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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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Yes, yes. If you say so.

[ --is all he says before hanging up. Hey, he's sure he'll spot Katsuki (or hear him) soon enough. At least he sounds amused about it.

He'll be waiting on the road. ]

[ Unless someone pisses him off? Well, not likely. Either way, the old man is definitely going to see Bakugou strolling up, but this time with company. There is exactly one phoenix riding on a shoulder, looking rather smug and comfortable.

Bakugou, of course, just looks extremely put out. Resigned, but put out. ]

Can't handle some of these spiders by yourself? You looked like you've had plenty of combat experience.

[ Just an observation that he had made the last couple of times he's run into this guy... ]

[ His own familiar doesn't seem to be about but it'll come when he calls them. His mouth curves up at the corner as he lifts a hand in greeting. ]

Whilst I am confident in my sword arm, there are quite a number of spiders lurking. I wouldn't like to be ambushed by one as I extracted the venom of another.

[ Okay but since when wouldn't a phoenix be useful in this case? At least with as conceited as she can be, Ruby is at least willing to play look out a little. Well, as long as she doesn't get caught up in web.

He gives a nod at the explanation, accepting it. ]

Never bothered to ask what your magic type was before.

[ Since, you know, Bakugou and his barriers would come in handy in this case. ]

Edited 2021-04-16 00:12 (UTC)

Alchemy. Hence my need for the spiders' venom. I need it to brew certain potions.

[ He certainly looks the part, sporting a grimoire at his hip and some vials along his belt. There's even a small, multi-purpose knife strapped to his thigh for prying open chitins and bark for sap and so on. Someone's wasted no time fitting in. ]

Ah, and I do seem to have acquired a new ability to speak with the dead, although I don't see that being of use here. What of yourself?

[ Fucking nerd. Just like shitty Deku. Hopefully this guy is better at it than the other though.

At least there shouldn't really be a problem snatching and isolating a spider. The problem might be containing it long enough to get the venom? ]

Probably won't be.

[ Speaking to the dead, that is. Bakugou doesn't think that will be very helpful unless there's a dead person around that could explain how to best wrangle a spider. ]

Ended up with elemental.

[ Which suits him just fine, really. ]

Wonderful.

[ Perfect, even. Like having a thaumaturge or a sorcerer at one's side. He gestures towards the hills, to where he has pinpointed one of the spiders' nests to be, and starts to lead the way there. ]

I do need to harvest the venom from live specimens, but you're free to slaughter any which refuse to cooperate. I'm sure the natives won't mind. Just don't eradicate all of them, hmm?

[ It would kind of suck to lose a source of such useful venom. ]

I'm more than capable of controlling myself.

[ Despite what his explosive temperament may lead people to believe. That's why he looks towards the nests and follows with his hands in his pockets.

Probably use some wind magic to shake the webbing to lure one.

Yeah, he's already thinking of strategy. ]

Just don't take too long, huh?

I'll do my best.

[ One last check of inventory before they start. Glass containers: check. Gloves: check. Mask: check. Weapon: check.

He whistles quietly and his familiar hops out of a portal of swirling darkness. It sniffs the air and bares its teeth. Seems there are already some spiders nearby.

He nods to the young man as he holds his gunblade ready. ]

Go ahead.

[ If that creature can point them into the right direction? Bakugou looks to his shoulder and Ruby looks right back. She seems to understand what he needs without words. The bird takes off into the air. Katsuki isn't really worried about her either. A phoenix is a bird on fire. Should she be caught in web then she can burn her way out.

Which is exactly what Katsuki intends. They are both a little reckless. A job to get done. So once the sound of spiders come? Ruby explodes into flame to break away.

But it's certainly attracted their "prey" all the same. For lack of a better term. ]

[ The spiders screech and begin to swarm around the burning web, afraid of the fire yet not wanting their home to burn to nothing. Emet-Selch holds steady and waits until he sees one wobbling, struggling to cling to fraying webs. As soon as it slips off, he lunges in to strike with his sword--

The edge skitters off its carapace and he staggers back. Of all the rotten luck - it seems that the creature is immune to physical weapons.

Gritting his teeth, he ignites the ceruleum on his gunblade and draws a large X in the air. A sharp, follow-up stab thrusts the X towards the spider. Panicked chittering fills the air as the blue fire washes over it and Emet-Selch smiles in satisfaction. Purchasing ammunition from those traders had been well worth it. ]

[ That's -! Okay, that whole thing is pretty cool. Bakugou wants a sword or blade or whatever the fuck that is. He wants one exactly like it because that is as neat as hell and it fuels his inner nerd that he tries to keep hidden.

Not that Bakugou is going to say any of that crap of course. Instead he focuses on the spider and the way it seems to be burning? Is it burning? ]

Don't you need that thing alive?

I do. Don't worry, it doesn't burn very long.

[ See? The blue fire is quickly dissipating, so volatile that it burns up quickly in the open air. But it's certainly left a scorch mark on the spider.

Another cartridge wreathes the blade itself in blue flame. Though the carapace continues to deflect his steel, the fire bites into the creature as he drives it away from its fellows.

A part of him feels a twinge of guilt for treating it so ruthlessly. All he needs is its venom and the spider is simply defending its home. ]

[ Now Bakugou doesn't exactly feel bad. It's a spider. They need/want the venom. Unfortunately, that's just how it works. You don't necessarily feel bad for the cow that makes your burger, right?

Right. ]

Okay, but how are you going to extract the stuff if you keep trying to burn it?

[ With the spider isolated and panicking over the residual flames flickering over it, Emet-Selch snaps his fingers. An earthen cage traps the creature in place, made solid by stone and other minerals in the soil. Not elegant but serviceable. ]

There, no more burning, [ he says airily. The fire dies out of its own accord and the unfortunate spider curls up against the bars. ] Let's see how many more we can trap.

Just how many are you gonna want to trap like that?

[ Bakugou is mildly impressed indeed. All of this so far has been effective. He's already looking around and scoping out another spider to bring down. ]

Shall we say two more? In case the first does not cooperate.

[ He's ready to catch the next spider Bakugou drops. His familiar, having dropped down to perch on top of the spider's makeshift cage, growls in anticipation. It lifts its head and snaps at a spider hanging nearby. ]

Cover your eyes then.

[ Because Bakugou will send a blast towards the spiders in the shadows of course. Not a fire blast. More like a flashbang of light to blind and disorient! ]

[ Once again, light sears through the backs of his eyelids. He waits until it dims, blinking away spots, and then immediately goes after a spider skittering away from its friends. Another earthen cage traps it. Two down, one more to go.

For the last, he weaves the ceruleum into a more complex form: a fiery bird that streams forward and scatters the remaining creatures. The heat from it is no worse than a single bullet despite appearances. Emet-Selch manages to isolate one more spider and trap it as the rest vanish back into their nest. ]

[ Seems like the rest would rather not risk being captured like their companions. Katsuki thinks it's interesting that they'd learn like that instead of just mindlessly surge forward.

No, they're going to hang back and maybe look for an opportunity. Or leave the other two exposed to die. ]

All right. So how do we get the venom.

[ It's not like he's ever milked a spider before. ]

[ Neither has he. Perhaps one of his brethren would have known once upon a time, but it isn't something he had ever thought he would need to know. ]

I...presume 'tis like milking a snake. I brought vials.

[ He slides one out from a sturdy box pouch on his belt and approaches one of the cages. ]

--Now, how to have it bite the vial and not my arm...?

[ Okay, but how would any of them have thought that this is something that they'd need to know. ]

Live rat on a stick?

[ Probably should have thought of something like that beforehand, huh? ]

Tch. Should have found some sort of sleep charm or dumb shit like that.

[ He clicks his tongue in mild annoyance. This is his first time seeing the creatures. Physiologically they do resemble a certain voidkin once found in Mhach. ]

Do sleep spells exist in this world...? No matter. Neither of us possess such a magick.

[ The vial is small... Perhaps he can create an arm of stone to hold it with? ]

Could you help me gather some stones? Not the brittle kind. Just pile them here.

Maybe not spells, but charms. Potions? Augh. Whatever.

[ Because yeah. Neither one of them have the capability. So there's no reason to think about it now. Bakugou just starts snatching up rocks - ones that look like they are actually going to hold together - and starts stacking them. ]

Gonna explain or no?

Ah, yes, I suppose I could brew something now that you mention it...

[ He also adds some stones to the pile, checking over Katsuki's with a satisfied nod. ]

I will make a handle with a slot for the vial on the end. Then we may insert it through these bars and bait the arachnid into biting the top.

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sorry for wait!!

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