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**Ian** · 06-14-2018, 07:31 PM

"Wait, what?" Ian only managed to catch onto the words that Loken had stated. Nothing else mattered, even the banter that Danika had offered him. If Loken hadn't pointed out that the metal gifted to him had started growing, collecting earth to itself, Ian certainly would have said something back. As it was, he twisted his head around to stare at the thing. Lifting his prosthetic limb, Ian attempted to push against the rock-metal concoction.

Giving a wry smirk, Ian returned his attention to the problem at hand. He'll deal with the rock creature-thing in a moment. "Of course."

Drawling out the words, Ian would lift his right hand and attempt to shove it against Loken's right shoulder in an effort to get him moving. "Live a little, Princess."

**Danika** · (This post was last modified: 06-14-2018, 07:41 PM by Danika.)

Okaaaay then. So, it seemed that plants were attracted to Danika and earth was attracted to Ian. What was next? It didn't seem like a very logical thing to ask out loud just in case there was something more to happen. What if it was more unpleasant?

Blu remained perched on her shoulder, though he eyed the rock creation wearily. "Yes, what if someone really needs help?" Danika chimed in, her body spinning around to take a look behind them. It would suck a little to be so focused on what was in front of them just to be attacked from behind. That creepy fog offered too much shelter. Besides, what if there was more than one of whatever was causing that scream to even exist?

The dagger felt foreign in her grip, but she tried to hold it as comfortably as she had before it's transformation.

**Lailoken** · 06-14-2018, 07:44 PM

Grunting noncommittally at Ian's shove, he acquiesced and began to walk forward. Slowly. Daggers at the ready, his senses remained on alert as he walked forward step by step.

***Magikeeper*** · (This post was last modified: 06-15-2018, 09:17 AM by Magikeeper.)

By walking along the higher patches of earth, and various tree roots, it was possible for the trio to continue forward without entering the swamp waters. It was slow going, however, and the periodic plumes that burst from the muck didn't help things.

More cries for help were heard - it sounded like multiple people were in need. Fortunately, it also sounded like they were all in the same direction. Unfortunately, the swamp was getting darker as well. Was the sun starting to set? The fog blocked out the sky above, making it hard to tell what was going on and even harder to understand why there was any light in the first place.

Pressing on a bit more revealed two figures hailing a small cage filled with... something.. a few hundred feet away. It was hard to tell any specifics from this distance. Two thick bars at the top of the cage were held by both figures, allowing the cage to be carried between the two. The fatter of the two was wadding through the muck, while the one leading the way was being careful to keep the dirt off. Both looked humanoid, although something seemed.. off about them. The hauler's path was nearly perpendicular to the trio's.

The swampy path between the group and the haulers had few trees and annoyingly few highground patches. The foliage the haulers were heading towards however, was quite thick with trees and easier paths. The path between the trio's current location and the thick foliage would be a bit easier to traverse than going directly towards the haulers, should the group be willing to delay reaching them.

Another set of screams erupted from the little cage, prompting the cage-hauler leading the way to turn around start kicking it a bit in frustration.

While this was going on, a few palm-sized mosquitoes suddenly flew up to the travelers in hopes of getting a good meal.

**Lailoken** · 06-18-2018, 04:16 AM

Loken paused as he spotted the duo in the distance, squinting and uncertain as to what he was seeing. Glancing from Ian to Danika, he awaited their input, if only to keep them from doing something stupid. He, for one, was certain this problem was not their own, but Loken knew his companions. They were ninety percent likely to get involved if it seemed someone was in undue trouble.

That's when he noticed the large insects flying towards them. Lip curling in disgust, Loken attempted to swat the insects away, undisturbed by their size and failing to recognize Danika and Ian might not be so nonchalant about them.

**Ian** · 06-24-2018, 05:48 PM

He paused when Loken did. He was no fool. As much as he didn't want to play damsel, he was pitiful weaker than Loken and he trusted the instincts of the other man. It felt like his eyes were straining in the low light. The fog continued to creep around them and Ian wondered, briefly, if it was ever going to stop. As his attention had focused upon the two figures walking in the distance of ahead of them, he hadn't noticed that the metal had stopped its figuration. Leaning against him was the metal construct of a very small tiger. Glancing down, Ian gave a quiet noise of surprise. Flicking his gaze between the feline and Loken, he couldn't help but flail his arms a bit. Leaning down, Ian attempted to brush his fingers across the feline's head and the metal construct only leaned more against him. "Okay," he drawled out. "Putting that on the list to figure out."

Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the problem before them. He couldn't gather the details from where they were and wasn't that just disappointing?

While he had been distracted by the small tiger and the figures before them, he was taken off guard by the swarm of palm sized insects coming toward them. "Holy shit." Without realizing it, his palm brushed against the small tiger, before he jerked his hand away to swat at one of the insects coming for him. Instead, Ian pulled out a sword. Surprised, Ian jumped, the hair on the back of his neck standing straight up. "How did I do that?" Better question was actually how the heck did he use it?

**Lailoken** · (This post was last modified: 06-26-2018, 09:13 PM by Lailoken.)

Loken's eyes widened slightly as he took in everything going on with Ian. The metal construct, the sudden sword in his hands. What exactly was going on? Why was Ian demonstrating magical abilities? Was Danika also...? No, Loken didn't like the possibility. If he were honest, he enjoyed being the sorcerer in their group, enjoyed being the strongest. Petty though it was.

"I hate this planet," he groused, turning his gaze back towards the strangers in the distance.

**Ian** · 06-24-2018, 06:28 PM

Eyes continued to flick from the sword in his hands to the small metal construct of a tiger leaning against him. He was almost sure if the robot (and tigers) had the ability to purr, it would be. Shaking his head, he glanced to Loken when the grumble came. A smirk filled his features, everything else returning to the background.

"What's wrong, Princess?" The taunt was super easy. Should it be that easy? Ian didn't want to focus on that and so he turned all of his mind power on the idea of teasing Loken. "If it makes you feel better, I have no idea what I'm doing with this." To demonstrate his point, he waved the sword in front of him in a dangerous arch. His eyes went wide and he huffed. He hadn't expected that the sword would be that heavy to swing around. Shoulders slightly slumping, Ian attempted to put a heavy hand on the shoulder of Loken. "March on, Princess."

Lifting the sword in front of him, he ignore the slight wobble of his arm, as he pointed it in front of him. "Adventure never hurt anyone." Well, maybe.

**Lailoken** · 06-26-2018, 09:17 PM

"Unsurprisingly," Loken drawled, "That doesn't make me feel better." Ian was more helpless than Danika, whose battle prowess ranked at about 'angry kitten.' "So. Shall we avoid our less than savory-looking friends over there? Or have you a path you'd prefer to take towards this inevitable conflict?" Loken, needless to say, did not have high hopes that the strangers carrying a cage would be overtly friendly.

**Danika** · 07-11-2018, 10:57 PM

"Let's just get a move on already!" The insects were creepy looking, sure, but the screams were far more upsetting to Danika. Unwilling to wait a moment longer, the petite female bypassed her two male companions and marched straight onward. They didn't know what kind of terrain or magical capabilities the thick foliage could have and so she believed the safest route to be straight through.

Her reason for barging ahead? She knew both men would flounder trying to get in front of her once again. Perhaps a little unethical but it was effective, no?