AberrantKapro | Strohmeier / Senbonzakura

At this point, Senbonzakura had just accepted fate. He knew that Strohmeier would never stop adopting more coursers, which he didn't want to admit right now, was part of his charm. He really did like that Strohmeier wanted to help and guide others, it was a very noble thing to do. Very honourable. The madder champagne smiled, his chest fluttering slightly as he thought about his dark companion. He wasn't sure what he was feeling right now, but it filled him with joy. 

He looked back at the group, Strohmeier and Söl were with him as usual, they were seemingly inseparable by now, along with the new recruit Rial. He was a majestic leopard, with an emerald green revealed in his irregular spots. 

Suddenly, there was a sound. A faint dripping noise. 

“Oh no, I know this sound.” muttered Strohmeier and claimed the front spot from Senbonzakura without even asking. “Look below us.” he added. 

Below them in the cracks of the floor, a thick, dark liquid was traversing through the tunnel. 

Strohmeier had seen this one before when he was guiding two new recruits on his own, that time it went well for them, but would they be so lucky this time? 

“Micke, Kinka, please be careful and don't go near anything in the coming room.” Strohmeier asked of their pets, he then looked over to Rial’s goose. “That goes for you as well.” he added. He wasn't sure what the goose’s personality was like yet as they hadn't had much time together, but he figured Rial could tell him off if necessary, he just wanted to get the message across. 

As they kept going, the dripping sound got louder and louder, until they entered a spacious room. The liquid came towards the middle from multiple directions, and it gathered in the middle of a suspicious stone sarcophagus. This one was different from the one Strohmeier had previously stumbled upon, but it oozed the very same ominous aura and stench. 

The smell was hard to describe, but it was pungent and nauseating. He approached the sarcophagus slowly, the liquid looked just as disgusting as he had remembered, if not worse. It almost looked crusty, but still fluid. It was weird. 

“I really don't think we should linger here for longer than necessary.” Strohmeier started to explain. “Thankfully, me and my recruits made it out scott free last time I happened upon one of these things, but I am not willing to risk it. Take a quick look around for anything useful before we leave.”

Senbonzakura nodded and did as Strohmeier said. He trusted that he knew what he was talking about, especially since he had encountered this ominous sludge before, while Senbonzakura himself had not. He knew it was not his place to question something completely unknown, and risking their lives to satiate curiosity was never worth it. 

He whistled for Kinka and Micke, who quickly came over and waited in anticipation for them to proceed. He was very thankful that they were both so obedient and well behaved, and that they listened to him and Strohmeier equally well. Like they had shared custody, almost. Senbonzakura couldn't help but chuckle at that thought, but he quickly cleared his throat when he noticed the others looking. 

“Shall we get going?” he asked, to make sure everyone was ready to leave this ominous room. 

563 words

Dillyweed | Söl / Rial

Söl was a bit standoffish towards Rial at first. Given Köl. He hadn't really told Stroheimer or Senbonzakura about his behaviour and after the combination of the abyss and thieves they all decided to go back to the surface to get their energy back and as soon as they exited Köl stopped, turned around and walked back in. They wanted to stop him but it was already too late. He disappeared quickly.

Instead they were now joined by Rial. He was the quiet type. But It was evident that he cared about everyone, in his own - quiet - way. He listened well to both Strohmeier and Senbonzakura as they gave orders. He was a bit apprehensive towards Söls bugs but he didn't outright say anything or look repulsed. Rather he just kept his distance from the bugs. Didn't look at them. And it's not as if it was a crime to dislike bugs. As long as he didn't actively do anything to hurt them Söl wouldn't do anything to shove them in his face. 

They walked through the tunnels calmly. Söl kept the back of the lead occupied as he glanced around for any bugs. There was a certain lack of bugs in this part of the tunnel. It was quite clear that they had since long decided that it was not worth going this far into this tunnel. And soon he would find out why.

Rial was watching, hanging back. Trying to understand the team dynamic as he was the newest part of it. He was new to these longer campaigns and quests that he had seen happen from time to time. He hadn't had the opportunity to join one before. Now on the other hand he was right up in the middle of it.

They stopped suddenly as Stroheimer pointed out the liquid on the floor, it seeped through all the cracks making the dirty floor even darker in the torch lights. Stroheimer had apparently seen something quite like this before and he told them about it. Rial listened to it. All the information he could get was good information after all. They followed the liquid carefully. Both Söl and Rial stepped carefully so as to not get anything on them. Söl understood why there were no bugs in this room as he saw the liquid seeping out of the sarcophagus. Even bugs could understand by the smell of the room that this was nothing healthy.

They both nodded when Stroheimer finally said that they should get out of there.

The room seemed to agree with them as more of the liquid escaped the sarcophagus in a thick, oozing manner.

441 words