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Description

Narration (B)
A chill ran through the city, encouraging people to walk briskly to their destinations and escape the cold. The sun was just a hazy yellow circle, shining weakly through the grayish clouds that blanketed the sky. At the guard station near the river gate, some guards relieved of their shift could be seen having a laugh to themselves as they occasionally looked past the gate and at the trees bordering the path leading out of the city.
Aria
The harsh heat that once engulfed Neustadt has long since mellowed, and Aria couldn't be happier. With her usual smile plastered on her face, she pranced her way towards the blacksmith to get some new gear. She was thinking of getting some quality leather vambraces, and perhaps a new attire entirely from the tailor. Despite loving wearing risque attires, fighting while wearing them seemed illogical and just downright taxing.
But before she could reach any of the aforementioned places, she spotted a few guards laughing. Seeing the stoic guardians in such glee was both fascinating and bizarre for Aria. Her curiosity got the best of her as she slowly approached them with a confused expression all over her face. Talking or asking out of nowhere would seem rude, but again, curiosity. "Uh...what's up...?" she asked as she got close enough so that one of the guards could hear her.
Off-Duty Guard
The guard in earshot looked at Aria and gave her a friendly smile. "Well, hello pretty lady. Normally, we shouldn't flirt with anyone while on duty. But-" He waved his hand dismissively. "-we ain't on duty right now." He cleared his throat. "So, is there something me or one of the boys can help you with?"
Aria
Aria raised an eyebrow, but with a smile still on her lips. "Ahaha... you flatter me, good sir." she said with natural ladylike poise. "I was just wondering what you fine gentlemen were laughing about." she said as she scanned the area behind the guard to get a glimpse of any ruckus; alas, the guard's wide frame covered most of it from view. "Just curious is all.” She beamed a smile as she averted her gaze and turned her eyes to the guard.
Off-Duty Guard
"You ever hear about the resident Skraal? Goes by 'Jubokko,' or whatever weird name it gave itself." The guard pointed to the trees outside the gate. "When not in the city, it likes to stay outside near the gates. It serves as a deterrent to most pests and creatures that might pose a nuisance to the city. Not many things like getting near it, not even wild creatures. But the Skraal does do that god-awful shriek every so often, even at night, so the guard stations get noise complaints." The guard smiled, his earlier humor returning. "So, as a sort of...initiation, we send the new guard to tell the Skraal about the noise complaints." The other guards began chuckling, likely thinking about the new guard and how scared he must look right about now.
Aria
Aria snickered, but on the inside, she was thinking earnestly. ‘A sentient Skraal..? Where did I...ah! Yes! The one that helped the kid beat up that egotistical Creathal! Huh...now I'm hooked…’ she thought to herself. She let out a soft giggle before asking, "So.. That Skraal is somewhere around these parts eh...?" She slowly walked toward the thick shrubbery. " I wanna see the new guy's face when he gets face-to-face with that Skraal first hand. You boys won't mind do you..?" she asked, with a pretty smile on her face. ‘If that Skraal was the one that helped the kid...I wanna meet him. Jubokko, huh...?’ she internally spoke to herself once more.
Off-Duty Guard
"Not at all. Although, I would exercise caution, miss. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen to a pretty lady such as yourself.
Aria
"I'll be fine by myself!" she smiled with a streak of determination. " Though I appreciate the concern, you boys are so sweet!" She waved the guards farewell, then walked off in the direction she originally planned on heading out to, in search of the sentient Skraal that piqued her interest.
Narration (B)
It wasn't hard to find the Skraal. It would be difficult not to spot a tall, purple skeleton armored in dark, spiked plating and a large sword sheathed on their back. Talking to the Skraal was a guardsman who, despite their attempts to remain stoic, looked as though they wanted to leave the presence of the undead. Aria couldn't hear the conversation, but whenever the Skraal spoke, the guard flinched. After a couple exchanges, the guard left, eager to leave. He accidentally bumped Aria in his haste, muttering a 'sorry' as he made his way back to the gate.
Aria
"Whoop, there goes the newbie." she stated with a small grin as she eyed the guard until he was out of her sight. She then turned her attention to the grimly statuesque undead. She playfully stepped closer to the Skraal before speaking. "Hello! Jubokko, was it?" she instantaneously asked, her tone innocent and frolicsome, or at least she tried to make it sound as such.
Jubokko
The Skraal turned their head in her direction. Aria could smell the sharp, metallic tang of blood coming off the undead. Try as she might, their static skull face made it difficult to get a read on them. "Greetings...who are you...?"
Aria
As she decided to answer in kind, she stopped a few inches away from the Skraal. Noticing their features up close, Jubokko was terrifying: their bony, yet towering frame, and the grim visage staring Aria down. Despite all this, Aria kept her smile. ‘Guess I can't blame that guard for pissing his pants after getting this close to this particular Skraal,’ she thought to herself. "I'm Aria Dhuste! Nice to meet you!" she said in her usual giddy tone, and in reflex, extended her arm for a handshake.
Jubokko
Jubokko looked at the hand extended out to them, the purple lights that served as their eyes shifting between the palm and individual fingers. After a few uncomfortable moments, Jubokko held out their skeletal hand and gingerly took Aria's hand in theirs. The surface of the Skraal's hand was rough and hard, much like stone, and just as cold, seeing as the undead had no body heat to speak of.
Aria
Aria shook the Skraal's hand and tried to hide the discomfort that their cold, hard palm brought her. As she withdrew her hand from Juboko's grip, she placed it behind her and proceeded to ask her queries again. "Hey, quick question: were you the same Skraal that helped a small Fae...uh...fight a Creathal...?" she tilted her head as she asked.
Jubokko
Jubokko flashed Aria a toothy grin, thin ropes of dark fluid dripping from between their teeth. "The foolish Fae...They had no business starting fights...with a force greater than themselves..." The Skraal curled and uncurled their fingers, as if remembering the sensation of grabbing something. They cackled, a harsh noise that reminded Aria of shattering glass. "The filthy worm...boasted of slaying...many of our kind...It mattered not...Great pride...precipitates a greater fall..."
Aria
The Skraal's raspy yet deep voice sent shivers down the rogue's spine, and ultimately made her tense up when they let out a twisted cackle. Aria frowned at Jubokko's cold remarks, but even so, she couldn't have agreed more. "Yeah...I didn't take him to be such a brash individual...you know, being a mage and all..." She folded her arms together. "Nonetheless, I was looking forward to meeting you and thanking you for helping him out." she stated, then rubbed her chin. "But, I guess you didn't beat that Creathal's ass to just help the kid. That egotistical Creathal got what was coming to him." she shrugged.

Jubokko
"Thank us...?" Jubokko's eyes narrowed. "Whatever for...? We only satisfied our desire...to inflict pain upon another...Ah, the sounds...Bones snapping beneath our feet..." The Skraal chuckled darkly to themselves.
Aria
"Well...I mean, the Fae is my accomplice...so...you know? Just thanking you out of courtesy for getting him out of trouble he brought himself in." Aria shrugged as she explained. Her eyes would occasionally be glued on the Skraal's mouth and the black ooze that dripped from it, trying not to make a disgusted face and just smiled. Forcibly. She now felt how terrifying it was to be in front of a skraal, despite it having somewhat of a sentience.
Jubokko
"No thanks necessary...We did what we wanted..." Jubokko's eyes flickered between Aria's face, her chest, her hips, her feet, and back to her face. "Allow us to ask you a question...if we may be so bold..." It was hard to tell what the Skraal was thinking, as their tone did not deviate from their gravelly hiss.
Aria
"Um...uh... sure... ask away...!" Aria reluctantly answered. She grew worried, and her knees started to shake slightly, as if the Skraal's words pierced into her very soul. Despite showing all the obvious signs of fear, her smiling lips never even quivered. Her gaze were now locked towards Jubokko's glowing eyes.
Jubokko
Jubokko waved their hand at Aria's body, specifically in the direction of her chest area. "You have these soft parts...What purpose do they serve...?"
Aria
Aria's eyes followed the Skraal's moving motions towards her chest. She tried to find anything else other than her chest that Jubokko might've referred to, but as they mentioned soft parts, she knew exactly what they meant. ‘They...seem to be serious...g-guess I'll answer earnestly as well…’ she internally advised herself. "W-well..uh.. females just have them when they grow up...or something." Her eyes then tried to avert their gaze from the curious Skraal. "But...they can be handy sometimes..." she added, muttering.
Jubokko
"Ah...We suppose that is the case..." Jubokko gave Aria a brief look. "You living beings...and your meatbag bodies...How all the sloshing...doesn't drive you mad...we'll never know...Holds the blood better...than this skeletal form..." Jubokko began laughing, as if humored by some joke that Aria did not know.
Aria
Aria was both confused and scared as to why the Skraal laughed after uttering its morbid observation, so she laughed along forcibly. The Skraal's haunting cackle made her shudder as it did before, but not as bad. Her eyes were locked onto Jubokko once more, now with a mix of fear and caution.
Jubokko
Jubokko finished laughing and fixed their eyes on Aria's face once more. "Is there anything else...you wish to discuss...?”
Aria
Aria's left eye twitched as the Skraal asked another query. Out of impulse, she asked, "Y-you're not gonna eat me... are you...?"
Jubokko
At that, Jubokko let out a loud cackle, one filled with mirth. The black liquid that dripped from their maw sprayed out as they snickered. This continued for a full minute, the forest echoing hauntingly with the Skraal's laughter. Once Jubokko finished, they flashed Aria another toothy grin, teeth stained black. "No...there is no sustenance in the flesh...Only the blood...can sate our thirst.."
Aria
Aria slowly backed away from the Skraal. "Ehehehe....yeahh..." She tried to sound normal, despite quivering in her boots. She looked around them, the forest surrounding them, and no other soul in sight. She suddenly had to ask, "Well... what are you doing here in the first place...?"
Jubokko
"We do not live in the city...and those inside the walls...find us frightening..." Jubokko adjusted the bindings on their right bracer. "We make our residence here...Only the guards bother us...and even then...they seldom do..."
Aria
Sure, the Skraal was terrifying, but they had sentience, feelings, and maybe, just maybe, Jubokko was getting fed up with the solitude that they unwillingly placed themselves in.
With what little courage she had, she tried speaking in her usual giddy tone. "I-I don't find you frightening! Y-you actually look....uh.....nice...?" There was an undertone of uncertainty in her voice as she sat down on a nearby pile of grass. She didn't know the right words to say, but she knew Jubokko would be a strong ally. That, and maybe the ol' pile of bones just wanted to be treated normally.
Jubokko
Jubokko was quiet as they scrutinized Aria, their expression unreadable. Then they laughed. "And here we thought...the dark one was mad..." The Skraal grinned in the thief's direction. "You are an interesting one for sure..."
Aria
"W-what are you laughing at?" She fidgeted with her boots, playing with the leather. She was now playing it cool, as if she wasn't scared of the Skraal for one bit. Aria then repeated a line that she found confusing: "Dark one...?" She tilted her head in confusion.
Jubokko
"The dark one...He is of Burzhal blood...He walks a dark path indeed..." Jubokko seated themselves in a crisscross manner, maintaining eye contact with Aria.
Aria
Aria carefully tapped her chin and thought deeply. ‘Burzhal...Burzhal... Ah! those uh....elves...‘ her eyes widened at the epiphany. "So... you're friends with a...Burzhal...?" she abruptly asked, then continued. "Well...uh...does this ‘dark one’ have a name or do we start calling him that?" she tried to lighten up the mood, but evidently it wasn’t enough.
Jubokko
"Ask him yourself...He is not hard to spot...being the only Burzhal in the city..."
Aria
"I will when I can." Aria shrugged. Being stared at by men was like nothing to her, but being stared at by a sentient Skraal was pretty unnerving. but she tried not to show it. "Aren't you exposing yourself in danger by staying here?" she worriedly asked. But then again, people from within the walls were scared of them, so inns would probably decline. She never thought she'd feel bad for any undead, but here she was, trying her hardest to cheer them up despite being terrified of their piercing gaze alone. She let out a soft sigh. "Well... I could help you make your own fortress in here if you're up for that," she jested, but half of her wanted to actually do it.
Jubokko
Jubokko's eyes narrowed. "We do not need pity...We are a monster...that much is clear..."
Aria
"Hey, hey, don't call yourself that! The real monsters are those damn nobles, pilfering the poor of their hard earned gold; DAMN SOCIALITES!" She waved her fist up in the air.
"But, well...I mean...you might've ‘accidentally’ helped my buddy out, but a help's a help." She shrugged once more, beaming a smile. " If there's anything I can help you with, just say it," Aria added; she seemed to have found a way to restore her bravado.
Jubokko
If Jubokko could raise an eyebrow, they would have as they gave Aria a look. "An interesting one indeed..."
Aria
"Gehehe..." Aria rubbed the back of her head. "Am I being too sappy?" she asked with a toothy grin on her face.
Jubokko
"Are you one of them...? A member...of the blood cults...?"
Aria
Aria squinted her eyes towards Jubokko's direction. "Blood...cults? Whatever do you mean?" she asked, sincerely confused. "That's the first I've heard of a 'blood cult.’"
Jubokko
Jubokko looked over Aria again. "Strange...No scarring...All limbs appear intact...No ritual markings..." the Skraal muttered to themselves as they continued to visually search Aria head-to-toe, lost in their thoughts.
Aria
Aria just blinked her eyes as the Skraal seemed to be observing her. "What are you trying to...?" she waved her hand in front of her to take the Skraal's attention. "H-hey!"
Jubokko
Jubokko ignored Aria and continued musing, drawing in the dirt with their finger. From her perspective, Aria could see crude images that depicted cruelty, likely done by the aforementioned blood cults, involving dismemberment, replacing their limbs with skeletal ones, and praying to a tree that dripped blood.
Aria
Aria looked over to what the Skraal was drawing and frowned. She wasn't the smartest, but the drawings were clear enough for her to understand what was going on inside Jubokko's head or what she thought what was. "Right! That's how the Skraal are made! I thought the trees just randomly make you guys... guess there's actually a cult behind your creation!" She almost jumped as she figured it out. But one look at Jubokko made her sit back down and put on a frown. " Do you...uh...remember all these...?" she asked as she pointed at the drawings. At this point, she didn't want to pry into more of the Skraal's story as it might enrage them, but her curiosity and interest were both at peak.
Jubokko
Jubokko returned from their reverie and stared at Aria. "The cults worship the tree...They have no role...in our creation...We are born...from the mother tree..."
Aria
"Oh." Aria rubbed her chin once more, then a question she'd been itching to ask finally came by. " I had to ask, but... how did you gain..uh.. consciousness? Sentience? ‘cause...well... excuse my terms, skraal are supposed to be either mindless or follow a certain pattern of orders..." She puffed her cheeks. "J-just correct me If I'm wrong, Alright? I don't know much about you skraal." she then fidgets around with the grass surrounding her, plucking them out one by one slowly.
Jubokko
"We are born from the blood...made strong by the blood...and returned to the blood...From the blood...we gain strength...and knowledge...The name is proof..."
Aria
Aria looks over the drawings Jubokko made once more. ‘Born from blood? Blood of people who died... horribly...?‘ she thought to herself as she looked over the crude drawings of gruesome scenes the Skraal had drawn earlier. "So...aren't you supposed to be protecting your 'mother tree' or something...?" she asked bluntly.
Jubokko
Jubokko grinned. "The mother tree is dead...burnt in the fires of war...so long ago..." The Skraal wiped the drawings with their hand and began scrawling in the dirt again. This time, the drawings were that of a dark, ominous tower that resembled a tree, surrounded by the leering faces of a skraal horde.
Aria
"So.... what's this..?" she pointed at the tower. "Like... a new tree...? And uh...your friends...?" She tilted her head once again, clearly confused.
Jubokko
"A vision...of memories in the past..." Wiping the ground clean, Jubokko drew a third image, depicting a lone skraal raising a large sword in their hand, looking down at a burning battlefield.
Aria
Clearly, the drawing most likely depicted a more stronger looking skraal. She quickly assumed that it was the commander or any higher-up on the Skraal hierarchy. Then she remembered it was Jubokko's memories that they were drawing. "Please don't tell me you're this evil and stronger looking one." Aria abruptly spoke, waiting with bated breath for the Skraal's answer.
Jubokko
"The horde was under our command...A grand army to wage war with...The flames turned Fallcrest black...while the ground...became soaked in red..." Jubokko's tone, while still gravelly, carried traces of sadistic glee.
Aria
‘Yep, they're a monster alright.’ Aria internally shuddered as she slowly crept back to where she was originally seated, a bit farther away from the Skraal. Despite being creeped out and scared by the malicious joy that emanated from the Skraal's rather dark and gruesome anecdote of their past, Aria kept her smile as she nodded in courtesy while listening to the musings of the undead. "T-that's.. uh... pretty cool..." She itched the side of her face. "Y-you're not planning on.. destroying Fallcrest again... are you...?" she asked, nervousness overcoming her giddy facade.
Jubokko
Jubokko wiped the drawing with their hand. "No...We have a new mission...but we would be lying...if the thought...has not crossed our mind..." The Skraal was still amused by their recollection of the past, grinning from ear to ear...if the skraal actually had ears.
Aria
Aria just sat where she was, terrified and shaking. But nonetheless, she smiled towards Jubokko. "G-great...! So, uh.. what is this new mission!?" She wanted to move the subject away from the dark past the Skraal had revealed to her. She didn't want Jubokko to give her another reason to be a lot more scared of them than she already was.
Jubokko
"Find the demon trees...Rip out the heart...and feed on their blood...Along the way...collect new allies..." Jubokko flexed the fingers on their right hand. "We had considered the living...to be weak...but it was a group...of such weak beings...who had burned our tower...and ended the war...So, we shall find...these allies...and perhaps reach our goal...of reclaiming our power…”
Aria
'A strong ally that beat that Creathal to a pulp.' She wanted to ask the Skraal to join them as well, but she knew that she was far too weak to not get in their way. She closed her eyes and sighed before smiling once more. "I can't say if that's a noble goal or just for your own gain, but, good luck." She leaned towards a nearby tree. "I'd love to join you, but I'm legitimately weak right now...not exactly helpful, I know." she giggled for a bit.
Jubokko
Jubokko looked at Aria and grinned. "Perhaps that is the case...but time will tell..." The Skraal stood up. "Another time then..." Jubokko walked off towards the city gate and entered the city, leaving Aria's line of sight.
Aria
"Another time?" she muttered to herself. "HEY!" She ran after the Skraal, waving at the guards as she passed by. She slowed down as she walked beside Jubokko. "Where are you goin’?" she asked, a toothy grin on her smug face, her arms behind her back.
Jubokko
Jubokko proceeded to ignore her. They continued walking toward their destination, while the sparse pedestrian gave the Skraal, and by extension Aria, a wide berth. The undead moved slowly, giving the thief more than enough time to keep up, although she had no idea where they were going. It didn't help that the cold was chilling her, especially around the exposed areas of skin on her outfit.
Aria
"S-so...w-where are w-we goin’...?" she asked, the cold beginning to get her to slightly shiver. The blowing wind was making her lips quiver, but she would've chosen this instead of the heat. Her pace had slowed down, now in conjunction with the Skraal's movements.
Jubokko
Once again, silence. This continued as the two reached one of the fountain shrines dedicated to Hydros. The secluded area was quiet and serene, almost unnaturally so. The air was cold but still, like snow gently falling to the ground. The Skraal approached the fountain and unsheathed their sword, stabbing it between the cobblestones before sitting down. They became motionless, their eye sockets dark and empty.
Aria
Aria folded her arms together to give herself as much warmth she possibly could give herself. As the Skraal sat down, Aria stooped closely towards them as she noticed their eyes' glow started to fade.
"H-hey..uh..you uh...feelin’ fine there, buddy...?" she asked as she observed Jubokko in closer detail. The smell of blood was a lot stronger as she got closer, their visage was as terrifying as ever. Looking past the grim details of the skull face gave Aria familiarity towards the Skraal. She shrugged and crouched near the Skraal's weapon and started observing it, poking the handle and such.
Jubokko
The sword appeared to be forged from iron, and judging by the wear on the weapon, it was made recently. Aria figured that the Skraal commissioned Petra to make the weapon for them. The sword handle was wrapped with some strange red rope smudged with black marks, likely from the Skraal's hands when they gripped the weapon. Aria noticed that the same red rope held the spiked armor plates to Jubokko's body. Hmm. She waved her hand in front of Jubokko's eyes. No reaction. The Skraal was like a dark, malevolent statue, seated on the cold, stone ground.
Aria
"Huh.. so I guess the dead do sleep," she smiled sweetly towards the rigid Skraal. "Good night, Jubokko." She petted the Skraal's helmet as if they were some sort of child. She then stepped away from the area, only to look back. The tranquil scenery and the dormant Skraal within it, it looked...harmonious. It made her wonder if the Skraal was looking for eternal rest after its journey, or if it willed itself to keep on walking. She then turned around to walk away and get to where she originally headed towards. "Petra...Petra...where was the forge again...?" she muttered to herself as she headed in the direction of the forge, shivering and a bit cold.

Description

Narration (B)
A chill ran through the city, encouraging people to walk briskly to their destinations and escape the cold. The sun was just a hazy yellow circle, shining weakly through the grayish clouds that blanketed the sky. At the guard station near the river gate, some guards relieved of their shift could be seen having a laugh to themselves as they occasionally looked past the gate and at the trees bordering the path leading out of the city.
Aria
The harsh heat that once engulfed Neustadt has long since mellowed, and Aria couldn't be happier. With her usual smile plastered on her face, she pranced her way towards the blacksmith to get some new gear. She was thinking of getting some quality leather vambraces, and perhaps a new attire entirely from the tailor. Despite loving wearing risque attires, fighting while wearing them seemed illogical and just downright taxing.
But before she could reach any of the aforementioned places, she spotted a few guards laughing. Seeing the stoic guardians in such glee was both fascinating and bizarre for Aria. Her curiosity got the best of her as she slowly approached them with a confused expression all over her face. Talking or asking out of nowhere would seem rude, but again, curiosity. "Uh...what's up...?" she asked as she got close enough so that one of the guards could hear her.
Off-Duty Guard
The guard in earshot looked at Aria and gave her a friendly smile. "Well, hello pretty lady. Normally, we shouldn't flirt with anyone while on duty. But-" He waved his hand dismissively. "-we ain't on duty right now." He cleared his throat. "So, is there something me or one of the boys can help you with?"
Aria
Aria raised an eyebrow, but with a smile still on her lips. "Ahaha... you flatter me, good sir." she said with natural ladylike poise. "I was just wondering what you fine gentlemen were laughing about." she said as she scanned the area behind the guard to get a glimpse of any ruckus; alas, the guard's wide frame covered most of it from view. "Just curious is all.” She beamed a smile as she averted her gaze and turned her eyes to the guard.
Off-Duty Guard
"You ever hear about the resident Skraal? Goes by 'Jubokko,' or whatever weird name it gave itself." The guard pointed to the trees outside the gate. "When not in the city, it likes to stay outside near the gates. It serves as a deterrent to most pests and creatures that might pose a nuisance to the city. Not many things like getting near it, not even wild creatures. But the Skraal does do that god-awful shriek every so often, even at night, so the guard stations get noise complaints." The guard smiled, his earlier humor returning. "So, as a sort of...initiation, we send the new guard to tell the Skraal about the noise complaints." The other guards began chuckling, likely thinking about the new guard and how scared he must look right about now.
Aria
Aria snickered, but on the inside, she was thinking earnestly. ‘A sentient Skraal..? Where did I...ah! Yes! The one that helped the kid beat up that egotistical Creathal! Huh...now I'm hooked…’ she thought to herself. She let out a soft giggle before asking, "So.. That Skraal is somewhere around these parts eh...?" She slowly walked toward the thick shrubbery. " I wanna see the new guy's face when he gets face-to-face with that Skraal first hand. You boys won't mind do you..?" she asked, with a pretty smile on her face. ‘If that Skraal was the one that helped the kid...I wanna meet him. Jubokko, huh...?’ she internally spoke to herself once more.
Off-Duty Guard
"Not at all. Although, I would exercise caution, miss. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen to a pretty lady such as yourself.
Aria
"I'll be fine by myself!" she smiled with a streak of determination. " Though I appreciate the concern, you boys are so sweet!" She waved the guards farewell, then walked off in the direction she originally planned on heading out to, in search of the sentient Skraal that piqued her interest.
Narration (B)
It wasn't hard to find the Skraal. It would be difficult not to spot a tall, purple skeleton armored in dark, spiked plating and a large sword sheathed on their back. Talking to the Skraal was a guardsman who, despite their attempts to remain stoic, looked as though they wanted to leave the presence of the undead. Aria couldn't hear the conversation, but whenever the Skraal spoke, the guard flinched. After a couple exchanges, the guard left, eager to leave. He accidentally bumped Aria in his haste, muttering a 'sorry' as he made his way back to the gate.
Aria
"Whoop, there goes the newbie." she stated with a small grin as she eyed the guard until he was out of her sight. She then turned her attention to the grimly statuesque undead. She playfully stepped closer to the Skraal before speaking. "Hello! Jubokko, was it?" she instantaneously asked, her tone innocent and frolicsome, or at least she tried to make it sound as such.
Jubokko
The Skraal turned their head in her direction. Aria could smell the sharp, metallic tang of blood coming off the undead. Try as she might, their static skull face made it difficult to get a read on them. "Greetings...who are you...?"
Aria
As she decided to answer in kind, she stopped a few inches away from the Skraal. Noticing their features up close, Jubokko was terrifying: their bony, yet towering frame, and the grim visage staring Aria down. Despite all this, Aria kept her smile. ‘Guess I can't blame that guard for pissing his pants after getting this close to this particular Skraal,’ she thought to herself. "I'm Aria Dhuste! Nice to meet you!" she said in her usual giddy tone, and in reflex, extended her arm for a handshake.
Jubokko
Jubokko looked at the hand extended out to them, the purple lights that served as their eyes shifting between the palm and individual fingers. After a few uncomfortable moments, Jubokko held out their skeletal hand and gingerly took Aria's hand in theirs. The surface of the Skraal's hand was rough and hard, much like stone, and just as cold, seeing as the undead had no body heat to speak of.
Aria
Aria shook the Skraal's hand and tried to hide the discomfort that their cold, hard palm brought her. As she withdrew her hand from Juboko's grip, she placed it behind her and proceeded to ask her queries again. "Hey, quick question: were you the same Skraal that helped a small Fae...uh...fight a Creathal...?" she tilted her head as she asked.
Jubokko
Jubokko flashed Aria a toothy grin, thin ropes of dark fluid dripping from between their teeth. "The foolish Fae...They had no business starting fights...with a force greater than themselves..." The Skraal curled and uncurled their fingers, as if remembering the sensation of grabbing something. They cackled, a harsh noise that reminded Aria of shattering glass. "The filthy worm...boasted of slaying...many of our kind...It mattered not...Great pride...precipitates a greater fall..."
Aria
The Skraal's raspy yet deep voice sent shivers down the rogue's spine, and ultimately made her tense up when they let out a twisted cackle. Aria frowned at Jubokko's cold remarks, but even so, she couldn't have agreed more. "Yeah...I didn't take him to be such a brash individual...you know, being a mage and all..." She folded her arms together. "Nonetheless, I was looking forward to meeting you and thanking you for helping him out." she stated, then rubbed her chin. "But, I guess you didn't beat that Creathal's ass to just help the kid. That egotistical Creathal got what was coming to him." she shrugged.

Jubokko
"Thank us...?" Jubokko's eyes narrowed. "Whatever for...? We only satisfied our desire...to inflict pain upon another...Ah, the sounds...Bones snapping beneath our feet..." The Skraal chuckled darkly to themselves.
Aria
"Well...I mean, the Fae is my accomplice...so...you know? Just thanking you out of courtesy for getting him out of trouble he brought himself in." Aria shrugged as she explained. Her eyes would occasionally be glued on the Skraal's mouth and the black ooze that dripped from it, trying not to make a disgusted face and just smiled. Forcibly. She now felt how terrifying it was to be in front of a skraal, despite it having somewhat of a sentience.
Jubokko
"No thanks necessary...We did what we wanted..." Jubokko's eyes flickered between Aria's face, her chest, her hips, her feet, and back to her face. "Allow us to ask you a question...if we may be so bold..." It was hard to tell what the Skraal was thinking, as their tone did not deviate from their gravelly hiss.
Aria
"Um...uh... sure... ask away...!" Aria reluctantly answered. She grew worried, and her knees started to shake slightly, as if the Skraal's words pierced into her very soul. Despite showing all the obvious signs of fear, her smiling lips never even quivered. Her gaze were now locked towards Jubokko's glowing eyes.
Jubokko
Jubokko waved their hand at Aria's body, specifically in the direction of her chest area. "You have these soft parts...What purpose do they serve...?"
Aria
Aria's eyes followed the Skraal's moving motions towards her chest. She tried to find anything else other than her chest that Jubokko might've referred to, but as they mentioned soft parts, she knew exactly what they meant. ‘They...seem to be serious...g-guess I'll answer earnestly as well…’ she internally advised herself. "W-well..uh.. females just have them when they grow up...or something." Her eyes then tried to avert their gaze from the curious Skraal. "But...they can be handy sometimes..." she added, muttering.
Jubokko
"Ah...We suppose that is the case..." Jubokko gave Aria a brief look. "You living beings...and your meatbag bodies...How all the sloshing...doesn't drive you mad...we'll never know...Holds the blood better...than this skeletal form..." Jubokko began laughing, as if humored by some joke that Aria did not know.
Aria
Aria was both confused and scared as to why the Skraal laughed after uttering its morbid observation, so she laughed along forcibly. The Skraal's haunting cackle made her shudder as it did before, but not as bad. Her eyes were locked onto Jubokko once more, now with a mix of fear and caution.
Jubokko
Jubokko finished laughing and fixed their eyes on Aria's face once more. "Is there anything else...you wish to discuss...?”
Aria
Aria's left eye twitched as the Skraal asked another query. Out of impulse, she asked, "Y-you're not gonna eat me... are you...?"
Jubokko
At that, Jubokko let out a loud cackle, one filled with mirth. The black liquid that dripped from their maw sprayed out as they snickered. This continued for a full minute, the forest echoing hauntingly with the Skraal's laughter. Once Jubokko finished, they flashed Aria another toothy grin, teeth stained black. "No...there is no sustenance in the flesh...Only the blood...can sate our thirst.."
Aria
Aria slowly backed away from the Skraal. "Ehehehe....yeahh..." She tried to sound normal, despite quivering in her boots. She looked around them, the forest surrounding them, and no other soul in sight. She suddenly had to ask, "Well... what are you doing here in the first place...?"
Jubokko
"We do not live in the city...and those inside the walls...find us frightening..." Jubokko adjusted the bindings on their right bracer. "We make our residence here...Only the guards bother us...and even then...they seldom do..."
Aria
Sure, the Skraal was terrifying, but they had sentience, feelings, and maybe, just maybe, Jubokko was getting fed up with the solitude that they unwillingly placed themselves in.
With what little courage she had, she tried speaking in her usual giddy tone. "I-I don't find you frightening! Y-you actually look....uh.....nice...?" There was an undertone of uncertainty in her voice as she sat down on a nearby pile of grass. She didn't know the right words to say, but she knew Jubokko would be a strong ally. That, and maybe the ol' pile of bones just wanted to be treated normally.
Jubokko
Jubokko was quiet as they scrutinized Aria, their expression unreadable. Then they laughed. "And here we thought...the dark one was mad..." The Skraal grinned in the thief's direction. "You are an interesting one for sure..."
Aria
"W-what are you laughing at?" She fidgeted with her boots, playing with the leather. She was now playing it cool, as if she wasn't scared of the Skraal for one bit. Aria then repeated a line that she found confusing: "Dark one...?" She tilted her head in confusion.
Jubokko
"The dark one...He is of Burzhal blood...He walks a dark path indeed..." Jubokko seated themselves in a crisscross manner, maintaining eye contact with Aria.
Aria
Aria carefully tapped her chin and thought deeply. ‘Burzhal...Burzhal... Ah! those uh....elves...‘ her eyes widened at the epiphany. "So... you're friends with a...Burzhal...?" she abruptly asked, then continued. "Well...uh...does this ‘dark one’ have a name or do we start calling him that?" she tried to lighten up the mood, but evidently it wasn’t enough.
Jubokko
"Ask him yourself...He is not hard to spot...being the only Burzhal in the city..."
Aria
"I will when I can." Aria shrugged. Being stared at by men was like nothing to her, but being stared at by a sentient Skraal was pretty unnerving. but she tried not to show it. "Aren't you exposing yourself in danger by staying here?" she worriedly asked. But then again, people from within the walls were scared of them, so inns would probably decline. She never thought she'd feel bad for any undead, but here she was, trying her hardest to cheer them up despite being terrified of their piercing gaze alone. She let out a soft sigh. "Well... I could help you make your own fortress in here if you're up for that," she jested, but half of her wanted to actually do it.
Jubokko
Jubokko's eyes narrowed. "We do not need pity...We are a monster...that much is clear..."
Aria
"Hey, hey, don't call yourself that! The real monsters are those damn nobles, pilfering the poor of their hard earned gold; DAMN SOCIALITES!" She waved her fist up in the air.
"But, well...I mean...you might've ‘accidentally’ helped my buddy out, but a help's a help." She shrugged once more, beaming a smile. " If there's anything I can help you with, just say it," Aria added; she seemed to have found a way to restore her bravado.
Jubokko
If Jubokko could raise an eyebrow, they would have as they gave Aria a look. "An interesting one indeed..."
Aria
"Gehehe..." Aria rubbed the back of her head. "Am I being too sappy?" she asked with a toothy grin on her face.
Jubokko
"Are you one of them...? A member...of the blood cults...?"
Aria
Aria squinted her eyes towards Jubokko's direction. "Blood...cults? Whatever do you mean?" she asked, sincerely confused. "That's the first I've heard of a 'blood cult.’"
Jubokko
Jubokko looked over Aria again. "Strange...No scarring...All limbs appear intact...No ritual markings..." the Skraal muttered to themselves as they continued to visually search Aria head-to-toe, lost in their thoughts.
Aria
Aria just blinked her eyes as the Skraal seemed to be observing her. "What are you trying to...?" she waved her hand in front of her to take the Skraal's attention. "H-hey!"
Jubokko
Jubokko ignored Aria and continued musing, drawing in the dirt with their finger. From her perspective, Aria could see crude images that depicted cruelty, likely done by the aforementioned blood cults, involving dismemberment, replacing their limbs with skeletal ones, and praying to a tree that dripped blood.
Aria
Aria looked over to what the Skraal was drawing and frowned. She wasn't the smartest, but the drawings were clear enough for her to understand what was going on inside Jubokko's head or what she thought what was. "Right! That's how the Skraal are made! I thought the trees just randomly make you guys... guess there's actually a cult behind your creation!" She almost jumped as she figured it out. But one look at Jubokko made her sit back down and put on a frown. " Do you...uh...remember all these...?" she asked as she pointed at the drawings. At this point, she didn't want to pry into more of the Skraal's story as it might enrage them, but her curiosity and interest were both at peak.
Jubokko
Jubokko returned from their reverie and stared at Aria. "The cults worship the tree...They have no role...in our creation...We are born...from the mother tree..."
Aria
"Oh." Aria rubbed her chin once more, then a question she'd been itching to ask finally came by. " I had to ask, but... how did you gain..uh.. consciousness? Sentience? ‘cause...well... excuse my terms, skraal are supposed to be either mindless or follow a certain pattern of orders..." She puffed her cheeks. "J-just correct me If I'm wrong, Alright? I don't know much about you skraal." she then fidgets around with the grass surrounding her, plucking them out one by one slowly.
Jubokko
"We are born from the blood...made strong by the blood...and returned to the blood...From the blood...we gain strength...and knowledge...The name is proof..."
Aria
Aria looks over the drawings Jubokko made once more. ‘Born from blood? Blood of people who died... horribly...?‘ she thought to herself as she looked over the crude drawings of gruesome scenes the Skraal had drawn earlier. "So...aren't you supposed to be protecting your 'mother tree' or something...?" she asked bluntly.
Jubokko
Jubokko grinned. "The mother tree is dead...burnt in the fires of war...so long ago..." The Skraal wiped the drawings with their hand and began scrawling in the dirt again. This time, the drawings were that of a dark, ominous tower that resembled a tree, surrounded by the leering faces of a skraal horde.
Aria
"So.... what's this..?" she pointed at the tower. "Like... a new tree...? And uh...your friends...?" She tilted her head once again, clearly confused.
Jubokko
"A vision...of memories in the past..." Wiping the ground clean, Jubokko drew a third image, depicting a lone skraal raising a large sword in their hand, looking down at a burning battlefield.
Aria
Clearly, the drawing most likely depicted a more stronger looking skraal. She quickly assumed that it was the commander or any higher-up on the Skraal hierarchy. Then she remembered it was Jubokko's memories that they were drawing. "Please don't tell me you're this evil and stronger looking one." Aria abruptly spoke, waiting with bated breath for the Skraal's answer.
Jubokko
"The horde was under our command...A grand army to wage war with...The flames turned Fallcrest black...while the ground...became soaked in red..." Jubokko's tone, while still gravelly, carried traces of sadistic glee.
Aria
‘Yep, they're a monster alright.’ Aria internally shuddered as she slowly crept back to where she was originally seated, a bit farther away from the Skraal. Despite being creeped out and scared by the malicious joy that emanated from the Skraal's rather dark and gruesome anecdote of their past, Aria kept her smile as she nodded in courtesy while listening to the musings of the undead. "T-that's.. uh... pretty cool..." She itched the side of her face. "Y-you're not planning on.. destroying Fallcrest again... are you...?" she asked, nervousness overcoming her giddy facade.
Jubokko
Jubokko wiped the drawing with their hand. "No...We have a new mission...but we would be lying...if the thought...has not crossed our mind..." The Skraal was still amused by their recollection of the past, grinning from ear to ear...if the skraal actually had ears.
Aria
Aria just sat where she was, terrified and shaking. But nonetheless, she smiled towards Jubokko. "G-great...! So, uh.. what is this new mission!?" She wanted to move the subject away from the dark past the Skraal had revealed to her. She didn't want Jubokko to give her another reason to be a lot more scared of them than she already was.
Jubokko
"Find the demon trees...Rip out the heart...and feed on their blood...Along the way...collect new allies..." Jubokko flexed the fingers on their right hand. "We had considered the living...to be weak...but it was a group...of such weak beings...who had burned our tower...and ended the war...So, we shall find...these allies...and perhaps reach our goal...of reclaiming our power…”
Aria
'A strong ally that beat that Creathal to a pulp.' She wanted to ask the Skraal to join them as well, but she knew that she was far too weak to not get in their way. She closed her eyes and sighed before smiling once more. "I can't say if that's a noble goal or just for your own gain, but, good luck." She leaned towards a nearby tree. "I'd love to join you, but I'm legitimately weak right now...not exactly helpful, I know." she giggled for a bit.
Jubokko
Jubokko looked at Aria and grinned. "Perhaps that is the case...but time will tell..." The Skraal stood up. "Another time then..." Jubokko walked off towards the city gate and entered the city, leaving Aria's line of sight.
Aria
"Another time?" she muttered to herself. "HEY!" She ran after the Skraal, waving at the guards as she passed by. She slowed down as she walked beside Jubokko. "Where are you goin’?" she asked, a toothy grin on her smug face, her arms behind her back.
Jubokko
Jubokko proceeded to ignore her. They continued walking toward their destination, while the sparse pedestrian gave the Skraal, and by extension Aria, a wide berth. The undead moved slowly, giving the thief more than enough time to keep up, although she had no idea where they were going. It didn't help that the cold was chilling her, especially around the exposed areas of skin on her outfit.
Aria
"S-so...w-where are w-we goin’...?" she asked, the cold beginning to get her to slightly shiver. The blowing wind was making her lips quiver, but she would've chosen this instead of the heat. Her pace had slowed down, now in conjunction with the Skraal's movements.
Jubokko
Once again, silence. This continued as the two reached one of the fountain shrines dedicated to Hydros. The secluded area was quiet and serene, almost unnaturally so. The air was cold but still, like snow gently falling to the ground. The Skraal approached the fountain and unsheathed their sword, stabbing it between the cobblestones before sitting down. They became motionless, their eye sockets dark and empty.
Aria
Aria folded her arms together to give herself as much warmth she possibly could give herself. As the Skraal sat down, Aria stooped closely towards them as she noticed their eyes' glow started to fade.
"H-hey..uh..you uh...feelin’ fine there, buddy...?" she asked as she observed Jubokko in closer detail. The smell of blood was a lot stronger as she got closer, their visage was as terrifying as ever. Looking past the grim details of the skull face gave Aria familiarity towards the Skraal. She shrugged and crouched near the Skraal's weapon and started observing it, poking the handle and such.
Jubokko
The sword appeared to be forged from iron, and judging by the wear on the weapon, it was made recently. Aria figured that the Skraal commissioned Petra to make the weapon for them. The sword handle was wrapped with some strange red rope smudged with black marks, likely from the Skraal's hands when they gripped the weapon. Aria noticed that the same red rope held the spiked armor plates to Jubokko's body. Hmm. She waved her hand in front of Jubokko's eyes. No reaction. The Skraal was like a dark, malevolent statue, seated on the cold, stone ground.
Aria
"Huh.. so I guess the dead do sleep," she smiled sweetly towards the rigid Skraal. "Good night, Jubokko." She petted the Skraal's helmet as if they were some sort of child. She then stepped away from the area, only to look back. The tranquil scenery and the dormant Skraal within it, it looked...harmonious. It made her wonder if the Skraal was looking for eternal rest after its journey, or if it willed itself to keep on walking. She then turned around to walk away and get to where she originally headed towards. "Petra...Petra...where was the forge again...?" she muttered to herself as she headed in the direction of the forge, shivering and a bit cold.