a lot of pent up energy. And even the Emperor isn't above pestering her other bondmate during their journey. So, she knocks on the door of Byleth's cabin...hoping to find something to occupy herself this evening. And time with a dear friend certainly is a good way to occupy oneself.

The Silent Forest (For Saber)

Edelgard was happy to take on this particular quest, and even happier to have the opportunity to do so with Saber. She'd seemed capable and competent during their meeting, and so when a pair of Wilder Witches were asking around for guards during this trek, it had seemed as good a time as any to get to know one another better. Fully armored, with Aymr slung over her back, the Emperor was covered in head to toe as the wagon the Wilders had brought rumbled out towards the forest path, the last rays of a fading sun not quite sunk below the horizon yet. An early "morning" for her, but they did need to get going during the daylight hours, and her enchanted clothing was good enough protection until night fell.

"Were you on the original expedition out here?" Edelgard asks of her companion, curious.

[Further prompts will be in the comments. If you want to do something quest related with Edelgard feel free to ping me on Plurk at

intercession]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Bears aren't too much of a threat. We'll be fine."

The bear-shade bellows, a bone-deep, chest rumbling noise that sends birds scattering into the sky. The Emperor's fangs extend, gleaming in the moonlight, strange shadows cast across her face by her massive axe's orange glow.

"Flank it and aim for it's hindquarters. If you can cut it's joints that would be perfect. I'll keep it's attention," she says as she surges forward at a ground-churning pace to meet the animal head on.

The bone blade of her axe swats out with unnatural speed, batting aside a paw swipe, aided by vampiric strength. She keeps her distance for now, moving to the side and forcing the animal to turn to face her, keeping it on her.

The glow of the axe gives the whole scene an eerie sort of light as it mingles with the paler silver of the moon. Excalibur glints, cold and deadly steel, if not quite as impressive as the axe. She eases forward a step, head inclined as she listens to Edelgard's instructions. She nods, however slightly and then darts to the side, wings flared as she runs with the sword held low at her side.

The shade roars again and seems to focus on Edelgard, the massive paw-swipe followed up by another as it begins to chase the vampire. Saber edges further out and then comes in, blade leveled for a thrust at its flank. The creature whirls at the last second to try and fend off the threat to its flank, a great paw swiping through the air - Saber's attack is foiled.

But it does, perhaps, give Edelgard an opening.

It does indeed. Edelgard doesn't miss a beat, her body twisting into a half-spin that brings her weapon around hard, smashing it into the bear's left hindquarter. There's a bone-shattering crunch as the enormous axe leaves through the bone and the Shade's weight has it collapsing to the ground. Skipping backwards and to the side, Edelgard makes it clear of the monster's range and reassesses.

"Careful! It won't be moving fast but it can still lunge."

"I see it," Saber responds, deadly calm. She takes a long moment to assess, gauging its wounds and what it will do. How it will react. Then she leaps, wings spread, and she comes down almost on top of it, point foremost, and drives the sword almost to the hilt in its back.

The bear-shade roars, it's hindquarters dragging terribly now after the blow to one flank and now the sword blow that's severed its spine. It tries to shake Arturia off and for a moment she hangs on, trying to withdraw her blade - it's stuck deep - and then she goes tumbling, wings flared out to try and catch herself, leaving her sword lodged in the bear's back.

"This ends now!"

Edelgard had retreated a few paces, skirting the sides, letting Saber take her strike without getting in the way. It's a good one, making the monstrous bear struggle to rise thanks to the blade now sawing it's way deeper as it thrashes. An opportune time to attack, so she does.

Leaping in herself, raising both hands to her axe and bringing it down in a savage, overhead chop she cleaves neatly through the thick, muscular neck of her target. The already severed spine gives way finally as the chord holding it snaps just as readily as the strings still holding the cwyld infected beast to life. It slumps as it's head comes halfway off, lolling at a disturbing angle, black blood pouring from the massive rend in it's flesh...dead.

Saber picks herself up from where she's landed, shaking the dust off of herself in time to see Edelgard land the killing blow. She's breathing heavily and she stalks forward to the corpse to pull her sword free of it. She begins to clean it with a slight grimace, but gives Edelgard a firm, approving nod.

"Well-done. That's one less shade for us to worry about. The axe was never my personal choice, but... you do well with it."

She has an appreciation for that sort of thing.

"Do you think there will be others?"

Edelgard takes a moment to clean the blood from her axe and inspect it for chips, just in case. Nothing, so she discards the blood-slick oilcloth and gives Saber a nod as well.

"Thank you, Saber. You did well, too. That was only possible because you split the spine. I hope you are not grievously hurt."

Her head turns to look first at the bear, then around.

"I could not say for certain. This one seemed to be male though, and male bears tend to travel alone, from what I know."

"A little rattled, but... unharmed, I think," Saber replies as she dusts herself off and stows her sword again. There's a thoughtful look on her face as she glances around the dust trail and peers into the woods.

"Yes, but most normal bears aren't infected. Nor is it out of the realm of the possibility that other Shades may be drawn by the sound of our fight..."

She breathes out.

"Perhaps we should try to rejoin the main group, before we encounter anything else."

"Agreed."

She turns, offering a respectful nod before her feet pick up the pace.

"I'd much prefer to be in a group if we're to encounter more. That may have been a simple thing, but there are stranger creatures out here than bears."

Monstrous insects, rodents of unusual size, even possibly mutated dragons.

"Creatures like you and me," Saber responds with a bit of wry humor, "But I take your meaning. It would be better not to linger, in case we draw more attention."

She certainly doesn't want to deal with a running fight all the way back.

Yes. And off they go!

[Closed] We work hard, and then we work harder.

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cw for gore

Re: cw for gore

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Good place to wrap, maybe?

Absolutely