OOC: Rude indeed
IC:

The two attacks seem to collaborate with each other. Just as Victor's arrow plunges into Orias's chest (13+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]), Alpha's staff jab strikes the torso (16+4[Roll+Agi]) and finishes the two-man combo. Orias isn't sure which hit first: the arrow or the staff. All he is certain of is that he isn't going to last much longer after this. Victor's arrow delivers 6 damage points, with a follow up of 9 from Alpha's weapon. The old mage, arrow in heart, collapses.

Selerovisk stands behind the Hylian and Sheikah, applauding their victory. The bald man stands beside him, arms crossed and silent.

A true battle. That is something for you two to be proud of.

An odd look passed over Victor's features as he looked at Orias, bleeding and lifeless. Suddenly, a smile donned on his lips, glad that he had finally gotten rid of the odd old mage. Still, when he thought of his performance during the fight, he frowned.

"Yeah, yeah I guess it was all right. I didn't get to do much, though. Damn! I really need to get in gear. Maybe I should look into training a little bit later..."

OOC: Translation: I'll be spending some TP once we get back in our dorms.

IC: Looking towards the unknown bald man, the Bard raised an eyebrow, but put on his usual smile once more.

"I don't believe we caught your name, stranger, though I'm sure you know ours. Everyone here seems to..."

The man raises an eyebrow as well. Like Kessler, this man is wearing glasses. Sunglasses, to be exact. Not suffering from any sight disorder, he instead has chosen to shield his eyes from the sun. It is not a suspicious characteristic. He speaks with a direct tone. (OOC: He sounds a lot like Mr Jameson from Spiderman )

Name's Larson. Master of explosive weaponry and strategic bombing. Just another member of this organization down here. Like you, I was nothing when I started. Just wait until you meet Wolfeye. He'll have a special "gift" for both of you.

Selerovisk interrupts, boldly attempting to explain his presence in the dungeon.

Darizan asked me to find you and escort you to the Lounge. I went to your dormitory and found a note, apparently written by Darizan and telling you to meet him in the dungeon. At this point I returned to the Lounge to see Darizan, and he denied having ever written the note. I returned to your dormitory to find the note, and you, had vanished. Something was not quite right. I found Larson and the two of us proceeded down the stairs to this floor. We heard Orias's voice clearly, followed by the sounds of battle. And that's where we stepped in.

Alpha, I suggest you go about your own business until Victor is ready to see you again. Victor, if I were you, I would go to the Lounge on the first floor basement as quickly as possible.

Alpha sighs in relief. 'Just what I was hoping they'd say...I need time to think about all this...especially this stuff with Meridel.' He silently kicked himself for not completely focusing on the fight while it had been going on, but the situation with Meridel had always stayed in the back of his mind. He needed time to contemplate what exactly he was going to do about all this...

"I'll see you all later then." He slowly walks to the stairway, as if heading back to his room, leaving the others behind. When he's finally out of their sight, he quickly checks to make sure that no one else is around. Seeing and sensing no one anywhere, his scar glows violet again as he walks straight into the wall in front of him - and into the Void.

A few minutes after he has entered the strange world, he exits it, far away from where the fight with Orias had taken place - North Forest. The Sheikah settled into a meditative pose and began to contemplate. He would return to the underground city when his decision was made...

"The lounge? Well, OK, I guess so. As long as it's really Darizan this time."

Loosely saluting the two men and waving good bye to Alpha, Victor headed towards the stairway and began climbing down. He, too, was glad to be leaving the dungeon, and tried to avoid looking at the rotting corpses that he had so easily ignored before. Still, the Bard was happy that Orias would no longer bother him, though he had to wonder why he had in the first place. He also began to wonder about the note that Selerovisk had spoken of.

"Alpha hadn't said anything about a note. If they had left a note, then that meant Alpha had to have left... Then again, he was probably just getting some rest, too. No harm in that."

Having reached the lounge's floor, Victor dismissed his thoughts and walked towards the lounge's door, opening it and stepping inside...

Inside the lounge is a gathering of couches and chairs, with a large polished table in the center. Eloquent red carpet lines the floors, and the walls are painted deep green to set the tone of serenity for the room. While there are no signs of recreation, the Lounge still seems to based on relaxation. The room is vacant, save for one man sitting on the couch, Darizan. At the far end of the Lounge is a door labelled "Infirmary."

Entering the cozy space of the lounge, Victor immediately felt somewhat more relaxed; a welcome sensation after the fight with Orias. The Bard was itching to sink into one of the plush couches, but, seeing Orias, he smiled and bowed instead.

"Hello Darizan. Selerovisk said you wanted to see me?"

Darizan sees Victor enter and stands abruptly, nodding to him and gesturing towards one of the comfortable chairs. Standing there with his dark cloak and his curly red hair and deep tanned skin, he truly resembles his supposed ancestor, Ganondorf. However, Victor had mentioned that he is not entirely well-versed with Hyrulian legacies and histories. Darizan probably just looks like a masculine Gerudo.

Welcome, Victor. You do not have to explain your lateness, I already know. Orias. The fool. It is a shame that he was only thrown into the dungeon. Now, there is a reason I have called you here. It is time to redeem yourself. Giving in to the Intelligent Ones ideals - although accidental - was not a good first impression. The Council has decided to send you, along with 5 others, into the Hospitality District to find one of the Stones of Curse. Before the Intelligent Ones do. There is little time for preparation, and I am not the best at debriefing. You will have to find out as much as you can from Maverick or Tristan, if you see them.

Darizan strides to the Infirmary and opens the door, stepping through while continuing his directions.

I hate to summon you for only a two-minute meeting, Victor, but this operation was mostly the others' idea. Tristan and Maverick will be in their dormitories on the seventeenth and eighteenth floors.

The Infirmary door closes behind him, leaving Victor alone in the Lounge to absorb the recent startling and sudden news.

OOC: Hey! Victor would know who Ganondorf was! Sheesh!

IC: Victor's mouth sagged open as Darizan explained the situation to him, and still hung agape as the Gerudo left the lounge. Closing his mouth, the Bard brought his hand up to his head and plopped down into one of the sofas.

"Another encounter with an Intelligent One? I don't know if I could handle that... Look at how Orias tore me apart, and he was just an old mage. Well... hopefully the team will be there with me this time..."

Taking a few moments to rest on the couch before getting up, Victor left the lounge and ascended the stairs towards the seventeenth floor.

After a long, long climb, he managed to reach the seventeenth floor. Panting, he stopped to regain the breath that he had lost on the way up, then knocked on the nearest door in search of Tristan or Maverick's dorm...

Complete silence follows the knocking, and no one answers the door. It is at this time that a golden plate hanging above the door can be seen. It reads "Lara Caroll." Darizan mentioned that Victor should seek Tristan or Maverick. On this floor, the two other doors are labelled "Serin Sesseau" and "Tristan Berrak." The golden nameplates are nothing special, it would only make sense for every chamber in the castle to be labelled in such a way. Although it is merely a trivial concern, it may interest Victor to know who he is barging in on beforehand.

OOC: Nothing like having to specify a different door, eh?

OOC: So true.

IC: Embarrassed that he had not seen the name plates before, Victor quietly moved in the direction of Tristan's dorm. Knocking, he hoped that Tristan would answer soon. The sooner this mission was over, the sooner the Bard could get some rest. And hopefully train a little more...

Tristan opens the door, grinning widely as he sees the bard standing in front of him. In his left hand he holds a document, and in his right is a thick cigar. He throws the latter into his dorm when he sees Victor, knowing that the bard will have questions about the latest mission.

Victor! It's about time you heaved yourself up from that bed of yours. So what can I do for you?

A confused look crossed Victor's face for a second before his smile returned. He had forgotten his little slumber before the fight with Orias. Perhaps it would've been more fitting for Tristan to say 'dungeon floor' instead of 'bed'. He chuckled inwardly at this as he spoke to the man before him.

"Uh... I came for the mission. Darizan said that you and Maverick had some kind of mission for me and some of the others. In the Hospitality District, I believe? Something about the Stones of Curse..."

OOC: Reading time for me. Don't expect any replies till tomorrow if you post now, Blank.

The Goron nods and folds his arms, preparing for an in-depth explanation. His voice shows signs that he has great faith in the mission, and that it will be a great success.

Reconnaissance has gathered clues of the whereabouts of one of the six Stones of Curse. It was discovered during today's recon mission to the Hospitality District. Obviously enough, we want you to retrieve it for us. Accompanied by a group, of course. The Intelligent Ones are searching for it as well. Should you encounter one alone, and should the Intelligent One show intent to kill, there will be no saving you.

As you are, there is no way for you to possibly succeed this mission. The Cursed Ones in the Hospitality District are stronger than those from the Training District. The time has come, bard, for you to receive Wolfeye's gift. I suggest going to his dormitory now, one level up from here. If you're lucky, he'll still be there.

Tristan yawns and stretches, his shorter body appearing temporarily larger. Shaking his head and keeping himself awake until Victor leaves.

It would be better for you to go quickly. Your fight lasted well into the midnight hours, and your party leaves at dawn. Get some sleep once you've found Myst.

Nodding and waving good bye to the Goron, Victor began up the stairs to the next floor. On the way, he couldn't help but yawn as well. It had been a long time since he'd gotten any sleep. He was thankful that he would get a chance to get some before the mission.

Reaching the next floor, the Bard hastily looked around for a nameplated with 'Wolfeye' on it. After all, his sleep could wait if there were gifts involved...