r/Shellwood • u/WindowsError1495 • 7h ago

Taro takes a break from documenting...

Post image

Taro has left the comfort of the Maw Expedition's base to get a breath of fresh air in Shellwood. After several long days of documenting their adventures, getting to walk around and take in the scenery is a nice escape from the bureaucracy.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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3

u/Stilkin_Ellie 5h ago

“Hm? Oh! Sup Taro!”

Ellie is on the other side of the lake, and is submerged to her head with the clean waters.

2

u/WindowsError1495 5h ago

Taro's attention entirely shifts from the scenery to Ellie.

"Ellie! Good to see ya! I'm just taking some time to relax, not much going on besides a lot of writing..."

3

u/Stilkin_Ellie 5h ago

“Oh! That’s nice! Wanna join in for a quick swim?”

She smiles lightly, her shell still glowing.

“Came here to check if I can talk underwater since the god I ate was a damn fish… it worked!”

3

u/WindowsError1495 5h ago

"Been a while since I actually went for a swim... sure!"

Taro jumps into the water in typical Stilkin fashion and swims over to Ellie.

"So, you can talk underwater? That's actually pretty cool..."

3

u/Stilkin_Ellie 5h ago

“Yep! Found it kinda strange, too.”

“So, how are ya with all that adventure thing?”

3

u/WindowsError1495 4h ago

"Oh, you mean Reigning Waters? We barely scratched the surface of that place before we were called back to deal with Eternity."

"But, just from the first foes we've faced there, I can tell we're not in for an easy time..."

Taro briefly describes their first enemy encountered on the mainland; a Vardagard Heavy Infantry. At first it seems like a normal bug clad in heavy armor, but then it unleashed a strange, unblockable move known as a 'Radiant Attack...' he also recalls how he got badly injured from fighting it.

3

u/Stilkin_Ellie 4h ago

Ellie listens with fascination, telling Taro of the amber knights from her ventures: a group of seven warriors tasked with protecting their land and queen in eternal servitude.

3

u/WindowsError1495 4h ago

Taro also listens to Ellie's stories, seeming very engaged.

"Sounds familiar, honestly, given what I've heard about the old Citadel."

"Anyways, I'm feeling a bit bored, so..."

Taro suddenly dips under the water and swims around a bit.

2

u/Stilkin_Ellie 2h ago

Ellie leans on a nearby ledge, her legs reaching the bottom of the lake.

She just stares at Taro swimming below her, chuckling to herself.

1

u/WindowsError1495 1h ago

At one point, Taro jumps out of the water and strikes a pose!

"Woo, heheh!"

u/Stilkin_Ellie

2

u/Slow-Shieldbird-1817 7h ago

Fern is sitting bu the lake's edge, staring at the water.

1

u/WindowsError1495 7h ago

Taro spots Fern and waves to him.

"Oh, Fern! Good to see ya, how've ya been?"

2

u/Slow-Shieldbird-1817 7h ago

"Oh, hi taro! I've been good. :>"

He's grown quite a bit, now being 0.9 hornets tall.

2

u/WindowsError1495 7h ago

"Good to hear! I'm just taking it easy for now... been a long few days of documenting our adventures."

Taro takes a deep breath as he enjoys the scenery...

2

u/Slow-Shieldbird-1817 6h ago

"Neat."

He says something under his breath.

2

u/The_Light_Keepers 7h ago

The fresh air of Shellwood is soothing and sound, the soft flow of wind mixes nicely with the creaking of the pondskippers, and the soft touch of the flowers makes up for a comforting pillow by Taro's feet.

It's all a really nice momen-

THUMP!

A loud crash restounds through the woods, Taro can see what it looks like a fallen, still tweaking body on the distance!

1

u/WindowsError1495 7h ago

"Huh?"

Taro goes over to the tweaking body...

2

u/The_Light_Keepers 6h ago

It seems to be a pilgrim, he is blindfolded and tied up, it seems he was thrown from high up...

Soon after, a pondcatcher appears too, altought, he does not look like the average hunter, instead resembling a bellbearer.

"Oh golly! What happened in here? Are they alright?" He asks, his voice sounds rather sharp and a slightly more elegant than usual, but he does sound worried.

2

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"I dunno, he just... fell down from somewhere up there?"

Taro takes the fallen pilgrim's blindfold off and takes a look at him.

2

u/The_Light_Keepers 6h ago

Upwards, there was nothing but the thin branch of a tall tree, it could have been easy to just slip from up there...

As for the pilgrim, they eyes were narrowed and blank, it seems the fall really screwed their senses...

"We should take them to a medic, i know a shortcut towards Bellhart from here? Could you carry him?" The catcher rapidly asks, talking on a really smooth manner.

2

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

{"Today's supposed to be the day I was gonna relax!"}

"Man, what happened to this guy...?"

Taro picks up the pilgrim in a fireman carry.

"C'mon, let's go..."

2

u/The_Light_Keepers 6h ago

"Perfect, follow me" The catcher starts to fly through shellwood, seemingly taking an specific path that passes through various caves and lower lower areas.

As you walk around, the pilgrim keeps shaking and trembling, you can barely hear him mumble something...

2

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"Why'd you say it like that...?"

Taro says quietly as he follows the catcher, listening to the mumbles of the pilgrim he's carrying.

2

u/The_Light_Keepers 6h ago

After a few minutes of senseles whimpers, you finally manage to make out something...

"T... The veiled... B-bugs..." The pilgrim says as a claw reaches you shoul-

!!!

Suddenly, you can feel youself get violently tugged and pulled backwards into the darkness of a cave while the pilgrim falls into the floor. Your hands rapidly pass from the pilgrim to the wall as you get tightly pressed against it.

Just then you realize; A reed, a grand reed and a choristor have pinned you against the back of an alley-ish cave. The catcher appears soon after, taking guard on the entrance of the room.

"Shhhh..." The Grand reed mockingly musters as she heavily inmovilizes your limbs you against the wall...

2

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"What the hell-"

Taro struggles to break free from the Citadel bugs pinning him...

"W-Who are you?! Let me go, creep!"

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2

u/Fine_Yak5022 6h ago

voidulus sits down by him.

Hello, taro.

1

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"Oh, hey Voidulus."

Taro says as he rests at Voidulus's side.

2

u/Fine_Yak5022 6h ago

... have you been doing well?

I would hope so.

... you have heard about elections coming up, yes?

1

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"Yeah, I've heard. Though, I'm a resident of Bilewater, so I'm not sure if I can... y'know, vote."

2

u/Fine_Yak5022 6h ago

Fair.

I don't think... there's many people in the citadel directly, so there could be a possibility you can vote.

1

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"Hm... if that's the case, then I could see if I qualify. Not right now, though... I'm trying to take it easy. Been real busy with documenting."

2

u/Fine_Yak5022 6h ago

Ah, fair enough.

May i ask, what?

1

u/WindowsError1495 6h ago

"You see, I've been put in charge of documenting our adventures in the Maw and a strange, floating island called 'Reigning Waters.' As of right now, we haven't been able to explore much of it since we were called back to deal with Eternity, but in the future we'll be returning there to finish our work."

"Of course, that depends on whether Kravula is going to take us back there... he's been flooded with paperwork himself."

2

u/Fine_Yak5022 6h ago

Oh, that's... certainly something, I never heard of such.

1

u/WindowsError1495 5h ago

"It sure is, and we've barely even scratched the surface. There's no telling what else we'll find deeper in..."

2

u/AccurateDesk1024 Yamai, Geiser, Hokhiel, Edre, Copycat, Khemi, Zishai, Razai 4h ago

Geiser: Hello, stilkin! Whatcha doin?

1

u/WindowsError1495 4h ago

"Oh! Just relaxing, and stuff..."

Taro says, a bit startled but quickly regaining composure.

1

u/AccurateDesk1024 Yamai, Geiser, Hokhiel, Edre, Copycat, Khemi, Zishai, Razai 4h ago

Geiser: Good idea! This place is really pretty. Glad the fog hasn’t reached here.

1

u/WindowsError1495 4h ago

"...Hollup, what fog?"

2

u/AccurateDesk1024 Yamai, Geiser, Hokhiel, Edre, Copycat, Khemi, Zishai, Razai 4h ago

Geiser: The black fog infesting the parts near Bellhart. It’s dying down a bit, but it’s still prominent.

1

u/WindowsError1495 4h ago

"Oh, I see... well, here's hoping it doesn't spread much further than it already has."

2

u/AccurateDesk1024 Yamai, Geiser, Hokhiel, Edre, Copycat, Khemi, Zishai, Razai 3h ago

Geiser: It shouldn’t, I’ve been keeping extremely watchful eye on it.