Lumberer

The three women head to the hunting grounds. The place is just as pretty as before, there are no animals around at the moment, which might be a good sign for them.

Yulia sits down by the water, "there's no telling how long we'll be waiting, so make sure you're ready, but also feel free to get a bit comfortable. If we get tired waiting, it will be a problem," she states. Cherchiel nods and joins her by the water as Goma flops down nearby, looking up at the sun.

The three women experience a short, restful and relaxing few moments as they wait for Lumberer to appear.

"So, Yulia..." Cherchiel says as she puts a hand around Yulia's shoulder, "while we're waiting, tell us a bit about your world or something," Cherchiel suggests and Yulia shrugs.

"Okay, but in return I want to know more about the Tower," she says.

"Of course," Cherchiel agrees and Goma nods in agreement.

Yulia leans against Cherchiel, "well my earliest memory was waking up one day after having a nightmare, I was around ten years old at the time and already living at the church. At that age I wasn't a healer yet, I was what's called an Aspirant. The name means someone who wants to serve the church, but in terms of actual job, it's basically a servant. My job was to clean up, help cook meals, organize things, I mean I was only ten so mostly my job was to actually just assist others in doing those things, but as I got older I'd be the one doing that with my own assistant to help me, it was tough, but I enjoyed it. Anyway... I had a nightmare... I was in an abandoned village, all around me were corpses and all of the corpses were releasing some kind of gas into the air, the gas was alive though and it was trying to catch me, so I was running. I woke up when it reached me and my panicked cries woke up a lot of the others. Some of them were mad, but two of my friends were there for me and they helped calm me down," Yulia recounts and then sighs, "I miss them, I wonder what they're doing right now?" she asks quietly

"Cherchiel smiles and shakes Yulia slightly, "I'm sure they're fine and when you've beaten this tower, you'll get to go back and see them again as a hero," Cherchiel says and Yulia nods.

"My earliest memory of course was just being created fully formed as an Angel of the One True God, I was replacing another angel who had had my post and been killed by a previous challenger. My job was to simply stand outside the chamber of the One True God and wrestle anyone who wanted to pass. Since my creation and before you I saw my way through multiple challengers. I don't know how many exactly, I didn't think to start keeping count until after a few had passed. A few beat me, but not many. I was very proud of my position at the time, I had defeated many more than I had lost too. Of course those I defeated I assume eventually fell to something else on the floor, many probably ended up giving up and becoming priests or nuns... I feel a bit bad about that now. How many people like Yulia had I stood in the way of... how many worlds had I doomed?" Cherchiel says shrugging a bit at the end, "I don't feel guilt, I was just doing what I was made for, I didn't have a choice until you came along, but it is interesting and saddening to think that if things had been different, I might have stood in your path and prevented you from proceeding," she mutters and Yulia hesitates, apparently not having thought about that herself.

"Goma remember being born!" Goma suddenly pipes up, "Goma was born and saw Queen! Queen tell Goma she Goma and then more goblins come get Goma and teach her make things! Goma learn and grow quickly! Become new Goblin Maker person very quickly! Best Goblin Maker Person! Queen say Goma best Goblin Maker ever," Goma says proudly and Yulia and Cherchiel both take a few seconds to parse this and then Yulia speaks.

"You remember your birth?" she asks.

"Of course Goma remember birth! Only few days ago..." she says and Yulia looks shocked.

"You're only a few days old!?" she asks horrified.

"Yes, Goma..." she hesitates, thinking, "fourteen days old! Goblin grow quickly, Oldest Goblin other than Queen 5 years old, very old Goblin, Queen special, Queen older than all Goblins! Queen at least... 20?" she says seemingly guessing, "Queen ancient and wise!" Goma says excitedly.

"I..." Yulia starts and then Cherchiel coughs.

"Goblins are born and mature to adulthood within a single day, they normally live a normal life span of only about 4-6 years. Translated to a normal human aging system she'd be the equivalent of about... I don't know exactly, 30 or so? Maybe a bit less," Cherchiel clarifies.

Yulia stares forward, "I guess that makes sense..." she says clearly still trying to wrap her head around the idea she's traveling with a 14 day old person.

As the three continue their conversation a sound like a tree breaking reaches them and they stop. Quickly they stand up, getting into position. Cherchiel moves forward, her shield ready, boar mask in hand and spear leaned against her shoulder. Yulia stands just a bit behind her, rapier held at the ready, other hand ready to cast. Goma grabs the horn and a grenade in her other hand.

Lumberer arrives, crashing through the treeline and emerging into the clearing.

Cherchiel places the boar mask on as Lumberer spots the group, Yulia hits Cherchiel with an energize and Boarchiel releases a roar into the air. The sound of The Hunting Horn energizes Yulia and Boarchiel and as Boarchiel rushes towards Lumberer who lifts his tree trunk club, Yulia hits him with an undermine. His large form sags slightly and the tree comes crashing down beside him as Boarchiel reaches him and stabs her spear into his chest, the spear fails to fully pierce his extremely thick, almost armor like skin, but it does seem to hurt him still and he roars and tries to swat Boarchiel away, but she easily dodges his slow attack, however something is wrong. Boarchiel suddenly lets out a pained squeal and backs away, raising her shield to try and cover her nose. A terrible stench is coming off of Lumberer and as it reaches Yulia and Goma both also seem affected by it. It's sapping their will to stand their ground.

Lumberer takes advantage of this and with some difficulty swings his tree trunk at Boarchiel. She tries to dodge again, but the stench is making her feel woozy and it's hard to judge her movement properly, she gets clipped with the tree trunk's roots and knocked onto her side. She starts to get up as Lumberer raises his tree attempting to crush her, Yulia moves in to save Boarchiel and stabs her rapier into Lumberer's thigh, it doesn't pierce much either, but does get his attention and he turns and grabs her, yanking her off the ground and roaring in her face before tossing her away, Yulia cries out as she hits the ground, bounces and rolls to a stop. Boarchiel is back up and stabs her spear into Lumberer's leg and this time it manages to stab through and Lumberer collapses down on one knee, but he responds by grabbing Boarchiel and slamming her into the ground, a pained squeal escaping her as she's slammed into the ground hard enough to leave a Boarchiel shaped imprint. She's struggling to get back up still, but Lumberer ignores her, seemingly assuming she's down for the count. Instead his eyes move to the only still standing member of the group. He begins to approach Goma, Goma seems to notice she's being targeted again and backs away, but Lumberer reaches her quickly, even with his injured leg. He reaches her and a grin twists on his face as he seems to recognize a goblin, a rare treat for him. Goma panics and tosses the grenade at his face and it explodes in his face.

As the smoke from the explosion clears, Lumberer's face has been peppered with shrapnel, but while he seems badly weakened, he's not down yet and he starts to reach for the poor goblin, now quite angry, but he stops as Boarchiel returns, jumping onto his back and slamming her spear repeatedly into the back of his skull. It doesn't pierce his thick hide and skull the first time, but the second starts to stab in as he roars and tries desperately to knock her away before the spear fully penetrates on the third stab, stabbing into his brain. He drops to his knees and then collapses entirely as Boarchiel falls off of him. Goma attempts to heal Boarchiel and Yulia and soon both are back up as Lumberer's body disappears, luckily taking the terrible stench with it and leaves behind a number of items.

The first item of course is the vial of sticky white fluid, next is a much more manageably sized club shaped like a tree, though also refined with the removal of branches and roots so it would be easier to hold and swing then a simple uprooted tree and lastly a heavy and hairy sweater and sweatpants combo.

Yulia grabs the items and wrinkles her nose as the sweater and pants combo smell foul, though not as bad as Lumberer himself did.

Boarchiel removes the boar mask and give Yulia and Goma a grin, "we did it. We took out Lumberer!" she cheers and Yulia and Goma both cheer as well.

(Health: 160% (Took about 60 damage from being tossed, but was healed 20 by Goma)

Mana: 50% (One cast of Energize and One cast of Undermine)

Equipment: Ceramic Beaked Mask, Monastic Scapular , standard bra, Standard Panties, 3 poison gas grenades, 3 healing kits, 1 syringe of poison, 1 syringe of adrenaline, 1 syringe of poison antidote, 1 sewing kit, 1 vial of strong aerosolizing aphrodisiac, 8 days worth of rations, 3 two liter water jug, 1 half filled two liter water jug, 1 health potion, 1 mana potion, A boar mask, 3 vials of sticky white liquid, Ornate Rapier, 4 arrows, Quiver, God's Favour (Halo), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), Bone Spear, Demonic Spellbook, Ash's Quiver, 6 charm arrows, Old Oak Club, Thick Hide Outfit.

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%)

Unlock (Lvl 1, Unmastered, Cost: 15%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors)

Undermine (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%).

Fetish: Bondage Rank: 1, Masochism Rank: 1, Lesbian rank: 1

Status Effect: Permanent increase to physical attribute. Combat level raised to medium

Psychosexual Break: In order to deal with her trauma, Yulia has begun to subconsciously fetishize her experiences.

Deflowered: Virginity Lost, sexual experience changed to: Inexperienced, non-virgin.

Marked by The Abyss: The Tower Below wants you.

Companion: Cherchiel, Blacksmith, Goma.

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear, Ultra Durable Shield, Reinforced Bodysuit.

Goma Equipment: Runed Dagger, Hunting Horn

Goma Mana: 50%

Goma spells known: Heal (Unmastered, 25%)

https://forum.chyoa.com/threads/the-tower-of-voices-voting-thread.3460/ )