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< thearchitect > Seeking assistance

[ Attached is a picture of one of the spider nests in the Red Hills. It's from a wary distance but there are no spiders visible; only their many, many webs. The picture comes with a VOICED message: ]

I had thought to tackle this task myself, but I quite overestimated the number of arachnids here. I would like to collect some of this venom for myself in addition to what this quest asks, and for that I require some help.

[ A pause. ]

A healer would be a boon but I care not so long as you are capable.

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Used to capturing snakes for my squad back home. How big are they?

[After fighting a giant flaming lion, she wouldn't be surprised if there were other giant insects.]

[ A few minutes and then another picture comes: this one is from a different angle and just barely depicts one of the spiders crouched at the corner of a web. ]

Large enough to be a danger to the average man. They will be dangerous to subdue.

Of course they are. Still, means the chances of them slipping away are slimmer. Maybe the venom will be easier to get thanks to their size.

[Always had to borrow Haruka's tools for this. Yet if they were bigger, seemed like she could afford to be a tad less careful.]

I'm not sure how one goes about milking the venom from a spider. I did prepare some bottles however. If you are able to hold the creature still then we can work from there.

Should be easy once I figure out the right voltage.

[And learn how to properly use lightning when her training mostly involved using fire and wind effectively.]

When do you wanna try this out?

I will be here for a few days yet studying the creatures and harvesting local flora. Come at your earliest convenience.

[ He has a little campsite set up on one of the nearby hills, beneath a tree. ]

[Homura would eventually arrive, though she didn't go to the old man just yet. Rather, she thought about practicing her lightning magic with the spiders. Seemed like the best idea so time wasn't wasted.

...Sadly, that meant a lot of dead spiders, and a lot of fire to deal with the ones that exploded into more tiny spiders. By the time he got curious to check the cave out again, he would see Homura trying to stomp any of the fire left.

She looked back up at him, blinking. Welp.]

So you probably have a lot of questions, but I think I got the right voltage for sure! Just needed some time to practice is all!

[ It's incredibly difficult to not notice a cloud of smoke rising about the spiders' den. Emet-Selch takes up his gunblade and hurries out to investigate, familiar gliding above him as back-up. The closer he gets to the scene, the more cautiously he approaches...until he comes across her, stamping out spot fires. ]

...I admire your initiative, but you could have just as easily tested it with someone to watch your back.

[ Sighing, he glances about at the carnage. His lips twist into a grimace. ]

Please tell me you left some alive.

Oh I already have someone for that.

[She points to her familiar just a few ways off near a bag: a brown snake. Said snake waved back when addressed.]

And of course some are alive. I just tested on a few that wandered out here. Even got two more test subjects over there.

[She pointed her thumb near a tree, where two large spiders seemed to be paralyzed, unmoving and laying on their backs. Occasionally they twitched, but it definitely seemed they were knocked out for now.]

I see.

[ Well, she just made his job easier. He decides to make the most of the situation and strides over to inspect the paralysed specimens. ]

Now, how does one harvest venom from a spider... As one does a snake, or...?

[ Engrossed as he is in his task, he fails to immediately notice the presence of further spiders. ]

With spiders, I usually give them a second shot of electricity to make them vomit and get what I need. Need the right dosage, or you kill them, they explode and well...you saw the mess I had to clean up.

[Homura got up, about to make a observation, yet stopped. Having read a spider's blood to get the right voltage, she could know when some were coming. Much easier when they were coming in masse.]

We're about to have company! Get ready!

[Probably should have just dragged the two she nabbed earlier. She raised her hand, electricity visible. Well, at least she could stun some more.]

[ Just as he's about to ask if she can deliver a jolt of electricity to one of them, the spiders interrupt them. He curses under his breath and stands quickly, grabbing his weapon. ]

Since you wield the elements, would you prefer I stand back and take care of the stragglers?

[ He wouldn't like to get fried to a crisp in their stead. ]

Yes please! I'll try and and stun the main force!

[Just needed the right level of charge and avoid getting bitten. As the spiders rushed her, she darted around them, jumping and dash away from each strike of the leg or mouth. Her natural speed was good, but she had been using wind magic for the extra edge, seemingly toying with her prey. Really, she was just buying time.

By the time the next spider tried to strike with its leg, she slid under it, striking it with her electrified. Once on the other side, the spider fell, knocked out but not yet killed. Killing so many...Homura wasn't afraid of bugs, but even she didn't want to deal with so many.]

Dunno whether to be thankful I practiced on you guys or not.

[Mainly since the practice might have caused this in the first place. Next time, maybe she should have lured them even farther away.]

Very well.

[ He gives her ample room to work her wild magic, eyeing the spiders who attempt to skitter around to attack her back. As it turns out, their carapaces simply make his sword bounce off, but activating the aether cartridges and attacking them that way seems to work just fine.

Why are so many of the native creatures immune to steel? Ugh.

Emet-Selch does his best to avoid killing those who come his way, but some are simply too aggressive. He beats them back or kills them outright, soon surrounding himself with several of their dead. ]

If you can intimidate them to force them to retreat for a few minutes, I can harvest what I need, [ he calls to her. ]

[Intimidation...given the current predicament and the growing size, seemed like the best call. Question was how. Though it soon came to her as Tsumuji leapt around her shoulders, rising her body up and down to give her master an idea. And fortunately, Homura had just the thing.

She moved away from the cave entrance, only to suddenly face it and her pursuers. Rather than lightning though, fire erupted from her hands. Shooting it at both sides, she concentrated on the flames, the trail from the blaze growing bigger. She was forming a cage of flames, one the spiders dared not pass.

It was quite a standoff, the bugs unsure whether to test their luck. All until one tried...only to reel back in pain once its leg was burned. They all retreated back into the cave moments later, slowly, cautiously watching Homura.

With the last spider slinking back to their lair, she took the barrier of flames down, and sighed heavily. Too draining to keep it up consistently. ]

Not bad for a first try at least, huh?

[ He admits to a small amount of envy as he watches her work. Elemental magic is by and large the most impressive visually, he thinks. The most versatile in combat as well. Not for the first time, he wishes he had his natural abilities back. ]

Indeed. I shall try to be quick.

[ He crouches by one twitching spider with a flask ready. The flask seems to have some kind of thin covering over its mouth. He waves his hand before its many eyes to get its attention, whereupon the creature attempts to bite. Instead of his arm, it gets the flask instead. Venom trickles into the glass container and soon fills it. ]

Hmm, I may have to customise the shape so it better fits past the mandibles...

[ He doesn't realise he has spoken this aloud, occupied with his task as he is. ]

[Just had to stay on guard in the meantime should they return. Indeed, some had tried to slowly leave the cave, only to watch as Homura raised her hands, fire briefly forming until they fled back in. Least she was making a good impression in terms of fear.]

Yeah those can be a bit of a pain in the ass. Wish I had some advice there but zilch there. [She shrugged. Might help in going equipment hunting again should they need to do this again.]

[ It's something he can leave for another day. For now, he simply needs a good amount of samples to use for his alchemy.

He manages to get three vials of the stuff before the spider finally wises up and refuses to take his bait. Instead it begins chittering loudly, as though calling to its kin. ]

I believe we're done here. Let us retreat.

One escape route, coming up!

[She unleashes another wall of fire to cut off the approaching spiders; temporary at best, but it would provide them a good head start. Grabbing her familiar, she retreats from the scene, running past the old man.]

[ He follows swiftly on her heels, only glancing back once to make sure the fire really is holding them back. The spiders seem far more concerned about their burning home than two intruders, so it doesn't take long for them to reach safety. ]

This seems far enough.

[Homura sighed as they came to a stop. Not tired, so much as annoyed. She rubbed the back of her head.]

Sorry for a...well extraction as messy as that. Thought I had things under control before the swarm came.

We escaped unharmed, did we not? 'Twas satisfactory.

[ He manages a slight smile at her. Hopefully it's reassuring and not intimidating. ]

If I had attempted this alone, I would have been overwhelmed. You have my thanks, girl.

[Most certainly was, and she nodded, smiling right back.]

No prob. I think my friend will enjoy some of this poison too if I can get some more.

Oh right, don't think we exchanged names. [Probably could've done that earlier if she hadn't been practicing.] Name's Homura.

You may call me Emet-Selch.

[ He holds out one of the vials for her to take. ]

Here. Now that I know how to harvest them, 'twill be easier to obtain more.

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< thearchitect > Seeking assistance

voice; crimsonflame

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Meant to type spiders instead of snakes >_>;;; thankfully that still works

I'll pretend she said spiders lmao

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sorry for wait! big weekend for ffxiv fans

no worries!

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