Fruits Of The Poisoned River

Time for Kullervo was a rather absent concept. He was aware that he lived again, he knew it wasn't a real life but something close to it. He also knew even before his consciousness was robbed that he was supposed to serve others. An idea that he certainly did not enjoy and he tried to resist, and after most of his consciousness was sealed well he still had no care for being told what to do but being reduced to the highest state of Mad Enhancement reduced most of his complaints. He could still manage some forms of thought but he was sure this was because of Ukonvasara.

Regardless Kullervo spent his time on a place where he couldn't cause trouble. Then he was released, he had one order that didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. Protect.Woman. the reason was not a selfless one or a complicated one. Whatever vestige of thinking and instinct he had, knew that this equaled Same.Life. she died, he'd die as well. He also became vaguely aware that he had to work with other's like him. But Kullervo with what little consciousness still had thought that they were not important. Strong yes, important to him no. He was also sure that if he got into combat he'd probably stopped recognizing anything save the woman, his master, his life-link.

When he materialized somewhere he didn't quite recognized, even in his state he knew that this place was polluted with curses. Kullervo knew curses, somewhere deep inside he knew he knew them, but these weren't his curses. At least as far as he could tell, which wasn't much due to his mental state. He could see the destruction and death but it stirred no emotion on him, although perhaps they did? he had a brief memory of a village burning and death but the memory quickly faded and became clouded much like every other memory in him.

Berserker took a deep breath when he heard voices. He couldn't quite comprehend them, any important information he was sure Ukonvasara would translate to him. Mainly he was waiting for orders he could recognize. Things like Attack.Defend.Charge. So Kullervo remained silent while the initial exchanged happened. Ukonvasara seemed pleased about the surroundings, but that was as far as Kullervo could understand his weapon. Regardless, all he had to do was wait for orders or for his collar to come loose.

Mordred simply closes her eyes at Merlin's words, in an attempt to prevent frustration from having her do something she wouldn't really regret. "Of course I do. That goes without saying." His very existence reminded her of a past life she detested, and his shallow, flippant attitude certainly hadn't done him any favors in her eyes. And even if she could stand him at all, she would certainly find him grossly out of place in the world of death and destruction that stood before them.

The Berserker bore little mind. As was made abundantly clear, he was not one of those whom faculties remained in some fashion. He was mindless, and further thought from her would be wasted.

Brynhild's presence was slightly more of a comfort. One of the few Servants she'd managed to get along with, their personalities brought them together more often than it tore them apart. She thought it was good to have someone reliable on the mission. However, her plan did not please Mordred, and she felt no compunction to hide it.

"There is no need to form groups of two. Unless the parameters of the assignment is incorrect, there isn't a single enemy that could challenge me here." While there was some boasting in her words, it was pretty much true. You could replace "me" with "any of us" and it would be just as truthful. "While protection of the Master is of highest priority, we'd get this done faster if we each scouted one section of the perimeter by ourselves." Still, she was likely just being harsh, as she tended to. She wouldn't have minded the company, a mission like this was bound to get boring.

Merlin's words brought him a glare like daggers from Mordred. "I have the feeling you implied something insipid in your words. You might wish to have a care when you speak, though that is not a habit you're accustomed to."

The Master's words caused little surprise to Mordred, and she turned and addressed her. "It is fine, though I assume we all read the mission brief. Please refrain from repeating what was present in the document before proceeding." As she brings up the issue of her infirmity, something Mordred was not aware, she shrugs. "Of course. Protection of you is of highest priority, Master. Though, I do believe that, with Berserker's help, even Merlin might prove competent enough to fend off a few ghouls." As she voices a desire to get moving, Mordred echoes the sentiment wholeheartedly. "Let's get a move on."

Turning to Brynhild, Mordred heaves a sigh. "If you're going to follow, then follow. I will not stop you." At the very least she wouldn't have to worry about being slowed down by her companion. "

When Natasha speaks up, introducing herself, Mordred responds in kind. "I am Mordred, summoned under the class Saber. I will be your sword and shield during this assignment, Natasha. Do not worry, you will not be left in incompetent hands for long."

With that, she turns around, and begins to make her way from the party, scouting out the perimeter, focusing on the path they needed to traverse.

Their first mission did develop roughly along the lines Brynhild had expected. After all, servants were always individuals with strong personalities in one form or another, so clashes between them at least were not an unusual appearance. Alas, at least this time the compatability did appear to be fairly... acceptable. At the very least nobody had gotten the demise of another stuck in their heads yet, these things always led to rather nasty developments and profoundly horrible teamwork.

When their master, Natasha as she came to introduce herself as, finally repeated the instructions given to them, before going over her worry for her life, Brynhild could not help but soften her gaze a little. It did appear that the woman was indeed incapable of sight, so the entire situation was likely even more frightening to her... such was only natural all things considered. So without a moment's hesitation Brynhild walked up a little closer to the young woman and lowered her head a little, her voice sounding strongly this time. "Please fear not young master, I assure you no harm shall befall you! The creatures we are dealing with are vastly inferior combatants compared to servants, so neither Berserker, nor Merlin should have any issues fending them off before they could even lay a finger on you!" Brynhild made a point of having her voice sound confident, as she wished to ascertain the young woman in their abilities.

There were few things worse than panic in a dangerous situation, especially when there were people who were supposed to be your guardian, so while Brynhild doubted that any such situation would in fact be any trouble for all involved, it was none the less better if their master did not cause any issues either, instead trusting the judgment and the skills of her servants. "Even so, if you are afraid that flying debris or glancing strikes may hit you, I could cast runic protections on you. I am also quite sure that Merlin may be able to passively protect you and even if not, the runes should provide enough protection for anything short of a direct hit from us servants..." pausing for a moment Brynhild's voice became softer, sounding brightly with a reassuring tone as she followed up with:"Alas, if you wish me to bestow such a protection upon you, I would have to ask you to let me make physical contact with you. I am aware that a stranger touching you may be uncomfortable, yet it is necessary to draw the runes onto your skin or clothing. I sincerely hope that you will not find issue with this proposal." Having finished her offer, Lancer then merely turned to Mordred tilting her head uncertainly.

"You are not wrong Sir Mordred... yet I would prefer not to take any chances. We are not exactly pushed by time and as you said yourself, our physical abilities are vastly superior to those of these ghouls. So even with merely the two of us the scouting should progress sufficiently fast, without needlessly endangering Lady Natasha, regardless of whether or not this danger is in fact to be taken seriously. Unpleasant surprises can arise even in the most harmless of situations after all." Emphasizing her point once more, Brynhild noticed with satisfaction that Mordred's suggestion had not been entirely serious, seeing how he retreated into a rather resignated contentment with the plan she had suggested. It was not unlikely that the agreement of Natasha and Merlin had also factorered into this decision, yet at least it would provide little in the sense of pointless arguing from here on out... Ah, how rude of her, she should have just left it at this instead of hastily defending her own decisions for no reason. Throwing Mordred an apologetic gaze, without saying a word however, Brynhild blinked twice in surprise, as the Berserker's sword suddenly started talking. The discharge of prana had made it obvious in its own right.

In response to his words, a smirk stole its way into her features, alas it did not quite manage to reach her eyes, turning it into something more reminiscent of an expression of pity, for whom or what was not clear of course as it stood in no direct contact with the situation. So, instead of elaborating her expression, Brynhild merely returned the pleasantries of introduction:"Very well then Kullervo and honoured blade, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, you may refer to me as Brynhild, or Lancer if you prefer. I shall look forward to working with you.~" Her words carried a rather amused note, in a way dripped with a pleasant feeling akin to a mother speaking to its child. The sound was fairly patronizing, yet carried not a hint of malice, just a slightly missplaced amount of amusement paired with an almost maternal undertone.

Merely nodding in response to Sir Mordred's unspoken sign to start scouting, Brynhild would then wait for Natasha to either refuse or accept her offer. In the latter case she would then merely draw a number of runes into her forehead and limbs, before distancing herself from the other servants a little. Finally ready for the true mission, she kneeled down onto the ground for a moment, once more drawing a rune into the rocky ground in order to get a feel for the area... it had always made tracking significantly easier and should avail her a certain radius for sensing threats... that way nonverbal communication with Sir Mordred and his situation should also be quite a lot easier. At the very least that was the idea. Gazing into the sky, the hot wind once more caressed her fair features, brushing her hair past her shoulders with ever present fervour... remaining in this position for a second, she then pressed herself off the ground, razing the point of her footfall completely as she jumped high into the air, her own momentum causing the air to ring softly in her ears.

Using this elevated position she then gazed into the distance, making note of the presence of possible threats in three directions, away from their starting point. She did not check their back of course, as they were meant to advance further ahead anyway, making it rather redundant given Merlin had addressed setting up his own sensory field. Finally falling back down to the earth, onto a crumbled building, Brynhild continued her travels this way, only tapping the ruined structures lightly when she used them for a temporary, foothold. She managed to cross a considerable distance with just two steps this way, before she remained standing on yet another pile of ruinous rubble, gazing into the general direction of a group of ghouls she had seen. They were still rather far away from the rest of their group, yet close enough for discomfort, so as to not go against Natasha's request Brynhild awaited Mordred's appearance in the general proximity. She could always slay these creatures at a slightly later point after all.