The Unnecessary Balance VII

Bump. We are currently tied at one vote a piece for F(Zinogre), C, and A. Gimme more votes!

Godtigers: A variety of Epic Monsters well known and feared across the Mainland and beyond. They are giant, majestic beasts who stalk the deep forests and other less civilized places of the world. Most Godtigers are around twenty feet tall, but the largest Godtiger ever recorded by the Hunter's Guild stood nearly double that height. Godtigers, like normal tigers, are fairly solitary creatures. They mostly keep to themselves; only ever engaging humans in self defense or in defense of their mate or young. While Godtigers are extremely territorial, this behavior only extends to other adult males of their species. They are incredibly strong and surprisingly agile for their size. However, unlike their normal brethren, Godtigers cannot swim very well, due to their immense size.

Godtigers are the only A Rank Epic Monsters that are not considered greatly dangerous to people. Generally, if a Godtiger attacks a human, there is a very good reason for it.

Fennie, Zinogre's a wolf, not a tiger.

Let's give him a name with a cat pun.

Like Meowchael.

F a penny for you thoughts

C, because I can't pronounce Meowchael.

The perfect name pops into your mind almost immediately, and a wide grin spreads across your face. "I know, I'll call you Milo. What do you think?"

By the sudden earthshaking purring, you have a hunch the massive Godtiger approves. Your new friend stares at you with newfound affection shining in his half open eyes, and you practically melt. "Aww, you're just a big softy, aren't you?" You coo, reaching up to gently scatch him behind his very large ears.

Milo the forty foot towering behemoth huffs as if to disagree, but promptly resumes purring afterwards, causing you to laugh. "You aren't helping your case, Mr. Softy. How long until you can move again? Do you need me to stay with you?"

In answer, Milo slowly rises to his feet, until he's towering over you like Mount Scar itself. You rise to your feet as well, and gently bury your hands in the soft fur of his leg. "I'll take that as a no. Be safe, my friend. And try not to get hurt again, you hear? I won't be happy if you do."

Milo lowers his head in silent agreement, and you step back. He slowly begins to walk away, but as he reaches the forests's edge, he turns and looks back at you, and as your eyes lock, you smile. It appears you just made a lifelong friend. The beautiful Godtiger bounds away, back into the forest, leaving a swath of terrified birds and rumbling tremors in his wake.

With Milo gone, you turn your intention to the spear lying on the ground, the same spear that had wounded him. Even from several feet away, you can sense it's power. It is a dark, yet also tragic power. Something about it is instantly familiar to you, but you can't place what. Still... Leaving it here for some random Brigand, or worse, to find would prove most unwise. You retrieve the spear, and attempt to strap it across your back, alongside the Golden Spear you bought back in town. Doing so proves difficult, as the leather strap was only made to hold a single spear, but you manage.

Next comes the cave. You sense two presences inside, both humans and probably hunters, though one's life energy is flickering dangerously. Well, no use waiting out here. Hopefully, these hunters have the common sense to ask first, and shoot later.

Lol, I swear to everything Zinogre is still the best name for this thing. I'm sad it lost.

Seriously, he has the best design. For the longest, I wondered where Neo got the Hunter's guild thing from. Then I met MH.

Maybe we should move this to the social board?
I like his design fine. I don't like his face though. Maybe it's because we have different taste, but the name Zinogre seems like a powerful name to some.

In hindsight, you probably should have tried to be at least somewhat cautious. But the hunters either already knew someone was there, or were completely daft. Or possibly deaf. Besides, you don't have the time to be creeping around. So you waltz into the cave, head held high like some badass tiger tamer, only to find an arrow nocked and trained on you almost immediately.

"Who the hell are you?! Are you the one who drove the Godtiger away?!" The hunter demands. You're a bit surprised to find the arm of a young girl, with no more than twenty winters under her belt, behind the string of the bow pointed at you.

You arch an eyebrow at the young huntress's tone, studying her carefully. Her clothes were torn and ragged, and her eyes were lined with dark circles that suggested both a lack of sleep and a terrible burden. You would have been inclined to dismiss the girl as a savage, or a Nomad of sorts, except for a few minor details... Her bow was clearly one of master craftsmanship, made of a beautiful ebony wood, and carved with intricate runes of magic. The girl's clothes, while dirty and torn, were obviously not sewn from rough furs or animal pelts. And then there was her physical appearance... She almost looked like Narshe, and her skin was very tan, like Sonia's.

You suddenly realize just who this girl is; a survivor from the hunting party that went missing days ago. "My name is Nagi," you say quickly, keeping your voice calm and reassuring. "I'm an outsider who washed up in Naandia about a week ago, and a friend of the Elder. Are you from the hunting party that went missing?"

The girl's eyes widen, and for a moment, she looks like she's about to burst into tears. Her bow immediately lowers, and her tone changes considerably. "From... From N-Naandia? Then Juan must have made it... Oh thank the Ancestors. Yes, yes I was in the hunting party. Jet... Jet, Juan and I, we're the only survivors. Please, I need your help... Do you have any medicine? I don't know what else to do..."

"Jet?" You ask, surprised and relieved. Oh Sonia... She'll be overjoyed to learn her brother is safe. "As in the brother to Sonia and Eren? Lead Hunter? That Jet? He's here?"

The girl quickly nods, the hope in her eyes intensifying the more you speak. "Yes! B-But... He's hurt badly and needs help. Please..."

"Take me too him," you say immediately, and the girl nods. She dashes deeper into the cave, and you quickly follow, easily keeping pace. The cave itself is both not what you expected and exactly what you expected; it's quite large and rocky like most caves, with some areas of it changed by old lava flows, creating small riverbeds here and there. However, in the very center of the cave is a large, surprisingly lush green tree, standing on a small island surrounded by a small pond hollowed out by the lava. The pond was filled with ankle deep, crystal clear water that had no obvious source. It defied all logic, though you're quite used to that at this point.

Jet was propped up against this tree, asleep. His face was pale, one of his arms was in a sling, and clothes were matted and torn. He appeared to be wearing some sort of dark robes, which surprises you greatly. You expected a ranger, not a mage. You kneel in front of him and take out your Elixir, while the girl- who you can tell is his lover- gently wakes him up. He wakes with a start, eyes wide, but calms at his lover's voice. He then turns to you, confused.

"We can save the introductions for later," you say, gently pressing your hand to his forehead. Hmm... He has a very high fever. "What happened to him?"

"T-There's so much to explain... I don't even know where to start. But if you mean his injuries... His arm is broken in several places, and he was poisoned, though it's not like any poison I've ever seen... He told me how to make the antidote, and I did, but I don't think it was enough... He's not getting any better."

You nod, and give her your Elixir. "I don't know if this will help, but it's all I have."

She graciously accepts it and helps him drink. He drains the vial, and the color slowly returns to his cheeks. The bones in his arm begin to mend themselves, and awareness returns to his eyes. "Vex... What...?"

"Hush, love. It's not me you have to thank. It's her, Nagi," she says, pointing to you.

Jet turns to you, and his eyes widen to comically large proportions."You.... I know you. You're the one from my dreams..."

You blink, taken aback. Well... It's not the first time a guy has used that line on you, though it has been a while. Seeing your expression, Vex quickly shakes her head. "N-no, he didn't mean it like that... You see, Jet has... Visions. He's the first Shaman our village has had in ages. He sees both the past and future, events that were, or will be significant to our people."

"I believe I can speak for myself now," Jet says, taking a shaky breath. "Nagi... Is it? I don't know who you are, or why you're here... But I owe you my life. Thank you. Between the antidote and the elixir, I should be fine... At least for a time. There is only one way to cure me completely, and it is no easy task."

Before you can even ask, Vex turns to you. "How is the village? Is it safe?"

You nod. "Yes, at least for the time being. But Ancestor attacks are becoming more and more frequent. Please, I don't have a lot of time. I need to get up to the mountain. What happened to you two? What happened to the hunting party?"

"I had a vision," Jet coughs. "Of the mountain erupting. I went to investigate, and brought the strongest hunters in the village with me. Venturing beyond the walls so close to the Harvest is dangerous enough... But an expedition to Mount Scar's summit is practically unheard of. I thought we would be fine... I thought we were strong enough... I.. I was a fool. We encountered something deep in the mountain. A beast unlike anything we've ever seen... It was far beyond any Ancestor... It was like the mountain itself had come alive. We were... No match. It wiped us out as easily as blowing out a candle. Vex and I, and our friend Juan... We were the only ones to survive. Tell me... Did Juan make it to the village?"

"He did," you answer, smiling. "When I last saw him, he was sleeping peacefully in the Elder's spare bed. Can you walk? The Godtiger prowling around outside is gone, and the way through the forest is clear, for now. You should return to Naandia while you can."

Jet gives a brief nod, and slowly rises to his feet with Vex's help. You follow suit. "Yes... I believe that will be for the best. The village will need to be protected and, if my vision comes to pass... Evacuated. What do you plan to do, Lady Nagi?"

You don't want to unnecessarily worry him about his sisters, and you don't think he can even go to the World of Nil... But you may need his help. You're walking blind here, on a strict time limit, and he's seen the beast and lived to tell the tale. You bite your lip in hesitation. "I need to find something, a treasure hidden deep in the mountain, apparently guarded by the same creature that did this to you. And before you warn me not to go, I don't have a choice.This is a matter of life and death."

"Then allow us to help you," Vex says. "It's the least we can do. I'm not too fond of the idea of seeing that creature again, but you said you're an Outsider right? You'll need a guide."

"She's right," Jet agrees. "I do not know what treasure you seek, but I do know you saved my life. And that is a debt I cannot leave unpaid. Now, I don't want you to think me a saint... I'm not. I also want vengeance. Vengeance for my men, and the cure for my... Illness. Both of these things can be found by accompanying you. But... If you would prefer to go alone, I will respect your wishes and simply draw you a map. What say you?"

Hmm... He does have a point... But should I really risk him finding out about Sonia and Eren? Then again... Maybe he can help with that too. He seems quite the powerful mage...

-------
A: Agree to let Jet and Vex come along.
B: Refuse.
C: Agree to allow one of them to guide you, but send the other back to Naandia. The village is in precious supply of capable hunters.(Choose either Jet or Vex to accompany you. The one who isn't chosen will return to Naandia)

Hmm... Maybe I should give you their stats beforehand. They're actually quite powerful, and both can be very helpful. Also, wrong letter. The "draw a useless map and then run away" option is B, not A. A is the "have them both join" option.